Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Li didn't really want to see Baoyu.

However, since it was a place where women from the inner quarters gathered together, there weren't many topics they could talk about.

Aside from gossiping about this family and that, or playing matchmaker, they mostly talked about their successful children and grandchildren.

In addition, Li had also heard Nian Shilan say that she wanted to get along well with the old lady of the Jia family.

The best approach is to praise Jia Baoyu, the son of the second master of the Jia family. He is the apple of the eye of the old lady of the Jia family, and praising him is more effective than praising the Marquis of Champion.

Li was somewhat skeptical of such an outrageous claim.

Marquis of Champion! Do you even know the weight of this title?

This is a rare talent, only someone whose ancestors could produce such a person. How could any grandmother possibly prefer Baoyu to the Marquis of Champion?

I'm not senile anymore!

But to her surprise, upon hearing the words "Baoyu" and "naturally gifted," Grandmother Jia's face immediately broke into a smile, and she quickly and cheerfully continued the conversation:

"Baoyu! He's gone to the clan school! He's always loved reading! He's ambitious, filial, and writes beautifully..."

Grandmother Jia praised Jia Baoyu without any hesitation, showering him with compliments without repeating herself, practically making him sound like a god!

However, she was not lying about one thing: Jia Baoyu really did go to school in the clan.

After Jia Yuanchun returned to the mansion, Jia Baoyu's carefree days were gone forever!

Jia Yuanchun was most concerned about her younger brother. Not long after she returned home, she inquired from Tan Chun and others about whether Jia Baoyu had made any progress in the household over the years.

The result was predictable: instead of hearing about progress, they heard countless stories of Jia Baoyu's "misdeeds":

He frequented the inner quarters of the household, loved to eat the rouge on the maids' lips, and was the only one among the family's sons who didn't attend the clan school. He disliked officialdom and economics, and loved to smash jade...

Jia Yuanchun felt a wave of dizziness and nearly died of anger.

I never imagined that after all these years of hardship in the palace, Jia Baoyu would be so spoiled by Lady Wang and Grandmother Jia.

Where is the spirit of a real man? Isn't this just turning him into a spoiled brat?

Jia Yuanchun was so disappointed in Jia Baoyu that she immediately intervened forcefully. Within a few days, she ordered Jia Baoyu to go to the clan school to study, and no amount of persuasion could change her mind!

Jia Yuanchun was Jia Baoyu's older sister, and she raised him when he was a child.

Moreover, she has sacrificed a great deal for the Jia family over the years in that ruthless and cruel palace.

Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and others all felt indebted to this daughter, so much so that when Jia Baoyu, the phoenix egg of the Jia family, was disciplined by her, not a single person stood up to stop it.

As a result, even though Jia Baoyu cried and wailed and vowed to resist to the death, he still could not escape the fate of being sent to the clan school.

It's been over a month since I left!

After Grandmother Jia finished speaking, Lady Wang, who was standing to the side, also chimed in with a smile:

"Baoyu is indeed studying hard! He'll be preparing to take the county-level examination in Shuntian Prefecture next year!"

Well, I'll give it a try, but whether I pass or not is another matter.

The Jia family sisters, who were standing nearby, had strange expressions as they watched Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang sing and sing in unison, "praising" Jia Baoyu.

We looked at each other, and could only hold back our laughter.

Li was also taken aback. He was so diligent and loved reading, yet he hadn't passed the county exam?

It's important to know that the county examination was only the lowest level in the imperial examination system. After that, there were the prefectural examination and the provincial examination. Only by passing all three examinations could one obtain the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination).

Then one had to pass the provincial examination to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination).

Only those who pass the provincial examination and the palace examination can become Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

I heard that Jia Baoyu is about fifteen or sixteen years old, right?

My son is nine years old and has already passed the county exam, but my husband still often scolds him for not having any talent for studying!

And what about Jia Baoyu?

