Chapter 756

Rongguo Prefecture, Sister Feng's courtyard.

Red charcoal was lit in the incense cage in the room, mixed with top-quality lily incense slices, emitting a warm and fragrant breath.

The eldest daughter was held by Ping'er and walked back and forth, soon falling asleep from the rocking, and was then settled by Ping'er on a small couch in the inner room.

Wang Xifeng finished reading the family letter and smiled, "After Madam at home received my letter, she paid more attention to Xin Chun Hao and heard many interesting stories from the women of wealthy families.

They all say that Miss Qu is in charge of external affairs for Xin Chun Hao, often traveling between branches in Jin Ling, Gusu, Yinzhou, Fuzhou, and other places, managing distribution and overseas business everywhere.

Miss Qin only sits in Jin Ling to manage internal affairs, handling the daily business of the firm. Except for the managing women of the firm, she rarely sees outsiders.

So Miss Qin's name is not as famous as Miss Qu's. It is only because Xin Chun Hao's business has become more and more prosperous that people outside have slowly come to know about this 'Second Master Qin'."

Baochai heard that the second master of Xin Chun Hao was also a young lady, and her heart couldn't help but feel a bit strange.

I don't know where Cong Brother found these beautiful young ladies, and all of them are outstanding people.

Wang Xifeng glanced at Wu'er, who was recording accounts, and asked, "Wu'er, you and Qingwen went to Jin Ling with Cong Brother. Have you ever seen this Miss Qin?"

Wu'er said, "It was several years ago when I went to Jin Ling with the Cong Sanye. At that time, there was no Xin Chun Hao, and Miss Qu was still running the embroidery and incense shop in the Love Shenjing.

I have seen Miss Qu many times in the Love Shenjing. When the Cong Sanye was studying at Qingshan Academy, he would take me to visit her house in his spare time.

But I have never seen Miss Qin in Jin Ling, nor have I heard the Cong Sanye mention her specifically.

Only Lingguan in the Cong Sanye's courtyard has seen Miss Qin. When the Cong Sanye went to Jin Ling to handle official business last year, Sister Hearing Zhi Shao was always in Gusu, and only Lingguan followed him to Jin Ling.

Once, Lingguan mentioned in passing that this Miss Qin is named Qin Yao and is a distant relative of Miss Qu.

Because her family fell on hard times and her relatives were scattered, and she has excellent talent for managing affairs, she was invited to be the second manager of the firm."

Wang Xifeng smiled, "So that's the reason. Xin Chun Hao is also strange; both inside and out, young ladies are in charge, and all of them are outstanding people.

Cong Brother's fate is also strange; I don't know how he gathered these people together."

Baochai heard about this Miss Qin's background, and her mind felt a bit chaotic and dizzy. Miss Qu's reputation was already famous enough.

According to what Sister Feng said in her family letter, this Second Manager Qin is also outstanding in character and appearance. Cong Brother's business is also done in a unique way...

Baochai smiled and said, "Wu'er, I often hear about Miss Qu in the prefecture, but I have never had the chance to see her. I am really curious, what kind of person is she exactly?"

Wu'er smiled and said, "Miss Qu is a few years older than the Cong Sanye. Her appearance is very delicate, and her spirit and energy are different from ordinary young ladies. In short, she is very good."

Wang Xifeng also smiled and said, "I really envy these young ladies, being able to hold power over business outside and doing big things.

Unlike us, born into aristocratic families and married into wealthy households, looking glorious and honorable on the surface, but inside, it's not even easy to step out of the second gate.

Every day I can only manage trivial matters in the inner residence, doing rituals in a small snail shell; thinking about it is also boring."

Baochai sighed slightly, "It's just that everyone's fate is different. Sister Feng envies them for being free and easy, holding power over practical industries, and having quite a bit of ambition for a young lady.

Perhaps they also envy Sister Feng for her stable inner residence, wealth, and grace, without having to rack her brains every day.

In this world, what one thinks and misses in one's heart is one thing, and what one is forced by fate to do every day is often another. This is also hard to say for sure."

After Ping'er settled the eldest daughter, she also returned to the outer room to sit idly. Today, the family affairs in the prefecture were light, and they happened to have half a day of leisure.

Several people sat in the room chatting, and before they knew it, it was sunset, and everyone dispersed.

……

Rongguo Prefecture, East Road Courtyard, Zhao Yiniang's courtyard.

