Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

Chapter 121 Self-Rescue After the Incident!

Upon hearing this, Siqi said nonchalantly, "Let the ladies drink first, and we can ask them to let us try the rest."

Ziju rolled her eyes at her and laughed, scolding, "You little rascal, you're such a glutton!"

Siqi disagreed and went over to playfully fight with Zijuan.

Jin Chuan watched with a smile, seemingly casually glancing at the warm candlelight in the main hall.

After waiting a while, she touched the sides of the food box and exclaimed, "Oh dear, although this covered walkway is rainproof, it's drafty everywhere. If the ginger soup gets cold by the time the girls finish practicing, it won't be good."

Zijuan grabbed Siqi and gave her a look that told her not to cause any more trouble. Then she stepped forward and touched the food box. Her fingertips found it to be warm, not hot. So she grasped the handle and said, "It really needs to be kept out of the wind and rain. I'll put it in the hall first, so it will cool down more slowly."

Jin Chuan smiled and waved her hand, pointing to the area between the connecting corridor and the main hall: "I'll go, but I'll get caught in the rain if I go there, and your clothes are all dry."

Logically speaking, when the master is not in the courtyard, apart from the personal maid, the others below are not qualified to enter the main hall. However, Jin Chuan is a servant born into the Rong family and has often come with Xue Baochai and Jia Tanchun. She is also very familiar with Zijuan and the other girls. So when Zijuan heard this, she thought about it and did not refuse anymore.

"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Sister Jin Chuan."

"There's no such thing as being tired or not."

Jin Chuan retorted, and under the watchful eyes of the women, stepped out of the corridor, opened her paper umbrella, and entered the main room.

Upon entering, one is greeted by a collection of simple and elegant wooden furniture arranged in all directions, with exquisite and intricate patterns carved on them. On the left side of the hall, there is a large soft couch and a jade table, with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones neatly placed to the side. Around them are two pairs of tall, openwork flower stands, where delicate and beautiful flowers exude a faint fragrance.

Jin Chuan narrowed her eyes. Judging from these objects and decorations, she could tell that the owner of this place was a highly cultured young lady, but unfortunately, she didn't get along with the mistress.

She immediately turned her head to the right, and through the high-tied satin curtain, she could glimpse a corner of the inner room, exactly as she had seen before.

Jin Chuan placed the food box on the table, glanced at the hazy figures on the corridor in the rain, held her breath, and slowly walked towards the inner room.

..

"Sister Ping'er?"

As soon as Jin Chuan entered the room, Zi Juan saw the housekeeper's personal maid also carrying a food box and holding an umbrella. She couldn't help but find it amusing that they all doted on their precious daughter.

Ping'er smiled brightly, smoothed the damp stray hairs by her ears, and replied, "My second mistress knows that Miss Lin and the three young ladies are the most diligent in their martial arts training. I imagine the rain hasn't stopped all day, so she specially prepared some nourishing soup and asked me to bring it over."

The women around exchanged glances upon hearing this, but none of them mentioned Miss Bao.

We never used to send gifts, and even when we did, it was always part of a group arrangement. This Miss Bao has only been cultivating for a few days, and every time there's a gust of wind or rain, she brings us ginger soup and medicinal soup, all under the guise of our young lady.

"Unfortunately, my young lady isn't in the courtyard today. She went to the Marquis's residence early this morning with the Third Young Lady. The Second Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, and Miss Bao are still in the courtyard!"

Ping'er glanced at it and found that it was indeed so. She immediately said with a smile that did not change, "I suppose you have gone to visit the Marquis's residence. The Marquis will surely think of things more thoughtfully than we do below."

"There are also three young ladies cultivating, so why don't we eat and drink together?"

Upon hearing this, Zijuan frowned and said with a wry smile, "Second Madam just sent Sister Jinchuan to deliver ginger soup to Miss Bao. It was being placed in the room when Second Madam came again. It seems our young lady is unlucky—"

Ping'er felt a chill run down her spine; she had never known that Zijuan was so eloquent.

"Hey, just tell my grandma what you want to drink. She's most afraid of her daughters being mistreated."

Zijuan nodded and said, "Give me the food box; it'll cool down more slowly if you put it inside."

Ping'er shook her head upon hearing this: "I'll go. My grandmother ordered me to look after this soup, so I dare not entrust it to my sister."

"Alright—"

Ping'er, protecting the food box, braved the wind and rain to head towards the main hall. Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Jin Chuan carrying the food box stepping out of the hall. Upon seeing her, Jin Chuan was startled and greeted her first.

"Sister Ping'er?"

"Sister Jin Chuan, why are you carrying a food box again?"

Ping'er peeked at the porcelain pot on the table and asked, "Won't it cool down faster if we take it out?"

Jin Chuan gave a wry smile and explained, "Madam has something to attend to for you, sister. She told me to deliver the ginger soup and rush back, so this is the only way."

Ping'er nodded upon hearing this: "I see. Let's go back now. Madam's matter is important."

Jin Chuan stepped aside, her fingers tightly gripping the food box, opened her oil-paper umbrella, and walked away.

