Chapter 609: Drunken Thoughts of Romance

Rongguo Prefecture, East Courtyard.

Jia Zheng led his attendants into the main hall of the outer courtyard. As guests arrived, they stepped forward one after another to exchange pleasantries. Jia Zheng responded with courtesy, yet his heart felt deeply unsettled.

For Baoyu's fifteenth birthday celebration, Jia Zheng's intention had been for the immediate family to gather for a meal; there was no need for excessive extravagance.

However, the scale of the banquet Wang Xifeng had organized for Jia Cong had made Lady Wang feel it was highly prestigious.

She felt that since both Baoyu and Jia Cong were descendants of the Rongguo line and were the same age,

Baoyu could not be less than what Jia Cong had, even if he could not overstep his bounds. The proper decorum had to be maintained, otherwise, it would appear too shabby and crude.

Thus, the guest list for Baoyu's birthday banquet was almost a direct copy of the specifications used for Jia Cong's birthday feast...

Jia Zheng had originally felt this was inappropriate. The scale of Jia Cong's banquet was because he was now the head of the household and held a legitimate title and official rank; it was difficult to be too frugal with such status.

But Baoyu was merely a son of the secondary branch without any merit or rank, and he possessed no reputation or fame outside. Furthermore, since the secondary branch was now a side branch of the Rongguo line, Baoyu's birthday banquet truly should not have been so ostentatious.

Otherwise, in the eyes of others, it would mostly appear that the secondary branch of the Rongguo line did not know its place, lacking the demeanor and bearing of modesty and prudence.

Although Jia Zheng had his own thoughts, Jia Mu, doting on Baoyu, fully supported Lady Wang's plans and even provided her own private silver for Baoyu's birthday.

While Jia Zheng possessed a heart of modesty and self-restraint, he could not go against Jia Mu's wishes, and he wished to avoid any further unpleasantness between husband and wife over such a small matter, which would only lead to a restless household and be more trouble than it was worth.

Therefore, Jia Zheng was not particularly enthusiastic about Baoyu's birthday banquet today. He only showed his face once in the outer hall in the morning before heading to the Western Prefecture to escort Jia Mu to the feast.

Once Jia Mu entered the inner hall, he went to the study alone, leaving the management of affairs to his wife and the stewards.

Later, a family member came to report that the two Marchionesses had arrived at the prefecture to offer congratulatory gifts, and since the Marquis Zhongjing was a close relative, Jia Zheng went to the main hall of the inner courtyard again to show his face and pay his respects.

Once he had just stepped out of the inner courtyard, he felt somewhat uneasy, so he went to the main hall of the outer courtyard.

However, before he reached the outer hall, his personal attendant came to report that the seven noble families invited to the banquet had only sent gifts, but for various reasons, none of them had come to attend the feast.

After Jia Zheng entered the main hall and saw the sparse number of guests, he felt an indescribable sense of depression and disappointment; originally, according to his wishes, a low-key approach would have sufficed, and there was no need to be humiliated like this.

Seeing Jia Zheng's expression, Jia Cong naturally guessed his thoughts. He invited Jia Zheng to the side and said, "Master, the noble relatives who did not arrive have all sent gifts, which counts as fulfilling the proprieties."

"It is already late, so it would be best to start the banquet as soon as possible; dragging it out will only lead to gossip..."

Jia Zheng sighed softly, "That is all we can do. This matter was not meant to be a grand affair, so it is better to finish it quickly."

Consequently, Jia Zheng ordered the steward of the East Courtyard to start the banquet immediately and invite the guests in the outer hall to take their seats, and he also sent an attendant to the inner courtyard to tell Jia Mu to let the female guests of the inner courtyard be seated early as well.

The maids and servants of the entire East Road Courtyard, along with the cooks and helpers in the kitchen, suddenly became busy.

