Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

Rongqing Hall

Lin Daiyu and Jia Tang arrived together with their maids, and found that quite a few people had come.

Grandmother Jia leaned against the soft couch, with Xue Baochai, whose face was somewhat sorrowful, sitting beside her.

Madam Xing sat upright at the lower left, sipping fragrant tea. Madam Xue, a guest, sat anxiously at the lower right. Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng accompanied her on either side. Jia Lian sat alone at the end. Only Li Wan stood behind her mother-in-law, in a row with several housekeepers.

When Grandmother Jia saw Yu'er and Hu'er arriving together, her eyes crinkled with joy.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Tiger frown and look at the second son's wife with a fierce glint in his eyes.

Before I could even ask a question, I heard a soft voice say, "Who gave you the audacity to be ranked alongside your master?"

Li Wan was somewhat stunned upon hearing this, but the old women around her clearly saw the terrifying fierce light in Jia Tang's eyes, and hurriedly took a step back, knelt down and kowtowed.

Jia Tang stepped forward, his voice indifferent: "Just because you've been in this household for a long time, you think you've forgotten your place in the hierarchy?"

"We forgot the rules in our haste, we beg Lord Yu to have mercy and forgive us."

The three housekeepers from Zhou Rui's family, Lai Da's family, and Wu Xindeng's family, along with a group of maids, repeatedly apologized.

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu tugged at Jia Tang's sleeve and advised, "Alright, brother, Grandmother has other matters to attend to."

"Hmph, all of you get out and kneel down. You'll all be punished with six months' imprisonment. If there's a next time, you'll be beaten to death."

"Thank you for your mercy, Master Yu; thank you for your mercy, Miss Biao; thank you for your mercy, Ancestor."

A group of old women and maids hurriedly bowed and ran out, kneeling down in a flurry at the entrance of Rongqing Hall.

Li Wan glanced at Jia Tang with a faint smile, a ripple stirring in her usually calm eyes.

Madam Wang's face turned ashen; it turned out they were all her people.

But she didn't suspect her eldest daughter-in-law, because she knew Jia Tang's temperament. She just said sarcastically, "They're all old servants in the household. There's no need to be so harsh on such a small matter."

Jia Tang ignored him completely. If it weren't for the accumulated indulgence over the years, would his subordinates have been so disrespectful to their master?

Without rules, chaos will ensue!

The two stepped forward to greet the old lady. Grandmother Jia shooed Jia Tang aside and sat with Yu'er on the left side of the soft couch.

For the first time, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were seated side by side, which made the ladies and wives below momentarily lose their composure.

The two women each have their own unique looks, but their overall demeanor is noticeably different.

Lin Daiyu came from an official family. She had a delicate and beautiful appearance, a cool and aloof temperament, bright eyes, rosy cheeks, and a lively spirit. Due to her cultivation, she also had a touch of wit and energy. Compared with her sickly state when she first entered the mansion, she was completely different.

Xue Baochai was the daughter of a wealthy family. She had a gentle and dignified appearance, a quiet and approachable personality, bright almond-shaped eyes, and a face like a silver basin. However, she was somewhat gloomy. Because of her brother's murder case and his selection as a concubine in the palace, although she was always smiling, there was still a trace of sorrow on her brow.

Having failed to be selected for the palace and having his elder brother imprisoned for his competitive efforts, he feels insecure and his sorrow only intensifies.

Just as Jia Tang took a sip of tea, he heard Grandmother Jia ask Jia Lian to explain the matter.

The matter is simple: the person Xue Pan beat up was the son of the Prefectural Magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, which led to his detention by the yamen runners. Jia Lian went forward to negotiate and even presented a business card from the second branch of the Rongguo Mansion, but they still refused to release him.

Come to think of it, how could someone who could assume the position of the second-in-command of Shuntian Prefecture in Beizhili, or rather, the central government office of the dynasty, not have powerful backers?

