Chapter 272: Parting Feelings

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiang Courtyard.

A half-old red sleeve soft curtain hung on the door frame of the inner room, blocking the cold air from the outer hall.

The heated kang in the room was burning warmly, and the whole room was filled with a soft and warm fragrance.

Baochai was doing needlework on the kang, her face somewhat pale, her originally pink lips lacking color, her hair black and shiny, tied in a slightly loose bun.

She wore a honey-colored padded jacket, a rose-colored gold and silver mouse-fur vest, and a scallion-yellow damask skirt, all half-new and half-old, looking simple and not luxurious.

She hadn't been feeling well these past few days and hadn't left the house for several days.

Ever since she sent the bear fur to Jia Cong that day and saw the exquisite and beautiful sachet at his waist, she had guessed the source.

She was originally a person with a clever and thorough mind, but she couldn't let go of this matter. That day, she returned in low spirits and had been feeling depressed ever since.

Now it was the dead of winter, and there had been heavy snow for several days. A girl's blood and energy naturally receded, and she couldn't withstand overthinking, which actually triggered an old illness.

But this time, the illness came on quite strongly, with alternating cold and heat, quite turbulent. Baochai took two "Cold Fragrance Pills" and only barely improved, but it hadn't been completely suppressed.

No matter what, Xue Yima still envied Jia Mu. As a dignified First-Class State Lady, she was after all different from the common people; things like entering the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager were so convenient.

No one knew exactly what was said, but when she was playing bone tiles with the old lady, the old lady's expression was very peaceful and happy.

Although that Cong'er was so outstanding, under the clan law of legitimacy and illegitimacy, he could only stand on the side.

Having figured these things out, the balance in Xue Yima's heart tilted back.

Xue Yima also thought that Jia Mu's sudden entry into the palace must be because she saw Jia Cong was too prosperous and outstanding, occupying the first opportunity, and was afraid that Baoyu would suffer in the future, so she sought a way to prevent it.

Xue Yima understood this clearly; in the future, it would definitely be the legitimate son of the two branches who would be in charge. Baoyu would inherit the mansion, Jia Lian would inherit the title, and just like their father's generation, they would share the glory of the Duke's mansion.

Later, Jia Cong was also appointed as an Advisor to the Regional Commander of the Nine Provinces, and then she heard that the old lady had entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, with whom she had a handkerchief friendship.

Later, when she was talking to her sister, Lady Wang mentioned unintentionally that when the Jia family reached the generation of "Yu," they would also be like their father's generation, which was the way for the whole family to prosper.

Baoyu had come to see her twice in the past few days, and Xue Yima was very happy to see it, her mouth full of "my child" without stopping.

Actually, this was not strange; according to common sense, it was just like this.

It was just that several days had passed, and it had been up and down, without seeing much improvement.

And the glory of such a Duke's mansion would all be passed on to legitimate grandsons like Baoyu and Lian Ge'er in the future.

Now seeing Baoyu remembering her maid, she was naturally happy in her heart.

She looked good on the outside, but she had brought a heat toxin from her mother's womb, which was a significant hidden danger.

That Cold Fragrance Pill had a significant origin, and Baochai didn't dare to take too much. Later, she could only use medicinal soup as a supplement to slowly recuperate at home.

Perhaps the old lady didn't go to talk about that matter, but her sister happened to reveal that kind of tone.

Fortunately, she met a strange person in her childhood who passed on the secret recipe for the Xue family's Cold Fragrance Pill. Taking one pill when the illness flared up could suppress it, and for so many years, it had been peaceful.

Even if he could become a Grade 1 or 2 official in ten or twenty years, it was still something without a shadow right now.

Spring and summer were fine, but when the cold and damp air of deep winter and early spring triggered the heat toxin, it was easy to get sick.

Ever since Jia Cong became the top candidate in the imperial examination, Xue Yima had regretted the rumors of the "Gold and Jade Marriage" that she had released.

