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

Not long after they returned to the Rong Mansion, Jia Cong ordered Xue Pan to escort them back to the northeast corner first, instructing him not to go out and not to utter a word to Aunt Xue. After making the arrangements, he turned around and went back to Hengwu Garden.

When Ying'er saw him return, she was overjoyed and hurriedly lifted the curtain to announce his return. Baochai was already standing inside the door waiting. As soon as she saw Jia Cong, she rushed forward, her eyes filled with hope, but she dared not ask any questions.

Jia Cong pointed to the northeast corner.

"Fortunately, no one was killed. Brother Xue has been brought back safely to his residence, so you can rest assured, sister. The compensation has been paid, and this matter is now settled without any further trouble."

Upon hearing this, Baochai's heart, which had been hanging in suspense for half a day, immediately settled down, and two lines of clear tears could no longer be held back and fell down.

She was usually a very composed person, but today, in her anxiety, she lost her composure. Now that the trouble was over, all her gratitude and grievances turned into tears.

Seeing her tears falling like pearls, Jia Cong couldn't bear it and raised his sleeve to wipe away her tears.

With a gentle touch, he brushed against her chin, the skin soft and delicate. Baochai's body trembled slightly, her long eyelashes fluttered, and her forehead and neck flushed crimson. She forgot to dodge.

This touch was as light as a willow catkin, yet it carried a tenderness and affection far exceeding that of a drunken kiss or an embrace under the lamplight, filled with tenderness and pity.

After a long pause, Baochai gently took half a step back, too shy to raise her head.

"Thank you for your consideration, Brother Cong... I lost my composure just now."

Jia Cong chuckled and withdrew his hand, still somewhat unsatisfied.

"Why do you say that, sister? If there is any emergency in the family in the future, you don't need to worry alone. Just let me know quietly."

Baochai lowered her head and responded softly, her voice barely audible. The blush on her cheeks had not yet faded, but a hint of tenderness was hidden in her eyes.

A moment later, Baochai remembered the matter of the silver and asked in a low voice,

"How much silver did you pay in compensation?"

"Only fifty taels."

Baochai nodded slightly, then whispered again.

"Please allow me a few days to think things over; it's best to keep it from my mother."

Jia Cong, unwilling to let Baochai pay, stepped forward with a grin and even reached out to straighten her slightly disheveled pearl hairpins.

"It's just a little bit of silver, not worth troubling you, sister. I'll take care of it myself."

When he touched her, Baochai's body stiffened abruptly. She quickly lowered her eyes, clutching the corner of her handkerchief tightly, her ear tips stained red.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jia Cong brushed against her temple, feeling the cool, smooth skin. He deliberately slowed his movements and carefully straightened the pearl hairpin for her, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her earlobe.

"Brother Cong..." she called softly, her voice gentle, half reproachful and half shy, yet she didn't move an inch, and even seemed to be throwing herself into his arms.

Jia Cong leaned down, his breath gently brushing her hair. "Since you treat me like an outsider, it means you don't care about me. If it can put your mind at ease, even a million taels of silver would be worth it."

Baochai trembled again, her slender arms about to climb onto Jia Cong's shoulders, when she suddenly heard Ying'er calling softly at the door.

"Miss, Third Master Huan has come looking for you. He's with Second Miss, Fourth Miss, and the others, waiting for you at Lotus Fragrance Pavilion."

Seeing that the atmosphere had cooled down, Jia Cong withdrew his hand and took a half-step back with a smile.

"Since it's Huan-ge who's come looking for me, I'm going to practice martial arts at the training ground. I'll talk to you another day, sister."

Baochai nodded shyly, then called Ying'er in before preparing to go to Yingchun's place.

After presenting the new waterwheel, Jia Zheng gained the emperor's favor. However, unlike Cao Xueqin's original text, he was not sent to be an educational commissioner. Instead, he was appointed as the director of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works, which can be considered as rising from the second-in-command to the person in charge.

The next day, Jia Cong returned to the Rong Mansion after his shift. Just as Jin Ping unfastened the golden mace from his waist, a maidservant came to report from the doorway.

