Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 375 Assistant Manager Ning Rong
Baoyu arrived excitedly, but upon seeing Chen Siyuan, his face stiffened. He forced a smile and greeted him as "Brother Yuan" before quickly passing by. He then went to the tea house and began asking the old woman there endless questions.

The old woman laughed and said, "Miss Qin has drunk a few more cups. I see her face is flushed and she can't hold her liquor. She's gone to the eldest mistress's room now."

Having received confirmation, Baoyu hurriedly entered the Grand View Garden and headed to Daoxiang Village to find Xue Baoqin.

Chen Siyuan and Yuanyang moved on, and before he could ask, Yuanyang whispered, "Qiongzhang is the nickname of the third daughter of the Zhen family. I heard that the third daughter of the Zhen family is named Zhen Yixiu. I took a look at her with the old lady at that time. The third daughter of the Zhen family is dignified and graceful. The old lady praised her for having the qualities of the eldest daughter-in-law."

Is there such a thing in the original text? Unfortunately, Chen Siyuan always read books superficially without seeking a deep understanding, and he had absolutely no interest in that damned third daughter of the Zhen family.

He simply smiled and said, "No wonder Brother Bao is so excited."

Yuanyang giggled and covered her mouth with her hand. Who in the East and West mansions didn't know that Baoyu loved to talk and tease girls of good character? Thinking of what Master Yuan had done, Yuanyang made a sarcastic remark: "I wonder if Master Yuan would be overjoyed if he saw it."

"Huh?" Chen Siyuan turned his head in surprise and saw Yuanyang smiling brightly, her round eyes full of affection. Yes, Yuanyang will be nineteen next year. If it weren't for the old lady's inability to leave, she would probably have been betrothed long ago. People say that a young girl's heart is always poetic. Yuanyang is so young, and she has already settled her future. She must treat herself differently from others.

Chen Siyuan couldn't help but tease, "If you keep making fun of me, I won't stand for it."

As they passed the large, pink-painted screen wall, and seeing that there was no one around in the passageway, Chen Siyuan reached out and touched Yuanyang's waist.

Yuanyang let out a cry of "Oh!" and her pretty face instantly turned pink. She looked up with a reproachful look in her eyes, but bit her lower lip and said nothing.

Chen Siyuan's heart stirred, and he whispered to Yuanyang, "It's a coincidence that I received a whole box of South Sea pearls as a reward from the Prince today. Sister, if you have time to come over, I'll select some to make a pearl hairpin for you to wear."

Having grown older, Yuanyang was slightly flustered, but not entirely at a loss. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "Grandpa Yuan, are you serious? Then I'll take you seriously."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "When have I ever lied to anyone? Sister, just come back anytime."

Yuanyang nodded and noted it down. Seeing that they were about to turn into Rongqing Hall, she quickly tidied her clothes, took a deep breath to remove the blush from her face, and led Chen Siyuan along the covered corridor into the side hall, and then around the screen to Rongqing Hall.

Chen Siyuan entered the room and looked around. He saw Grandmother Jia sitting on a soft couch, smiling and leaning on her cane. Sitting next to her were Madam Xing and Sister Feng.

Chen Siyuan stepped forward to greet her, and Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Yuan-ge'er, no need for such formalities. Amber, quickly brew Yuan-ge'er a cup of the newly arrived pre-rain Longjing tea."

Chen Siyuan thanked her, lifted his robe and sat down in the right wing. His gaze swept over Madam Xing and saw that the woman had a smug look on her face, as if she were proud of herself.

Sister Feng had already heard the news from Hongyu, and now she was all smiles, looking at Chen Siyuan with great approval.

Amber served fragrant tea, and then Grandmother Jia brought up the matter of Lady Hou sending a marriage proposal. Chen Siyuan told the truth, saying that he was living in the capital and had no relatives or family members, so he had no choice but to ask his teacher's wife to come and propose marriage.

A person's thoughts vary with time and circumstances. Previously, Chen Siyuan broke off the marriage alliance, so Grandmother Jia hated him to the bone; now that Chen Siyuan wants to marry the second daughter Yingchun, he will become the old lady's grandson-in-law, and he is of excellent character and appearance, with extraordinary abilities and methods. Seeing that he has a bright future, the old lady naturally wants to form a good relationship with him, in order to prepare for him to help the Jia family in the future.

