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

Upon hearing Lady Wang's words, Baoyu looked surprised and struggled to tear his gaze away from Jin Chuan, blurting out:

"Such a thing has happened? Then what about my uncle's sisters... won't they also be implicated? Won't their lives... be ruined?"

I was just thinking about how I could get closer to my uncle's sisters in the future, but now that's all gone!

Just as Madam Wang's resentment was about to burst forth, she suddenly heard the words "my uncle's sisters," and felt a lump in her throat, unable to rise or fall.

She stared wide-eyed at Baoyu, at his innocent face, which was full of concern, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

Is this a matter of whether they get implicated or not? Your uncle is about to be executed?

Her lips moved several times, but in the end, Madam Wang only managed to squeeze out a few words through her teeth:

"Your uncle is about to be skinned alive, and you... don't you have anything else to say?"

Baoyu sighed and said:

"My uncle gave away the money, and now that things have come to light, it's his fate... It's just a pity for the sisters in the family. I wonder who will end up with them..."

"In my opinion, we can't interfere in Uncle's affairs. Madam, why don't you prepare some money so that if Uncle's sisters ever fall on hard times, you can buy them back? They are all excellent girls..."

Madam Wang felt a "boom" in her head, stars flashed before her eyes, and her ears rang, as if someone had struck a bell in her head. All the color drained from her face, and then the world spun around her...

…………

Meanwhile, after leaving Rongqing Hall, Aunt Xue was still worried about Prince Teng's safety, so she brought Baochai to the East Mansion to ask Jia Jing for information.

But Jia Jing had no time to see her now. The General Affairs Office was newly established, and he needed to handle the organizational structure, personnel, and many other matters of its various departments and offices.

He had to oversee all military affairs in the world, and many urgent military matters could not be delayed for even a moment!

Therefore, Aunt Xue sat in the East Mansion for an hour but still couldn't see Jia Jing. She had to rush back to find another way, leaving Xue Baochai alone in the East Mansion to wait, saying that she would go back and tell her when she had news.

Time flew by, and Xue Baochai waited for more than an hour until evening before Jia Jing finally finished his work and met with her.

Because Baochai had come in public this time, Jia Jing, considering her reputation, did not choose to talk to her indoors, but instead took her to stroll along the East Mansion's Huifang Garden in the evening breeze to enjoy the scenery.

It must be said here that the back garden of the East Mansion is completely different from before.

The garden when Jia Zhen was alive was exquisite and beautiful, with winding corridors, waterside pavilions, rockeries and vines, and a picturesque view at every turn, exuding the refined taste of a noble family.

Now, however, this place is much more spacious. Jia Jing had it renovated into a garden that is half garden and half drill ground, with a straight path leading from the back door of the main hall to the depths of the garden.

The trees planted on both sides are not ordinary flowers and trees, but rows of ancient pines and cypresses, all over a hundred years old, with gnarled branches and dense shade, which appear somewhat tranquil in the sunset.

On the stone path, two figures strolled slowly, the twilight casting long shadows that rippled gently on the water.

Jia Jing walked slightly ahead, turning his head from time to time to look at Baochai.

Baochai was wearing the same honey-colored jacket she wore that morning, with a slightly worn silver-fur half-sleeved garment over it. The collar was embroidered with only a few very simple lotus flowers, without any other decorations.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting today, sister. This government office has just been established, and there are many things that require my decision-making. Tomorrow is also the old lady's birthday banquet, so I need to set aside half a day. That's why I've been quite busy!"

As the girl blushed with shyness, Jia Jing took her soft little hand and gently explained.

Baochai, who had been slightly bowing her head, lost in her own thoughts, suddenly felt the warmth from her hand. Her heart skipped a beat, and a blush rose to her temples, making her appear even more alluring. She pursed her cherry lips and quickly said:

"It's my bad timing. I knew you must be very busy today, and I shouldn't have bothered you..."

As for Wang Ziteng's matter, she didn't feel comfortable bringing it up unless Jia Jing asked.

Jia Jing smiled and said:

"There's no need for such formalities between us. It's been almost a month since we last saw each other, and I've been thinking about my sister a lot!"

Hearing Jia Jing say this, Baochai's nose tingled, and her almond-shaped eyes, beneath her delicate eyebrows, welled up with tears.

In fact, as Jia Jing's power and influence grew day by day, Baochai, while feeling honored, may not have been without a sense of self-deprecation.

Especially since she confessed her feelings, she has always been the one to take the initiative to find Jia Jing. And this time, Jia Jing even "left her hanging" for more than two hours. It's inevitable that she would have some self-doubt!

Although she knew that Jia Jing was really busy with important military and national affairs, she still had some doubts about her importance in his heart!

At this moment, hearing Jia Jing speak softly and gently about thinking of her, she naturally felt a mix of emotions, including joy, shyness, and peace.

Seeing the tears glistening in Xue Baochai's eyes, Jia Jing paused, looking at the plump and charming young woman, and asked in surprise:

"What's wrong, little sister? Are you resentful that I haven't come to see you lately?"

Baochai gently shook her head, her pear-like white face tinged with a thin blush, her almond-shaped eyes brimming with autumn water, and tears trembling on her eyelashes before slowly rolling down her cheeks.

She lowered her eyes, her voice as soft as an evening breeze rippled across a pond:

"How could I resent my brother? I just... sometimes I feel like I'm dreaming, and I don't know what kind of good fortune I've accumulated in my past lives to receive such... love and care from my brother!"

Back in Jinling, who could have imagined things would turn out this way! Although our status is still uncertain, at least I have someone to rely on!

Jia Jing reached out, his fingertips gently touching Baochai's eye, wiping away the tears that were about to fall. His calloused fingers touched her soft skin with a rough warmth. Feeling the delicate, rosy softness of the young girl's face, Jia Jing said softly:

"What good fortune! Don't say such self-deprecating things again. I'm actually grateful to have such a virtuous and capable wife as my sister!"

It's strange, how many times has Baochai cried in front of him?

Last time, in front of the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, she was also tearful and her eyes were blurry with tears, as if she had become Daiyu's personality!

That's not right either, Daiyu doesn't seem to have ever cried in front of him even once!

Upon hearing this, Baochai's heart skipped a beat. The self-deprecation and doubt that had lingered for half a day were gently swept away by this one sentence, like a warm breeze dispersing the last few wisps of mist on the pond.

She didn't say anything more, but simply took a step forward, moved closer, wrapped her two fair and plump arms around Jia Jing's waist, and buried her face in his chest.

The movement initially carried a hint of tentative shyness, but once it touched her, her arms tightened.

"If my brother doesn't like hearing it, then I won't say it anymore!"

Her voice came from Jia Jing's chest, muffled and soft, with a rare hint of coquettishness and submissiveness, like the last rumble of thunder under the eaves after a storm.