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

Jia Cong knew she was being stubborn, so he just smiled and said,

"If my sister finds things boring, she can come to me later. I may not have much else, but I have plenty of ways to amuse myself."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu glanced at him, her tone tinged with suspicion, "What do you mean by that, Third Brother? Do you think I'm idle all day, only bothering others to amuse myself?"

Jia Cong sighed inwardly, realizing that Daiyu was indeed sensitive and prone to overthinking; the feeling of living under someone else's roof was truly unpleasant.

But he still wore a smile on his face.

"My sister is truly wronged. I heard years ago that some mad monk made a judgment, didn't I? It's better to amuse yourself than to cry and whine..."

Daiyu gave a soft hum and, with Zijuan's help, rose from the warm couch.

"You only find amusement when I'm here? I bet you'll have to go to great lengths to please others after I leave!"

Jia Cong was both amused and exasperated. How could Daiyu still remember the cake he made for Baochai? But at this point, he could only get up and accompany her.

"These are just ordinary foods, nothing special. I will definitely send a more elaborate gift when it is my sister's birthday."

"We don't need what we begged for, Zijuan, let's go." With that, Daiyu put her cloak and other items back on with Zijuan's help, but a smile lingered on her lips.

Daiyu's birthday is the Flower Festival, which is a full month away. Jia Cong has plenty of time to think about it. After seeing off his beloved Lin Daiyu, he went to sleep with a satisfied smile.

The next day, she accompanied Grandmother Jia to guess riddles again. Unlike in the book, Qin Keqing also came today. Although she still looked a little pale, she forced herself to chat and laugh with Grandmother Jia. It seems that the Ning Mansion is much more terrible than illness.

Finally, after Jia Zheng left, Grandmother Jia pulled Baoyu and Daiyu aside, giving Jia Cong a chance to sneak over to Qin Keqing and secretly tickle her palm.

"You've lost weight since I last saw you..."

Qin Keqing trembled with embarrassment, quickly covering half of her pretty face with her handkerchief. She glanced around twice, seemingly afraid of being seen, before hesitantly giving a curtsy.

"Third Uncle... the Ancestor is still alive..."

Jia Cong, not wanting to be too intimate, could only restrain himself from groping the pig and manage a few dry laughs.

"Are you feeling better? Why did you run out?"

"I'm much better now, Uncle. I was feeling a bit bored, so I came with Grandmother to guess some riddles..."

Upon hearing the beauty's distress, Jia Cong chuckled and moved closer.

"Since you're feeling bored, why not go out for a day? It's a good time to relax during the New Year. I heard from a servant that there's a theatrical troupe on West Street who performs 'The Peony Pavilion' exceptionally well..."

Hearing his words, Qin Keqing's eyes, peeking out from behind her handkerchief, trembled slightly. But hearing the maids and servants laughing and talking around Grandmother Jia, their voices drowning out her presence, she dared only glance at Jia Cong briefly before quickly lowering her gaze again.

"That...that's not proper. Going out for no reason, if the people in the manor see us, they'll gossip about us."

Jia Cong lowered his voice and moved even closer.

"Don't worry, I'll have my servant find an unfamiliar carriage to leave the mansion through the side gate. There are private rooms in the theater on West Street, with gauze curtains on all sides, so no one can see us."

Qin Keqing glanced around hurriedly again, and seeing that Grandmother Jia was chatting and laughing with Daiyu, paying no attention to them at all, she bit her lip and responded softly.

"Then...then I'll do as Uncle says, but I need to get back to the manor as soon as possible and not let anyone notice."

Jia Cong looked somewhat smug.

"Let's set it for tomorrow at noon. I'll have a servant wait at the side gate. Just say you're going to the garden for a stroll and sneak over there."

Qin Keqing didn't dare turn around, she just gave a soft "hmm", her voice was soft and sweet.

The next day, just past noon, Jia Cong sent Li Rong to the theater on West Street to make arrangements. He selected a private room by the window at the very back and instructed people to hang up double-layered plain gauze curtains and set out fine tea, almond pastries, and several other dishes of exquisite dried fruit.

After everything was arranged, he instructed Li Rong to rent a carriage, and under no circumstances should the carriage and stables be used.

After having lunch with Ruizhu, Qin Keqing quietly went to the side gate. The servant at the gate said that this Madam Rong was just going back to Ning Mansion. He smiled and saw her off for a while before turning back.

After turning the corner, they saw the carriage that Jia Cong had rented parked to the side. Qin Keqing carefully looked back and then got into the carriage with Ruizhu's hand.

Jia Cong was sitting in the carriage. Seeing the beautiful woman beside him, he couldn't resist and took out a small piece of silver to reward Ruizhu.

"If I find out that I missed even a single word of what happened today, you'll be in big trouble!"

Ruizhu, who became Qin Keqing's personal maid, certainly had some sense of propriety. She accepted the money with a beaming smile and then pulled the carriage curtain closed for the two of them.

"Third Master, please rest assured, I am not that gossipy old woman..." This ingot of silver was worth five or six taels, which was equivalent to two or three months' worth of her monthly allowance.

Li Rong personally drove the carriage, which swayed and lurched towards West Street. As the carriage jolted, Jia Cong brazenly pulled Qin Keqing into his arms, startling the beauty who trembled and gasped before hurriedly covering her mouth, afraid that those outside would hear.

"Third Uncle..."

Jia Cong gently stroked the chin of the beautiful woman in his arms, and couldn't resist leaning down to lightly touch her pink cheek.

"Don't move, let me take a good look at you..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he gently patted her shoulder and back to comfort her while simultaneously taking what he wanted without restraint.

Qin Keqing was so captivated by the intimate touch that her soul seemed to fly away. Her eyes were misty with shyness and timidity, yet she leaned softly against him, letting him take her as he pleased. She clung tightly to Jia Cong's clothes, her breathing becoming rapid and disordered.

The road to West Street wasn't far. Before Jia Cong could finish enjoying himself, he heard Li Rong stop the carriage and quietly remind him...

"Third Master, we've arrived at the theater..."

He had no choice but to reluctantly release the beauty in his arms, get out of the car, and lead Qin Keqing into the private room through the side door.

As soon as she sat down, the waiter brought up tea. Qin Keqing walked to the window, lifted a corner of the gauze curtain, and looked outside. The stage downstairs was already quite crowded, and the faint sound of gongs and drums could be heard.

She smiled, a rare occurrence for her. "It's so quiet here, much more comfortable than in the manor."

"Since you're comfortable, sit a little longer." Jia Cong also regained his usual composure.

As soon as she finished speaking, the opening gong sounded from the stage, and the female lead's singing was melodious and graceful, a scene from "The Peony Pavilion: The Startling Dream." Qin Keqing immediately composed herself, sat back in her chair, placed her hands on her knees, and listened attentively, though her pretty face was still flushed.

When she sang, "The vibrant colors of spring have faded, now all is left to broken wells and crumbling walls," Qin Keqing slightly turned her gaze, fiddling with her handkerchief as if she were filled with emotion.

Jia Cong looked at her and said softly, "Although the play is good, it is too tragic. The part just now, 'How can one reveal one's whole body in the boudoir,' was sung the most movingly."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing's cheeks flushed again. She gave him a flirtatious wink, without a trace of anger, but rather with a hint of coquettishness: "Third Uncle, you always say such embarrassing things. Be careful that others don't hear you." Although she said this, her expression was much more relaxed than before she came.