Chapter 607: The Infatuated One Matches the Mandarin Ducks

Rongguo Prefecture, East Courtyard.

It was still late spring, the weather was sunny, the blue sky was transparent, and the flowers were red and willows green in the Hui Fang Garden, and the scenery was pleasant.

In the early morning, Daiyu took Hearing Zi Juan and walked on the winding path in the garden. The morning breeze rolled up the skirt, her pretty face was fragrant, and the light of the step-swaying hairpin swayed.

The clear stream by the roadside was turbulent, the vines and wisteria were hanging low, and although the magnolia branches had fallen, they had already grown full of green leaves, making the greenness even fresher.

When Daiyu entered Jia Cong's courtyard, she saw Lingguan watering the flower garden, and Wu'er walked out of the main room with a copper basin.

Seeing Daiyu, she smiled and said: "Lin Young Lady came at an unfortunate time. Cong Sanye went out of the prefecture early this morning."

Daiyu was slightly stunned when she heard this and asked: "Third Brother went out so early, did he go to the firearm workshop outside the city?"

The reason Daiyu asked this was because since Jia Cong finished the metropolitan examination, he had been slightly free, and officials and craftsmen from the firearm workshop often visited.

Every time someone came to the prefecture, her Third Brother would talk for a long time in the outer courtyard, and after returning to the inner courtyard, he would often draw complex drawings in the study.

Once Daiyu saw it and was very curious. Jia Cong told her that since last year, the Firearm Division had been developing new firearms.

Daiyu had never asked about Jia Cong's official duties, so she just listened and left it at that. However, several times later, Jia Cong also went to the workshop outside the city early in the morning.

Therefore, Daiyu asked this question. And by the end of the fourth month, Jia Cong's half-year mourning period would expire, and he would have to resume his duties and re-assume the position of Supervisor of the Firearm Division.

Wu'er said: "Looking at it, it doesn't look like it. When Cong Sanye goes to the Firearm Division, he always carries drawings and some strange things, but today he went out empty-handed.

Besides, at noon today, the East Courtyard will hold Baoyu's birthday banquet. The Old Lady and the Bao Er Ye will all be present, so Cong Sanye will definitely show his face."

Daiyu did not go to the study, but sat on the veranda in Jia Cong's courtyard, chatting with Wu'er and Lingguan for a while, then said goodbye and returned to her own courtyard.

……

She had just walked halfway when she heard someone calling her from behind. Looking back, she saw Jia Cong coming over with a smile, holding a wooden box in his hand.

Daiyu smiled: "I just went to Third Brother's courtyard to find you to talk. I waited for a long time and didn't see you. Why did you come back? Did Wu'er tell you I came?"

Jia Cong smiled: "As soon as I returned to the inner courtyard, I didn't go back to my own courtyard and went straight to the sister's place. I made something fun for the sister."

Daiyu smiled prettily and asked: "What fun and rare thing? Take it out and let me see."

Jia Cong took Daiyu's small hand. Daiyu only subconsciously broke free, then let him hold it. Hearing Zi Juan behind her saw it and pursed her lips and smiled, hurriedly following behind.

The two passed the Dengxian Pavilion and sat on the mountain rocks by the water pavilion with peach blossoms and willows.

Jia Cong opened the wooden box in his hand and took out a colorful cube, which was brilliant and very beautiful in the sun.

Daiyu, including Hearing Zi Juan behind her, could not help but let out an exclamation.

Daiyu took the thing from Jia Cong's hand and found that the cube was composed of small squares, each square inlaid with gemstone jade pieces, cool and smooth to the touch.

The red ones were agate, the green ones were jadeite, the white ones were fat jade, the blue ones were lapis lazuli, the pink ones were garnet, and the transparent ones were crystal……

Daiyu counted carefully and found that the cube was inlaid with six different colors of gemstone jade pieces.

Jia Cong smiled: "Does the sister forget that last time I saw you playing with the nine-linked rings? You have been playing with that thing since you were a child. I said it was too greasy to play too much, so I made a new and strange toy for you."

Daiyu's eyes lit up and she smiled: "Could this be the Rubik's Cube that Third Brother mentioned?"

