The Red Mansion

Chapter 26 Mother and daughter talk
Jiang Nian's figure has disappeared from the Xue family's ship.

It was still raining, the drizzle was dense, the rain curtain was hazy, and the surface of the Grand Canal was rippling with countless ripples.

In the cabin, Xue Baochai had stopped crying, but her eyes were a little red, like petals wet by rain, with a bit of fragility and forbearance.

Aunt Xue was already feeling regretful. She regretted agreeing to give Xue Baochai to Jiang Nian as a concubine so quickly, and regretted signing the written contract just now.

She was already blaming herself in her heart, and also blaming Xue Baochai.

Aunt Xue said to Xue Baochai in a reproachful tone, "Bao girl, why did you agree just now? If you hadn't agreed first, I... I might have refused, and I wouldn't have promised you to that domineering Jiang Nian as a concubine, let alone signed such a useless contract."

Xue Baochai looked gloomy. "Mr. Jiang insisted on asking our family to repay him in this way. Mother and brother looked at me bewilderedly. I didn't want to embarrass them any further. I also thought, perhaps this is my fate. Our family truly owes him a great favor today, and I will repay him for it. Otherwise, if he refuses to give up, who knows what will happen."

Aunt Xue looked indignant. "I regret it now. I shouldn't have agreed just now, let alone signed that ridiculous written agreement. Fortunately, there's still room for maneuver. Once we're safely in the capital, we'll ask your uncle to intervene with Jiang Nian. Your uncle is the governor of the Beijing camp, and he's highly regarded by the emperor. Even though Jiang Nian's background is mysterious, your uncle can probably get the written agreement back and dissuade him from taking you as a concubine."

Xue Baochai's eyebrows, as curved as distant mountains and misty clouds, furrowed slightly when she heard this. "Mom, I'm afraid this isn't appropriate. He's been very kind to our family. He's already agreed to take me as his concubine, and we've signed a written agreement. He'll also help us deal with the robbery and the corpse, and he'll even escort us all the way to the capital... If we get there safely, and Mom asks my uncle to subdue him, wouldn't that be..."

At this point, the words stopped abruptly. What she was thinking was, isn't this equivalent to repaying kindness with enmity? Because she felt that she shouldn't say such words to her mother and embarrassed her, she quickly stopped talking.

Aunt Xue understood what she meant and couldn't help but spit, "Pah! I've always said your brother was foolish, and your sister, two years younger than you, is incredibly intelligent. How come you're being foolish today? Just now you agreed to be my concubine, and that was fine, but now you're saying such things again?"

Xue Baochai was rarely blamed by Aunt Xue, but now she was scolded like this by her. For a moment, she felt embarrassed and ashamed. She lowered her head and avoided Aunt Xue's piercing gaze.

Aunt Xue argued, "I know Jiang Nian has been very kind to us, and we owe him our gratitude. It's not right for him to remain ungrateful. But he's taking you as his concubine—that's really going too far. I'd like to ask your uncle to have a proper conversation with him. If he understands, this won't be considered surrender. Then, we'll offer him a generous reward. If ten thousand taels of silver isn't enough, then twenty thousand will be enough. If he accepts that, it will be our repayment."

Xue Baochai lowered her head and said nothing, thinking to herself, "Isn't this just to subdue him?"

She verbally said that she didn't want to argue with Aunt Xue anymore, because she knew that Aunt Xue had made up her mind and believed that she was right. If she argued further, it would only increase Aunt Xue's dissatisfaction.

Aunt Xue sighed and continued, "You know, the reason we're going to the capital is, ostensibly, to settle old accounts and make new ones, to manage several businesses in the capital, and to visit relatives. But more importantly, we need to choose a husband for you in the capital, preferably one from a wealthy and noble family. Your father is long gone, your brother is young and inexperienced, and can't do much. Our family is declining, so we can only hope that you will marry a good husband so that we can rely on your husband's family for support."

Xue Baochai still kept her head down and said nothing. Aunt Xue had already told her about this matter.

This kind of practice of seeking benefits for the family through marriage is very common in this era.

Xue Baochai believed that this was her fate, that her marriage would be used by Aunt Xue to benefit the Xue family. However, Xue Baochai never expected that Jiang Nian, a "devil star", would suddenly appear in her fate.

She believed that by promising Jiang Nian as a concubine to repay Jiang Nian's great kindness to the Xue family, she was giving back to the Xue family.

That's why today she said, "This is my fate."

This sentence is both her helpless acceptance of fate and her silent assumption of family responsibilities.

Aunt Xue continued, "Actually, there's one thing I haven't told you yet. Your uncle and I both want to marry you to your aunt and uncle's legitimate son, Baoyu. Your uncle's grandfather and father were both granted the title of Duke of Rong. Even though the Rong Mansion isn't as prosperous as it once was, it's still a wealthy and noble family. This time, when I came to the capital, I was planning to take refuge with his family. Although your aunt and I are sisters from the same mother, that relationship alone doesn't make us too dependent on his family. If you can marry Baoyu, our family will be much more dependent on him."

When Xue Baochai heard this, she was shocked.

She had no idea that her uncle and mother had such plans.

Aunt Xue changed the subject and returned to Jiang Nian, saying gloomily, "I never expected that our family would run into such a domineering man like Jiang Nian. His background is mysterious and extraordinary. He is most likely the son of a wealthy and noble family. He looks capable and his age is suitable for you. If he wanted to marry you, it would probably be a good thing, but he only wants you as a concubine. How can this be allowed? If so, your uncle and I will have wasted our plans. Our family will also lose face because of this, and we will become even more impoverished in the future."

Xue Baochai remained silent, with her eyes lowered, as if she was thinking about something.

Aunt Xue said in a resolute tone, "Therefore, I must ask your uncle to revoke the promise of marriage to me."

She sighed again and said gloomily, "I'm afraid that even if this matter is cancelled, it will spread throughout the capital. By then, your reputation will be greatly damaged, and our family's reputation will also be greatly damaged. It will be difficult to find a good husband for you, and it will also be difficult to marry you to Baoyu..."

Xue Baochai couldn't help but sigh as well.

Her mother's words deepened her worries.

She was worried that even if she asked her uncle Wang Ziteng to intervene with Jiang Nian after arriving in Beijing, Jiang Nian would probably not easily cancel the promise of a concubine. She didn't know what kind of trouble would arise then. Perhaps her uncle Wang Ziteng would use tyrannical means to deal with Jiang Nian? She knew that her uncle Wang Ziteng had a ruthless character.

Although she wished she could cancel the concubine agreement, she didn't want Jiang Nian to be oppressed by her uncle...

(End of this chapter)