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

Wang Xifeng, being so perceptive, immediately saw through her concerns. She patted the back of her hand and laughed, "What's the big deal! I'll just send a servant to the Ning Mansion to inform Brother Zhen that the Old Ancestress wants you to stay for a few days. Are you afraid Brother Zhen won't agree?"

Then he looked at Jia Cong and said with a smile, "Brother Cong can also testify that my courtyard is quiet, so letting Keqing rest for the night will save her the trouble of running back and forth. Besides, I've already agreed to the old lady's request, so as her uncle, you should also help me persuade her."

Jia Cong, standing to the side, seized the opportunity to speak up: "Madam Rong, since your sister-in-law has so kindly invited you, please stay. I'll have a servant pass on a message to Master Zhen at the Ning Mansion; everything is surely alright."

Qin Keqing wanted to decline again, but Wang Xifeng held her arm tightly. Seeing that Jia Cong also said the same thing, she knew she couldn't refuse, so she could only nod slightly and curtsy, saying, "In that case, I'll trouble you, sister-in-law."

"That's right!" Wang Xifeng was overjoyed and quickly instructed Ping'er.

"Quickly clean up that clean room in the west courtyard, change the fabric to this year's gossamer gauze, and get my newly acquired Hangzhou silk to change Grandma Rong's bedding. It's my way of showing my love as her sister-in-law."

He then turned to Qin Keqing and smiled, "Don't worry, no one will dare to restrain you here. Let's have a good talk, mother and daughter."

Qin Keqing lowered her eyes and responded, but her fingertips were slightly twisting the handkerchief. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings—the relief of escaping the Ning Mansion for a moment, the worry about Jia Zhen, and the awkwardness of being in the same room with Wang Xifeng.

Jia Cong, not wanting to linger, only drank half a bowl of almond milk and ate a piece of watermelon before rising and bowing to Wang Xifeng.

"Sister-in-law, please wait, I'm coming right now..."

When they returned to their own courtyard, Li Rong and Chu Lan were already gathered around them.

"Third Master, the goods are ready!"

A thought struck him, and he stepped into the inner room.

"Quickly, close the door and bring it to me!"

Li Rong hurriedly went to close the door, while Chu Lan presented the solidified lipstick, which was contained in a neat little rouge box. The lipstick was smooth and lustrous, with a uniform color. It was a beautiful red that was not gaudy, and it had a subtle sheen like solidified cream. It looked very suitable.

It's a pity that there are no twist-up lipsticks in this era. Jia Cong sniffed with satisfaction. The faint floral fragrance was refreshing, and the fishy smell of the marrow was completely covered up.

He casually pointed at Chu Lan.

"Come on, let's give it a try!"

Chu Lan was so frightened that she quickly lowered her eyes, bowed her head, and took two steps back, not daring to look up.

"Such precious items are too precious for this servant to try first!"

"Just use it when we tell you to, why all the arguing!"

Under Jia Cong's impatient urging, Chu Lan carefully scooped out a tiny bit with a delicate copper spoon, and timidly touched it to her lips with her fingertips.

As the color spread, a touch of soft red appeared on her lips, making her originally plain face appear more vibrant.

Jia Cong looked at it carefully from all sides and thought to himself that the Rong Mansion was not like those small workshops. If beeswax was used as a base, the lipstick would not be as moisturizing as that made from ox marrow.

"How many boxes did you get in total?"

"Reporting to Third Master, there are a total of five boxes, including this one."

"Well, you can have this one. But be careful not to let anyone find out. Put the rest in some nice cosmetic boxes!"

Chu Lan's eyes were filled with surprise and delight, and she quickly clutched the small box tightly in her hands.

"Thank you, Third Master, I'll go right away!"

Seeing Li Rong's eager expression, Jia Cong couldn't show favoritism, so he pretended to be generous and took out a coin.

"Take it, take it, don't keep staring at me like that!"

"Third Master Xie"

Seeing the two of them so happy, Jia Cong couldn't help but smile as well. He wasn't going to use this thing as a wedding dress for the Rong family anymore.

