Chapter 749

Rongguo Prefecture, Baoyu's courtyard.

The cold wind was biting, and the locust tree in the courtyard was bare, having long since shed its leaves. Its sharp branches pointed toward the sky, revealing a desolate and icy feeling.

Sister Sheyue and Bifen were called into the side room by Sister Xi Ren and saw Lady Wang sitting and drinking tea, the atmosphere appearing somewhat solemn.

Bifen didn't know the situation and looked somewhat blank, while Sister Sheyue, having just been caught by Lady Wang while talking to Sister Xi Ren, already knew things were not looking good.

She knew the Lady already had a grudge against her, and according to the Lady's temperament, she would eventually lash out one day.

Although she was anxious, she was a shrewd person after all and wouldn't lose her footing.

Now that she was still in the West Prefecture, which was the First Branch's territory, even if the Lady wanted to make things difficult for her, she wouldn't be too unscrupulous.

As long as she could survive this hurdle, she would always find a chance to breathe.

Sister Sheyue suddenly thought of one thing: if Bao Er Ye Bao moved back to the East Road courtyard, the Lady would only then deal with her, and that was the Lady's territory.

By then, her life and death would be in the Lady's hands, with no room to maneuver, and she would never have a good end.

Thinking of this, Sister Sheyue felt a chill in her heart and became even more determined...

Lady Wang put down her teacup, looked at Sister Sheyue and Bifen, and said: "I called you two here today because there is an important matter to discuss.

You have both served Baoyu for many years. According to the rules of the prefecture, maids must be released when they reach a certain age.

Although you haven't reached that age yet, the situation at home is different from before, and I imagine you are clear about that in your hearts.

Baoyu will be married next spring, and when Xia Gu Niang enters the household, she will surely bring several maids with her.

By then, Baoyu's room won't need so many people, so I plan to release you two; I will also arrange where you go."

Hearing this, Sister Sheyue felt a slight chill in her heart; the Lady was trying to find a way to drive her and Bifen out.

But she didn't feel sad in her heart. When senior maids like Qixian and Tanyun were dismissed, she understood that this day would come for her sooner or later.

Maids in a large household, except for those like Sister Xi Ren who entered the master's room and were promoted to concubines,

all others had to leave when they reached a certain age, just like the palace maids and officials who were released every ten years; it was the same principle.

She was just a little earlier; being swept out the door now was much better than being driven out after going to the East Road courtyard.

Although she was a bit sentimental, she felt settled in her heart instead.

But Bifen, hearing Lady Wang's words, was far from as calm and clear-headed as Sister Sheyue, and her heart was filled with panic.

She had been intimate with Baoyu many times and had long since lost her virginity to him; for the past two years, she had been hoping to become Baoyu's concubine.

She didn't expect that when people entered Baoyu's room, besides Sister Xi Ren, the Lady chose her own maids, Caiyun and Seeing Cai Xia.

There was no place for Bifen at all, which disappointed her greatly, but she didn't give up because she had nowhere else to go.

If she were driven out now, wouldn't it be all for nothing? How could she marry someone else as a withered flower?

If the Lady knew about the good deeds she had done, even if she had the life to leave, the Lady would surely trample on her to vent her anger; staying was the most beneficial thing for her.

Bifen fell to her knees before Lady Wang and said urgently: "Lady, I have served Bao Er Ye for many years and have never dared to be lazy in the slightest.

If the Lady feels there are too many people in Bao Er Ye's room, I can do rough work; please don't drive me out, otherwise I won't have the face to live."

Lady Wang remained calm on the surface as she listened to Bifen's plea.

Sister Xi Ren, who was on the side, frowned; she knew what kind of person Bifen was, and understood even better why she was desperate to stay.

Last year, Bifen served Baoyu a bath, and as a result, they didn't come out for two hours, leaving the room, floor, and bed covered in water.

Even the stupidest person knew what they had done, but no one in Baoyu's courtyard dared to say a word.

Sister Xi Ren knew clearly that if anyone reported it to the Lady, Bifen would definitely be driven out.