They were never in the same camp as the Rongguo Mansion, and besides, they were in the right, so they weren't afraid of any lawsuit.

Besides, these are members of the Wang family; there's no fear that Jia Tang will go on a killing spree.

Jia Tang's attention wasn't on this matter; instead, he stared intently at Jia Lian, scrutinizing him closely.

Strange posture, uncoordinated gait, wearing powder on the face, high-pitched voice, etc.

something wrong.

After Jia Lian finished speaking, Madam Xue immediately stood up and bowed to Jia Tang, choking back tears, and said, "Lord, please help this heartless wretch. This prison is no place for a human being."

Upon seeing this, Xue Baochai also got off the high couch, stood to her mother's side, and gave a curtsy.

Jia Tang noticed that everyone's eyes were on him. He first helped Madam Xue up, then smiled and said, "Please get up, Madam. I already know about this matter. Lin Daiyu just told me about it and asked me to help out."

After saying that, he glanced at Madam Wang, who had lowered her eyes, and Wang Xifeng, who dared not meet his gaze. He never expected that these two would actually have some brains. They knew to start with Lin Daiyu, and they even set the meeting place in Rongqing Hall, and borrowed the power of Grandmother Jia.

"Jia He, send someone to the Shuntian Prefecture to bring back the Xue family cousins."

Madam Xue's worry turned to joy, and she and Xue Baochai bowed repeatedly.

These few hours had driven her to desperation. She tried sending money, sending invitations to the Wang family, sending invitations to the second branch of the Rongguo Mansion, and even had Jia Lian go in person, but nothing worked.

Although the outcome is uncertain now that the Earl has spoken, given the other party's imposing presence, it is likely that there will be no problem.

After thanking them, Madam Xue turned and walked towards Lin Daiyu, standing beside her and wiping away her tears, saying, "Thank you so much, Miss Lin. Bao'er's brother has never suffered like this since he was a child. I wonder how he is doing now."

"I don't ask for anything else. I'll accept the loss or the beating, as long as I come back safe and sound."

Not daring to be presumptuous, Lin Daiyu quickly got up to help Madam Xue sit down, and comforted her, "Don't worry, Aunt, it's not a big deal. They shouldn't go too far."

Xue Baochai followed along, offering words of advice, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

Ever since Xue Pan got into trouble, she could only follow behind Madam Xue, asking for help from this person and offering blessings to that person, unable to help in any other way.

"I have read many books and studied many strategies, and I consider myself no less than a man. Compared to Lin girl, I am no less beautiful or talented, but in the end, I cannot compare to her in terms of background."

...

More than half an hour later, Jia He's report rang out outside Rongqing Hall.

"My lord, the Xue family cousins ​​have been sent back to Pear Fragrance Courtyard."

Everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. After expressing their gratitude once more, the Xue mother and daughter hurriedly returned to Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, and Jia Lian also went along. Lady Xing and Li Wan returned to their rooms after the matter was resolved.

Since it was getting late, Jia Tang and Lin Daiyu chatted with Grandmother Jia for a few words before leaving.

On the path back to the courtyard, Jia Tang watched Lin Daiyu laugh one moment and get annoyed the next, feeling somewhat confused.

"Little sister, is there anything you're not satisfied with?"

"How could I possibly be dissatisfied? I'm sure Sister Bao is satisfied."

"..."

Jia Tang sighed helplessly and asked, puzzled, "I helped you by using your words as a pretext; can't I leave you with the favor?"

"Whose favor is this? Anyone with eyes can see it's your power; I don't want anything given to me as charity."

"So, am I doing good or bad? I'm left to others to say whatever they want."

Upon hearing this, Jia Tang's expression changed, and he realized the reason: he had misspoke earlier.

If you don't want to help, fine. But if you do want to help, then help openly and generously. It's no big deal if you get a few sarcastic remarks afterward.

But using Lin Daiyu as a raft to resolve the issue in this way might make those who don't know the situation think that she was the one causing the trouble.