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

Seeing that the two were speaking in this manner, and remembering that Lin Ruhai had indeed always been in poor health and that father and daughter had been separated for many years, Grandmother Jia nodded helplessly and instructed Daiyu:

"Please be careful on the road! You are not in good health, and long-distance travel can easily aggravate your old ailments, so please bring plenty of medicine and a doctor with you."

Daiyu responded in a low voice, slightly shy.

At this moment, Aunt Xue, with a smile on her fair face, suddenly interjected:

"There is unrest in Jiangnan. My family business still has many shops and farmland there, and I'm afraid they have also been affected by the war."

"I was just thinking about whether to let Pan'er go back and take care of the business there! Now that Jing-ge'er has taken Lin-ya-tou south, I was thinking, why not take Bao-ya-tou with him?"

"It would be good for her to go back and handle things there, and she can keep Lin company on the way back to the capital. I wonder if that would be convenient?"

Whether it's industry or not isn't that important anymore; the main thing is that we can't let Lin girl be the only one looking after Jing-ge!

Now, in Aunt Xue's heart, her beloved daughter's marriage is the most important thing, and she must not be negligent and lose her future position as a princess.

As soon as Aunt Xue said this, everyone immediately understood her intention.

However, no one felt anything was wrong. Before entering the palace to choose a husband, Baochai, as an unmarried young lady, would naturally not be able to follow Jia Jing around without a proper title, as she would have to consider her reputation.

But now that the palace has tacitly approved, Xue Baochai and the other two are essentially betrothed to Jia Jing.

The emperor's intentions in the palace were far more formal than any arranged marriage or matchmaker's words, so there would be no obstacle to reputation if they followed him south!

Baochai, standing to the side, frowned and glanced at her mother, unsure whether to be happy or worried!

She naturally longed to travel to Jiangnan with Jia Jing; otherwise, how agonizing it would be to be separated for years!

However, she was also mindful of Jia Jing's feelings and didn't want him to think that she was competing with Daiyu and was being unreasonable!

At the same time, he was also afraid that if he followed, he would hinder Jia Jing's important business of going south!

After letting out a soft sigh, Baochai turned to look at Jia Jing, only to find him calmly setting down his teacup and looking at her as well, asking:

"What does Sister Xue mean? This trip south will take at least six months, and she probably won't be back anytime soon."

In fact, Jia Jing didn't mind bringing Baochai along. After all, it's good to go out and broaden one's horizons. Staying in the inner quarters all the time makes one lack experience.

Baochai lowered her eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I'll listen to my third brother!"

Jia Jing pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Then, little sister, go back today and pack your things. Tomorrow, you and Lin sister will head south together. Once you arrive in Jiangnan, you can stay at the Salt Bureau together so that we can take care of each other!"

Baochai responded with a soft "Yes," her voice gentle, her expression revealing nothing, but the fingers gripping the handkerchief loosened slightly.

Xiangyun, who had been listening intently for a long time, could no longer contain herself and blurted out:

"Third brother, I also want to go south! 'Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions and terraces are shrouded in mist and rain,' and Xuanwu Lake, Purple Mountain, West Lake, Suzhou, and Yangzhou—I've heard so much about them, and I want to visit them too!"

These days, daughters from wealthy families, let alone going on long journeys, are followed by their maids even when they just leave the inner gate.

How can someone who is confined to a small world year after year not yearn for the outside world?

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun, Tan Chun, Ying Chun, Xi Chun, and the others all showed a hint of longing on their faces.

Yuan Chun, having served in the palace before, remained composed, though a flicker appeared in her beautiful, gentle eyes.

Yingchun lowered her eyes listlessly, as if she had already gotten used to not thinking about these things;

Xichun tilted her head, looking at Xiangyun thoughtfully.

However, before Jia Jing could speak, Grandmother Jia decisively refused, saying in a hoarse voice:

"No! How can a young girl like you travel so far? You're so young; what if you ruin your health?"

Xiangyun is a young lady, so there are bound to be some considerations. How can she be expected to follow Jia Jing around like this?

