The Red Mansion

Chapter 97 Baochai takes Lengxiang Pills again

Jiang Nian was bathed in the brocade-like evening glow, which made his guard uniform even more gorgeous and eye-catching.

He returned to the Jiang family from the Qin family.

Xue Baochai was standing quietly under the eaves of the west wing waiting. She had learned that Jiang Nian had just returned and was called to Qin's house by Peng Jizhong. She guessed that Qin Keqing wanted to see Jiang Nian.

Although she remained calm on the surface, she felt depressed in her heart.

When she saw Jiang Nian walking into the inner courtyard with high spirits, she hurried forward and bowed respectfully to greet him.

Jiang Nian smiled slightly and asked Xue Baochai gently, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Xue Baochai replied, "Not yet. We are just waiting for you to come back and have dinner together."

Jiang Nian understood and immediately told Feng: "Set the table."

"Yes, sir."

Feng responded respectfully, and then led Xiangling, Qi'er, Qin'er and other servants to set the table in the main hall.

Soon, several exquisite dishes were placed on the rosewood eight-immortals table in the main hall, and the aroma was so fragrant that it made people salivate.

As per convention, Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai still had their meal together, while Xiangling, Ying'er, Qi'er, Qin'er and Feng stood by and served them respectfully.

He still ate in silence, with only the sounds of clinking bowls and chopsticks and eating.

However, Xue Baochai's eating speed was much faster than when she first arrived. This was probably because Jiang Nian ate faster, and she adapted to it.

Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai finished their dinner almost at the same time and rinsed their mouths and hands one after another. Jiang Nian also washed his mouth before washing his hands, but Xue Baochai was too embarrassed to wash her mouth in public.

After dinner, Jiang Nian went into the study.

Even though he no longer has to take the imperial examinations or serve as a guard, he is still a busy man, busy cherishing time and striving to make progress.

He submitted a memorial offering suggestions for clearing up the deficit, and his hand-copied "Heart Sutra" and "Amitabha Sutra"... were all the results of his hard work.

Facts have proved that his hard work was not in vain. His hard work brought him good luck, great rewards, and enabled him to climb step by step on the road of life.

Jiang Nian stayed in the study for a while when he heard a gentle knock on the door, followed by Xue Baochai's gentle voice: "Master, it's me."

Jiang Nian responded, "Come in."

Xue Baochai gently pushed the door open, walked in lightly, then turned around and closed the door gently.

Jiang Nian, who was sitting at the desk, smiled at Xue Baochai and asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Xue Baochai hesitated for a moment before she gently opened her red lips and asked, "Are you going to Changchun Garden to see His Majesty again today?"

Jiang Nian nodded and replied, "Yes."

Xue Baochai's face showed admiration. She praised him, "The emperor has summoned you repeatedly, which shows that he appreciates you. This is a cause for celebration."

She was really surprised by this. She didn't know what kind of magic power Jiang Nian had that made him be awarded the title of third-class guard by the emperor and then be summoned again and again.

Jiang Nian just smiled faintly, kept silent, and stared at Xue Baochai.

Xue Baochai hesitated again, then could not help asking, "I wonder why the emperor summoned you today?"

Jiang Nian smiled and asked, "Are you curious?"

Xue Baochai lowered her eyebrows and eyes, looking a little embarrassed, but still said "hmm" softly.

Jiang Nian pondered for a moment, then said to Xue Baochai, "Today I have had an audience with both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

"Ah?" Xue Baochai was immediately surprised and couldn't help asking, "Master, you actually met the Empress Dowager today? But was it the Empress Dowager who summoned you?"

Jiang Nian nodded, his expression indifferent. Xue Baochai became more and more curious, her eyes flickering as she asked, "I wonder why the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned you, Master?"

Jiang Nian answered frankly, "The Empress Dowager summoned me today to arrange a marriage. Thanks to the Empress Dowager's grace, she has arranged a marriage between me and one of her attendants. I'm sure you know this lady. She is Jia Yuanchun, the eldest daughter of Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Mansion."

There was no need to hide this matter. Even Qin Keqing next door knew about it. Jiang Nian felt that he should take the initiative to tell Xue Baochai. After all, Xue Baochai was almost his concubine.

