The Red Mansion in its bustling glory

Shi Xiangyun's words made Jia Jue and Daiyu blush.

However, at this very moment, in a place unseen by them, Jia Baoyu was standing there in a daze.

Jia Baoyu naturally heard what Xiangyun said.

Upon closer reflection, if Jia Jue is biased towards Daiyu, then isn't Lin Daiyu also biased towards Jia Jue?

Scenes from the past flashed before Baoyu's eyes. Why did this fairy-like sister associate with Jia Jue, such a fool?

Wouldn't that just tarnish my own reputation?

In an instant, a surge of infatuation welled up in his heart, and his eyes, like a breached dam, began to overflow with tears.

The head maidservant of Baoyu, named Xiren, who was serving him, was in a panic.

Xiren was always well-liked.

Back then, she and Yuanyang were the two maids that the old lady favored the most.

In "Dream of the Red Chamber", it is said that Xiren also has a kind of infatuation - her infatuation is different from Jia Baoyu's, it is her infatuation with her master.

Whoever one serves, one must serve them wholeheartedly.

In other words, she doesn't discriminate between masters; she treats everyone the same, regardless of who they are.

Look at her now, she is doing her best for Baoyu in his room. If the old lady suddenly orders her to serve Jia Jue, she will immediately switch to Jia Jue's position. She doesn't need to adapt at all, and Jia Jue doesn't need to use any means to subdue her.

It wouldn't work for other maids—take Musk Moon as an example. She serves Jia Jue perfectly now, but if the old lady suddenly asked her to move to Bao Yu's room, do you think she would just go through the motions?

But that's precisely why the old lady took her to Baoyu's room.

Xi Ren's meticulousness surpassed even that of Mushe. From her past observations, she knew that her mistress harbored feelings for Miss Lin that went beyond the bounds of propriety.

It can also be seen from Miss Lin's behavior that she does not have such feelings for Baoyu. In fact, because she did not leave a good impression when she first arrived, she avoids Baoyu and even dislikes him.

Originally, when she went with Baoyu to pay her respects to the old lady today, she saw Jia Jue, Daiyu, Xiangyun and others from afar. She wanted to suggest that Baoyu take another route, but Baoyu saw Lin Daiyu's face and walked over excitedly.

At that moment, Xiren felt a sudden tightness in her heart for some reason, and she felt that something bad was about to happen.

Now it's true. For some reason, Bao Sanye's infatuation has been stirred up, and he sheds tears without saying a word.

"Third Master Bao!"

In her panic, Xiren couldn't help but cry out.

This sound drew the attention of the group of people who were chatting and laughing in front of them.

Seeing Baoyu standing there lost in thought, tears streaming down his face, muttering to himself, everyone panicked and rushed over.

As I got closer, I heard him uttering nonsense like "defiling his identity" and "do you know my heart?"

After saying a few words, Baoyu suddenly went crazy again.

He yanked his hand down his neck, tearing off the jade pendant he was wearing, and said viciously, "What use are you to me!"

With that, he threw the jade away violently.

Jia Jue knew what he was going to do the moment he touched his neck.

Thanks to his dream of a fairyland during the exam, his body became much lighter and more agile, and his strength also increased.

He reached out and caught the jade in mid-air, handing it to Xiren, who was standing to the side, her face pale with shock.

"It must have been difficult for you," Jia Jue said to her. "Take it for now."

Xiren glanced gratefully at Jia Jue, said "Thank you, Second Master," and took the jade in her hand.

Baoyu, already throwing a tantrum, was distracted when he saw Jia Jue talking to Xiren. Remembering how kind Xiren had always been to him, he felt a surge of resentment rising in his chest and blurted out, "You're all surrounding him! He's good! I'm just a filthy, stupid thing, I don't even deserve this jade!"

At this moment, a young maid had already rushed to the old lady and the madam to report.

The mother and daughter then rushed over in a hurry.

Seeing Baoyu in such a mad state, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

The old lady still uses the same old tricks—whenever Baoyu is in trouble, she calls him "my darling" or "my flesh."

The wife could only cry out, "My son! What would I do if anything happened to you!"

The scale of the commotion and the liveliness of the scene were unimaginable.

Even the three sisters, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun, rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

It took everyone a lot of effort to calm Baoyu down. The old lady said through tears:

"I know you all say I'm biased and favor Baoyu, but that set of inkstone incense burners was part of my dowry, and I didn't give it to Baoyu! You can't be hostile to him just because I ask him a few more questions because he's weak!"

Jia Jue knew in his heart that the old lady was targeting him, but what good way could he possibly resist?

In such a feudal era of etiquette and law, the word "filial piety" was the highest virtue.

Therefore, despite suffering this injustice, Jia Jue could not say much.

However, he wasn't a pushover either, and he had already started planning his next move.

With Baoyu making such a fuss, the others naturally could no longer go to pay their respects.

In a fit of anger, Grandmother Jia even told Jia Jue, "You don't need to come to my place anymore."

Jia Jue was quite pleased with this.

However, he wasn't entirely at ease—although the old lady was biased, she had never shortchanged Jia Jue in any way, so she was still kind to him.

After Baoyu was carried back, the old lady and the madam followed him to his courtyard, crying, before everyone else went home.

Yingchun and Xichun went back to their own courtyards.

Welcoming spring is because of being too dull, and regretting spring is because of being indifferent.

Daiyu, Xiangyun, and Tanchun followed Jia Jue to his courtyard and comforted him.

Jia Jue laughed and said, "My three sisters are too eloquent. If Zhuge Liang had met you back then, I don't know if he would have been able to win the debate."

The three of them were amused by him.

Once they were sure Jia Jue was alright, the three of them went back to their respective homes.

As soon as Daiyu returned to the courtyard, she couldn't help but shed tears.

How intelligent she was! She had long noticed Baoyu's subtle affection for her and had tried her best to avoid him. But she never expected that today, because of the things she and Yun'er gave to Jia Jue, his infatuated nature would be stirred up again.

Ultimately, it was he who caused trouble for Jia Jue.

Daiyu was already sensitive, and at this moment she felt deeply sorry for Jia Jue, so she shed tears by the window.

This prompted Zijuan to hurriedly come over and grab a handkerchief to wipe her face.

"Zijuan," Daiyu said.

"Girl, please speak."

"Don't tell anyone that I cried today—not a single person," Daiyu said, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't worry, young lady, I promise I won't tell. But you still need to take good care of yourself. You're already frail from crying so much."

Before the two could finish speaking, they heard someone talking outside.