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

Having just received the silver and barely had time to warm it, Jia Cong spent ten taels of it. Ignoring the pain, he called Chu Lan to change his clothes, and after having a meal, they went to Jia Mu's Rongqing Hall.

After the maidservant at the door announced his arrival, he strolled into the guest hall, bowed to Grandmother Jia on the couch, and...

"Grandmother, Rong-ge'er from the Ning family came looking for me yesterday..."

Before he could finish speaking, Grandmother Jia waved her hand.

"I know, I came yesterday. I just feel sorry for my great-granddaughter-in-law; I was planning to send her over after the Double Ninth Festival..."

Qin Keqing was Jia Rong's lawfully wedded wife, so Grandmother Jia couldn't go too far. She had no choice but to call her over, and after crying for her again, she waved for Jia Cong to take her to the Ning Mansion.

The Rong and Ning mansions were very close to each other, so they didn't take a carriage. Jia Cong walked ahead, while Qin Keqing followed carefully with her maids and servants.

Li Rong quickly picked up the gifts he had bought and followed closely behind Jia Cong.

However, Jia Cong harbored some tender feelings for Qin Keqing. He sent Li Rong and several maids and servants ahead, then slowly approached Qin Keqing, his gaze sweeping over her slender shoulders and narrow waist with an undisguised scrutiny.

He deliberately slowed his pace, walking alongside her almost brushing against her sleeve, and deliberately lowered his voice: "My dear niece-in-law, you've seemed tired these past few days. Perhaps you haven't been sleeping well at night?"

Qin Keqing froze, then clenched her handkerchief tightly, twisting the tassels at the corners out of shape.

She lowered her head, her ears flushed, and her voice trembled slightly: "Third Uncle, please be careful what you say."

Jia Cong, however, showed no restraint, moving even closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear like a feather, tickling her heart.

"I'm just worried about my niece-in-law. The Ning mansion is so big, and Rong-ge'er is young and playful, and doesn't care about the family. If you're left to guard that empty house, I'm afraid you won't even have anyone to talk to at night."

Every word of these words struck a chord with the deepest, most hidden loneliness in Qin Keqing's heart.

Qin Keqing suddenly looked up at Jia Cong, opened her mouth as if to say something to dismiss him, but the words turned into a very soft sigh.

Seeing her like this, Jia Cong was secretly pleased. He reached out and lightly touched her elbow, his hand brushing against the plain silver bracelet on her wrist, and chuckled softly:

"I'll find some calming incense another day and send it to my niece-in-law. It's from Siam, and the scent is incredibly soothing; I guarantee she'll get a good night's sleep."

Qin Keqing's wrist recoiled as if burned, but she didn't dare to actually pull away. Her eyes were lowered, her long eyelashes trembling violently. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence through her teeth: "Third Uncle, you've gone to so much trouble."

The shyness and hidden tension in that voice did not escape Jia Cong's eyes.

Jia Cong saw her wrist flinch, but she didn't actually pull away. A smile appeared in his eyes. His hand remained hovering loosely near her elbow, but his voice was even lower, almost whispering in her ear:

"It's all so much trouble, but if it can bring you a good night's sleep, then it's all worth it."

To outsiders, this action seemed insignificant, as Jia Cong was not by nature frivolous, but Qin Keqing heard it all clearly.

However, this short fifteen-minute journey was far too short; in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the entrance of the Ning Mansion. Jia Cong couldn't get any closer, so he just chuckled softly a few times.

I'll come find you another day...

As he finished speaking, Jia Cong lightly touched the cuff of her sleeve with his fingertips. If Qin Keqing hadn't been completely focused on him at the moment, she probably would have mistaken it for a gust of wind.

She felt a chill run through her body and abruptly withdrew her hand. When she looked up, she saw that Jia Cong had already turned to greet Jia Zhen, who had come to welcome the guest. The intimate smile on his face had vanished completely, leaving only a youthful deference.

"Greetings, elder brother." He bowed respectfully, his tone frank, as if the flirting he had just engaged in was nothing more than a dream.

Qin Keqing stood there, the slight warmth of his touch still lingering on her cufflinks and wrists. Her heart pounded, and even her breathing became erratic.

Ruizhu, not understanding what was going on, quickly stepped forward to support her. "Grandma, it's windy, let's go inside first."

She was helped inside, but her gaze couldn't help but drift towards Jia Cong's back. She saw him talking to Jia Zhen, his profile handsome, his eyes smiling, showing no trace of his previous appearance.

Qin Keqing bit her lip, her heart filled with panic and confusion. She wished she had never heard those shameful words, wished she had just taken it as a common act of consideration between uncle and nephew, and hated herself for being so weak-willed as to have tasted a hint of secret sweetness in that straightforward probing.

But Jia Cong had already put on a polite and smiling face, responding to Jia Zhen's attentiveness with a beaming smile.

"By order of the Ancestor, I have escorted Madam Rong back to the mansion."

Jia Zhen also feigned politeness.

"Now that you're here, brother, you must stay today. Let's drink and have some fun!"

But Jia Cong had already given Jia Rong permission, so he could only point towards the backyard.

"I came to bother you just now at Rong-ge'er's request. I will personally visit you another day."

"Hmm, no wonder Rong'er invited a few brothers today to have a feast. So that's why. Very well."

As the two were talking, Jia Rong also received the news and hurriedly came to the door.

"Third Uncle is here? Come in quickly. There are so many distinguished guests today, all familiar brothers. We're just having fun drinking and playing drinking games. Third Uncle, please come in. They're all waiting inside."

As Jia Rong spoke, his gaze swept over Qin Keqing beside him. His face remained obedient, and he only called her "wife" in a flat tone, without uttering a single word of concern.

Qin Keqing lowered her head and responded, the pearl hairpin at her temple swaying slightly, concealing the fleeting bitterness in her eyes.

Jia Cong took in the whole scene, sneered inwardly, but became even more amiable on the surface, and followed Jia Rong inside.

Li Rong also presented the gifts respectfully at the opportune moment, prompting Jia Rong to feign politeness while hurriedly telling a servant to accept them, and pulling Jia Cong's arm with a smile:

"Uncle, you're being too polite! We're family, there's no need for such expense."

His shout silenced all the young men who were playing drinking games and drinking in the room. They all crowded around to watch the excitement, praising the exquisite gifts.

Jia Cong smiled subtly and bowed to his disciples:

"They're just ordinary things, nothing special. Please don't laugh at them, brothers."

Jia Rong knew he might not know them all, so she put on a smile and introduced them.

"Third Uncle, these are all my close brothers, and this is the son of the Marquis of Baoling..."

Jia Cong's eyelids twitched. The scions of noble families that Jia Rong mentioned were all very important. There was Wei Ruolan, the son of the Marquis of Zhongyi; Feng Ziying, the son of the General of Divine Martial Arts; Wang Xiuli, the eldest son of the Earl of the County and the Grand Commandant; and even Xue Pan, the brother of Xue Baochai, had come.

Jia Cong responded to each of them with a perfectly appropriate smile, but these scions of noble families did not take him seriously.

He was just a less favored son; there were plenty of martial arts practitioners out there. Jia Rong only dragged him along out of courtesy.