Chapter 745: Setbacks in Marriage Proposals

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Entering the eleventh month, the nights grew longer and the days shorter. In the early morning, the sky was pitch black, and the north wind wailed outside the window.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed with the wind, and the warm light scattered down, illuminating the corridor inside and out.

Ling Guan carried a copper basin of hot water and walked quickly through the corridor, wearing a crimson dark-patterned cross-collar long jacket, a pink round-collar jacket, and a white embroidered cotton skirt.

A gust of cold wind blew, and she couldn't help but shiver, happening to see a thin layer of ice on the surface of the water in the peace jar.

Ling Guan pushed open the door. The room was still lit with an incense burner, and it was warm all around. Qingwen was wearing red pajamas and was combing Jia Cong's hair.

Ling Guan put the copper basin on the elm basin stand, stomped her small feet, and rubbed her small hands several times.

She said, "It's only the eleventh month, why is it so cold? Back in the south, wearing a lined jacket at this time would be enough."

Seeing Ling Guan's small hands were red, Qingwen smiled, "Although it's cold when the seasons change, your skin is too thin. Look at you, frozen like a crab."

"Just warm them in the hot water, and you'll be fine in a while."

Jia Cong smiled, "How can you scald frozen red hands in hot water? Be careful of getting chilblains. Ling Guan grew up in the south and isn't as cold-resistant as us. Come here, let me warm them for you."

Ling Guan smiled and stretched her hands out to Jia Cong, and they were gently rubbed in his palms.

Those small hands were well-proportioned, with slender and long fingers, looking very outstanding, like grinding jade and rubbing ice when held in the hand.

Back when Ling Guan lived in the Su Zhou opera troupe, she was a little opera girl who had only been on stage once, doing chores like washing clothes and cooking every day, developing calluses at a young age.

Since following Jia Cong, she no longer worked as hard as before, and the calluses on her hands had faded, feeling tender, smooth, and very comfortable.

Seeing the two being intimate, Qingwen felt a bit jealous and stretched her hands out to Jia Cong, saying, "Cong Sanye, my hands are cold too, warm them for me."

Jia Cong smiled and rubbed both pairs of small hands in his palms, making the two giggle.

At this moment, the door was pushed open. Ping'er came in and saw the situation, smiling, "You two are teasing the Cong Sanye again, be careful of delaying the Cong Sanye's time to go to court."

Ling Guan hurriedly pulled back her small hands, rubbed a hot towel to wash Jia Cong's face, and served him to brush his teeth and rinse his mouth. Qingwen went to tidy up the bed.

Ping'er took Jia Cong's official uniform and helped him dress neatly. Jia Cong asked, "Sister Ping'er, has there been anything happening in the West Prefecture recently?"

Ping'er helped him fasten the buttons and straighten his clothes, saying, "Nothing major, everything is fine inside and out. Several places have been renovated and repaired, and they are all done now."

"The Rongxi Hall has also been repainted and looks brand new. Cong Sanye, you should go and take a look when you have time."

"The betrothal gifts for Bao Er Ye Bao from the East and West Prefectures total two thousand taels of silver, which were sent to the East Road Courtyard some days ago. The Grand Matriarch secretly subsidized a few thousand taels."

Qingwen interjected, "The Grand Matriarch really has money, she can subsidize a few thousand taels so casually."

Ping'er smiled, "You only stayed in the Grand Matriarch's room for half a year, you don't know the inside story. The old lady is the eldest daughter of the Shi Marquis Prefecture."

"Just tidying up her dowry boxes a little can yield a few thousand taels, which is not strange at all."

Jia Cong smiled slightly. He had guessed this long ago, and he was afraid that Wang Xifeng also knew it well.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept the public silver so tight, as she had calculated the Grand Matriarch's share in advance.

The Grand Matriarch had pampered Baoyu alone all her life. It was unreasonable for an elderly person to be biased and pamper a certain descendant.

The older the elderly get, the more intense their bias and pampering often become. This is true in ancient and modern times. Even though Baoyu was decadent inside and out, the Grand Matriarch remained the same toward him.

Ping'er continued, "Second Lady has already prepared the betrothal gifts a few days ago and has transferred four carriages from the West Prefecture, plus one from the East Road Courtyard."

