Chapter 646: Desire is Destiny

Shenjing, Qingyu Square, Xia Prefecture.

At the back door of the inner courtyard, aside from the cleaning servants, few people walked by daily, making it very quiet.

Under the shadow of the large locust tree by the courtyard wall, Baochan was whispering with a middle-aged woman.

The woman was forty years old, her clothes were neat and tidy, her face was full of smiles, and her expression was shrewd.

Because Mrs. Xia had returned from Tongzhou yesterday, Xia Gu Niang was worried that the matter of inquiring about the news would be discovered by her mother, and then she would come to nag her again.

So she had Baochan open the back door of the inner courtyard and wander around the mansion to intercept the woman and talk.

Because the matter was a bit troublesome, it took Baochan a lot of time. Fortunately, she didn't let the woman sneak into the mansion to find someone as usual, avoiding exposure in front of Mrs. Xia.

The woman worked in the Xia family's shop, was familiar with the ways of the world, and could write and keep accounts. She was a shrewd and capable person, and Xia Gu Niang had a good eye for picking her.

Compared to the old woman Xu who bought vegetables in the kitchen and only knew how to inquire about trivial matters and brag, this shop steward woman was much more thorough and reliable.

She talked about the things outside in the past two days: how many people were arrested and imprisoned for the Spring Examination fraud case, some committed suicide in prison, some were cleared of grievances and escaped, and the chief examiner involved was stripped of his title and made a commoner by the Emperor.

All kinds of things, ups and downs, shocking, were all told by the woman, who was articulate and logical, quite remarkable.

Baochan was also surprised, but none of these stories had anything to do with Baoyu, which made her feel a bit regretful. Finally, she asked about the news of the Jia family's Count Lord Weiyuan.

The woman talked eloquently again, and Baochan's face changed color as she listened. She asked, "Are these things true? How did you think to inquire about them?"

The woman smiled apologetically and said, "The young lady told me that our young lady is going to marry into the Jia family's second branch, so I inquired about the Jia family's Count Lord Weiyuan to see if the door to marry into was proper."

"So when I inquired about things, I kept it in mind and paid close attention to the Jia family's second branch's East Courtyard. These noble and wealthy families' scenes cannot be hidden from people; a little inquiry makes it clear."

"Isn't it said that the Jia family's second branch and our Xia family are discussing marriage? Why are they inviting so many officials to visit, and all bringing their female relatives? This is stepping on two boats; the great families are wild enough in their actions..."

Xia Gu Niang was waiting in her boudoir, burning with anger, when she saw Baochan enter with a strange expression.

She scolded, "You damn girl, I let you handle a little thing, and you are dawdling. Is your skin itching?"

Baochan was frightened by Xia Gu Niang's fierce words and subconsciously moved two steps away from her young lady, fearing that if her young lady got angry, a slap would come her way.

She said, "Young lady, don't be impatient. Didn't the Lady come home? I had to intercept that old woman Zhang at the back to talk, which took a lot of time."

Baochan knew that ever since Mrs. Jia proposed marriage, her young lady had become somewhat crazy, and her temperament had become increasingly irritable and violent, so she didn't dare to dawdle and told the news she heard one by one.

Xia Gu Niang had been confined in the inner courtyard for too long and had long been burning with fire. Hearing that the fraud case outside was so lively, she listened with great interest and found it very interesting.

When she heard Baochan mention that one candidate committed suicide and nine candidates were stripped of their titles and never to be employed again.

Xia Gu Niang's beautiful face was joyful, and she said, "These cheating scholars deserve it. Why did only ten die? They are all eating from the same bucket; it would be better if there were more, so Cong'er would have a greater advantage in making the list."

Baochan's face was bitter, and she continued, "There was also the third place in the Huiyuan. Later, the official from the Investigation Court interrogated him and said he didn't cheat, so he was released without guilt."

Xia Gu Niang's beautiful, watery eyes glared, and she scolded, "These officials are all rice buckets. They arrested people, surely they must have had some handle on them, but they couldn't convict them, and they actually let them go."

Baochan was strange in her heart and asked, "I don't understand what you mean, young lady. If they let him go, they let him go. It has nothing to do with us. Why are you angry?"

Xia Gu Niang said proudly, "You are a pig-brained person. That person is the third place in the Huiyuan, following closely behind Cong'er. He is a truly formidable opponent. If he were abolished, Cong'er would be more certain to become the Zhuangyuan."

"You can't even think of such a shallow principle. You deserve to be just a little maid."

Baochan staggered at Xia Gu Niang's words and almost fell down in anger. She wanted to cry in her heart; she was doing things well, but her young lady was digging at her and belittling her for no reason because of a damn third place.