For a lady of the third rank to come and propose marriage would be a matter of both prestige and social standing. Moreover, noble ladies from meritorious families rarely interacted with ladies from civil official families, and Grandmother Jia was unaware of the Hou family's background, which is why she sought out Chen Siyuan to inquire.

Upon hearing that Lady Hou was from the Marquis of Jiading family, Grandmother Jia immediately became solemn and said to Madam Xing, "The Marquis of Jiading family is a famous family in Jiangnan. You must personally greet her the day after tomorrow and be sure to observe proper etiquette."

Madam Xing nodded in agreement, and Grandmother Jia then instructed Feng Jie: "Prepare plenty of Huaiyang dishes for lunch the day after tomorrow, and use Shaoxing wine."

Sister Feng smiled and agreed, saying, "Don't worry, Grandmother, I will make sure Lady Hou feels at home the day after tomorrow."

Grandmother Jia smiled and nodded, then asked Chen Siyuan, "Will you take the imperial examination next year, Yuan-ge?" Seeing him nod, she added, "In that case, I won't keep you any longer. I just hope you pass the examination soon so you can marry the Second Miss in style."

Chen Siyuan stood up and smiled in agreement. He then bid farewell to Madam Xing and Sister Feng before taking his leave. Because Chen Siyuan hadn't gone to the east courtyard for the past few days, Madam Xing was filled with curiosity. Even if Chen Siyuan hadn't come, she was already thinking of going to the thatched cottage. Seeing that there was nothing else to do, she quickly got up and took her leave as well.

As soon as Chen Siyuan reached the side hall, Madam Xing came out after him: "Wait a moment, Yuan-ge'er, I have something to say to you."

After a moment's thought, Chen Siyuan said, "In that case, I'll see Auntie off."

Madam Xing nodded, and the two walked along the covered corridor. Madam Xing asked in a low voice, "I've never heard of any connection between you and Liao Shiwei. How did you become his disciple?"

Chen Siyuan knew that Madam Xing was muddle-headed and confused most of the time, so he only reported good news and not bad news. He only said that his book, "The Annals of the Four Continents," had caught Liao Shiwei's eye, and that Liao Shiwei wanted to take him as his disciple on the spot after a chance encounter.

Madam Xing beamed with joy and praised Chen Siyuan in every way imaginable, feeling that she and her fourth son would have someone to rely on in the future. After leaving the hanging flower gate, Madam Xing couldn't help but turn around and look at Miao'er and Tiao'er behind her with a smile, saying, "You two little rascals are lucky. In two years, I will let you leave the manor. You must take good care of the young master from now on."

Miao'er and Tiao'er blushed but were secretly delighted. They quickly bowed and agreed, then glanced hesitantly at Chen Siyuan.

When they reached the side gate near the left side of the main gate, Madam Xing said, "Young master, there's no need to see me off. The master has been so busy these past few days that he's barely had time to breathe. I heard he's partnered with someone to lease a hillside, and he's just waiting to make his mark."

He leased a hillside? Chen Siyuan suddenly realized that Jia She was waiting for the houttuynia cordata to grow on its own, not knowing that dried houttuynia cordata was more effective.
Chen Siyuan smiled meaningfully and exchanged a glance with Madam Xing. Both of them understood each other perfectly well, but it was inconvenient to say anything at the moment, so they took their leave.

Chen Siyuan returned to his thatched cottage to study, which is not worth mentioning. Instead, Feng Jie immediately gave instructions and found a purchasing agent to buy all kinds of ingredients.

Before long, Chen Siyuan became Liao Shiwei's apprentice, and the news that Lady Hou would come to propose marriage soon spread throughout the household.

Those who received favors from Chen Siyuan praised Master Yuan for his abilities; those who felt envious said that Chen Siyuan had gotten incredibly lucky—the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue accepted him as a disciple in person, not to mention that this teacher also had a cousin who was a first-rank governor.

