Chapter 622

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu proposed that Jia Cong and Bao Yu had both reached fifteen, and according to the old rules of the Jia family, they should place girls in their rooms to serve them.

Originally, Bao Yu would have been beaming with joy at such a thing, but now he felt no joy at all.

He only felt that these days, apart from playing with Seeing Seeing Baochan, there was not a single good thing.

His mother was arranging his marriage with the Xia girl, although the Xia girl was also extremely beautiful.

But if he married her, he would be unfaithful to Lin Meimei; wouldn't that be failing two outstanding girls? It was truly a great sin, and it was heartbreaking to think about.

If the marriage were to succeed, what face would he have in front of Lin Meimei, and how could he speak loudly? It would be better to die cleanly...

As for what Jia Mu said, for Bao Yu, there was no unexpected joy, because he had long known that those two people would enter his room.

Xi Ren had played romantic games with him countless times, and he was already a bit tired of it.

As for Cai Xia, she had been Lady Wang's maid since she was a child, and Bao Yu had been familiar with her since he was a child; although he had never really touched her, he had played and teased her many times, and it was no longer fresh...

So when he heard Jia Mu wanted to arrange this, there was really nothing to be happy about; he just felt bored, and even felt heartache for the girls Jia Cong was going to take.

Bao Yu had also seen Zhi Shao by Jia Cong's side; not only was she beautiful as a flower, but even the palace esteemed her, and she had practiced in a Buddha nunnery for several years; what an outstanding and clean girl.

Not to mention Liu Wuer, all the maids in his room added together were not as pretty and proud as her.

Such two extremely proud girls were actually occupied by a corrupt official like Jia Cong; it was truly unjust for Heaven to do such a filthy and miserable thing.

When Bao Yu thought of these things, he only felt a sense of depression in his chest, making him, a clean person, unable to stop vomiting, wishing he could go crazy and vent immediately.

Just as he was getting into it, he suddenly touched the scar on his forehead, and that faint pain instantly made his spirit clear, dispelling all kinds of thoughts.

Wang Xifeng saw that when Jia Mu just mentioned this, Bao Yu had no joy on his face, but was full of frustration, and even sighed from time to time without a trace.

Wang Xifeng's mind was agile, and she knew Bao Yu's temperament best on weekdays; she suddenly thought that a few days ago, Bao Yu often borrowed excuses to go to her courtyard, wanting to tease Liu Wuer with words.

As soon as she thought of this, she understood why Bao Yu had such a face, and she felt her stomach churn; she felt strange in her heart—how could she still have morning sickness at this month?

She hurriedly picked a sour plum from Feng Er's food box and stuffed it into her mouth, only then stopping the nausea in her heart.

Wang Xifeng also felt disgusted by Jia Mu's words just now; Jia Mu's words were out of proportion, as if Jia Cong taking people into his room was just taking advantage of Bao Yu's convenience.

Now that she and Jia Cong were both from the eldest branch, they naturally shared a common hatred for the enemy; although she felt uncomfortable in her heart, she would not easily show it on her face.

She smiled, "I have long thought about what Grandmother said; I chose a day a few days ago, which is the twenty-fifth of this month."

Jia Mu smiled, "Feng Yatou is still thoughtful; she keeps the family brothers' affairs in her heart; the twenty-fifth is a good day."

Wang Xifeng smiled again, "In order to choose this day, Ping Er and I flipped through the almanac for a long time, thinking that this day is the most auspicious and appropriate.

Because, Brother Cong will enter the palace for the palace examination on the tenth of this month; I estimate that by the twenty-fifth, the imperial list will have long been posted; at that time, Brother Cong will have both big and small successes, which is great luck!"

As soon as Wang Xifeng said this, Rongqing Hall fell into a strange silence for a moment, and only Wang Xifeng's crisp laughter echoed in the hall...

After a while, Jia Mu came back to her senses and smiled slightly, "This is a good day; let's choose this day."

But Jia Mu was Jia Mu after all, while Lady Wang could only be Lady Wang.

Just now, Jia Mu said that Bao Yu was taking people into his room, and by the way, Jia Cong's affairs should also be handled together; Lady Wang found it very pleasant to hear, and she probably thought that the Jia family's affairs should be handled this way.

And Wang Xifeng also followed Jia Mu's tone, saying that she had already chosen a good day.

But Lady Wang never expected that Wang Xifeng would suddenly change her tune, saying that choosing this day was to give Jia Cong the good luck of both big and small successes; then what about my Bao Yu?

It was originally a smooth and decent thing, but it was stirred up by this Feng Yatou; Lady Wang felt as disgusted as if she had eaten a fly.

