Chapter 677: Pretty Words and Elegant Intentions

Rongguo mansion, Baoyu courtyard.

Baoyu and Qiuwen heard someone speaking, turned their heads and saw Mushe entering the room, holding Baoyu's laundry in her hand.

Qiuwen heard it was Mushe speaking, and just wanted to retort a few words, but was glanced at by Mushe's pretty and sharp eyes, and her heart couldn't help but jump, and for a while, she was speechless.

Although Qiuwen was also Baoyu's big maid, she was far from being the one with the highest status among Baoyu's maids.

Sister Xi Ren was originally the Old Matriarch's big maid, and later assigned to Baoyu, so she was already a notch higher than Baoyu's own maids.

Now she had become a woman in Baoyu's room. Because Baoyu hadn't married yet, although Sister Xi Ren didn't count as a proper concubine, she was the one with the highest status among Baoyu's maids.

Besides Sister Xi Ren in Baoyu's room, the maid with the most prestige on weekdays was not Caiyun who had just arrived, but Mushe who had a harmonious relationship with Sister Xi Ren.

Mushe was close to Sister Xi Ren, and didn't rush to get close to Baoyu like Sister Xi Ren to win her own status.

She was a family-born maid, with parents and sisters, compared to Sister Xi Ren who was sold into the Jia family halfway and whose family was poor, she had more foundation in her heart and more of her own ideas.

Therefore, Mushe had been in Baoyu's room for many years, always doing the duty of a maid, acting decisively and cleanly.

Compared to the attachment thoughts of Qiuwen, Bihun, and others, she appeared to be more "desireless and strong."

Coupled with her ability to speak, her words were sharp, and no one in Baoyu's room could compare, even Sister Xi Ren looked up to her a few points, so she had quite a lot of weight among the maids.

Qiuwen had a narrow mind. Because she felt she hadn't slept with Baoyu, she felt in her heart that she was not as good as Bihun, let alone Mushe, whose words were like knives.

She had been in Baoyu's room for many years and had long learned Mushe's sharp tongue. As the saying goes, "a person's name is a tree's shadow." Thinking of facing Mushe, her heart felt a bit empty.

Just now, she was suddenly satirized by Mushe's words, and she was angry and wanted to retort, but the more anxious she was, the less she could find words to counterattack.

Mushe was a master of arguing. Seeing Qiuwen's expression, she knew what she was thinking, and didn't give her a chance to chatter at all.

She said in a clear and beautiful voice: "Nowadays, the situation in the West Prefecture is not like before. The Master, Wife, concubines, and Eldest Grandmother have all moved to the East Road courtyard.

Because the Old Matriarch doted on the Bao Er Ye, she wanted to keep him by her side. Now the West Prefecture is the family business of the main branch. How they manage the household is not something we can manage.

Why say these meaningless gossip? If the words reach the Second Grandmother's ears, she is a fierce person, and she might just break out.

If it reaches Cong Cong Sanye's ears, the brothers of the two branches will have more estrangement.

Others won't think these words were said by you, but will think it was the Bao Er Ye's meaning, which makes people think the Bao Er Ye is not broad-minded.

If the Bao Er Ye loses face in the family because of this, will he be able to stay in the West Prefecture comfortably in the future? Our maids won't have any glory on our faces either.

It's just some trivial matters of paper and brush. The Bao Er Ye had accumulated quite a lot before, enough for the Master to use for a year or half a year. There is no need to be in such a hurry now.

Even if it is raw rice paper, can't it be used to write? Is it worth it for you to talk to the Bao Er Ye about these scattered words, making the Bao Er Ye angry in vain."

Mushe's words were like a firecracker, without stopping, immediately making Qiuwen dizzy, not knowing how to reply, and her face flushed red.

Baoyu heard Mushe's words, half coaxing and half persuading, and for a while, it was difficult to refute, and his face couldn't help but look a bit embarrassed.

Just as Mushe finished speaking, she put down the clothes in her hand, walked to the bookshelf, and searched up and down there.

She said: "The Bao Er Ye used to get a few knives of silver-patterned snow wave paper every month. Although the Bao Er Ye used a lot while studying in the East Road courtyard in the past two months, there must be some left."