She felt very unconvinced in her heart. Her young lady was becoming more and more crazy. She really treated herself as Jia Cong's wife, actually helping him calculate these things. Does he appreciate it? It's really like eating radishes and worrying about nothing...

Xia Gu Niang's thoughts jumped greatly, and she suddenly came back to her senses and asked, "You chattered for a long time, why is there no news of Cong'er?"

Baochan said hurriedly, "Naturally there is news of him. Young lady, don't worry, Jia Cong is fine. Nothing happened. A few days ago, the palace issued an imperial decree and promoted his official position."

"It is... from the fourth rank... oh, from the fourth rank General Xinwu."

"It is said that the Emperor also rewarded a large cart of gold imperial wine..."

Xia Gu Niang was beaming with joy, looking even more beautiful and intoxicating, and smiled, "Others are either stripped of their titles or thrown into prison, but he is fine, and he was promoted by the Emperor."

"Now I believe it. He has nothing to do with the fraud case. Otherwise, the palace wouldn't have promoted him at this time. It looks like they want to reuse him. He will surely be high on the list in this palace examination."

Baochan was a bit depressed and asked, "Young lady, how big is this General Xinwu of the fourth rank? Is he bigger than the county magistrate?"

Xia Gu Niang said disdainfully, "The county magistrate is only the seventh rank, a sesame-sized thing. How can he compare with Cong'er's fourth rank? You eat melon seeds and sleep lazily every day, and you don't read more books."

Baochan muttered unconvinced, "What's so great about it? There are many officials, so why is Jia Cong so fragrant..."

Xia Gu Niang glared when she heard this and said, "You damn girl with no knowledge, don't you think about how old Cong'er is, and he has already reached the fourth rank. In a few years, won't he be a Marquis or a Duke?"

"Most of the men in this world are lecherous embryos like Young Master Xue, or motherly goods like Baoyu. How many can be found in the world like Cong'er?"

Baochan felt very disgusted when she heard Xia Gu Niang's words and kept complaining in her heart. Her young lady hadn't tasted Baoyu's methods; he wasn't a motherly good...

But she only dared to mutter this in her heart and never dared to say it out loud, otherwise she would lose her life immediately.

Baochan saw Xia Gu Niang's intoxicated expression and began to worry in her heart. Her young lady seemed to have been hit by a soul-stealing spell. If she married Baoyu like this, she would likely be unfaithful sooner or later.

But no matter what, Baochan couldn't let go of the ambition in her heart. If her young lady didn't marry into the Jia family's second branch, she would never be able to touch Baoyu in her life. She had already fooled around with him, so she could only go to the end of the road...

Besides, that Jia Cong could be such a big official, he must be an extremely shrewd person. Last time, she heard that he kept many beautiful maids by his side. Her young lady was just thinking about it in her heart; could she steal him?

She gritted her teeth and said, "Young lady, old woman Zhang also inquired about Baoyu's affairs, and it sounds a bit wrong."

Xia Gu Niang frowned and asked, "What's wrong with that Baoyu?"

Baochan said, "Old woman Zhang said that the Rongguo Prefecture's East Courtyard has been very lively recently. Every day, many officials come to visit, and they all bring their female relatives."

"Old woman Zhang found someone to inquire. It is said that the Jia family's Count Lord Weiyuan is highly valued by the Emperor. Not only was he promoted, but he will soon be a Jinshi. The noble families in Shenjing are all optimistic about the Jia family's power."

"But Jia Cong is currently in a three-year mourning period and cannot marry a wife. Moreover, his status is precious, and he will take the path of imperial marriage in the future, so ordinary families cannot count on him."

"So those noble families had other ideas, thinking of marrying into the Jia family's second branch, and through this, connecting with the Count Lord Weiyuan, so they could rely on the Rongguo Prefecture's power."

"These officials and female relatives who went to visit the Rongguo Prefecture's East Courtyard are all wanting to discuss marriage with Baoyu..."

Xia Gu Niang's face looked ugly when she heard this, and she cursed, "These people are really shameless, wanting to take advantage of Cong'er in a roundabout way."

"That Lady Jia is also not a good thing. She just discussed marriage with my mother, and then she hooked up with other families to visit!"

Baochan's eyes lit up slightly when she heard this, and she said, "Young lady, I think there is a reason for this. Last time Baoyu had a birthday, Lady Jia proposed marriage to the Lady, and now a long time has passed, and our family hasn't replied."

"The Jia family is also a great family that cares about face. They must have guessed that our family doesn't want this marriage, so they are looking for other ways..."

