The Red Mansion

Chapter 85 Baochai Washes Feet
In the eastern part of Shenjing City, there was a mansion. It wasn't very large, nor did it appear luxurious. However, both Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun had visited this mansion more than once.

This is because the master of this mansion is of extraordinary status.

He is Wang Tingyu, who currently serves as the Southern Study Attendant, Minister of Rites, tutor of the princes, and acting director of the Ministry of Justice. He is also the chief examiner of this year's Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination.

night.

Wang Tingyu was sitting alone in his study at home.

He was fifty-two years old this year, with a fresh, healthy face, slightly prominent cheekbones, sharply defined brow bones, and slightly sunken cheeks. His eyebrows were long and slender, like ink-stained distant mountains meticulously outlined with brushstrokes, a hint of frost at their tips, and fine lines at the corners of his eyes stretched out like the lines of a folding fan. His nose was high and straight, like a hanging gall bladder. A wisp of long, dark-gray beard hung from his chin, cascading down to his chest, its tail neatly trimmed like pine needles covered in snow.

When he put on his official hat and uniform, he had the dignity of a civil official and the majesty of a prime minister.

But now, he was just wearing his casual clothes and sitting cross-legged on the L-shaped Arhat bed in his study at home.

In the study, the flickering candlelight reflects an ancient atmosphere.

Wang Tingyu was picking up a brush and dipping it in ink, slowly writing the two words "Jiang Nian" on a piece of plain paper. His pen tip was as sharp as a knife, and seemed to contain endless profound meaning.

After writing, he twisted the string of lustrous, smoky agarwood prayer beads wrapped around his left wrist with his right hand. Thin calluses formed on his knuckles, the marks of decades of pen-gripping. The Hetian jade ring on his right thumb, bestowed by Emperor Jingning, shone brightly in the candlelight.

His eyes were fixed on the two words "Jiang Nian" on the plain paper.

After staring at him for a long moment, he suddenly sighed in a very low voice, "This child is most likely the son of a dragon that the Majesty has brought down from the common people! I wonder if the Majesty will recognize him as a prince in the future? If he does, I wonder if this common prince will disrupt the royal family and even the court."

He sighed softly again, "Your Majesty is right to keep this a secret. Perhaps the Emperor Retired is also aware of this. This matter is of no small importance. I must keep it strictly confidential!"

The flickering candlelight cast a flickering shadow on Wang Tingyu's face. He gently picked up the plain paper and tore it into pieces. His gaze was deep, as if he had foreseen the vicissitudes of the future. Outside the window, the gentle night breeze seemed to whisper something...

Yes, in addition to Qu Jishan, Wang Tingyu had also speculated that Jiang Nian was the commoner son of Emperor Taishun.

Previously, Emperor Taishun ordered Wang Tingyu to dismiss Jiang Nian from the 33rd place in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination. Today, Wang Tingyu learned that Emperor Taishun specially appointed Jiang Nian as a third-class guard. Combined with Emperor Taishun's experience of going to the south of the Yangtze River more than ten years ago, as well as Jiang Nian's family situation... Wang Tingyu made this speculation.

The world's secrets are often first discovered by smart people who are close to the secrets.

Qu Jishan and Wang Tingyu were both extremely intelligent people.

However, extremely intelligent people are often cautious in what they say and do, and are good at forbearing and avoiding disasters.

Qu Jishan and Wang Tingyu were also such people.

……

……

The crescent moon hung in the night sky with the stars, casting its cool starry and moonlight, lightly enveloping the Jiang family's small house in the eastern suburbs of Shenjing City.

Jiang Nian had just finished writing the first memorial of his life in his study. He felt tired and was ready to take a shower and go to bed. However, before that, he wanted to look at the starry sky on a summer night.

So he walked slowly out of the main room and came to the inner courtyard. While breathing the fresh air, he looked up at the starry sky. Seeing the clear night and the shining stars, his heart was lifted.

