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

Jia Cong sighed inwardly at how thoughtful Baochai truly was. Although she and Aunt Xue were wealthy and wouldn't be supported by the Rong Mansion for nothing, they still felt somewhat like dependents.

He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Sister Bao, what are you saying? It's just that brothers and sisters are helping each other out. Now that we're in the Grand View Garden, we hope you'll give us more guidance and help..."

Baochai also covered the corners of her lips with a handkerchief, but her eyebrows held a hint of allure.

"Brother Cong is becoming more and more eloquent. With your talent, how can you still need help? When you become an official in the future, don't forget your sisters..."

Jia Cong narrowed his eyes. Baochai's words did have a hint of something, but this girl was always more shrewd than others, otherwise she wouldn't have been criticized by later generations.

Qin Keqing didn't come to today's banquet, not because Grandmother Jia or Baochai didn't invite her, but because she was ill. In addition, she stayed in Grandmother Jia's courtyard all day, so Jia Cong rarely had the opportunity to get close to her.

In the evening, Shi Xiangyun started making a fuss about going home, probably because she was upset by Daiyu. Baoyu could only smile and try to appease her.

The back-and-forth conversation was clearly heard by Daiyu, and Baoyu, momentarily lost in thought, turned around and went back to his room.

Seeing that he had left, Lin Daiyu knew that there was no point in thinking back and that he had gone off in a huff without saying a word. This only fueled Lin Daiyu's anger, and she said, "Once you leave, never come back, and never speak to me again!"

If we were to talk about the past, that would be one thing, but now, as Daiyu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief in her room, she caught sight of Jia Cong's manuscript and the emerald, and couldn't help but unfold the Xuan paper and study it carefully.

"Ken Ai's daughter smiled lightly; it's truly a fine piece of writing. This third brother is certainly more carefree than others..."

Having said that, he got up and called Zijuan over. He carefully wrapped a dark blue silk cloak with gray squirrel fur around his neck, put on a hand warmer, and headed towards Jia Cong's courtyard!

Just then, Jia Cong finished his dinner and lay on the bed staring blankly at the charcoal brazier. Entertainment was scarce, and Qin Keqing was difficult to see. Then he heard Jinping's voice coming from outside.

"Miss Lin is here? Third Master is resting at home."

Jia Cong hurriedly got up to find his shoes.

"Yes, I'm here. Quickly make some hot tea, it's windy outside. Chulan, relight that charcoal brazier!"

He hastily threw on a coat, quickly lifted the curtain, and entered the guest room. Seeing that Daiyu's eyes still had a slight redness, clearly from crying, he coughed lightly and put on a smile.

"Miss Lin, what brings you here? It's freezing outside, why didn't you send someone to let me know beforehand so I could come and welcome you?"

Seeing that his jacket was askew and his hair was slightly disheveled, indicating that he had hurriedly gotten up, Daiyu noticed that the lingering resentment in her eyes had subtly faded a little. She still maintained a touch of petulance, raising her hand to gently brush away the snowflakes falling from the hem of his cloak.

"Having nothing to do, I heard that Third Brother is enjoying some peace and quiet, so I came over for a visit. Do I hope I'm not disturbing your rest?"

Jia Cong could easily hear the softening in her words, and seeing that her eyes were slightly red, he guessed that she had quarreled with Baoyu. He quickly smiled and stepped aside to guide her.

"What are you saying, sister? My humble abode is more than happy to have you visit, young lady. Jinping, quickly help Miss Lin take off her cloak and bring over a warm couch, closer to the charcoal brazier."

Then he turned to Chulan and said, "Bring some of the fruits that you usually like to eat."

After Daiyu removed her cloak and, with Zijuan's help, sat on the warm couch, holding a cup of hot tea, her body gradually warmed, and her heart felt even more at ease. She casually glanced around, seemingly unintentionally.

"I saw Third Brother the other day that he knew some clever tricks, which were more interesting than those storytellers and opera singers. Now that I have some free time, I wonder if Third Brother would be interested in showing off his skills again?"

As she spoke, her ears turned slightly red, yet she maintained a haughty air, refusing to look up at him. Her playful and slightly childish manner only made her seem more charming.

Jia Cong was somewhat taken aback, but then quickly smoothed his temples and said, "It's just a few tricks to amuse people. Since you want to see it, wait a while, I'll get some things." With that, he turned and went into the inner room.

Before long, he came out of the inner room, carrying a small black lacquered wooden tray with three ordinary large coins on it.

Daiyu, still holding the hot tea, her ears still flushed, glanced up at the sound of footsteps and said only faintly.

"Third Brother's show of force makes it seem like he's hiding some kind of treasure. Maybe it's just some low-class trick that will only make people laugh in the end." It sounded more like a playful complaint than sarcasm.

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong chuckled, placed the black lacquered wooden tray on the low table beside the warm couch, and then sat down on the chair next to the couch, barely an inch away from the other person.

"My sister has high standards, so ordinary magic tricks are naturally beneath her notice. Today, I'll make a fool of myself. If you find it uninteresting, feel free to laugh at me."

Having said that, he raised his hand and pushed the wooden tray in front of Daiyu, then tucked the three large coins into his inner robe. He slowly opened his hands, palms facing upwards, his knuckles clearly visible, his hands clean, without even the slightest trace of concealment. "Sister, look carefully, are these hands completely empty?"

Daiyu then looked up, her gaze sweeping over his palm before glancing at the three copper coins. Her brows furrowed slightly.

"It's just hidden in the sleeves or between the fingers, what's so special about that? I don't think it's much better than the tricks of those street performers." He said this, but his eyes showed a bit more curiosity, his gaze fixed on his hands, refusing to look away even for a moment.

Jia Cong did not argue with her, but simply smiled and nodded.

"Since you see things so clearly, then look at this copper coin, see how it appears out of your palm by itself." With that, he clasped his hands together, touched his fingertips, gently rubbed them together, and murmured a short incantation.

"Gold and jade come naturally, and copper coins fall to the ground." Before he finished speaking, he slowly opened his left hand, his palm still empty. When he raised his right hand, a copper coin lay steadily in his palm.

A hint of surprise flashed in Daiyu's eyes, but she remained relentless: "So it was hidden in your right hand. You just couldn't see it clearly because you were holding it tightly between your fingers when you opened your hand. Is such a petty trick really worth using to fool people?"

Although his words were harsh, he leaned forward slightly, getting closer to the low table, his eyes fixed on Jia Cong's right hand, trying to find a clue to the hidden money.

Seeing her insincere expression, Jia Cong chuckled inwardly and deliberately dangled the copper coin between his fingers.

"Since my sister said it was hidden in her right hand, would it be believable that this copper coin would magically appear in her teacup?"

After saying that, he raised his hand as if to throw it, and Daiyu subconsciously raised her hand to block it, afraid that the copper coin would really fall into her teacup.

"Who would believe you? You're so clumsy, you might spill my tea!" Daiyu's tone was even more aggressive than before, but she couldn't hide her panic. In Jia Cong's eyes, she seemed even more charming and naive.

Jia Cong chuckled inwardly twice, then casually placed the copper coin beside her teacup.

"Don't panic, little sister. How could I dare to knock over your teacup? That was just an appetizer. Please take another look."