Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

After discussing Jia Lian's matter, Jia Zheng briefly explained the preparations for building the Imperial Garden to Grandmother Jia and Jia Lian in front of everyone.

Jia Lian and his mother listened to what was said.

Although Jia Zheng was not used to mundane affairs, he had served in the Ministry of Works for many years, so he still had no problem grasping the general direction of engineering construction.

However, Jia Zheng knew that the construction of the Imperial Garden was not something that could be done overnight.

Although Jia Zhen of the East Mansion had a lot of free time, he was still a step away from them. The specific matters concerning the future construction of the garden would still need to be handled by Jia Lian. Therefore, he specifically asked Jia Lian if he would be free tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow, Shan Ziye, who is in charge of the engineering design, will have completed the preliminary drawings. At that time, we will need to have a group discussion on how to allocate tasks, etc. Jia Lian cannot be absent.

After Jia Lian indicated that there were no problems, Jia Zheng got up to take his leave.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Seeing Jia Lian following in Jia Zheng's footsteps, Grandmother Jia asked curiously, "It's so late, what else do you have to do?"

"It's almost time for the night watch, and my grandson still needs to go outside to practice his martial arts."

"You still want to practice? Didn't your wife say you took everything down in the study?"

After Jia She passed away, Jia Lian voluntarily moved his activities to the east wing.

Therefore, the study room that was originally located in this courtyard is basically vacant.

The targets that used to be set up in that alley have naturally been removed.

"The essence of martial arts lies in diligence."

Not long ago, my maternal grandfather taught me a set of grappling techniques and a set of assassination techniques for combat, which I have not yet fully mastered.

I had already been delayed for a month because of my father's matter, so now that I have some free time, I naturally can't be lazy anymore.

Although everything here has been demolished, the old lady probably knows that her grandson is building a martial arts training area in the east courtyard. It's not completely finished yet, but there's still a place for simple legwork exercises.

When she heard about capturing or assassinating someone, Grandmother Jia was not very pleased.

Everyone else felt the same way; the whole room was full of peace-loving people who didn't like fighting or killing.

"That's enough. I don't understand your affairs, and I don't want to interfere. You can go on your own."

Oh, right, it's getting dark. Send someone to follow Yuanyang too.

Grandmother Jia should appropriately express her concern.

An old woman immediately replied, "Second Madam Lian has already sent people to wait outside."

Only then did Grandmother Jia give up.

Jia Lian then cupped his hands in greeting, glanced at the sisters who were taking two steps forward to see him off, gestured for them to stay, and then went out.

Sure enough, Xiangling and two maids from the courtyard were waiting for him outside with lanterns.

Feng Yatou is becoming more and more considerate towards him...

After taking Xiangling out of Rongqing Hall, before they even entered Rongxi Hall, they saw Aunt Zhao walking quickly towards them with a little maid.

This person made a unique entrance, with his head slightly turned to the side, looking at the road at a 15-degree angle. His expression was somewhat arrogant, yet it seemed to be filled with criticism and dissatisfaction with the injustices of the world.

However, upon seeing Jia Lian, she immediately put on a fawning smile and quickly stepped forward: "Oh, I didn't expect to run into you here, young master..."

Jia Lian stood still, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Greetings, Aunt."

"Hehe, young master, please don't be so polite..."

By the way, I heard that the young master made a fortune today. I heard it from the wives of the stewards. Plates of shiny silver were being sent home one after another. Tsk tsk tsk, the young master is really capable!

"Nowadays, in our family, we're counting on you, young master. In the future, please don't forget to help your brother Huan out..."

Aunt Zhao was so talkative that she didn't give Jia Lian a chance to speak before throwing out a whole bunch of things.

Jia Lian simply smiled at this.

It wasn't that he was prejudiced against Jia Huan, but whether he had read about it in books in his previous life or seen it with his own eyes now, he was certain that Jia Huan was a spoiled brat with a terrible conscience.

He only promoted that guy because he was too gluttonous.

In comparison, both Jia Cong and Jia Lan are much better. However, as for Jia Cong, we still need to give him some time to consider.

"Is your concubine here to see the master? He just came out of the old lady's room. Didn't you see her?"

"Has the master already returned?"

As expected, Aunt Zhao was looking for Jia Zheng. Upon hearing that Jia Zheng had already returned, she lost interest in cultivating a relationship with Jia Lian. After exchanging a few words, she turned around and chased after him like the wind.

……

After leaving Grandmother Jia's place, the three sisters went to sit in Daiyu's room as usual.

After each taking a sip of tea, Tan Chun said to Jia Baoyu, "Second Brother, I saw you hide all those manuscript papers just now. Quickly take them out so we can take another look."

