Chapter 752: Playful Words Ask About the Sandalwood Man

Rongguo Prefecture, Baoyu's Courtyard.

The hour of the snake was coming to an end. Sunlight tore through the haze, and the gloomy courtyard faded its chill, giving birth to a trace of warmth.

The residual snow that remained in the gaps of the eaves last night quickly disappeared without a trace. The rough maids walking through the courtyard were no longer hunched and shivering from the cold.

Cai Xia hid in her room to rest, Seeing Seeing Caiyun listlessly tidied Baoyu's room, and Bi Hen walked back and forth in the veranda from time to time, somewhat absent-minded.

Xi Ren went to She Yue's room and found that the things in the room were neatly packed, with two clothing trunks piled on the ground.

Yesterday, Lady Wang wanted to drive She Yue out; she must have been unable to sleep all night and had packed her belongings overnight. It seemed she was definitely leaving.

Xi Ren couldn't help but sigh. The one who wasn't worry-free in the courtyard didn't leave, but the most worry-free one was driven out. She felt very uncomfortable in her heart.

Lady Wang even wanted to marry She Yue to that scoundrel Qin Yong; a good girl would be ruined.

Yet, good people didn't get good rewards. That improper goods Bi Hen only begged softly, and Lady Wang let her off easily. Where could one go to reason?

……

Xi Ren was just coming out of She Yue's room when she saw Baoyu entering the courtyard listlessly. He glanced at She Yue's room door, his gaze somewhat evasive.

In the morning, Lady Wang wanted to marry She Yue to Qin Yong. Baoyu couldn't save face before She Yue, so he said he would go to Rongqing Hall to plead with the Old Matriarch.

In fact, he never had such courage. Lady Wang had just gone to Rongqing Hall before he left; would he go and hit a hard nail in the hall?

If Baoyu could do such a firm thing, he wouldn't be Baoyu. Even if Daiyu and the other sisters were in the hall now, he had to endure the pain and not go.

He wandered around the prefecture, staying far away from Rongqing Hall. The sisters had moved to the Eastern Prefecture, and the others of the Second Branch had moved to the Eastern Courtyard.

Going to Feng Jie's courtyard, he worried about being skinned and deboned again; going to Lixiang Courtyard, he worried about Xue Yima talking about the way of raising children. Not to mention he was now truly a father...

In the vast Western Prefecture, he actually had nowhere to go. Baoyu thought of this scene and felt very sorrowful, having a sense of "the world is vast, and I am filled with sorrow."

Although he passed by Rongqing Hall several times and had thought of gathering courage to enter, he finally drifted away, his heart having fought several tragic battles.

After wandering for a good while, thinking that Lady Wang should be taking She Yue back to the Eastern Courtyard, he should go back to see her for the last time, which would be considered not failing their past affection.

……

He saw Xi Ren coming out of She Yue's room, her expression somewhat dim, and asked, "Xi Ren, is She Yue in the room?"

Xi Ren said, "Just now Feng Er came to pass a message and took She Yue to Rongqing Hall, saying the Old Matriarch and the Second Young Mistress had something to ask?"

Baoyu was somewhat stunned. Lady Wang had just gone to Rongqing Hall; how could Sister Feng and the Old Matriarch find She Yue to ask questions?

Baoyu felt somewhat dissatisfied and felt something was wrong. He hadn't gone to the Old Matriarch to plead yet; how could they find She Yue to talk first...

Xi Ren originally wanted to ask Baoyu if he had gone to Rongqing Hall to plead with the Old Matriarch. Seeing him ask about She Yue's whereabouts, she knew he hadn't gone to Rongqing Hall at all.

She sighed in her heart, and the words that reached her lips were swallowed back.

The two were each in their own thoughts when they suddenly heard chaotic footsteps at the courtyard gate, and a large group of people entered.

Leading them was She Yue, followed by Wang Xifeng's maid Feng Er, two old women, and two rough maids.

