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

After everyone had finished their meal, each with their own thoughts, they sat down again.

As the night deepened, Grandmother Jia, being elderly, grew weary, but the occasional gunshots and shouts from outside the mansion kept her awake.

Sitting on the high couch, with several maids including Yuanyang and Amber massaging her shoulders, she suddenly remembered something and sighed:

"Jing-ge'er, it's so dangerous outside these days, and so many things have happened, it's making me uneasy. Should we postpone my baby's birth celebration the day after tomorrow?"

"Originally, San Ya Tou and Feng Ya Tou had specially purchased a small opera troupe, saying they would perform a few auspicious plays to celebrate for me."

Grandmother Jia's birthday is on the third day of the eighth lunar month. Chapter 71 of the original novel records her 80th birthday celebration, which is also the most prestigious and largest birthday banquet in the entire book.

"Because the third day of the eighth month this year is the 80th birthday of Grandmother Jia, and relatives and friends are coming, I was worried that the banquet arrangements would not be well planned, so I discussed it with Jia She and Jia Lian in advance. It was decided that the banquets would be held at both Rong and Ning Palaces from the 28th day of the seventh month to the 5th day of the eighth month."

In other words, Grandmother Jia's eightieth birthday celebration lasted for a full eight days.

The invitees ranged from imperial relatives such as the Princess Dowager of Nan'an and the Princess of Beijing, to high-ranking civil and military officials such as "Grand Secretaries, Governors, Commanders, and Garrs," as well as relatives and friends from near and far, and members of the clan of all ages.

The Jia family made preparations in advance for this, and even worried about not being able to raise enough birthday gifts.

Ultimately, Wang Xifeng suggested pawning the copper and tin utensils upstairs to gather the necessary funds, demonstrating the high standard and enormous expense of this birthday banquet.

However, this grand and decorated birthday banquet, attended by numerous dignitaries, also marked a turning point in the Jia family's decline from prosperity.

Following the grand and splendid birthday banquet, a series of events leading to the decline of the Grand View Garden, including the raid on the garden, followed.

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing glanced at Tan Chun and Feng Jie, who were sitting quietly not far away. This single glance seemed to make Feng Jie feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Third brother, the old lady will be eighty years old next year, and we're thinking of making some preparations to hold a grand celebration for her next year," said Sister Feng.

In Han Chinese folk tradition, there is a custom of celebrating birthdays on the ninth day of the lunar calendar, but not on the tenth.

Birthdays that fall in the 10th month (60, 70, 80) are often celebrated earlier at the traditional Chinese age mark (59, 69, 79) to avoid the taboo of the number "ten" being a homophone for "death".

However, for a noble family like the Jia family, Grandmother Jia would still celebrate the annual grand celebration on the third day of the eighth lunar month the following year, without making this particular custom.

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, then thought for a moment and said:

"Even though it is the old lady's birthday, we should still hold a celebration. However, we will not hold a big one this year. We will invite some relatives and friends from near and far, as well as elders and juniors from the clan. It will only be a lively one-day event. We will not invite any officials from the court."

"We'll hold a big celebration for the old lady next year for her 80th birthday."

It is rare for someone to live to seventy, so it was impossible for someone as old as Grandmother Jia not to hold a ceremony for the birth of her son. This was a matter of filial piety and etiquette.

"Didn't we say we'd close the door to guests and not receive outsiders? Won't that cause any problems?" Grandmother Jia's aged face flushed slightly as she spoke meaningfully.

"Only for this one day. I will have my personal guards prepare for defense!" Jia Jing said calmly.

Grandmother Jia felt quite comforted, knowing that her third grandson still cared about her to some extent.

After exchanging a few more words about family matters, seeing the weariness on the faces of everyone in Rongqing Hall, Jia Jing decided to leave and said in a clear voice:

"It's already past midnight, so I'll leave it at that for now. You should all go back to sleep! I'm heading back to the East Mansion too!"

Aunt Xue also stood up, looking at Jia Jing with anxious eyes, and said in a worried tone:

"Jing-ge'er, the Wang family... I'll need you to take care of my brother's side."

Jia Jing gave a faint reply and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Daiyu, with a blush on her face, stood up and called out in a clear voice;

"Third brother, I'm with you. Father wrote to me last month, asking me to pass on some messages to you!"

Jia Jing turned his head, his calm eyes sweeping over the slightly flustered Daiyu, and nodded, saying:

"Let's go!"

As he spoke, led by several maids carrying lanterns, he left Rongqing Hall with Daiyu.

Watching the two leave, Xue Baochai paused slightly and sighed inwardly. She had originally thought of "going along the way" and chatting with him!

It's been a month since we last met, and I was just about to pour my heart out when that wretched Lin girl, you think you're the only one with a father?

Meanwhile, Jia Jing and Daiyu left Rongqing Hall and walked slowly under the moonlight. The bright moon shone on the earth, and the trees in the garden were lush and green, casting swaying shadows.

Suddenly, a gust of northwest night wind swept in, carrying the slightly damp scent of midnight, instantly dispelling the heat that had settled in the hall.

Jia Jing raised his hand to gather his cloak, which had been blown about by the wind, and looked at the boundless night sky. His tone was somewhat relaxed as he softly sighed:

"What a refreshing breeze! It has a touch of the saying, 'The wind from the west blows away the dust, and only when the night is deep can the true nature of things be revealed!'"

Daiyu, who was silently searching for a topic of conversation, heard Jia Jing's words, glanced at the night sky with her bright, dark eyes, and whispered:

"Like that night, when the palace gates were silent and still, the moon shone on the mountains and rivers, and the wind blew for ten thousand miles?"

Jia Jing turned to look at the bright-eyed Daiyu and asked:

"How did Lin Daiyu also know this poem?"

Who said Daiyu couldn't speak?

He made only a casual remark, but Daiyu immediately understood his meaning and even brought up the poem he had written a few days earlier.