Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

"Grandma, the Imperial Concubine has granted Baoyu permission to board the boat!"

"What?! That's great..."

On the main road inside the garden, Lady Wang, Sister Feng, and others surrounded Grandmother Jia, following at a distance to observe the situation.

When the Imperial Concubine returns home, the national etiquette must be observed first. Therefore, no matter how eager they were to see Yuan Chun, they dared not disobey and could only follow the palace rules, proceeding one procedure after another.

Suddenly, someone heard that Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and others had suggested that Jia Baoyu board the boat to guide Yuan Chun, which surprised Grandmother Jia and the others.

What kind of status does a Noble Consort have? She is an imperial concubine who is only one step away from becoming the Empress.

Therefore, what is called welcoming the Imperial Concubine home for a family visit today is more accurately described as receiving the Emperor.

Therefore, although the imperial family declared that the concubines could return home and enjoy family time, the proper etiquette between ruler and subject, and the national rites, could not be disregarded.

From the moment Yuan-chun left the palace until she returned to the Jia family, her entire itinerary and arrangements—where she went and what she did—were basically determined by the palace.

On this point, the Jia family has no room for argument.

At this time, if any member of the Jia family did not follow the rules of the palace in the slightest, they could be defined as overstepping or even committing treason.

Under these circumstances, how was Jia Baoyu able to obtain permission to board the imperial boat and act as a guide for Yuan Chun?

However, Grandmother Jia and the others quickly understood that, firstly, Jia Baoyu was Yuan Chun's younger brother and was too young to have any romantic misunderstandings, and secondly, the reasons given by the family were also reasonable, as having relatives act as guides for Yuan Chun subtly aligned with the imperial family's original intention of allowing empresses and concubines to return home to visit their families.

Most importantly, Yuan Chun must have missed her younger brother Jia Baoyu terribly. It's likely that the person she most wanted to see upon returning home was Jia Baoyu.

There are deeper reasons for this.

As the eldest daughter of Jia Zheng and Lady Wang, Yuan Chun was ten years older than Jia Baoyu. As the elder sister and younger brother, and raised together by Grandmother Jia, she doted on Jia Baoyu. Long before Jia Baoyu entered school, when he was three or four years old, she had already taught him several books through oral instruction, and he had already memorized thousands of characters.

Therefore, although Yuan Chun and Jia Baoyu are nominally siblings, they are actually like mother and son.

Since entering the palace, Yuan-chun often missed her younger brother. However, the palace walls were high and deep. She could still communicate her feelings of longing with Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang through letters. Moreover, after the imperial family allowed the imperial family members to enter the palace to visit each other for more than a year, she was able to see them every month.

However, when Yuan-chun entered the palace, Jia Bao-yu was still young and naive, and had little memory of her, so he didn't have much affection for her. He only knew that she had a sister, but he knew nothing about her and didn't want to know. Therefore, he didn't cherish her occasional letters of greeting and just dealt with them perfunctorily.

One can imagine how happy, even gratifying, Yuan Chun would be to see her younger brother Jia Baoyu first thing after returning home.

Therefore, as long as the family dared to bring it up, and the chief eunuch in charge of etiquette and Zhaorong were willing to report it, what reason did she have not to grant it? Having figured this out, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were very pleased, feeling that this suggestion was excellent. Not only could it make up for Yuanchun's regret, but it could also enhance the relationship between the two siblings, which was exactly what they wanted to see.

"Reporting to the old lady, I heard from the masters that this matter was proposed by Second Master Lian after consulting with the master, and then personally to the head stewards," a maidservant prompted.

Madam Wang and the others were taken aback for a moment, but then understood.

The initial surprise stemmed from the recent rift between the two brothers over Daiyu's matter, while the relief came naturally from the realization that only Jia Lian in the family could have come up with such an original and courageous suggestion.

Feeling suspicious, Grandmother Jia ordered someone to summon Jia Lian.

"Where is Baoyu?"

"Brother Bao has already boarded the imperial boat under the guidance of the palace eunuchs."

Seeing that Grandmother Jia and the others couldn't even wait for him to bow before asking questions, Jia Lian hastily gave up and stood up straight to reply.

While Grandmother Jia was still pondering how to ask her question, Lady Wang could no longer contain herself. "I heard that it was you who suggested that your brother Bao board the boat to guide Her Highness?"

"Uh, it was my suggestion..."

Jia Lian casually replied, then, meeting the gazes of Grandmother Jia and the others, he immediately said, "Madam, please don't misunderstand. I was just thinking that since my elder sister has been away from home for many years, it's rare for her to come home now. If she can only silently observe the changes in the house by herself, it will seem a bit lonely. At this time, if she could have a relative by her side to talk to and introduce the scenery in the garden, it would not only make it easier for her to tour, but it would also be a comfort to her psychologically."

After much thought, I realized that Baoyu was the most suitable candidate, which is why I suggested it to you, sir. I didn't mean to make things difficult for Brother Bao or do anything to him...

