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

The room fell silent again. Xing Xiuyan looked at the bulging package on the table and softly asked Yingchun, "..."

"Second sister, I saw Third Brother at Rongqing Hall during the day. He has a handsome face and a dashing appearance. I heard that he passed the military examination at a young age and has already entered officialdom. I imagine he must be a cheerful and decisive person. However, I have never met him before. I wonder what Third Brother is like in his daily life?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a sickly blush returned to Yingchun's downcast cheeks, like a light touch of rouge, adding an inexplicable strangeness.

"My third brother is different from others. He is very meticulous and considerate. The other time, he summoned Madam Zhu to deal with those wicked servants from Wang Zhu'er's household in my room. He also cut off their monthly allowance and sent them to the estate."

Xing Xiuyan listened quietly, noticing a fleeting, almost imperceptible, glint in Yingchun's eyes when she spoke of Jia Cong. A hint of doubt arose in her heart, but she refrained from asking further and simply nodded.

"I see. My third brother is indeed a gentleman who can distinguish right from wrong and is willing to lend a helping hand."

She secretly recalled the first time she met Jia Cong during the day. He was tall and upright with gentle features, and his heroic spirit was mixed with his refined manners. As a former military officer, he naturally exuded a dignified aura. She had also heard that he was quite outstanding in poetry. Such a talented and handsome man was also meticulous in his thinking. When she thought of the thick clothes that had been specially delivered to her earlier, a subtle ripple quietly rose in her heart.

Upon opening the package, Xing Xiuyan saw that the clothes were exquisite and made of thick, heavy materials, clearly showing careful craftsmanship. They even appeared to be more expensive than what Yingchun was wearing. Xing Xiuyan was immediately at a loss for what to do.

"How...can this be...?"

But Yingchun seemed unfazed, weakly raising her hand.

"My younger sister is new to the household and naturally doesn't know this, but my third brother has been granted an official position and is favored by the matriarch of the household. Even the profits from the workshop should be quite substantial each quarter..."

This time, Xing Xiuyan was completely stunned, staring blankly at the gorgeous clothes inside the package.

"Third brother... how can he be so extravagant? How did he manage that?"

Yingchun seemed to have crashed again, reverting to her "answer once for every three questions" state, slowly turning over and ignoring everyone.

Xing Xiuyan had no choice but to suppress her doubts. After all, she was a young girl in the prime of her life, and how could she not love fine clothes? She couldn't help but pick them up and try them on before going to sleep with a smile on her face.

The next day, Jia Cong went to the drill ground early in the morning and returned to the mansion before lunch. A maid came to invite him, saying it was Yingchun's order. He knew that it was probably Xing Xiuyan coming to thank him, so he went back to Qingyan Hall to change his clothes before taking Li Rong there.

Upon arriving at Nuanxiangwu, they were surprised to find Daiyu, Baochai, and the others all there. Li Wan brought her sisters, and Baochai brought Baoqin to the gathering. Baoyu was as happy as a mouse in a rice jar, sniffing around and joining in.

Upon Jia Cong's arrival, Li Wan, as a semi-elder, smiled and pulled him over.

"Brother Cong really cares about people; this material is not going to fetch an ordinary price at the end of the year."

Wearing a new outfit and lightly made up, Xing Xiuyan looked even more charming and lively. She took two steps forward and gave a graceful curtsy.

"Thank you, Third Brother, for your timely help. I am truly ashamed."

With so many people present, Jia Cong smiled and bowed.

"Sister, what are you saying? We're all family, it's only right that we take care of each other."

Baoyu, overjoyed, grabbed his arm.

"Brother, you have such wonderful sisters in your family! You know I'm just a frog in a well. I always thought these few women were unique, but who knew we didn't need to look far. Right here in the area, each one is more beautiful than the last. Now I've learned something new. Besides these few, are there any other like them?"

Daiyu, standing to the side, frowned deeply, her face filled with disdain.

"I thought it was some kind of brilliant insight. You spend all your time not thinking about making proper progress, but only focusing on these children's emotions. Is that what you call progress? You have the nerve to talk about such insights."

Tan Chun quickly smiled and stopped her, saying, "Sister Lin was just joking, Second Brother was just saying it casually. Let's not take it seriously."

Daiyu was about to retort with a sarcastic remark when Baochai quietly tugged at her sleeve, gently shook her head, and then gave her a sidelong glance before falling silent.

The group sat down according to their status and ordered the kitchen to prepare food and wine. After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Tan Chun clamored that the poetry club should have a new member. Jia Cong looked at the newcomer Bao Qin and thought that she was no less beautiful than Bao Chai, but rather had a bit more charm and naivety.

For a moment, he thought the same thing as Baoyu: if that slender waist were on Baochai, he might be able to wrap his arms around it, but he regretted that he didn't have that kind of luck.

Seeing the room full of beautiful women, Jia Cong's lust was aroused. After a hasty meal, he made an excuse to go practice martial arts, his mind only on finding Qin Keqing.

Everyone praised his diligence and couldn't help but tease Baoyu again before the gathering dispersed.

Fortunately, the perfume workshop also needed to prepare supplies for the wives and young ladies of each household at the end of the year, so Qin Keqing took the opportunity to enter Qingyan Hall. After a passionate encounter, she lay on Jia Cong's shoulder, drenched in sweat, and charmingly drew circles on his chest with her slender fingers.

"My husband is now increasingly enjoying himself and forgetting his homeland, spending all his days among his sisters. I dare not compete for his favor, and I only hope that my husband will not forget our friendship in the future."

Jia Cong affectionately pinched Qin Keqing's delicate chin and kissed it.

"What are you saying, my love? How have I become a heartless and unfaithful person? It's just that you can't leave the manor. Otherwise, I would have been happy to buy a house in the capital."

Qin Keqing nuzzled Jia Cong's chin with a pitiful expression, burying her head even deeper.

"I dare not hope to be with my husband every day. I would be content if we could talk whenever we had free time."

Qin Keqing was not short of money, and she was loved by Grandmother Jia in the Rong Mansion. Wang Xifeng dared not mistreat her. Only spiritual sustenance could give her hope and longing for life.

After spending half a day with her lover, and fearing being seen, Qin Keqing had to freshen up before reluctantly leaving the Grand View Garden.

Jia Cong fell into deep thought. Even if he passed the imperial examination next spring, the emperor would not grant him a mansion. Just then, Wang Xifeng sent over the last quarter's bonus, and all in all, his treasury now contained more than two thousand taels of silver.

He immediately summoned Li Rong and handed him his official insignia.

"Listen carefully, go and secretly buy a house from the official broker for five or six hundred taels of silver. Just don't let anyone in the manor know, or I'll break your legs!"

Li Rong had served Jia Cong since childhood, and naturally knew that his master most likely intended to keep a mistress. In recent years, Jia Cong had been showering him with generous sums of money, and this trip to procure a mistress for him would undoubtedly bring in another windfall. Li Rong immediately beamed and bowed.

"This servant understands, and will ensure that Master is satisfied." With that, he scurried out of Qingyan Hall.

Li Rong was quite capable and soon brought news to Jia Cong, saying that there was a house for sale in Xuan Nan Fang, with three courtyards and forty rooms, plus east and west wing courtyards and a small garden. The owner was asking for seven hundred taels of silver.