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

Li Wan then gave a few more instructions to the servants in Yingchun's room, telling them to behave themselves and not to follow Wang Zhu's example of bullying their master and being disrespectful. She warned them that if they dared to make the slightest mistake, they would be severely punished.

The servants in the room nodded repeatedly, not daring to utter a single complaint, their eyes filled with awe. After today's incident, the ruthless Third Master had truly opened the eyes of the maids and old women.

After sitting for a while, Li Wan rose to take her leave, departing from Yingchun's warm pavilion with Granny He. Jia Cong also rose and bowed to Yingchun, saying, "Second Sister, today's matters have been properly handled. Please rest assured."

Yingchun gave a soft "hmm" and then leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes, but still clutching the book "Taishang Ganying Pian" in her hand.

Seeing her like this, Jia Cong sighed inwardly, then turned and left the warm pavilion with Li Rong.

He never expected that the next morning, as soon as he got up, he would hear Madam Xing scolding and beating him coming from the courtyard.

"You bastards, you've corrupted a perfectly good man like me..."

Jia Cong, looking suspicious, quickly put on his coat. He saw Chu Lan kneeling trembling in the courtyard, with several finger marks on her face, clearly indicating that she had been beaten.

"Greetings to Mother..." He greeted Madam Xing somewhat inexplicably.

Madam Xing exhaled a cold breath from her nostrils, not even glancing at Jia Cong.

"Who do we have here? Third Master was quite the showman last night..."

Jia Cong's heart sank. He realized he had made a mistake. Punishing Wang Zhuer's family was not something he, as the master, should concern himself with. Although Yingchun was his second sister, it was still inappropriate.

He lowered his eyelids and apologized in a humble voice, "Mother, please calm down. What happened yesterday was due to my lack of consideration. It was just that Wang Zhu's wife was disrespectful and cheated on her master by stealing my second sister's tribute. I was anxious and lost my sense of proportion."

"Lost your senses?" Madam Xing suddenly raised her voice, her shrill tone shattering the morning tranquility and startling the sparrows in the corner of the yard into a flurry of flight.

"I think it's all because of these untrained hussies around me! A bunch of despicable things, relying on their master's indulgence, they don't know their place and secretly instigate their master to do wrong things, they're lowlifes!" Her eyes glared fiercely at Chu Lan, who was kneeling on the ground, but her words were alluding to Jia Cong.

"It's one thing for the young mistress to be unfamiliar with the rules of the household, but the servants around her are also so ignorant, instigating her to act arrogantly and beat and scold the servants outside. If word gets out, people will think that I, as the mistress, am incompetent in managing the household, unable to even control a junior or the servants around me! Before the New Year, the household is bustling, and everyone is acting cautiously. But some people, relying on their powerful backers, act arrogantly, completely disregarding the teachings of their elders and the decorum of the household!"

Although the words were not explicitly stated, Jia Cong understood perfectly well that Madam Xing was petty and vengeful, and now she was taking advantage of Wang Zhu'er's matter to vent her anger on the maids in his courtyard.

He glanced at Jinping standing to the side, a maid specially given to him by Grandmother Jia. She stood there calmly, holding a tea tray. Madam Xing hadn't dared to lay a finger on her the entire time.

Clearly, Madam Xing was also afraid of offending Grandmother Jia, so she only dared to target a lowly maid like Chu Lan who had no backing. She simply wanted to use this opportunity to teach the maid a lesson, embarrass her, and vent her resentment.

"Please calm down, Mother. It was all because I was young and ignorant..." Jia Cong suppressed his resentment and spoke respectfully. He knew that Madam Xing was his father's legal wife. If they argued in public, it would not only be known that he was ignorant of etiquette, but he would also be labeled as "disobedient to his stepmother".

Seeing that he had given in, Madam Xing's anger did not subside in the slightest. Instead, she kicked Chu Lan.

"You shameless hussy, you still have the nerve to cry! Today I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of Third Master, so you'll know what rules and your place are!"

Chu Lan trembled with fear and cried even harder, but still dared not utter a sound.

Seeing this, Jia Cong was furious, but he dared not lash out. He could only steel himself and take a step forward.

"Mother, this matter has nothing to do with the maid. It is ultimately my fault. Please forgive her this time."

Madam Xing glanced at him sideways, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"Spare her? Third Master is indeed kind to his servants, but the rules of this manor aren't something you can just protect as you please. Some people, once they have a powerful backer, forget their place. If I don't teach them a lesson today, all sorts of scoundrels will dare to climb over my head in the future!"

These words were pointed, and Jia Cong understood them clearly. He knew that Madam Xing was being persistent and wouldn't give up until he showed some sincerity.

He sighed inwardly, then turned to Li Rong, who was already terrified and silent, and instructed him, "Go to the camphor wood chest in my room and fetch the fur coat that the old lady gave me before the New Year."

Li Rong was taken aback. That fur coat was a special gift from Grandmother Jia to Jia Cong for making a padded jacket for the New Year. The material was precious, and the fur was smooth; it was a rare find in the mansion. Now that he saw his third master was going to give it away as a gift, he didn't dare to ask any questions and quickly bowed in agreement.

"This servant will go right away!" With that, he quickly ran towards the side room.

Jia Cong watched Li Rong's departing figure, then looked at Madam Xing, his tone carrying a hint of compromise:

"Before the New Year, my ancestors gave me a piece of fur. The material was quite precious. I thought it would be useful in the cold winter, so I brought it to my mother as a filial gift. I hope my mother will not be angry anymore."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of smugness flashed in Madam Xing's eyes, but she maintained her cold expression, snorting through her nose, "At least you have some filial piety. But let me tell you, watch your behavior from now on. Don't act recklessly just because the old lady dotes on you. This household has no place for you to run it!"

As she said this, she also gave Chu Lan, who was kneeling on the ground, a cold glance:

"Get up! If you break the rules again, you'll regret it!"

Chu Lan scrambled to her feet, covered her face, and hid behind Jia Cong, still trembling.

Before long, Li Rong returned quickly, carrying a brocade box. Inside was the fur coat, which was smooth and glossy, exuding an air of nobility. It was clearly a top-quality item.

Madam Xing reached out and touched the fur coat, her anger subsiding slightly, but she still didn't give Jia Cong a friendly look.

"Alright, since it's a filial gesture, we'll accept it. You should behave yourself and avoid causing trouble." With that, he took the fur coat and left with the old woman beside him.

Seeing that Madam Xing had left, Jia Cong turned back with a cold face and looked at the red mark on Chu Lan's face.

"Alright, let's take a good rest for a day."

Chu Lan sobbed and curtsied.

"Third Master, I'm fine..."

"Just rest when I tell you to, go on..." Jia Cong impatiently dismissed the other party, then took the tea from Jinping's hand, took a sip, and dressed himself with her help.