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

As Daiyu listened to the young man's words, she pondered them over and over in her mind. Although the word "wife" was not explicitly mentioned, every word was meaningful. How could she not understand it?

Suddenly, I felt a mix of sourness and warmth in my heart, as if honey water was slowly flowing along my meridians, making even my fingertips feel tingly.

She couldn't help but let out a soft "humph," turned her face, and looked at Jia Jing with a half-smile in her starry eyes, saying in a coquettish voice:

"Third brother is so good at talking. First, he used a set of 'Flowers, Moon, Ice and Snow' to persuade Qingwen, and when it came to me, he switched to a set of 'Elegance and Righteousness' to praise me. In any case, you've said all the nice things."

Jia Jing gave a faint "hmm," ignoring the girl's obviously arrogant words.

Seeing his reaction, Daiyu decided against teasing him further. She simply gave him a sidelong glance, her eyes filled with more reproach than anger, and more joy than shyness.

She stopped talking, lowered her head and fiddled with her sash for a while, then suddenly reached out and picked up the serving chopsticks. She took a slice of sweet and sour lotus root from the plate in front of her, and with a slight twist of her wrist, placed it steadily into Jia Jing's bowl.

After finishing, she quickly withdrew her hand as if afraid of being seen, picked up her own bowl of porridge, and sipped it slowly, leaving only half of her face, which was flushed with a light red, visible.

"Third brother, you should eat more too!" she whispered.

Her tone was a mixture of shyness and joy, clearly showing that she had mustered up a great deal of courage to express her intimacy!

After finishing their meal, the two left the study on the west side and slowly walked into the garden along the covered walkway, chatting as they went to digest their food.

By this time, the morning light had lost its intense intensity and become warm and cool, filtering through the carved and openwork pillars and casting dappled light spots on the blue brick floor, like scattered osmanthus blossoms.

The garden was extremely quiet.

Several old osmanthus trees are in full bloom with autumn flowers. When the wind blows, the delicate petals fall softly onto the bluestone path, and the fragrance floats up and down, even the corners of your clothes are covered with sweetness.

The pond water was crystal clear, and a few koi fish lazily swayed their tails, causing the reflection of the sky in the water to ripple slightly.

In the distance, a few slender bamboos swayed gently in the wind, their shadows reflected on the pink wall, as if someone had drawn a few light ink strokes with a brush.

Jia Jing, holding Daiyu's hand, slowed his pace and gently instructed her:

"After you eat at the West Mansion, you should often go out for a walk. Staying cooped up indoors all the time won't keep you healthy, no matter how strong you are!"

Daiyu was led by him, walking slowly beside him.

The morning breeze ruffled the stray hairs by her ears, and her bright, clear eyes, beneath her delicate brows, seemed to reflect the sunlight. She softly hummed in agreement and said:

"People used to move around, but the West Mansion was crowded and the garden was lively, unlike the East Mansion which was so quiet."

"Sometimes I want to find a secluded spot to stand for a while, but I always run into my sisters or have maids and servants following me around, so I just don't feel comfortable."

Jia Jing said softly:

"Then come here often from now on. I've already given the instructions for the East Mansion, so you can come whenever you want."

"If I'm not here, Xiangling and Qingwen are here too. If you like, go to the small garden behind the study on the west side often. There's lots of bamboo there, and it's quiet. You should like it!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu felt a warmth in her heart, lowered her eyes, and softly replied, "I will listen to Third Brother!"

The two walked for a while and then stopped by a stone bridge over the water.

The morning light slanted in, casting the two shadows onto the surface of the pond, where they were stretched long and soft by the ripples.

Jia Jing suddenly released her hand. Daiyu was startled and looked up to see him take out a jade pendant from his pocket.

The jade plaque is lustrous and has a calm color. The surface of the plaque is decorated mainly with hibiscus flowers.

The petals unfurl layer by layer, elegant yet understated. At the heart of the flower is a tiny seal script character “璟”, faintly visible, as if concealing a profound and subtle secret.

The jade pendant is adorned with a light blue silk ribbon tied with a small double-heart knot, the end of which sways gently in the morning breeze.

"To be honest, I've never properly given my sister anything before."

Jia Jing placed the jade pendant in her palm and said in a deep voice:

"This jade pendant was specially carved by someone I had commissioned. Take a look, sister, and see if you like it."

Baochai's has already been given, so naturally we can't favor one over the other!

The two jade pendants were almost identical, except one was engraved with a peony and the other with a hibiscus, representing the flower language of the two individuals.

Daiyu paused, lowered her fair face to look at the hibiscus, then at the character "Jing," her fingertips gently tracing the warm, smooth patterns on the jade pendant, her heart feeling as if it had been struck by something extremely soft.

