Chapter 329: Fragrant Intentions Bloom Beautifully

Count's Mansion, Yingchun's Courtyard.

This was a courtyard built near the water, not far from the courtyard where Jia Cong lived. The water system of the Huifang Garden flowed around the outside of the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, clear streams wound, stone bridges were graceful, the reeds and leaves on the shore were green, and the clear waves drummed with emerald lotus and fragrant water chestnuts, with pink stamens and red, showing off their beauty.

In that courtyard, there was a two-story embroidered building with three rooms, with vermilion beams and painted pillars, white walls and black tiles, which was very unique and exquisite.

Several pretty and slender figures, laughing and talking, walked into the courtyard together.

Yingchun's luggage was not much, only two carriages were enough to transport it all. Jia Cong had long arranged for the newly bought family slaves to carry the luggage into the new courtyard piece by piece.

Xiuju didn't need Yingchun to worry, directing the manpower to open the boxes and baskets sent, and placing the various items in an orderly manner, which was very nimble and attentive.

Sisters like Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Xiangyun, Baochai, and Xichun naturally all sent Yingchun to the East Mansion. Looking at this magnificent and elegant courtyard, they all had joy and yearning in their eyes.

There were too many elders in the West Mansion, and the words and deeds of the girls had to be regular, and they couldn't speak too loudly. Although it wasn't exaggerated to the point of not showing teeth when laughing or feet when walking, there were still many taboos.

Although she was a relative of the Jia family, she had no blood connection with Jia Cong's branch, and she was actually separated by a long distance. She was also a later arrival, but she was less intimate and uninhibited with Jia Cong.

Jia Cong squatted down, pinched her little face, and laughed: "The younger the age in our family, the more precious. The Fourth Sister is the youngest, so what the sisters have, you naturally won't be missing."

Seeing Tan Chun was intelligent and quick-witted, and had always had her own ideas, which was why there were those laughing words just now. Fortunately, this Third Brother was a knowing one, and his words were exactly what she wanted.

Seeing Tan Chun's bright eyes flickered, and she said with a look of joy: "Third Brother is not allowed to fool people. After the Second Sister settles the courtyard, I will find a good place to stay, so that you won't regret it later."

She was just worried about the Third Brother, moving out of the mansion from now on, and the siblings could no longer meet, discuss, and talk like they used to.

Seeing Tan Chun said, and playfully pointed at herself to Jia Cong, which made the sisters laugh.

"You like to live wherever you want, go and pick one yourself later."

Baochai on the side was a bit envious, but she was not like Daiyu and the three spring sisters who grew up in the back garden with Jia Cong, and their relationship was intimate.

"When I have time, I will build a small gate at the alley between the two prefectures, so it will be convenient for you to come over when you are free, just like everyone used to do at the West Prefecture."

Seeing Tan Chun had always had a straightforward and bright personality, and she teased on the side: "Third Brother, I know what you said in the Rongqing Hall. If people outside don't know the Second Sister's worth;"

"You will support the Second Sister for a lifetime, let her live in luxury, and live a peaceful life. You, as a brother, cannot be partial, and you cannot treat me, this Third Sister, poorly."

"But the Second Sister is alone in the East Mansion. The place here is very big, you can pick a place you like to live, and it will be good to come over and accompany the Second Sister daily."

She hurriedly shouted: "Third Brother, there is me, and there is me?"

Little Xichun on the side was less than ten years old, still romantic and innocent, and had not yet been infected with that isolated and cold temper. Seeing that her sisters could have a place in this mansion, she couldn't help but feel anxious in her heart.

Jia Cong laughed: "You still have the old man and the mistress above you, I don't dare to support you."

Everyone knew that Seeing Tan Chun and Jia Cong both loved calligraphy, had similar interests, and had been the most compatible since childhood, so this kind of teasing and joking was even more common.

Hurriedly laughed: "Naturally, everyone who hears it has a share. Most of the mansion is vacant. Lin Sister, Xiangyun Sister, and Bao Sister should also choose a place they like, don't be polite with me."

Seeing Tan Chun didn't dare to hope that Jia Cong would treat herself like he treated his Second Sister, promising to support her for a lifetime. After all, she was his own sister, how could she become...

Everyone felt a little envious of Yingchun, and from now on, she would definitely live a more quiet and leisurely life.

Jia Cong saw that Daiyu and Xiangyun also looked over. Daiyu blinked her wonderful eyes at him.

How could this Count's Mansion be like this? There was only one brother of the same generation, Jia Cong, and there were no elders pressing down on him. This was how comfortable it was.

Among the three springs of the Jia family, Xichun was a special existence and the one with the most unfortunate background.

Girls from large families have always been brought up by their legitimate mothers. If the legitimate mother is not there, they must be brought up by their grandmother or maternal grandmother.

This was also the reason why Lin Ruhai sent Daiyu to the Jia family after her mother died, because in the Lin family, apart from their father and daughter, there was no one else.

Sending Daiyu to be brought up by her maternal grandmother was the best choice for Lin Ruhai.

Moreover, the old lady was a Duke's wife from two noble families. Lin Ruhai asking her to bring up Daiyu was also to provide a decent endorsement for his daughter's future.

