Chapter 705

Lady Rongguo Mansion, East Road Courtyard.

Jia Baoyu thought that the sisters had changed their temper and actually stayed in Rongqing Hall for such a long time; he really didn't want to miss this opportunity to be close and talk.

More importantly, after hearing Aunt Zhang's words, he felt something was wrong in his heart.

Jia Cong actually dared to be so intimate with Lin Meimei, which was really improper.

How could he live in the East Road Courtyard with peace of mind? If Lin Meimei suffered and was wronged, what should he do?

But Lady Wang's words clearly had greater deterrent power, which immediately dampened Jia Baoyu's momentum.

His lifelong wish was to be a clean and outstanding person in front of the girls, to win their favor and admiration, and to exchange for their pity and tears.

But if he could achieve this, his life's career would be complete, and even if he died, he could be buried with their tears, so as not to live up to his nobility of being born with jade in his mouth.

If they knew the truth, that he was not a decent and upright man, how could he have the face to be close and talk? It would be better to die.

Jia Baoyu said unwillingly, "Lady's words are reasonable; I will first raise my illness and then go to be filial to Grandmother Jia; that is the right reason."

Lady Wang was relieved to see that her son finally understood, and she comforted him a few more times, telling him to go back and take medicine and rest.

Jia Baoyu left Lady Wang's room in low spirits, and his heart was filled with sorrow and hatred again.

He recited in his mouth: The Nanhua Scripture says, the clever are tired and the wise are worried, and those who are incompetent have nothing to ask for.

A person of such outstanding talent as himself, standing out from the crowd, is hated by heaven and earth, and must always suffer hardships to be tempered; his heart couldn't help but feel sad and heavy, which moved him...

……

Lady Wang calmed Jia Baoyu down, and her heart felt a little relaxed, but not long after, Seeing Caiyun entered the room.

She said, "Lady, the medicine that Aunt Chen grabbed for the Bao Er Ye last time has been decocted for the last dose today."

"Physician Hu came for a follow-up visit last night and changed a few medicinal materials in the prescription; Aunt Chen went to the pharmacy early in the morning to grab medicine again."

"Other medicinal materials were obtained, but the wild ginseng used as a medicinal guide needs thirty years of age, which is a rare thing even in the pharmacy."

"Aunt Chen walked through all the big pharmacies in the Love Shenjing, but there was no stock available."

"When asked, the shopkeepers of several pharmacies said that they were out of stock, and it would take seven or eight days at the shortest, or half a month at the longest, for high-year ginseng to arrive."

Lady Wang said anxiously, "How can this be? Doctors all pay attention to the curative effect of medicine; if delaying Jia Baoyu's treatment for ten days or half a month, what will happen?"

Seeing Caiyun continued, "Lady, don't worry; I originally thought that the West Mansion's public treasury would often store some good ginseng, mostly prepared for Grandmother Jia to maintain her health."

"I went to the West Mansion just now, using the excuse of Sister Xi Ren's injury, wanting to ask for a good ginseng for the Bao Er Ye."

"But Ping'er said that the public treasury originally stored good ginseng, but Grandmother Jia used some of it, and the Second Young Lady used the rest for childbirth, so there is none left now."

"She is also preparing to ask the Second Young Lady of the East Mansion for some to nourish the Second Young Lady after childbirth."

Lady Wang was slightly stunned when she heard this and said, "They want to ask the Second Young Lady for ginseng?"

Seeing Caiyun said, "Lady, why did you forget? The Cong Sanye has a top-quality farm in Liaodong, and every year during the festival, the farm sends harvests, and the least lacking is top-quality ginseng."

"The last time it was the Lady's birthday, the Cong Sanye sent ginseng as a gift; I heard it was a good thing with years, and I stewed it for the Master and Lady to nourish their bodies."

Lady Wang said, "I forgot about this; the ginseng he sent last time was indeed good."

"But Jia Baoyu's matter cannot be publicized; will asking the East Mansion for ginseng make them suspicious and leak the news?"