Baochai saw Baoyu come to see her several times, thanked him for always remembering her, and the two also talked for a while.

Later, Baoyu saw the "Man Jiang Hong" written by Jia Cong hanging in the room.

Although Jia Cong was in the limelight now, Baoyu was disappointed in his enthusiasm for official career and pursuit of fame, feeling that he was not someone of the same kind as himself.

However, he didn't have any gloom in his heart. He was a bit jealous and envious that Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Baochai, and others all had Jia Cong's calligraphy hanging in their rooms, but there was no hatred.

He even praised Jia Cong's calligraphy to Baochai. Baochai heard it and found it pleasant to the ear. Just when the conversation was becoming harmonious...

Baoyu said again that although Jia Cong's poem was outstanding, the heavy and sorrowful air was too strong, lacking a bit of clarity and etherealness. Historically, poetry and music had always emphasized "joy without licentiousness, sorrow without injury"...

Actually, Baoyu didn't intend to belittle Jia Cong's poem; it was just that he only loved the graceful state of daughters and the thoughts of hairpins and snow.

The thoughts of home and country and the sighs of rise and fall in Jia Cong's "Man Jiang Hong" were completely different from his temperament, so he couldn't help but complain a few words.

Baochai frowned when she heard this. Under her father's instruction since childhood, she had read extensively, and in terms of talent, she could almost compare to Daiyu.

She naturally had her own judgment in her heart and felt very disapproving of Baoyu saying such far-fetched words.

Brother Cong had become famous in Jiangnan relying on this poem, and now the whole of Jin Ling was singing it. Could it be that those scholars and elegant people had no eyes?

She had heard from people in the mansion that Baoyu had been enlightened for seven or eight years, and now he hadn't even finished reading the Four Books, yet he came to dislike a poem written by a top candidate...

Baochai looked at Baoyu in surprise and saw the beautiful jade hanging on his chest, which seemed to sway back and forth in front of her eyes, making her feel even more eye-catching. She lowered her eyelids without saying a word.

The tastes and ambitions of Baochai and Baoyu were very different in many places, and even went in opposite directions; otherwise, why would there be so many rumors about the "Wood and Stone Marriage"?

If she hadn't met Jia Cong in Jin Ling, perhaps all this wouldn't be like this...

But she had met him.

Listening to Baoyu still sighing there, Baochai's long, curved eyelashes trembled slightly.

Jia Cong had been very busy these past few days.

Early in the morning, he went to the firearms workshop to direct the craftsmen to re-check and count the completed firearms and porcelain thunder-bombs.

Finally, they were properly packed, waiting for the shipment to start early the day after tomorrow.

He also took out the sketches he had prepared long ago, which were drawn by referring to the red-clothed cannons of the future.

He let Liu Shizhen take the craftsmen to study them first, using the two Frankish cannons transported to the workshop as models to formulate a modification plan.

After finishing the affairs of the firearms workshop, he went to the Five Garrisons to see Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding. This time, the five hundred musketeers selected would accompany Jia Cong north.

These five hundred musketeers would be responsible for the protection of firearms transportation and would perform rotation duties after reaching the Liaodong Garrison.

Although the Divine Capital was thousands of miles away from the Liaodong Garrison, it was after all within the territory of the Great Zhou, so there was no risk.

Moreover, these five hundred musketeers were already an extremely strong combat force.

Not to mention that before these musketeers were selected into the musket battalion, they were all elite soldiers in the Five Garrisons. Besides muskets, everyone was also equipped with standard Yan Ling sabers.

Once they put down their muskets, they were a strong force of infantry.

With these musketeers, it was enough to ensure that this batch of firearms, which was not small in quantity, could be safely transported to the Liaodong Garrison...

After returning to the mansion, he entered the inner courtyard, walked through the covered corridor, passed the East Flower Hall, and went to Daiyu's room to visit.

Last night, Hearing Zi Juan came to pass a message, saying that the young lady had accidentally caught a cold and was coughing again.