Jia Baoyu loved refined things the most. Although he didn't like reading, he thought that composing poems and lyrics was a refined thing.

So, after everyone had stopped paying attention to these poems, he secretly hid them in his sleeve, a scene that was spotted by the observant Tan Chun.

Jia Baoyu smiled, immediately took out the items, and distributed them to everyone while commenting:

"The lyrics are good, but the poems are a pity, especially 'Bamboo and Rock' and 'Green Pine,' which are filled with a worldly and corrupt atmosphere. Brother Lian... alas."

Clearly, the unconventional Jia Baoyu did not like this universally accepted value system.

In his eyes, resilience, ambition, and growth through hardship are all common sayings used to pander to those in power and are not worthy of admiration.

"However, the last poem in the 'On Poetry' section, 'Dwarfs watch a play but never see anything; they just parrot what others say,' is a very good satire."

Of all the people in the world, few have true insight and many simply parrot what others say. Isn't this just like dwarfs watching a play?

I really don't know what Lian Er Gege was thinking. It's clear that Lian Er Gege is a person who transcends worldly concerns.

Why is it that he alone cannot see through the allure of fame and fortune? What a pity, what a real pity…”

Jia Baoyu expressed his deep regret for Jia Lian.

Upon hearing this, the women were no longer as convinced of his views as they had been before.

After all, Jia Lian's achievements speak for themselves.

Comparing Jia Baoyu and Jia Lian, even they felt that it was much better for a man to become someone like Jia Lian.

For example, Lian Er can speak eloquently in front of the master and the old lady, and the elders will seriously consider his words.

Unlike Jia Baoyu, who could only shrink back when his master glared at him.

All the grand pronouncements could only be kept hidden away, confided in their daughters.

The superiority of one over the other is obvious at a glance.

However, in order not to offend him, Tan Chun and the others did not question Jia Baoyu's point of view, but chose to skip it and bring up the topic again with Jia Lian.

"Sister Lin, why is Brother Lian so amazing? I still can't believe that he really wrote these poems."

Daiyu glanced at her and said, "How would I know if you ask me?"

I've only been here for two years, but you've known him since childhood. If you don't know, how would I?

Tan Chun pouted and complained, "I don't know either. Anyway, I've heard adults say since I was little that Brother Lian doesn't like to study."

Plus, he was a few years older than us. Although we were siblings in the same household, we didn't spend much time together, and most of what we heard was from others.

Within grand mansions, especially deep courtyards like the Rongguo Mansion, this is indeed the case for children who are not of the same age.

谷镆

When Tan Chun and the others were only six or seven years old, Jia Lian had already begun arranging marriages for them.

So even though they are cousins, they might not see each other for ten days or half a month. Even if they do meet, they'll just exchange greetings.

Besides, they couldn't really say for sure. In the past, it seemed that Second Brother Lian didn't care much about them. But in the last two years, especially after Sister Lin came, Second Brother Lian seemed to care about them a lot more. He would think of them when he had something nice.

Upon hearing this, Daiyu was reminded of the time when Jia Lian had taken her on a trip to the outskirts of Suzhou.

She had learned that Jia Lian had never taken Tan Chun and the others on an outing, not even his own sister Ying Chun.

This made Daiyu inexplicably happy.

"That's fine. If you really don't believe me, we can go and ask him for clarification."

How come when he writes poetry for others outside, it's so good, but when he's at home telling us, it's just... ugh, just utterly vulgar!

Hearing the doubt in Daiyu's tone, Tanchun laughed and said, "Sister Lin, are you referring to that poem 'Braised Pork with Bamboo Shoots'? Hahaha, that was specially written for you by Brother Lian Er! It shows how good Brother Lian Er is to you; he doesn't write poems for us, but he wrote one just for you..."

Tan Chun pointed out Daiyu's thoughts, causing Daiyu to blush immediately.

Seeing that Tan Chun's laughter was so joyful and irritating, he pretended to tear her mouth apart.

"Alright, alright, you've let her off the hook."

Haha, Lin Daiyu, Second Brother Lian is clearly capable of writing good poems, but he only uses those kinds of poems to tease you. Next time you see him, you must have a good talk with him…”

Jia Baoyu had long noticed that Daiyu treated Jia Lian differently, which was what he feared most about Jia Lian.

He also knew that Daiyu was very serious, so he couldn't help but want to stir up trouble and create a rift between Daiyu and Jia Lian.

Although Daiyu stopped bothering Tanchun, she only glanced at Jia Baoyu without saying anything.