Jia Cong smiled: "The sister has a good memory, remembering it so clearly. The Rubik's Cube is a Western toy. I looked for many shops and didn't find any craftsmen who could make it. Most people hadn't even heard of it.

A few days ago, when I went to the firearm workshop outside the city to handle affairs, I accidentally found a Russian shop when returning to the city.

That shop could not only repair Western clocks and watches but also make exquisite Western jewelry and utensils. It was just that the shop's business was very

That shop could not only repair Western clocks and watches but also craft exquisite Western-style jewelry and vessels; however, business in the shop was very poor, and it looked as if it were about to close down for good.

I also tried asking about the Rubik's cube, and although the Russian shopkeeper did not know of this object either, he was highly skilled in his craft; when I described the structure of the cube, he was confident he could make one.

I had him make one for me to see; the inside of this cube is made of wood, and I had him inlay the outside with various colored gemstones and jade pieces, which makes it look better and more fun."

Jia Cong took the Rubik's cube from Lin Daiyu's hands and skillfully played with it.

As the cube turned in Jia Cong's hands, the various colored gemstones and jade pieces inlaid on the surface reflected a magnificent and fantastical light in the spring sunshine, making one feel somewhat dazzled and mesmerized.

At this moment, the spring breeze brushed against their faces by the water pavilion, and the falling blossoms from the peach tree overhead rained down, covering Jia Cong and Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu leaned against Jia Cong, her bright eyes fixed on him as he played with the cube; the small squares of various colors turned rapidly, appearing kaleidoscopic and capturing all of her attention.

Jia Cong had also not played with this thing for many years; as he pondered, he kept twisting the cube, smelling the clear fragrance of peach blossoms in the air, as well as the intoxicating sweet scent of a young girl from Lin Daiyu, and he was quite enchanted.

The cube turned in his hands for a good while before he stopped; Lin Daiyu found it curious and took it from Jia Cong's hands to play with.

She discovered that after being turned by Jia Cong, the small squares on each side were now the same color, and under the sunlight, the colors appeared even more concentrated and brilliant, making it impossible to put down.

Lin Daiyu followed Jia Cong's example, twisting the cube to scramble it, and then tried to restore it to its original state, with Jia Cong carefully guiding her by her side.

The two of them played to their hearts' content, laughing from time to time, sitting together, whispering close to each other, and leaning against one another.

Hearing Zi Juan, who was to the side, became nervous, her eyes darting left and right; in broad daylight like this, for the Cong Sanye and the young lady to be so intimate, if the passing servants were to see, it would seem inappropriate...

They waited until the sun began to climb higher, and Jia Cong and Lin Daiyu were still fiddling with the cube, playing with great absorption.

Hearing Zi Juan said from the side: "Cong Sanye, Young Lady, today is Master Bao's birthday banquet, and it is getting late; why don't we head out first and play again when we return."

Lin Daiyu seemed somewhat lazy and said: "It is just Bao Yu's birthday, after all; what matters is whether the outside guests he invited have all arrived.

As for us brothers and sisters of the family, even if we are a little late, there is no need to rush."

Hearing Zi Juan smiled: "It is certainly fine for you not to be in a rush, Young Lady, but the Cong Sanye is now the head of the family, and many people are watching his actions; furthermore, there is the face of the Bao Er Ye to consider, so we should go over early to show our faces.

If the Cong Sanye goes late, it will avoid giving people cause for gossip."

Lin Daiyu heard Hearing Zi Juan's words and also felt it made sense; if the Third Brother went late, others would not say anything, but the Second Aunt would certainly be displeased; it is better to avoid trouble than to invite it, so she stood up.

She smiled: "Third Brother, let us go now; we will go call the Second Sister and the others, and we will all take your carriage together."

Jia Cong asked: "Are there many outside guests invited to Bao Yu's birthday banquet in the East Courtyard today?"

Lin Daiyu said: "Yesterday, when I went to pay my respects to Grandmother, I heard that the Second Aunt had sent invitations to all the old family relatives, and they are much the same as the guests the Third Brother invited that day..."