"We are going to the Xia Prefecture in Qingyu Fang today to deliver the betrothal gifts. The reason it was delayed until this time is because Bao Er Ye Bao's wedding date was postponed to March next year."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Five large carriages of betrothal gifts, this scene is truly not small."

Ping'er smiled, "Second Lady only has Bao Er Ye Bao, and she loves face, so I'm afraid she also contributed a lot of her own private money."

The two chatted for a few more sentences, then went out to eat breakfast, and Jia Cong left the prefecture to go to court.

Ping'er, Qingwen, and the others tidied up in the courtyard and didn't go to the West Prefecture until dawn.

She passed through the small door connecting the two prefectures, passed by the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, passed through the hall of the Rongqing Hall backyard, and turned into a wide north-south corridor.

In a while, she reached the large powder-painted shadow wall. Entering through the gate behind the wall, there were three main rooms, two ear rooms on the east and west, and several side rooms, which was Wang Xifeng's courtyard.

Ping'er lifted the large red floral cotton curtain at the door and saw the wet nurse holding the eldest daughter, who was being teased by Wang Xifeng on the *kang*.

The *kang* was covered with red felt strips, gold-hearted flashing satin seat cushions, matched with lock-brocade backrests and pillows, and a silver spittoon was placed in the corner, bright and dazzling, rich and magnificent.

Both incense burners were burning red charcoal, mixed with storax slices, spraying warm and fragrant breath, and the whole hall was as warm as spring.

Seeing Ping'er, Wang Xifeng asked with a smile, "Why did you come alone? Why is Wu'er nowhere to be seen? Could it be that she was on night duty for the Third Brother again last night?"

Ping'er's pretty face flushed, "Lady, what are you saying? Wu'er has her period today and is resting in her room, so she didn't come over."

Wang Xifeng said, "You few, you are all slow and methodical, and there is no movement at all. It was Baoyu's room that took the lead."

Ping'er smiled, "Matters of offspring cannot be forced. That Seeing Cai Xia is too fertile, ordinary people can't compare."

"Besides, how old is the Cong Sanye? There will be plenty of descendants in the future, so there is no need to rush."

Wang Xifeng picked up the eldest daughter from the *kang* and shook her in her hands, saying, "The Second Lady invited a doctor to check a few days ago and confirmed Seeing Cai Xia's happy news."

"The Grand Matriarch was happy for a few days. Second Lady even said in front of her that she went to the temple to fulfill her vows and divine, saying that this pregnancy must be a boy."

"This is also to deceive ghosts. Back then, I don't know how many times I burned incense and fulfilled vows, but whenever it comes to divination, which monk or Daoist priest dares to say I won't have a son."

"But in the end, it wasn't a girl? I've never heard of any temple that can guarantee a son."

Wang Xifeng said while pecking at her daughter's face, making the eldest daughter giggle.

Ping'er reached out to pinch the eldest daughter's fleshy little hands, smiling, "What's wrong with a girl? She will be closer to her mother when she grows up."

Wang Xifeng said, "Ping'er, don't you feel it's strange? Seeing Cai Xia's pregnancy is only a concubine's child, yet Second Lady values it very much, and even went to the temple to burn incense and fulfill vows."

Although Ping'er also felt it was strange, she said, "Probably because the Second Prefecture hasn't had a new grandchild for a long time since Brother Lan, and Second Lady is anxious to hold a new grandson."

Wang Xifeng smiled, "In the past, Baoyu was the phoenix of the Rongguo Prefecture. He had a concubine's eldest son before marriage, and others couldn't say anything."

"But now things are different. Baoyu has become a descendant of a side branch. Now only the Grand Matriarch still pampers him, and the family still keeps face inside and out."

"When the Grand Matriarch passes away, how much difference will there be between his status and that of Yun'er, the son of the Fifth Sister in the back corridor?"

"That Yun'er can still find work to make a living and support his old mother. Baoyu is useless in everything and fails in his studies, so he really can't compare."

"The Grand Matriarch said last time that the Xia family's status couldn't match Baoyu. This is the old lady being too biased toward Baoyu and confused about human relationships."

"In the past, when the Rongguo Prefecture Second Prefecture was in charge, they could say it didn't match. Now, with Baoyu's shape, saying it doesn't match is a bit arrogant."