In fact, the guests who arrived today were all related to the Jia family, and few were foolish; they had long heard that Lady Wang was hosting a grand banquet and had invited many noble families to attend.

Yet today, not a single one was to be seen in the outer hall; who among them couldn't guess the reason? It was just that everyone saw through it but chose not to speak of it.

When the male guests in the outer hall began the banquet, some kept their heads down, drinking and eating to fill their stomachs, while others sipped slowly and recited poetry, discussing vague and obscure topics.

In this world, anyone who is deeply versed in worldly wisdom cannot avoid the behavior of fawning over the powerful; seeing others suffer setbacks and embarrassment, one always feels a sense of relief that it is not oneself.

In short, the atmosphere at the banquet was strange, lacking the joy of a birthday celebration and filled with hidden pretension and the absurdity of sitting around discussing philosophy.

At the men's table, everyone was putting on airs, except for one person who was laughing and chatting warmly, appearing quite at ease.

Xue Pan did not know when he had sat down beside Baoyu, speaking kindly to him and diligently urging him to drink; they were the only lively ones at the whole table.

In the past, Xue Pan had been somewhat dismissive of Baoyu, feeling that he was useless and only knew how to hang around the inner courtyard all day, dallying with little maids.

In the vast Jia Prefecture, everyone yielded to him; he was truly a ridiculous "King of Treasures."

Yet everyone said he was clever, and his own mother had once used Baoyu to lecture him, which made Xue Pan feel very resentful.

What made Xue Pan even angrier was that his aunt was plotting against his sister all day, creating nonsense about a "Jin Yuliangyuan" to trick his sister into marrying her own foolish son.

Just now, Xue Pan had asked Jia Cong and learned that his aunt had also invited Lady Xia and Xia Gu Niang to the banquet; he heard that his aunt was now very close to the Xia family, and the two families frequently visited each other.

That Xia Gu Niang was a beauty so soft she could make one melt, and so tender she could drip water; with such a girl frequently walking about the East Road Courtyard, could anything good come of it in the eyes of a lecher like Baoyu?

Ever since the time Xue Pan had discussed marriage with Xia Gu Niang, although the marriage between the two families did not happen, he had become obsessed with her charm and beauty, and had never forgotten her since.

Recently, he had also heard rumors that his sister had been touched by Cong Ge'er, so his aunt had given up on that idea and was now busy finding a wife for Baoyu.

His aunt was also so close to the Xia family; how could his aunt not have designs on such a moist and beautiful girl as Xia Gu Niang?

Thinking of this, Xue Pan felt jealous and hateful toward the "King of Treasures" before him, with a belly full of evil fire that had nowhere to vent.

If it were in the past, with his "Stupid Tyrant" style, if he saw someone he didn't like, he would bring his attendants to beat them up; if he didn't give them a hard time, he wouldn't be "Stupid Xue."

But he and Baoyu were proper cousins; this kind of tactic could absolutely not be used.

Otherwise, even if Jia Cong could no longer let them stay in the Jia Prefecture, this would be a major disaster for the Xue family; if one cannot bear small things, one will ruin great plans...

However, there was no harm in it at the banquet; Xue Pan couldn't help but want to play dirty, to get this "King of Treasures" half-dead with drink, to make him make a fool of himself at his own birthday banquet, and to vent his anger.

It would be best to make him lose face in front of Xia Gu Niang, to make this moist beauty disgusted with him from now on; that would be a wonderful thing...

Baoyu was already fond of wine, which was no secret in the Jia family.

Jia Mu often instructed Baoyu's wet nurse, Li Mama, to urge Baoyu to drink less when socializing with relatives.

He had once had the feat of losing his virtue after drinking and kicking Xi Ren until she vomited blood...

Moreover, Xue Pan was accustomed to carousing in wine and women; his methods of socializing and urging others to drink were extremely slick and seasoned.

Baoyu usually stayed in the inner quarters, had little experience, and was shallow in his thoughts; how could he resist Xue Pan's deliberate flattery and deception?