Bao Er Ye Bao would lose face because of this and would surely hate the informant to death; the gentle water-like person would turn into a dead fish, and they would surely have no good end.

Therefore, the maids around Baoyu, even those with shady characters like Qiuwen, dared not easily leak the news.

Because people like Qiuwen had always hoped to sleep with Baoyu; if she reported someone's secret today, and she succeeded in the future, someone would treat her the same way.

It was precisely because of this strange taboo that the romance between Bifen and Baoyu had been kept hidden in Baoyu's courtyard.

Sister Sheyue was an old hand in Baoyu's courtyard and naturally knew about this matter.

Seeing Bifen lower her status to plead like this, she knew the reason for her panic, and felt both a bit of contempt and a bit of pity.

But Sister Sheyue understood in her heart that whether Bifen could stay today didn't matter to the Lady.

But since the Lady had already said such things, she herself had to leave.

Since she was going to be driven out anyway, why wait for someone else to drive her out? It was better to be straightforward and decisive herself.

Sister Sheyue knelt beside Bifen and said: "Lady, since there are too many people in Bao Er Ye's room, someone will have to leave eventually.

I am willing to leave myself to make room in Bao Er Ye's room. Since Bifen wants to continue serving, why doesn't the Lady show grace and let her stay?"

Hearing this, Sister Xi Ren felt anxious; compared to Bifen, she naturally wanted Sister Sheyue to stay.

That hussy Bifen was bent on climbing into Bao Er Ye's bed; if she stayed, would she be competing with her for favor? It would be more to her liking if she were driven out early.

Sister Sheyue, however, never had such thoughts, and she was a first-class clever person, quick-witted and sharp-tongued, so no one dared to look down on her.

In the future, the new young mistress would surely bring her own maids, and a person like Sister Sheyue would be her help...

Sister Xi Ren originally wanted to open her mouth to plead for Sister Sheyue, but seeing Lady Wang's icy expression and remembering that she and Sister Sheyue had just been whispering and were caught by the Lady,

she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue...

Lady Wang heard Sister Sheyue take the initiative to leave, and although it was exactly what she wanted, she still felt some resentment in her heart.

Sister Sheyue should have pleaded with her to stay like Bifen, which would have given Lady Wang more of a superior's pleasure, even though she would definitely have driven her out anyway.

She didn't expect Sister Sheyue to be so straightforward; she must have seen through her intentions and spoken first. What a sharp and slippery little slut!

Lady Wang turned a deaf ear to Bifen's pleas and said coldly to Sister Sheyue: "Since you are willing to leave, that is naturally for the best.

You have served in Baoyu's room for many years, so I won't treat you unfairly; I will arrange a good place for you!"

After Lady Wang finished speaking, she stood up and left the side room. Bifen remained kneeling on the ground, not knowing if she was going to be driven out or if she could continue to stay.

Sister Sheyue originally thought that since she was born into the household, if she were driven out of Baoyu's room, she would naturally return to her parents' home.

Hearing Lady Wang's last sentence: I will arrange a good place for you.

No matter how she heard it, it sounded ill-intentioned, and she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

According to the rules of the Jia household, as long as she hadn't left Baoyu's room, she was still a maid of the Second Branch, and Lady Wang had the right to dispose of her, even if her parents couldn't do anything about it.

After Lady Wang left the courtyard, Bifen went out absent-mindedly, looking as if she were heading to Baoyu's room, surely to find Baoyu to plead for her.

Sister Xi Ren couldn't be bothered to pay attention to her, because she knew Baoyu's temperament; if the Lady wanted someone to leave, Bao Er Ye never dared to stop her.

She only complained to Sister Sheyue: "Why are you doing this? Although the Lady said you should leave, Bifen pleaded with the Lady, and she didn't want to leave.

Didn't the Lady not let her go? Why did you have to jump out yourself? Isn't this blocking your own path?"

Sister Sheyue said: "Sister Xi Ren, you should also see that the Lady has long been tired of me and will drive me away sooner or later.