After passing through the connecting corridor and exchanging a few more words with Zijuan and the others, he turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, Xue Baochai, Yingchun, and Xichun stopped their cultivation for a short rest, and several of their personal maids hurriedly opened umbrellas to greet them and helped them into the house.

Jin Chuan's expression changed slightly upon seeing this. She gritted her teeth and prepared to leave silently. However, Ping'er, who had arrived shortly after her, asked Zijuan, "Sister, why do I see some water stains in the inner room of the hall?"

"Boom!"

Ping'er's words struck Jin Chuan like a thunderbolt.

She didn't dare turn around, lowered her head and hurried away, running away as soon as she left the yard.

But as soon as she stepped outside, she saw two tiger guards dressed in black armor embroidered with tigers, their bodies covered in a thin membrane of fiery energy, standing silently in the downpour, their indifferent eyes fixed on her.

"Crack-"

Jin Chuan froze, fear flashing in her eyes. The food box in her hand crashed to the ground, revealing a corner of the bottom layer. The yellow jade inside seemed to glow, radiating a warm, soft light in the gloomy rainy day.

"Jin Chuan—Jin Chuan—"

The next moment, Ziju rushed out of the courtyard gate, shouting loudly. When she saw Huwei and Jin Chuan, who was standing there in a daze, she instantly understood.

"Jin Chuan!"

Zijuan's eyes were filled with rage. She stepped forward, grabbed Jin Chuan by the collar, and demanded, "What did you do in our young lady's room? Tell me, what did you steal!"

Jin Chuan stammered and couldn't speak. She was pulled into the main hall by Si Qi, Ru Hua, and others who arrived later.

Inside the hall, Lin Daiyu was not present. Her closest friend, Xichun, sat on the right, while Yingchun and Xue Baochai sat on the left and right below her.

Xi Chun's face fell. She was no longer the young girl she used to be. Having followed Jia Tang around, she had heard and witnessed many secrets, and her mind was quite active.

"Tell me, what did you take?"

Jin Chuan knelt on the ground without saying a word, only sobbing quietly.

Seeing this, Xichun's eyes flashed with disgust, and she ordered Ruhua, "Search her!"

Upon hearing this, Ru Hua stepped forward and grabbed Jin Chuan's hair, groping her inside her clothes.

Jin Chuan screamed, struggling violently, crying out, "I'm Madam's person! I'm Madam's person! You can't lay a hand on me—"

Zijuan ignored her and opened the food boxes she had picked up from the ground one by one.

The upper level is empty!

The middle layer is empty!

On the lower level, a delicate and exquisite jade box is quietly stored inside.

"Wow!"

Everyone was so frightened that they took a step back, and even the three women who were sitting upright suddenly stood up.

They all know what's inside the box, yet someone's eyeing it?

He's truly fearless!

Zijuan rushed into the inner room with a deathly pale face, her eyes fixed on an identical jade box next to the headboard of the bed!

He hurriedly stepped forward to retrieve it, and after entering the hall, he looked at the jade box at the bottom of the food box.

Zijuan's breathing became rapid, and with a grit of her teeth, she suddenly opened the jade box in her hand, only to find it completely empty!

"boom!"

Just then, a deafening clap of thunder rang out, sending the hearts of the women in the room plummeting to the bottom.

Xi Chun took a deep breath and shouted, "Go outside the courtyard and find the guards on duty. Inform my brother and the elders in the household about this!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ruhua, Xueyan, and Chunxian hurriedly ran into the rain.

Upon seeing this, Xue Baochai unconsciously tightened her grip on the sharp sword in her hand, her eyes filled with uncertainty. Jin Chuan was her aunt's attendant; without her approval and consent, how could a mere servant dare to steal Lin Daiyu's things?

It's still the general's flag!

Surely the other side wouldn't be so foolish as to think that stealing the general's flag would allow them to do something?

No one would be that stupid!

But the other party used the excuse of bringing her ginger soup to get into the inner room, which implicated her as well!

A fierce glint gradually rose in Xue Baochai's eyes. She had just approached, and the other party was already using such despicable means to try and cut off her path!

So, Miss Bao took a deep breath, her brows furrowed like knives, and asked, word by word, "Did Aunt send you?"

Jin Chuan looked up at the sound, and was startled by the cold light in Xue Baochai's eyes. She cried and said, "Miss Bao, I was blinded by greed. I didn't have enough money on me, so I wanted to steal a piece of jade to pawn for money."

"Please spare me this time, please spare me—"

"That's enough!"

Xue Baochai's face was gloomy and her eyes were fierce as if she wanted to devour someone. With a flick of her thumb, half of the sharp sword in her hand was extended. The cold light of the sword flashed and the chilling aura made Ping'er and Ying'er's legs go weak, let alone Jin Chuan.

"I'm asking you again, who sent you to steal this!"

Jin Chuan collapsed to the ground, tears of regret streaming down her face. She shook her head and choked out, "It was because I was blinded by lard that I only saw a flash of white light." She swallowed the rest of her sentence.

