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

It was nearing noon.

The gauze curtains of Rongqing Hall were half-rolled up, and sunlight slanted in from the window, spreading a warm glow on the blue brick floor.

Several pots of jasmine were placed in the hall, their flowers in full bloom, emitting a delicate fragrance that, combined with the coolness emanating from the ice basin, offered some relief from the summer heat.

Grandmother Jia lay reclining on the couch, dressed in a dark blue gauze shirt, with a red gold headband on her head, and holding a round fan in her hand, idly waving it.

Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Lady You, Aunt Xue, Sister Feng, Li Wan, and the four sisters, Daiyu, and Baochai, along with more than a dozen others, sat in the hall talking with Grandmother Jia, while some maids served them as they moved about.

At this moment, Grandmother Jia asked Tan Chun in a hoarse voice:

"Third girl, Jing-ge'er should be back soon, right?"

Grandmother Jia's expression carried a hint of sorrow, as if the good days before her were about to disappear.

Tan Chun sat at the lower end, wearing a pale yellow gauze shirt, which made her face look like a freshly peeled lychee, white with a hint of pink.

She put down her teacup and chuckled softly:

"When the Marquis of Weining returned to the capital a while ago, he brought back a letter from my third brother. I also asked him about my third brother's situation in the Northwest."

"They said they'd fight one more battle with the Hunxie forces and then return to the capital. I reckon they'll be back around this month!"

"Didn't the imperial court say they were going to build a Duke's mansion for Jing'er? Has construction started yet?"

Upon hearing that Jia Jing was coming back, Grandmother Jia's expression tightened, and she hurriedly inquired about the construction progress of the Duke's Mansion.

Tan Chun smiled and said:

"Don't worry, madam. I sent someone to the Ministry of Works the other day to ask, and they said that the foundation for the Duke's mansion has already been laid."

"The scale is slightly smaller than that of a prince's mansion, with five main halls and three gates, all made of the finest materials transported from Yunnan and Guizhou."

"The people from the Ministry of Works said they estimate it will be completely completed in about six months!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia gave an awkward smile and sighed:

"No rush, I'm not in a hurry, six months will pass quickly..."

"If Jing-ge comes back, I'm afraid he won't be able to move in in time!"

Wang Xifeng stood behind Grandmother Jia, waving an ivory-handled round fan in her hand. The cats and butterflies chasing peonies on the fan surface were vividly depicted by her waving.

Upon hearing this, a mischievous smile appeared on her face, and she said:

"Grandma is worrying too much. It's not like my third brother has nowhere to stay when he comes back."

"His martial arts academy is now more tidy than anywhere else."

"Besides, when he comes back, he'll be busy with work most of the time and won't spend much time at home!"

"If the old lady is in a hurry, let the second master urge the construction schedule and have the people in the Ministry of Works work overtime."

"The Second Master is an official in the Ministry of Works; his word certainly carries weight!"

Fengjie was just joking; she knew that Grandmother Jia rarely interfered in outside affairs.

Not to mention asking Jia Zheng to urge the construction schedule; the Second Master has always disliked mundane affairs and is not the kind of person to do such work.

Surprisingly, Grandmother Jia did not refuse after hearing what Sister Feng said.

Instead, after thinking for a moment, he said thoughtfully:

"I'll talk to Baoyu's father about it when he gets back from court! The construction of Jing'er's mansion is a major event, so it's best to get it done as soon as possible!"

Those in the hall couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

Just how "afraid" was the old lady of her third brother's return that she was so eager to separate him from the Rongguo Mansion?

What they didn't know was that Grandmother Jia really wanted to stay far away from this capable but unfilial grandson!

Last time he returned from Liaodong, he was only a third-rank official, yet he caused quite a commotion in the entire household!

He was reorganizing the entire household, beating Baoyu, scolding Lady Wang, and calling her senile!

That ordeal still gives her a headache just thinking about it!

Now that she's back as a first-class duke, she doesn't even dare to imagine what that wicked grandson could do!

It would be best to get rid of him as soon as possible!

At my age, all I want is to live a peaceful life. No matter how high his position is, I don't want anything from him anyway!

Just as Sister Feng was about to exchange a few more jokes with Grandmother Jia, a maidservant outside suddenly announced:

"Grandpa Zhen and Grandpa Rong are here!"

The laughter and chatter in the hall immediately fell silent.

These days, the sisters of the Jia family have also learned some news from Tan Chun about Jia Zhen's improper behavior during the mourning period, and they do not have a good impression of him!

Sister Feng frowned even more, thinking to herself that the visitor was up to no good.

These days, Jia Zhen has been sending Jia Rong to her courtyard to cause trouble, trying to find all sorts of excuses to bring Qin Keqing back.

Of course, Sister Feng didn't let them succeed.

Grandmother Jia's expression also hardened. She glanced at Madam You in the hall, and waved her hand wearily, saying:

"Please come in!"

Jia Zhen was dressed in plain clothes. The mourning period for Jia Jing had not yet ended, and he usually appeared in public dressed like this, except when he went to Fanlou.

Jia Rong followed behind Jia Zhen, head down, his face ashen, like an eggplant that had been hit by frost.

The two entered the room and greeted Grandmother Jia.

Jia Zhen did not sit down, but stood in the hall, cupping his hands and saying:

"Grandma, I've come today to take Keqing back home."

Jia Zhen's voice was somewhat unsteady, and his face was ashen, clearly indicating that he had been "overworked" recently.

The reason he came to see Grandmother Jia today was because he had no other choice!

Qin Shi has been hiding in Feng Jie's courtyard, feigning illness and refusing to return to Ningguo Mansion. He misses Qin Shi so much he's almost going crazy!

But no matter how much he tried to coerce or bribe her, Sister Feng remained unmoved.

They showed him no respect whatsoever for their former "Brother Zhen" and refused to send Qin back to Ningguo Mansion.

The Rongguo Mansion was guarded by personal guards, so he couldn't forcibly take people away.

In desperation, after much deliberation, he had no choice but to seek help from Grandmother Jia.

He knew that Grandmother Jia was a person who valued appearances the most, and as long as she could ask Sister Feng to "release the person," Sister Feng would be unable to stop her!

As for whether Sister Feng would reveal the details of their incestuous relationship, Jia Zhen was not worried.

Firstly, there is no solid evidence for this matter, so it is impossible to make any claim about it.

Secondly, this matter is a family affair of the Ningguo Mansion, and outsiders have no right to interfere.

Thirdly, if this matter becomes known to the whole family, Qin Shi will suffer the most, and she will even be too ashamed to live on!

Therefore, as long as he can find a plausible and respectable reason, no one has the right to stop him!

His only concern was Jia Jing's attitude in the matter and the potential retaliation he might face after returning to the capital.

However, in order to obtain the Qin family, he couldn't care less about anything else!

Let's get to the point first. As for the future, at worst, we can find an official position and be sent to Jiangnan.

I've heard that the Yangzhou "slender horses" (women who are depicted as thin horses in a slender, delicate manner) are also quite unique. It would be a good opportunity to go there and stay for a few years. Anyway, he has already made a fortune in the Beijing garrison this time.

When Grandmother Jia heard Jia Zhen's words, her expression froze, and she paused for a moment while holding her fan.

She glanced at Jia Zhen, then at Madam Xing, Madam Wang, and Madam You beside her, and seeing that they remained silent,

With a hint of doubt on his aged face, he asked:

"What are you talking about? Why did you bring Qin Shi to my Rongqing Hall? She's not even here!"