Chapter 364

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and Wang Xifeng were all in the hall keeping Jia Mu company, and later Xue Yima Xue also came; several people played dominoes together.

Two days ago, Yingchun spoke to Jia Mu about Jia Cong going to Jin Ling for official business and that she felt lonely in the East Mansion, wanting to let Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun move in to keep her company.

Yingchun bringing up this matter was considered normal, and Jia Mu naturally would not say no.

Originally, she agreed to Yingchun entering the Count's Mansion not only because she wanted Yingchun to be the eldest young lady of the Count's Mansion and to raise the status of this second granddaughter with a soft temperament, so that her future marriage would be more respectable.

More importantly, it was to let Jia Cong have more ties with the family through Yingchun; otherwise, with this boy's cold temperament, once he became a Count, he would become a kite with a broken string.

Now that he is going to Jin Ling on an imperial errand, it is only natural for her second granddaughter to want her sisters to come over to keep her company, and in Jia Mu's view, it was even a good thing.

Because regarding the Yuanyang matter, Jia Mu had seen clearly that this boy was someone who was cold and uninhibited, and sometimes even heartless, daring to trip up even his own father and mother behind their backs.

But he was extremely precious only to the sisters in the family. Since he was not at home, letting her own granddaughters move around in his mansion would not only keep her second granddaughter company but also cultivate their relationship.

Actually, regarding Jia Cong being able to achieve success in the imperial examinations and becoming an official and a Count, with Baoyu's temperament, he did not have the slightest intention of jealousy or envy.

He had liked to mingle among the sisters since he was a child, although in the past few years, the Lin Meimei he cared about most had long since become too distant from him, and on ordinary days, they couldn't even speak a word of heart-to-heart talk.

Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun moving to the East Mansion for a short stay did not matter to others in the mansion, but Baoyu was extremely unhappy.

However, Jia Cong made Baoyu very sad about another matter.

Actually, regarding these matters, although Baoyu was disappointed, he didn't really care too much.

Since the Old Matriarch had agreed to this matter, Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, and the others naturally would not say anything.

Several people played cards for a while longer; after all, Jia Mu was getting on in years and easily felt tired after playing for a long time, so the game broke up. At this time, Baoyu came in to pay his respects, and Jia Mu smiled and let him sit by her side.

"Old Matriarch, why did you agree to let Lin Meimei and Sister San go to live in the East Mansion? Now that they are gone, who will play with me? Good ancestor, just say the word and let them not go, can you?"

"In the courtyard Lin Meimei chose, many high-quality green bamboos are planted, and the scenery is even better than in Sister San's courtyard. I went to see it for a while this morning, and all the furniture and decorations are top-notch."

Jia Mu, however, smiled faintly: "That is the only strength he has that is good."

He only felt it was a pity that Jia Cong had top-tier appearance and demeanor, yet he was so keen on the affairs of a 'salary-worm,' wasting Heaven's favor on him by giving him a top-notch skin and top-tier poetic and literary sentiments.

Baoyu acted like a twisted candied hawthorn, acting spoiled and unreasonable toward Jia Mu.

Hearing this, Baoyu's face collapsed all at once; as long as Jia Cong was in the mansion, when the sisters went to the East Mansion to play, except for Sister San who would sometimes call him, Lin Meimei never called him.

However, the sisters were always in the same mansion, so it was easy to move around and see each other, but he never expected that after Jia Cong moved to the East Mansion, all of this would change.

Therefore, Baoyu had been extremely unhappy recently; the maids in his room served him carefully, and no matter how gentle and considerate Sister Xi Ren was, he was still dejected.

But he never expected that it would not stop there; now Lin Meimei and Sister San were also going to move to the East Mansion to live.

That boy in the East Mansion first took Second Sister over, and now he is instigating Second Sister to lure all the other sisters to the East Mansion; now it's people, and if things go wrong, in the future it will be the family property.

Also, Sister Yuanyang in the Old Matriarch's room—what a strong-willed girl, whom I admire very much—how did she also end up with Jia Cong? Am I not worthy?