Anyone with eyes to see knows that one of the Liao brothers will likely enter the cabinet someday. At that time, Chen Siyuan will be the Grand Secretary's disciple, and his future will be far more promising than just bright. Not to mention that Daiyu's teacher, Jia Yucun, has already become the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War and a military advisor!
Upon reflection, it's clear that Chen Siyuan's good fortune is not the good fortune of the Second Miss Yingchun!

So the next day, when Yingchun went to the Furen Yude Hall to manage the general affairs, the stewards and daughters-in-law who were following orders all looked at her with envy.

Yingchun knew her own situation; this good marriage was something she had planned herself. Seeing her beloved rising to prominence, she was overjoyed but also inevitably apprehensive, fearing that the marriage might encounter some setbacks. Her maid, Xiuju, however, was somewhat indignant. When she returned to Zhuijin Tower, she said, "Master Yuan is certainly a good man, but the young lady is no less so. How come those old women say that the young lady is just lucky... making it seem as if the young lady is not good enough for Master Yuan?"

Siqi had been in low spirits these past two days. Upon hearing this, she glanced at Xiuju but remained silent. In her heart, let alone the Second Miss, even a celestial being wouldn't be worthy of Master Yuan.

Siqi then said, "People can say whatever they want. Can you control what they say or what they think? I'll just ignore it. Those who say such sour things are just envious of our young lady."

Xiuju pouted, about to say something more, when she suddenly heard a maid downstairs call out, "Sister Hongyu has brought something!"

The host and the two servants upstairs quickly stopped talking. Xiuju happily went downstairs to greet Hongyu, and soon led Hongyu upstairs.

Hongyu, all smiles, entered and gave a hasty curtsy. Holding a brocade box, she said to Yingchun, "Second Miss, my master received a reward from Prince Yanping, and he gave us forty South Sea pearls, saying he wanted to make a beaded flower for you to wear."

Xiuju took the box and couldn't resist opening it to peek inside. She saw that silver, pink, gold, and rose-colored South Sea pearls were neatly arranged inside, and after a quick count, she knew there were ten of each kind. Just by looking at their size, she knew they were quite valuable.

Xiuju was overjoyed and eagerly handed the oranges over to Yingchun for inspection, saying, "Look, young lady, each one is the size of a fingernail; they are truly fine items."

Yingchun felt both bittersweet and comforted. She knew all too well that rumors were spreading everywhere, and Chen Siyuan's actions were meant to put her mind at ease.

Yingchun said gratefully, "Brother Yuan is so kind. Please thank him for me when you get back." As she spoke, she gave Siqi a wink. Siqi pouted, found the money box, and brought out two four-qian silver coins, which she gave to Hongyu on Yingchun's behalf.

Hongyu knew that Siqi wouldn't be staying long, so she happily accepted the reward, pretending not to see Siqi's dark face.

After Hongyu left, Xiuju volunteered to take the box and find the purchasing agent, asking him to make pearl flowers for her. Xiuju didn't return for almost half an hour, and naturally, everyone knew about it on the way. In addition, Wang Shanbao's wife returned the favor by scolding the two gossiping old women, and so no one in the mansion dared to say anything more.

That afternoon, Chen Siyuan went to the Liao family again. The next day, at the first quarter of the morning, Hou Shi, accompanied by her maids and servants, arrived at the Rongguo Mansion in an oil-painted carriage.

Madam Xing led Sister Feng out of the ceremonial gate to greet them. The main gate of the Rongguo Mansion was wide open. After stepping down the threshold, they welcomed the painted carriage into the mansion.

The two greeted Madam Hou, and after a brief conversation, they headed together towards Rongqing Hall.

Hou was born into a famous family in Jiangnan. She was well-educated and reasonable from a young age, and she was able to handle situations with grace. When she entered Rongqing Hall, she made Grandmother Jia smile with just a few words.

After some casual conversation and a cup of tea, Madam Hou brought up the marriage proposal, and Madam Xing readily agreed. They then exchanged the birth certificates of Chen Siyuan and Yingchun in front of Madam Hou. Grandmother Jia then invited Madam Hou to have lunch at Rongqing Hall before having Madam Xing politely see her off.

