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

After saying this, she turned around and took out a small sandalwood box from the inner room, gently placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Jia Cong.

Upon opening the box, one finds a piece of mutton-fat jade paperweight inside. Though not a rare treasure, it is warm and smooth, showing that it was prepared with care.

"This paperweight is an heirloom from my ancestors and is not particularly valuable," Miaoyu said, growing increasingly nervous. "Please accept it as a token of my gratitude to Third Master for his help."

Jia Cong glanced at the items in the box, then looked at Miao Yu's cool yet undisguisedly anxious eyes. He recalled how he had been curious about the background of this aloof and otherworldly woman when he had previously mocked her for being pretentious, so much so that Lady Wang and others had "invited her to come to Longcui Nunnery to practice Buddhism."

After a moment's thought, Jia Cong closed the box lid and pushed it back in front of Miaoyu.

"It's nothing, no need for thanks. This is not difficult either. I will go to Shuntian Prefecture tomorrow to complete the transaction. Please just write down the contract."

Miaoyu's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this; she had initially thought Jia Cong would be asking for an exorbitant amount.

"Thank you, Third Master. I have prepared the documents and will send someone to fetch them right away." After saying that, he called over the only maidservant serving in the nunnery to the inner room to fetch the written documents.

As for Miaoyu herself, she gracefully rose and personally carried a bowl of vegetarian noodles to the table, lowering her stance somewhat.

"Third Master, please have some. Don't mind the simple food."

Jia Cong raised an eyebrow. This Miaoyu really did have some ancestral property to rely on. The bowl she used to serve the noodles was a small blue-and-white porcelain bowl with a light blue orchid design, a top-quality piece from the official kiln.

He immediately chuckled and took the chopsticks from the other person's hand.

"Young lady, your ancestors were truly a family of officials. But after I use these bowls and chopsticks, I'm afraid I'll have to smash them and throw them out of the nunnery just like Granny Liu did."

Upon hearing this, a faint blush swept across Miaoyu's fair cheeks. She then lowered her eyes, composed herself, and felt a slight heat at the tips of her ears. Her usual aloofness and coldness seemed to have faded somewhat.

She trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Third Master, please don't bring up my past misdeeds. How could this humble nun dare to complain? Even if you used this bowl, Third Master, I would never dare to throw it away so carelessly."

His tone was not as aloof as usual, but rather carried a hint of awkwardness, clearly revealing a gentleness that was not annoyed by the teasing.

Jia Cong pursed his lips, not wanting to say anything more sarcastic, and looked at the other person again.

"Why isn't the girl eating?"

Miaoyu quickly put her hands together and gave a gentle bow.

"I am a cultivator and dare not dine with you, Third Master. Please make yourself at home."

Jia Cong didn't insist. He nodded casually, picked up a shiitake mushroom, and put it in his mouth to chew. It must be said that the vegetarian dishes served here by Miaoyu were not ordinary vegetables. They were made with a vegetarian broth made from top-quality mushrooms, and were extremely delicious.

In addition, Wang Xifeng had been diligently cultivating mushrooms in the Rong Mansion for the past few months, and the kitchen staff had been incredibly generous with the ingredients. Even Jia Cong enjoyed the mushrooms and couldn't help but praise them.

"It's quite peaceful here, young lady, and the food is elegant."

Miaoyu quickly bowed slightly.

"If the simple food is to Third Master's liking, that's fine. If you like this light taste, Third Master, please come often in the future, and this humble nun will prepare it for you."

Jia Cong paused slightly. Could it be that Miaoyu was really a bit too timid? Who would be scolded and then eagerly beg for help?

But he didn't take it to heart, hastily finishing the small bowl of vegetarian noodles. His martial arts background meant he wasn't full at all. He wiped his mouth with his handkerchief, still feeling unsatisfied, took the documents handed to him by the maid behind him, stood up, and waved them away.

"Thank you for your hospitality, young lady. I will go to Shuntian Prefecture early tomorrow morning to hand over the documents for you. I will come to bother you again after the matter is settled."