Xichun was actually in a similar situation to Daiyu. She was Jia Zhen's own sister. That place in the East Mansion was made famous by Jia Zhen, and it was not suitable for raising a young lady.

Xichun was cute since she was a child, and the old lady liked girls, and she also got Jia Jing's request, so she took Xichun to be brought up by her side.

However, the old lady's thoughts were all on the outstanding grandchildren like Baoyu, Daiyu, and Seeing Tan Chun. Xichun, like Yingchun, did not have a strong sense of presence in the West Mansion.

Yingchun had a biological father and a legitimate mother in the hall, although they almost ignored her, it was better than nothing.

And Xichun, although legitimate, lost her mother early, and her father had long abandoned his family for Dao

Xichun's temperament lacks the submissiveness of Yingchun; deep down, she actually possesses a certain resilience and pride. It is no wonder that she grew up to have a solitary and aloof personality.

Later, when Wang Shanbao's wife instigated the search of the Grand View Garden, Xichun's personal maid, Ru Hua, was found to have privately hidden silver from outside, and Xichun expelled her without the slightest hesitation.

Fortunately, Xichun is still young, and her temperament has not yet been suppressed into eccentricity; she is still just a little girl who is somewhat sensitive and naive at heart.

Because Jia Cong knows about the past, he feels a great deal of pity for this fourth younger sister. Whether he is going down to Jin Ling or up to Liaodong, he always remembers to bring a gift for Xichun when he returns.

Therefore, Xichun gets along very well with this third older brother of hers.

Xichun waved her little hand and said in a clear voice, "I don't need to find a courtyard. If I come over to play, I can just stay with Second Sister. It's warm in the winter, and in the summer, the mosquitoes don't bother me."

Jia Cong and the other sisters were curious when they heard this. It is easy to understand why sleeping together in winter is warm, but what is the reasoning behind not being bothered by mosquitoes in the summer?

Seeing Tan Chun then curiously asked Xichun for the reason. Xichun took Yingchun's hand and smiled sweetly, "Second Sister attracts mosquitoes. When I am with her, the mosquitoes only bite her and won't bite me."

Jia Cong could not help but laugh when he heard this, and the other sisters were all amused by her. Shi Xiangyun was even laughing so hard she bent at the waist.

……

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongxi Hall.

Jia Zheng is currently receiving Liu Yong, the Chief Steward of Prince Beijing.

Originally, according to the customs of noble families, only when Prince Beijing himself arrived would Jia Zheng, the master of Rongguo Prefecture, come out to receive him.

However, the Prince's Chief Steward is a Grade 5 official. According to official etiquette, the family must also send a descendant of equivalent rank to receive him.

It is just that among the descendants of Rongguo Prefecture, only Jia Cong is a Grade 5 official, and he has already established his own separate prefecture. Since Liu Yong is visiting Rongguo Prefecture and not the Count's Prefecture, it is naturally inconvenient for Jia Cong to receive him.

Therefore, only Jia Zheng, who is a Grade 5 Assistant Department Director, came out to receive him.

Liu Yong said, "Old Sir, tomorrow a famous scholar from Nan Yue will visit the Prince's Prefecture. He possesses the essence of the culture of Southern Zhejiang, and his poetry and prose are both excellent. The Prince knows that your noble family's Young Master Bao is a fledgling phoenix, a person of great brilliance."

"He specifically asked me to invite him to go and meet friends together."

Jia Zheng knows that last year, at the Autumn Chrysanthemum Poetry Gathering at Prince Beijing's Prefecture, a poem appeared that was considered presumptuous, which left Prince Beijing in a somewhat awkward position. Fortunately, nothing major happened afterward.

For the past half year, Prince Beijing's Prefecture has been quite low-key. Now that they are no longer holding any literary gatherings and are just meeting friends as usual, Jia Zheng does not take it too much to heart.

He glanced at Baoyu, who was sitting on the side, and saw that his expression was quite nervous, lacking a sense of magnanimity and ease. He could not help but frown, but since outsiders were present, it was not appropriate for him to display a father's authority.

"My son is highly regarded by Prince Beijing, and I am deeply grateful. He is young and lacks experience, so being able to receive instruction from a high-minded scholar is naturally excellent. Tomorrow, I will let him go to the Prince's Prefecture to pay his respects."

Liu Yong said again, "The Prince admires your noble family's Count Jia Cong for his peerless literary talent and romantic style. Tomorrow, we will meet friends through literature. I wonder if the Old Sir could convey this on our behalf and invite Count Jia Cong to attend as well."

Jia Zheng was stunned when he heard these words. Although he is somewhat pedantic by nature, he has been an official for so many years after all, and he is not a foolish person.

At this moment, how could he not hear that Prince Beijing inviting Baoyu to the prefecture to meet friends was merely a pretext to attract the real prize, and that he wanted to invite Jia Cong was the true intent?

Thinking about it, it is also normal. Now that Jia Cong is famous far and wide and is regarded highly by others, it is human nature. If he goes, it will save him worry, and it will be able to display the literary style of our Jia family.

If he only let this degenerate Baoyu go, he cannot even read the Four Books completely. If he meets a famous scholar from Nan Yue, I fear that after discussing a few sentences, he will reveal his true colors.

Therefore, he sent someone to the East Prefecture to pass on the message.

(End of chapter)