Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

"You're the one I'm most afraid of~"

Upon hearing this, everyone around burst into laughter. Xichun pouted and angrily threw herself into Grandmother Jia's arms.

Upon seeing this, Lin Daiyu summoned Granny Wang and presented the gifts one by one from the box.

More than two years have passed. She didn't stay long last time because she was traveling and felt unwell. She didn't go out to visit many people, and although she met them, she didn't know them well.

These days, giving gifts to express your feelings is a better way to get closer to someone.

After receiving the gift, Xichun happily circled around Lin Daiyu until Tanchun caught her, and then the four sisters sat down together to chat.

As the girls chatted and laughed, they heard a servant outside shout, "Master Bao is here!"

With a handsome appearance and luxurious clothes, Jia Baoyu walked in quickly with several maids.

Grandmother Jia said, "Now that your blood relative has arrived, why don't you go and greet your cousin?"

Upon hearing this, Bao Geda looked around and his eyes lit up when he saw Lin Daiyu, dressed in mourning clothes and with a cool and aloof demeanor.

He touched his cheek, hesitated for a moment, then walked to the chair next to Lin Daiyu and sat down. He looked her over carefully and asked if she had studied, what her name was, and if she had a courtesy name.

After Lin Daiyu answered each question with a composed expression, Jia Baoyu smiled and said, "I would like to offer my sister a wonderful word, perhaps..."

Before Bao Geda could finish speaking, he felt a surge of joy. He had been holding back these words for two or three years, and now he was finally going to say them.

Jia Kang, who was leaning against the door frame outside the hall, thought to himself, "Oh no!" when he heard Jia Baoyu inside say that he was going to give the word "wonderful".

He slipped into the inner room and grabbed Jia Baoyu's chin to shut him up.

On the other side, Madam You immediately roared, "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will immediately tell your brother Yu Yin. He once told me that if you dare to cause trouble, I will break your legs."

After he finished speaking, he was startled to see that Jia Kang had covered his mouth.

Everyone around was stunned. The servants had entered the inner hall?

This is this...

It must have been Master Yu's order.

Upon hearing such frivolous words, Lin Daiyu frowned, her eyes reddening, and turned her head away, ignoring him completely.

Grandmother Jia, her face also filled with anger, said, "Baoyu, don't be naughty, or your brother will beat you."

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu felt a chill run down his spine and wanted to return to Lady Wang's side, but Jia Kang grabbed his chin, and he struggled, making a whimpering sound.

Lady Wang's face turned ugly, and she shouted at Jia Kang, "How dare you! How dare your servants lay a hand on your master? Guards, drag him out and beat him to death!"

Jia Kang glanced at her and smiled faintly: "First of all, I must inform Second Madam that although I am a servant, I am registered in the Ministry of War and currently serve under a general holding a seventh-rank military position."

"Secondly, I am willing to die, but I am a general under the command of the commander. Therefore, please ask the second wife to bring the commander's token or the Western Palace Fire Tiger token, and Jia Kang will commit suicide here. Of course, the token of Prince Teng will also be acceptable."

Grandmother Jia's face was dark and gloomy as she angrily said, "Second son's wife, who gave you the audacity to treat the servants in the manor like this? Is it your family that gave you this power?"

Madam Wang's face stiffened: "Reporting to Mother-in-law, it was because I saw Baoyu being manipulated that I panicked and said the wrong thing."

Grandmother Jia snorted coldly, then turned her head with a smile on her face and advised Jia Kang, "Alright, Fourth Brother, loosen your grip on Baoyu. I don't think there will be any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Jia Kang released his grip, bowed deeply to the old lady, and went straight out of the inner hall to wait outside.

Just then, a maid came in with good news, saying that Consort Yingtian's family had arrived. After obtaining permission from Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang quickly got up to greet them.

The Xue family, mother and son, along with their steward and servants, arrived at Ningrong Street. There, they saw two mansions standing side by side, with brightly dressed servants on duty at the gate.

Continuing onward, one could see a mansion being built on an open space ahead, with people in official robes walking back and forth around it.