"The nun from Longcui Nunnery sent a maid to invite Third Master to a vegetarian meal."

Jia Cong was completely confused. Why would Miaoyu come to him for no reason? Did she not get enough of a scolding last time and want to hear it again? Is this nun a masochist?

Even though Miaoyu was no less beautiful than Qin Keqing or Daiyu, and possessed a refined and otherworldly charm without the need for makeup, he was not particularly interested in her.

After a moment's thought, Jia Cong stood up and shook his official robes.

"Fine, let's see what kind of trouble this nun will cause this time."

After saying this, he changed into a dark-colored Japanese satin jacket with five auspicious symbols and longevity symbols, with a light gray gauze lining and arrow-sleeved sleeves, and tied with a plain silver dragon and tiger hairpin. He then took Li Rong to Longcui Nunnery.

Upon arriving at the entrance, Jia Cong, knowing that Miaoyu disliked men entering the nunnery, asked Li Rong to wait at the entrance while he followed the young maid into the backyard.

Today, Miaoyu was dressed in a plain white silk robe embroidered with subtle patterns on the hem. Her face, free of makeup, had a pair of bright, watery peach blossom eyes.

Although she practiced Buddhism with her hair still intact, she styled her black hair into a cloud-like bun, holding it lightly with only a single jade hairpin. The rest of her hair fell to her shoulders, making her eyebrows and eyes appear even more aloof and cold, adding a touch of otherworldly elegance compared to the beautiful girls in the garden.

The only sound from inside was the rustling of bamboo shadows sweeping the steps. On the table sat a set of Ru ware white porcelain teacups, from which wisps of steam rose, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. When Miaoyu saw Jia Cong enter, she did not greet him respectfully, but instead lowered her eyes, picked up a tea whisk, and gently brushed away the foam floating in the cup.

"Greetings, Third Master. Please have some tea first."

Jia Cong sat down as instructed, glanced around, and then looked back at Miaoyu.

"The young lady sent someone to invite me to a vegetarian meal, which must be more than just a bowl of vegetarian noodles. If you still hold a grudge against me for my rude words last time, please just say so directly, there's no need to beat around the bush."

He deliberately avoided referring to her as "Master Miaoyu," instead placing her on the same level as Baochai and others.

Miaoyu was indeed slightly taken aback, but then lowered her eyelids and simply pushed a cup of hot tea in front of him.

"Third Master is joking. A monk does not hold grudges. The past is long gone. The reason I invited you here today is that there is something I have thought about and only you can do."

Jia Cong raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup but didn't drink, a hint of curiosity in his expression.

"Oh? A young lady as proud as you, yet you have to ask for favors? Please tell me what it is."

"This humble nun is originally from Suzhou, and my ancestors were a family of scholars and officials," Miaoyu said, turning her head slightly, her tone somewhat unsteady.

"When my parents passed away, they left behind a private property, which was a study and a few acres of ancestral land inherited from our ancestors. It had been entrusted to a former servant of the clan for safekeeping. Recently, the former servant passed away, and the clan sent over the inheritance documents, stating that I must act as the agent to hand over the property before I can officially take over.

Jia Cong also curled his lip upon hearing this.

"Since it's your ancestral property, you can leave on your own. Why do you need my help?"

Miaoyu gently shook her head, a hint of difficulty finally appearing on her pretty face, yet she still tried her best to maintain her aloof demeanor.

"I am a person practicing Buddhism. I am allowed to live in the nunnery under the protection of your family. I am bound by the rules and regulations and must not leave the family without permission. Moreover, it would be undignified for a monk to show his face in public to handle the transfer of secular property."

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong understood her intention. With a half-smile, he lightly tapped the table and said, "So, you want me to handle this matter at the government office on your behalf?"

Miaoyu raised her eyes, her gaze lingering on Jia Cong's handsome face for a moment before she immediately lowered her head again.

"Indeed, Third Master has been granted an official position, with all the necessary credentials and seals. The yamen will surely treat him with respect, and the handover will proceed smoothly. I do not wish to disturb anyone else in the household, so I can only rest assured by asking Third Master for help."