The courtyard has two main rooms adjacent to each other sitting north, and one side room on each of the left and right sides. Although the courtyard is not large in circumference, it looks quite neat and tidy.

As a concubine of Jia Zheng, Zhao Yiniang being able to live in an independent small courtyard in the East Road Courtyard, which does not occupy much land, can be considered quite generous in a large mansion.

The reason is that she has many children, having given birth to a son and a daughter for Jia Zheng, which is highly regarded in a large mansion, not to mention that she is Jia Zheng's most favored concubine.

Compared to Zhou Yiniang, who is also a concubine, because she has no children, her living quarters are far from having the same grandeur as Zhao Yiniang's.

The main room is filled with the pungent smell of medicinal plasters. Jia Huan has been recuperating in bed for a month and can already walk slowly with a cane.

But the physician instructed that he can only move his bones and joints slightly and cannot walk or move too much, so he still spends most of his time in bed.

Seeing her brother walk a few steps after getting out of bed, Seeing Tan Chun knew his injuries were gradually improving and felt a bit more at ease, so she had the maid help him back to bed to rest.

She came to the East Road Courtyard to visit today because she knew Wang Lady had come to Rongguo Prefecture and was moving between Baoyu's courtyard and Rongqing Hall, so she found a gap to come over.

It also saves her from having to perform family etiquette when meeting her legal mother, making everyone feel uncomfortable in their hearts.

Seeing Tan Chun instructed Jia Huan to calm his mind and recuperate, then left the main room to return to the East Prefecture. Just as she walked to the middle of the courtyard, Zhao Yiniang chased after her and pulled her into the side room.

Seeing Tan Chun saw Zhao Yiniang close the doors and windows, her behavior somewhat sneaky, and frowned, asking, "Yiniang, what are you doing? Seeing this will only make people suspicious."

Zhao Yiniang said, "Third Girl, you haven't come for these past few days. I have had words bottled up in my heart for a long time, and I must say them out to feel comfortable."

Seeing Tan Chun's eyes flickered. Seeing Zhao Yiniang's face full of unwillingness, she vaguely guessed some of it and asked, "Yiniang, please speak."

Zhao Yiniang said, "These days, it has spread throughout the prefecture that Seeing Cai Xia has only been in Baoyu's room for a month, yet she is pregnant so quickly. It sounds really suspicious.

Although some women are easy to conceive, it is really rare to see someone as convenient as her. Seeing Cai Xia was close to your brother before, so I suspect..."

Seeing Tan Chun heard half of the words, her pretty face already flushed red, and she whispered, "Yiniang, hold your tongue! Such words can be said recklessly? If the wind leaks out, it will cause a great disaster!

Seeing Cai Xia entering Baoyu's room was done according to family etiquette, and she has served tea to Grandmother. Her status is established, and everyone in the two prefectures knows it.

She is now pregnant, so it must be Baoyu's flesh and blood. Yiniang also grew up in a large mansion and should know the danger and severity of this.

As long as half a word of doubt is spoken about this matter, with Madam's fierce temperament, can Seeing Cai Xia and her child still live? That would truly be a sin!

If idle talk is implicated, Father could beat Huan'er to death in a fit of rage. Even if he keeps his life, his whole life will be ruined, and we mother and children will have no face to be people in the Jia family again.

If Yiniang wants everyone to die together, feel free to talk nonsense like this in the future!"

……

Zhao Yiniang was also frightened pale after hearing Seeing Tan Chun speak so severely.

She said, "I know this matter is scary, but I really have doubts in my heart. How could it be so fast?"

Seeing Tan Chun felt hot all over and asked patiently, "Has Yiniang mentioned this to anyone else?"

Zhao Yiniang said, "I really couldn't get past it in my heart, so I talked to my own daughter. I haven't mentioned a word to anyone else.

Your brother is still a child and doesn't understand much about childbearing. I haven't even said half a word in front of him.

If your mother were really that stupid and couldn't weigh the severity of things, how could I have raised you two siblings in a large mansion?"

Seeing Tan Chun couldn't help but frown after hearing her Yiniang's crude language, but she still breathed a sigh of relief.

She said, "It is good that Yiniang knows the priorities. Now that things have reached this point, don't say you can't figure it out; even if you really figured it out, it wouldn't do anyone any good.