Upon hearing this, Miaoyu surprisingly abandoned the Buddhist gesture of pressing her palms together and gracefully curtsied.

"Thank you for your help, Third Master."

Watching Jia Cong leave the Green Bamboo Nunnery, Miaoyu sighed softly and turned to instruct the maidservant serving her.

"Wash the bowls and chopsticks that Third Master used clean and put them away."

The young maid was also quite surprised.

"Master, you never kept the utensils that others had used in the past, but today these bowls and chopsticks..."

Miaoyu glanced at her indifferently.

"There's no need to be so pedantic. Just wash it, dry it, and store it among my everyday belongings."

The young maidservant had no idea what had gotten into her self-proclaimed noble master today. Only Baoyu usually received such treatment. But she didn't dare to say anything and hurriedly left.

Jia Cong did not hesitate to follow Miaoyu's instructions. The next day, after reporting for duty, he asked Zhou Haiyong for leave and then rode Ba Hongchen, carrying the Zhaowu Golden Mace, heading to Shuntian Prefecture with a smug air.

The handover of Miaoyu's ancestral property was not complicated. Only the sixth-rank official from the Shuntian Prefecture's Bureau of Records personally came out to greet her, smiling and bowing.

"I've met with Commander Jia. Is the old ancestor in good health?"

Jia Cong was half a rank lower than the other party, but he still bowed with a smile.

"I have met with the Master and the Old Madam. I hope they are in good health and have come today to complete a transaction."

The official summoned a minor official to fetch the contract, then ordered someone to make tea and chatted with Jia Cong for a while before finally taking the letter of authorization written by Miaoyu herself from his hand.

"The paperwork is clear and there are no violations. Let Commander Jia take it back!"

Jia Cong took the handover documents from the clerk and examined them closely. He then learned that Miaoyu's secular name was Gu, and that she came from the most prestigious family in Suzhou, even more so than Daiyu.

"No wonder this young lady has such an extravagant lifestyle; her ancestors must have been incredibly wealthy." Jia Cong chuckled to himself, carefully put away the documents, had some tea with his advisor, and then rode back to the Rong Mansion.

Back at the Rong Mansion, he was too embarrassed to go and mooch Miaoyu's vegetarian noodles again. After having a meal at Qingyan Hall, he quietly slipped his documents into his pocket and knocked on the door of Longcui Nunnery.

Miaoyu had changed into a monk's robe today, her eyes still lowered in a submissive manner. She took the document from Jia Cong, glanced at it, and then personally brewed tea.

"Third Master is a military officer with integrity, decisive and reliable in his actions. This humble nun thanks you."

Jia Cong picked up his teacup with a hint of mockery.

"I never imagined that you were the daughter of the Gu family in Suzhou. No wonder you are so extraordinary."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing these words, Miaoyu trembled slightly, bit her lip gently, and gave a graceful curtsy.

"Those who live outside the secular world have long since abandoned worldly affairs. Please keep this a secret, Third Master, and do not let anyone else know."

Jia Cong was also secretly amazed, after all, Cao Xueqin hadn't written down Miaoyu's surname, so he didn't know what this nun was afraid of. He could only nod with a smile.

"That's no problem, young lady. Don't worry, she's not a gossipy old woman."

After taking a few sips of tea, he felt it wouldn't be right to linger, so he got up to leave, but Miaoyu gently urged him to stay.

"Third Master, please wait." After saying that, she hurriedly returned to the inner room. A moment later, she brought out a small brocade pouch wrapped in plain silk and handed it to Jia Cong. A faint sandalwood scent emanated from the pouch; it was a calming incense cake that she had personally prepared.

She lowered her eyes, with a hint of cautious obedience.

"Third Master practices martial arts and is on duty, so he often needs to concentrate and calm his mind. These are incense cakes that I made by hand in my spare time, just to express my heartfelt sentiments."

Jia Cong had refused to accept the jade paperweight before, but he didn't want to put Miaoyu in a difficult position now, so he could only smile and accept it.

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss. I'll be off now."