Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 171 Lin Daiyu: Do you still call me aunt?
……

Willow shoots on the moon.

Jia Rong came to Lin Daiyu's yard.

There were candles lit in the room, and a small figure holding a book could be vaguely seen under the window.

Jia Rong looked out the window quietly for a while.

"Isn't it cold outside?"

Lin Daiyu put down the book and said something.

"Hehe, you found me." Jia Rong made a circle and came to Lin Daiyu's room. Zijuan and Amber, who were guarding inside, tactfully offered her teacups and then went to guard the outer room.

"What are you looking at?" Lin Daiyu asked.

"Just take a look at my aunt's boudoir."

This was the first time that Jia Rong had the honor to come in.

Lin Daiyu felt a sudden throbbing in her heart for no apparent reason, and said angrily, "If you keep looking around, I'll get out."

"Don't dare."

"I was rude."

Jia Rong hurried to the outer room.

Lin Daiyu curled her lips and muttered softly: This nerd!

Then he followed Jia Rong outside.

Amber and Zijuan looked at each other quietly, then held hands and went outside to the corridor to enjoy the cool breeze.

After the two of them left, Lin Daiyu took out a scent bag from her sleeve, handed it to Jia Rong, and said, "I see that you don't usually carry this with you. Now that you are going out to travel, if you need it, you can at least take it out to deal with the situation."

Jia Rong saw that the sachet was exquisitely made, which must have taken a lot of effort. He put it in his arms and said with a smile, "Thank you, aunt."

"Humph!"

Also call me aunt.

Lin Daiyu was secretly dissatisfied.

Wasn't it obvious enough what I said?
Jia Rong was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

Lin Daiyu said unhappily, "Nothing. Did the master say anything to you when he returned to Beijing?"

Jia Rong: “Yes.”

Lin Daiyu lowered her head and asked shyly, "What did you say?"

Jia Rong said seriously, "He told me to travel around Jiangnan and not to forget to study."

Lin Daiyu: "..."

His eyes gradually became resentful.

"Any more?"

Jia Rong thought for a moment and smiled, "Also, I will take you home with me when I return to Beijing."

Lin Daiyu curled her lips.

That's more or less.

Finally I have some brains.

"Remember to be careful when you are outside, don't try to be brave, don't..."

Jia Rong: "What do you want?"

Lin Daiyu: "Don't get involved with flowers, grass, or anything like that."

Jia Rong: “…”

This aunt is a bit too nosy and lenient.

"how?"

Lin Daiyu looked up at Jia Rong.

She is still too short now, so she can only look up.

Jia Rong smiled and stretched out his hand to pinch his aunt's pretty face: "Respect your order."

Lin Daiyu's face turned red, and she raised her hand and twisted Jia Rong's arm hard, causing Jia Rong to cry out in pain.

"Humph, I told you to be disrespectful!"

Lin Daiyu glanced at Jia Rong sideways.

Jia Rong rubbed his arm and said, "I'll have to suffer this time. When you grow up, I'll settle the score with you."

"Have you eaten?" Lin Daiyu raised her hand to straighten her temples, then turned her head slightly and asked.

Jia Rong simply said, "I didn't eat it."

He just came here to eat.

"You didn't eat it because I knew it." Lin Daiyu called Zijuan in and said, "Ask the kitchen to prepare some wine and food and put them here with me."

Zijuan smiled and looked at the two of them, and said, "Okay, would you like some plum wine, young lady?"

Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Rong and asked, "Do you want to drink?"

Jia Rong said, "Eat a little."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "Then bring a pot. Oh, and call Sister Baoqin to come over for dinner."

Jia Rong gave her a strange look.

Lin Daiyu asked: "What?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Nothing."

Lin Daiyu pouted her lips: "You are so proud, Sister Baoqin is such a good person, I can't bear to bully her."

Jia Rong was delighted.

"I know."

"But I think Aunt Lin is better."

Lin Daiyu immediately smiled.

"You can talk!"