Not long after the banquet started, he was urged by Xue Pan to drink cup after cup, downing more than half a pot of fine wine.

Jia Zheng noticed Baoyu's drunken state, and a look of anger appeared on his face; today was Baoyu's birthday banquet, and his son didn't know how to entertain guests but got himself drunk—what kind of decorum was this!

It wasn't until Wang Ziteng also noticed something was wrong and glared fiercely at Xue Pan that Xue Pan stopped his mischief with a sheepish expression.

Although Xue Pan was a "Stupid Tyrant" who acted recklessly outside, he was very afraid of his uncle-in-law Jia Zheng and his uncle Wang Ziteng at home.

However, Xue Pan was even more afraid of his uncle Wang Ziteng, because he knew that his uncle was not only more ruthless than his uncle-in-law but also much more black-hearted...

Until the banquet ended, Jia Zheng treated Baoyu's loss of decorum with cold eyes and not a hint of a good expression; if it weren't for the guests today, he would definitely have disciplined Baoyu severely with family law again.

Although Baoyu was drunk, after leaving the banquet, he still remembered that the sisters were in the inner courtyard, and there was also his beloved Lin Meimei...

Seeing that Baoyu was very drunk, the attendant Ming Yan supported him all the way to the inner courtyard; when they reached the gate of the inner courtyard, Ming Yan could not go in, so only Baoyu went in with unsteady steps.

Although the female banquet in the inner courtyard of the East Road Courtyard had also ended, Jia Mu still sighed and felt awkward, and Lady Wang was even more indignant.

For today's birthday banquet for Baoyu, Lady Wang had sent invitations to all the noble families, following the list of guests Jia Cong had invited that day.

Unexpectedly, the only noble wives who attended were Lady Li of Marquis Zhongjing and Lady Xu of Marquis Cheng Yang.

The other seven noble families all sent gifts but did not come in person; their avoidance and estrangement from the Jia family's second branch were truly obvious, causing Lady Wang to lose all face.

It was just that at the banquet just now, perhaps others didn't know the inside story, or perhaps everyone knew but didn't speak of it. Lady Xia was also a talkative person; just a few words from her not only made the old lady happy, but the atmosphere at the banquet also became much more harmonious, which made Lady Wang breathe a sigh of relief.

Lady Wang finally made it to the end of the banquet and sent off the other female guests.

Jia Mu was still chatting with Xue Yima in the main hall of the inner courtyard, so Lady Wang asked Tan Chun to accompany Xia Gu Niang for tea, while she herself invited Lady Xia to stroll in the garden to discuss that important matter.

Daiyu was originally sitting in the hall as well, but seeing Xia Gu Niang staring at her with burning eyes, her expression strange and seemingly hostile,

Daiyu felt somewhat unhappy, so she took Zi Juan and left the main hall to sit idly in the outer corridor, fiddling with the Rubik's cube in her hand, waiting for Jia Cong to return to the inner courtyard so they could go back to the East Prefecture together.

The Rubik's cube Jia Cong gave her was very much to Daiyu's liking, making her unable to put it down; just as she was playing with it alone, she suddenly heard someone call, "Lin Meimei, so you are here."

As soon as Daiyu looked up, she smelled a strong scent of alcohol and saw Baoyu standing before her, reeking of wine.

Daiyu frowned slightly and said, "Baoyu, you have drunk so much wine, don't stand in the draft; you had better go back to your room and rest."

Baoyu was drunk at the moment and seemed not to hear Daiyu's words, his eyes staring blankly at the brilliant Rubik's cube in Daiyu's hand.

A sudden dissatisfaction welled up in his heart, and he said, "What is so fun about this thing Jia Cong gave you? What is there to treasure? Tomorrow I will find something even better for you to play with."

!

Seeing Baoyu's face full of alcohol and his slurred speech, Zi Juan felt worried and couldn't help but move closer to Daiyu.