……

Baoyu and Xi Ren saw so many people enter and were somewhat surprised and puzzled. Seeing Seeing Caiyun and Bi Hen in the room heard the movement and also came out to see what was happening.

Feng Er said, "Sister She Yue, how should the luggage and items be handled? Tell these old women and maids, and let them help you move them to the Second Young Mistress's courtyard first."

"Once Sister Xiu Ju has arranged the accommodation, let them help you move them over."

She Yue said, "Because I couldn't sleep last night, I packed overnight. There are just two trunks and one parcel. I can take them and leave."

Feng Er waved at the maids and old women who came with her. The four swarmed into the room, and before long, they took the trunks and parcels out of the door, with only Feng Er waiting on the side.

These actions made Xi Ren and the others puzzled, and everyone's heart was filled with different thoughts.

Baoyu asked, "She Yue, I heard you went to Rongqing Hall. Did the Old Matriarch have anything to say? I originally wanted to wait until there were fewer people in the hall to plead for you."

She Yue's face revealed joy and said, "There is no need to trouble the Bao Er Ye at this time. Just now in Rongqing Hall, the Second Young Mistress has already asked questions."

"The Old Matriarch denied the marriage with the Qin family. The Second Young Mistress and the Second Young Lady gave grace. Because I left the Bao Er Ye's room, they let me go to the Eastern Prefecture to be the Second Young Lady's steward maid."

Baoyu heard this and was stunned like a wooden chicken, his mouth wide open and unable to close.

Xi Ren was also shocked and asked, "Is this true? How did it become like this?"

She Yue said, "In short, heaven has no dead ends. If I were really forced to marry Qin Yong, I would only have death. Fortunately, there is the master's grace, and now it has all passed."

Xi Ren believed it then. She didn't expect She Yue to have such good fortune. Although the Western Prefecture was a Duke's Prefecture, the Eastern Prefecture was a Count's Prefecture.

But even if everyone in the prefecture was a fool, they knew the Eastern Prefecture was a hundred times more valuable than the Western Prefecture. For the servants of the Western Prefecture, the threshold of the Eastern Prefecture was also unreachable.

Since the establishment of the Eastern Prefecture, except for Third Brother Cong and the personal maids of the young ladies, other servants were all bought from Jiangnan.

Except for head maids like Yuan Yang and Ping Er in the Western Prefecture, ordinary maids couldn't even enter the door of the Eastern Prefecture, even Bao Er Ye Bao couldn't step over the threshold of the Eastern Prefecture.

Because Xi Ren had some status in the Western Prefecture, or was invited by others, or passed messages for Baoyu, she had been to the Eastern Prefecture twice.

She had seen the Eastern Prefecture was elegant and magnificent everywhere, carrying a vibrant vitality, far from the dead and silent Western Prefecture.

Xi Ren didn't expect She Yue to be blessed by misfortune. Although she had decided to follow Baoyu for the rest of her life, she couldn't help but feel yearning and envy in her heart.

……

And Bi Hen, who was on the side, heard She Yue's encounter and was mad with jealousy, unable to help but feel full of sour water.

Although she was determined to be Baoyu's concubine, if she could go to the Eastern Prefecture to be a steward maid, she would rather trade it.

Third Brother Cong of the Eastern Prefecture was born with such an appearance that one would feel weak in the legs just by looking at him...

Bi Hen was angry in her heart. She Yue and she were both people the Lady wanted to drive away; where was she worse than She Yue?

Why did she have such great luck, and why wasn't that person her?

Bi Hen suddenly thought that anyone driven out of the courtyard seemed to have gained a great advantage.

There was that Xiao Hong before, and now it was She Yue before her eyes, and her good ending seemed to be related to Third Brother Cong. It was also seeing a ghost.

Bi Hen suddenly felt some regret. Why did she beg the Lady yesterday? If she were as firm as She Yue, would this good fortune have fallen on her today...

Xi Ren was only surprised at first, and envy appeared in her heart, but she quickly calmed down.

She said, "Fortunately, you got such a good result and don't have to marry in a muddled way. We have been together for a while, and I am relieved that you can be like this."