Xia Gu Niang's face turned pale. She was extremely unwilling to have this marriage. Thinking of sharing a bed with such a person made her feel nauseated and want to vomit.

But she also knew in her heart that once she missed this marriage, she and the person she longed for would be strangers from then on, and her heart full of desire would be like a dream bubble. It would be extremely difficult to see that person again in the future.

Thinking of Baoyu's motherly-looking broken thing, her destiny was actually held in the hands of such a person. Xia Gu Niang felt ashamed and angry, couldn't help but scream, picked up the vase on the table, and smashed it to pieces.

The loud sound of shattering startled Baochan. She saw her young lady running around the room, using everything she could pick up to vent her anger.

Xia Gu Niang cried out loudly, "You damn thing, get out of here!"

Baochan saw many things being thrown at her and was so scared that she hugged her head and fled, hiding everywhere.

She realized that the fire she set was too fierce and had driven her young lady crazy, so she hurriedly crawled out of the room...

Xia Prefecture, inner courtyard main hall.

Mrs. Xia returned from the shop in the city and was sitting in the main hall drinking tea and resting. Suddenly, she heard some noise in the inner courtyard and frowned slightly, feeling too lazy to pay attention.

At this time, a middle-aged woman entered the hall. This person was Mrs. Xia's confidante. Outsiders called her old woman Chen. When Mrs. Xia and Lady Wang interacted, she was the one who followed.

She walked to Mrs. Xia's side and said softly, "Lady, I just saw Zhang Fumei from the shop. She said she had already seen the maid Baochan in the mansion and, according to your instructions, had said those words."

"I followed your instructions and rewarded her with twenty taels of silver, telling her to keep her mouth shut."

Mrs. Xia nodded, took a sip of fragrant tea, and said, "This Zhang Fumei is a clever person. Knowing that it involved the young lady, she didn't dare to deal with it carelessly and came to explain it to me."

"If she really hid things from me and did things, I wouldn't let her go. How long has she been in the shop?"

Old woman Chen replied, "It has been nine years."

Mrs. Xia said, "She can be considered an old servant of the family. Raise her monthly money by one grade. If there is a vacancy, promote her."

Old woman Chen thought for a moment and said, "Lady, the eldest young lady has such thoughts, and she is also a fierce person. If she marries into the Jia family's second branch, will it be inappropriate?"

!

Mrs. Xia put down the teacup and smiled, "You are overthinking. That person in the Jia family has a good appearance and ability, and is radiant. It is rare in the world. What is strange about attracting the attention of young ladies?"

"You and I have both come from our youth. When a girl reaches the age, opens her heart, and lets her imagination run wild, it is the most common thing."

"The most important thing about marriage in this world is that the families are well-matched; nothing else matters. How many couples have had blind marriages and lived a lifetime?"

"As long as they enter the bridal chamber, become husband and wife, and have children, those unworthy thoughts will all pass."

The old woman Chen smiled slightly when she heard this and said, "Lady's words are reasonable. The eldest young lady is also young. Once the marriage is done, after a few years, she will understand it herself."

Mrs. Xia sighed slightly in her heart. Although she could control her daughter, this matter had been dragged on by her daughter for too long, and she was afraid there would be a change...

At this time, a maid came to pass a message, saying that Lady Jia had sent someone to send fresh gifts, and both the person and the things had arrived at the outer courtyard, waiting to see the Lady.

When Mrs. Xia heard this, a smile appeared on her face, and the worry just now was swept away.

She said to the maid, "Take the person to the side hall and say I will come over later."

After Mrs. Xia finished speaking, she got up, but she didn't go to the side hall; instead, she went to her daughter's boudoir in the backyard.

Mrs. Xia had just walked halfway when she saw Baochan coming over with a nervous expression, her head lowered, not seeing her.

She frowned and asked, "Where are you going in such a panic!"

Just now, Xia Gu Niang was in a rage and almost tore down the boudoir. Baochan was almost smashed in the head and was still a bit shaken.

In a trance, she suddenly heard Mrs. Xia's voice and couldn't help but tremble.

Ever since she did that thing in the East Courtyard that day, Xia Gu Niang was a virgin and didn't know much about these things. Baochan thought she could fool her.

But her own Lady was much shrewder than the young lady. Every time Baochan faced her, she couldn't help but feel a bit guilty...

"Lady, the young lady is throwing a tantrum again. The things in the room are all smashed. I was just about to call someone to clean them up."

Mrs. Xia frowned and asked, "Why is Jingui throwing a tantrum? Tell me every word."

Baochan stammered and replied, "Nothing much, young lady... young lady is just in a bad mood."