Originally, Li had other plans. It was not easy for the Marquis of Champion to marry, so marrying his cousin would be a good alternative. Her own family also had several unmarried sisters.

But now...

Li's lips twitched, and she smiled:

"The county examination, that's truly remarkable! It promises a bright future; in a few years, I'll be able to establish myself as a pillar of the family, hehe..."

Upon hearing Li Shi praise her Baoyu, Grandmother Jia was extremely pleased, her mouth stretching to her ears in a wide grin. However, she couldn't help but sigh:

"It's good to study hard and make progress, but our family's clan school has changed its rules by Jing-ge'er. The management is very strict, and it's a boarding school with a closed learning environment."

"Baoyu only comes home once every two weeks, and I miss him terribly at home!"

"Besides, he works so hard studying and practicing martial arts at the clan school every day. Last time he came back, he had several bruises all over his body from practicing martial arts. It really pained me to see that..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Li immediately realized that the matriarch of the Jia family was a doting and spoiled grandson.

It's heartbreaking to see a man get hurt like this. How will he ever become an official? How will he support his family?

Sitting next to Grandmother Jia, Jia Yuanchun listened to Grandmother Jia's pointed complaints, and a faint smile appeared on her plump, elegant, and fair face.

She possessed an indescribable air about her, not the effeminate air of the palace, but a dignified and graceful demeanor imbued with the rules of propriety, every movement of hers was measured and proper.

Even sitting quietly, she exuded an air of dignity, quite unlike the other Jia sisters laughing and joking in the pavilion.

Hearing Grandmother Jia's concern for Baoyu, she parted her lips slightly and said with a soft smile;

"The rules of the clan school have been reformed well. My third brother, for the sake of the family, hired famous teachers, implemented strict rules, and focused on the education of the family's children. This has laid the foundation for the Jia family's prosperity for a hundred years."

"No matter how much the old lady loves Baoyu, she should understand the profound meaning of planning ahead."

"Besides, Huan-ge'er, Cong-ge'er, and even Lan-ge'er can stay in the clan school. As the elder brother, how can Bao-yu neglect his studies!"

After Yuan-chun returned home, in addition to discussing Bao-yu's matter, she also learned in detail about the changes in her family over the years with Tan-chun and others.

Especially the deeds of Jia Jing, his famous cousin.

After learning that he had been granted a title, the first thing he did upon returning to his family was to show respect to the elderly and care for the young, help those in distress, pay attention to education, and be kind to his clan. All of these were acts of great righteousness.

I couldn't help but admire my cousin's foresight and vision.

He not only possessed the courage and strategic thinking to fight on the battlefield and make contributions to the country, but also the literary talent to write poetry and lyrics. What is even more remarkable is that at a young age he had the insight and ambition to manage his family and govern the country.

No wonder his sisters spoke of him with such reverence and admiration, and no wonder he rose to such a high position at such a young age and was praised by the world.

Even the reason she was able to be taken out of the palace this time was because her third brother couldn't bear to see her suffer in the palace.

Although Yuan Chun could no longer quite remember Jia Jing's appearance, she was filled with curiosity and affection for this cousin she hadn't seen for many years.

When Grandmother Jia heard Yuan Chun's words, she showed no displeasure.

She also loved Yuan Chun very much and was extremely tolerant of her.

Grandmother Jia pointed at Yuan-chun and laughed in a hoarse voice:

"Look at this! Now that her older sister is in charge of Baoyu, this old lady can't interfere too much!"

Li, standing to the side, glanced at Yuan Chun, who was in her early twenties. She was graceful, beautiful, and well-educated.

Every move she makes exudes charm; she's quite a lovely young lady, it's just a pity she's a bit too old.

Lady Wang, standing to the side, looked at Yuan Chun with mixed feelings. She was happy to have her daughter back by her side, but she couldn't help but feel resentment towards Jia Jing.

My eldest daughter is so outstanding; if it weren't for that illegitimate son of the first wife insisting on taking her out of the palace, she would surely have been made a concubine in the future…