Once the birth charts have been exchanged, the marriage is practically a done deal. Unless a major accident occurs, any mention of incompatibility in the birth charts will create enmity between the two families.

Madam Xing was pleased with herself. She thought that even if Chen Siyuan got married and left the Rongguo Mansion, she could still bring her fourth brother to visit often. So she happily went to Qingtang Thatched Cottage to discuss the engagement with Chen Siyuan.

All the sisters in the Grand View Garden were in high spirits. Yingchun initially dared to wander around, but after being teased by Xing Xiuyan and the others, she immediately became shy and hid in Zhuijin Tower.

The sisters were all of similar age. Although Xiangyun was already engaged, it seemed like she had entrusted herself to the wrong person. Yingchun, on the other hand, seemed to be the first suitable match. The others dared not bother Chen Siyuan, so they all went to Zhuijin Tower together.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Baochai and Lin Daiyu felt even closer to the second young lady, Yingchun. Lin Daiyu was very perceptive; she was the heir to the Lin family lineage. If the first wife was kind, then she would keep in touch with her. If the first wife was difficult, then they would live their own lives behind closed doors.

Baochai had a different set of thoughts. The position of principal wife had been given to the second young lady, and Baochai felt a pang of bitterness mixed with other emotions. Although the second young lady had some cunning, she seemed to have a gentle nature. Furthermore, having lived in the Jia family for several years, Baochai had never offended Yingchun, so she assumed Yingchun wouldn't dare to bully her, and thus treated her with more consideration.

Xing Xiuyan was the instigator, and Yingchun was well aware of her thoughts and desires. Now, upon hearing that Siqi intended to leave the manor, Xing Xiuyan wittily teased the second young lady.
Although the third daughter, Tan Chun, has a smile as bright as a flower, who knows the bitterness in her heart? A good woman is sought after by many, but little do they know that a good man is also in the same boat?
Tan Chun was just beginning to experience romantic feelings, and having been rescued by Chen Siyuan, she couldn't forget him even if she tried hard to suppress her emotions. In addition, Aunt Zhao was always egging her on. At this moment, she smiled and congratulated him, but in her heart, she felt extremely stifled.

She secretly lamented that she was born two years too late, and despite all her grievances and dissatisfaction, she had to suppress them in her heart.

The fourth sister, Xichun, was still young and naive, only thinking that her second sister and Brother Yuan were a good match. From then on, Brother Yuan became her brother-in-law, and her second sister, who had suffered for more than ten years, finally found a good place to settle down.
Xiangyun chattered the loudest, seemingly carefree, but Daiyu, with her keen senses, always felt that Xiangyun was putting on an act.
Baoqin arrived at the Jia family last and wasn't very familiar with the second sister, Yingchun. So she just chimed in with some lighthearted banter, but dared not say anything presumptuous. The laughter and merriment continued, keeping the blush on Yingchun's face. Then, the wet nurse, Wang, came to offer her congratulations. Xiuju opened her money box and scattered a considerable amount of silver coins, finally managing to appease the maidservants who had come to offer their congratulations.

Meanwhile, Madam Xing was happily reclining in her chair, talking with Chen Siyuan in the thatched cottage.

"...You didn't see it. Lady Hou is clearly a lady from a prominent family. She acts with propriety and grace. After seeing her, I realized what it means to live up to her reputation. My family could never raise a woman like her." Then, she added with some regret, "Third Sister is a good-natured girl and has even had two years of formal education, but the Xing family is just a small, humble family. She simply can't compare to her in terms of demeanor."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Living in a place that nourishes the spirit and moving around to nourish the body, I think Third Sister married well, at least her husband's family doesn't have so many troubles."

Perhaps thinking of Sister Xing and herself, Madam Xing frowned and sighed, "You're right. I don't ask for anything else now, I only hope that Fourth Brother will be happy, healthy, safe and well in the future."

After a pause, Madam Xing instructed those around her, "I need to have a private talk with Yuan-ge'er. You may all leave now."

Hongyu, Miao'er, and the others assumed that Madam Xing wanted to discuss the betrothal gifts with Chen Siyuan, so they smiled, curtsied, and withdrew.