She tilted her head back, her eyes bright and clear, her face filled with undisguised surprise. She slightly turned her head, her sweet and melodious voice trembling slightly as she said:

"Third brother... what do you mean?"

Jia Jing remained calm and said gently:

"My sister gave me a purse and a safety amulet; I should reciprocate with one as a token of my affection!"

Daiyu's jade-like face flushed crimson, her bright, dark eyes lowered, unable to conceal the joy and excitement hidden in her shy voice, as she said in a trembling voice:

"What are your feelings?...A token of...relationship?"

No matter what, it seems impossible to say the word "love"!

Jia Jing looked at her without flinching, and simply hummed in response.

Daiyu's face flushed again. She clutched the jade pendant in her palm, as if afraid it would suddenly fly away, or as if afraid that she would lose her composure in her joy.

After a long while, she raised her head again, her starry eyes filled with a hint of cunning and a touch of seriousness, and suddenly asked in a low voice:

"Third brother... has he already had feelings for me all along?"

Since they held hands and confirmed their relationship, Daiyu went back and carefully reviewed the progress of their relationship, thinking about every little detail of the past!

Then she suddenly realized that everything seemed to have a clue. The relationship between the two seemed to be initiated by her, but given her third brother's personality, if it wasn't unintentional, he probably wouldn't have agreed so easily!

It seems like she's been led around by the young man in front of her the whole time in this relationship!

It seems to exist yet not exist... it seems close yet distant...

Asking this question now is also an opportunity to confirm whether her thoughts are correct, or perhaps to explore Jia Jing's intentions.

Jia Jing hadn't expected her to ask so directly. His eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly as he countered with his own question:

"Why does my sister think that way?"

Isn't that a bit too sensitive? What's on your mind all day?

However, asking this question is in line with Daiyu's personality.

If Baochai were with him today, they would mostly be discussing court affairs, displaying her virtuousness, while Daiyu... would seem more like they were in love, with a competitive spirit between young lovers in her every word and action!

Daiyu gave a soft "humph," glancing at him with a look that was both reproachful and pleased, and said in a trembling voice:

"Back then, I was just going to my third brother's courtyard to enjoy the snow, and you were already making Xiangling become my disciple, and you even said those things about the lonely fairy in the secluded forest."

"Later, Zijuan listed several other things for me. When you first came back from Liaodong, you gave me ginseng, which none of the other sisters received; when I vomited blood and fainted, you punished Bao Erge and summoned the imperial physician; you even sent personal guards to Father; out of all the sisters in the family, you only ever visited my courtyard and gave me many instructions... Are all these things merely the care of an elder brother for his younger sister?"

Jia Jing: "..."

Noticing the stunned look on the young man's face beside her, Daiyu's bright, dark eyes flickered beneath her delicate brows. She lowered her head, her gaze gentle and clear, and continued in a low voice:

"And you showed me 'Lu Xuan Gong's Memorials,' and even gave me a desert rose all by yourself... these things..."

Jia Jing's expression was inscrutable, and he said:

"There was some affection at the time, but it was probably more of a feeling of pity!"

He spoke these words very slowly, as if he had been rummaging through his memories for a long time, picking up those fragmented old stories one by one.

A morning breeze blew across the pond, carrying the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the crisp scent of bamboo leaves, causing the hem of his robes to flutter gently.

Looking at Daiyu, Jia Jing's gaze softened even more than before, and he said gently:

"When I first met you, how old were you? You were so small, yet your brows were always furrowed, and your eyes seemed to be veiled by the misty rain of Jiangnan when you looked at people."

When others joke with you, you just lower your head and smile faintly, as if you're afraid of taking up even a bit of the fun.

"You only eat a few bites of food and always lag behind others when you walk. All the wealth in the mansion seems to be borrowed from you, and you feel like you have to give it back if you're not careful. I feel a bit emotional about this."

At that time, he didn't really have many ulterior motives; he was probably just showing some extra concern for the original characters since he had just arrived in this world.

Or, to put it another way, if we're really talking about attraction between men and women, Jia Jing in his previous life actually admired Xiangyun's open-minded and cheerful nature more.

Of course, it's best not to say more about these things, otherwise it might hurt her feelings.

Daiyu's jade-like face flushed red, her heart filled with shy joy. Her bright, dark eyes, framed by delicate brows, glanced at the young man beside her, and she said in a trembling voice:

"So, from the very first meeting, my third brother had already... clearly been plotting against me for a long time..."

Jia Jing: "???"

What do you mean by that? Is that what you're trying to express?