These words today are just to get me out; why should I linger here? It's meaningless for everyone.

Last time, when people like Qixian and Tanyun were dismissed, Bao Er Ye Bao kept me because I had been in this courtyard for many years, and Bao Er Ye remembered the old bonds.

I naturally want to serve loyally, and I have no other words. Even if there were a better place, I wouldn't climb to a higher branch, otherwise I wouldn't be at peace in my heart.

But now it is the Lady who wants to drive me out, not because I didn't do my job well. I have done right by Bao Er Ye, so even if I am driven away, I don't feel I have lost anything."

Seeing Sister Sheyue speak so firmly, Sister Xi Ren knew she didn't want to stay, and persuading her more would be useless. Besides, if the Lady wanted her to go, who could stop her?

Sister Sheyue returned to her room, sat on the bed in a daze for a while, and then got up to pack her things in the cabinet.

Thinking of Lady Wang's words: I will arrange a good place for her. She couldn't help but feel anxious.

She got up and left the room, saw that the courtyard was quiet, and since there was no one else, she left the courtyard gate alone.

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's courtyard.

At sunset, the slanting sun sank in the west, the sky was gloomy, and the cold wind was blowing; it was suddenly much colder than during the day.

Jia Cong finished his official duties and entered the inner courtyard. Before he reached the courtyard gate, he saw a maid wandering on the cobblestone path.

She was wearing a rose-red embroidered sleeveless vest, a pink floral-patterned lined jacket, an ivory-white cloth skirt, and a pine-green sweat towel tied around her waist.

With thick, raven-black hair, a pretty and clean face, and a slender and delicate figure, she looked crisp and neat from head to toe; it was the maid Xiaohong.

Seeing her walking back and forth on the side of the road, unable to bear the cold, rubbing her small hands and blowing on them, Jia Cong stepped forward and asked: "Xiaohong, why are you wandering here?"

Seeing Jia Cong, Xiaohong said happily: "Cong Sanye, you have returned to the prefecture; I have an important matter to find Cong Sanye for."

Jia Cong laughed: "If you have something to find me for, why not wait in the courtyard instead of standing here drinking the northwest wind?"

Xiaohong said: "I was anxious, so I wanted to see Cong Sanye as soon as possible."

Seeing Xiaohong looking at him with big, expectant eyes, Jia Cong thought she must have an important matter to ask of him.

He laughed: "If you have something, let's talk about it in the study."

After the two entered the study, Jia Cong had Zhen Ying Lian bring hot tea for Xiaohong to drink and drive away the cold.

He laughed: "What important matter is worth you intercepting me halfway?"

Xiaohong said: "Cong Sanye, the Second Lady wants to drive Sister Sheyue out and won't let her stay in Bao Er Ye Bao's courtyard, and she even said she would arrange another place for her."

Hearing this, Jia Cong frowned and said: "What is going on with the Second Lady? She is always driving maids out of the room.

Although I haven't spoken to Sister Sheyue, I often see her when I go in and out of the West Prefecture. I have also heard people say that she is a good maid, eloquent and shrewd in her work.

Since she is a shrewd person, how could she offend the Second Lady and cause her to drive her out?"

After Lady Wang spoke during the day, Sister Sheyue was not afraid of being driven out.

She had always been shrewd, and many things that had happened in Baoyu's courtyard recently had made her somewhat disheartened; Lady Wang's rejection of her made her even more inclined to retreat.

Driving her out at this time, although it didn't sound good, might not be a bad thing if she could have peace of mind and avoid trouble in the future.

But she was worried that Lady Wang was ill-intentioned and would not only drive her out of Baoyu's courtyard but also find other ways to trample on her.

She remembered Xiaohong once saying that if any accident happened in Baoyu's courtyard and she couldn't stay any longer, she must remember to ask her for help.

Thinking of their conversation, which hadn't even been half a year ago, and yet it had unfortunately come true, Sister Sheyue couldn't help but smile bitterly.