"The only daughter of the Xia family of Guihua is a golden Bodhisattva with ten thousand taels of wealth. Matching Baoyu is more than enough, I'm afraid it's even better."

"I have seen this Miss Xia a few times. Not only is her appearance outstanding, but her words and deeds are like a straightforward and shrewd person. She doesn't look like someone who is easy to knead."

"She hasn't entered the door yet, and Baoyu has already made a big maid pregnant. If she doesn't make a sound, I don't believe it at all."

Wang Xifeng herself was a fierce woman. She inferred others from herself, so it was not strange that she would imagine this.

She continued, "And Baoyu's marriage always seems a bit strange, as if the east is not bright, the west is bright."

The Second Lady was remarkably efficient when it came to taking a concubine for Baoyu; she had the raw rice cooked into porridge in the blink of an eye, and even produced a child.

"But she discussed the wedding date with the Xia family, dragging it out, grinding and rubbing, until March next year. That's half a year."

"Second Lady wants to marry the daughter-in-law before the end of the year. Seeing Cai Xia's belly hasn't risen yet, so she left some face for the Xia family."

"By March next year, Seeing Cai Xia's belly will be like carrying a watermelon. No bride in the world will feel comfortable in her heart."

Ping'er smiled, "Although the Second Prefecture is now a side branch, the Bao Er Ye is still an official, and the Grand Matriarch pampers him so much, Bao Er Ye Bao will inevitably have concubines in the future."

"Besides, how the Second Prefecture makes trouble in the future has nothing to do with us. The Grand Matriarch and Second Lady will worry about it."

Wang Xifeng smiled, "You are right. Originally, Third Brother Cong had a big heart. Baoyu was kept in the West Prefecture by the Grand Matriarch, and he was too lazy to pay attention."

"Last time Baoyu wanted to stop your good deeds. Now Third Brother Cong is tired of him, and has already said that Baoyu will return to the East Road Courtyard after marriage."

"This matter, whether it is clan etiquette or family law, is a nail in the board, and the Grand Matriarch cannot stop it."

"When the time comes, they will make trouble in the East Courtyard, which has nothing to do with us. We will watch the fun if there is any, and live our own lives if there isn't."

Ping'er stepped forward and took the eldest daughter from Wang Xifeng's arms, holding her and walking around the room, looking reluctant to let go.

Suddenly thinking of something, she said, "Second Lady, the end of the year is coming. The New Year's gifts for Bao Er Ye Lian need to be prepared in a hurry. It will take half a month to send them to Liaodong." Wang Xifeng sighed, "I asked Lin Zhixiao's wife to handle it yesterday. The last letter said that he is doing okay over there, and Third Brother Cong's comrades in the army are also treating him well."

"Recently, he was assigned to transport grain and grass with the army, which is a decent thing in the army, but he still cannot leave the camp alone."

"I am worried that he will ruin his body if he stays in Liaodong for too long. I have mentioned this to Third Brother Cong, and he can leave the camp and walk around after another year."

"Third Brother Cong asked Xin Chun Hao in Liaodong to buy two old slaves, so that they can take care of his clothes, food, and soup daily. Let's survive one year at a time."

The two were talking when they saw the Grand Matriarch's maid, Sister Sister Hupo, come in. Wang Xifeng smiled, "Sister Sister Sister Hupo, why are you free to visit today?"

Wang Xifeng was much older than Sister Sister Hupo. She would call Sister Sister Hupo sister, just like she called Yuanyang, but it was a warm and respectful title for the Grand Matriarch's maids.

Sister Sister Hupo smiled, "Replying to the Second Lady, Second Lady went to Rongqing Hall to see the Grand Matriarch today and said that Seeing Cai Xia's face looks good, and she will likely have a boy."

"The Grand Matriarch also wants to hold a great-grandson sooner, so she thought of preparing two taels of bird's nest every month to nourish Seeing Cai Xia's body and fetus."

"The Grand Matriarch said that Bao Er Ye Bao is about to get married, and the expenses of the Second Prefecture are too high recently, so these two taels of bird's nest will be her pampering Baoyu, and she asks the Second Lady to spare two taels every month."

Wang Xifeng smiled, "I know about this. You go back and tell the Grand Matriarch that I know, and the public will pick the best to buy."

After Sister Sister Hupo left, Wang Xifeng's pretty eyebrows frowned, "This matter sounds more and more strange. A maid in the prefecture giving birth is not the first time."