As soon as the man left, Madam Xing lowered her voice and said, "The master has spent nearly two thousand taels of silver. Not only has he leased the hillside land, but he has also heard that the Yanshan Mountains are full of grass. He has also hired more than a hundred farmhands. It seems that he is going to buy a distillery soon."

He was often away from home, and he only drank the medicinal wine intermittently. I was worried it wouldn't be effective, so I urged him to drink an extra cup each time.

Chen Siyuan felt a chill run down his spine, thinking that Madam Xing must be extremely disgusted with Jia She, and was probably hoping that Jia She would be reincarnated as soon as possible.

Chen Siyuan then said, "You're confused. If he dies, Yingchun will have to observe a twenty-seven-month mourning period!"

Madam Xing blinked, then suddenly realized, "Oh, right, I completely forgot about that." After a moment's hesitation, she pursed her lips and said, "Then... shall we take a break for now?"

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "Let's stop here for now. Let's wait until I marry Yingchun before we talk about it."

Madam Xing nodded in agreement, then frowned and said, "The master was saying yesterday that Yingchun is a daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, so the betrothal gifts must be decent. Ha, do I not know what he's thinking? He's short of money and is eager to use the betrothal gifts to make up for the deficit."

"In my opinion, a dowry of one or two thousand taels of silver is sufficient. Any more, and I'm afraid the master will embezzle it all."

Chen Siyuan smiled and shook his head; he dared not agree to such a request. Baochai's dowry was tens of thousands of taels of silver, while Daiyu's was less, but her political resources were extremely abundant. Yingchun was already weak-willed; if she were to show favoritism, how would she manage to control the servants in the future?

Although Chen Siyuan harbored some bias, having decided to marry Yingchun, he naturally wouldn't treat the betrothal gifts unfairly. He immediately said, "Later, you can send the betrothal gifts to the old lady's private treasury and return them along with the dowry. Even if the master has immense power, does he dare to open the old lady's private treasury?"

These days, any family with a modicum of respect will send the groom's betrothal gifts back along with the dowry when their daughter gets married, keeping them as her personal savings. There are truly shameless people who don't marry off their daughters; they sell them.

Therefore, in the original book, Sun Shaozu constantly beat and scolded Yingchun because the eldest master, Jia She, had embezzled five thousand taels of silver from Sun Shaozu. At that time, the Jia family was on the verge of decline, and the second daughter, Yingchun, was a stubborn person. This is why she was abused to death by Sun Shaozu.

Madam Xing thought about it and agreed, then asked, "How much dowry do you plan to prepare?"

"It will be around five thousand taels. As you know, I don't have any relatives in the capital. In a few days, I will find a wedding shop and a manufacturing unit to handle the arrangements. I will make sure that my second sister doesn't lose face."

Madam Xing felt a pang of heartache, but ultimately said nothing. After thinking it over for a moment, she said, "After exchanging birth dates, we need to sign the marriage contract and place a small betrothal. I must go and discuss this with the old lady."

Having said that, she got up and left without delay. Chen Siyuan thought to himself, "A small betrothal can be made, but a large one will probably have to wait until next year." He still remembered that after the Dowager Empress left, it was as if noble families were forbidden from holding banquets and playing music for a year, and commoners were forbidden from getting married for three months.

However, it was not appropriate to reveal this, so Chen Siyuan got up to see Madam Xing off and then returned to his study to concentrate on his studies.

On the 29th, Lady Hou sent a letter saying that they had checked each other's birth charts and found that their horoscopes were compatible. They also agreed to meet at her residence on the first day of the month to settle their engagement.

Chen Siyuan hurriedly went to the Liao residence, intending to arrange the betrothal gifts himself. However, this greatly displeased Liao Shiwei, who said with a stern face, "Since your parents have passed away early and your relatives are estranged, I, your teacher, will handle the betrothal matters."

Although I am not wealthy, I can still afford this small betrothal gift.