That kid from the east prefecture, just taking two maids into his room, actually had to bring up the name of big and small successes; where did he get such a scene?

When he marries a legitimate wife in the future, wouldn't he have to be titled a Duke or Marquis to make a scene? It's simply unreasonable!

Bao Yu didn't have as many thoughts as his mother; he just heard the words "big and small successes," his face instantly turned pale, his heart was infinitely aggrieved, and he almost wanted to stomp his feet and howl.

A perfectly good betrothal matter was turned into a corrupt smell of officialdom; was there still a clean place in this world...

Love Shenjing, Qingyu Square, Xia Mansion.

Late spring was gradually fading, the weather was warm, and the flowers, grass, and green trees were swaying with branches and leaves.

On the walls and eaves, vines were spreading crazily from time to time, revealing restless vitality.

At the hanging flower gate of the Xia Mansion's inner courtyard, Seeing Seeing Baochan stood in the shadow of the eaves, talking to a woman from the outer courtyard.

The woman was in her thirties, with a sharp tongue, talking endlessly, and there was a bit of longing and envy on her face.

Seeing Seeing Baochan said, "Xu Da Niang, is everything you said true? Did the Rongguo Prefecture really make such a big scene?"

The woman said, "Even if I had more courage, I wouldn't dare to fool the young lady; that Count Lord Weiyuan, Jia Cong, really passed the metropolitan examination as the top scholar; the entire Love Shenjing has spread the news.

It is only because young ladies and misses have noble status and are usually in the deep inner courtyard that you didn't get the news for a while."

Seeing Seeing Baochan was somewhat shocked when she suddenly heard this news...

Since Bao Yu's birthday banquet, Lady Wang proposed marriage to the Xia family for Bao Yu, and Mother Xia went home to discuss it with her daughter.

Mother Xia hoped that her daughter would marry into a noble family to raise the Xia family's status.

But the Xia girl had a burning love in her heart and had been confused by lust; as the saying goes, when goods are compared, they should be thrown away; she had seen Jia Cong, so how could she look at Bao Yu? Naturally, she refused flatly.

Mother Xia was patient, analyzing the pros and cons several times, saying all the good things, wanting to persuade her daughter to change her mind.

Although the Xia girl was persuaded by her mother and heard the bewitchment of the maid Seeing Seeing Baochan, her heart was somewhat shaken.

However, when she thought about spending her whole life with that Bao Yu, her spring love and lust for Jia Cong were like flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water until death.

Thinking of this result, the Xia girl felt like she was on fire, and she couldn't harden her heart no matter what.

Unable to vent her inner lust, she became more panicked and angry at her mother's daily persuasion, so she threw tantrums, cried, and smashed things, making a mess in the inner courtyard.

Seeing that her daughter was so stubborn, Mother Xia stopped forcing her, lest this spicy daughter do something extreme.

Because of the Xia girl's refusal, it was a bit too noisy, so Mother Xia left her daughter aside to let her clear her head, and naturally, she never took her out again.

The Xia family was a wealthy merchant family, and the Xia girl was a proper boudoir daughter; since her mother didn't take her out, she could only be trapped in the inner courtyard.

Thus, the Xia girl was effectively under house arrest.

Half a month ago, the metropolitan examination had already been posted; Mother Xia led the Xia family's imperial merchant business, and she naturally heard this sensational news early on from the people she dealt with daily.

Although she was surprised by Jia Cong's excellence, she would not reveal a hint of it at home.

Because she knew that her daughter's admiration for Jia Cong was burning like a fire, and now that her daughter was discussing marriage with Bao Yu, if she knew this news, she would surely have other thoughts and would never be willing to marry.

To prevent the news from leaking, Mother Xia not only stopped taking her daughter out but also instructed the trusted women who knew the news and dealt with her business not to leak the news, otherwise, they would be punished by family law.

Although Mother Xia was meticulous, she never dreamed that her daughter's personal maid had long been messed with by the future son-in-law Bao Yu, and her lust was even more burning than her daughter's.

The daughter had not yet had other thoughts, but the maid Seeing Seeing Baochan already had a belly full of other thoughts, wishing she could get married early.

Since Seeing Seeing Baochan was the Xia girl's personal maid, if the Xia girl couldn't come out of the inner courtyard, she naturally followed suit.

However, more than ten days had passed, and she estimated that the metropolitan examination had already been posted; the Jia Cong who made the young lady nervous would mostly pass the examination.

As the Xia girl's personal maid, Seeing Seeing Baochan's grasp of the Xia girl's thoughts was not worse than Mother Xia's, and even surpassed her...