Chu Lan quickly found a small square box and carefully packed the remaining lipsticks. As the sun began to set, it was time for dinner.

Just then, a woman's voice came from outside the door.

Is Third Master in?

Jia Cong recognized the voice as that of Yuanyang, the head maidservant of Grandmother Jia, and quickly called out, "Sister Yuanyang, come in quickly, I'm here."

Yuanyang lifted the curtain and entered, curtsying with her robes drawn.

"Greetings, Third Master. The Old Madam sent me to invite you. Madam Rong from the East Mansion has arrived and is overjoyed. She has specially ordered a feast to be prepared and invites you to join her for a simple meal."

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong nodded and hurriedly said, "Thank you for making this trip, Miss. I'll pack up and head over right away."

He then instructed Chulan, "Quickly fetch a clean outer garment."

The mandarin ducks smiled and replied:

"Third Master, there's no need to rush. The old lady just said to invite you to come and sit down. The feast has just been prepared, and Madam Rong is currently talking with the old lady." After saying this, he stood aside and waited, not saying much and just keeping to his duty.

Chu Lan was quick and efficient; in a moment, she brought out a dark blue satin jacket and straightened Jia Cong's collar and cuffs.

After tidying himself up, he said to Yuanyang, "Please wait a moment, Miss. I'll go with you now."

He then instructed Li Rongchulan: "Stay in the courtyard and don't wander around unnecessarily."

The two agreed in unison, and Jia Cong followed Yuanyang out of the small courtyard and headed towards Grandmother Jia's courtyard. Yuanyang led the way, walking slowly and quietly. When they occasionally encountered servants and maids in the corridor, they all respectfully gave way, making it quite peaceful.

After walking a short distance, Jia Cong seemingly casually turned his head away.

"I wonder which other gentlemen and ladies the matriarch invited tonight?"

"The second master and his wife will definitely go, but the eldest master, being an official, has already sent someone to inform the matriarch that he cannot come..."

Jia Cong understood perfectly: with Jia Zheng and Lady Wang arriving, Bao Yu couldn't avoid it, and Tan Chun, Dai Yu, Bao Chai, and the like might all be there too, since the old lady loved excitement the most.

Normally, he would never have had the chance to do such a thing. It was probably because he had shown his face in front of Grandmother Jia that she remembered that there was such a person.

Before long they arrived at the gate of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, where Amber came out to greet them, lifting the curtain and saying with a smile, "You've finally arrived! The old lady was just asking about you. Come in quickly."

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong quickly straightened his clothes and followed Amber inside. As soon as they entered the main hall, they felt the room was cool and filled with the fragrance of orchids.

Grandmother Jia was reclining on her canopy bed covered with blue satin, while Qin Keqing, dressed in a moon-white brocade skirt embroidered with orchid branches, was speaking softly to Grandmother Jia while holding her arm.

Aunt Xue sat on a brocade stool at the lower end of the table, with Madam Wang and Li Wan accompanying her, all with smiling expressions.

He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Grandson greets the Grandmother and all the ladies and sisters-in-law."

When Grandmother Jia saw him, she quickly raised her hand and smiled, "Cong'er is here, come and sit down, next to your nephew Lan." Then she scolded Amber, "I should have said I would invite him earlier, but I made the child walk a few extra steps outside."

Just as Jia Cong was about to sit down, he saw Baoyu jump up from the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), dressed in a bright red robe with floral sleeves, dangling a jade pendant, and come over, patting his shoulder and laughing:

"Brother Cong, you've finally arrived! I was just telling Sister Lin that since the Ancestor invited you, she would definitely want you to stay for a drink, but you've been dawdling."

Before the words were finished, Daiyu gave a light scoff. She leaned against the bamboo couch by the window, wrapped in a sky-blue silk shawl, a teacup beside her, her fingers fiddling with a handkerchief, her eyes glancing sideways at Baoyu:

"So you were the one who was anxiously drinking, and now you're blaming others for dawdling. Who was it that was shouting to pick the ivy under the eaves, and when Xiren stopped them, they threw a tantrum and squatted down on the steps counting ants?"