The Red Mansion

Chapter 83: Baochai's scheming, Keqing's shame and anger

After reading Qin Keqing's flowery letter, Jiang Nian sighed inwardly, "Qin Keqing does have some literary talent."

In fact, although Qin Keqing is more beautiful than Xue Baochai, she is far inferior to Xue Baochai in terms of talent and learning.

This piece of flowery letter only had a few words, but Qin Keqing spent more than an hour to polish and revise it over and over again.

Jiang Nian gently folded the flowered paper, raised his eyes to look at Ruizhu, and said lightly: "Go back and tell your daughter that although I didn't pass the provincial examination this time, Prince Zhongyi has shown great favor to me. He asked the emperor for an order to grant me the rank of third-class guard. I don't have to take the imperial examination anymore. Please also thank your daughter for her concern on my behalf."

Ruizhu was surprised and whispered, "The emperor actually appointed me as a guard?"

She had some understanding of the duties of a guard.

Jiang Nian nodded slightly and waved his hand, signaling Ruizhu to leave.

Ruizhu didn't dare to say much. After bowing respectfully, she quietly left the study.

As soon as Ruizhu left, Jiang Nian called Xiangling in. Seeing that Xiangling looked a little uneasy, he asked, "Why did Ying'er and Ruizhu argue and fight just now? Tell me the truth."

Xiangling looked embarrassed because Ying'er and Ruizhu's sarcastic remarks to each other were vicious and disrespectful to Xue Baochai and Qin Keqing, making it difficult for her to speak out.

However, Xiangling was unwilling to hide the truth from Jiang Nian, and she told him hesitantly and in a voice as soft as a mosquito the reason for the quarrel and fight between Ying'er and Ruizhu.

Jiang Nian was amused after hearing this and thought to himself, "Today, Ying'er and Ruizhu are fighting. Will there be a fight between Xue Baochai and Qin Keqing tomorrow? If so, I'd really enjoy it."

……

……

Let’s talk about Xue Baochai and Ying’er.

Ying'er lowered her head and nervously followed Xue Baochai back to the west wing.

Xue Baochai sat in front of the dressing mirror, staring at Ying'er with frosty eyes. She asked, "Why did you get into a fight with the girl next door for no reason?"

Ying'er lowered her head and hands, saying, "I saw her suddenly come to see the master, and curious about her business, so I went up to ask. But she acted as if she was guilty, saying it was none of my business. I wanted to follow her to the main room to take a look, but she got angry and said I shouldn't follow her. I said, this is my home, why can't I leave? How can I be considered to be following her? She actually said... actually said..."

Having said this, Ying'er raised her eyes and glanced at Xue Baochai, as if she had something to hide.

Xue Baochai asked, "What did she say?"

Ying'er said, "That's a vicious thing to say. It despises me and you, too. I can't tell you directly."

Xue Baochai frowned slightly: "No need to hide it, just say it!"

Ying'er let out a soft "Oh" and whispered, "She said I was really shameless. My master is just a concubine, but I, a maid, treat this place like my own home."

After saying this, she secretly observed Xue Baochai's expression, feeling uneasy.

Anger flashed in Xue Baochai's eyes, but she suppressed it and said calmly, "What then?"

Ying'er continued, "It would have been fine if she had despised me, but she despised the young lady so much that I was naturally furious. I scolded her, saying she was shameless and shameless. Her master had only been dead for two months, and this maid was already helping her young lady to seduce our master."

When Xue Baochai heard this, she felt relieved, but she remained expressionless.

Ying'er continued, "She was so angry that she rushed over and hit me. I couldn't let her hit me, so I wrestled with her, and then the master stopped us." Xue Baochai pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Although you were wrong in this matter, it's not entirely your fault."

Ying'er heaved a sigh of relief, feeling relieved. She had always been in awe of Xue Baochai.

Xue Baochai changed the subject, her tone becoming graver, and she said solemnly, "But, if you encounter this kind of thing again in the future, you must not fight with her, nor curse at her, otherwise it will make me unhappy. Just tell me directly and let me make the decision for you. Do you remember this?"

Ying'er replied respectfully, "I'll make a note of that, young lady."

This shows Xue Baochai's prudence and scheming.

In her opinion, if Ying'er and Ruizhu quarreled or even fought, it would displease Jiang Nian and even affect Jiang Nian's impression of her. If Ying'er complained directly to Jiang Nian, Jiang Nian would become dissatisfied with Ruizhu and Qin Keqing...

……

……

Qin family.

West wing.

Qin Keqing sat on an embroidery couch, her needle and thread whirring as she sewed a purse out of brocade. Her expression was focused, a hint of tenderness between her brows, as if she regarded the purse as something precious.

Ruizhu pushed the door open and walked in, looking angry. She complained, "Miss, Ying'er, the maid of Miss Xue next door, is such a wicked little bitch!"

Qin Keqing paused her needlework, raised her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ruizhu said in one breath, "I went to see Master Jiang next door, and that little bitch was guarding me like a thief. She asked me why I was looking for Master Jiang, and I said it was none of her business, so she followed me. I asked her why, and she said that it was her home, so why couldn't she leave? How could she follow me? I said she was so shameless. Her master was just a concubine, and she, a maid, treated the next door as her home. She scolded me for being shameless, saying that my master had only passed away two months ago, and I helped the girl to seduce Master Jiang."

After hearing this, Qin Keqing's face turned pale with shame and anger, and the purse in her hand almost fell to the ground.

She was a sensitive person, but also a strong-willed one. Furthermore, she had indeed been harboring thoughts of seducing Jiang Nian. Today, she had sent Ruizhu with a flowery note, ostensibly to console Jiang Nian for his failure in the provincial examination, but in reality, she was hoping to gain his attention and affection. Unexpectedly, Ying'er had revealed her intentions.

She subconsciously clenched her purse.

She had originally made this purse for Jiang Nian as a token of her affection. However, Ying'er's words were like a cold shower on her head, leaving her hesitant, unsure whether she should continue to finish the purse or give it to Jiang Nian.

Ruizhu suddenly changed the subject, a look of surprise on her face, and said, "Young lady, I just went to see Master Jiang, and he was wearing a gorgeous official uniform, looking so majestic and impressive!"

Having said this, she paused deliberately to keep the conversation in suspense, looking at Qin Keqing with a cunning look.

Qin Keqing was slightly startled and asked curiously, "Why is he wearing official uniform? Could it be that he's wearing Steward He's official uniform?"

Ruizhu shook her head and said, "No! He's wearing the uniform of a third-class guard! Do you know what the rank of a third-class guard is?"

Qin Keqing nodded: "He is a fifth-rank military officer and a close attendant to the emperor, so he holds a very high position."

Then, she looked surprised and asked, "Why is Mr. Jiang wearing the official uniform of a third-class guard? This is surprising."

Ruizhu nodded in response, "Isn't it amazing? I was also shocked! Before leaving, Master Jiang asked me to bring a message to the young lady, saying that although he didn't pass the provincial examination this time, he was favored by Prince Zhongyi and asked the emperor for permission to grant him the rank of third-class guard. He doesn't need to take the imperial examination anymore, and he also asked me to thank the young lady for her concern."

Qin Keqing was shocked, and her expression was filled with disbelief: "Is this really... true?"

(End of this chapter)