Don't do these meaningless things. If a storm is stirred up, it will be too late to regret, and instead, innocent people will be implicated and lose their lives.

Today, Yiniang must not tell anyone these words, and you yourself must not think about them again. Let the words rot in your stomach, and don't reveal half a word in front of Huan'er.

Third Brother and I have already discussed it. Once Huan'er's injuries are well, we will send him to the academy to study and stay away from the annoying matters of the family.

If Yiniang still has me in your heart, you must listen to me this time. Otherwise, if a matter arises, I will definitely ignore you.

If I have no face to be a person because of this, I will just shave my hair and become a nun, and Yiniang can forget about me ever paying attention to you again!"

Zhao Yiniang also knew that Seeing Tan Chun's words were reasonable; living peacefully is the best thing.

She hurriedly said, "Everything you say is right. Yiniang will definitely listen to you this time. Your brother is not promising, so I will have to rely on you for the rest of my life.

Do whatever you say. It's getting late, and Madam will be back, so I have to accompany her and perform etiquette. You should return to the East Prefecture early and don't stand here."

Seeing Tan Chun sighed, instructed her patiently a few more times, and then left the East Road Courtyard with Shi Shu."

……

Ningrong Street, Count's Prefecture.

Seeing Tan Chun got off the carriage at the East Corner Gate, and there were already women from the outer courtyard waiting with a small sedan chair. The sedan chair stopped only when it reached the second gate of the inner courtyard.

Seeing Tan Chun got off the sedan chair. Just two steps into the inner courtyard, she felt the biting north wind blowing, making a whistling sound and chilling one to the bone.

She said to Shi Shu, "Looking at the time, Third Brother will be off duty soon. I will go to his courtyard to chat for a while.

It is already windy now. You go back and get my cloak and hand warmer; it will definitely be cold at night."

After Shi Shu left, Seeing Tan Chun entered Jia Cong's courtyard alone. The courtyard was quiet, and no one was walking around.

Thinking that it was getting colder outside, the door of the main room was left ajar to avoid the cold, and the sound of laughter and talking like silver bells came from the room.

Seeing Tan Chun pushed the door open gently and felt the room warm and comfortable.

A cloisonné hollow incense cage was placed against the east wall of the room, with a bamboo cage cover on the outside. Qingwen, Zhen Ying Lian, and Lingguan were sitting around the incense cage.

Seeing Tan Chun saw the three of them wearing only casual skirts and jackets, having removed their makeup, their faces plain and clear, delicate and pretty, talking in low voices, smiling, and enjoying themselves.

Three pairs of embroidered shoes with different patterns were neatly stepped on the edge of the cage cover, huddled together to warm up.

The heat in the incense cage was steaming, evaporating the graceful body scent of the young ladies, mixed with the fragrant scent of residual makeup, making the air diffuse with a intoxicating fragrance. Seeing Tan Chun smiled and said, "Third Brother is not at home, yet you few know how to find fun."

Qingwen smiled and said, "It started to get windy before sunset, and the cold air is drilling into the seams of our bones. Our hands are cold and it's hard to work, so we are roasting to get warm.

Third Girl, come and dispel the cold too. I will go and serve tea for you."

Seeing Tan Chun smiled and went over to sit down, also putting her embroidered shoes on the edge of the incense cage, feeling the heat steaming, and the coldness from the road was swept away in an instant.

While drinking warm tea and chatting casually with Zhen Ying Lian and the others, she was always a bit distracted.

Just as her body had warmed up, she heard footsteps in the courtyard. Zhen Ying Lian smiled and said, "Young Master has returned to the prefecture; it is his footsteps."

The door of the main room was pushed open again, and with a gust of cold wind, Qingwen hurriedly got up to help Jia Cong take off his cloak, and Lingguan hurriedly went over to close the door tightly.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You few are quite comfortable. On such a cold day, you should hide in the room and roast by the fire. Third Sister, why do you have time to visit today?"

Seeing Tan Chun smiled and said, "I just returned from the East Road Courtyard and have words I want to say to Third Brother."

Hearing the words 'East Road Courtyard', Jia Cong somewhat understood what Seeing Tan Chun wanted to say.

He said, "Lingguan, Third Sister will stay for dinner today. You go to the kitchen and pass the word, asking them to add a few dishes.