She had stayed in the Second Branch for many years and knew that Lady Wang was a formidable figure in the back household; if she really used her methods to make things difficult, she, a slave maid, couldn't resist.

So she didn't dare delay for even a moment and slipped to Rongxi Hall to find Xiaohong for help.

Sister Sheyue knew that if Xiaohong learned of the matter, she would definitely go to Cong Sanye Cong to plead for her, so she told her the whole story from beginning to end, without missing a word.

After hearing the reason, Xiaohong was not worried but happy, and kept saying she would go to the East Prefecture to wait, even if it was late, she would wait for Cong Sanye to return to the prefecture, and she would definitely plead with Cong Sanye.

In Jia Cong's study, seeing Jia Cong ask for the reason, Xiaohong naturally reported the cause and effect truthfully.

Xiaohong was eloquent and clear-headed; the reason Sister Sheyue told her was somewhat tangled and complicated, but she explained it flawlessly and clearly.

After hearing the story, Jia Cong asked a few more careful questions, and Xiaohong answered them one by one.

Xiaohong said: "Sister Sheyue is not worried about being driven out, but the Second Lady wants to arrange another place for her, which sounds somewhat ill-intentioned.

Sister Sheyue is afraid in her heart, so she came to me to discuss it. I think it is best to find Cong Sanye for this matter; as long as the Master says a word, he can save Sister Sheyue."

Jia Cong smiled slightly: "This Sister Sheyue is indeed a sensible person and a good maid; it's a pity the Second Lady is unwilling to use her.

Although Sister Sheyue is a maid of the Second Branch, the First Branch is currently in charge, and the Second Branch has not yet separated from the West Prefecture's public assets.

All the maids of the Second Branch belong to the public assets; the First Branch cannot interfere if the Second Lady wants to drive Sister Sheyue out of the Second Branch.

But after Sister Sheyue leaves the Second Branch, how she is assigned elsewhere is not up to the Second Lady; this is a matter of family law and clan etiquette.

If I didn't know about this, that would be one thing, but since I already know, I won't pretend not to see it.

If Sister Sheyue hasn't done anything wrong, she won't suffer; otherwise, there wouldn't even be public justice in the world, and how would the First Branch manage the household in the future!"

Hearing this, Xiaohong's eyes sparkled, her pretty face turned pink, and she was full of joy. Jia Cong saw that she and Sister Sheyue had a deep bond.

He laughed: "Go back and quietly tell Sister Sheyue to rest assured; even if she is not in the Second Branch, there will always be a suitable place for her.

Just tell her to keep her mouth shut, don't let others know about today's matter, and there will be fewer complications in the future."

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Xiaohong was full of joy, stood up and bowed to Jia Cong, and left happily.

Jia Cong called Zhen Ying Lian over, gave her careful instructions, and had her go to the West Prefecture to pass a message to Wang Xifeng.

After Zhen Ying Lian left, Jia Cong recalled what Xiaohong had said, and some doubts arose in his heart.

According to Xiaohong, Qiuwen in Baoyu's room had already been transferred to the East Road courtyard, and now there were only three prospective concubines left: Sister Xi Ren, Caiyun, and Seeing Cai Xia.

Among them, Seeing Cai Xia was pregnant and needed someone to serve her specifically; there were only two proper senior maids left by Baoyu's side: Sister Sheyue and Bifen.

This manpower was not very abundant, although it was said that Xia Gu Niang would marry into the Jia family and would surely bring several maids with her.

But that was something for half a year later; why was Lady Wang in such a hurry to drive away Sister Sheyue and Bifen? These two had been in Baoyu's room for many years and could be considered well-known.

Lady Wang had always been particular about luxury and pomp; when Wang Xifeng dismissed Baoyu's maids and pages, Lady Wang was furious.

Now she was cutting down Baoyu's facade herself, which was somewhat strange. When things are abnormal, there must be a demon; there must be a reason he didn't know about.

And according to Xiaohong, this Sister Sheyue was not only eloquent and shrewd but also knew how to advance and retreat; she was rare among maids.

