The Red Mansion in its bustling glory

Upon seeing the inscription on the golden lock, Baoyu couldn't help but remark, "Sister, the inscription on this lock really does seem to match the inscription on my jade."

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Baochai had already decided to stay away from the Jia family when she heard about Baoyu in Jinling. Little did she expect that he would be someone who was used to mingling with girls.

Ying'er continued, "Back then, when our young lady was unwell, a bald-headed monk came and gave her a prescription—the prescription for the Cold Fragrance Pill—and he also gave her this gold lock, saying she should wear it all the time, so that she might meet someone with jade in the future!"

"Ying'er!" Baochai's face already showed a hint of anger.

She was always gentle and never argued with anyone. But seeing that she was a little angry, Ying'er belatedly realized what was happening and dared not speak.

However, everyone had their own different thoughts after hearing these words.

Take Lin Daiyu for example—the jade she longed for was not Baoyu's jade, but Jia Jue's jade.

Why?

Xue Baochai's gold lock was a gift from a bald-headed monk.

Wasn't the jade that saved Jia Jue's life also given to him by the bald-headed monk?

Her mind was filled with thoughts, but Daiyu didn't utter a single word.

After chatting for a while, everyone went their separate ways.

But today another piece of bad news came.

What news?

Baochai failed in her attempt to select a female official.

When Aunt Xue heard the news, she rushed to Baochai's place, fearing that Baochai might do something rash.

Aunt Xue said to her daughter, "It's not because you're not good enough that we weren't chosen, but because your brother offended the prince. There's nothing we can do about it."

Xue Baochai was naturally both amused and exasperated by her mother's words. How could she possibly be so upset about something like this?

But seeing her mother like this, Baochai couldn't help but chat with her for a bit.

As we chatted, the conversation turned to what had happened that day.

Xue Baochai said, "Mother, Ying'er is still young and doesn't know her own limits. I have already punished her to teach her a lesson, but if she does such things again in the future, we will have to replace her."

Aunt Xue was absent-minded at the moment, and only nodded in agreement, her mind already preoccupied with something else.

-

Time flies, and another half month has passed in the blink of an eye.

In the past few days, rumors of a "golden and jade marriage" have suddenly spread in the Jia family.

The reason is that the words engraved on the gold lock that Baochai has worn since childhood, as well as the words spoken by the bald-headed monk that day, were somehow spread.

As for who the "jade" in this perfect match is, everyone has their own opinions, but the one considered most likely is Baoyu.

The consequence of this incident was that Baochai intentionally distanced herself from Baoyu and was no longer willing to have one-on-one contact with him.

If someone needs to contact him, they will inevitably bring several companions with them.

That day, Grandmother Jia was playing with her grandchildren when a maid came to report that Madam You from the East Mansion said the flowers in their Huifang Garden were in bloom and invited the old lady, aunts, two ladies, two grandmothers, and a group of young ladies to come and admire the flowers.

Just then, Baoyu happened to be downstairs. Upon hearing that they were going to admire the flowers, he pestered the old lady, saying, "Grandmother, I want to go too. Can you take me with you?"

When Grandmother Jia heard that her most beloved grandson wanted to go, she naturally had no reason to refuse, and said, "That's good, we should go for a walk in the garden!"

With that, he called to the group of women and went with Baoyu to Huifang Garden to enjoy the flowers and have fun.

Of course, Jia Jue did not go with them.

He simply read books and wrote essays in his study.

-

Baoyu and his entourage had already arrived at Huifang Garden, and You Shi greeted them with a beaming smile.

Accompanying her was Jia Rong's wife, Qin Keqing.

Qin Keqing has been married into the Ningguo family for some time now.

As everyone strolled through Huifang Garden, admiring the flowers and scenery, Baoyu suddenly felt drowsy for some reason.

Jia Jue, who was reading a book, suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him.

Seeing that Baoyu was sleepy, everyone quickly told him to go to his room to rest.

But when Baoyu entered the room, he saw that it was covered with words encouraging people to study, pursue fame and fortune, and he was displeased. He immediately said, "I don't want this room!"

Seeing that there was no other way, Qin Keqing had no choice but to say, "Why don't you let Uncle Bao come into my room?"

The others had no choice but to nod.

When Baoyu arrived at Qin Keqing's room, he was greeted by a sweet fragrance, and his body instantly felt weak.

He looked up at the room's decorations and saw a portrait of a beautiful woman and a wooden gourd mirror. He was very satisfied and fell into a deep sleep as soon as he touched his pillow.

At the very moment Baoyu fell asleep, Jia Jue also fell into a deep sleep in the study.

-

Jia Jue felt that when he closed his eyes and opened them again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

He was familiar with this feeling; he had felt the same way during his first two imperial examinations.

I had the same feeling when I returned from Prince Teng's residence that day.

He looked around and saw that the fairy mist was swirling, the grass was growing tall and the birds were flying, the beasts were running and the fish were crawling, and the flowers were blooming all over the fields.

Before Jia Jue could fully appreciate the beautiful scenery, he saw a fairy walking towards him from afar.

The fairy was graceful and beautiful, her steps swaying gently, her movements elegant and graceful.

The fairy stopped in front of him and said, "You've come."

Jia Jue asked, "Where is this place? And who is this fairy?"

The fairy said, "This is the Land of Illusion, and I am the Fairy Disenchantment."

Jia Jue was shocked to hear this—so this was the famous Fairy Disenchantment!

Jia Jue asked, "May I ask why the fairy has summoned me here?"

Jinghuan gave him a meaningful look and said, "Just come with me."

With that, he turned and left.

Jia Jue had no choice but to follow.

As Fairy Jinghuan walked, she said, "I guess you've roughly guessed something."

Jia Jue said, "I guess I might have been an immortal in my past life."

Jinghuan said, "You guessed right, your younger brother is too."

As she spoke, Fairy Disenchantment pointed, and Jia Jue looked ahead in the direction of her finger. He saw Jia Baoyu walking in front of them, accompanied by a fairy.

And this fairy looks exactly like the Fairy Disenchantment.

"No need to be so surprised, just use a clone technique," said Jinghuan with a smile.

"Then I wonder..." Jia Jue was about to ask when Jinghuan said, "That one over there is the clone. The one in front of you is not."

Then, Jinghuan added, "Logically speaking, given your powerful magic and noble celestial status in your previous life, you shouldn't be behaving like this when you descend to the mortal realm to undergo tribulations."

Jia Jue asked, "Then what should the behavior be?"

Fairy Disenchantment said, "Just like Jia Baoyu, just like Ni Zan, just like Wang Ji, just like Yu Boya—disdainful of fame and fortune, standing out from the crowd in the mundane world."