Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

Jia Cong nodded calmly, fully aware that the other party was probably still angry about what happened with Daiyu earlier. He simply stood up and bowed slightly.

"Very well, in that case, Second Brother, please rest well. If you feel unwell again, please have someone inform me immediately, and I will think of a solution."

After saying that, Jia Cong turned around and was about to walk out of the room, but at that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Qingwen walked in first, followed by Xiren, Sheyue, Bihen, Qiuwen and others.

As soon as Qingwen entered the room, she stepped forward to check Baoyu's forehead. Seeing that his fever had truly subsided, she was relieved, but her arrogant expression remained, and her tone was still sharp.

"Oh, is Third Master leaving already?" Qingwen crossed her arms.

"What's wrong? Is it because our Second Master's illness has healed and he no longer needs your esteemed presence, so you're eager to go back and boast about your achievements? Or is it that you did something shameful in this house and are afraid we'll see you, so you're in a hurry to leave?"

Jia Cong paused, turned around, and this time he decided not to indulge this maid who bore a resemblance to Daiyu any longer.

"I came here today with good intentions, but you have repeatedly spoken ill of me and even insulted me. Is this how you were taught in this household?"

Qingwen retorted without backing down.

"This servant would never dare to slander Third Master. Who knows what you did to Second Master in this room? Perhaps Second Master's illness wasn't cured by your lousy medicine at all! From now on, Third Master should sit in other rooms. Be careful not to dirty your official boots in this Yihong Courtyard."

Just as Xiren was about to step forward to smooth things over, Jia Cong stopped her, his tone turning cold.

"Master is master, servant is servant. Have you forgotten all the rules of this manor? A maid who talks back to her master and insults her with foul language will, according to the Rong family rules, be slapped or beaten at best, and expelled from the Rong manor and never be employed again. Do you really think that just because Brother Bao is protecting you, you can do whatever you want and act lawlessly?"

Baoyu, lying in bed, overheard the two arguing and saw Jia Cong's cold gaze. He immediately struggled to sit up.

"Third brother, please calm down. Qingwen is young and doesn't know any better. She's also impulsive and speaks without thinking. Third brother, please forgive her this time for my sake."

Xiren also quickly stepped forward and bowed to Jia Cong.

"Third Master, please forgive Qingwen this time! She is indeed young and ignorant, and only said such outrageous things in a moment of confusion. Please, for the sake of Second Master and for the sake of the Ancestor, forgive her this time!"

But Jia Cong remained unmoved. No matter how beautiful Qingwen was, she was just a maid in the Rong Mansion. If she were to trample on him today, how could he ever have the face to come to the Yi Hong Courtyard again?

"Spare her?" Jia Cong sneered. "She has repeatedly hurled insults and even slanderous remarks at me. If such a rebellious and arrogant servant is spared, who will respect me in the future? Who will respect the rules of the Rong Mansion?"

Having said that, Jia Cong no longer hesitated and spoke in a deep voice towards the outside.

"Someone come here! Summon the head maid of the brothel!"

The old woman on night patrol and the maidservant outside were startled and, without delay, hurried to summon Granny Song. A short while later, Granny Song, who was in charge of the tutors at the Grand View Garden, dressed in a dark-colored old woman's uniform, rushed into the room. "This old servant, Song, greets Second Master and Third Master. What are your orders, Third Master?"

Granny Song was the head nanny of Yihong Courtyard, second only to Granny Li in rank. She was responsible for managing the maids and servants in Yihong Courtyard and carrying out disciplinary matters. However, she already knew in her heart that Qingwen had really caused a big disaster this time and offended Jia Cong, the most prestigious third master of Rong Mansion.

Jia Cong coldly pointed at Qingwen, "Granny Song, look at this servant. She has repeatedly spoken disrespectfully to her master, hurling insults and showing no respect for her elders. Tell me, how should such a rebellious person be dealt with?"

Granny Song quickly looked up at Qingwen, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and smugness, then quickly lowered her head and bowed to Jia Cong.

"Replying to Third Master, this servant has dared to disobey his master and hurl insults at him. This is a grave offense and should be severely punished according to ancestral family laws."

"Very well," Jia Cong said, giving Baoyu no time to plead, "Since you know the rules, that's for the best. Deal with it according to family law!"

"Someone come here!" The older women, including Granny Song, who didn't usually treat Qingwen well and who ignored them because of Baoyu's favor, immediately waved their hands without hesitation.

"Drag this servant out, slap her twenty times, then give her thirty strokes of the cane, and after that, expel her from the Rong Mansion, never to set foot in the Rong Mansion again! Let her remember well that a servant is a servant, no matter how arrogant she is, she can't forget her duty!"

"Third Master, spare me!" Upon hearing this, Qingwen turned deathly pale with fright. All her previous arrogance and haughtiness vanished. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed to her knees with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing to Jia Cong. Tears welled up instantly.

"This servant was wrong! This servant was truly wrong! Please, Third Master, forgive this servant this time!"

At this moment, the concubine finally realized that Jia Cong was not Bao Yu and would not indulge her arrogance and ignorance. He meant what he said!

Baoyu, lying in bed, heard Jia Cong say he would expel Qingwen from the Rong Mansion. He immediately struggled to sit up, ignoring his exhaustion and weakness.

"Good brother, don't be angry. I'll apologize on her behalf. Please, just for my sake!"

Xi Ren, She Yue, and the others hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly to Jia Cong, pleading earnestly in their urgent tones.

"Third Master, please show leniency! Just give her a good beating to teach her a lesson!"

Granny Song stood to the side, her expression respectful, but she did not move. She simply lowered her head and waited for Jia Cong's final instructions. As a member of the Yi Hong Courtyard, she still had to consider Bao Yu's feelings.

Seeing that Jia Cong seemed unmoved, Baoyu continued to plead, revealing a humble and desperate expression.

"If my third brother expels her from the Rong Mansion, I... I won't be able to survive either!"

Even the usually composed Musk Moon stepped forward and gently advised Jia Cong:

"Third Master, please calm down. Qingwen was indeed confused for a moment. I beg you to forgive her for being expelled from the manor, considering that she has served Second Master for many years and has been loyal to him. Just give her a beating to teach her a lesson, and you will definitely discipline her strictly in the future and never let her do it again."

Jia Cong remained silent for a moment, looking at Bao Yu's humble and desperate appearance, and then at Mushe's earnest expression. Now that Bao Yu's fever had just subsided, if he were to get anxious again because of Qingwen's matter, he would still face trouble.

After a moment of hesitation, Jia Cong finally relented.

"Very well, for the sake of my second brother, I'll spare him the death penalty, but he won't escape punishment!"

Granny Song also breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to offend Jia Cong or Baoyu, and since beating a maid was a piece of cake, she beckoned to the outside. Two rough-looking old women quickly came in.

"What are your orders, Granny?"

"Drag this servant out and slap him twenty times. Be careful not to kill him!" Granny Song waved her hand imperiously at the two rough-looking old women.

"Yes!" The two rough-looking old women hurriedly replied, and quickly stepped forward, one on each side, to lift up Qingwen, who was limp on the ground and still pleading desperately, and drag her out of the house.

As Qingwen struggled, she cried and begged, "Third Master, spare me! Please, Third Master, spare this servant this time! This servant will never dare to do it again! Baoyu, save me!"