Baoyu's perception of Jia Cong had now become increasingly complex.

Wang Xifeng smiled: "Brother Cong is afraid that the two sisters won't live comfortably. In Sister San's courtyard, plantains are planted in the front courtyard, and paulownias are planted in the back courtyard; the scenery in summer is even better."

Xue Yima Xue smiled from the side: "Brother Cong is so careful with the girls; it's no wonder these sisters are all close to him."

Xue Yima Xue, however, thought: Why did they let other sisters go to keep Second Sister company, but no one mentioned letting Baochai go? In the end, the relationship was still a bit distant.

She had gone to Lixiang Courtyard several times, but seeing Sister Bao was secondary; talking to this maid she had known since childhood about some heart-to-heart words and apologizing for that day's matter was the real intention.

It was a good thing he saved Jin Chuan, but ever since Jin Chuan was saved by him, she was no longer willing to look at her directly, nor would she say another word to her.

It was just that Lady Wang could not help but complain in her heart, feeling that she had indeed not misjudged him at the beginning.

Wang Xifeng played cards while saying: "Old Matriarch, the East Mansion has been very busy these past few days; Brother Cong is renovating the garden."

Jia Mu coaxed: "So what if they go? Brother Cong is going to Jin Ling for official business in a few days; with such a large Count's Mansion, how can it be without a master to hold it down? Since they are just next door, it is very convenient to come and go."

On the card table, Wang Xifeng and Yuanyang fiddled around and let Jia Mu win again, causing Jia Mu to laugh heartily.

Sister San going over is one thing, but how can Lin Meimei go to the East Mansion to live? If they also become like Second Sister and don't want to come back after going over, who will keep me company to talk and play?

Originally, Baoyu thought that Jia Cong, such a sour 'salary-worm,' must be very boring; how could Second Sister endure living in the same mansion with him for a long time?

He originally thought that Second Sister would get tired of it after living there for a while and might come back, but he didn't expect Second Sister to actually enjoy it so much that she forgot to return, and the two of them even had breakfast and dinner together every day, living very intimately.

No matter how you calculate it, it is a good thing; at worst, when he returns to the Love Shenjing, he can let the two granddaughters move back.

As soon as Jia Cong moved over, he lured Second Sister to the East Mansion to live.

"If you miss the sisters, just go over and find them."

Baoyu got very angry when he thought of this; later, Fourth Sister also often went to Second Sister's place to play, and she would sleep in Second Sister's room every other day.

Jia Mu asked curiously: "What is your brother stirring up again?"

But he didn't expect that the two would become strangers from then on; Jin Chuan looked at him as if she had seen a ghost. Am I really that hateful...?

Because in Baoyu's view, fame and wealth were vulgar and unbearable, and he had always disdained them.

If Jia Cong was at the office and not in the mansion, the sisters would never call him when they went over.

Even if he went over, the old woman guarding the small gate of the East Mansion would definitely stop him; the rules were even stricter than in the West Mansion, saying that the Count was not at home and that outside men were not to enter the second gate.

It was reasonable to say that this was everyone's rule, but how could he be considered an outside man...?

Baoyu dared not shout about this to the Old Matriarch and the Lady, otherwise, if a scene was made, not only would he lose face, but the sisters would also feel that he was meddling; Lin Meimei would probably be the first to be annoyed with him.

Baoyu thought about it for a while, and it actually gave him an idea. His eyes lit up and he said: "Old Matriarch, why not let Second Sister move back to live, and let Lin Meimei and Sister San not go over?"

After saying this, Baoyu was truly proud of his own wit.

Jia Mu was slightly stunned when she heard this, but Wang Xifeng said: "Second Sister cannot come back at this moment; Brother Cong said he is going to Jin Ling for official business. With such a large Count's Mansion, how can it be without a master to hold it down?"

Wang Xifeng understood best the Old Matriarch's intention in agreeing to Yingchun moving to the East Mansion; now Second Sister was half the master of the East Mansion.

