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

The two thanked each other profusely before leaving the side gate with the silver, without looking back, as if they were afraid that Jia Cong would change his mind and take the silver back.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Jia Cong's smile vanished instantly, replaced by disdain and coldness.

Siqi, somewhat indignant, bowed softly to the side.

"Third Master is kind, but this couple is greedy and insatiable. They are clearly not peaceful people and will probably bother Miss Xing again in the future."

Jia Cong snorted coldly, raising his hand to adjust his silver fox fur cloak.

"It's alright. These few taels of silver today are just a temporary measure. I will take care of things for my sister."

After saying that, his tone softened a bit.

"Go back and tell Miss Xing that in the future, she doesn't need to worry about this herself; she can just come and tell me."

"Yes, this servant will remember Third Master's instructions." Siqi replied and turned to quickly enter the mansion.

Upon entering the Rong Mansion, Jia Cong did not return to Qingyan Hall but went straight to Yihong Courtyard. It was cold outside, but inside, it was a scene of spring. Baoyu was playing hide-and-seek with a group of maids, blindfolded. Those who were caught were all soft-spoken and angry.

Only after the maidservant announced his arrival did Baoyu reluctantly tear off a silk handkerchief to wipe his hands.

"Please come in quickly."

As soon as Jia Cong entered the room, Qingwen ran off in a flash, not even daring to look back. Baoyu laughed and scolded her.

"What a useless thing to do. He usually acts like he's in charge of the household, but today he's like a mouse trying to avoid a cat."

Jia Cong wore his usual fake smile.

"Second brother, your younger brother has come to ask for your help today."

Baoyu pulled him down by the hand and quickly ordered tea to be served.

"Oh? My third brother has already entered officialdom, so why has he ever asked me for anything? Just tell me!"

Jia Cong chuckled and pointed outside.

"I originally wanted to ask my second brother to give me Qianxue from your room. She seemed quite honest last time, and I was thinking that I needed someone who knew about tea."

Baoyu scratched his head suspiciously, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

"Brother, you can have everything you want, except that Qianxue is no longer in my house."

Jia Cong naturally knew that Qianxue had been kicked out after the incident with the maple dew tea, but being kicked out did not mean being expelled from the Rong Mansion; she was still working there.

He immediately looked as if he had just realized something and slapped his forehead repeatedly.

"Second Brother, please forgive me. May I ask where Qianxue is working now?"

Baoyu was stunned and couldn't remember for a moment, until Xiren gently reminded him from the side.

"Second Master, perhaps you have a bad memory. Miss Qianxue is in the tea room right now."

Qianxue originally served Baoyu tea, but after being kicked out, she naturally went to the tea room to work as a maid.

Seeing this, Jia Cong took another sip of tea.

"In that case, since Qianxue is an old friend of Second Brother, she should come and greet her as well."

Baoyu waved his hand sheepishly.

"Brother, what you said really makes me embarrassed. Just take it!" He didn't care much about Qianxue, otherwise he wouldn't have let her be chased away.

Jia Cong thanked him profusely, then took Li Rong to find Lin Zhixiao's wife, smiling as he slipped her a piece of silver.

"My household is in dire need of someone who understands tea. Coincidentally, when I was talking to Brother Bao about it, I learned that there was a maid named Qianxue who was kicked out before. Is she still in the manor?"

Having received the silver, Lin Zhixiao's wife dared not offend Jia Cong over this matter, and hurriedly bowed deeply.

"Second Master has a good memory. There is indeed a woman named Qianxue who works in the tea room. If Third Master wants her, this servant will summon her right away."

Jia Cong nodded in satisfaction, while Lin Zhixiao's wife quickly sent someone to fetch Qianxue. Before half an incense stick had burned, Qianxue arrived timidly, following behind the old woman, and curtsied to Jia Cong.

"This servant greets Third Master."

Jia Cong sized up the other woman. Qianxue looked to be about one or two years older than him, around the same age as Baochai. She was pretty, but not as pretty as Qin Keqing or Daiyu. She looked honest and her eyes never wandered around.

He pondered for a moment, then smiled and turned his head away.

"Mrs. Lin, I want this girl."

"Oh my, this girl is really living the good life now that she's with Third Master!" Lin Zhixiao's wife quickly added compliments.

Qianxue was still somewhat doubting her life. She was originally a second-class maid in Baoyu's room, but after being kicked out, she was demoted to a third-class maid. She thought she would never have any hope of getting ahead in her life, but she never expected that the elegant and accomplished Third Master Cong would come to find her in the dead of winter.

She followed Jia Cong in a daze until they entered Qingyan Hall, whereupon she knelt down with a thud, bowing deeply and sobbing.

"Third Master is kind and benevolent. This servant will serve you wholeheartedly from now on and will not dare to slack off in the slightest."

Jia Cong was very satisfied with the other party's attitude, and then summoned Jinping.

"Go and inform the people in the backyard that Qianxue has joined Qingyan Hall, and from now on, her monthly allowance will be the same as yours!"

Jinping responded and left. Jia Cong then had Li Rong take out five taels of silver and give it to Qianxue, and also rewarded her with several bolts of fabric. Qianxue was already sobbing uncontrollably and had to temporarily step back to wipe her tears.

Then Jia Cong called Chu Lan over and looked at her earnestly.

"Chu Lan, you've been with me the longest, and I trust you the most. Now I'll take you to my cousin's place. Take good care of her, and your monthly allowance will continue to come from me. I'll also give you an extra tael of silver every month!"

Although Chu Lan harbored ambitions of becoming a concubine, she dared not disobey Jia Cong's arrangements and could only pout and reluctantly curtsy.

"This servant will obey Third Master's orders."

Jia Cong noticed Chu Lan's resentment, but he didn't dare immediately arrange for Qian Xue to serve Xing Xiuyan. He could only pull Chu Lan aside and coax her.

"Take good care of her for a few days, and I'll let you come back once I've taken care of Qianxue."

Chu Lan understood immediately. Her Third Master had probably taken a fancy to someone again, and she had no choice but to accept the task because of the generous offer.

Before dinner, Jia Cong took Chu Lan to Ying Chun's place. After the maid announced their arrival, they entered and saw Xing Xiuyan reading a book by herself, while Ying Chun was reclining on the couch, still reading her book, "The Treatise on the Response of the Supreme Being".

"What brings you here, Third Brother?" Xing Xiuyan quickly stood up to greet him, her voice softening slightly.

Xing Xiuyan was like this. In the entire Dream of the Red Chamber, she had the best relationship with Miaoyu and Baochai. This was because Baochai solved her problem of food and clothing, while Miaoyu had the kindness of teaching her to read and write.

The economic base determines the superstructure. She was a girl from a humble family, not a lady from a prominent family. She was proud and could not afford to buy a meat bun. She knew very well who treated her well and who respected her.

Jia Cong pointed calmly to Chu Lan behind him.

"Seeing that my sister has no one to serve her well, I think this girl has been with me since she was a child and has served me the most diligently. I will give her to my sister."

These words startled Xing Xiuyan, who quickly waved her hands.

"Third brother, you mustn't do that. How could I possibly have a maidservant? I'm just staying here temporarily."

Taking advantage of his status as the younger brother, Jia Cong smiled and seized the opportunity to press down the other's hand.

"Sister, what are you saying? We are family. She is just a maid, why should I take her to heart? I feel sorry for you because you have no one to take care of you."