Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

As Jia Rong left the bridal chamber, the night breeze instantly dissipated most of his drunkenness, but he felt increasingly agitated.

How could this happen?

He gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into a pillar.

After standing in the courtyard for a while, Jia Rong finally dared not go back. He went to the study and sent all the servants out. Without lighting a lamp, he lay down on the couch in the dark, covered his head with the quilt, and felt only agitated.

This matter must not be known to anyone, especially not to my father.

Jia Rong felt a pang of anxiety when he thought of Jia Zhen. He knew his father's temperament best; if he knew he was useless, that old beast might actually do something like arranging his wedding night in his place.

He made up his mind that he had to see a doctor again, and if all else failed, he would try some folk remedies. He could fool people for a day or two, but if it went on for too long, the truth would eventually come out.

Jia Rong tossed and turned in thought until dawn before he finally drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, and Jia Rong woke up with a start. Before she could get up, the door was pushed open.

Jia Zhen was in a good mood because he had enjoyed drinking with his friends the day before, but when he entered the room, he saw Jia Rong lying on the couch, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"Why aren't you in the bridal chamber? Why are you sleeping here?"

Jia Rong hurriedly got up and tidied his clothes haphazardly: "Master, I drank too much last night and smelled of alcohol. I was afraid that going back to my room would disturb my wife's rest, so I spent the night in the study."

"On the wedding night, how can one leave the bride alone in an empty room?" Jia Zhen looked him up and down, but didn't think much of it.

"Father's words are correct."

Jia Zhen paced back and forth in the study, then casually asked, "Is Qin Shi alright?"

"Perfect, perfect. Madam Qin is gentle and kind; my son is very satisfied."

Jia Zhen nodded: "That's good. The person your grandfather personally chose must be good. Now that you're married, live a good life from now on and don't go out and fool around like before, so that people won't laugh at you."

Jia Rong lowered his head and repeatedly agreed, but a slight smirk played on his lips. He thought to himself: "With all the things you've done, you still have the nerve to say I'm messing around?"

Jia Zhen glanced at him, unaware of his subtle movements: "Alright, go and get ready. We're going to the ancestral hall to pay respects to our ancestors later. Tell your wife to get ready too; the old lady says she wants to meet the new bride."

After saying this, Jia Zhen turned and left the study.

After Jia Zhen walked away, Jia Rong straightened up and let out a long breath, only then realizing that his back was covered in a thin layer of sweat. He reached out and wiped his face, forcing himself to cheer up. Just as he was about to step out, he suddenly heard the footsteps and hushed voices of a maid outside.

"Did Master Rong rest in the study last night?"

"I heard from the old woman who works the night shift that they came over in the middle of the night."

"Wouldn't the bride be left alone in her room?"

Shh. Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you.

Jia Rong was filled with shame and anger. He gritted his teeth and rushed out. The two gossipy maids outside, seeing Jia Rong's angry face, were so frightened that they knelt down with a thud.

"uncle!"

Jia Rong kicked the two maids to the ground, and, still not satisfied, kicked them twice more.

"What despicable things! How dare you fabricate stories about your master?"

The two maids were so frightened that they trembled all over and could not even beg for mercy. They just kept kowtowing.

"This servant deserves to die! This servant will never dare to do it again!"

Jia Rong, panting heavily, glared at the two maids on the ground, wishing he could drag them out and beat them to death.

"If you dare spout any more nonsense, you'll be in for a world of hurt! Get out of here!"

……

At the Marquis of Duanping's residence, Gu Jinhong had just finished breakfast when the steward, Gu Dabian, came over.

"Second Master, news has come from the Ningguo Mansion regarding the matter you entrusted to us. Jia Rong slept in the study last night and didn't return to his room until dawn."

Gu Jinhong nodded: "Anything else? Did you check with the pharmacy?"

"We found it. Jia Rong has secretly gone to the pharmacy several times in the past two weeks to get medicine, mostly for aphrodisiacs, kidney tonics, and strengthening the body's foundation."

Gu Jinhong raised an eyebrow. This completely confirmed his guess.

"Okay, I understand. Keep a close eye on Jia Zhen's movements from now on."

……

When Jia Rong arrived at the new room, Qin Keqing had already finished washing and dressing.

"Master." Upon seeing Jia Rong enter, Qin Keqing hurriedly stood up and bowed.

Jia Rong forced a smile and offered a perfunctory gesture of support: "No need for such formalities."

Qin Keqing noticed something was wrong with his expression and asked softly, "Husband, you don't look well. Did you not rest well last night?"

"It's alright." Jia Rong waved his hand, his eyes flickering, not daring to meet her gaze. "Once you're ready, go to the ancestral hall. Master has already gone there."

Qin Keqing responded and asked no further questions.

The ancestral hall was located in a separate courtyard to the west of Ningguo Mansion. When Jia Rong and Qin Keqing arrived, Jia Zhen was already waiting outside the ancestral hall with You Shi.

"Why are you dawdling until now?" Jia Zhen glanced at Jia Rong with displeasure, then his gaze fell on Qin Keqing, and he nodded in satisfaction. "Come in."

Upon entering the ancestral hall, Jia Rong followed Jia Zhen in burning incense and kowtowing, while Qin Keqing, under the guidance of You Shi, paid her respects to the ancestral tablets as a bride.

After the temple visit ceremony was completed, Jia Zhen turned to You Shi and said, "The old lady wants to see the new bride. You take Qin Shi to the West Mansion. I still have some things to take care of."

Madam You quickly agreed, "Don't worry, sir, I'll take Rong-ge's wife there right away."

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Grandmother Jia had tea and snacks prepared early on, waiting for the new bride of Ningguo Mansion to come and pay her respects.

"Ancestor, I'm late!"

With the curtain lifted, Wang Xifeng strode in, full of energy.

Grandmother Jia smiled and scolded, "You do know you're late; we've been waiting for you for ages."

Wang Xifeng stepped forward, first bowed to Grandmother Jia, and then greeted the two ladies, Xing and Wang, before laughing and saying, "Grandmother, you have wronged me. I originally wanted to come much earlier, but that girl Ping'er insisted on making me change my dressing, saying that my foot was only seven or eight parts healed and that I might hurt it again if I walked too fast."

As she spoke, she sat down next to Daiyu, glanced at her, smiled, and leaned closer to whisper, "Sister, you look radiant today. Only you can pull off this lotus-root-colored dress; it would probably make anyone else look darker."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Sister Feng is praising me so much, I don't know how to respond."

"I'm telling the truth." Wang Xifeng then looked at the three girls opposite her. "You three shouldn't just sit there. Today, the new bride of Ningguo Mansion is coming to pay her respects. You are all elders, so you must support Rongguo Mansion and make a good impression."

Tan Chun laughed and said, "With Sister Feng here, there's no need for us to put on a show."

Xichun blinked her eyes: "Sister Feng, you didn't go to the flower viewing banquet at the Princess's mansion last time, so you didn't see that Madam Rong. We've already seen her, she looks like she stepped out of a painting."

Wang Xifeng immediately became interested upon hearing this: "Really? Then I'll have to take a good look today."

As they were talking, a maid announced from outside: "Madam, Madam Zhen from Ningguo Mansion has arrived with Madam Rong."