Chapter 540: Peeking at Private Feelings in the Narrow Evil

Earl's Mansion.

Baochai left Lixiang Courtyard, turned left and walked a little, and reached the wind and rain corridor between the East and West Prefectures.

She knocked on the door knocker of the East Prefecture's small gate twice, and the copper and iron collided to make a clanging sound, and the gatekeeper mother opened the small gate.

Baochai often came to walk, and they all recognized Baochai and welcomed her in with a smile.

Baochai knew that this gatekeeper mother who guarded the small gate was a clever servant of the East Prefecture, and it was only these sisters in the family, others could not be released at will.

Ever since Jia Cong inherited the Rongguo Prefecture, although both the East and West Prefectures were his properties, he still lived in the East Prefecture, and the rules for entering and leaving the East Prefecture were still strict.

Like Baoyu, the young master who was good at saying that girls were made of water, he could not step into the inner courtyard of the East Prefecture like before.

Although the Rongxi Hall in the West Prefecture was also Jia Cong's legitimate residence, he only arranged for trusted stewards and maids to guard and clean it, and except for entertaining guests during the New Year, he rarely stayed there overnight.

Baochai entered the back garden of the East Prefecture. Although it was still the end of winter, many grasses and trees in the garden were withered and yellow, and only evergreen shrubs remained green.

The stone paths, corridors, rain pavilions, rockeries, water pavilions, and other places passed by were all neat and clean, which showed that someone cleaned them every day.

Baochai knew that the number of servants in the East Prefecture was far less than in the West Prefecture, but the atmosphere inside and outside the East Prefecture was more refreshing and decent than in the West Prefecture, which made her feel peaceful and comfortable every time she stepped into the East Prefecture.

By the time she went to Yingchun's courtyard, there was an unusual quietness inside. In the past, just after entering the courtyard gate, she could hear Shi Xiangyun's bright and refreshing voice.

Baochai asked the mother sweeping the courtyard, but she said that the eldest young lady originally wanted to pick up the Third Young Lady today, but the East Road Courtyard sent a message that the Third Young Lady was not feeling well for the past two days.

The eldest young lady took Lin sister, Shi sister, and Xing sister to visit the East Road Courtyard, and since the Second Branch Master moved to the East Road Courtyard, he hadn't visited yet, so it was just right to go and walk around.

Baochai didn't expect to come and miss it. She should have gone to visit Seeing Tan Chun together, but she came a step late, and it didn't matter if she was missing, so she would talk about it another day.

She asked, "Is Cong brother also together, or staying in the mansion to study?"

The mother replied, "The young master didn't go, he is still studying in his courtyard, but he instructed the eldest young lady to pick up the Third Young Lady to live for two days when she returns."

"It is more convenient to seek medical advice in the East Prefecture, and the famous doctors the young master knows also know the way to the East Prefecture."

Baochai smiled secretly. She knew that among the sisters, Jia Cong and Seeing Tan Chun were the most compatible since childhood. In ordinary times, if Seeing Tan Chun was not feeling well, he would have gone to visit her.

Regarding the matter of inheriting the title at the end of the year and the Xue Yima's actions, Baochai had long heard rumors.

It must be that he had developed a grudge against the Xue Yima's actions, so he was too lazy to face her. He didn't want to go over himself, so he found an excuse to move the Third Sister back, which was truly not willing to suffer a loss at all.

But she didn't know that the Xue Yima came to Lixiang Courtyard today, so even if Cong brother went to the East Road Courtyard, he wouldn't meet her face to face.

Seeing Tan Chun sister had such a brother who protected her and cherished her, which was also a blessing.

Baochai thought about these and sighed in her heart. She also had a brother, although he could be considered to cherish her, they were all unreliable ideas.

And this brother was messing around outside all day, and she didn't know when he would know how to restrain himself and make progress. Compared with these sisters of the Jia family,

She didn't want to think about those shadows either; if only one day he would treat her with more private care and affection, just like he did for Seeing Tan Chun, and they could get closer, she would be satisfied.

Baochai's thoughts were continuous, the breeze in the garden was fine, and her heart was full of gentle affection, swaying and having nowhere to rest.

After leaving Yingchun's courtyard, she didn't return to the West Prefecture, and her footsteps had unconsciously headed toward Jia Cong's courtyard.

……

When Baochai entered Jia Cong's courtyard, she saw that it was quiet inside and out, and she knew the reason.

Because Jia Cong was studying for the examinations, the girls in his courtyard were all very thoughtful, and their daily speech and actions were careful, for fear that being too noisy would disturb his state of mind for reading.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Si'er and Juan'er, who were wiping the railings of the veranda, saw her and came over to pay their respects, wanting to go inside to announce her.