When Xue Baochai heard this, she could not hide the shock in her eyes and was speechless for a moment.

She naturally knew about Jia Yuanchun from Rongguo Mansion, but she never expected that the Empress Dowager would arrange a marriage for Jiang Nian, and that she would betroth Yuanchun to Jiang Nian...

At this moment, Jiang Nian carefully looked at the shocked Xue Baochai and thought to himself, "Yuanchun's appearance is somewhat similar to Xue Baochai's."

This thought came to his mind when he first met Yuanchun in Ningchun Hall of Changchun Garden today.

Yuanchun and Baochai both have skin as white as jade, are dignified and elegant, and both have the feeling of "a face that represents peace and prosperity for the country and the people."

At this moment, Xue Baochai stood there in a daze, her heart in turmoil, not knowing how to respond.

She had always been reserved and calm. Although she was upset for a moment, she managed a smile after a moment's pause. She said to Jiang Nian, "Master, it is truly a favor that the Empress Dowager arranged your marriage. It is a blessing from heaven that you have found such a good match. Congratulations, Master."

Out of his fondness for Xue Baochai, Jiang Nian comforted her gently, "I will be getting married next year. After the wedding, I will officially take you as my concubine. Even if you are a concubine, as long as you behave yourself, I will treat you well."

Xue Baochai nodded slightly, and seeing that Jiang Nian had nothing else to say, she bowed and quietly took her leave.

When Xue Baochai returned to the west wing, she looked melancholy.

Although she had known that Jiang Nian would marry one day and had prepared herself mentally for this, she still felt unhappy when she heard that Jiang Nian had a wife today.

What's more, the legal wife he chose was actually Jia Yuanchun from Rongguo Mansion.

The Jia family, the Shi family, the Wang family, and the Xue family, these four families are all from the wealthy and famous families of Jiangning. The four families are all connected and related. When one suffers, all suffer; when one prospers, all prosper. They support and cover for each other and take care of each other.

Although the Xue family has never been as prominent as the Jia family, and is now even weaker, Yuanchun became Jiang Nian's wife, while Xue Baochai was only a concubine. This made Xue Baochai feel a little uncomfortable, thinking that her mother would have no face to see the Jia family in the future.

Strictly speaking, Yuanchun is not a legitimate daughter of the Rongguo Mansion. The heir to the title of Rongguo Mansion is the eldest master Jia She, who is the legitimate eldest daughter. However, Xue Baochai is a legitimate daughter of the Xue family.

Xue Baochai couldn't help but think of Qin Keqing next door. She thought of Qin Keqing's affair with Jiang Nian, and even called Jiang Nian to Qin's house today. She didn't know what happened between the two.

There's Yuanchun, Jiang Nian's wife, and next door is Qin Keqing...

Xue Baochai became more and more depressed, as if she was in clouds and mist, unable to control herself.

Ying'er saw Xue Baochai sitting in front of the dressing mirror with an unhappy look on her face. She asked with concern, "Why do you look so sad, young lady?"

Xue Baochai did not respond to Ying'er's question, but suddenly ordered, "Boil a bowl of Huangbai decoction. I want to take Lengxiang Pills."

Ying'er: "..."

This time, she didn't ask Xue Baochai why she suddenly wanted to take Lengxiang Pills. She knew that Xue Baochai must be in a bad mood.

Seeing Ying'er in a daze, Xue Baochai urged her, "Go quickly, what are you standing there for?"

Ying'er said "Oh" and then tiptoed to the kitchen.

After a while, Ying'er brought a bowl of Huangbai decoction into the west wing.

When the soup was cool, Xue Baochai took a sip and swallowed a Lengxiang Pill. The bitterness of the Huangbai decoction and the sweetness of the Lengxiang Pill intertwined.

Xue Baochai closed her eyes for a while and then slowly opened them, her expression having returned to calm.

She was already thinking, "The Emperor has summoned me repeatedly, and today even the Empress Dowager has summoned me, personally arranging a marriage for me. This shows that I am becoming increasingly unfathomable, and my future is limitless. So, even if I become a concubine, perhaps I can still bring considerable benefits to the Xue family in the future, and I can also obtain a high status myself..."

(End of this chapter)