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

It was Qin Keqing's first time entering Qingyan Hall. She shyly took Ruizhu's hand and sat down, then drank some tea brewed by Jinping. Only then did she see Jia Cong smilingly emerge from the inner room. She quickly rose and curtsied.

"Greetings, Third Uncle."

Jia Cong gave a signal, and Jinping and Chulan obediently withdrew, standing at a distance in the corridor to serve.

With a playful grin, he grasped Qin Keqing's soft, white hand and gently pulled her into his arms.

"What brings you here today? Did you miss me?"

Qin Keqing struggled a few times, then grabbed Jia Cong's collar, took a few deep, greedy breaths, and then softly parted her lips.

"Third Uncle... I originally came to deliver perfume to Second Aunt today, but I've already delivered it to all the girls in the garden, so I took a detour here..."

Jia Cong understood immediately, took a small piece of silver from his sleeve and tossed it to Ruizhu, lowering his voice...

"Go wait quietly at the door and tell your master that I need to discuss the ingredients for the perfume!"

Upon receiving the reward, Ruizhu hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look again, and with a bent back, retreated from the room.

Ignoring the gasp of the beauty in his arms, Jia Cong swept her up in his arms and began to carry her into the inner room. Startled, Qin Keqing clung tightly to his neck, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment, yet she dared not struggle too much.

"Third...Third Uncle, this...this is improper..."

"Forget about etiquette and rules, I just want you..." He smiled and breathed a warm breath into the beauty's ear.

After a while, Qin Keqing buried her face in Jia Cong's shoulder, not saying a word, only sobbing softly. But those tears were not bitter; they were the sweetness of longing that had been endured for so long finally coming to fruition.

Seeing her so exhausted, Jia Cong could only put his arm around her, gently pat her back, and soothe her softly...

It wasn't until half a day later that the two emerged from the inner room. Qin Keqing, still holding Jia Cong's arm, was murmuring something.

"Third Uncle..."

Jia Cong playfully flicked the other man's nose, his tone becoming increasingly ambiguous.

"What 'Third Uncle'? You should call me 'Husband'."

Qin Keqing's shoulders trembled slightly. After hesitating for a few moments, she timidly managed to squeeze out a few syllables.

"Husband... my lord..."

Jia Cong was even more pleased and inquired about her well-being once more. He learned that Grandmother Jia was increasingly appreciating her and said that the perfume workshop could only be managed by this granddaughter-in-law. Wang Xifeng was already extremely busy, managing the Rong Mansion while also overseeing the silver ear fungus industrial park and the glass workshop. How could she possibly manage everything?

Therefore, Grandmother Jia even sent someone to speak to Jia Zhen, saying that Qin Keqing should be properly settled in the Rong Mansion. Now that Daiyu and others have moved out of Rongqing Hall, this granddaughter-in-law will enjoy the privilege of being the only one favored.

Although Jia Zhen was somewhat dissatisfied, he dared not disobey Grandmother Jia's wishes. Jia Rong, on the other hand, was so happy that he forgot all about home and spent his days in brothels and gambling dens.

After lingering for half a day, Qin Keqing dared not stay any longer and reluctantly left Qingyan Hall with Ruizhu. Jia Cong then called over several maids and servants and gave them another reward to avoid gossip.

That day, in the middle of March, after breakfast, Baoyu took a copy of "The Story of Yingying" and sat on a rock under the peach blossoms near the Qinfang Gate Bridge. He opened the book and began to read it carefully. Just as he read the line "fallen petals in a shower," a gust of wind blew, scattering most of the peach blossoms from the treetops, covering him, the book, and the ground. Baoyu wanted to shake them off, but fearing he would trample them, he gathered the petals and went to the pond, where he shook them into the water. The petals floated on the surface, drifting and swaying, eventually flowing out of the Qinfang Gate (original text).

Turning around, he saw many fallen petals on the ground. Baoyu hesitated, unsure of what to do, when he suddenly heard someone behind him say loudly, "Second Brother Bao has quite the leisure to hide here admiring flowers and reading."