"but……"

Jia Rong: "What?"

Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Rong and suddenly asked, "Fool, do you still call me aunt?"

Jia Rong's heart moved, he stretched out his hand to embrace Lin Daiyu, and said with a confident smile: "Don't worry, when I pass the imperial examination, I will dare to tell the master."

"Now, I don't dare."

Lin Daiyu: "..."

What are you afraid of?

Grandpa has already decided for us, okay!

"Ouch."

Jia Rong rubbed his waist and looked at Lin Daiyu puzzledly: "What's wrong?"

She was so tender and affectionate just now that Jia Rong's heart was moved, but in the next moment her face was filled with anger.

Or maybe it means that girls’ thoughts cannot be guessed.

Lin Daiyu raised her head and said word by word: "I want to say that you are just a bookworm!"

Jia Rong: “…”

After a while, Baoqin came in from outside, holding up her skirt, and said with a smile, "Sister Lin, you called me."

"Brother Rong is here too."

Lin Daiyu chuckled and said, "What Brother Rong? From now on, you can call him Brother Rong Dai."

Xue Baoqin hurried forward and pulled Lin Daiyu, smiling and asking, "What's going on? Sister Lin, tell me quickly."

Lin Daiyu whispered something in Baoqin's ear, and Baoqin giggled.

Lin Daiyu also laughed.

Jia Rong coughed lightly and said, "Sisters, please stop making trouble."

"Let's have some wine."

Baoqin smiled and said, "Brother has become smarter."

Lin Daiyu snorted: "Pretending to be confused!"

Soon the food and wine were served.

Jia Rong sat in the seat of honor as usual, while Lin Daiyu and Baoqin accompanied him, and Zijuan and Amber poured wine and served him.

Before he knew it, Jia Rong had drunk a pot of wine.

Lin Daiyu and Baoqin also drank two cups with him.

Several people had red faces and looked a little drunk.

Xue Baoqin leaned on Daiyu and said with a drunken smile: "Brother Rong, Sister Lin, we are so happy today. Can we always be like this in the future?"

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips, hugged Baoqin and said, "We are good together, but I am afraid that some people will not be satisfied and still think about other aunts, sisters, etc."

"of course."

Jia Rong looked out the window and sighed, "I miss my aunt. I wonder how she is doing in Kyoto? Does she miss us?"

Daiyu and Baoqin were unhappy at first, but when they heard Jia Rong talking about the little aunt, they both advised Jia Rong, "Don't worry, the little aunt is accompanied by the two aunts in the West Mansion and Aunt Bao."

"Aunt Bao..." Jia Rong said, "Baoqin, isn't it awkward for you to call her Aunt Bao?"

Baoqin shook her head: "It's not awkward."

You follow whoever you marry.

Jia Rong looked at Lin Daiyu again: "What about you? Didn't you argue with her about who should be called aunt?"

Lin Daiyu smiled slightly.

“I don’t make money now.”

Before was before.

Now I have a reputation.

……

Early the next morning, Jia Rong formally bid farewell to Lin Ruhai and boarded the ship to Jinling.

Although Xiaoxiao was not around, the thoughtful maid arranged for two little sisters to take care of Jia Rong, one named Qing'er and the other named Mo'er.

Although the two twin girls looked pretty, they were a little cold. They stood next to Jia Rong holding swords, which made Jia Rong's body temperature drop by one or two degrees. "You two, we are going out for fun. There is no need to be so serious. You can go back to the room and rest." Jia Rong reminded.

Qing Er shook her head and said seriously, "Sister Xiao Xiao said that we should never be careless when we are outside."

Mo'er didn't say anything, obviously meaning the same thing.

Jia Rong was speechless for a while.

"Where is your sister Xiao Xiao?"

Qing'er said, "She said she was waiting for you in Jinling."

"That's good."

Jia Rong nodded.

Xiaoxiao is still more gentle.

Of course, Xiaoxiao must have understood the personalities of these two sisters, so she felt at ease leaving them with Jia Rong to protect them.