Such a clever maid was not often seen, and every master would cherish her more.

Yet Lady Wang couldn't tolerate her and was in such a hurry to drive her out; could it be just because what she said made Lady Wang feel unpleasant?

Even if Sister Sheyue was an old person in Baoyu's room, did she have to be so heartless?

When it got dark and dinner was served in the courtyard's main room, Zhen Ying Lian returned from the West Prefecture with Wu'er and Ping'er.

Zhen Ying Lian said she had already passed the message to the Second Grandmother, and the Second Grandmother told Cong Sanye to rest assured, she would handle the matter properly.

Ping'er and Wu'er both knew about this, but because the matter hadn't been revealed yet, they didn't discuss it at the dinner table.

After dinner, Jia Cong went to the study, and Zhen Ying Lian followed him in with freshly brewed fragrant tea.

She saw Cong Sanye take out that beautiful telescope, play with it in his hands, and a little later take out the drawings from a few days ago and scribble on them.

She also saw him take a map from the bookshelf, spread it on the desk, and look at it carefully while holding a candlestick.

Zhen Ying Lian saw the map was labeled "Map of the Nine Frontiers of the Great Zhou"; she didn't understand these things much, so she took a piece of rice paper and practiced calligraphy on the side.

When it was close to the hour of Hai, Jia Cong saw Zhen Ying Lian covering her mouth and yawning, so he smiled and packed up the things on the table, urging her to go back to sleep quickly.

When she returned to the room, the incense burner was warm, and the candlelight on the dressing table was flickering brightly.

Ping'er was tidying his bed, and seeing Jia Cong come in, she smiled and stepped forward to help him change his clothes.

Jia Cong saw her wearing a goose-yellow round-collared undershirt, her posture graceful, her breath like orchids, very moving.

Ping'er said: "Cong Sanye has been in the study for a long time these past few days. I heard Wu'er say that Cong Sanye only used to be like this when he was studying for exams."

Jia Cong laughed: "I have been worried about many things recently. The Firearm Bureau has to complete the Emperor's errand before the New Year, so I have been rushing the work these past few days.

Eight hundred remnant Mongols have entered the capital to seek peace, and the Divine Capital is not peaceful at the end of the year.

Even if the Mongols come to seek peace, war on the Nine Frontiers is mostly unavoidable. Once the Great Zhou and the remnant Mongols go to war, the Firearm Bureau will be even busier."

Ping'er was worried in her heart and asked: "Cong Sanye, you once led an army to expedition in Liaodong.

If the Imperial Court goes to war with the Mongols, will the Emperor send you to the north to expedition again?"

Jia Cong said: "That's hard to say, but now that I have entered the Hanlin Academy and become a proper civil official,

it won't be as convenient for me to lead an army to expedition as it was before."

Ping'er breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Cong Sanye has everything now; fighting on the battlefield sounds scary, so it's better not to."

Jia Cong smiled slightly; Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had repeatedly bestowed grace and support, so it would probably not be easy for him to live a leisurely life.

But he wouldn't tell Ping'er this, lest she worry more.

Ping'er said: "I heard Zhen Ying Lian mention Sister Sheyue. Although Sister Sheyue has a sharp tongue, her heart and character are impeccable.

I have been best friends with Yuanyang, Sister Xi Ren, Sister Sheyue, Hearing Zi Juan, and Jin Chuan since I was a child.

Why can't the Second Lady tolerate her? I really can't bear to see her suffer."

Jia Cong laughed: "I already know about this matter. The Second Grandmother is better at managing things; Sister Sheyue won't suffer, so Ping'er, rest assured."

The two exchanged some idle chatter, and Ping'er saw Jia Cong get into bed, helped him lower the bed curtains, and went to the side couch herself.

Jia Cong lifted the quilt and lay down, finding it warm inside, permeated with the fragrant scent of orchids, which was exactly Ping'er's scent.

Thinking that the winter night was cold, Ping'er must have warmed the bed for him before he entered the room... (End of chapter)