Upon reaching the west gate of Rongguo Mansion, Zhou Rui's wife led them inside. The magnificent and luxurious buildings along the way were truly an eye-opener.

The group thought to themselves that their family was considered a prominent one in Jinling, but compared to this, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

Upon reaching the ceremonial gate, Lady Wang, accompanied by Wang Xifeng, personally greeted them. After exchanging pleasantries, she led the Xue family mother and daughter to pay their respects to the old lady, while a servant led Xue Pan to pay his respects to Jia Zheng.

Upon entering the main room, the Xue mother and daughter saw a room full of beautiful women, all dressed in luxurious clothes. The only woman dressed in simple mourning clothes was also naturally beautiful and graceful.

After Lady Wang led the Xue family mother and daughter to pay their respects to the old lady, she then brought Jia Baoyu over to pay his respects.

After bowing, Baoyu saw that the girl had fair skin and graceful manners, red lips without rouge, green eyebrows without makeup, a face like a silver basin, eyes like water apricots, and a dignified and beautiful appearance.

Upon noticing the rope around her neck, she blurted out, "Sister, do you have any jade around your neck? Let me see!"

Everyone around was startled again. Grandmother Jia's face stiffened, and the Xue family mother and daughter were even more at a loss. Lady Wang scolded, "Baoyu, stop fooling around and go back to sit down quickly."

The three sisters then stepped forward to pay their respects, and Lin Daiyu also rose to greet Aunt Xue and Baochai.

Madam Xue dared not be presumptuous. Just as she was wondering who this was, the old lady at the head of the table said, "This is my own granddaughter. Her father is the governor of Lianghuai. She has come to the capital to visit this old woman. Since we are all old relatives, I will call you Auntie along with the maids."

Madam Xue looked surprised and stepped forward to pull Lin Daiyu along, saying, "Miss, we are truly destined to meet."

They then talked about their chance encounter on the canal.

Everyone was surprised to hear this, not expecting Jia Tang to take it so seriously.

After speaking, Madam Xue asked, "How old are you this year?"

"Auntie, I was born in the Year of the Sheep."

"Then you are the younger sister now, Baochai, why don't you come and greet your younger sister?"

The two sisters then greeted each other and then joked and laughed with Sanchun.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Jia Baoyu's face turned red. He ripped off his jade pendant and was about to unleash his ultimate move when Lai Da's anxious voice suddenly rang out from outside the curtain: "Grandmother, the imperial envoy has just delivered the imperial edict from the East Mansion and is now in our mansion. He says it is His Majesty's decree."

"Quickly prepare my bridal makeup." Hearing this, Grandmother Jia and the others were puzzled, but they dared not delay.

Soon after, Grandmother Jia and the others dressed themselves and led their people to hear the imperial edict.

Upon seeing the arrival of Grandmother Jia and the others, Xia Shouzhong cleared his throat and said, "His Majesty's decree: The Grandmother has done an excellent job in educating the younger generation, and the Earl of Wuying is loyal to the country and shares the Emperor's burdens. Therefore, he is bestowed with a jade ruyi and two pairs of jade discs. I have heard that Jia Tang has a younger sister who is intelligent, clever, and quick-witted. Therefore, I bestow upon her a jade ruyi as well."

Grandmother Jia, with Xichun in a daze, accepted the reward, kowtowed in gratitude, and presented a five-hundred-tael silver note: "Please accept this small token of my appreciation, Your Excellency."

"Earl Wu Ying has rendered meritorious service in collecting salt taxes in the south, and His Majesty is greatly pleased, ordering the Earl to remain in the northern camp of the city." Xia Shouzhong took the silver notes, muttered a few words to himself, and then turned to leave.

Grandmother Jia and the others returned to the main hall in high spirits. The old lady said to Madam Xue with joy, "This Earl Wuying is the tiger of the East Mansion. Last year, he made great contributions on the Liaodong battlefield. His Majesty bestowed upon him the title of Earl. I don't know what this tiger is doing now. He is often rewarded by the palace. It makes my heart skip a beat."