The Red Mansion in its bustling glory

Just as Jia Jue was looking at the jade pendant, he heard a commotion outside.

Everyone in the room immediately stood up.

Jia Jue also struggled to get up from the bed.

Sure enough, Madam Wang helped the old lady in.

Upon meeting, I saw the old lady and her wife weeping uncontrollably.

This was the first time Jia Jue had ever seen the old lady lose her composure like this because of him.

The rest of the group wept again, but that's another story.

After the old lady finished crying, she sighed and said, "Families like ours don't need to study so hard. I'd be happy for you all to be studious and ambitious, but you absolutely mustn't ruin your health because of this. Your eldest brother Zhu... sigh—"

At this point, the old lady sighed again.

Hearing this, Madam Wang, who was standing nearby, also burst into tears.

Seeing this, the people around could only cry again.

After everyone had finished crying, the old lady said, "Let's all go. Jue-ge'er has just woken up; let him rest."

After saying that, he left again with his wife's help.

The others had no choice but to follow the old lady out.

After everyone had left, Jia Jue looked at the handkerchief that had inexplicably appeared beside him and asked, "Whose is this?"

Qingwen, who was standing nearby, thought for a moment and said, "Yes, it belongs to Miss Lin."

Jia Jue nodded after hearing this, and remained lost in thought for a long time.

"Let's wash it and hang it to dry first."

Meanwhile, in Baoyu's room, upon hearing that his elder brother had woken up, Baoyu was filled with mixed emotions.

I was happy, of course, but not that happy.

His feelings were complicated.

Looking at the lush flowers in the courtyard, Baoyu sighed softly.

"Xiren".

He said.

"Hey, Third Master, what's wrong?"

Xi Ren replied.

"Go and take this mirror," Baoyu said, pointing to a bronze mirror on the table.

This bronze mirror was given to him by Feng Ziying that day; it is said to be an antique from the Han or Tang dynasties.

"Go to my second brother's place," he continued. "Tell him that I was overjoyed to hear that he had woken up. The other day, Feng Ziying returned to the capital and gave me some things. This mirror is said to be an artifact from the Han and Tang dynasties. I wonder if he would like it. If he does, he can keep it; if not, he can have someone come and pick out another one. I haven't been feeling well lately and can't go in person."

Having said that, he waved his hand, signaling Xiren to come over.

Before long, Xiren arrived at Jia Jue's courtyard and sent someone to announce her arrival before going in.

Seeing that it was Xiren, Jia Jue smiled and said, "Sister Xiren is here."

This was a long-standing tradition in the Jia family. For prominent maids, especially those who had previously served the old lady, even the young masters could not address them by their given names in public. They had to add the words "elder sister" or "younger sister" to their titles.

In Chapter 63 of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, titled "A Night Banquet of Beauties at Yihong Garden to Celebrate the Birthday of a Young Man, and a Solitary Beauty Handles the Funeral of a Deceased Parent," Lin Zhixiao's wife said the following to Baoyu:

"These days I've heard the Second Master change his words, even calling the young ladies by their names. Although they're in this house, they're still the Old Madam's people, so he should at least be more respectful in his speech."

Xi Ren and Qing Wen replied, "Even now, she still calls out 'Sister's' name constantly, though she only calls it once or twice when she's playing." Only then did they stop.

But let's get back to the point.

After Xiren greeted Jia Jue inside the room, she presented the bronze mirror and told him what Baoyu had asked her to say. Then she waited quietly for Jia Jue's reply.

After hearing this, Jia Jue laughed and said, "It's kind of Baoyu to have this thought."

He thought for a moment, and was about to call Musk Moon when he saw her brewing tea. He then said to Qingwen, "Here's what we'll do, Qingwen. Go to my study. There's a fine wolf-hair brush on the table. Then go with Sister Xiren to Baoyu's place and tell him that I really like the mirror. It's kind of Baoyu to think of me like this. I don't have much to give in return, except for this wolf-hair brush. It was given to me by Zhao Xing, the grandson of 'Master Xuanwu.' I've heard that you've been studying calligraphy and painting lately and that your brushwork has improved a lot. I've also seen your calligraphy and paintings outside, so I'm giving it to you. Please don't find it offensive."

After saying this, he told Qingwen and Xiren to leave.

Qingwen went to the study to get a pen as instructed, and then went to Baoyu's room with Xiren.

When Baoyu saw that Xiren had returned, he was about to instruct her on something when he noticed that a pretty maid was following behind her. She had an oval face, a slender waist, and an indescribable air of elegance and charm.

Jia Baoyu recognized her; she was Qingwen from Jia Jue's courtyard.

On the day she was still with the old lady, Baoyu asked her for her.

Later, the old lady gave her to Jue Erge, making it difficult for him to show his affection.

Now that Qingwen has come, how could he not be overjoyed?

In this joy, that innate, infatuated nature took over his mind.

For a moment, Jia Baoyu stared blankly at Qingwen, completely mesmerized.

Qingwen was naturally a fiery person, so she couldn't stand Jia Baoyu's gaze. However, she couldn't lash out because of the brotherly bond between Jia Baoyu and Jia Jue.

At this moment, Qingwen tried her best to suppress her temper and patiently told Baoyu what Jia Jue had said.

But at this moment, how could this wolf-hair brush compare to the person before Baoyu?

It was Xiren who noticed that something was wrong with Baoyu, and she quickly went over with a bowl of tea, saying, "Third Master, the tea is ready."

After Xiren's reminder, Baoyu came to his senses and smiled at Qingwen, saying, "Thank you, sister."

Qingwen, still trying to suppress her displeasure, said to Jia Baoyu, "Third Master, is there anything else you need? If not, I'll head back now."

How could Baoyu let her leave? But he didn't have a good reason at the moment.

Suddenly, he remembered something and said to Qingwen, "Good sister, I have two jars of newly made rouge here. Would you like to try some?"

Qingwen had long heard that Baoyu had a habit of "eating the rouge off other people's lips," and she found it quite distasteful.

So he said, "Third Master, no need. I still have rouge."

Baoyu said, "This is different. I made this fresh, not those filthy things you buy outside. It's made with fresh flower petals, the color is nice, and it's clean. Sister, please try it!"

After repeated tugging, Qingwen finally couldn't suppress her emotions. She sneered and said, "The women in our courtyard aren't exactly filthy either! I know that Master Bao is always clean, but as servants, our bodies aren't so precious. What use is such fine rouge? Besides, my job in this mansion is simply to serve Master Bao well. There's no need for me to wear rouge to perform on stage or play a vixen. I have no need for that!"

After saying that, he paused for a moment and then said, "If Third Master has nothing else to say, I'll be leaving now."

After saying this, Qingwen walked away.

Jia Baoyu was left to sigh to himself—what a pity that such a good girl ended up with a fool like Jia Jue who only cares about official career and fame!