Unable to argue with Liao Shiwei, Chen Siyuan could only keep the matter to himself. He also heard that his mentor had two sons and a daughter who were taking care of their grandmother back in their hometown, so he decided to repay the kindness by giving his junior sister a generous dowry when she got married in the future.

Before they knew it, it was the first day of the third month. At the beginning of the day, the main gate of the Rongguo Mansion opened, and the Liao family servants carried several small betrothal gifts into the mansion first. A quarter of an hour later, Lady Hou arrived in a sedan chair.

Madam Xing happily welcomed Madam Hou to Rongqing Hall for a chat. Since the second young lady did not want to show herself, Feng Jie was asked to calculate the betrothal gifts.

The contents include: 20 taels of gold, 200 taels of silver, 10 taels of pearls, 20 bolts of various colored silks and satins, 2 taels of cotton rouge, 2 taels of gold-flowered rouge, 2 pigs, 4 sheep, 8 geese, 20 bottles of various wines and beverages, and a quantity of tea, fruit, rice, and noodles.

A single gold, silver, or pearl is worth five or six hundred taels of silver; including the rest, it would be at least eight hundred taels, if not a thousand.

The Hou family was extremely strict in managing their household, and the Liao family's servants were very disciplined. In addition, the betrothal gifts were very generous, so the servants in the outer courtyard dared not underestimate them. After listening to Sister Feng's instructions and counting the gifts, they sent the betrothal gifts to Grandmother Jia's private treasury.

Sister Feng registered the items, and Yuanyang took the key to open the private vault. After everything was settled, she locked the door and left.

The atmosphere in Rongqing Hall was joyful. Madam Hou smiled and said some auspicious words. After exchanging marriage certificates with Madam Xing, they began to discuss the wedding date.

Madam Hou then said, "As the old lady and the first madam know, there will be a special imperial examination next year. Shu Liang's teacher thinks that the imperial examination should be the priority. Why don't we discuss the wedding date after the spring examination?"

Madam Xing chimed in, "That's perfect, it gives me time to prepare Yingchun's dowry. Does the old lady have any ideas?"

Grandmother Jia, sitting on the soft couch, smiled and said, "Marriage is a major event, decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. What other opinions do I have? Yuan-ge'er's talent and ability are beyond question. We must not let marriage delay his future. As Shu-ren said, we will discuss the wedding date after the imperial examination next year."

With the matter settled, Grandmother Jia invited Lady Hou to stay for lunch. Soon after, a maid from Rongqing Hall, Baba'er, delivered a message to Zhuijin Tower. Upon hearing that the betrothal had been made and the marriage contract signed, the second young lady was so ashamed that she hid in Zhuijin Tower all day, not daring to see anyone.

Although her face was burning, Yingchun finally felt at ease. With the marriage agreement signed, there were no further changes to their marriage plans. They would just have to wait until after the imperial examinations the following spring, when Chen Siyuan would come to their door to ask for the wedding date.

Thinking about the upcoming wedding ceremony, the wedding procession, the bowing to heaven and earth, and the bridal chamber, the second daughter, Yingchun, blushed deeply. Perhaps it was because she had been thinking about it all day, she dreamed about it that night.

I vaguely dreamt that I was riding in a bridal sedan chair, swaying and rocking, towards Chen Siyuan's house. Suddenly, a gong sounded outside, and Xiuju, one of my dowry maids, shouted, "Oh no! That guy surnamed Sun is here to steal the bride!"

Yingchun was terrified and trembled all over. She was also very puzzled. What did the man surnamed Sun have to do with her? Why did he want to steal her away?
She lifted the veil and the carriage curtain to look out, and saw smoke and dust billowing in the air ahead. A moment later, Xiuju came over cheerfully to report: "Miss, the man surnamed Sun has been beheaded by the young master!"

Yingchun was increasingly astonished, yet in her dream it seemed perfectly natural. She then stepped over the saddle, bowed to heaven and earth, and briefly sat on the wedding bed. Chen Siyuan then used a scale rod to lift her veil. Before they had even drunk the nuptial wine, Chen Siyuan lifted her chin and said, "Second sister, have you been waiting long enough? Let's go to the bridal chamber now."

