The Red Mansion

Chapter 59 Mother and Daughter Separation
In the main hall of the Jiang family, Aunt Xue and Xue Pan were saying goodbye to Jiang Nian.

Aunt Xue felt both reluctant and uneasy. She bowed slightly and said earnestly, "Master Jiang, Bao-ya-tou will be entrusted to you from now on. I hope you will take good care of her."

Jiang Nian responded in a gentle voice, "Don't worry, Madam Xue. I will do my best to take care of Miss Xue."

Aunt Xue said, "With Master Jiang's words, I feel at ease."

What's the point of being at ease? She is not at ease at all, and she can only be polite like this for now.

Jiang Nian looked at Xue Pan with a slightly serious expression, and warned him: "Brother Xue, when you return to Jiangning this time, you must be careful with your words and actions. Your family is no longer the same as before. Don't stir up trouble and bring disaster to your family."

Xue Pan looked embarrassed and didn't want to hear what Jiang Nian said, but he didn't dare to refute.

Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai were both happy to see that Jiang Nian showed such concern and advice to Xue Pan.

As they were talking, Aunt Xie slowly walked into the main hall and respectfully reported to Aunt Xue, "Grandma, the young lady's luggage and belongings have been moved into the west wing."

Jiang Nian smiled at Aunt Xue and said, "In that case, let's go to the west wing and take a look."

Immediately, Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai, and Xue Pan followed Jiang Nian to the west wing.

The room was not small and was swept clean. It was equipped with a carved dressing table, a rosewood bookcase, an embroidered bed, and even a large glass mirror on top of the carved dressing table.

A large glass mirror like this one is not cheap.

There was only a bronze mirror on Qin Keqing's dressing table next door. Although Qin Keqing also had a glass mirror, it was a very small one.

There were many boxes piled on the ground, all filled with Xue Baochai's luggage and belongings.

Jiang Nian pointed to the carved dressing table, the glass mirror, the rosewood bookcase, and the embroidered bed, and said to Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai, "You sent someone to say yesterday that Miss Xue would be coming today, so I sent my servants to buy these things for Miss Xue's use."

Aunt Xue said hurriedly, "Thank you for your concern, Master Jiang."

Xue Baochai bowed gracefully, "Thank you, Master Jiang."

Jiang Nian smiled slightly and said softly, "As long as Miss Xue is satisfied, I'm glad. If you need anything else, please let me know and I'll have my servants go buy it."

It is rare for Jiang Nian to be so thoughtful. More importantly, this arrangement reflects Jiang Nian's attention and consideration for Xue Baochai.

The Xue family's mother and daughter were naturally satisfied with this, and the uneasiness in their hearts was reduced a little.

Xue Baochai walked over to her luggage and belongings, checked them carefully, and found that everything had been moved.

Then, Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai sent Aunt Xue and Xue Pan to the door of the house.

The sunlight shone on the dirt road outside the house, and also illuminated the Xue family's carriages and horses, making them glow and adding a touch of softness to the farewell.

Aunt Xue stood beside the carriage, her eyes fixed on Xue Baochai, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. On the way here, she and Xue Baochai had ridden in the same carriage, but in the blink of an eye, she was leaving alone in the carriage, heading back to Jiangning. She didn't know when she would see her daughter again.

Aunt Xue could no longer suppress the sadness in her heart and tears welled up in her eyes.

When Xue Baochai saw her mother crying, she finally couldn't help it and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"mom!"

Xue Baochai and Aunt Xue hugged each other and cried, the tears of mother and daughter intertwined, as if they wanted to pour out all their reluctance and concern.

Xue Pan's eyes also welled up with tears. He reached out and wiped his eyes, whispering, "The wind blinded me!"

A moment later, Aunt Xue reluctantly boarded the carriage, while Xue Pan mounted a nimble mule. The carriage slowly started, its wheels thumping across the dirt road. Xue Baochai stood outside the house, watching her mother and brother walk away, tears blurring her vision.

The rising sun became brighter and brighter, and its golden light fell on Xue Baochai, but it could not illuminate the shadow of parting in her heart.