"It's just that we can't be together in the future, and I really can't bear to part with you."

She Yue saw Xi Ren's eyes were a bit red and said, "Sister Xi Ren doesn't need to be like this. It's just the Eastern Prefecture and the Western Prefecture. We can see each other whenever we want."

……

The two were having some reluctance to part when they suddenly heard Baoyu shouting like a madman, "How can this be? She Yue, you absolutely cannot go to the Eastern Prefecture."

"That is a place of corrupt officials and filth, which has already harmed the sisters in the family, and now even you have been deceived."

"I absolutely do not allow it. I will go beg the Old Matriarch now to let you stay in my courtyard."

She Yue was driven out of the prefecture by Lady Wang and was forced to marry Qin Yong. Baoyu was heartbroken, but he had no way and couldn't gather the courage to refute.

It was just another story of a young woman's desolation. This world was like this, and no matter how sad he was, it was useless.

But he never dreamed that what he saw as a matter as difficult as moving a mountain, She Yue only went to Rongqing Hall once, and it was solved.

This made him feel unbearable. It was fine that She Yue wouldn't suffer, but there were so many places in the prefecture, why let her go to the Eastern Prefecture?

That Jia Cong was busy with his career in the Eastern Prefecture all day, which was extremely foul and nauseating, but he gathered all the beautiful young women and followed him to sink and degenerate.

Baoyu was extremely heartbroken. Now even his own maid was being abducted to the Eastern Prefecture; he truly couldn't bear it anymore.

……

Xi Ren heard Baoyu's words and secretly called out "not good." The Bao Er Ye was acting foolish again.

She Yue's pair of willow eyebrows stood up slightly, and her originally happy and peaceful mood became extremely bad, and a trace of anger rose in her chest.

On the side, Bi Hen heard Baoyu's words, and the jealousy in her heart faded, unable to suppress the joy, secretly praising the Bao Er Ye for having some boldness.

This matter should be handled this way. Everyone was the Bao Er Ye's maid, so they should be tied together. Why should She Yue alone go out and be glorious?

Baoyu pulled She Yue and said, "She Yue, I know because the Lady drove you out and made you marry, you had no choice but to go to the Eastern Prefecture."

"You must not be deceived. This kind of boring place in the Eastern Prefecture is not a place for a beautiful young woman like you to stay."

"I will really go find the Old Matriarch this time to let you stay in my courtyard safely. Even if the Lady wants to drive you out, I absolutely do not allow it. I will go say it now." Baoyu said and walked out with his head held high, quite generous like a warrior who would never return, his heart filled with tragic feelings, making him somewhat intoxicated.

……

But before he reached the door, he suddenly heard She Yue's clear voice, saying like cutting ice and jade, "It's already at this point, why does the Bao Er Ye need to say these things?"

"The Lady is already extremely annoyed with me. I have no way to stay in the Bao Er Ye's courtyard, and I don't want to stay anymore. I am very willing to go to the Eastern Prefecture to serve the Second Young Lady."

"Even if the Bao Er Ye goes to talk to the Old Matriarch, it will be useless. If you make me stay here again and suffer tossing and turning, I would rather hit my head and die now!"

"I advise the Bao Er Ye not to cause trouble again. Considering I served the Bao Er Ye for a while, let's part cleanly. That is the clean way."

On the side, Feng Er heard She Yue's firm and clever words and was truly somewhat impressed.

She looked at Baoyu, whose face was pale and whose expression was ashamed, and said, "Sister She Yue, let's go back to the Second Young Mistress's courtyard first."

"Sister Xiu Ju has always been quick in handling things. Maybe she has already settled things in the Eastern Prefecture and is just waiting for someone to call you over."

She Yue nodded and said to Xi Ren, "Sister Xi Ren, you all live well. I am leaving now."

Xi Ren saw She Yue leave the courtyard gate, hurriedly ran back to her room, and after a while, came out with a parcel, chasing after She Yue in a hurry.

She said, "She Yue, we have been together for so many years. Now that you have a good destination, I have nothing to give you."