Baoyu turned around and saw Jia Cong approaching. He quickly put away his book, smiled, and stood up.

"Brother, you are usually very diligent. You should be practicing martial arts at the training ground by now. Why do you have such a leisurely mood today? I just have nothing to do, so I'm flipping through a few pages of a book to pass the time." Since Jia Cong is not a young lady, Baoyu was not in a hurry to put the book away.

Jia Cong stepped forward, glanced at the books on the stone, and raised an eyebrow.

"Second Brother is actually reading 'The Story of Yingying'? No wonder he's hiding here; he's afraid of being blamed if he sees him."

Baoyu hurriedly reached out and covered the book, laughing, "I just found it by chance, Third Brother, don't make a fuss. The writing is fine, but the sentiment is touching and it's the best way to relieve boredom."

Jia Cong naturally wouldn't point it out, but simply bent down and picked up a peach petal, saying, "Second Brother is quite fond of flowers, but he just throws the petals into the water. Doesn't he know that once they flow out of the sluice gate, they'll be in the muddy streets outside, and will only soil the flowers?"

As the two were chatting and laughing, they suddenly saw Daiyu walking towards them, carrying a flower hoe on her shoulder with a flower bag hanging from it, and holding a flower broom in her hand. She walked gracefully to their side, and upon seeing them, stopped and asked, "..."

"Baoyu, what are you doing here? And Third Brother, are you sitting here idly too?"

When Baoyu saw Daiyu arrive, his face flushed, and he quickly hid the copy of "The Story of Yingying" behind a stone.

"My dear sister has arrived. I was just worried about where to put these fallen flowers when you came. I had just put some petals in the water when my third brother said it wasn't a good idea."

Daiyu glanced behind the stone and gave a soft snort.

"It's not good to leave them in the water anyway. The water inside the sluice gate is clean, but if it flows out and gets mixed with other people's dirty water, wouldn't that ruin the flowers? I have a flower mound in that odd corner. I'd better sweep it up, put it in a silk bag, and bury it with soil. It will decompose with the soil over time, and that will be cleaner."

Baoyu said happily, "Sister, you are so thoughtful. Let me put down my book and help you tidy up."

Daiyu, with her sharp eyes, had already spotted the books he had hidden, and asked, "What book were you reading just now? Why were you hiding it like that?"

Baoyu panicked and hurriedly said, "It's just the Doctrine of the Mean and the Great Learning, nothing special."

Daiyu sneered, "You're playing tricks on me again. What 'Doctrine of the Mean' and 'Great Learning'? Are they worth all this charade? You're playing tricks on me again. Show me what you've got to offer."

Unable to refuse, and seeing Jia Cong nearby, Baoyu could no longer hide it, so he had no choice but to hand over the book, forcing a smile.

"My dear sister, it's fine if you read it, but please don't tell anyone else. Although this book is for leisure, it's still a good read. Once you read it, I guarantee you won't even want to eat."

Daiyu put down her flower-making tools, took the book, and read it from beginning to end. In the time it takes to eat a meal, she had finished reading all sixteen chapters. She found the words striking and the aftertaste lingering. She silently memorized them for a while before handing the book back to Baoyu.

Baoyu smiled and asked, "Sister, what do you think of this book?"

Daiyu said, "The writing is fine, but it's a bit too sentimental."

For a moment, Baoyu forgot himself and, mimicking a line from the book, laughed and said, "I am a 'body full of melancholy and illness,' and you are a 'face that could topple kingdoms,' don't you just match the description in the book?"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's cheeks and ears immediately turned bright red. Her two brows, which were barely furrowed, straightened up, and she glared at Baoyu with half-open eyes. Her delicate face showed a hint of reproach as she pointed at him.

"You damned bastard! You brought these lewd songs and used them to bully me! I'm going to tell my uncle and aunt right now, let's see if you dare to talk nonsense again!" As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she turned to leave.