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

Inside Rongqing Hall, Lady Wang was whispering to Grandmother Jia about Baoyu's schooling, implying how hard and tiring it was, and how often he was beaten.

Yuan Chun, standing to the side, would occasionally retort, clearly expressing her firm disagreement with Lady Wang's idea of ​​having Bao Yu return home to study.

As Grandmother Jia listened to the two arguing, her aged face showed a mixture of conflict and difficulty.

Emotionally speaking, she naturally felt sorry for Jia Baoyu and wanted him to come back to study.

Logically speaking, she also knew that Yuan Chun genuinely cared about Bao Yu's future, and that studying and practicing martial arts at the clan school would certainly be better than at home.

While Grandmother Jia was playing dominoes with Aunt Xue and others, she was also talking with Lady Wang and Yuan Chun.

The commotion coming from the side room finally reached their ears, especially Jia Baoyu's loud shout, which startled them.

Grandmother Jia, in a hoarse voice, urgently instructed Yuanyang behind her:

"I hear a commotion coming from inside the room again. Go check what's going on!"

Although Jia Mu was startled, she remained calm, thinking it was just a normal quarrel, and decided to send Yuanyang to check on things first.

Meanwhile, Madam Wang's fair face was slightly gloomy. She knew without a doubt that it was that temperamental Lin girl who had offended her Baoyu again.

She was the only one who always went against her master Baoyu; none of the other maids would dare to go against his wishes!

That sharp-tongued, crybaby Lin girl is just like her mother who died young—a real troublemaker!

I don't know how many times I've argued with my son like this since I was a child!

Such a morally bankrupt girl, and the old lady actually wanted her to be her son Baoyu's wife? She must be out of her mind!

As long as I'm around, she'll never be able to step into her own home.

Aunt Xue sat to the left of Grandmother Jia. Hearing the commotion inside, her expression changed slightly, and she felt somewhat uneasy.

My precious daughter is in there now, I hope nothing bad has happened to her!

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but stand up and laugh:

"Grandma, let's go inside and take a look! I hear quite a commotion; we don't want anything to happen!"

Sister Feng blinked her phoenix eyes beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, her expression somewhat puzzled. She seemed to have heard a crisp sound of jade striking the ground just now, which sounded very familiar!

Could it be that Baoyu... smashed the jade again?

Surely not?!

Last year, Baoyu smashed the jade, causing such a huge uproar.

Not only was he beaten, but his mother and the old lady were also scolded by his third brother. More than a hundred servants in the mansion were killed or injured. Haven't they learned their lesson yet?

Even... he himself was implicated that day and lost... his position as housekeeper!

Thinking of this, a cold light flashed in Sister Feng's phoenix eyes, and her gaze swept over Madam Wang as if by accident.

Just as Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and the others stood up, Yuanyang hurried back from the side room.

With a look of surprise and a hint of barely concealed worry on her fair, oval face, she reported back to Grandmother Jia:

"Grandma, Master Bao has broken the jade pendant around his neck again, and Miss Lin is crying too!"

This is really bad news. It's exactly the same as what happened last year. I wonder what the Duke will do when he finds out!

Yuanyang's cry echoed like a chilling winter wind in Rongqing Hall, causing Jia Mu and the others to change their expressions.

Even the maids and old women who were busy in Rongqing Hall stopped what they were doing. They felt their hands and feet were ice cold and dared not even breathe!

That damned...Master Bao!

Why is this happening again? Will it involve us this time?

Grandmother Jia's heart sank suddenly, and she said urgently:

"Why are you smashing the jade again? Didn't I tell Baoyu not to smash that vital part of his body when playing with the sisters?"

In fact, not only did Grandmother Jia's heart skip a beat, but even Lady Wang felt a chill run down her spine!

I could almost hear that shout, "Shut up, you stupid woman!" again.

Back then, the eldest son of the illegitimate family was only a third-rank official, yet he dared to lead troops to the government office and open his mouth to scold him. Now he is a first-rank duke with immense power!

Yuan Chun's graceful and dignified face also turned pale. She also knew about what had happened last year, and in great detail.

I heard that my third brother was furious at the time. What should we do now?

It must be said that Jia Jing still wielded considerable influence over Grandmother Jia and others.

So much so that when they heard that Baoyu had smashed the jade, the first thing Grandmother Jia and the others did not care about Baoyu, but rather considered the consequences of the incident!

Grandmother Jia's expression changed rapidly several times, but in the end, her worry for Baoyu outweighed her fear of Jia Jing, and she said urgently:

"Come on! Let's go see what's going on. Those kids are just being silly, they don't know their own strength. How could they break that vital part of their body!"

Regardless of the circumstances, Grandmother Jia preemptively characterized the incident as a quarrel between children!

Lady Wang also suppressed the unease welling up in her heart; her worry for Baoyu instantly took over her mind, and she said urgently:

"My precious jade...it absolutely cannot be harmed!"

Fengjie listened from the side, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her mouth turned up. She hadn't expected that Baoyu had really smashed the jade. This was going to be a good show!

Aunt Xue's fair face showed surprise at this moment. She had personally experienced the jade-smashing drama last year. Why was it happening again now?

This Baoyu is so childish, willful and reckless, he's a bit... ridiculous!

When Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Yuan Chun, and others quickly lifted the curtain and entered the side room,

Inside the room, everyone was gathered together, with several of Baoyu's maids, including Musk Moon and Xi Ren, kneeling on the ground searching for something.

At this moment, Baoyu seemed to have lost his soul, standing there dumbfounded, staring blankly at Daiyu.

Without a word, tears streamed silently down his dark, chubby face.

Across from him, Daiyu was also pale, with red eyes and wet tear stains on her face. Xiangyun, Baochai, and the others were whispering words of comfort around her.

When Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang saw Baoyu's appearance, their hearts skipped a beat. They immediately disregarded everything else and rushed into the room.

Grandmother Jia was the first to reach Baoyu's side. She tugged at his arm, but he didn't budge. She said anxiously, "..."

"My precious jade, my darling, are you alright? What happened to you? Don't scare me!"

Lady Wang then grabbed Baoyu's other arm, but found she couldn't budge it at all. Her heart sank, and she said anxiously in a panic:

"Baoyu, my Baoyu, you can't be hurt! How could I live if something happened to you!"

As Grandmother Jia stroked Baoyu, calling him "my darling," she heard Xiren report that the jade was missing. Great anxiety gripped her, and she addressed the others in the room:

"What are you all standing there for? Quickly, find the jade! Quickly, find the jade! That's Baoyu's lifeline..."

At Grandmother Jia's command, the room instantly descended into chaos.

Xi Ren lay on the ground, lifted the edge of the carpet, and peered under the chair, her head almost touching the ground.

Musk Moon knelt in front of the cabinet, pulling out each drawer one by one and turning them upside down.

Qiuwen crawled under the couch, her skirt covered in dust, her hair disheveled, and she didn't bother to fix it.

Several young maids held candlesticks, shining them around in the corners, behind doors, and under flower stands, their shadows swaying on the wall.

"Have you found it yet?" Grandmother Jia's voice was urgent and shrill.