"Here is a new dress I made last month that I haven't worn yet, and a few pieces of jewelry rewarded by the Old Matriarch in previous years."

"If you don't dislike it, take it. It can be considered that we sisters have been together for many years, and leave a thought for the future."

She Yue was moved and hurriedly took the parcel, saying, "I will remember Sister's kindness, but I have one word to remind Sister."

"There will likely be many rights and wrongs in the Bao Er Ye's room in the future. I only advise Sister to hide from the wind when you encounter setbacks, and it is better to think about everything."

……

Xi Ren returned to the courtyard alone, thinking about She Yue's parting words on the way, which were somewhat meaningful and seemed difficult to understand.

But every word and sentence seemed to speak to her heart. She thought about how she had been in the room for a long time and still had no movement.

Cai Xia had only been in the room for a month and had successfully become pregnant, but the Bao Er Ye used medicine daily, yet the Lady still wouldn't let it stop.

All kinds of complicated and headache-inducing things flooded her heart. Thinking of She Yue's parting words again, she suddenly felt a chill on her back...

She walked into the courtyard and saw Baoyu still standing there, his face pale, actually looking at the sky like a clay sculpture, and couldn't help but feel somewhat afraid.

She said, "Bao Er Ye, don't stand in the wind. I will help you back to the room to rest."

Baoyu saw Xi Ren and seemed to vent it all at once, crying loudly, "Xi Ren, why did She Yue become like this?"

"She actually said she would rather hit her head and die than stay, just wanting to go to the Eastern Prefecture to mess around. There was an Xiao Hong before, and now there is a She Yue."

"They were all good young women endowed with the essence of the mountains and rivers, how did they all become this face? It is truly heartbreaking."

……

Xi Ren heard Baoyu's words and couldn't help but have a headache. The Bao Er Ye was obsessed again.

The Lady wanted to drive She Yue out of the house and marry her to that trash Qin Yong. She Yue naturally couldn't wait to escape; would she stay and wait for death?

Not to mention there was a high branch in the Eastern Prefecture to perch on. Even if she were She Yue, she would be eager to leave early.

Such a simple truth, she, a maid, could think clearly, and the Bao Er Ye was not a stupid person, so why did he think in circles and couldn't think clearly?

She said, "The Lady let She Yue out, so she had to have a place to land. The Second Young Lady named her; how could she not go?"

"If she goes, she goes. Naturally, there will be others to serve the Bao Er Ye. The Bao Er Ye should stop thinking about this. I will help you back to the room to rest."

Baoyu thought of She Yue's words just now and felt an unprecedented shame, his stomach full of restlessness, so how could he settle down?

He suddenly said, "Xi Ren, I think about it again and again, the things in our courtyard are too strange."

"Xiao Hong was also driven out by the Lady, but she had only been out for a few days before she immediately became Jia Cong's head maid and managed the entire Rongxi Hall."

"And when Xiao Hong talks about Jia Cong, she says he is powerful in reading and being an official, and her eyes can shine. It sounds very nauseating."

"Now She Yue is the same situation. The Lady wanted to drive her out yesterday, and today she became the steward head maid of the Eastern Prefecture."

"This kind of thing is fine once, but how can it be like this every time? If there is no ghost in it, who can believe it?"

"Jia Cong has always loved to provoke maids. Sister Wu Er and Sister Ping Er were ruined like this, and now even the maids in my room, he actually doesn't let go."

"He must have provoked She Yue long ago; otherwise, how could things be so coincidental, as if the two had discussed it long ago."

Xi Ren was startled and said, "Bao Er Ye, you must not guess blindly. How can such words be said randomly?"

"She Yue walks around us daily. She hasn't even spoken to Third Brother; how could the two have ties?"

"Third Brother is an official and cherishes his reputation most. If these words reach his ears, I am afraid he will turn his face."

Baoyu said indignantly, "My guess is absolutely correct. I will tell the Old Matriarch about this; I cannot let him do this..."