Entering Daiyu's room, he saw that her complexion was still okay, and asked her if she slept peacefully at night, how many times she coughed a day, and what she had eaten today.

Daiyu knew that Jia Cong would set off north the day after tomorrow, and it might be another half a year before he returned, so she felt very reluctant.

Seeing him ask such trivial questions as soon as he arrived, if it were in the past, she would definitely tease him for being long-winded, but now she told him one by one without getting annoyed.

Actually, Daiyu's body had been much better in the past few years than when she was young. Although she had minor illnesses, she hadn't had any major illnesses that hurt her foundation again.

It was just that she had a deficiency from her mother's womb, so she was still weaker than ordinary people.

Between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, once she caught a cold, she would cough.

According to Jia Cong's knowledge from the future, people with weak constitutions would generally have chronic bronchitis. In this era, there were no anti-inflammatory drugs, so if one was not careful, it would be extremely dangerous.

Daiyu looked at the spirited Jia Cong and felt quite envious.

"If only I could be like Third Brother, free from all illnesses and able to travel north, south, east, and west. Even the other sisters in the garden are healthy all year round; why am I so troublesome?"

Jia Cong smiled: "Sister's body is much better than a few years ago. Don't worry. When you grow up a few more years and your body becomes stronger, you won't have so many illnesses."

When Daiyu heard Jia Cong talk about growing up a few more years and her body becoming stronger, she felt uncomfortable in her heart and even subconsciously lowered her head to look at her figure, which she could see her feet from...

She had always envied Yingchun and Baochai for their graceful and exquisite figures...

Frowning her beautiful brows, she said somewhat dissatisfied: "Third Brother, what do you mean by growing up a few more years? I am not a child anymore."

Jia Cong saw Daiyu's little movements just now and tried hard to hold back his laughter. Daiyu was even a year younger than him; if she wasn't a child, what was she?

He hurriedly restrained his expression and explained: "Medical books say that men reach the age of fifteen and women reach the age of fifteen before they are considered grown up."

Daiyu was full of articles and usually heard those shameful idle talks from the nannies, so she was not completely ignorant.

Hearing the age of fifteen, her pretty face turned red. Jia Cong also felt that this topic was a bit awkward, so he hurriedly changed the subject.

"I will teach Sister two methods. Sister, do them every day. When I return from the north, maybe Sister's body will be much better."

Daiyu's bright eyes lit up: "Really! Then Third Brother, teach me quickly."

Jia Cong smiled: "Actually, the method is very simple. Now that it is midwinter, Sister cannot withstand the cold wind. Just walk around in your own room every day for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, and it will be of great benefit."

Then he looked around Daiyu's room, as if looking for something.

Then he walked to the bookshelf against the wall, stood on tiptoe, reached out to reach the top shelf, reached with his right hand, and then switched to his left hand.

At this time, Hearing Zi Juan also came over curiously, not knowing what Jia Cong's strange movements meant.

"Sister, do like me every day, stand on tiptoe, switch hands to reach the high shelf, and stop when your hands and feet are sore."

Daiyu looked curious: "Third Brother, are you not teasing me? Walking and reaching high can nourish the body..."

Jia Cong smiled: "Sister, don't underestimate walking. The feet are the foundation of the flesh. Light feet and strong feet mean no illnesses."

"Reaching high also has a lot of sayings in ancient books. Its force is upward, stretching the muscles and bones, clearing the blood vessels, and can store essence and nourish the spirit."

"Sister, as long as you insist on doing it every day, it will definitely be of great benefit to your body."

Although Daiyu was still half-believing, she had grown older in the past few years, and she was not a woman without knowledge. She also felt that her body was delicate and weak, and she was afraid it would be bad for the future...

Hearing Jia Cong say that when he returned from the north, her body might become better, she was very touched in her heart.

A pair of bright eyes shone, and she looked at Jia Cong for a few times.

Third Brother specially taught me the method of strengthening the body before leaving the capital. I will do it every day, and I will not live up to his efforts.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 273 =====