Mushe searched the bookshelf once, and finally found a stack of snow-white rice paper on the bottom layer.

She said: "There is still leftover snow wave paper here, with a count of half a knife. Qiuwen, how did you not see it?"

Qiuwen heard this, and her face turned slightly red. She walked around the room every day, how could she not know whether there was snow wave paper on the bookshelf.

It was just that her nature of causing trouble was at work. Because she was jealous of Wu'er's glory, she deliberately gave Baoyu raw rice paper to use, to provoke a topic.

Qiuwen didn't know whether Mushe saw through her thoughts or said such words unintentionally.

She quickly said: "So there is leftover snow wave paper, I didn't notice it. But these are only enough for the Bao Er Ye to write twice, and it's still not enough in the end."

Mushe pursed her lips and smiled, "If it's not enough, ask a servant to buy it. The Bao Er Ye has saved a lot of monthly examples in the silver grid, piled up there and can't be spent. How much good paper can't be bought."

Qiuwen was pushed to the wall by Mushe, feeling ashamed and embarrassed in her heart, and had the urge to act wildly.

At this time, Sister Xi Ren entered the room, and her expression was also hearing the movement in the room.

She frowned and said to Qiuwen: "You should also say less of these words. If the words spread, making the Bao Er Ye lose face in the West Prefecture, if the Wife knows, we won't have good days."

Qiuwen was originally holding back in her heart, wanting to find words to retort Mushe, but Sister Xi Ren's cold and hot words immediately extinguished the evil fire in her heart.

How could Qiuwen not hear the meaning of Sister Xi Ren's words.

She wasn't saying that Wang Lady knew about this and everyone wouldn't have good days, she was clearly saying that she and Mushe joined forces to make her not have good days...

Baoyu saw several maids arguing, feeling impatient in his heart, and said: "It's all meaningless things, what's there to talk about, I want to write."

After Mushe and Qiuwen went out, Sister Xi Ren saw Baoyu wanted to write, and was also happy in her heart, and even stepped forward to help Baoyu grind ink.

She smiled: "Bao Er Ye has the interest today, why did you suddenly think of writing? If you were like this every day, wouldn't the Master be happy if he knew."

Baoyu smiled: "I thought of writing, so I wrote. Later I will go to see Bao sister, just to ask her to appreciate it. Recently I see she is also often copying posts.

Nowadays, everyone outside is saying how good Jia Cong's writing is, and saying that he has already become a master of his own school. The bragging is endless.

I have also seen the words he wrote, they are not bad, but to say that he has already become a master, it is truly nonsense, and I will not recognize it."

Sister Xi Ren heard this, her expression stiffened, and she felt a bit bitter in her heart. Bao Er Ye, just write your own words, why are you editing Cong Cong Sanye again.

Now we are living on someone else's land, Bao Er Ye's heart is too big, can't you find some good topics to talk about...

Baoyu didn't notice Sister Xi Ren's strange expression and continued to talk eloquently.

He said: "I used to say that nowadays, as long as it is a doctor, regardless of whether the medical skill is high or low, they all claim to be famous doctors. In the end, quack doctors mislead people, how absurd.

It's actually the same principle, but anyone who can write a few words can be fabricated into a master of his own school.

You know that the masters of calligraphy throughout the ages have to exhaust their whole lives, practicing year after year, to reach the realm of a master.

Jia Cong is only the same age as me. Even if he has some talent in writing, he has practiced for at most ten years. How can he involve the matter of a master?

It's also because he passed the Jinshi examination now and became some kind of academician. Those people's moth-like hearts of salary are acting up, flattering and fawning, not knowing what it is, truly ridiculous."

Sister Xi Ren listened to Baoyu's nagging, and his expression was still triumphant, and couldn't help but change her face, looking back at the door, fearing that she would be heard.

Just now she asked Qiuwen to say less gossip, but she didn't expect Bao Er Ye to be more fierce than Qiuwen.

Bao Er Ye only wants his mouth to be happy, thinking that the family is still the same as before, everyone gives him face. If this continues, sooner or later there will be embarrassment...

