Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 179 Xichun: Sister Lin, save me!

……

I slept till early morning.

The sunlight with a few rays of red glow shines through the gauze window onto the white curtains, like a landscape and cloud ink painting on rice paper.

Jia Rong opened his eyes and stretched lazily.

No matter how good it is outside, you can still sleep more peacefully at home.

Several maids were chattering outside, no one knew what they were talking about. When they saw Jia Rong wake up, they all walked in.

They were wearing the same light green skirt, light blue lace vest, and double buns, standing in a row like four sisters.

"Hehe, are you awake?"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Wash your face!"

Some people carried water basins, some took towels, and some looked for clothes. They all started to get busy.

Jia Rong said, "I am going to the Imperial College today."

Xiangling: "Oh, I see."

As he spoke, he took out a brand new set of Imperial College uniforms. The fine stitching on it was almost invisible, which contrasted sharply with the shoddy clothes of the Imperial College.

"Sister Qingwen rushed to make this before Master came back. She didn't sleep well for two nights." Xiangling took credit for Qingwen.

Jia Rong looked at Qingwen and asked in confusion, "It's not like you have nothing to wear. What are you in such a hurry for?"

Qingwen first glanced at Xiangling and said softly, "You slept like a fool. You couldn't even hear the thunder. How do you know I didn't sleep well?"

"Master, don't listen to her. I'm sleeping well. I found my regular clothes the other day and they seemed a little small, so I tried to make a bigger one. Try them on and see if they fit you."

Jia Rong didn't say much.

Now that the clothes are ready, the only way to live up to the girl's kindness is to wear them well.

“It fits perfectly!”

After putting on the clothes, Jia Rong praised him.

Qingwen immediately smiled.

"It's fine as long as I think it's good."

Jia Rong said: "Don't stay up late to make clothes in the future. It's bad for your eyes, but the most important thing is..."

"what?"

Everyone asked together.

Staying up late to do needlework is the most common thing for a girl.

Jia Rong said seriously, "You won't be beautiful if you stay up late for too long."

Several people were shocked.

Other things don’t matter, but not being pretty is unacceptable!
Especially Qingwen, she was in a hurry to look in the mirror. For her, she would rather have her head cut and blood shed than not be beautiful!
Jia Rong grabbed her and said with a smile, "Don't be afraid. She is still very beautiful now. Just be careful in the future."

Qingwen blushed, pushed Jia Rong away and said angrily: "Master, you only know how to talk nonsense. I am just a maid, how can I be pretty!"

Having said that, she actually knew in her heart that she was a little prettier than the other girls. Otherwise, why did the master fall in love with her at first sight?
I must never stay up late again!

"You all look at what I'm doing!"

Qingwen felt a little embarrassed and annoyed when she saw that everyone was looking at her.

Ping Er sneered, "You're jealous of us so early in the morning, and you won't let us look at you for a little longer?"

Xiao Xiao covered her mouth: "Ping'er is so sour!"

Xiangling was busy explaining: "I'm not jealous."

Qingwen went forward with a red face to quarrel with Ping'er: "You bitch, you are jealous of me. I will fight with you!"

"Sister Xiaoxiao, come and help me."

"it is good."

Xiaoxiao stepped forward and gently pinched Qingwen's waist.

"Ouch."

"Giggle!"

Qingwen was most ticklish around her waist, especially her armpits. She could not hold on any longer and fell into Ping'er's arms.

"Sister Xiaoxiao, what's wrong with you?"

Xiao Xiao smiled.

"Because I'm jealous too."

Qingwen: “Woo woo…”

What a bully!
Aren’t they just more distinctive in appearance?

The maids were making a scene together, so Jia Rong certainly couldn't help anyone. He said to Xiangling, who didn't get involved, "Let them make a scene, and you comb my hair."

"it is good."

Xiangling nodded obediently, picked up the comb and carefully combed Jia Rong's hair, then tied it into a bun.

I had just finished doing my hair when someone jumped in from outside.

It was Xiao Xichun, who was wearing a light green double-breasted jacket and a white silk skirt, with a smile on her face but pretending to be unhappy.

"Brother Rong!"

"Humph!"

"You didn't come to see me when you got home. Didn't you miss me when you were out there?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "How could that be? I miss my aunt every day, and Aunt Lin can testify to that."

Xichun smiled brightly upon hearing this, but then asked in confusion: "Why are you still calling her Aunt Lin? You shouldn't call her..."

Jia Rong: "What?"

Xichun smiled and said, "Rong'er, do you still want to hide it from me? Haven't you already, hehe!"

Jia Rong: “…”

"Aunt, what did you say?"

"I don't quite understand."

Jia Rong said seriously.

Xichun: "Miss Lin has confessed, how long do you want to keep it a secret from me?"

Jia Rong: "What did you confess?"

Xichun: "It's your business!"

"When did you two get together? Tell me about it."

Jia Rong frowned slightly.

"Be careful what you say, be careful what you say."