I don't remember the day of the journey.

We arrived at Jinling Wharf at noon that day.

The dock was very busy, with many ships docked at the shore. Jia Rong's trip was low-key, and there was no official ship sign, so he waited in line for half a day, and only reluctantly stopped the boat and went ashore when the sun set.

It was busier on shore.

There was a constant stream of young scholars in green robes, wealthy businessmen in fancy clothes, peddlers in coarse cloth, and dock laborers in short skirts coming and going.

"Master!"

Jia Rong was sighing at the prosperity of Jinling when he suddenly heard a familiar voice beside him.

"Xiao Xiao!"

Jia Rong was inexplicably surprised and asked, "How did you know I was coming today?"

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, "I guessed that Master would come soon these days, so I came to the dock to take a walk when I had nothing to do. I didn't expect to see Master as soon as I arrived today."

Jia Rong shook his head slightly.

Jia Rong originally wanted to give Xiao Xiao a lecture on this for risking her life to assassinate the young minister, but for some reason, after seeing Xiao Xiao and hearing these words, he could not utter any words of blame.

"Let's not talk about this for now. I'm glad you're okay. I was so worried!"

"Hehe, I'm worried about them."

Xiao Xiao seemed very happy. She leaned close to Jia Rong and whispered, "Don't worry, Master. I will go only when I am sure of the result. Besides, I will not be able to swallow my anger if I don't do it myself."

Jia Rong nodded: "Let's talk about it when we get back. Where have you been living during this period?"

Xiao Xiao said, "We originally lived in the inn, but there were too many people and it was too noisy, so I rented a yard inside." Then she asked Jia Rong, "Should we move into the old house in Jinling?"

Jia Rong thought for a moment and said, "Let's not go to the old house. It will be too troublesome for a lot of people to visit us. Let's just live together in the yard you rented."

There were more than twenty personal soldiers accompanying him, and Jia Rong arranged for them to live on the boat. He did not plan to stay in Jinling for a long time.

Xiao Xiao nodded and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll go get ready." Then she called the two sisters beside Jia Rong: "Qing'er, Mo'er."

The two of them saluted together.

"Sister Xiaoxiao."

Xiao Xiao said: "Thank you for your hard work, my two sisters."

Qing'er said, "Sister Xiaoxiao, what are you talking about? Taking care of the young master is what we should do."

"Haha, it's good that you know."

A few of them chatted and laughed as they arrived at the yard that Xiaoxiao rented.

The yard is not big, with only two northern rooms, a kitchen, and a utility room.

There are several banana trees planted in the yard.

……

"Master, the number of Jinyiwei in Nanjing has suddenly increased a lot recently, so I took the opportunity to arrange for two of them to go in."

Jia Rong nodded.

Soon after the retired emperor ascended the throne, he abolished the Jinyiwei, which was feared by all officials. Now, more than 20 years have passed, and the Jinyiwei is almost in name only.

Now the Supreme Emperor seems to feel the threat from outside and wants to restart the Jinyiwei to be his eyes and ears to inspect all officials. A large number of manpower will definitely be needed in a short period of time. I'm afraid that not only Xiaoxiao, but other forces will take the opportunity to put people in.

"Let those who go in behave themselves. Don't act rashly. Let them gain a firm foothold first."

It would be difficult for the Jinyiwei to achieve anything big in a short period of time, especially against a behemoth like the Jia Mansion, they posed basically no threat.

However, after a few years of development, the Jinyiwei became a huge threat to any official in the court, even the royal palace and the prince.

Especially for Jia Rong, who was preparing to become a junior cabinet minister, the threat was huge!
It is said that when the Jinyiwei was at its most powerful, they could find out exactly which princes and ministers slept with which concubines at night and how many times they slept together!

This is absolutely intolerable!

You have to find a way to control it.

Or, destroy!
Of course, it is impossible for him to do so with his current strength, but fortunately, it will take time for the Jinyiwei to develop to its heyday.