Fortunately, Baoyu nagged for a few words and stopped talking, going to the bookshelf to look for books himself, and Sister Xi Ren breathed a sigh of relief.

Baoyu wanted to write a scroll, so it was not good to take couplets or rhymed poems to write.

He searched for a long time on the bookshelf before finding a "Dian Jiang Chun" from the former Song Dynasty. The word realm was quite charming and rich, which was very much to his liking.

It's just that he copied it twice on the snow wave paper, and he was not very satisfied. Probably because he hadn't written for a long time, his brush power was a bit rusty.

Sister Xi Ren saw that Baoyu hadn't written a few lines on a piece of top-grade snow wave paper, and tore it into a ball and threw it away, and also felt a bit distressed.

Bao Er Ye is truly used to wealth. This kind of top-grade silver-patterned snow wave paper costs ten wen a sheet, enough to buy several eggs. Bao Er Ye doesn't use it preciously.

By the time Baoyu wrote on the fifth sheet of snow wave paper, he finally felt that his brush power began to be smooth, and finally wrote one he felt satisfied with.

Sister Xi Ren, who was on the side, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Baoyu looked at the words he had just written and couldn't help but feel a bit proud.

Thinking of the past, whenever he wrote a new square, the guests around the Master, Zhan Guang, Shan Pinren, Bu Guxiu, etc., were all exclaiming and praising.

They even begged him for it, framed it, and hung it in their own homes for appreciation.

Baoyu knew that these guests of the Master were all learned scholars with knowledge and vision.

They could praise his calligraphy so much, which shows that the words he wrote were quite extraordinary, and he had a lot of talent in this way, but he didn't love fame and profit, so outsiders didn't know.

Unlike Jia Cong, who would make a big fuss as long as he had a bit of color, fearing that others wouldn't know.

Baoyu was satisfied and happy in his heart, carefully folded the scroll he had just written, changed into new clothes, and rushed out of the courtyard, heading towards the Lixiang courtyard.

Rongguo mansion, Lixiang courtyard.

In the boudoir of the inner room, the afternoon sun was bright, the atmosphere was like an orchid, and the dark fragrance was floating.

Baochai sat on the edge of the Arhat bed, holding an embroidery frame in her hand, embroidering a dark red peony, red flowers and green leaves, delicate and clear, very eye-catching.

Because she was living in the boudoir, her makeup was plain, her raven-black beautiful hair was coiled into a bun, and she inserted a red treasure dotted kingfisher step-shaker gold hairpin.

From her delicate earlobes hung moist, pale emerald pendants. Her red lips and emerald eyebrows, and her apricot eyes flowing like waves, made her bright and moving.

Now it is midsummer, and her clothing is also bright and soft.

She wore a light purple embroidered pink jacket with inlaid edges, a light yellow camisole inside, and a pink long skirt on her lower body, making her figure even more graceful and her posture beautiful.

The maid Jinchun sat beside her, helping Baochai organize the silk threads for embroidery.

In the room, the window lattice of the west window was half-propped, and the warm sun shone on the desk by the window. On the desk was a square, with fresh ink, which could be seen as newly written not long ago.

Although the handwriting was difficult to hide the delicate beauty of a woman, the structure of the characters was symmetrical, and the brushwork was soft yet firm, showing quite a bit of skill. It must have taken a lot of effort to practice and ponder.

On the square was written that old poem by Jia Cong, "Man Jiang Hong Jin Ling Huai Gu."

Since the anecdote of Jia Cong passing the Jinshi examination and parading in the street spread, Baochai knew that on the way to parade, this "Man Jiang Hong Jin Ling Huai Gu" was sung by passersby.

She was somewhat proud in her heart, because this poem was written by Jia Cong in Jin Ling two years ago. At that time, it was written on a square, framed, and sent to her as a return gift.

Baochai knew this poem, she was the first to know, and then it gradually spread.

She paid close attention to Jia Cong's daily trivial matters, knowing that he had also written words to send to others over the years, including copying Buddhist scriptures, copying the Book of Songs, and that popular "Xi Jiang Yue."