Although she had already stood up, she was still holding the Rubik's cube in her hands, reluctant to put it down...

Rongguo Prefecture, East Courtyard.

Jia Cong took the maid Xiao Hong, and while supporting the Second Sister, Lin Daiyu, and the other sisters, they boarded the carriage; the group exited through the East Corner Gate, and the carriage stopped at the black-oiled main gate of the East Courtyard, heading toward the Hanging Flower Gate of the inner courtyard.

Along the way, they saw passing servants and maids, all of whom had changed into new clothes, carrying stools and holding dishes, coming and going in a hurry, appearing very busy.

When Jia Cong passed the main hall, he saw that some outside guests were already seated, among whom were Bao Yu's uncle Wang Ziteng and Bao Yu's cousin Xue Pan.

There were also a few unfamiliar faces, who seemed to be relatives of the Wang family in the capital.

But he did not see Jia Zheng, which was not surprising; for a son's birthday banquet, there was no reason for the father to necessarily show his face.

Moreover, the relationship between Jia Zheng and Wang Ziteng was cold, so naturally, he would avoid him if he could.

He also saw Bao Yu entertaining guests in the main hall, wearing a large red round-collared robe with gold lotus embroidery on the collar, and a belt inlaid with fat jade and treasures; he was dressed entirely in red, looking quite festive.

It was just that, even from a distance, Jia Cong could still see the stiff, unwilling expression on Bao Yu's face as he entertained the guests.

If this were at Rongguo Prefecture and there were guests in the main hall, Jia Cong, as the head of the family, would naturally have to go and socialize.

Today, he was also a guest at the East Courtyard, so naturally, there was no need for him to socialize with them.

Furthermore, a person like Wang Ziteng was gloomy and snobbish, and he had no desire to deal with such a person, so he followed the sisters into the side hall of the inner courtyard.

The East Courtyard was a side courtyard of Rongguo Prefecture; as the head of the Jia family, he was at the same age of fifteen as Bao Yu, and was also Jia Zheng's own nephew, so there was no need to be overly cautious inside or out.

It was just that when Bao Yu saw Lin Daiyu and the others passing by from afar, he abandoned the outside guests in the main hall and excitedly followed them into the inner hall, asking the sisters questions along the way, which looked somewhat comical.

It was just that Bao Yu was quite disappointed that Jia Cong had not brought the pretty maids like Liu Wuer or Qing Wen, but had only brought Xiao Hong along to serve him.

He had always been very envious of the maids around Jia Cong, but although Xiao Hong was also quite pretty, ever since that day in the Rongxi Hall when Xiao Hong spoke to him at length about the ways of officialdom and economy,

Bao Yu had deeply despised Xiao Hong's character and had kept his distance from this maid ever since. Jia Cong was indeed a person greedy for salary; when going out, he brought no other maids, but specifically brought her; Bao Yu was naturally not interested at all...

Jia Cong entered the side hall of the inner courtyard and saw that Xue Yima and Xue Baochai were also seated.

Tan Chun was also sitting to the side to keep them company; today was the birthday of her brother Bao Yu, so naturally, she had come over early in the morning to help manage things.

When Baochai and Tan Chun saw the sisters coming over, they smiled and went to greet them, sitting to the side to talk in low voices.

Jia Cong saw that everyone in this side hall was familiar, except for a woman in luxurious attire and a beautiful, dignified young lady, who were not members of the family.

Jia Cong recognized these two; they had also come last time for Lady Wang's birthday banquet—the mother and daughter of the Xia family from the Osmanthus Garden.

Jia Cong's gaze involuntarily turned toward the beautiful and seemingly dignified young lady, because to him, Xia Jingui was too famous, and he was always somewhat curious whenever he saw her.

At this moment, Lady Wang was not talking much to her sister, but was chatting happily with Mrs. Xia.

Jia Cong did not know if he was being sensitive, but when Lady Wang chatted with Mrs. Xia, she often looked at Xia Gu Niang to the side, and there was a strange, fiery intensity in her gaze...

!

Jia Cong followed the etiquette of a junior and stepped forward to greet Xue Yima and Lady Wang.