……

Lady Wang felt that asking the East Mansion for ginseng would not only worry about leaking Jia Baoyu's illness.

She also felt that she was an elder, and asking Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun for ginseng would lose her face; it was reasonable for them to be filial to her.

Seeing Caiyun said, "Lady, this matter is not difficult to handle; it can be done without making people suspicious, just let Sheyue go and say it."

Lady Wang felt strange when she heard this and asked, "What does this matter have to do with Sheyue?"

Seeing Caiyun said, "Lady, you don't know the inside story; originally, Xiaohong in the Bao Er Ye's room became the Cong Sanye's big maid."

"She is now very valued by the Cong Sanye and is the managing maid of Rongxi Hall; she can speak in the East Mansion."

Lady Wang felt uncomfortable when she heard the name Xiaohong, and she felt very faceless about her.

She was a third-class maid in Jia Baoyu's room, and she was the one who was kicked out by herself.

But she was picked up by Jia Cong and promoted to a big maid in the West Mansion; this was clearly to make her embarrassed.

Lady Wang had been secretly angry about this for a long time, but there was nothing she could do.

She was most annoyed to hear Xiaohong's name, but Seeing Caiyun was asking for trouble.

But she knew that Seeing Caiyun was thinking of a way for Jia Baoyu, so she listened patiently.

Seeing Caiyun continued, "Lady, you don't know that when Xiaohong was in the Bao Er Ye's courtyard, she was the closest to Sheyue, and they still talk to each other now."

Lady Wang felt even more unhappy when she heard this; Sheyue was Jia Baoyu's maid, and knowing that Xiaohong was kicked out by herself, and now she is Jia Cong's maid,

this brainless person still associates with Xiaohong; if there is anything in Jia Baoyu's room, the East Mansion will know everything...

……

Seeing Caiyun spoke without thinking and didn't know Lady Wang's thoughts, and didn't expect that she would still hold a grudge against a little maid like Xiaohong.

She then said, "Just let Sheyue go and ask Xiaohong to speak, saying that Sister Xi Ren was internally injured and needs top-quality wild ginseng to recuperate."

"As long as Xiaohong opens her mouth to the East Mansion, the Cong Sanye and the Second Young Lady will definitely give it, and this matter will be settled, and the Bao Er Ye's treatment will not be delayed."

"After this urgent wave, in a few days, there will be new goods in the pharmacy outside, and we will just go and buy them outside; no one will care."

Lady Wang thought about Seeing Caiyun's words and felt that they were very reasonable; always using the East Mansion's ginseng would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Lady Wang looked down on Xiaohong in her heart, thinking that she was a slave who betrayed her master for glory, and didn't expect to take advantage of her now.

But she had to admit that what Seeing Caiyun said was indeed a proper method; for Jia Baoyu's hidden illness not to be delayed, she could only make do with it.

Lady Wang said, "It's hard for you to consider it so comprehensively; let's do it this way, you go to the West Mansion to handle it now."

"If Jia Baoyu's illness is cured this time, I will definitely remember your kindness, and you will never be treated unfairly in Jia Baoyu's room in the future."

"It's just that Sheyue is not as good as you and Sister Xi Ren; this matter must not let her know the truth, so as not to leak the news and cause complications."

"I will send someone to buy ordinary wild ginseng outside, and when Sheyue gets the top-quality one, you secretly replace it, so as not to make her suspicious."

Seeing Caiyun didn't have the intention to fight for favor in her heart, because she thought that she and Sister Xi Ren would only be concubines in the future, and there was nothing to fight for.

But Lady Wang's words made Seeing Caiyun even more determined that it would always be good to have the Lady supporting her and not suffer losses in the future.

……

Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

At sunset, the evening glow filled the sky, covering the backyard garden of the East Mansion with golden-red and charming light.

Jia Cong returned to his courtyard after leaving the firearms workshop, washed his face and changed his clothes, wanting to walk around in Lin Daiyu's courtyard.

Just as he walked halfway, he saw someone walking towards him, with a pretty face and a slim figure.