Hearing Baoyu's words, Daiyu's pretty face sank, and she said, "Bao Er Ye, what kind of talk is this? Third Brother gave me this; why does it bother you?"

Hearing Daiyu stop calling him by his name and instead call him "Bao Er Ye" so distantly, while calling Jia Cong "Third Brother" so intimately, Baoyu felt even more sour and painful.

Borrowing the strength of the alcohol, he said with a face full of grief and indignation, "Sister came to our house when she was six years old. At that time, Jia Cong was still hiding in a corner of the East Road Courtyard, and none of us knew such a person existed."

"Those were such good days; Sister wasn't as distant as she is now. It's all because of that Jia Cong!"

Hearing this, Daiyu's pretty face flushed with anger, and Zi Juan had already stepped in front of Daiyu.

Baoyu's drunkenness grew stronger, and he was about to pour out his heart to Daiyu with deep sorrow.

Suddenly, a crisp voice was heard from behind, saying, "Bao Er Ye is about to be married; I advise you to speak with more decorum, lest you be overheard and ruin your reputation and lose your marriage."

Baoyu was just about to indulge in drunken madness and affection when he was suddenly told in front of Lin Meimei that he was about to be married and that he was ruining his marriage; it was truly too humiliating...

The infatuated style he had just cultivated was like being slapped in the face, tearing down the stage; he couldn't help but feel annoyed and ashamed.

He looked back and saw that the person speaking had delicate features and a slender figure, wearing a thin jacket of black damask and a lined vest of red satin with dark patterns; her whole person exuded cleverness and efficiency—it was the maid Xiao Hong.

Seeing Xiao Hong, Baoyu couldn't help but frown; that day in the Rongxi Hall, Xiao Hong had talked to him at length about the "way of officialdom and economy," and ever since then, he felt uncomfortable whenever he saw her.

Now that Xiao Hong had appeared out of nowhere and embarrassed him as soon as she opened her mouth, he felt very aggrieved and angry.

He said, "Xiao Hong, how can you talk nonsense? When am I getting married? Where did this come from!"

Xiao Hong walked quickly to Daiyu's side and said, "I naturally wouldn't talk nonsense. Everyone in the house knows that the Second Aunt is very close to the Xia family, and Xia Gu Niang is an outstanding person."

"The Second Aunt intends to arrange a marriage between you and Xia Gu Niang. Just now I saw the Second Aunt and Lady Xia go out to stroll in the garden alone; they must be discussing your marriage. If you don't believe me, go ask yourself."

Hearing this, Baoyu was also stunned for a moment, and thinking of Xia Gu Niang's beautiful and alluring appearance, he was actually somewhat intoxicated...

But he suddenly realized and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I marry Xia Gu Niang? How could she be as good as Lin Meimei..."

Although Baoyu had once taken advantage of Daiyu's advice to read books to pretend to be crazy and foolish, hoping to win Daiyu's soft-hearted favor,

he didn't expect it to backfire, causing his father Jia Zheng to speak firmly and cut off his delusions about Daiyu; there was no longer any possibility of a marriage.

But even so, this was something Baoyu had coveted for many years; how could it be cut off just like that? He could usually stay sober and restrained.

But today, having been tricked by Xue Pan into getting drunk, and with "wine giving courage to the cowardly," he reverted to his old ways...

Worried that Baoyu would say something unpleasant and make Daiyu even more embarrassed, Xiao Hong hurriedly cut off Baoyu's words.

She said, "Bao Er Ye, there is no need to argue. What I said is true. You are about to be married, yet you are still talking nonsense—what does that mean? If you don't believe me, go to the back garden and ask, and you will know."

Daiyu, having just heard Baoyu's words, "How could she be as good as Lin Meimei," was so angry that her face turned pale.

