Chapter 73: Not Entering Rongqing Hall

After six or seven days of rest, Daiyu had fully recovered, even gaining more vigor than before her illness, her complexion now tinged with a faint luminous rosy hue.

No one knew whether it was the imperial physician’s medicine that worked, or the medicinal porridge Jia Cong sent each night that held miraculous power.

Daiyu and the other young ladies resumed their daily visits to Rongqing Hall to pay respects to Jia Mu—this, of course, was not Jia Cong’s duty.

Jia Cong, for his part, was perfectly content to avoid Rongqing Hall, where a crowd of people pretended joy and merriment; he preferred to stay in Qingzhi Studio and read.

Even Jia Mu found Daiyu’s recovery strange: originally, seeing the girl, so young, cough up blood, she had been terrified, fearing her beloved granddaughter might not live long.

Now, after her illness, Daiyu seemed reborn—her complexion better than before, her jade-like beauty even more ethereal and poignant, filling Jia Mu with even greater affection.

Baoyu, seeing Daiyu’s beauty deepen after her recovery, felt a pang of bitterness, muttering cheap lamentations about how heaven’s spirit and earth’s grace must all concentrate in girls.

He stared at his Lin Meimei as if he were a patient in the final stages of dementia.

After waiting a while, he realized his Lin Meimei had not noticed his earlier tender gaze—not even a single glance in his direction.

Jia Mu had waived Jia Cong’s filial rites that day, but no one dared tell Jia Zheng, for all knew he was upright and had always held Jia Cong in high regard.

Wang Xifeng, however, was the most perceptive among them; she noticed that after her recovery, Daiyu’s radiance surpassed her former self, yet a faint trace of sorrow lingered in her brows.

“These items from the old lady were originally delivered to Rongxi Hall. I thought Jia Cong should come himself to collect them—it would be proper etiquette, and he’d need to receive the messengers. Isn’t he here?”

If he found out, he’d surely say something, and then the old lady would be displeased again.

A fierce fire of gossip burned in her heart—she longed to drag Daiyu into it and extract the truth.

Jia Cong had been in the Eastern Courtyard before, but now that he’d moved to the Western Mansion, he should follow the same rites as Baoyu and the other young ladies—yet when he came, he found no one there.

“Old Lady, just now Qingshan Academy sent Jia Cong’s enrollment certificate—he must report and begin studies on the fifth day of the fourth month.”

Could it be true that the reason behind her quarrel with Baoyu was real? Could that boy from Qingzhi Studio truly have such influence?

Baoyu’s eyes glazed over—he seemed to be slipping into another fit of madness.

So no one dared to bring up the matter.

He unconsciously touched the jade at his chest, thinking: Lin Meimei must still be angry with me.

Jia Zheng had assumed that at this hour, Jia Cong would be with the other young ladies, paying respects to Jia Mu at Rongqing Hall—this was the longstanding filial custom of Rongguo Mansion.

Seeing that Daiyu hadn’t even glanced at Baoyu, Wang Xifeng—who had once been a girl herself—felt a sudden stir in her heart.

He dared not act boldly around Daiyu anymore; last time, his antics had made her cough up blood. If he caused trouble again, even the old lady wouldn’t stand for it—and if Jia Zheng found out, he’d be finished.

I, a coarse, bearded mortal, how could I deserve the favor of a celestial being like Lin Meimei? It would be an insult to her jade-like, immortal grace.

Master Jing’an had specially sent a set of the Four Books with annotations, all personally reviewed by him—extremely precious, meant to encourage Jia Cong to study hard.

That Jia Cong should be so highly regarded by this literary patriarch was truly unexpected!”

As the others in the hall were lost in their own thoughts, Jia Zheng entered with a beaming smile, followed by a maid holding a tray with an invitation and several books.

Jia Zheng had to report daily to the Ministry of Public Works, so his time at home was already scarce.

He never paid attention to such trivial matters, so half the household knew of it—yet he alone remained in the dark.