She was wearing a pink silk thin jacket, a red satin dark flower vest on the outside, and a tooth-white pleated skirt on her lower body.

With her light steps, the hem of her skirt fluttered slightly, and her whole body was agile and neat; it was the maid Xiaohong.

Xiaohong usually manages Rongxi Hall in the West Mansion, and Jia Cong rarely sees her in the East Mansion.

Only when Xiaohong saw Jia Cong, a surprise appeared on her face, and she walked quickly to Jia Cong.

She smiled and saluted Jia Cong, saying, "Cong Sanye has passed the Rank Jinshi examination and goes to the early court every day; you have come to the West Mansion less often, and I haven't seen the Cong Sanye for a long time."

"Today, there is something to trouble the Cong Sanye, and I was thinking about when the Master would leave the office, so I didn't have the convenience of meeting him."

"I was just about to go to the Eldest Young Lady to talk about it, but I didn't expect to meet the Cong Sanye."

Jia Cong has always appreciated Xiaohong's agility and neatness, and her ability to act according to circumstances; she is a sensible person among the maids.

He smiled and said, "This sounds fresh; usually I'm the one ordering you around, and I've never heard of you having anything to trouble me with."

Xiaohong smiled and said, "It's not my own business; it's that something happened to Sister Xi Ren in the Bao Er Ye Jia Baoyu's room."

Jia Cong was slightly stunned when he heard this, feeling strange in his heart; how is it related to Sister Xi Ren again?

Xiaohong said, "A few days ago, on a rainy day, Sister Xi Ren slipped and fell, and accidentally injured herself."

"The doctor said after looking at it that the injury was not light and she needs wild ginseng of a certain age to nourish her body, otherwise it will be easy to leave hidden illnesses in the future."

Jia Cong asked casually, "Sister Xi Ren just slipped and fell, how did she get so scared, and even leave hidden illnesses?"

Xiaohong's pretty face turned slightly red, and she walked close to Jia Cong and said in a low voice, "This was told to me by Sheyue; if it spreads, Sister Xi Ren will have no face."

"It is said that when she fell, she was bruised by an umbrella in her chest and abdomen, and she couldn't even walk; it was the Bao Er Ye Jia Baoyu who helped her back."

"The doctor said she was injured in the vital part, with damaged viscera and kidney deficiency and blood deficiency, and internal stagnant blood; she even spat up stagnant blood twice."

"If she doesn't recuperate properly, she will... she will have difficulty having children."

"Today, the Second Lady invited another doctor for Sister Xi Ren, saying that she needs top-quality wild ginseng to nourish the deficiency, but there is no place to buy it outside for a while."

"Sheyue begged me here; after all, we have been together for many years, and I can help if I can..."

Xiaohong and Sheyue have always been close, and Sister Xi Ren treated her well in the past; hearing that she was seriously injured, she was a little soft-hearted and wanted to help out of loyalty.

Otherwise, she is still a virgin maid, and she wouldn't say anything about children in front of Jia Cong.

……

Jia Cong felt suspicious when he heard Xiaohong's words.

Just slipping and falling and being bruised by an umbrella, that should be a skin and flesh injury, how could it become a visceral internal epidemic, and even lose the ability to give birth?

This doesn't look like an accidental fall, but rather like being hit by a heavy object, suffering from a strain and hidden injury.

Jia Cong suddenly asked, "Xiaohong, you said Sister Xi Ren fell and was injured, just when she was with Jia Baoyu, and he helped Sister Xi Ren back?"

Xiaohong saw Jia Cong asking strangely, and felt confused in her heart, saying, "Sheyue said that the Bao Er Ye Jia Baoyu went to visit the Second Young Lady that day, and later it rained heavily outside."

"Sister Xi Ren was worried that the Bao Er Ye Jia Baoyu would get wet in the rain on his way back, so she went out to send an umbrella, and she fell on the way."

Jia Cong guessed a few points when he heard this.

Wasn't it also in the rain before, Jia Baoyu was angry and got wet in the rain, so he did violent and filthy things.