Baochai smiled and stopped them, saying: "I am not an outside guest; I just came to walk around when I was free, to see and talk, and then I'll leave. Being too noisy will disturb your Cong Sanye's reading; I'll just go in myself."

As soon as she entered the main room, she saw Zhi Shao sitting in the sunny spot by the south window, sewing a soft silk undershirt.

Zhi Shao was wearing a light purple long coat embroidered with chrysanthemums, a pale yellow cross-collar undershirt, and a pink cotton brocade skirt.

Her eyebrows were like green willows, her temples were dark, her back was slender, her waist was thin, and she was elegant and quiet; the afternoon sun shone on her, making her glow, and she had an indescribable, pretty beauty.

Baochai smiled and asked: "Zhi Shao Sister, is Brother Cong reading inside? I came to find Second Sister to talk, but coincidentally they all went to the East Road courtyard, so I came to walk around on the way."

Baochai knew that Zhi Shao was the girl closest to Jia Cong, having grown up suffering with him, and had always been the most valued by Jia Cong, with a bond different from others.

Since her heart was set on Jia Cong, she naturally saw all this, and out of love for him, she had always been very close to Zhi Shao and never treated her like a maid.

Zhi Shao smiled: "Bao Miss is here. Cong Sanye finished his lunch and is now resting in the study; he is not reading, so Bao Miss can go in and talk."

Baochai said: "Since he is resting, I won't go in. We'll talk, and then I'll leave."

As the two were talking, Jia Cong's voice came from inside the study, asking: "Zhi Shao, who is outside?"

Zhi Shao smiled at Baochai: "I said Cong Sanye was just resting, but as soon as Miss spoke, he heard it. You might as well go in and talk."

Baochai entered the study alone and saw Jia Cong sitting in a reclining chair, looking at her with a smile on his face.

On his head, he wore a beamless snow-fat jade crown, was dressed in a moon-white long robe with dark flower patterns, and had a jade-inlaid treasure belt at his waist; he was handsome, noble, and had a dazzling demeanor.

Jia Cong smiled: "Why does Bao Sister have time to come and walk around today?"

Baochai smiled: "I didn't dare to come and disturb your studies in the past. Today I came to find Second Sister and the others to talk, but I happened to miss them, and hearing that only you were home, I came to take a look."

Zhen Ying Lian got up and went out to serve tea to Baochai, then left the study, leaving the two of them to talk.

Since entering the Jia Mansion, Baochai had only met Jia Cong with other sisters over the past few years, and there were very few occasions where the two of them met alone like this.

Although she was full of gentle affection in her heart, she was, after all, a bright and magnanimous person, so she wouldn't be so embarrassed that she couldn't speak when facing Jia Cong alone.

At this time, the sunlight outside the window had slightly faded, and the sky had become somewhat gloomy, but the atmosphere in the study was harmonious and pleasant.

Although Baochai was not as talented and elegant as Daiyu, her every gesture was full of scholarly talent.

But her father was an outstanding person with a long-term vision different from others, who had taught his daughter to study the books of the hundred schools since she was young, fostering Baochai's erudite and eclectic talent.

This allowed Baochai to dabble in poetry, medicine, Buddhism, and so on; such a talented girl meeting Jia Cong's full belly of strange ideas was naturally an excellent conversational partner.

Outside the window, the clouds were rolling, and the long afternoon in the study was leisurely; the two talked casually, without constraints, laughing and chatting freely, which was quite interesting.

Jia Cong and Daiyu were soulmates, he and Seeing Tan Chun were compatible and intimate, he and Yingchun were tolerant and warm, and with other sisters or maids, he was either sharing life's hardships, relying on and appreciating them, or pitying and cherishing them.

Baochai was different from them all; Jia Cong and she were not even as close as the others, but they had a different kind of tacit understanding, and although there was some distance, they could get along more equally.

……

Jia Cong suddenly thought of something and asked: "Bao Sister, wasn't it said a while ago that Brother Xue was looking for a marriage, and the one decided upon was the Xia family's young lady? I don't know how that turned out?"

Hearing Jia Cong suddenly ask about this, Baochai remembered the ambiguous look the Xia girl gave him and felt somewhat uncomfortable in her heart.

She said: "Originally, after the Xia mistress and the Xia girl left, there was no news for more than half a month, so whether it would succeed or not was still uncertain."

"But today, Xue Yima came to Lixiang Garden; she was entrusted by the Xia mistress to specifically convey the apology for the marriage."

"It is said that the Xia family invited a high monk to cast a fortune for the Xia girl and my brother, saying that their fates were incompatible and the marriage would be hard to harmonize, so this marriage had to be called off."

Hearing this, Jia Cong felt a slight shock in his heart.