Seeing that Grandmother Jia refused, Xiangyun quickly ran to Jia Jing's side, tugged at his sleeve, and pleaded sweetly:

"Third brother, whether you're herding one sheep or a flock, it's all the same. Please take me with you!"

"I can take care of myself. I can even ride horses. Take me with you! I promise I'll be a good girl!"

Seeing this, Jia Jing smiled and said gently:

"This trip to Jiangnan will likely be fraught with bloodshed! Even if Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai go, they will have to stay in the courtyard for a while and won't be able to move around."

"How about this, once the situation there is more stable next year, I'll find an opportunity to send a ship back, and then I'll take you, your eldest sister, second sister, third sister, and fourth sister to play together, okay?"

Xiangyun pouted, knowing that this couldn't be forced, and sighed, saying:

"Then third brother must remember this, you can't go back on your word!"

As she spoke, she ran to Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai, pleading, saying:

"Sister Lin, Sister Bao, please remember to remind Third Brother to send someone to pick us up!"

Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu smiled and nodded in agreement!

At this moment, seeing that everyone had finished speaking, Sister Feng finally found an opportunity to step forward. Although she still had a smile on her face, her tone was much more serious than before, and she said in a sweet voice:

"Third brother, your sister-in-law has a favor to ask of you since you're going south this time."

She paused, and seeing Jia Jing looking at her, continued:

"You know my parents are in Nanjing. If Nanjing is really besieged by bandits, I really can't rest easy about them, the old and the young."

"Third brother, once you arrive in Jiangnan, could you... help keep an eye on things? If anything happens, please let me know!"

She spoke earnestly, and her phoenix eyes, unusually, concealed their usual sharpness, leaving only a layer of genuine worry.

It must be said that although Sister Feng may be ruthless to outsiders, she is very caring towards her own family. For example, she often secretly helps her "good-for-nothing" brother, Wang Ren!

Seeing this, Li Wan quickly stepped forward and whispered:

"Third brother, my father... is also in Jinling. He has been recuperating at home since he stepped down from his post at the Imperial Academy. There is also my widowed aunt and two cousins ​​at home."

"If there is chaos in Jinling, they may have nowhere to hide. If it is convenient for you, Third Brother, please... keep an eye out for them."

Jia Jing glanced at Feng Jie, then at Li Wan. He naturally wouldn't refuse such a reasonable request, so he nodded and said:

"Yes! I'll have someone keep an eye out! But you don't need to worry, the White Lotus Sect won't be able to break through Jinling!"

Upon hearing this, Sister Feng felt a weight lifted from her heart and thanked him profusely with a smile.

Li Wan also slightly bent her knees and softly said, "Thank you, Third Brother."

After Jia Jing gave some instructions about household matters, they had a quick lunch together and then didn't linger any longer.

Before he rose, Daiyu whispered to him about the day's events at the palace. Upon learning that the Empress had bestowed three additional nine-tailed phoenix hairpins and Duan inkstones upon them, her expression paused slightly.

He nodded, indicating that he understood, and then left Rongqing Hall under the protection of his personal guards.

September 19th, early morning.

Beneath the walls of Jinling City.

Last night, a light rain fell, and a sliver of gray-white appeared on the horizon, like old silk that had been washed and wrinkled by the wind.

Ten miles outside the city, the White Lotus Sect's camps stretched out, their flags densely packed on the ridges and slopes of the fields. Red, green, black, white, and yellow flags were mixed together in a chaotic mess, scattered here and there, fluttering in the morning breeze.

The tents were also set up crookedly, some with coarse cloth, some with straw mats, and some simply with a few bamboo poles supporting a tattered oilcloth, with dozens of emaciated White Lotus followers crammed underneath.

The city wall of Nanjing appeared as a gray-black silhouette in the morning light. The torches on the city wall had not yet been completely extinguished, and they lit up like a row of weary eyes.

The surface of the moat below the city was littered with floating corpses and broken logs, and the water was an unnatural dark brown. Near the base of the city wall, the moat was densely covered with arrows.

The siege ladders lay scattered haphazardly along the moat, some leaning precariously against the city wall, their legs charred black.

At this time, five days had passed since the White Lotus Sect's army besieged Jinling City!