Jia Lian's explanation was invaluable advice to Lady Wang, who couldn't help but shed tears as she thought about her daughter being away from home for so many years.

However, the last sentence, warning her against misunderstanding, felt like a slight slap in the face, making her feel somewhat embarrassed. She realized that she had acted too hastily, which had caused Jia Lian to misunderstand.

Meanwhile, Grandmother Jia, who was beside Lady Wang, and the women of the family behind her all fell silent, each looking at Jia Lian, who was speaking fluently and independently in front of them, with expressions full of respect.

Even Baochai, who was standing close to her mother at the edge, couldn't help but take another deep look at Jia Lian.

His cousins ​​had just offended him, and instead of ostracizing or retaliating, he acted so selflessly and without any grudges. Was he not even afraid that Jia Baoyu would speak ill of him to the Imperial Concubine? What a magnanimous heart he had, and what an open and honest person he was.

Baochai felt that she had never thought highly of anyone in her entire life as much as she had thought highly of Jia Lian. So much so that she had gotten used to it, but every time, he still surprised and amazed her.

Baochai couldn't help but glance at Daiyu, who stood alone beside her, her brows furrowed, seemingly lost in thought. She thought to herself, "No wonder even someone as proud as her would willingly submit to Jia Lian. She is indeed a wise and discerning person."

Compared to Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu seems rather ordinary.

They can't even compare Jia Baoyu to Jia Lian. Even if they compare everyone in the Jia family to Jia Lian, in terms of character and level, they are far inferior.

No wonder Lian Er Gege was able to reach such heights in just a few years.

It's just strange that my mother and aunts are so certain that, while Lian Er Gege (Second Brother Lian) might not have been a complete scoundrel in those years, he was definitely quite mediocre...

Is it really true that after ten years of stubborn obsession, one day one can suddenly achieve enlightenment?

Jia Lian felt very pleased as he looked at the dozens or even hundreds of women in front of him with amazement and admiration.

His efforts were worthwhile.

For Jia Lian, although he genuinely didn't hold a grudge against Jia Baoyu—because Jia Baoyu was simply a childish kid, unlike Jia Huan who was full of malice—Jia Baoyu's coveting of his Daiyu was still unforgivable. Therefore, not putting him down was already more than enough; why would he praise him so highly? There were indeed deeper considerations behind this.

No matter how high his official position is now, or how much the emperor favors him, his foundation is still somewhat unstable and needs to be gradually strengthened.

Regardless of how outwardly strong but inwardly weak the second branch of the Rongguo Mansion may seem, their external support is undeniably real.

Take Jia Baoyu for example: the doting love of Grandmother Jia, the care of his maternal uncle Wang Ziteng, and the affection of his elder sister, the Imperial Concubine…

These three points alone, apart from Grandmother Jia, represent two very important forces that helped him solidify his foundation.

In other words, it would be foolish to have two powerful forces at your fingertips, readily available, and instead choose to oppose or distance yourself from them instead of making good use of them.

Since it is impossible to eliminate these two forces that are inextricably linked to the second wife, then befriending them, assimilating them, and transforming them into one's own strength is the only way forward.

As for Wang Ziteng, it's not so bad. Besides being Jia Baoyu's uncle, he's also Feng Jie's uncle. So, after he showed a huge gap in potential between himself and Jia Baoyu, it's not surprising that he chose her.

As for Jia Yuanchun, although she came from the second branch of the family and was not of the same lineage as him, as long as she was still clear-headed, she should know that in the current Jia family, only he could watch over and help her both inside and outside the palace.

Before gaining the complete trust and full support of these two individuals, Jia Lian naturally had to show sufficient magnanimity towards the second wife's family.

This is not mere pretense; sometimes, magnanimity is a force that the enemy cannot resist.

For example, when Jia Baoyu tried to ruin his marriage with Daiyu, although Jia Baoyu was "unjust" first, it seems that Jia Baoyu still suffered the loss in the end.

Not only was he forbidden by Grandmother Jia from setting foot in Daiyu's courtyard, but he had also been feeling depressed about it for some time.

If he were to complain to Yuan-chun at this moment, or if Lady Wang were to confide in Yuan-chun, even if Yuan-chun were to prioritize reason over kinship, seeing her beloved younger brother in this state would inevitably make her feel bad, as if she felt that while she was away, her younger brother had been bullied by the domineering Jia Lian...

This is because Yuan Chun is reasonable. If she only cared about family, she might have developed a grudge and become wary of Jia Lian.

At this moment, Jia Lian's simple suggestion was enough to demonstrate his magnanimity towards Jia Baoyu and the second branch of the family, and dispel Yuan Chun's suspicions.

Given her previous impression of Jia Lian, if Lady Wang and others were to speak ill of Jia Lian in front of Yuan Chun again, Yuan Chun would likely only think that her mother and brother were stubborn and intolerant, and would have less trust in what they said to her in the future.

With less trust in Lady Wang and others, they naturally had no choice but to trust Jia Lian!

