Chapter 70

As it happened, Lady Wang was discussing some trivial matters about the mansion's management with the Old Lady, so Daiyu took the opportunity to leave the Rongqing Hall.

Behind her, Tan Chun and Yingchun also followed.

"Sister Lin, Third Young Master Cong has been studying behind closed doors during this period, and Second Sister and I haven't seen him for a long time. Since we have time today, let's go to the Pure Wisdom Study to see him; why don't we go together?"

Tan Chun now admired this cousin who was capable and self-respecting even more.

She was a woman with lofty aspirations in her heart, often imagining that if she were a man who could achieve great things, she would be just like Jia Cong.

Jia Cong was almost the embodiment of the ambitious man in her heart, and the closeness and admiration she felt for him even surpassed that for her own brother, Baoyu.

Seeing Daiyu secretly helping Jia Cong in the Rongqing Hall today, although it was later disrupted by Sister Feng, she felt a closeness to Daiyu that she hadn't felt before.

Daiyu smiled: "Tan Yatou is just right for me; I'm just missing a good piece of calligraphy to hang in my room, so it's just right to go and ask Third Young Master Cong for one."

Pure Wisdom Study, with its bamboo groves and quiet windows, had the faint sound of chanting and reading echoing within.

Jia Cong smiled: "I don't know what words Sister Lin wants; I've been busy studying lately and haven't written any new poems."

Tan Chun smiled: "Third Young Master Cong's tea is so fragrant; could it be that you knew we were coming, so you prepared the tea in advance?"

Jia Cong was slightly stunned, seemingly hearing that Daiyu had words within words.

As Tan Chun and the others entered, they smelled a refreshing tea fragrance.

Qingwen was accompanying them, doing needlework, while Wuer was concentrating on brewing a pot of fragrant tea; it was the "Cloud Mist Tip" that He Qingzhu had sent someone to deliver yesterday.

Tan Chun had been curious since hearing Baoyu ask for Wuer in the Rongqing Hall; she pulled her aside to talk and saw that her face was incomparably beautiful and her speech was delicate and gentle; she was indeed excellent, no wonder she was so cherished.

She smiled slightly: "Only Wuer is so skillful, taking such good care of Third Young Master Cong, and can brew such fragrant tea; no wonder the Third Young Master only focuses on studying and ignores the world outside his window."

It was said that it was obtained by his good friend from the big mountains in the south, named after the old tea trees on the mountaintop shrouded in smoke and mist.

Jia Cong's heart stirred; it was said that Daiyu had more openings in her heart than Bi Gan, and it was indeed true.

"That's not necessary; I just like the novelty of that poem. I think Third Young Master Cong must have had a sense of injustice in his heart when he wrote it. I hope the Third Young Master will have good fortune after bad, and everything will go smoothly and as you wish."

She could actually see the state of mind when he wrote those few lines of poetry; she must have seen some clues about the events of the past few days.

Daiyu said: "Just write a large version of those few lines of poetry you wrote that day for me."

Daiyu said: "Third Young Master Cong, I'm missing a good piece of calligraphy to hang in my room, so I came here today to ask for one."

"That poem was something I wrote casually in my spare time; the words are sharp and stiff. Wouldn't it be a shame to hang it in Sister Lin's boudoir? When I think of something better, I'll write it and send it to you."

Outside in the courtyard, Si'er was pruning flowers and plants, and Juan'er was sweeping the courtyard.

Wuer's pretty face blushed slightly, looking as lovely as a lotus: "Miss Lin is teasing me."

Tan Chun thought Third Young Master Cong must be reluctant to part with such a person; when she went back, she would find Baoyu and persuade him to give up this idea, to avoid creating a rift between brothers over this matter.

In the study in the East Wing, Jia Cong was concentrating on reading and occasionally copying notes.

Yingchun, however, heard the meaning in Daiyu's words, but it wasn't easy to say in front of so many people; she thought about coming over alone later to give Third Young Master Cong a reminder.

Daiyu, however, looked at Wuer, who was brewing tea.

Hearing her say words of good fortune and smooth sailing, it was naturally a kind intention; she was usually closer to Tan Chun and Yingchun, and hadn't seen Daiyu many times, but she didn't expect her to be a kindred spirit.

Baoyu left the Glory Celebration Hall and didn't see Daiyu's figure; he asked the maid outside the Hanging Flower Gate, who said Miss Lin, Second Miss, and Third Miss had gone to the Pure Wisdom Study.