"Although I entered the door late, I heard the old slaves in the prefecture gossiping, saying that Second Lady doesn't like concubines' children."

"Actually, this is not strange. Second Lady has many children herself, so naturally she doesn't like those born by concubines."

"Even when Concubine Zhao gave birth to Huan'er, I never heard of the blessing of eating bird's nest every month. Lady actually treats Seeing Cai Xia so well."

"After all, she is a maid she raised by her side since she was a child. It's as if only she can give birth to a son in Baoyu's room. Could it be that Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun can't?"

Ping'er smiled, "Seeing Cai Xia is the lucky one among the maids."

Wang Xifeng smiled, "She doesn't have your blessing. Third Brother Cong has always pampered maids since he was a child, which is famous in the prefecture."

"His pampering is not the same as Baoyu's. If you raise a child in the future, he can feed you bird's nest as a meal."

Ping'er wanted to laugh but was embarrassed to laugh, her pretty face blushing and very tempting.

Wang Xifeng called Feng'er and said, "We don't want to make it cheap for others. Xue Yima's shop has the best ones. You go and say we will buy another half a catty every month."

Rongguo Prefecture, Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

In Baochai's room, a few fresh flowers were offered in a soil-fixed vase on the desk, but the petals had already withered. Beside it were two books and a tea set.

A green gauze curtain hung on the bed, and the bedding was also very simple, far from the exquisite and gorgeous rooms of Seeing Tan Chun and Yingchun.

Baochai was flipping through a book in the room when she heard someone talking outside. Coincidentally, Jin Chuan came in with a basin of daffodils to replace the fresh flowers in the soil-fixed vase.

Baochai asked, "Who is talking outside?"

Jin Chuan replied, "It's Feng'er, the girl beside the Second Lady, saying that the public will add half a catty of bird's nest every month, and we should pick the best ones from our shop to buy."

Hearing this, Baochai put down the book, lifted the curtain and entered the hall, just seeing Feng'er's back as she left.

She asked, "Mom, the West Prefecture already buys half a catty of bird's nest every month, which is used by the Grand Matriarch and Sister Feng. Why add another half a catty?"

Xue Yima Xue said, "I heard it was Xue Yima begging for favor in front of the Grand Matriarch, wanting two taels of bird's nest every month to nourish Seeing Cai Xia's fetus."

"It sounds a bit strange. I know your Xue Yima well, when has she ever been so attentive to a maid?"

Baochai didn't take it to heart and asked, "Brother hasn't been seen for a few days. I heard he didn't return all night last night. Mom should manage him, don't let him cause trouble again."

Xue Yima Xue sighed, "Your brother is a horse without a halter, when can he be managed? But he did mention to me that he has been busy with serious business these days."

"Duan Chunjiang of the grain shop wants to do the rice and grain business of the Tongwen Hall and is begging your brother to find connections everywhere."

"I heard that there has been some progress recently. Your brother introduced him to Chen Richang, the second grandson of the Duke of Qi, who I heard is an official in the Five Armies Governor's Office, in charge of the transportation of military grain."

"Your brother said that this person has a wide path, and there is nothing in the city's rice and grain business that he doesn't know. Even the Tongwen Hall has some connections."

"Duan Chunjiang met this Chen Richang as if he had found a treasure, dragging him out for banquets and socializing every day, and dragging your brother to accompany him every time."

Baochai looked worried and said, "Mom, Duan Chunjiang's grain shop has bought a lot of grain for the big families in the Love Shenjing through Brother's connections, and the business is prosperous enough."

"Why is this person's heart so big that he even wants to do official business? Whenever he gets involved in the yamen, there are many twists and turns."

"Brother is a reckless person, why get involved in these things? The family doesn't lack the few taels of silver he earns."

Xue Yima Xue said, "I understand what you mean. You are overthinking this time. Our family is a royal merchant, and we do official business. I understand some of the ways."

"That Chen Richang, the second grandson of the Duke of Qi, although not the heir, is a noble descendant who can be an official in the yamen. Which one is not as shrewd as a ghost?"

"How much experience has a small grain merchant like Duan Chunjiang seen? In front of a noble descendant like Chen Richang, he can't play any tricks."

"I did advise your brother to get less involved in outside affairs, but he is in high spirits now, so how can he be persuaded?"