Third Sister's taste is light and elegant. There should be cold-stored wolfberry sprouts or water fennel, stir-fry one or two plates with oil and salt, and use less oil.

Cut a plate of freshly pickled rouge goose breast, don't use salt and vinegar for seasoning, just sprinkle with osmanthus flowers using hot honey.

Then mix a plate of ready-made eggplant, stew a bowl of lotus leaf and lotus seed soup, and serve the rest of the dishes as they were yesterday."

Seeing Tan Chun's thoughts were originally somewhat solemn, but hearing Jia Cong's instructions, she couldn't help but reveal a sweet smile.

These dishes are all things she likes to eat daily. Third Brother remembers them clearly.

……

Jia Cong let Qingwen and the others stay in the main room to roast and warm up, and took Seeing Tan Chun into the study.

He asked, "Third Sister, did you visit Yiniang and Huan'er today?"

Seeing Tan Chun told Jia Cong everything Zhao Yiniang had said today.

She said, "I knew that if the news of Seeing Cai Xia's pregnancy spread, Yiniang would definitely have thoughts. Sure enough, she couldn't hold back and brought it up today.

Although I warned her with words, and Yiniang also knows the severity, promising not to mention it again, I am always anxious in my heart.

Always burying such a cause, I really don't know when a storm will suddenly be stirred up. By then, who can explain it clearly? I fear it will be out of control."

Jia Cong advised, "Sister doesn't need to worry too much. Although Zhao Yiniang is a bit impulsive, she is not really a foolish person. Since you have already explained the severity, she will definitely take it to heart.

I am not worried that Zhao Yiniang will leak the news; what I am worried about is another matter."

Seeing Tan Chun asked, "What is Third Brother worried about?"

Jia Cong said, "If Zhao Yiniang's guess is correct..."

Seeing Tan Chun is a quick-witted person. Hearing only half of Jia Cong's words, she knew what he meant.

That would not only be the humiliation of a mother and maid, but also a brother defiling his brother's concubine, and a secret pregnancy; in a large mansion, it would inevitably lead to total destruction!

Her delicate body shook violently, her face flushed red, her whole body felt hot, and for a moment she felt nowhere to hide.

Just now, when Zhao Yiniang brought up this topic, it wasn't that Seeing Tan Chun hadn't thought of this possibility, she just really didn't dare to think about it.

If the truth of the matter is like this, it would be a huge scandal. Not only would her brother be ruined, but the Jia family's second branch would also be pointed at by thousands of people.

The entire Jia family would lose its reputation, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Seeing Seeing Tan Chun's pretty face flushed red and ashamed, Jia Cong felt awkward in his heart and hurriedly stopped the topic.

Seeing Tan Chun is an unmarried maiden, and it is indeed somewhat inappropriate for him to mention such speculations about moral corruption in front of such a young girl.

Seeing Tan Chun's chest heaved slightly, and she looked up at Jia Cong and said, "Third Brother has always been sensitive and perceptive, seeing things as clearly as fire.

You don't need to have any scruples with me; you can say anything."

Jia Cong steadied his mind and said, "If Zhao Yiniang's guess is correct, I mean if.

If Zhao Yiniang could perceive the suspicion in it, Second Madam, such a shrewd housewife of the inner residence, could not possibly be unaware of this matter.

Since that is the case, she is still in a hurry to let Seeing Cai Xia enter Baoyu's room. Isn't she afraid of Baoyu being humiliated? This is really too contrary to common sense.

Baoyu's room already has Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun. If Seeing Cai Xia can conceive, why can't they?

If Zhao Yiniang's guess is the truth, Second Madam doing such a thing must have an unavoidable reason, and she will also keep her mouth shut tighter than anyone else.

As long as we don't touch it easily, I think Second Madam won't have any unusual movements, and this matter will mostly be calm."

Jia Cong sighed, "There have always been many entanglements in large mansions, and there are many things that cannot be brought to light until death.

Don't say our generation, the previous generation must also have had many, but everyone keeps their mouths shut, unwilling to poke through it easily.

So Sister doesn't need to worry too much. Tomorrow is the twelfth lunar month, so let's settle down and finish this year first.

Even if a change really occurs, I will help Third Sister hold it up and won't let Third Sister be implicated or suffer."

……

Seeing Tan Chun was comforted by Jia Cong and slowly let go of the heaviness in her heart. At this time, Lingguan entered the study and said that the kitchen had sent the dishes, asking Jia Cong and Seeing Tan Chun to go over for dinner.