Only this "Jin Ling Huai Gu," but never heard of him writing it to send to others. This "Man Jiang Hong" must be the only authentic work.

This made Baochai cherish this calligraphy even more. On cloudy and humid days, she had to take it down and collect it herself, fearing that it would be damaged by dampness.

These days, she was even more interested, and as long as she had time every day, she would copy Jia Cong's font to pass the time and be happy.

Jinchun, who was organizing the silk threads, had a beautiful face and a rhythmic complexion. Since following Baochai, her life had been stable, and she was also satisfied.

She looked at the focused Baochai, and her bright eyes flowed slightly.

She said: "Miss, I heard Qingwen say a few days ago that since the Cong Sanye was granted the Hanlin academician, he has received the edict from the Ministry of Personnel, and now he has to attend the morning court every day.

You say how old is the Cong Sanye, his official career is getting smoother and smoother, and it will be even more extraordinary in the future."

Baochai didn't stop her needle and thread, smiled slightly, and said: "It's not a rare thing for Cong brother to have a smooth official career. In the past two years, I don't know how many times the palace has sent edicts to the mansion."

She suddenly stopped her needle and thread, looked at Jinchun meaningfully, and smiled: "What's wrong with you these days, you always mention Cong brother.

I know you like him in your heart, or I will fulfill it, send you to him, and let you serve him wholeheartedly, wouldn't that be good."

Jinchun heard Baochai's words, her heart jumped, and her pretty face burned.

After a long while, she said: "Miss is teasing me again, I don't have that life, and I won't have any delusional thoughts. I follow the Miss wholeheartedly, that is the proper thing."

Baochai saw that she said it seriously, and felt a slight movement in her heart, reached out and touched her temple, and said: "Then follow me from now on, we are all together, that's good."

Jinchun said: "I was saved by the Cong Sanye, and followed the Miss for two years, only then did I know what a good life is.

I don't think about anything now, just thinking that the Miss is so good, and will have a good reward in the future, and get the most secure destination."

Baochai saw Jinchun say to the end, her eyes were full of smiles, and it seemed to be pointed.

She thought of her own heart, and the personal maid Jinchun naturally knew it clearly.

Baochai's face turned red, and she slightly scolded: "Good chat, why are you talking crazy again."

Back then, Baochai asked for Jinchun to be a maid, and Xue Yima did not quite approve.

Because Jinchun and her sister had deep resentment, but her daughter wanted to be a maid, wouldn't that make her sister lose face.

Later, I don't know what words her daughter and sister said, but this matter actually passed peacefully.

But even so, Xue Yima didn't treat Jinchun as a trusted maid, just thinking that her daughter found a maid to accompany her and relieve boredom.

However, after a period of time, Xue Yima found that Jinchun had a clever temper, worked cleanly, and was diligent, which was indeed a good maid.

What was even more rare was that she was loyal to her daughter, and every move was for her daughter's sake, even more intimate than Ying'er, who was raised since childhood.

Later, her sister met her daughter and Cong Ge'er being intimate, so she slandered her daughter for having an affair, almost ruining her daughter's reputation.

It was Xue Yima who bowed her head to her sister, which made her sister give up the idea of making a big deal out of it.

After this incident, although the two sisters were still harmonious on the surface, they already had deep estrangement in their hearts.

It was also from that time that Jinchun, who originally had resentment with her sister, was seen by Xue Yima as a trusted maid, and she treated her much better on weekdays.

Here Baochai and Jinchun were chatting, when suddenly Ying'er's voice came from outside: "Why is Bao Bao Er Ye here."

Baoyu asked: "Is Bao sister at home?"

Ying'er replied: "Miss is in the inner room."

Baochai heard Baoyu's voice, her expression was expressionless, but her beautiful eyebrows wrinkled slightly.

That day Jia Cong passed the Jinshi examination, the West Prefecture was about to be filled with guests, but Baoyu lost his composure in the Rongqing Hall, publicly slandering Jia Cong, and was punished by the furious Jia Zheng to kneel.

This matter caused a great uproar, and many guests who came to the door witnessed Baoyu kneeling at the hall entrance. Baochai naturally knew about this.