"Originally, the Second Prefecture sent betrothal gifts to the Xia family today, and Baoyu didn't have a brother. Your Xue Yima wanted your brother to escort them, so that he could have some face in front of others."

"But your brother was nowhere to be seen all day, so later they could only let Jia Yun of the side branch send them. Your Xue Yima might not feel comfortable in her heart."

Love Shenjing, Qingyu Fang, Xia Prefecture.

Five large carriages were lined up at the gate of the prefecture, each carriage covered with red silk, looking festive. Passersby knew at a glance that it was a carriage for marriage and betrothal gifts.

It was just that five carriages of betrothal gifts were very rare, and it was only possible for a wealthy and influential family.

The young man escorting the front was riding a tall horse, wearing brocade clothes, with a decent appearance, looking like a noble descendant at a glance.

Those in the neighborhood who knew the inside story naturally said that Miss Xia was promised to Jia Baoyu, the grandson of the Rongguo Prefecture.

I heard it was some kind of golden jade marriage, and the words of monks and Daoist priests could not be ignored.

Those who didn't know the inside story naturally sighed that the Xia family's ancestral grave had smoked green, and they actually climbed up to the noble family of the Duke.

In the main hall of the Xia Prefecture's outer courtyard, Lady Xia was drinking tea with a lid bowl, and the confidant Chen Pozi hurried into the hall.

She said, "Lady, I just got news from outside that there is some situation on the Jia family's side."

After finishing, she whispered in Lady Xia's ear. Lady Xia's face changed when she heard it, and she asked, "Is this true? Is the news accurate?"

Chen Pozi said, "This matter cannot be wrong. The Jia family didn't intend to hide it, it's just that they didn't beat drums and gongs."

"It is said that Lady Jia values the maid's belly very much. Now anyone on Ningrong Street can ask, and everyone knows about this."

Lady Xia's face became ugly, and she put the teacup back on the table with a *thud*, saying, "The Jia family is also a wealthy and influential family, but their way of doing things is too disorganized."

"Although it is common for big families to have three wives and four concubines, can't that Baoyu wait until after marriage?"

"Now that Jin Gui is about to enter the door, Baoyu made the big maid pregnant first. If she gives birth to a concubine's eldest son, isn't it touching the bad luck of my Xia family!"

At this time, a maid came to pass the message that the Jia family's betrothal gifts had been delivered to the door, and the Lady should take people to welcome them into the courtyard.

Originally, the Jia family officially delivered the betrothal gifts, and the Xia family's climbing up to the Jia family had finally landed. Lady Xia was in a very good mood.

Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, she suddenly heard such news, and Lady Xia felt as disgusted as if she had eaten a fly.

But the marriage between the Xia and Jia families was imperative, and there was no reason to have setbacks because of a maid. If it spread out, outsiders would say the Xia family had never seen the world.

Besides, that maid would likely give birth to a money-losing girl, and even if she really gave birth to a concubine's eldest son, whether she could raise it in the big mansion was another matter...

Lady Xia was too lazy to go out herself this time, and only asked Chen Pozi to take people to welcome Jia Yun.

Jia Yun was led into the outer hall by Chen Pozi, and the servants were asked to lift the betrothal gifts from the carriage into the hall, filling the whole room, looking very imposing and decent.

Jia Yun was a side branch of the Jia family from a few generations ago, and his family had long since declined. Seeing the betrothal gifts all over the room, he also envied them.

He felt that his trip to help Baoyu deliver the betrothal gifts was also a very decent thing.

It should have been the Second Prefecture's Huan boy to send them, but I heard that because of Jin Rong's matter, he was beaten by the Bao Er Ye and couldn't get out of bed, otherwise the good thing wouldn't have fallen on him.

Jia Yun originally felt it was a decent thing, but after entering the Xia family's main hall, he vaguely felt something was wrong.

Although Lady Xia's etiquette was thorough, her expression and behavior carried a trace of alienation, and even a bit of indifference, which made Jia Yun a bit confused.

At this time, a figure behind the screen was leaving stealthily. Just after leaving the outer courtyard hall, she ran to the inner courtyard with small steps.

Looking at her clothes, this person was a maid, with a graceful and tempting figure, a quite pretty appearance, but with a face full of anger and injustice...

... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 746 =====