Xue Yima was all smiles, her words were kind, and she chatted with Jia Cong for a few moments.

Lady Wang only nodded slightly to Jia Cong's greetings, her face wearing a reserved smile, as if her attention was still on chatting with Mrs. Xia.

Jia Cong had long been accustomed to Lady Wang's style and did not take it to heart at all; he only came today out of family etiquette, just to go through the motions.

After he finished the courtesies, he sat down among the sisters to talk.

The Xia family had received Lady Wang's invitation a few days ago; according to Xia Gu Niang's temperament, she had absolutely no interest in going to drink the birthday wine of that effeminate Bao Yu.

However, under her mother's urging and coaxing, Xia Gu Niang still came, but she did not come for Bao Yu's birthday banquet...

From the moment Xia Gu Niang sat down in the side hall of the inner courtyard, on the surface, she was still a beautiful, dignified, and impeccable young lady of a great family, which made Lady Wang find her more and more pleasing to the eye.

But from the moment she sat down, her heart was no longer calm; because she knew that since it was Bao Yu's birthday, Jia Cong, as the head of the family and cousin, would definitely come to the banquet.

Now, Xia Gu Niang was clearly aware that although she looked down on Bao Yu and detested the Jia family's Second Aunt,

as long as she got close to this family, she could see Jia Cong in an intimate way!

At this moment, she saw Jia Cong greeting Lady Wang, but Lady Wang's attitude was somewhat deliberately cold, and she could not help but feel indignant in her heart.

This Mrs. Jia was said to have come from a prominent family in Jin Ling and should have been a decent person; she did not expect that not only was she stupid enough to eat dirt and be played with and teased by her daughter-in-law at will—which was one thing—

but she was also so lacking in upbringing. Jia Cong was her own nephew, and his status was so noble; not only was he a noble with two titles, but he was also the head of both branches of their Jia family.

When someone followed the etiquette of a junior and stepped forward to greet and speak with her, this Mrs. Jia actually acted arrogant, with an indifferent air.

She was truly an old wretch who was not worth a penny, with not a shred of the appearance of an elder; she had lived all these years in vain!

Xia Gu Niang cursed Lady Wang in her heart, and then when she thought of Jia Cong, she felt even more that he was a good person; such a decent young man, and his manners were so thoughtful—what a genuine person he was.

Last time she and her mother came to attend Mrs. Jia's birthday banquet, it was the first time she had encountered Jia Cong face-to-face, and he had even spoken to her.

After returning that day, Xia Gu Niang was like someone possessed, recalling the details of that moment countless times, falling into an abnormal state from which she could not extricate herself...

She clearly remembered every movement of Jia Cong and every word he said, although it was just a polite remark.

"Xia Gu Niang is too kind. Today is the Second Aunt's birthday banquet, and we brothers and sisters have come out to talk; it would be impolite to leave for too long, so we must return to the banquet now. Xia Gu Niang, please go ahead..."

This sentence was polite and kept a clear distance, but even so, whenever the night was deep and quiet, it often echoed back and forth in Xia Gu Niang's mind.

His voice was so clear and gentle, and it seemed to have a heart-shattering magic; even such a polite remark was spoken so beautifully by him.

Every time Xia Gu Niang recalled it, she always felt that it was not a polite remark, but a deeply moving love confession, which gave rise to the illusion of infatuation...

As soon as she entered the inner courtyard of the East Courtyard, her heart was immersed in anticipation and joy; it seemed that everything in the world became insignificant in the face of this feeling.

This strange feeling seemed to penetrate deep into her marrow, making one hopeless, yet it also made her obsessed and reluctant to let go, willing to immerse herself in it, unwilling to extricate herself...

Until she saw Jia Cong walking into the side hall with the Jia sisters, his clothes fluttering, his peerless and handsome appearance, and his clear, wise, and heroic bearing, which seemed to satisfy her instantly...

Moreover, this time they met, Jia Cong seemed somewhat different; Xia Gu Niang noticed that he had looked at her earnestly.

His eyes were very beautiful, his gaze as deep as an autumn pool, and it seemed capable of capturing one's soul...