Of course, Jia Lian didn't expect to completely win over Yuan Chun with just this one trick; it was merely to prevent her from becoming hostile towards him. Jia Lian had other methods in mind, striving to make Yuan Chun a solid foundation and powerful inside agent for him after her return to the palace.

……

Yuan Chun's main hall, which is also the temporary palace where she is staying this time, is located on the north side of the garden, at the foot of Dazhu Mountain.

In the middle of the garden, there is a stream called Qinfang Creek, so when Yuan Chun wanted to stay at the imperial palace, taking a boat was the best option. She could also stand on the boat and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire garden.

But at this moment, Yuan-chun had completely lost the enjoyment she had previously had in admiring the garden. Standing at the bow of the boat, she was filled with speculation and contemplation about Jia Bao-yu's current appearance, whether he was healthy, and whether he still remembered her...

She had only waited for a quarter of an hour, but it felt like a long time. Finally, she saw the eunuchs leading over a chubby but handsome boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Although it had been ten years since they last met, Yuan Chun recognized him at a glance as her beloved younger brother whom she had held in her arms since childhood.

Therefore, she involuntarily took two steps forward. It was only after the concubine beside her quickly reminded her to be careful not to fall into the water that she was able to stand still. However, her tightly clenched hands and tearful eyes made it clear to the attendants around her how excited the Imperial Concubine was.

Meanwhile, Jia Baoyu was also looking sullen today. If Jia Zheng hadn't been constantly keeping him in check, he wouldn't have bothered following the large group of people, like a puppet, standing here and kneeling there.

He found it boring and meaningless, and he really didn't understand why people like Jia Zheng were so happy kneeling!

Therefore, when he heard Jia Lian suggest that he board the boat as a guide, he was quite upset. He wondered if his second brother, Jia Lian, was still holding a grudge about what happened that day and was deliberately trying to cause him trouble.

But no matter what he thought, he couldn't go against or control the will of Jia Zheng and others.

With the imperial concubine's permission, he could only obediently follow several eunuchs with their heads bowed as they walked towards the Hong Kong garrison.

As they approached the shore, he caught a glimpse of the woman in yellow robes standing tall at the bow of the boat, and knew in his heart that this was probably his older sister.

They knew the rules, so they didn't dare to look around recklessly at that moment.

Only when he stepped onto the wooden plank and heard a heartfelt "brother" call did he look up at the woman walking towards him.

At just one glance, Jia Baoyu was stunned.

The stunningly beautiful woman before him, with her gorgeous clothes, slender figure, exquisite features, and a temperament that carried three parts sorrow and seven parts nobility, was she really his sister?

Although his grandmother and mother had both said that his older sister was an outstanding woman, he thought it was just self-praise.

In his eyes, a woman who was willing to enter the palace to serve the old emperor and take pride in becoming a concubine should be nothing more than a worldly and mediocre person who fawns over the powerful. Why then was she born so exceptionally beautiful?

This disrupted his thinking. The thought that his beautiful, dignified, and graceful older sister had ended up in the dirtiest place in the world, being driven around for nearly ten years, was utterly unacceptable to him. He even thought that it would be better if she didn't have this appearance; that would make him feel better!

"Kneel down!!"

Jia Baoyu's rudeness displeased the eunuch Bingli, who loudly reminded him.

Jia Baoyu then came to his senses, hurriedly knelt down, and stammered, "Jia Baoyu greets the Imperial Concubine."

"Baoyu, get up quickly."

Yuan Chun stepped forward and helped Jia Baoyu up, then lowered her head and stared intently at him.

Previously, she had strictly adhered to etiquette and displayed royal majesty, but now, facing her own younger brother, she finally showed the attitude of an ordinary woman towards someone she cared deeply for. Admittedly, at her level, she no longer needed to be so concerned with such minor breaches of etiquette—this was her own brother!

It was just unnecessary before.

"He's definitely grown a lot since then, and he's taller too..."

Faced with Yuan Chun's affectionate gestures and elder-like tone, Jia Baoyu murmured but ultimately remained silent, shyly lowering his head.

"I heard that you wrote all the plaques and couplets in this garden?"

Jia Baoyu nodded slightly.

"You've definitely made progress."

Yuan Chun was overjoyed and wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Jia Baoyu about how they had been separated for many years. However, seeing that Jia Baoyu was overly shy, she knew it was because they were strangers. Her heart ached, and she forced back her tears, saying with a smile, "Since that's the case, why don't you give me a good introduction to the scenery in the garden later? We've been separated for many years, and I really want to hear you talk to me."

"Very well... Your Majesty's decree shall be obeyed."

Seeing that Jia Baoyu ultimately couldn't regard her as his closest person as she did, Yuan Chun's joy and excitement subsided considerably, and she even felt a little regretful.

It seems the environment made Jia Baoyu feel awkward. If he had known this would happen, it would have been better to wait until after the state ceremony and meet him at Rongqing Hall. Surely, with Grandmother Jia and others present, their introductions and assistance would have prevented the siblings from meeting so awkwardly and speechlessly.