"Aunt, you should study hard and stop thinking about random things all day. I'll hire a female teacher to teach you in a few days."

The old gentleman went home before the New Year because he was said to be ill and never came back. Xichun and others’ studies also stopped and they did not have a great time this year.

Xichun's face suddenly turned bitter.

"Okay, okay, I won't ask you these questions."

"I'm going out to play."

After saying this, she lifted up her skirt and ran away quickly. If she slowed down a little, Jia Rong would find a teacher for her.

"Slow down!"

"I have something else to tell you..."

Xichun didn't even turn her head.

"Auntie is very busy today, let's talk later."

Xichun ran to her own yard in one breath, holding her chest and heaving a sigh of relief. Ruhua followed behind her, panting, and kept muttering, "Girl, girl, slow down, slow down."

"What's wrong? Running so fast?"

Lin Daiyu happened to be at the door, looking at Xichun and asked in confusion.

Xichun gasped and threw herself into Lin Daiyu's arms, saying in fear, "Sister Lin, save me. Rong'er wants to find a female teacher to teach me. What should I do?"

Lin Daiyu hugged Xichun and said with a consoling smile: "Read more books to become smart, so that you won't be called a pauper like my second sister-in-law. When the time comes, I will accompany you to study and be your study partner."

"But……"

Xichun curled her lips: "I don't want to study."

Lin Daiyu said, "No! Grandpa is a Jinshi, and Rong'er will also pass the imperial examination in the future. The whole family is a scholarly family. As the eldest daughter of the mansion, how can you not study? Not only must you study, but you must study well!"

Xiao Xichun: "..."

No way?
Why are you controlling me?

Am I the aunt or are you the aunt?

……

Let’s talk about Jia Rong.

After washing up in the morning, he followed Xiao Xiao to do some boxing and kicking to keep fit. After having breakfast, he got on a carriage and went to the Imperial College.

Of course, Xiaoxiao followed Jia Rong closely all the way to the gate of the Imperial College.

"Grandpa, I'm going home to see Grandpa and will pick you up in the afternoon."

"Okay, go ahead."

Jia Rong raised his head and looked at the gate of the Imperial College.

Eight or nine months have passed in a flash.

This is only because he has strong connections. If it were someone with no identity or background, he would probably have been expelled from the Imperial College.

His teacher Zhou Zhengguan must be looking forward to it by now, right? After all, he was his favorite student. When he was in Jinling, he received a letter from his teacher, asking him if he had studied hard recently. Xie Jiwen must have come back a long time ago, right? I just don't know if he has studied hard and whether his writing has improved.

Is Xu Lian still studying as hard as before? I have been busy with mundane things recently and haven't practiced writing much. I guess I have fallen behind him.

The guards at the door were still the same people. When they saw Jia Rong come in, they came forward and greeted him with a smile.

"The eldest master is finally back. We have been missing you."

"I heard that the eldest son studied in Jiangnan? I guess his writing skills have improved even more, right?"

"Eldest Young Master..."

Jia Rong answered the questions asked by several people with a smile, and then entered the gate of the Imperial College.

Because yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival, most of the students of the Imperial College had left the academy and were rushing back at this time. Some of them were looking for family reunions, some were looking for their lovers, and those who had nothing had to stay in the academy and drink alone under the moon.

"Shunzhi!"

"Thank you, sir? What are you doing?"

"Ahem, it's hard to put it into words."

Xie Jiwen covered his face and walked inside, whispering, "Is there anything to cover me?"

Jia Rong looked at his hands, empty.

Originally he wanted to take a folding fan, but this autumn was quite cold and there was no point in holding it.

"Do you want me to ask for leave for you?"

This should be the only thing he can do.

"Okay! Okay!" Xie Jiwen said gratefully, "Thank you, brother. I'll go back to the dormitory to recuperate for two days. It would be best if you could get me some medicine for my injuries."

Jia Rong nodded: "Okay, I'll go take a look later, but how did you get this? Was it scratched by someone?"

Scratching face!
How great is this hatred?
"Did you use force?!"

Jia Rong was shocked.

Xie Jiwen's face flushed, "No, it's just a misunderstanding." After saying this, fearing that Jia Rong would not believe him, he carefully took out a handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms from his arms, as if the handkerchief was a rare treasure, and said tenderly, "She gave it to me."

Jia Rong was speechless.

"So you have a handkerchief, why don't you use it to cover your face?"

Xie Jiwen: "I'm afraid it will get dirty."

"Defiled her."

Jia Rong: “…”

Talent!

At this time, there were quite a lot of people at the door, and many of them were looking over here. Jia Rong hurriedly blocked Xie Jiwen, and the two of them went into the residence.

"who is she?"

"Yes……"

Xie Jiwen suddenly said: "Oh no, I don't even know her name!"

Jia Rong: “…”

Xie Jiwen continued, "However, everyone calls her Mei Niang, and she deserves to be called Mei Niang. I have decided that I must marry her in this life!"