It all depends on who develops faster!
Only the bigger the fist, the more truth there is.

"Is there any news from Jiao Da? When will the fleet arrive in Jinling?"

Xiao Xiao said: "The last message sent back said that it will arrive this month, but there is no news on the specific date."

Jia Rong nodded after hearing this: "There's no rush. Have someone keep an eye on it at all times. Remember to tell me if there's any news."

"Good."

While Xiao Xiao was talking to Jia Rong, she had already made the bed and said with a smile, "Sir, you've been traveling a long way. Take a bath and rest."

"Well, that's fine too."

Jia Rong stretched lazily.

Being protected all the time on the boat, he didn't feel comfortable asking two girls to help him take a bath.

As for taking a shower yourself...

It hasn't happened in many years.

After a while, Qing'er and Mo'er prepared hot water. Xiaoxiao changed into evening makeup and walked quietly to Jia Rong's side.

"Master, I will serve you."

"Haha." Jia Rong grabbed Xiao Xiao's hands and said with a smile, "You haven't served me for a long time."

Xiao Xiao pouted and said, "I have to give in to Qingwen and Xiangling. As long as Master keeps thinking about me and keeps me by his side, I will be satisfied."

"Of course, you are my eldest maid." Jia Rong pinched Xiaoxiao's nose and realized that Xiaoxiao had grown very fast in the past year and was almost as tall as himself.

Xiao Xiao hid aside and said, "Stop making trouble, take a shower obediently."

……

Silent all night.

The next morning.

Jia Rong got up a little late.

The gentle sunlight shines through the screen window and onto the curtains at the head of the bed.

"Sir, the sun is high in the sky."

Xiaoxiao walked into the inner room carrying a basin of steaming water.

Jia Rong was distracted for a while.

"Xiao Xiao."

"Ok?"

"Can I learn martial arts from you?"

Xiao Xiao put down the basin, covered her mouth and laughed: "Isn't my swordsmanship very powerful? Why do I need to learn martial arts?"

"No."

Jia Rong stood up and put on his clothes, saying, "It's not enough to be good at swordsmanship, I need inner strength, power!"

"This is not easy to do." Xiao Xiao said with some difficulty: "Master, you are too old, the effect of your practice will not be so good."

"I'm only sixteen, not even seventeen." Jia Rong reminded Xiao Xiao, "You're already seventeen!"

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, "I have followed Grandpa since I was a child, and I have already mastered the basic internal skills. The rest is just a matter of slowly honing them. Grandpa hasn't even started yet, and it will take another ten or eight years to master them."

"If the master knew that I taught you martial arts, a scolding would be the least of my worries. What if he chased me away?"

"will not."

Jia Rong said calmly, "I don't plan to become a martial arts master. I just want to learn for an hour every day to strengthen my body."

"As for Grandpa, don't worry. Grandpa didn't let me go out a few years ago because I needed to focus all my energy on studying. Now my writing has reached a bottleneck. It's difficult to move forward. It takes time to accumulate. It's completely feasible to devote some of my attention to learning something else."

Seeing that Jia Rong was really serious, Xiao Xiao could only helplessly say, "Okay, I'll let you do whatever you want outside. When you get home, if you want to learn, you have to tell your grandfather."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

"Let's get started now!"

Xiao Xiao nodded.

"Then start with the basics."

……

After an hour, Jia Rong almost collapsed from exhaustion.

This is much more tiring than studying.

Xiao Xiao stood beside him and asked with a smile, "How is it?"

"Do you still want to learn martial arts?"

"what is this."

Although Jia Rong was very tired, he still smiled faintly: "I think I can hold on!"

For a happy life in the future!
You must persevere too!

"Ok."

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, "I have perseverance, and I will succeed sooner or later."

"Absolutely!"

Jia Rong took another bath and changed into clean clothes.

He was going to go out to Qinhuai River today to see if there were any literary gatherings he could attend recently, and also to see if he could meet Xie Jiwen, Song Yu and others.

……

(End of this chapter)