At this moment, he saw that the lights in the west wing were on, and the door was open, emitting a warm yellow light. He walked slowly closer, and heard Xue Baochai's voice scolding from inside the room: "Ying'er, is the hot water here? You little girl, you went to get the hot water and forgot to close the door. I'm washing my feet!" "Washing my feet?"

Jiang Nian raised the corners of his lips slightly, pondered for a moment, and walked into the west wing.

The lighting in the room is soft, reflecting the elegant furnishings.

The embroidered bed is simply and elegantly furnished, with curtains hanging lightly, revealing the atmosphere of a boudoir.

Xue Baochai was sitting on a round stool beside the embroidered bed, wearing pajamas made of plain silk embroidered with elegant patterns. Her profile was picturesque, her eyes and eyebrows were poetic. She was washing her feet with her head down, her pair of jade feet immersed in the foot basin.

Xue Baochai originally thought that it was Ying'er who came back with hot water, but at this moment, when she looked up, she found that the person who came was Jiang Nian, and Jiang Nian was looking straight at her. She was stunned with shock.

She didn't scream, but hurriedly turned her head. Her pair of jade feet in the foot basin seemed to have stiffened. Her face quickly turned red, like the sunset reflecting on the snow, delicate and tempting. She mumbled, "Master, I... I'm washing my feet, you... you get out quickly."

Jiang Nian did not retreat, but walked closer to her and looked down at her jade feet immersed in the foot basin.

Although Xue Baochai turned her head to avoid his gaze, she could not help but glance at him secretly. Seeing that he was concentrating on admiring her feet, she became more embarrassed, her face flushed even more, and her jade feet became more stiff in the water.

Xue Baochai stammered again, "Master, please get out now."

Jiang Nian still did not leave. Instead, he moved a round stool next to the foot basin, sat down and said with a smile: "It's just right. I'm going to wash my feet too. I might as well wash them with you."

After saying this, he calmly took off his shoes and socks.

Xue Baochai was mortified and annoyed, torn between a thousand and one. She wanted to remove her feet from the basin, but was afraid of upsetting Jiang Nian; she wanted to chase Jiang Nian away, but was even more afraid of angering her. Amidst this turmoil, she allowed Jiang Nian to place her feet in the basin. The touch of the water on her feet sent a shiver through her, her heart trembling.

If she was Xue Baochai who lived in Rongguo Mansion in the original novel, she would definitely not allow such a situation to happen.

However, although she is Xue Baochai, her fate has changed because of the appearance of Jiang Nian. The Xue family lost the imperial merchant, and she promised to be Jiang Nian's concubine, and she has lived with Jiang Nian for two months. She wants to please Jiang Nian for the sake of gaining benefits, and dare not displease Jiang Nian.

She looked down at the four legs intertwined in the basin and sighed inwardly, "I've lived here for two months, and I finally took action against that overbearing man. No, I stepped on him!"

At this time, Ying'er pushed the door open with hot water. Seeing the scene in the room, she was so shocked that she almost dropped the copper kettle in her hand. She was at a loss and felt that the scene before her was like a dream.

Seeing Ying'er standing there in a daze, Jiang Nian smiled and said, "Why are you standing there? The water is cold. Add some hot water."

Ying'er was stunned again, her eyes flickering between Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai. Seeing Xue Baochai's face flushed, as if in shame or annoyance, yet she remained silent, Ying'er obediently stepped forward, picked up the copper kettle, and slowly poured hot water into the foot basin. The gurgling sound of water and the lingering steam cast a hazy shadow over the three people's expressions.

As they added more hot water, Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai both removed their feet from the water and placed them on the edge of the basin. Xue Baochai's feet were as white as jade, her toes delicate and timid, while Jiang Nian's were much larger, with distinct joints and a masculine look.

After adding the hot water, Jiang Nian took the lead and put his feet back into the foot basin. The water temperature was just right. He looked at Xue Baochai and said, "Put your feet in."

Xue Baochai hesitated for a moment, then bit her lower lip and slowly put her jade feet back into the foot basin.

The warm water wrapped around her jade feet, intertwining with Jiang Nian's feet in the water.

(End of this chapter)