Wasn't this what the Old Matriarch wanted? How could she tear down her own stage now just because Baoyu was acting spoiled?

Jia Mu indeed said: "Feng girl's words make sense. With Brother Cong gone, the large East Mansion has to rely on your Second Sister to manage it; if everyone leaves and only a bunch of slaves are left, it would be too unseemly."

Hearing the words of the two, Baoyu's face collapsed again, but he was helpless.

Judefang, Count's Mansion.

In Daiyu's new courtyard.

Zhi Shao and Wu'er were helping Daiyu organize her things, all of which were daily clothing for a girl brought from the West Mansion.

In the room, there were newly covered pine-green gauze windows, brand-new bed curtains, and on the dressing table, top-quality rouge, exquisite hair flowers, and newly purchased hairpins were prepared.

On the half-empty bookshelf, Daiyu was organizing some of the books she had brought.

Ever since she followed Jia Cong's body-strengthening method, her figure had stretched out quite a bit in the past six months, becoming increasingly graceful and slender, and she could easily reach the upper shelves on tiptoe.

She wore a light purple sleeveless jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, a white soft smoke gauze inner garment, and a horse-face skirt embroidered with plum blossoms of the same color; she was elegant, spiritual, and graceful, and with every move, her skirt fluttered, possessing an indescribable beauty.

On the desk were neatly placed the maps Daiyu often looked at, her notes, and a set of half-new Four Books.

Beside it was an exquisite makeup box, but inside were not a girl's ornaments.

They were all items related to Jia Cong.

Letters Jia Cong wrote to Daiyu when he was studying at the academy or in Jin Ling and Liaodong.

There were also articles Jia Cong wrote when he passed the examinations that Daiyu had copied, as well as a half-new handkerchief.

Opposite the desk hung a piece of calligraphy Jia Cong had written a few years ago—a poem about hunting.

It was just approaching noon; half the courtyard was filled with elegant green bamboo, the bamboo leaves rustling in the breeze, shielding the scorching sun and revealing a strange, proper tranquility.

The path at the courtyard gate and the corridor in front of the main room were all cool.

On the bluestone road passing through Seeing Tan Chun's new courtyard, Shi Shu was carrying the inkstone Seeing Tan Chun usually used, Cuimo took the ink box and brush rack, and there was also a large stack of rice paper.

Jia Cong had prepared the Four Treasures of the Study in Seeing Tan Chun's room, but Seeing Tan Chun was used to her own and had her maid bring them along.

Seeing Tan Chun and Jia Cong walked in front of the two maids; Jia Cong had been dragged by her to decorate the room together.

Today she was wearing a pink long jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, a white pleated skirt, and indigo embroidered shoes; her steps were light and healthy, her skirt swayed, and she looked heroic and charming.

She held a scroll in her hand; this was the "Xizhou Poem" Jia Cong had given her, which was also her most beloved thing, so she naturally had to carry it herself; she planned to hang it on the wall of her bedroom as before.

This piece of calligraphy was from several years ago, when Jia Cong was still trapped in the East Road Courtyard.

Although Jia Cong's calligraphy was now more seasoned, Seeing Tan Chun uniquely loved this one.

The mansion was deep; before that year, she didn't even know there was such a cousin. That was written by her Third Brother during his time of hardship; being able to know and be close to each other at that time was truly precious and unforgettable.

As soon as the two entered the courtyard gate, several plantains with elegant postures appeared before their eyes, and the soil at their roots had been newly turned.

Under the summer sun, the large plantain leaves were fresh and dripping with green, making Seeing Tan Chun feel happy.

The two paulownias in the back courtyard stood tall and straight, their shade covering the bedroom windows, leaving a room full of swaying light and shadow.

Love Shenjing, Hongde Gate.

Several carriages, under the escort of more than ten riders, slowly passed through the wide city gate.

These carriages did not look luxurious on the outside, but they were exquisitely and sturdily built, and within their simplicity lay a sense of grandeur that ordinary families could not possess.