Xia Gu Niang felt somewhat proud; her appearance and figure were not a bit inferior to those Jia family girls.

Just as Xia Gu Niang was letting her imagination run wild and her thoughts were drifting, she looked up at Jia Cong again, and her surging emotions seemed to turn cold instantly.

It seemed that Jia Cong's glance just now was just an illusion; now, there was not a bit of her in his eyes, and he was sitting there talking to a Jia family girl.

That girl looked gentle and refined, born both beautiful and pretty, and her appearance and bearing were just as dazzling as Jia Cong's.

She was holding a square object in her hand, inlaid with gemstones and jade pieces, playing with it in her delicate, fair palms, flashing with a brilliant light.

Xia Gu Niang paid close attention to any girl who got close to Jia Cong; last time at Lady Wang's birthday banquet, she remembered every girl in the Jia family clearly.

This girl playing with the object in her hand was the granddaughter of the Jia family's Grandmother, and it was said that she was the only daughter of the Lianghuai Salt Commissioner Lin, and was Jia Cong's proper cousin.

The other Jia family girls were just Jia Cong's own sisters or cousins; only that Miss Xue and this Lin Meimei were his cousins, which made Xia Gu Niang feel very uncomfortable.

Bao Yu, who followed into the side hall, saw the Rubik's cube in Lin Daiyu's hand and asked curiously: "Cousin Lin, what is this object? It is so exquisite; where did you get it?"

Lin Daiyu said somewhat proudly: "The Third Brother gave it to me."

Bao Yu originally wanted to ask if Cousin Lin could lend it to him to play with, but when he heard it was a gift from Jia Cong to Lin Daiyu, his face fell, and he could no longer say it.

Xia Gu Niang heard that effeminate Bao Yu ask clearly, and Lin Daiyu's reply was also very clear.

So the toy in this pretty girl's hand was actually a special gift from Jia Cong; a sour feeling rushed straight to the top of Xia Gu Niang's head, and she felt incredibly disgusted and uncomfortable.

At this moment, Lady Wang was chatting happily with Mrs. Xia, but was somewhat neglectful of her own sister, Xue Yima.

Lady Wang was smiling and saying: "Mrs. Xia, after the banquet ends later, please stay for a while; let us go for a stroll in the back garden, as I have an important matter to discuss with you.

Just let your daughter stay in the back courtyard; I will have the Third Girl keep her company and talk, and let Bao Yu stay to look after her as well."

Mrs. Xia saw Lady Wang's face full of smiles, containing joy, and when she spoke, she also looked at her daughter; the love and appreciation in her gaze were self-evident.

Mrs. Xia had a sudden realization in her heart; she thought that her roundabout methods had finally yielded some results...

She smiled: "That would be wonderful; I have heard my daughter say that your back garden was newly renovated and the scenery is very elegant, and I was just wanting to stroll through it."

Although Lady Wang did not say it explicitly just now, her tone was unusually warm.

Young ladies like Ying Chun and Lin Daiyu had limited experience, after all, and only felt that Lady Wang and Mrs. Xia were getting along well, so they did not take it to heart.

But Xue Yima, who was seated there, was a mature woman and was most familiar and sensitive to such family matters and the ways of the world.

She knew that her sister had been obsessed with Bao Yu's marriage for the past half year.

Last time when Brother Cong had his birthday, she had even organized a gathering with Grandmother, originally wanting to find a good match for Bao Yu among the noble young ladies, but she heard that it had fallen through and she had lost face.

Now, hearing the ambiguous and warm words between her sister and Mrs. Xia, and seeing that beautiful young lady to the side, Xue Yima understood immediately...

It was just that after thinking it through, Xue Yima felt somewhat unhappy; no wonder last time she invited her sister over to look at the marriage with the Xia family together,

but the Xia family used the excuse of a high monk fortune-telling to push the matter away; could it be that her sister had a hand in this?

Xue Yima thought of her son Xue Pan, who had always been obsessed with Xia Gu Niang.

This matter must not let him know, otherwise, if her foolish son were to make a scene, the face between relatives would be embarrassing... (End of chapter)