It seemed that after his arrival, many things in this world, which he had originally been very familiar with, were changing their original trajectories in a subtle way: the Jia family's East Prefecture fell prematurely; Jia She died prematurely; Yingchun and Sun Shaozu severed their evil bond; Yuanchun might no longer follow the path of being named an imperial consort; and now the marriage between Xue Pan and Xia Jingui had also been called off……

Some of these things were done by him intentionally, while others were beyond his control; he didn't know what other changes would occur in the future.

However, with the marriage between Xue Pan and Xia Jingui failing to materialize, the Xue family had truly escaped a disaster; at the very least, Baochai would have fewer difficulties and troubles in the future, which was also an excellent thing.

Jia Cong asked curiously: "For the marriage apology, why didn't the Xia mistress tell Xue Yima herself, but instead conveyed it through the Lady? As far as I know, the two of them have no connection?"

Baochai said: "I was also puzzled by this. Xue Yima only accompanied them to the banquet that day when the Xia mother and daughter visited; I haven't heard that they had any dealings before, but now it seems the two have a very harmonious relationship."

"It's as if they have known each other for many years. Today, Xue Yima even spoke many good words for the Xia mistress; given Xue Yima's usual temperament, such words and actions are truly a bit strange."

Hearing Baochai's words, Jia Cong felt a very strange feeling in his heart; Lady Wang and the Xia mistress had become close friends—how could that sound so awkward?

He suddenly remembered that day at Rongqing Hall, when Zhang Daoist Priest of Yuxu Temple, in front of the Old Matriarch, tried to play matchmaker for Baoyu and mentioned three young ladies, one of whom was the Xia family's.

Jia Cong felt an extremely absurd feeling in his heart; could it be that Zhang Daoist Priest's mouth had been blessed? Jia Baoyu and Xia Jingui—could these two also be a "Gold and Jade Affinity"? Then this world was too crazy.

But given Lady Wang's treacherous and obsessive nature, it was hard to say what strange and eerie things she might stir up.

However, it had nothing to do with him; as for marriage, when heaven wants to rain and mothers want to marry off their daughters, everyone should just look after themselves……

……

Jia Cong and Baochai chatted casually for a long time, and time passed unconsciously; suddenly, a thunderclap came from outside the window, startling Baochai and making her slender body tremble slightly.

A heavy rain poured down without warning, soaking the courtyard outside the window in an instant, and all around was the sound of pattering rain.

In the Divine Capital, although there wasn't much winter rain in February, it wasn't little either; once it rained, it would be bone-chillingly cold.

The rain had been falling for half a cup of tea's time and hadn't stopped; the study, which had been harmonious, was now surging with thick coldness, and Baochai subconsciously stroked her arms with both hands.

She said: "Brother Cong, I've kept you chatting and delayed much of your reading time; I should go."

Seeing Baochai rise to take her leave, Jia Cong didn't force her to stay, but went into the inner room, took an indigo flower-patterned cloak, and draped it over Baochai.

He said: "The winter rain is cold, and I see that Bao Sister's clothes are not very thick; add a cloak to avoid catching a cold. I remember you have an old ailment that is easily triggered during the spring cold."

Baochai's pretty face flushed slightly, and she felt that the cloak on her body was unusually warm; she reached out and tied the neck ribbon of the cloak.

She smiled and said: "Speaking of that old ailment, I have to thank Brother Cong even more. You had the Divine Physician Zhang improve the prescription for the Cold Fragrance Pill, and it was indeed very effective."

"Originally, the beginning of winter and spring was when my old ailment often flared up, but after taking the newly made pills last time I fell ill, it suppressed the disease immediately."

"Later, following Divine Physician Zhang's instructions, I took it twice more, and it hasn't recurred this winter; it's quite magical."

"The new medicine is much stronger than the old prescription; if I continue to take it according to the illness and take good care of myself for a year or two, it might really be possible to remove the root of the disease."

"And the fragrance of this new pill is not as rich as the old prescription; the scent is much lighter and more elegant, which is even more comfortable to smell."

Jia Cong had seen Baochai take the Cold Fragrance Pill before, and there was indeed a rich and fragrant scent on her body, which was very unique and pleasant.

Now hearing Baochai say this, he felt some curiosity in his heart and couldn't help but sniff, saying involuntarily: "It is indeed much more elegant and pleasant; it smells better than before."

As soon as these words were out, he felt it was very inappropriate—how could he be so presumptuous as to smell the scent on a young lady's body? His face couldn't help but show embarrassment, and he looked at Baochai with some shame, only to see Baochai's face burning red, glaring at him with some reproach, but fortunately, she didn't hold it against him.

Jia Cong felt ashamed of his own slip of the tongue and said: "Bao Sister, today is unusual; the road is slippery in the rain, so be careful when walking. I'd better see you back."