Although she was genuinely somewhat dissatisfied, she had always regarded Jia Lian as her elder brother, and with great respect at that, so she didn't make many demands.

Unlike with Jia Baoyu, she would get very angry if anything didn't go her way.

But lately, she has found that she is rarely angry with Jia Baoyu anymore.

In particular, recently everyone in the family has come to know that Jia Baoyu was born with a jade pendant, while Xue Baochai has worn a gold lock since childhood. That gold lock must be matched with a jade pendant, and gradually the saying about a "golden and jade match" began to circulate.

Daiyu found it extremely boring.

She is a very intelligent person. It is clear that Grandmother Jia wants her to get close to Jia Baoyu, but her aunt does not seem to like her!

Many times, she had the urge to just let her father take her home to live with him, because she couldn't be bothered to look at these people's faces here.

Firstly, he couldn't bear to part with Tan Chun and the others, and secondly, he was afraid of hurting Grandmother Jia's feelings, so he hadn't done it yet.

When Yingchun and the others heard Daiyu say that she was going to ask Jia Lian for clarification, they really had the idea of ​​going to Fengjie's courtyard for a visit.

But Daiyu said, "Didn't you all hear? Second Brother Lian went outside to practice boxing! It will take him an hour."

Even if we go, we won't see anyone.

Didn't I hear San Yatou say yesterday that Lian Er Gege's baby will be born in a couple of days?

Then we can all go and make trouble for him together.

Yingchun and the others all said it was a good idea.

"In that case, we still need to prepare a gift for Brother Lian. He gave us gifts for our birthdays before. Sister Lin, what are you preparing...?"

"What's it to you?"

……

Since learning that the selection of concubines had failed, Baochai had been in a bad mood.

Although entering the palace was always arranged by her family and she didn't necessarily want to go, the feeling of years of preparation going to waste... especially since her failure in the election was probably due to her unreliable brother, this sense of defeat was truly unbearable.

Actually, given her age, she could still run for election three years later.

However, both she and her mother, Aunt Xue, knew that given the Xue family's current decline, if they failed to be selected this time, their chances next time would be even slimmer.

Therefore, she can understand her mother's idea of ​​giving up on her running for office.

But her mother's next move only made her feel even worse.

Ying'er told her that these days, the servants in the Rongguo Mansion have been talking about a "golden and jade marriage," which refers to her and Jia Baoyu.

It seemed a bit deliberate.

To be honest, she felt that her mother's actions were hasty and ill-considered.

She had just failed in the talent show, and her mother and aunt immediately spread such rumors. Doesn't that make the Xue family seem very opportunistic? Secondly, who can't see that the old lady of the Jia family wants to strengthen the family ties and bring her beloved grandson and granddaughter together?

Moreover, from their daily interactions, she could tell that Jia Baoyu was very fond of Daiyu.

As for Jia Baoyu himself, in her eyes he was just a cousin of decent character.

However, her shortcomings are also obvious. She lacks ambition and, at such a young age, has already developed a fondness for women and sensual pleasures…

This further diminished her interest in Jia Baoyu.

However, given the arranged marriage by her parents and the matchmaker, Baochai couldn't easily share her inner thoughts with her mother, and could only feel depressed on her own.

Therefore, she rarely goes to the Rongguo Mansion these days.

"Madam is here."

Following the maid's announcement, Aunt Xue entered alone.

Baochai quickly got up and offered her a seat on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Have you heard? There's been another piece of news from their household today."

Aunt Xue said with a smile.

"What?"

When Aunt Xue saw that Baochai was indeed unaware, she told Baochai what she had heard.

"Is what Mother said true?"

"Why would I lie to you? It's all over their mansion. They say that the Prince of Beijing spent three thousand taels of silver specifically to buy one of his poems."

It was delivered to their residence by someone at dusk; this is absolutely true.

Even Baochai's usually calm gaze couldn't help but dilate.

A single word worth a thousand pieces of gold—this was something that only existed in legends, yet it actually happened, and it happened to Jia Lian.

This is undeniably shocking and unexpected.

Although they didn't know much about Jia Lian, they had heard quite a bit of news, the most certain of which was that Jia Lian was not cut out for studying.

Doesn't this news today overturn the most basic things? From now on, what about Jia Lian can we still believe?

"Does Mother have any poems?"

Baochai wanted to see for herself to distinguish the real from the fake.

"I don't have any, but I think it wouldn't be difficult to get them."

Well then, it's been two days since I last visited your aunt.

They're busy building the garden for the family visit right now, so it might not be very convenient for us to stay here. We should discuss moving out with her..."

"Alright."

Baochai and Aunt Xue then got up, changed their clothes, and went to Madam Wang's room.