The two had just entered the main room when they saw Wu'er and Ping'er entering the courtyard against the biting north wind.

Because it wasn't too cold in the morning, they didn't wear cloaks or hoods, and their two pretty faces were blown red by the north wind.

After everyone gathered and sat down, Jia Cong discovered that only Hearing Zhi Shao was missing.

Lingguan saw Jia Cong's eyes and knew what he was thinking.

She said, "Sister Hearing Zhi Shao went to the South Slope Courtyard at noon and sent word before sunset, saying she would stay there tonight."

Jia Cong didn't care after hearing this. The renovation of Mouni Nunnery would soon be finished, and Sister Miao Yu and her disciples would move out in the twelfth lunar month, so Hearing Zhi Shao naturally wanted to spend more time accompanying them.

……

Count's Prefecture, South Slope Courtyard.

In Sister Miao Yu's Zen room, there was an elm wood pillar bed. The bed curtains and bedding were simple and monochromatic, but the materials used were all top-quality.

These daily necessities were carefully prepared by Hearing Zhi Shao according to her senior sister's preferences, putting in quite a lot of thought.

Beside the bed was a dressing table, with a bright and transparent dressing mirror, some top-quality rouge and powder, and an exquisite ebony jewelry box.

Sister Miao Yu is a person who practices Buddhism while keeping her hair. Although her appearance is pretty and outstanding, she strictly observes Buddhist precepts and does not use women's makeup items.

Because Hearing Zhi Shao often accompanies Abbess Xiushan in the South Slope Courtyard, if she stays in the courtyard at night, she would sleep on the same bed as Sister Miao Yu.

These women's dressing items were all things Hearing Zhi Shao carried with her for daily life.

Sister Miao Yu became a nun when she was small. Her temperament is cold and eccentric, she doesn't understand worldly feelings, and is difficult to get along with, only being very accommodating to her junior sister, being tolerant in everything.

Even if Hearing Zhi Shao placed worldly makeup items in the room, she didn't care at all, always following her wishes.

Sometimes when she got up in the morning and saw Hearing Zhi Shao dressing up, she would watch with curiosity from the side and even help out, adding quite a bit of fun between the senior and junior sisters.

At this time, because Sister Miao Yu was chanting scriptures in the Buddha hall, only Hearing Zhi Shao was in the room. She was sitting by the bed, sewing a set of light cyan Songjiang cotton undergarments.

In Jia Cong's room, Qingwen is the most outstanding at needlework, and daily clothes are mostly sewn by Qingwen.

But every time the seasons changed, Hearing Zhi Shao would unfailingly make one or two sets, and with extreme care.

It seemed to come from the netherworld, a vague and clear drive in her heart, as if she had formed a habit many years ago. Only Jia Cong and Wu'er knew the reason for this.

……

On this day, after Sister Miao Yu finished her daily homework, she went to her master's room to talk.

Because it was about to enter the twelfth lunar month, the north wind outside was biting, and the temperature began to drop sharply. She helped her master add thick bedding and added silver frost charcoal to the incense cage in the room.

When she returned to her Zen room, she saw her junior sister leaning against the edge of the bed sewing clothes. Looking at the color and style, it must be Jia Cong's clothes.

Outside the window, the sunset was dim and unclear. The candle in the room had been lit, and the bright yellow candlelight shone on Hearing Zhi Shao's pretty and delicate face, reflecting a warm and moving glow.

For a moment, Sister Miao Yu was distracted. Hearing Zhi Shao's expression was quiet and focused, as if it could disturb her soul. Her slender fingers pulled and picked lightly, and the stitches were dense and affectionate.

She suddenly envied her junior sister very much. Her body exuded a peaceful fulfillment, overflowing with silent joy.

Even if she didn't say a word, Sister Miao Yu could still perceive it clearly.

This is something Sister Miao Yu could not obtain even after chanting scriptures a thousand times before the Buddha.

Because she has someone to rely on for life, because she has someone in her heart.

She suddenly understood why, back at Panxiang Temple in Gusu, when Jia Cong took Hearing Zhi Shao away, the imbalance and sorrow in her heart came from...

She was just a withered orchid under the green lamp and Buddha seat; her junior sister was the peony blooming in the warm sun and water. (End of chapter)