Baochai nodded with a red face and walked silently in front; the two walked out of the study and saw Jin Chuan talking to Zhi Shao and Qingwen in the main hall.

Seeing the young lady and the Cong Sanye coming out of the study together, not only was her face flushed, but she was also wearing a cloak that wrapped her body tightly.

The color and style of that cloak were not something a young lady would wear, and besides, the young lady hadn't worn a cloak when she came, so it must be the Cong Sanye's.

This made Jin Chuan feel somewhat strange; not knowing what she was thinking, her little face also turned red for no reason……

Qingwen, who was by her side, had a straightforward temperament and didn't know how to hide her expression; her big, watery eyes were already full of curiosity, her gaze flowing, and she kept looking back and forth at Baochai.

It wasn't until Zhi Shao pulled her sleeve in reproach that Qingwen lowered her head and stopped looking, but the corners of her beautiful mouth kept twitching slightly.

Jin Chuan felt the atmosphere was a bit strange, but even if there was something between her young lady and the Cong Sanye, it was all a good thing, so she didn't care in her heart and even had some strange expectations.

She opened the umbrella for Baochai and walked in front, while Jia Cong followed behind with his own umbrella.

Qingwen also opened an umbrella and followed Jia Cong very diligently; it was not proper for the Cong Sanye to go out without a maid, so she had to serve him well to avoid him doing anything absurd.

The few of them walked unhurriedly in the rain curtain; fortunately, the rain was much lighter than before, so they didn't get their bodies too wet while walking, and the occasional rain thread sweeping across their faces felt cool and pleasant.

The confusing sound of rain echoed all around them, and the rain curtain blurred the scenery in the distance and nearby.

The rain hitting the grass leaves washed out a moving new green; the rain hitting the water surface created layers of ripples……

……

The few of them walked to the small gate in the alley between the East and West Prefectures; the old woman guarding the gate opened it, and Jia Cong was about to see Baochai to Lixiang Garden.

Baochai looked back at him, her pretty face still flushed and moving, and said: "Brother Cong, seeing me to here is enough; it's only a few steps from the small gate to Lixiang courtyard."

Hearing her words, Jia Cong stopped and said: "Bao Sister, come and sit again when you have time."

Baochai's bright eyes flowed, she glanced at him, nodded, and took Jin Chuan through the wind-and-rain veranda connecting the East and West Prefectures, walking into the rain curtain of the West Prefecture.

Baochai couldn't help but look back and saw Jia Cong still standing at the East Prefecture's small gate, holding an umbrella and not leaving; his upright figure was somewhat blurred in the rain curtain.

Her heart trembled uncontrollably, and she turned her head, not daring to look again……

……

Rongguo Prefecture, Lixiang courtyard.

Xue Yima Xue looked at the rain outside the window and muttered: "This rain came suddenly, and it's much colder outside. Bao Yatou went out wearing thin clothes; I hope she doesn't catch a cold and trigger her old ailment."

Lady Wang sat to the side, frowning slightly; originally, she had finished speaking to Xue Yima Xue about the Xia family's marriage apology and could have left.

But seeing Baochai go to the East Prefecture to walk around and leave with a look of joy, Lady Wang thought of Jia Cong's outstanding appearance and the many beauties he kept by his side.

Thoughts she hadn't had in the past suddenly popped up today as if by some strange fate.

Her niece Baochai was the daughter-in-law she had long set her sights on, and she was so outstanding; that boy in the East Prefecture was always evil, and if something happened, my Baoyu would be in trouble……

Therefore, she found an excuse to chat with her sister today, but in fact, she was just worried and waiting for Baochai to return from the East Prefecture.

How could Xue Yima Xue imagine her sister's narrow and evil thoughts? She just took it as sisters chatting casually and even instructed the kitchen to prepare wine and food, asking Lady Wang to stay for a meal in the courtyard.

Xue Yima Xue was worried about her daughter and said to the maid Tongxi: "Take the young lady's cloak and send it to the East Prefecture to her; the cold air in the rain is too heavy at this hour, so don't let her trigger her old ailment."

Hearing Xue Yima Xue's instructions, Tongxi hurried into the room to find Baochai's cloak and hurriedly wanted to open an umbrella to send it to the East Prefecture.

Lady Wang's face became somewhat ugly; this Bao Yatou had been in the East Prefecture long enough, so why didn't she know to come back earlier? The propriety and cleverness she had in the past were all gone.

She was feeling restless in her heart when she suddenly heard Tongxi's voice outside: "Miss, you're back. The Mistress was afraid you would be cold and asked me to send you clothes."

"Miss, are you okay? Eh, this cloak looks unfamiliar; whose is it?" (End of chapter)