Seeing that Baoyu's drunkenness was hard to dispel after hearing her words, and he was muttering, "There is absolutely no such thing; I will go to the back garden and ask the Aunt right now."

Taking advantage of Baoyu being bluffed by her words and having his attention diverted, she supported Daiyu and said softly, "Miss Lin, let's not stay here. Zi Juan and I will accompany you back."

Although Daiyu was angry, her mind was very clear; she nodded, turned around, and left without saying a word, with Xiao Hong and Zi Juan hurriedly following.

On the way, Daiyu asked, "Xiao Hong, is the Second Aunt really going to arrange a marriage between Baoyu and Xia Gu Niang? If it's true, it will save him from talking nonsense in the future."

Xiao Hong giggled, "The Second Aunt wouldn't tell me if she were going to arrange a marriage with the Xia family; I was just guessing."

"Miss Lin, think about it: we have come to the East Road Courtyard for banquets twice recently, and each time the mother and daughter of the Xia family have been guests of honor; it is clear that they have an excellent relationship with the Second Aunt."

"We all know that after Bao Er Ye caused a scene last time, the Second Aunt even neglected Miss Bao. I heard from the maids in Baoyu's room that the Second Aunt is in a hurry to arrange a marriage for him."

"How could the Second Aunt not take notice of such a beautiful girl as Xia Gu Niang?"

"Today, Third Brother went to the outer hall for the men's banquet and instructed me to follow and serve the young ladies. I noticed the look the Second Aunt gave Xia Gu Niang in the hall; it is most likely the case."

"Just now when I went out to relieve myself, I happened to see the Second Aunt and Lady Xia walking toward the back garden; they weren't followed by any maids or old women, and they looked like they were discussing something."

"What I said to Bao Er Ye was just me guessing on the spot; otherwise, how could I distract him? If he had pestered you while drunk and made you suffer, I wouldn't be able to answer to Third Brother."

Zi Juan laughed, "What a bold girl! You even dare to make up such things as Bao Er Ye getting married. Be careful that the Second Aunt doesn't come to find trouble with you when she realizes it."

Xiao Hong said indifferently, "Although it's wrong to lie, in a situation like that just now, in order not to suffer, one must tell a lie."

Daiyu praised, "What a good girl. I always said Third Brother had a good eye; among so many maids in the West Prefecture, he didn't choose anyone else, but picked you to be the steward maid of Rongxi Hall."

"If you hadn't been clever just now, you wouldn't have been able to get me out of that predicament; even if he said something, it wouldn't have mattered at all."

"You are from the West Prefecture, Third Brother's head maid; Third Brother is very protective of his own, and with him protecting you, you don't need to worry about anyone making things difficult for you. In the future, I will protect you too..."

The three girls walked lightly, and in no time, they were gone.

By the time Baoyu came to his senses, drunk and hazy, he found that his Lin Meimei had long since disappeared...

At this moment, he was still thinking about the topic Xiao Hong had brought up, and in his mind, he only remembered that he had to go to the back garden to find the Aunt and ask why he was getting married.

Although he was fond of wine, his tolerance was average, and having been tricked by Xue Pan into drinking too much today, he was still dizzy and confused.

Ever since Jia Zheng and Lady Wang moved to the East Road Courtyard, Baoyu had remained in the Rongguo Prefecture, and he actually didn't visit the East Prefecture much.

The place in the East Road Courtyard he was most familiar with was probably Jia Zheng's "Mengpo Study," because every time he was called to the East Road Courtyard by Jia Zheng, it was to be examined on his studies in the Mengpo Study in the back garden...

Baoyu walked as if stepping on cotton, confused and hazy; he wanted to go to the back garden to find Lady Wang, but after being drunk, his mind was muddled, and he didn't even know where he was going.

Suddenly, a figure passed by, and Baoyu, with his drunken eyes, bumped into the person, his right hand touching a pile of objects—plump, soft, sweet, fragrant, and elastic... (End of chapter)