Jia Mu’s expression darkened: last time, Baoyu had been beaten by his father for falling behind Jia Cong in studies; now, his quarrel with Daiyu had made her cough up blood—both incidents stemmed from Jia Cong.

He was nothing but a troublemaking wretch; Jia Mu had grown increasingly distant from this grandson, and waiving his filial rites meant keeping him out of Rongqing Hall, so she wouldn’t have to see him and feel vexed.

But Qingshan Academy was the foremost academy of the Great Zhou—many high officials had graduated from there; this was no ordinary school, but backed by immense scholarly influence.

Liu Yanxiu was the former Grand Minister of Rites, a literary patriarch of renown, even the Retired Emperor treated him with great respect.

Neither side could be lightly neglected by the Jia family—Jia Mu had not yet lost her wits.

She felt that this wretch, so stubbornly resilient, had somehow become untouchable: yesterday she barred him from Rongqing Hall, and today she had to summon him back to Rongxi Hall—what nonsense.

She gritted her teeth and muttered to Yuanyang beside her: “Go to Qingzhi Studio and tell Jia Cong to go to Rongxi Hall to receive guests and gifts.”

Daiyu, Tan Chun, and the others heard this and realized Jia Mu had grown even more displeased with Third Brother Jia Cong due to recent events.

Yingchun, though slow-witted, also understood: the old lady now forbade Jia Cong from entering Rongqing Hall at all, ordering him straight to Rongxi Hall to receive gifts.

They all felt injustice for Jia Cong: Baoyu had been beaten by his father, Daiyu had been driven to cough up blood by Baoyu—what did any of this have to do with Jia Cong?

Wang Xifeng smiled at Jia Mu: “Third Brother Jia Cong is a true scholar at heart. After years at the academy, perhaps he’ll bring back a scholar’s degree—or even a juren.”

Though Wang Xifeng could barely read, she knew that perhaps Jia Cong might pass the scholar exam, but to become a juren would be the limit.

That boy studied hard, but did he truly believe he could return with a jinshi degree?

That would be a fantasy as absurd as dreaming of the moon—could anyone really become a jinshi without being one in a million?

Elder Jing of the Eastern Mansion was a celestial scholar incarnate—how many could ever be like him?

Jia Mu’s expression remained calm: “I don’t expect him to bring honor to the family. Studying well is his own affair; if he passes the exams, he’ll have his own good future—we won’t bask in his glory.”

Wang Xifeng turned and saw Baoyu’s face lit with delight, as if he were in good spirits.

She teased: “Baoyu, what are you so pleased about? Jia Cong’s going to the academy—you should be the one upset you can’t go.”

Baoyu smiled at her but said nothing.

In an instant, she understood what he was thinking.

Jia Cong would be at the academy for a year, returning only rarely—so he wouldn’t have to worry about Jia Cong growing close to Lin Meimei.

And with Wu’er left alone in the mansion, it would be easier for him to get close to her.

Wang Xifeng, being a woman, naturally disdained men’s lechery; she found Baoyu’s behavior somewhat contemptible.

Yet she spoke differently, smiling: “I know you well—your sister promised to help you, and she’ll make sure you get what you want.”

Jia Mu, hearing Wang Xifeng’s words, understood the matter perfectly but said nothing—it was only a maid, after all.

Daiyu found Wang Xifeng’s words nauseating, yet she felt helpless—could she step forward to stop it now?

She had seen Wang Xifeng’s sidelong glance toward her—Fengjie was deliberately speaking to Baoyu this way, laying a trap for her, waiting for her to jump in.

Daiyu would not fall for it and bring trouble upon herself and Third Brother Jia Cong.

When Baoyu had caused a scene in her room, the old lady had already grown suspicious.

Though she and Third Brother Jia Cong had never been anything, thinking of it now made Daiyu’s heart suddenly grow unsettled…

Daiyu had already decided: once Third Brother Jia Cong went to the academy, she would ask the old lady to assign Wu’er to serve in her quarters—Baoyu would never contest it.

(End of chapter)