She stared blankly at the long sword that had pierced through her palm, crimson blood spreading and scattering along the grooves of the bluestone.

Jin Chuan instinctively pulled her arm away, causing the sharp blade to slice her hand in two!

"what!"

A piercing wail suddenly pierced through the main hall. Just then, Xue Baochai gripped the scabbard and swung it fiercely, slamming it hard against Jin Chuan's mouth, forcing the wail back into her stomach.

"Pa!" 6

"Waaaaah~"

Teeth flew everywhere, saliva mixed with blood flowed freely, and even Jin Chuan's delicate face was torn open with a hideous gash!

Xichun and Yingchun were startled by this sudden turn of events. They gave Xue Baochai a deep look. Although the two women had become much more resilient after Jia Shi was attacked last year, they were still a little scared by this unexpected turn of events!

Xue Baochai had no time to care about the two people beside her. She had only one thought: to make Jin Chuan reveal the mastermind by any means necessary, and then quietly wait for the reckoning to come.

"Tell me, who sent you!"

"Heartfelt—"

"Miss—you really are a maid—"

"puff!"

The dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh sent a jolt of pain through Jin Chuan. She opened her mouth to scream, but was then lashed out again.

"Snapped!"

Xue Baochai knelt in front of Jin Chuan, blood dripping from the sharp blade in her hand. Several drops of blood clung to her face, which was as white as a silver plate, and the hatred in her eyes was almost tangible.

"Who is it?"

"She really is a maidservant!!"

Xue Baochai slowly rotated the sword that was embedded in Jin Chuan's thigh!

"Who is it?"

"Maid—"

"Who is it?"

Jin Chuan looked at Xue Baochai, whose face was indifferent and whose hair was stained with blood, and finally became afraid. The physical pain and the fear in her heart made her unable to suppress the tearing sensation that surged up, and she rolled on the ground in pain.

"It's the Madam, the Madam sent me—"

"Spare me, spare me—"

"Spare me?"

Xue Baochai sneered twice, "Who can spare you? And who can spare me?"

What an idiot who doesn't even realize he's doomed!

Just then, a powerful but unusually indifferent shout rang out in the courtyard.

"The general conveyed the order, commanding Xue Baochai, her maid Ying, and the fourth generation of Jia Wangshi to accompany Ping to Rongqing Hall."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai trembled, her hand losing strength and causing her long sword to fall to the ground. She glanced at Ying'er and Ping'er, who looked terrified, closed her eyes slightly, and secretly encouraged herself as she stepped out!

In the Rongqing Hall of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, the youthful-looking but white-haired Grandmother Jia reclined on a soft couch, gazing at the heavy rain outside with a worried expression. She sighed, "When will this rain stop?"

:

Yuanyang, who was squatting on the steps below massaging Grandmother Jia's legs, replied, "Judging from the sun, it's probably going to last all day."

""

"But if you want to draw cards, you should have the maids ask the madam—"

"Go away~"

Grandmother Jia rolled her eyes at Yuanyang. The two, mistress and servant, didn't usually have many rules when communicating. She chuckled and scolded, "This old woman is worried about Yu'er and the maids. Don't be cultivating yourself at a time like this—"

Just then, the sound of armor plates colliding and rubbing came from outside, startling the two of them.

Then the curtain was lifted high, and a group of female soldiers, clad in armor and armed with weapons, their brows furrowed and their eyes cold, came to escort Lin Daiyu and Tan Chun.

Grandmother Jia was startled and asked, "Yu'er, when did you take command of the troops?"

A smile appeared in Lin Daiyu's eyes as she replied, "Today is the first day, and my brother has appointed me to take charge of the inner guard he has established."

Grandmother Jia was taken aback upon hearing this, then beamed with joy: "Excellent, excellent, excellent! The Imperial Guards are excellent!"

He then pointed to the female soldiers in the hall and joked, "What's the reason for this? Is it to make this old woman step down?"

Lin Daiyu smiled helplessly and stepped forward to tell the old lady about the message Jia Tang had just sent.

At first, Grandmother Jia didn't pay much attention, but when she heard that it involved the general's flag, her face instantly turned cold.

"What a stupid fool who doesn't know what's good for him. Just do what you have to do. It's perfect timing, you've just taken command of the Inner Guard and someone's already walking right into the line of fire."

"I'll protect you, old woman. No one, inside or outside the family, will be able to use filial piety to pressure you!"

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu felt a warmth in her heart, stepped forward and held the old lady's hand tightly, and said with a smile, "With my grandmother's help, I really have nothing to be afraid of."

As the grandfather and grandson were talking, a series of footsteps sounded outside. If there were female masters in the east and west mansions, regardless of their surname, they all arrived one by one.

The eldest son's family consists of three generations of Jia Xingshi and four generations of Jia Wangshi; the second son's family consists of three generations of Jia Wangshi and four generations of Jia Lishi; the fourth generation of Jia Youshi in the East Mansion; the guest family of Xue Wangshi; Jia Yingchun; Jia Xichun; Xue Baochai; Shi Xiangyun; and Xing Yan, the niece of Madam Xing who has just arrived.