Xi Ren heard this, her face turned somewhat pale. The Bao Er Ye was confused again.

Even if Third Brother Cong had hooked up with Xiao Hong and She Yue, he was the master of the two prefectures, not an ordinary master in the family.

Even if he got a few maids, they were willing, so who in the prefecture would dare to manage it? Even if the Lady knew about this, she would definitely be too lazy to pay attention.

If Third Brother Cong didn't do this at all, and the Bao Er Ye shouted these words randomly, ruining Third Brother Cong's face, the First Branch and the Second Branch would turn their faces.

That Third Brother Cong was a person in the officialdom; how could he be a person who swallowed his anger? If the Bao Er Ye ruined his reputation, he would give him a handle.

As long as Third Brother Cong used some means, he could drive the Bao Er Ye out of the Western Prefecture. At that time, because the Bao Er Ye was in the wrong, I am afraid the Old Matriarch couldn't protect the Bao Er Ye.

At that time, even if the Bao Er Ye had more scattered words and crooked words, what would be the use? Would he say them behind closed doors in the Eastern Courtyard?

Xi Ren thought more and more fearfully, but Baoyu was still muttering there.

Xi Ren looked around somewhat guiltily. If anyone heard one or two sentences of Baoyu's complaints, it would bring disaster.

She no longer dared to let Baoyu stand outside like this, and dragged him into the room...

……

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

At sunset, Jia Cong returned to the prefecture from the government office and sat in the hall for a while, drinking the hot tea brought by Qing Wen.

But he saw Daiyu enter the courtyard with Hearing Zi Juan, her pretty face full of smiles, like a strange flower blooming, which was very pleasing to the eye.

It was just that there was a trace of teasing in the smile, which made Jia Cong somewhat puzzled.

He laughed, "Why did Sister come here at this time? Don't leave later; let's eat and chat together."

Daiyu laughed, "I saw a good show in Rongqing Hall today and came specifically to tell Third Brother, so you can hear something rare."

Jia Cong laughed, "What good show can there be in Rongqing Hall that can make Sister feel rare? Then I must listen."

Jia Cong took Daiyu into the study and asked Qing Wen to serve tea to Daiyu, while Hearing Zi Juan and Qing Wen talked on the veranda.

Daiyu smiled and told Jia Cong in detail about the matter of She Yue in the hall this morning.

Jia Cong was also somewhat surprised. Yesterday Xiao Hong came to report, only saying Lady Wang wanted to drive She Yue away, which seemed somewhat malicious.

Even Xiao Hong didn't know about the marriage at that time, so he didn't expect such a change in the Western Prefecture today.

Fortunately, he had already sent word to Wang Xifeng, and by the situation, he pulled a person out of the fire pit, which could be considered a virtuous deed.

Daiyu laughed, "Third Brother, today in Rongqing Hall, I watched coldly and saw clearly. Sister Feng's words were like pearls, and she came prepared, which was quite wonderful."

"Tell me honestly, did you instruct Sister Feng in advance? Otherwise, could she do it so vigorously?"

"Sister Feng also hinted at Second Sister in advance. Second Sister always spoils you, brother, so she believed it when she heard it."

"Third Brother, you don't have to be embarrassed. Did you fancy this maid She Yue? Otherwise, why would Sister Feng shout for you like this?"

Jia Cong scolded with a laugh, "Nonsense! When did I fancy She Yue? I haven't even spoken to her."

Daiyu hummed and said, "Don't try to fool me. Although I don't manage household affairs, I know some things about the Western Prefecture."

"Sister Feng arranging a task for She Yue in the Western Prefecture is an easy task. Why bother to bewitch and hint at Second Sister?"

"It's just that she saw your thoughts and pushed this maid to the Eastern Prefecture with all her heart."

"Second Sister has always regarded you, brother, as a treasure and could spoil you to heaven. Any girl Third Brother fancies or maid you like,"

"Second Sister will feel close and will think of ways to keep her by her side, helping Third Brother keep her first. Why don't I have such a sister..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 753 =====