She thought of the bewitchment she had said that day; although the young lady was still unwilling to bow her head, her heart was clearly loosened.

What Seeing Seeing Baochan thought about day and night was to follow the Xia girl into the Jia family. In that half-earth room in the east courtyard garden of the Jia family, Bao Yu's romantic play—as long as there was one more time, she would die worth it...

So, regarding the Xia girl's marriage, she would pour oil and point things out even if there was no fire; how could she stop?

Seeing Seeing Baochan knew clearly that the young lady cared very much about Jia Cong's pride and excellence; now that there was a decent reason for him to be on the list, she naturally wanted to provoke the topic in front of the Xia girl.

Because the Xia girl had fallen out with her mother and had been holed up in the inner courtyard for more than ten days, she was bored and felt fire in her heart when she thought of Jia Cong; how could she not be interested in listening to Seeing Seeing Baochan's temptation?

She naturally ordered Seeing Seeing Baochan to find someone to inquire about this matter; although she was arrogant and spicy, she was a shrewd person.

She even specifically instructed Seeing Seeing Baochan to bypass her mother's trusted women and only inquire from inconspicuous people in the house.

Seeing Seeing Baochan followed the Xia girl's instructions and picked and chose in the mansion, finding the Xu woman who bought vegetables and grain in the kitchen daily, because she walked outside daily and it was easy to inquire about news.

Seeing that her words seemed to have startled Seeing Seeing Baochan, the Xu woman felt a bit proud in her heart and became more and more boastful.

She said, "Originally, we don't have the fortune to see the affairs of wealthy and powerful households like the Rongguo Prefecture.

!

It just so happens that my maiden brother is involved in this matter; he has been doing vegetable business in the East Market for several years, and has been doing business with the Rongguo Prefecture for several years.

In the past, he sent fresh vegetables to the mansion every other day, but this time, Count Lord Weiyuan passed the metropolitan examination as the top scholar, and the Jia family's east and west prefectures held grand flowing banquets.

Oh my, the guests who came to congratulate blocked the entire Ningrong Street; this scene was incredibly grand.

The Jia family's two prefectures held hundreds of flowing banquets every day; the silver spent was like flowing water; it was incredibly decent.

The guests who came were all princes and high officials above people; I heard that even the royal family..."

Seeing that her words made Seeing Seeing Baochan stunned, the Xu woman became more and more proud, and her words became more and more exaggerated.

She praised the Jia family as if it were a heavenly palace, and Jia Cong was like a star of literature descending to earth; if she hadn't been afraid of blowing the cowhide, she could even have babbled that the Emperor had come to congratulate.

Seeing Seeing Baochan only listened for a while and began to feel bored; she had already inquired about the matter, and the Xu woman boasted, but there was no Bao Yu in it, so she naturally didn't want to listen anymore.

She said impatiently, "Alright, alright, I know everything; remember today's matter, and don't mention it to anyone, otherwise you will be in trouble."

As she spoke, she took out half a string of heavy copper coins and said, "This is a reward for you to buy wine; remember to keep your mouth shut."

Seeing the copper coins, the Xu woman was overjoyed, thinking that although this girl was the young lady's personal maid, her monthly money was only one string of coins.

She gave her half a string of coins just for inquiring about this little thing; this was really generous.

The Xu woman complained in her heart: could it be that the little girl has reached the age and started to think about spring, actually missing the Jia family's top scholar? It's really shameless, doing her mother's spring dream.

Xia Mansion inner courtyard, Xia girl's boudoir.

Seeing Seeing Baochan told the Xia girl the news she had inquired about, word for word, including the parts that the Xu woman had added.

Because she knew clearly that her young lady had a domineering and stubborn temperament; the marriage between the Xia family and the Jia family, even if Bao Yu broke the sky, it would be useless; it was better to work hard on that Jia Cong.

Only by making Jia Cong sound more proud could she hold her young lady's heart.

The young lady was not a confused person, although she herself was fascinated by Jia Cong.

But the young lady must know clearly in her heart that Jia Cong's position was too high, and she could only hope for the next life to be with Jia Cong.

Seeing Seeing Baochan had served the Xia girl since she was a child and knew that she was the only seedling of the Xia family, wanting wind and rain since she was a child; the things she wanted, she had never failed to get.

So, the more proud Jia Cong was, the more the young lady couldn't let him go; this entanglement was difficult to remove, and sooner or later, it would cause trouble.

Only by stirring things up like this could she hook her young lady into marrying into the Jia family, because only then could she and Bao Yu play romantic games again; otherwise, they would be like strangers in the future.

Seeing Seeing Baochan thought to herself, her young lady had a crush on Jia Cong, but wasn't she the same for Bao Yu...