Mrs. Xia snorted coldly and said, "Don't think I don't know what you did!"

When Baochan heard this, her soul was half scared away, and she felt her legs go soft, thinking that she and Baoyu were fooling around, did the Lady find out...

Mrs. Xia said, "Jingui is fooling around daily, and you don't advise her at all, just following her blindly."

"During the days I was out, do you think I don't know what you did!"

Baochan heard this and finally breathed a sigh of relief. So it was that she had thought wrong.

Mrs. Xia's face was gloomy, and she said, "Why is Jingui throwing a tantrum just now? Tell me clearly."

"If you miss a word and dare to play tricks in front of me, I will peel off your skin, and see how you can be wanton in the future!"

Baochan trembled and hurriedly told the story just now, like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube, without missing a word.

She saw that after Mrs. Xia heard her words, her original cold and stern expression slowly eased, making people somewhat unable to fathom.

She said tremblingly, "Lady, I dare not mess around. It was the young lady who asked me to inquire about the news."

"I just said that many officials from the Jia family visited recently, wanting to marry Baoyu, and the young lady threw a tantrum."

"These words are not made up by me; they were inquired by old woman Zhang from the shop on Hanyang Street..."

Mrs. Xia didn't take her words and said, "Watch Jingui well. If anything else happens, you better be careful!"

After she finished speaking, she turned and left. Baochan was strange in her heart. Just now the Lady clearly wanted to go to the young lady's boudoir, why did she turn around and not go?

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu was leaning on the Arhat bed, and Yuanyang was sitting on the low table, holding two beauty hammers to beat Jia Mu's legs.

Xue Yima Xue was chatting with Jia Mu, and Lady Wang was also accompanying her, but she was somewhat absent-minded.

Ever since Lady Wang suspected that Baochai and Jia Cong were having an affair, she had developed a rift with her sister.

But the two sisters were both experienced women, and they couldn't see any difference on the surface, as warm as usual.

Jia Mu smiled, "The saying goes, 'A tree has many roots, and an old person has many words.' This year is passing so fast. In a blink of an eye, Baoyu has passed the age of fifteen."

Xue Yima Xue was best at lifting the sedan chair and smiled, "Baoyu is already an adult. I'm afraid it won't be long before he marries and establishes a career, and spreads his branches and leaves. Grandmother will soon be able to hold a great-grandson."

Jia Mu smiled at Xue Yima Xue, "If these old bones of mine can survive to see such a good thing, I will be satisfied."

She said to Lady Wang, "It is almost the 25th. Choose a day for Baoyu to open his room. The Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun you chose are the best among the maids in the mansion. I am at ease letting them serve Baoyu."

Xue Yima Xue smiled and said nothing when she heard this. She had also seen these two maids and they were indeed good, but compared to those around Cong'er, they were much worse...

Jia Mu continued, "Although the two maids are good, they are not legitimate after all. Didn't you propose marriage to the Xia family long ago? A long time has passed; has there been any reply from there?"

When Lady Wang heard this, her face stiffened. Yesterday she heard Jia Zheng's meaning, and early this morning she arranged for a trusted old woman to send fresh gifts to the Xia family to inquire about the follow-up of the two families' marriage discussion.

In fact, the Xia family hadn't replied for so long, and Lady Wang had already lost confidence in this marriage.

She thought that the Xia family was just a merchant family, and they were so lukewarm about this marriage. Was her Baoyu really so unwelcome?

The trusted old woman went out to do things, and Lady Wang was somewhat restless. When the sun rose a little, she came to the West Prefecture to see Baoyu, nagged and instructed her son for a long time, and then stopped by to pay respects to Jia Mu.

Now that she heard Jia Mu happen to ask about this, she felt embarrassed in her heart and noticed that her sister was also looking at her with inquiring eyes.

Lady Wang naturally wouldn't say that she had already sent someone to the Xia family to inquire about the marriage; it would be too shameful to say it...

She forced a smile and said, "Originally, the Xia family would have replied long ago, but the Xia family is a big family with a big business. Not only do they have a big scene in Shenjing, but they have also set up a big business in Tongzhou."

"Mrs. Xia is also supporting the family alone, so she went to Tongzhou to manage it some time ago. Because she was not in Shenjing, the matter was delayed. There will be a reply when she returns to the capital."

Lady Wang was just finding words to prevaricate there, when suddenly Sister Xi Ren entered the hall in a hurry.

She said to her, "Old woman Xu, who is by the Lady's side, is outside. She went to the East Courtyard and didn't find the Lady, so she found it here. She looks like she has something urgent..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 647 =====