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

While everyone in the Jia family was lost in their own thoughts, Madam Niu had already begun talking to Xiangyun, who was sitting in the hall below:

"Yun girl, you haven't been naughty here at the manor, have you?"

"Although Duke Jing is your brother, you must not be disrespectful to him or offend him!"

Niu was clearly well aware of Shi Xiangyun's lively personality and gave her some advice.

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun, her rosy cheeks showing a hint of timidity, replied somewhat hesitantly:

"Third Aunt, you can't wrong an innocent person! Third Brother loves me the most!"

"He not only gave me a pony, but he also said he brought me a gift when he came back from the Northwest!"

"They say it's a rare and exquisite Linqing lion cat, a breed rarely seen even in the palace. I'll bring it back for you to see!"

Xiangyun lost both her parents at a young age and lived with her two uncles ever since.

Although Niu treated her fairly well, she wasn't his biological daughter after all, so there was a lack of warmth between them.

Compared to Lin Daiyu's life of dependence in the Jia family, Shi Xiangyun actually lived a more repressed and lonely life in the Shi family!

So much so that every time she learned at the Jia family mansion that she was to be taken home, she would be filled with tears of reluctance.

According to the original text, once Xiangyun returned home, she was a laborer who had to stay up all night doing needlework to supplement the family income, and everything was at the mercy of others.

Baochai once said about Xiangyun's situation in the Shi family, "That girl Xiangyun has no say in anything at home."

She didn't even have the freedom to control the fruits of her labor; in the original story, she had to do even the smallest needlework for Baoyu in secret.

Her description of how "she was very tired at home" to Baochai, and the fact that "her eyes even reddened" when she mentioned this matter, all show that she was not having a good time in the Shi family!

Of course, the historians mentioned here mainly refer to the family of Shi Nai, the Marquis of Baoling.

Because Shi Nai was the eldest son and inherited the title compared to Shi Ding, Xiangyun spent most of her time living at his house!

At this point, Xiangyun's mention of Jia Jing's affection for her was not without a hint of exaggeration.

Children without parents have to learn to leverage external resources.

Previously, Xiangyun mainly relied on Grandmother Jia's affection. She had begged Jia Baoyu to mention her to Grandmother Jia more often so that Grandmother Jia wouldn't forget her.

Seeing how highly Madam Niu praised Jia Jing today, I naturally wanted to show her how much Jia Jing cared for me!

Beside Xiangyun, the intelligent and perceptive Daiyu, understanding the subtle meaning, smiled and softly complimented, her bright eyes sparkling beneath her delicate brows:

"Yes! Third Brother once said that Sister Yun is forthright and genuine, and has the most heroic spirit!"

Did Jia Jing say that? Daiyu doesn't quite remember!

However, whether she said it or not is not important. With a minor character around, Daiyu has the confidence to "falsely convey the imperial edict"!

If anyone asks about it later, she'll say she heard it from the young actor!

Daiyu glanced casually at the little girl beside her who was secretly eating snacks, reached out and took a handkerchief to wipe the crumbs from the corner of her mouth. The inexplicable smile on her face made the little girl feel a little uneasy.

Upon hearing Xiangyun's explanation, and with Daiyu's corroboration, Lady Niu's face lit up with joy, and she said:

"Since the Duke of Jing likes your temperament, why don't you stay with the old lady a little longer? There's nothing much to do at home, so there's no rush to go back!"

"I made you a new outfit a few days ago, I'll have someone send it to you when we get back! You have to be good here..."

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun's rosy, round face lit up with a smile as bright as a sunflower blooming in the sun, and she said crisply:

"Third Aunt, don't worry!"

Just as Madam Niu and Xiangyun were chatting, suddenly, a maid entered the hall, walked around the screen, and said:

"Third Miss, Old Madam, Second Madam, and Lady of Baolinghou have arrived!"

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, wondering to themselves, "What is Lady Baoling doing here at this time?"

Grandmother Jia frowned slightly, a hint of headache flashing in her eyes.

Lady Xie, the wife of the Marquis of Baoling, was both Lady Niu's sister-in-law and the niece-in-law of Grandmother Jia.

Logically, since Grandmother Jia is a lively person, she should be happy when relatives come to visit.

However, Xie's niece-in-law was different from Niu's; Niu was reasonable and spoke appropriately.

Xie, on the other hand, was completely unreasonable, irrational, and seemed to lack common sense.

She often says nonsensical and incoherent nonsense, just like Madam Xing.

The arrival of such a person naturally gave Grandmother Jia a bit of a headache!

Niu, sitting below, also showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Why is the Xie family here?

Could it be that he, like himself, accompanied his second uncle to visit the Duke of Jing?

When the master went to call the second master in the morning, the second master was still hungover and had been drinking with brothels until midnight last night, so he probably wouldn't be able to come.

Madam Wang tightened her grip on the prayer beads, a hint of solemnity appearing on her fair face, as if she were quite wary of Madam Xie's arrival!

Xiangyun raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of worry and embarrassment flashing across her apple-shaped face, and she hid behind Daiyu.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in Rongqing Hall cooled down because of Xie's arrival.

A short while later, accompanied by a series of hurried footsteps, a sharp voice came from outside the hall:

"Greetings, Aunt! Your niece-in-law has come to pay her respects!"

The curtain was opened by a maid, and a middle-aged woman strode in.

The woman wore a bright red silk brocade jacket embroidered with gold peonies that stretched from the neckline to the hem of her skirt, a dazzling display of vibrant colors.

She wore a red gold filigree phoenix hairpin, with several strings of rubies hanging from the end, swaying and jingling as she walked.

The makeup on her face was so thick that her face and neck were two different colors.

When Xie entered, she immediately spotted Niu sitting in the hall, her smile widening. She then bowed and greeted Grandmother Jia, who was seated at the head of the table.

"How has the old lady been lately?"

Grandmother Jia's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and she smiled, saying:

"well!"

Despite her wariness and displeasure, Grandmother Jia showed no sign of it on her face.

After all, Xie was the wife of her own nephew, and Shi Nai's title of Marquis of Baoling was passed down from generation to generation by Jia Mu's father. It was the face of the Shi family to the outside world, so Jia Mu still had to give him some face.

After exchanging brief greetings with everyone in the hall, Xie sat down in Niu's seat, and Niu took her place to the left.

Grandmother Jia leaned back on the couch and waited until Xie was seated before smiling and asking:

"Nai's daughter-in-law, what brings you here today? Did you come with Nai'er?"

Grandmother Jia had a guess about Xie's purpose in coming, believing that she, like Niu, was accompanying her husband to visit Jia Jing.

Since Xie Shi doesn't usually visit the Jia family, her visit today is so coincidental. What else could it be but Jia Jing?

After all, as Mr. Niu just mentioned, this morning is a special "visiting time" for historians.