The dozen or so escorts accompanying them were spirited and energetic, with weapons on their saddles; only wealthy and powerful families could raise escorts with such an aura.

In the leading carriage, the seats were covered with soft cushions filled with fragrant grass, and the floor was covered with a gray-white hemp rope carpet.

On the small table was a water-jade incense bottle newly released by the Xinchun Firm, and the light yellow perfume inside emitted an elegant and intoxicating fragrance.

Miss Zhen San, dressed in a green shirt and skirt, without any makeup, leaned lazily against the soft cushion, unfolding a piece of calligraphy with flowing ink in her hand, watching it with a leisurely attitude.

A Lady Zhen in the same carriage smiled: "Third girl, is this calligraphy really that good? I haven't seen you let go of it for the past two days."

Miss Zhen San smiled slightly: "This calligraphy is naturally good, but what is better is the meaning of this poem. Such majestic and vast words actually coming from a young man is truly strange."

Lady Zhen smiled: "Look at you, acting so old-fashioned. You aren't much older than that Brother Cong. This time we left in a bit of a hurry; the Old Imperial Consort in the palace was reluctant to let you go."

"Xue Yima, I am also reluctant to part with the Old Imperial Consort, but 'life of seventy is rare since ancient times'; if the Zhen family wants wealth to last long, relying on this alone is not enough."

Lady Zhen replied: "What you said is not wrong; your Second Sister also said so. The Old Imperial Consort has protected the Zhen family for fifty years, but even the greatest blessings have an end. To forge iron, one must be strong oneself."

"I heard that the imperial court is recently rotating officials in Jin Ling; several of your Second Brother-in-law's students in Jin Ling are all going to be moved."

Miss Zhen San frowned imperceptibly when she heard this; the Second Brother-in-law in Xue Yima's mouth was Prince Beijing, Shui Rong.

Second Sister was Xue Yima's own daughter, noble as the Princess of Beijing, and was Xue Yima's lifelong face and pride.

She smiled slightly: "Xue Yima, we should just say this privately; it's not good to let others hear it. If others hear about the Prince's students, it will be a taboo."

The noblewoman's expression was somewhat unnatural, and she said: "You girl love to worry. Let the men in the family do these things; for a girl, finding a good marriage is the most important thing."

The young girl smiled slightly; she naturally knew in her heart that her aunt wished she would get married early and stop meddling in the family's affairs.

It would be best if she could marry into a wealthy and powerful family to add a helping hand to the family, which would fulfill the duty of a Zhen family daughter.

Years ago, she had been thinking about the fact that the Rongguo Jia family had a legitimate son born with jade in his mouth, thinking he was noble and strange; these past two years, she had taken a fancy to that young Count of the Jia family who was both civil and military.

The family already had an Old Imperial Consort who was as precious as gold and jade, and a Princess; they had continued their wealth for several generations—was that not enough to attract attention?

"When the moon is full, it wanes; the virtue of a gentleman is cut off after five generations." Did they really want to occupy all the good things in the world?

Although she was born a woman, she did not want to be like her Second Sister, becoming a tool for the family's marriage alliances, and did not want to be led by the nose by others.

Miss Zhen San glanced at the calligraphy in her hand; she thought that the young man who wrote it was already a rare talent among the wealthy and powerful families.

It was just that both he and she were born into great families, and from the moment they landed, they had inextricable entanglements; weighing the interests of the world for the sake of trifles was not as good as the life of ordinary people, living happily and freely.

Love Shenjing, Liuyang River West City Shipyard, which was only two miles away from Hongde Gate.

An official ship of the Ministry of Rites Music Bureau was cutting through the waves and sailing out of the wharf.

In the cabin, Zou Min'er looked at the ten thousand acres of blue waves outside the window, somewhat dazed.

Originally, her family was destroyed, and she was hurriedly escorted away from Jin Ling as a person of lowly status.

Two years later, she returned to Jin Ling with a completely different identity.

That place had given her unforgettable and beautiful longings, and had also made her suffer infinite bitterness and humiliation.

(End of chapter)