Jia Cong's day of great joy, but Baoyu spoke rudely to him, Baochai was more and more unhappy with Baoyu, and hearing that he was visiting, she was also uncomfortable in her heart.

Jinchun on the side heard Baoyu coming, and her face changed. Since the incident that year, she was almost exhausted.

From that time on, Jinchun avoided Baoyu like a flood and wild beast. Seeing him was like seeing a ghost, and she couldn't hide in time.

Baochai knew her thoughts and said: "Jinchun, you go to the Wife's place to see, just let Ying'er come in to serve."

Jinchun quickly agreed, tidied up the silk threads in her hand, and lifted the door curtain out of the inner room.

Baoyu held the written words and came excitedly. Suddenly meeting the former Jinchun, she was still beautiful and slender, and he was happy in his heart, just wanting to take the opportunity to talk.

Didn't expect Jinchun to frown, although she came face to face, she pretended not to see him, and her eyes were even a bit disgusted.

Baoyu's heart sank, his face was awkward, a bit unconvinced. Fortunately, he remembered that he came to Lixiang courtyard, not for Jinchun, so he lifted the door curtain and entered the inner room.

Seeing the stunning Baochai in the room, who was embroidering, he couldn't help but be happy.

Baochai asked: "Why does Bao brother have time to walk around?"

Baoyu smiled: "I haven't seen sister for a long time, so I came to see today."

He saw a written square on the desk in the room, naturally knowing it was Baochai's handwriting.

He smiled: "I heard that Bao sister has had more elegance recently, often copying posts and practicing calligraphy, which is the same hobby as the Third Sister."

Baochai said: "It's just that I was free, and I loved Cong brother's words, so I copied them to relieve boredom."

Baoyu heard this, his face stiffened, and he felt aggrieved. Jia Cong's words were so good, Bao sister said she loved his words. Are people in the world all following the crowd like this?

He was quite unconvinced in his heart, and forced a smile: "I have always liked to write, and I have spent a lot of effort on it. Today I am writing one, and I will show it to Bao sister for appreciation."

Saying that, he spread out the scroll on the desk, looked at Baochai, and had quite a lot of expectation in his eyes.

He felt that he was also an elegant person, and shouldn't only have the Master's guests with vision. Others would definitely see his extraordinary...

Baochai saw him suddenly bring a piece of calligraphy, and asked her to appreciate it, feeling a bit brainless.

A pair of wonderful eyes glanced at the rice paper. The font could be considered delicate, but it had more powder and grease, not like what a man wrote. The brush power was soft and firm, the structure was sticky, and there was no strength or style at all.

Although Baochai was not as proficient in calligraphy as Seeing Tan Chun, she didn't lack ordinary vision.

Baoyu's words could be seen at first glance, but to say what was good, Baochai couldn't say it with a clear conscience.

Just said: "Bao brother is also diligent now, these words are better than in the past."

Baoyu heard Baochai's words, feeling that Bao sister really had vision, and really saw his benefits.

He smiled: "I wrote the square, Master's guest Mr. Zhan and others all said it was good, but I know they are a bit over-praised.

Calligraphy is profound, at my age, I don't deserve to say a good word."

He looked again at the "Man Jiang Hong" hanging on the wall, and felt unconvinced in his heart.

He said: "Outsiders praise Jia Cong's writing as good. Actually, I also think his writing is not bad, stronger than me.

But looking at his calligraphy, while it is good, it has a bit too much solemnity and old-fashioned air. The calligraphers of past dynasties are also of mixed quality, and I don't know whose copybook he has been practicing from so much.

He is the same age as me, but I think the brush power and structure need more of a young man's clear and free spirit..."

Baochai heard Baoyu's words, a surge in her abdomen, her heart was strange, and for a while, she even forgot to be angry.

Just felt a bit absurd. Baoyu didn't study for a few days a year, didn't write many words, but listening to his words, it seemed like he looked down on Cong brother's calligraphy.

Saying that the words he wrote were also quite extraordinary, even compared with Cong brother, it was not much different.

How did he figure these out... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 678 =====