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

Madam Wang paused for a moment while holding the Buddhist prayer beads. She didn't care about Madam You and Madam Qin at all!

Especially that Qin woman, she looks like a vixen, I heard that my own Baoyu once spent time in her room...

In short, it doesn't look good!

Lady Wang was reminded of Yuan Chun's marriage by the news of Qin Shi and You Shi's remarriages.

It's been a while since my eldest daughter returned from the palace. She's getting older every day, so it's time to seriously consider marriage!

My sister-in-law sent someone this morning to say that she has found Yuan Chun a wonderful marriage, but I don't know the specifics.

The marriage of our eldest maid is crucial to Baoyu's future, so we must not be careless!

Just as the hall fell silent, Grandmother Jia's face darkened slightly, and she frowned, speaking to Jia Jing in a gruff tone:

"Fine, fine! You're the head of the clan now, do whatever you want with clan affairs! I'm just an old woman, it's none of your business!"

"However, I must also remind you, please stop saying things like 'chastity is a sin,' as that offends the refined officials and scholars outside, and will damage your reputation!"

Now, Grandmother Jia has become somewhat numb to Jia Jing's accusations.

After all, if you think about it carefully, since that wretched third grandson was ennobled, every time you meet him, you've suffered his wrath!

But this third grandson is different from that muddle-headed Xie Shi. He always has a point when he speaks, leaving her speechless!

But it doesn't matter anyway!

Taking a step back opens up a whole new world; there's no need to bother with this ungrateful scoundrel!

in fact,

From a personal perspective, Grandmother Jia did not genuinely want Qin Keqing and You Shi to become widows at such a young age.

Her previous considerations were mostly from the perspective of the clan's interests, and she was afraid of being gossiped about by the clan members!

Now that Jia Jing is willing to step forward and make this decision, she naturally agrees to it!

However, in her opinion, even if Lady You and Lady Qin were given the right to choose for themselves, they probably wouldn't choose to return to their ancestral home and remarry.

Firstly, since something just happened at the East Mansion, if the two of them were to rush into remarriage, wouldn't that invite gossip?

Secondly, Lady You's family has a greedy and snobbish stepmother. Remarrying might not necessarily lead to a better life than remaining chaste. Staying in the East Mansion still offers some semblance of dignity.

Qin's father was a civil official who valued his reputation, and he probably wouldn't want his daughter to remarry and bring shame to the family!

After listening to Grandmother Jia's advice, Jia Jing remained calm and said in a deep voice:

"Old lady, you're overthinking it! The truly learned and sensible people in the literati may not actually believe in this set of etiquette and rules. They also have wives, daughters, and sisters; how could they not consider their own families!"

"Those who advocate this path are mostly self-serving moralists who haven't truly understood the classics!"

"They force women to remain chaste or even commit suicide, calling it virtuous and heroic deeds, but it's nothing more than a means to achieve political success and gain a good reputation for themselves!"

"Why bother with the babbling and howling of such hypocritical scoundrels? They're nothing but clowns jumping around!"

In truth, the prevalence of Confucian ethics was also related to the system of the Han Dynasty.

Emperor Taizu of Han once issued an edict: "Among commoners, widows who died before the age of thirty and remained in mourning, and who did not change their chastity after the age of fifty, shall be honored with a plaque and their families exempted from corvée labor."

This is the first decree in history specifically issued to reward chastity.

The imperial court rewarded women who remained chaste by erecting memorial arches, building shrines to virtuous women, and bestowing imperial edicts, and recorded their names and deeds in the "Biographies of Virtuous Women" in local chronicles.

In fact, the court's policies were not without good intentions; at the very least, they protected women who remained chaste.

However, every policy has loopholes that can be exploited. When upholding chastity becomes a profitable business, the actions of those who implement it are easily distorted!

As a result, many people with ulterior motives use the guise of traditional ethics and morality to engage in acts that harm others for their own benefit and persecute women!

Just like now, when Emperor Jingsheng wants to reform and strengthen the country, many officials oppose it under the pretext that ancestral rules cannot be violated. Are they really upholding ancestral rules?

They only ever uphold ancestral systems that benefit themselves or their class!

They would turn a blind eye to ancestral rules such as "skinning and stuffing with straw" and "immediate execution for embezzling sixty taels of silver"!

Seeing that her well-intentioned advice had not been accepted by Jia Jing, Grandmother Jia sighed, her aged face filled with helplessness, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Alright, alright! You're brilliant! You're amazing! You're right about everything! I won't argue with you about these grand principles."

"I'm tired. You should go back and do your own thing. Don't waste your time with this old woman!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing didn't say anything more. He immediately greeted everyone and got up to take his leave.

Upon seeing this, Baochai's almond-shaped eyes flickered. She wanted to follow, but couldn't find a suitable reason.

Although she and Jia Jing were already engaged, they were not officially recognized or recognized at the time, so it was not appropriate for them to show it in public.

Just as she hesitated, Daiyu stood up, her bright, clear eyes shimmering slightly, and smiled gently at Grandmother Jia, saying:

"Grandma, I'm going back too! Father wrote a letter to my third brother a few days ago, but I forgot to give it to him yesterday!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia smiled and nodded, saying:

"Yu'er, go!"

Daiyu then bid farewell to everyone and, together with Zijuan and Xueyan, followed Jia Jing away!

Baochai watched the two figures gradually disappear with a slightly solemn expression. Her heart sank slightly. Would this Lin girl repeat what she did last night...?

On the covered walkway, Daiyu gracefully caught up with Jia Jing and said softly:

"Third brother, my father sent a letter from Yangzhou a while ago, one of which was addressed to you! I've put it in my room!"

Jia Jing, smelling a faint fragrance different from the Cold Fragrance Pill wafting around his nose, gazed thoughtfully at the beautiful Daiyu and said:

"Then let's go to Lin Daiyu's courtyard! I've been wanting to find an opportunity to talk to her anyway."

Daiyu's pretty face flushed slightly, her jade-like skin tinged with rosy hues, and her gentle, tranquil eyes held a hint of joy as she softly said:

"Won't this interfere with Third Brother's important business?"

Aunt Xiangyun just mentioned that someone is coming to visit Third Brother this afternoon.

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, then said:

"It's alright, I'll just sit for a bit!"

As the two talked, they walked slowly south along the covered walkway toward Daiyu's courtyard.

The afternoon sun slanted across the eaves of Rongqing Hall, and the banana trees in the courtyard were sunburnt, their edges curled up and leaves drooping, like people who hadn't woken up yet.

A breeze blew in from the flower wall, carrying the sweet scent of tuberose, soft and gentle, like a light touch on my face.

The covered walkway was long, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the pillars, drawing alternating lines of light and shadow on the ground.

Jia Jing walked ahead, with Daiyu trailing half a step behind, at a leisurely pace. Her moon-white jacket flickered in the light and shadow, like a cloud being blown away by the wind.

The two shadows were cast on the blue brick ground, one in front of the other, very close together.

Zijuan pulled the little maid Xueyan back, preventing her from interrupting their conversation.