Jia Cong sneered in his heart; if his guess was correct, Sister Xi Ren wasn't injured by falling, but was kicked, otherwise she wouldn't have left hidden illnesses.

It seems that that matter could not be avoided and followed the original trajectory, just with some minor differences.

Jia Cong said, "If a girl leaves such an injury, she will be harmed for a lifetime."

"You go to the Eldest Young Lady and ask for a thirty-year-old wild ginseng, just say it's my word."

Xiaohong was happy when she heard this, and her small mouth was agile and neat, saying, "The Cong Sanye is really merciful; even for a maid, he is willing to use precious ginseng."

"In the future, you will have blessings for a lifetime, live a long life, have high official positions and wealth, and have public and marquis for generations..."

Jia Cong scolded with a smile, "This little thing is worth your flattery; I just think that a wild ginseng saving a life is a very cost-effective thing."

……

Count's Mansion, Lin Daiyu's Courtyard.

As soon as Jia Cong entered the courtyard, there were bamboos in the front courtyard, the evening breeze blew, the branches and leaves were swaying, making a rustling sound.

The sound did not show any noise, revealing a leisurely and harmonious charm, setting off the comfort and tranquility of the courtyard, making it more outstanding and pleasant.

In the past, when Jia Cong walked around in Lin Daiyu's courtyard at this time, he would often hear her playing the zither.

Sometimes he didn't even want to go in and disturb her, standing outside the door and listening with peace of mind, self-satisfied, until the music stopped inside.

Today, the room was silent; he walked to the door of the main room and saw Xueyan leading two old women, carrying several wooden buckets out.

Behind the lifted door curtain, a warm and fragrant breath came out, making people feel soft and intoxicated.

Xueyan saw Jia Cong and smiled, "Cong Sanye is here; the young lady is inside; please wait a moment."

Jia Cong put down his hand that was reaching for the door curtain and just waited for a while.

Lin Daiyu's voice came from inside, as pleasant as silver bells and jade chimes: "Is Third Brother outside? Please come in and sit; Ziyuan, go and make tea for Third Brother."

Jia Cong lifted the door curtain and saw Lin Daiyu sitting on the edge of the bed, fiddling with the Rubik's cube Jia Cong gave her.

She was wearing a moon-white printed jacket and a moon-white printed skirt, elegant and light, revealing a leisurely and pretty look.

Her hair was tied into two long braids, hanging loosely behind her head, and her hair was still wet.

Her cheeks were flushed with an alluring crimson, like snow-white jade with a jade-like halo.

The windows had all been opened, and the evening breeze flowed into the room without stopping.

But the warm and intoxicating daughter's fragrance in the room could not dissipate for a while, and Jia Cong couldn't help but breathe gently, feeling refreshed.

……

Just now he saw Xueyan leading people carrying wooden buckets out and asked him to wait at the door, so he knew he came at the right time and met Lin Daiyu bathing.

Her hair wasn't even dry yet; if he hadn't come, she wouldn't even have tied her braids, waiting to dry somewhere.

Lin Daiyu's beautiful eyes were full of autumn water, and her eyes flowed, as if she noticed Jia Cong's breathing, and her pretty face couldn't help but blush.

She said softly, "Third Brother left the office early today; it's just sunset, and the sky hasn't even darkened yet."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "The official business of the firearms workshop outside the city has been settled, and now it's just following the routine, so there's no need to guard it day and night."

"Naturally, I came back early when it was time to leave the office; Sister, did you take your medicine on time today? You must not forget to take it."

"Yesterday, Master Zhang sent new pills, enough for you to use until the end of the year; after taking them for another year, your illness will be completely gone."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Third Brother is really wordy; you ask every day, and even if I were really careless, I would be scared by you and wouldn't dare to miss it once."

She then asked, "I heard Third Brother say that Master Zhang has not been in the Love Shenjing for half a year; who did you entrust to send these pills?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "The person who sent the medicine is a merchant from Jin Ling, traveling between Jin Ling and the Love Shenjing, entrusted by Master Zhang to send them."