Yingchun, feigning reluctance, found herself pinned beneath him, the intimate moments blurring in her mind. Suddenly, Yingchun awoke with a start, realizing she was soaked to the ground, and her pretty face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Xiu Ju was on night watch that day, and was fast asleep in the warm chamber. Ying Chun pursed her lips, quietly took off her undergarment, tiptoed to the bottom of the chest, rummaged through the chests, changed into her new clothes, and then picked up her old clothes, feeling both amused and exasperated. After thinking for a moment, she crumpled them up haphazardly and threw them under the bed before nervously lying down again.

After tossing and turning, Yingchun drifted off to sleep. Her eyes were fixed on the dark ceiling above the bed, listening to the occasional crackling of the silver charcoal in the brazier. She couldn't help but sigh softly, "Next year... I'll be getting married."

After sighing, Yingchun couldn't help but laugh again, pulling the covers over her head. After much deliberation and scheming, her wish had finally come true; she only hoped to soon be united with the two of them. She didn't want to stay in the Rongguo Mansion for another day.

After an unknown amount of time, Yingchun finally fell asleep again. In the morning, because of the commotion during the night, Yingchun unusually stayed in bed.

Xiuju came to urge Yingchun several times, but Yingchun said she wasn't feeling well. Siqi then went to the Furen Yude Hall and instructed that all official business be put aside for the day, and that the Second Miss should come back in the afternoon to hear her report.

After Siqi returned, Yingchun couldn't fall asleep again, her mind preoccupied with the undergarment hidden under the bed. While Xiuju went to fetch the food box, Siqi dressed herself, and Yingchun quickly got up, put on her clothes, and secretly hid the undergarment in the closet.

When Xiuju returned, the two maids didn't notice anything amiss, and Yingchun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After a listless breakfast, Xiuju was helping Yingchun with her washing and dressing when an old woman rushed in looking for her.

After asking the questions, Siqi came upstairs and said with a stern face, "Miss, a eunuch came early this morning, saying that he was sent by the Empress."

Yingchun hurriedly urged, "Quickly help me with my hair and makeup."

Siqi said, "Second Madam knows that Miss is not good at answering questions, so she is urging Second Master to answer them now."

Yingchun frowned slightly, a vague unease creeping into her heart. After a while, a servant brought word, saying, "The Dowager Princess passed away last night. Her Majesty has sent someone to inform the household so that preparations can be made as soon as possible."

Yingchun was startled, and Xiuju immediately said, "What a close call! Luckily, the engagement was made yesterday, otherwise, wouldn't the young lady's wedding have been delayed?"

Yingchun nodded silently, feeling a lingering sense of unease. The worst thing is delay; as the saying goes, "delay breeds trouble." Who knew what changes might occur if the wedding were postponed?

That afternoon, an imperial edict was indeed issued from the palace: court would be suspended for three days, all noble families would be forbidden from holding banquets and playing music for a year, and commoners would be forbidden from getting married for three months. Officials and noblewomen would begin to dress up according to their rank the next day and attend court and sacrifices daily.

Amber came again to summon Yingchun to Rongqing Hall for a meeting. Yingchun hurried to Rongqing Hall and found that the eldest master Jia She, Jia Lian, Jia Zhen, and others were all there. After taking stock of everyone, Grandmother Jia found that Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Lady You, and Sister Feng, who had imperial titles, all had to go to the palace to participate in the sacrificial ceremony. In this way, it was still manageable for the Rongguo Mansion, at least Yingchun could manage it, but the Ningguo Mansion had no one available.

Furthermore, Jia Rong's injuries had not yet healed, and it was not appropriate for Yingchun, a young lady, to manage the affairs of the outer courtyard. Moreover, Lady Wang and Lady Xing were not capable of handling the general affairs, and Grandmother Jia could not do without Fengjie to take care of everything. Therefore, she discussed with everyone and informed You Shi that she was ill, so that she could stay at home to assist with the affairs of the Ning and Rong mansions.

Jia She, Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, and the others were indifferent. Yingchun looked up at You Shi and, whether it was a misperception or not, she vaguely saw You Shi curl the corners of her mouth, as if she was secretly pleased.

(End of this chapter)