Jiang Nian stood beside Xue Baochai, his eyes gentle, and said softly, "Miss Xue, let's go in."

Xue Baochai nodded slightly, wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, turned around and followed Jiang Nian back to the inner courtyard.

Xue Baochai had assumed that after Aunt Xue and Xue Pan left, Jiang Nian would have something to say to her privately. However, when she returned to the inner courtyard with Jiang Nian, he simply instructed Xiangling, Qi'er, and Qin'er to help her pack her belongings while he himself went into his study to read. Xue Baochai was slightly surprised. She stood at the doorway of the west wing, gazing towards the study, wanting to speak to Jiang Nian, but shy.

……

……

In this era, many families had two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, and even the Jia family did so.

The same was true of the Jiang family in the past.

After Jiang Nian traveled through time, he set up a three-meal-a-day schedule for his family, with breakfast served earlier, dinner later, and an additional meal at noon. This change initially made the servants a little uncomfortable, but they gradually got used to it.

It was lunch time. The cook, Yao, had already prepared lunch and placed it on the rosewood eight-immortals table in the main hall.

Feng walked slowly to the study and called softly, "Master, lunch is ready."

Jiang Nian put down the scroll in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then ordered, "Ask Miss Xue to eat with me. From now on, when I eat, ask Miss Xue to eat with me."

Feng immediately understood and said with a smile, "Miss Xue is so lucky!"

In the Jiang family, except during festivals and other occasions, Jiang Nian usually eats alone first. Only after he finishes eating does it come to He Yun and his wife and the servants' turn.

Even in wealthy families, concubines rarely dine with the head of the household.

Now Jiang Nian specially asked Xue Baochai to have dinner with him, which was a way of honoring Xue Baochai.

Jiang Nian had said before that after Xue Baochai came to live with the Jiang family, he would let the Jiang family's servants treat her like a girl.

He won't break his promise.

Feng turned and walked to the west wing. She saw Xue Baochai sitting in front of the dressing mirror, with Ying'er standing beside her. Feng smiled and said, "Young lady, the master would like you to have lunch with him."

Xue Baochai was startled, then pondered for a moment, then nodded gently without refusing, "Thank you, Aunt Feng."

Feng smiled and said, "Young lady, there's no need to be so polite. Master has said that from now on, whenever he eats, you must eat with him. Master treats you so well, young lady, you are so lucky!"

Xue Baochai's cheeks turned slightly red and she was happy in her heart.

Immediately, Xue Baochai and Ying'er came to the main hall and saw Jiang Nian sitting at the table. There were several exquisite dishes on the table, and the aroma was fragrant.

When Jiang Nian saw Xue Baochai come in, he said softly, "Miss Xue, please sit down."

Xue Baochai still did not refuse. She bowed gracefully, said "Thank you, sir," and slowly sat down. Her way of addressing Jiang Nian had quietly changed from "Uncle Jiang" to "Uncle."

Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai sat together at the rosewood eight-immortal table and had lunch.

Xiangling, Ying'er, Qi'er, Qin'er and Feng stood by and served respectfully.

There was no talking while eating, only the sounds of clinking of bowls and chopsticks and eating.

Jiang Nian quickly finished his lunch in silence. When Xue Baochai saw him stop, she quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks even though she had only eaten half of her meal.

Qi'er brought mouthwash tea on a small tea tray, while Qin'er brought a rinsing bowl for Jiang Nian to rinse his mouth. Xiangling brought water for his hands, and Jiang Nian washed his mouth and then his hands with the water, each with meticulous care.

Jiang Nian smiled at Xue Baochai and said, "You continue eating. I eat quickly, so don't stop because of me."

After saying this, he stood up and walked towards the study. Xiangling hurriedly followed to serve him, knowing that he was used to having tea in the study after meals.

Xue Baochai watched Jiang Nian go into the study and sighed inwardly, "This gentleman is quite a particular person."

She pondered for a moment, quickly finished her lunch, and then rinsed her mouth and hands. Then she returned to her west wing, quietly took a piece of flowery paper, and walked towards Jiang Nian's study...

(End of this chapter)