Jia Rong: "Punishment!"

"But I think it would be better for you to just elope."

The Xie family had very strict education and family rules, and he knew that.

Xie Jiwen said stupidly, "Stop messing around, I'm serious."

Jia Rong sat on a chair and smiled, "Where is your dream lover? Did she fall in love with someone else because she was hurt by him?"

"Oh, forget it."

Xie Jiwen waved his hand: "I haven't seen him at all. It is said that he was invited by a big shot."

Jia Rong: "What big shot?"

Xie Jiwen said: "I don't know about that. Anyway, she has nothing to do with me anymore. From now on, I will only care about Mei Niang."

She has nothing to do with you, right?

It's you who's been dreaming all along.

Jia Rong laughed and said, "You have too many names. At first you called her Miss Mingyue, then Miss Yun, Miss Su, and now you have Mei Niang. I think I can call you: Mr. Xie, the affectionate one."

Xie Jiwen smiled awkwardly.

"This time it's different."

"I am willing to study hard for her and get a good score on the imperial examination. I will bring it up with my father when the time comes. I think it should be possible."

Just hope to get a place on the list of successful candidates!

Jia Rong was speechless.

Is it so easy to get a place on the list of successful candidates?

Furthermore, after passing the imperial examination, the gap between their statuses will be even greater, and things will probably be even more difficult to accomplish. If he becomes a playboy with no future, his family will be extremely disappointed, and who knows, it might really end up like that.

However, Jia Rong did not attack him at this time. Instead, he smiled and said, "Did you fall in love with her because of this tickle?"

Xie Jiwen waved his hand.

"I've already said it, this is a misunderstanding."

The two talked for a while, and then Jia Rong went to the Imperial College's medical room to buy a bottle of golden medicine for Xie Jiwen, and told him, "Be careful when using it, it's very expensive!"

Xie Jiwen accepted the small bottle of golden wound medicine and said with a smile, "Young Master, are you short of these little things? Remember to ask for leave for me."

Jia Rong: "That's easy."

"By the way, is Xu Lian doing well recently?"

Xie Jiwen: "It seems something happened to his family. He hasn't come to the Imperial College for several months, and he hasn't attended any literary gatherings."

Jia Rong: "Oh? What's the matter?"

"It seems like his brother was injured. I don't know much else." While speaking, Xie Jiwen opened the bottle of medicine and started applying it on his face.

"Well, go see him when you have time."

"Do you know where his home is?"

Xie Jiwen: “I don’t know.”

"..."

After such a long delay, it was already past the hour of Chen and the sound of reading aloud could be heard from all the schools.

Jia Rong did not rush into the classroom, but went to the courtyard of his teacher Zhou Zhengguan.

"teacher."

Jia Rong walked closer and bowed politely.

Zhou Zhengguan, who was writing something, was stunned for a moment, looked up, and a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.

"Shunzhi!"

"When did you come back?"

Jia Rong said, "I just happened to come back yesterday in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and today I'm reporting to the Imperial College."

Zhou Zhengguan said, "Since you just came back yesterday, you must have been exhausted from the long journey. Why don't you stay at home and rest for a few days?"

Although he said this, he was actually very satisfied with Jia Rong's eagerness to learn.

Especially Jia Rong’s current identity.

Young cabinet minister, young marquis.

Before he even entered officialdom, he had already reached the highest position in the country.

Most people with such a status are inevitably blinded by vanity and prosperity, and become arrogant, complacent, or too ambitious, and their talents are gradually buried.

But Jia Rong seemed not to be affected at all.

Still humble and polite, modest and eager to learn.

This is the most rare thing!
"Tell me about your feelings during this study tour in Jiangnan."

Here it is again.

Jia Rong had already prepared, and recited the prepared speech: "The literary style in Jiangnan is flourishing, and there are endless good articles in the literary gatherings. Students have participated in several literary gatherings and benefited a lot..."

Zhou Zhengguan was very satisfied after hearing this, and told Jia Rong not to slack off, as there was less than a year left before the provincial examination, and he should strive to be the top of the list then.

Jia Lianlian was modest: "I dare not, I dare not."

……

Xuanzhen Temple is built halfway up the mountain.

There is green smoke curling up above, as if in a fairyland.

At this time, the sun was rising, and a carriage came down the mountain, and an old man got off the carriage.

It was Lao Qinye.

It is said that Old Qin Ye was so worried that he almost didn't sleep the whole night. He got up at five o'clock in the morning and got on the family's carriage to Xuanzhen Temple.

Two hours' work was finally over.

"Master, the one above is Xuanzhen Temple." The servant said, pointing to a Taoist temple halfway up the mountain.

Old Qinye saw it and started to complain in his heart.

It's one thing to practice Taoism, but you've even reached the middle of a mountain. Does it mean that if you reach high enough into the sky, you can become a god?

He must persuade his old friend.

Don't be stubborn anymore!

……

(End of this chapter)