……

Jia Cong asked again, "Did you eat well for your two meals today? What delicious things did you eat?"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "I had my meal at Grandmother Jia's today; besides us sisters, there were Aunt and Sister Bao."

"Grandmother Jia was happy to see so many people, so she set up a big table and had the West Mansion's big kitchen serve many dishes."

"We had red rice, steamed duck with wine, ham and fresh bamboo shoot soup, eight-treasure smoked carp, and various hot tea and cold dishes."

"There were also two plates of tofu skin buns, which were very delicious."

"Grandmother Jia's steamed lamb with milk smelled strange, but that's for old people, so we didn't dare to touch it."

"It's a pity Third Brother wasn't there, otherwise we would have been happier; Third Brother eats in the office, which must be hard to eat, but it's just to fill your stomach."

Lin Daiyu seemed to regret that Jia Cong wasn't by her side, and she spoke eloquently, making him feel as if he were there.

……

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I heard Shi Xiangyun nagging that you usually don't stay long when you go to pay respects to Grandmother Jia, and you are busy returning to the East Mansion."

"Why are you so comfortable in Rongqing Hall today, staying with Grandmother Jia until after lunch?"

At this time, Ziyuan brought new tea and said, "The young lady just felt that her ears were quiet, so she stayed in Rongqing Hall for a long time."

"Because Bao Er Ye Jia Baoyu moved to the East Road Courtyard these days, he didn't make noise in front of her like before."

Lin Daiyu was exposed by Ziyuan, and her small mouth curled slightly, saying, "You love to talk too much; Third Brother is not at home during the day, and there is no one to talk to."

"Naturally, I was with my sisters; it's rare that everyone is in such a good mood, so they all stayed, and I couldn't return alone."

Jia Cong felt strange when he heard this; Xiaohong came to find Jia Cong just now, only saying that Sister Xi Ren was injured, and didn't mention Jia Baoyu moving to the East Road Courtyard.

He said, "Xiaohong came to say that Sister Xi Ren was injured and is now recuperating in the West Mansion; this matter is really strange."

"Sister Xi Ren is Jia Baoyu's big maid and has always been inseparable; how could Jia Baoyu go to the East Road Courtyard and leave Sister Xi Ren alone in the West Mansion?"

"I heard that Sister Xi Ren was seriously injured, and the doctor said she needs good ginseng to nourish her body; Xiaohong just came to ask for top-quality wild ginseng."

Lin Daiyu felt suspicious when she heard this and said, "Since Third Brother said so, the matter is indeed strange."

"Sister Xi Ren has been injured for five or six days; I heard from Shi Xiangyun that she hasn't been much better, so she must be seriously injured."

"Since she needs top-quality wild ginseng, she should have used it long ago; why did she drag it for so long?"

"It's not a small matter for a girl to leave such an injury; how could she be so careless and drag it on?"

Jia Cong and Lin Daiyu were both meticulous people; when they talked about this matter, they both felt that it was unusual.

It's just that no matter how strange the matter is, it's a matter of the second branch, and it has nothing to do with them, so they didn't bother to think about it soon.

……

The two talked and laughed softly, their hearts harmonious and tacit, and they didn't realize that the sky outside the window had darkened, and the evening breeze was getting cooler.

The two had nothing to do, taking turns playing with the Rubik's cube in their hands, rubbing their ears and temples, becoming more and more intimate.

Jia Cong saw Lin Daiyu's loosely tied hair, which had gradually cooled and dried, swaying slightly in the evening breeze, making her look more elegant and cute.

The green silk at her temples occasionally brushed across his face, making people feel itchy and wanting to grab it but couldn't.

Jia Cong's heart beat a little, and his peripheral vision was attracted by the dark cloud-like hair full of fragrance, giving birth to the impulse to stroke it gently with his hand.

Ziyuan came in to add water to the tea bowl and saw the Cong Sanye and the young lady sitting side by side on the edge of the bed, talking and laughing happily, looking very intimate.

Her small face turned slightly red, and she lifted the bead curtain halfway, then put it down gently, as if worried about making a sound, and turned to leave the room... (End of chapter)