As long as she thought of this, she felt her courage grow, and she felt righteous in her heart, as if she had found some support.

After Seeing Seeing Baochan finished saying this, the Xia girl's eyes were already shining, her pretty face was flushed, and the joy in her heart seemed to be about to explode.

She praised happily, "I heard long ago that he was good at studying, but I didn't expect him to be this good; I have also read books for a few years and know that the metropolitan examination is a great competition for scholars in the world."

He actually passed as the top scholar, which is the number one in the world; people say he is a star of literature descending to earth, and that's just about it; I knew he was outstanding, but I didn't expect him to be this outstanding!"

Seeing Seeing Baochan felt a bit disgusted when she heard this, but she still said, "I also heard the Xu woman say that many high officials from the imperial court came to congratulate him that day, like vice ministers and ministers.

And three princes also came to congratulate him; I heard one is the Emperor's own brother, and the other two are princes; those few days, the Jia family in the Love Shenjing was very decent.

Also, I heard that on the tenth of this month, Jia Cong also has to enter the palace to do that, to do that... right, it's called the palace examination, I heard you can pass as the top scholar."

The Xia girl smiled brilliantly, becoming more and more beautiful and moving, saying, "Even princes and royal sons have to give face; you can't find a prouder boy than him in this Love Shenjing."

Seeing Seeing Baochan saw her young lady's pretty face blushing, her eyes moist, her expression gentle, and the affection in her brows and eyes moving; she looked like a pretty beauty who was asking for love.

Seeing Seeing Baochan stared straight at her, feeling that her young lady had become a different person; the domineering and spicy temperament of the past had disappeared without a trace; it was really seeing a ghost, and she couldn't help but shiver.

Suddenly, the Xia girl's face turned cold, and she said, "You just said that the Jia family was very decent these few days; that's simply nonsense; it's Jia Cong who is decent.

Apart from Jia Cong, the others in the Jia family are either idiots or effeminate things; if the Jia family didn't have him, who would pay attention to them? Even if they wanted to be decent, it's impossible!"

Seeing Seeing Baochan saw that her young lady was fine just now, but suddenly turned her face, and her face turned slightly white with fright.

After a long while, she tentatively said, "Young lady, you can't say that; I heard, I heard that Bao Yu was also very busy these few days..."

The fact that the Xia girl praised Jia Cong too much just now seemed to stimulate Seeing Seeing Baochan, making her feel a bit unconvinced in her heart.

She babbled in her mouth: "He is Jia Cong's best brother, so he naturally wants to help Jia Cong receive guests, and he will surely rise with the tide in the future.

The young lady is unwilling to have that marriage, but maybe people want to curry favor with Jia Cong, but they don't have the ability to marry him, so they take Bao Yu's path; by then, it will be too late for the young lady to turn back..."

When the Xia girl heard this, she was slightly stunned, her eyes thoughtful, and the expression on her pretty face changed constantly; for a moment, she was sad and lost, and for a moment, she was angry and annoyed.

She scolded Seeing Seeing Baochan, "You dead girl with no vision, we were just talking about Jia Cong properly, who told you to mention that Bao Yu? It's really disgusting and spoils the mood!"

After the Xia girl finished scolding Seeing Seeing Baochan, she sat there alone in a daze; Seeing Seeing Baochan's words just now were like poisonous medicine, stirring her heart and liver with pain.

She had only stayed in the inner courtyard for a few days, and she had become so distant from him; he had such a great happy event, and she couldn't even know half of it.

If the marriage between the Xia family and the Jia family were broken, her mother and that stupid Mrs. Jia would become enemies, and the only connection between the Xia family and the Jia family would be completely broken.

By then, she and he would be like strangers; a young lady who couldn't go out, even if she wanted to see him, she probably couldn't.

From then on, his high official rank, glorious honor, and fame throughout the world would have nothing to do with her.

Before long, he wouldn't even remember who she was...

When the Xia girl thought of these things, she felt aggrieved and painful, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

However, her domineering and spicy nature since childhood, and her stubbornness of not wanting to admit defeat, suddenly came up again.

The weak and helpless mood just now slowly faded, her heart cooled down, and she gradually became ruthless...

She wiped away her tears with her sleeve, wiping off a piece of makeup on her face.

She took a bag of silver from the cabinet and threw it to Seeing Seeing Baochan.

She said, "You said Cong Ge'er will have the palace examination on the tenth; take this bag of silver and use it; arrange for people early; as soon as the palace examination list is out and you get the news, tell me.

With his ability, he might be able to pass as the top scholar, or at least as the second or third scholar; I want to see his decency and glory one more time!" (End of chapter)