Baoyu's heart sank upon hearing this; could it be that Lin Meimei had changed her mind and was now getting close to Jia Cong like Second Sister and Third Sister?

Thinking of this, his heart panicked, and he headed straight for the Pure Wisdom Study; halfway there, he met Daiyu's maid, Zi Juan, who said the young lady had already returned from the Pure Wisdom Study.

In the Pure Wisdom Study, Jia Cong took out a blank scroll and other items, and was mounting the newly written banner; this was a family skill he had learned in his previous life.

Wuer and Qingwen were curiously watching from the side; the Third Young Master actually knew this too.

Here, Baoyu heard that Lin Meimei had returned, so he turned and went to Daiyu's room.

Entering the room, he saw Daiyu looking for books on the shelf, so he said: "I wanted to find you to talk just now, Sister; did you go to the Pure Wisdom Study just now?"

Daiyu frowned slightly and said: "Didn't I just come back? I went to ask Third Young Master Cong for a piece of calligraphy to hang."

"You're not accompanying the Old Ancestor in the Rongqing Hall; what are you doing here? I don't have any beautiful maids here for you to covet."

Usually, Baoyu was used to Daiyu's temper, but today it sounded harsh: "Since you don't like me asking for Jia Cong's maid, I won't ask for her."

"And you don't have to be angry with me because of that irrelevant person."

Daiyu heard him say "irrelevant person," and her heart trembled involuntarily; her tone grew cold: "Whether you want someone else's maid or not, what does it have to do with me?"

"It's just that since Wuer is Third Young Master Cong's intimate maid, a gentleman does not take what others love. I advise you not to use those methods, to avoid creating a rift between brothers; it's not worth it."

What Baoyu cared about most was Lin Meimei's heart; now, hearing her words, they were permeated with an indescribable distance.

His face turned white, and he said angrily: "Just now in the Rongqing Hall, you said those things; I thought I was overthinking, but I didn't expect you to really favor Jia Cong!"

Daiyu's pretty face flushed red, and she said angrily: "Why do you have to make things up about me? How many times have I even seen Third Young Master Cong? How could I favor him? I was just reasoning with you."

Baoyu saw Daiyu's face flush and her emotions were agitated; he couldn't help but cough, and feeling unbearable, he swallowed the rest of his words.

Suddenly, he saw a small piece of rice paper on Daiyu's desk.

The paper had neat creases and was carefully pressed by two Mottled Bamboo paperweights; the edges of the paper were slightly frayed, likely because Daiyu often rubbed it in her hands.

Baoyu recognized at a glance that it was the poem Jia Cong had written that day; Jia Cong had originally wanted to tear it up, but Daiyu had asked for it; it seemed that since that day, Daiyu had often taken it out to appreciate and read.

A sense of uncontrollable sourness and indignation welled up in his heart, and he said: "You still say you don't favor Jia Cong; what is the meaning of keeping the calligraphy he wrote by your side?"

Daiyu saw Baoyu angrily pointing at the calligraphy on the table, and her face turned slightly pale.

"My sister and I grew up together, eating at the same table and living in the same room; whether we were close or arguing, we were harmonious, and it was better than anyone else."

"I didn't expect that now that my sister has grown up, she doesn't put me in her eyes, but instead puts the outsider Jia Cong in her heart."

"You all think he is good, but he is nothing more than a traitorous official and a greedy ghost; you... you even use those words about taking what others love to stab me; I truly have nowhere to vent my grievances!"

Daiyu was originally coughing with a flushed face, but the more she heard Baoyu's unreasonable words, the angrier she became, and her face turned a frightening deathly pale.

Zi Juan, to the side, was scared, worrying that if Baoyu continued, he would really anger the young lady to death.

Before Zi Juan could persuade Baoyu, she saw him getting more and more into his act, and he tore the jade from the gold lock on his chest.

He said hatefully: "What's the use of being spiritual? If it were spiritual, why would I be detested by my sister? Today I'll smash this useless thing!"

Saying this, he smashed it hard toward the ground, but the floor was covered with a thick wool carpet, so it probably wouldn't break.

The plot setup is basically complete; the protagonist's predicament in the Jia mansion is about to end, and the subsequent plot will rise; there will be ups and downs, but it won't be as miserable as before... please collect and support.

(End of chapter)