Chapter 759: Pretty Words in Rongqing Hall

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

As the twelfth lunar month arrived and the new spring was approaching, the curtains, window lattices, screens, and cushions in Rongqing Hall were all brand new.

The floor of the main room was newly covered with a scarlet foreign carpet. In the center, on the arhat couch, was a red gold-money python brocade mattress, and a large red palace silk longevity-patterned backrest was placed.

Beside the couch was a small lacquer table, on which was placed a black lacquer shell-inlaid tea tray, holding a ten-treasure enamel cup, brewing the "Old Gentleman's Eyebrow" tea that Grandmother Jia loved.

To the left of the arhat couch was an enamel elephant-carrying treasure vase ornament, and to the right stood a gilded crane incense burner, burning top-quality nine-refined lily incense.

The crane's long beak puffed out milky white smoke, slowly and leisurely, refreshing the heart and spirit.

Because the new spring was near, twelve glass palace lanterns were newly hung from the beams. Although they weren't lit in the morning, the light from the glass already appeared brilliant.

Grandmother Jia leaned against the arhat couch, and Yuanyang, delicate and pretty, sat behind her, gently pounding Grandmother Jia's back.

Seeing Jia Cong, Yingchun, and other granddaughters come to pay their respects, Grandmother Jia was in a very good mood and hurriedly asked the maids to provide seats and serve tea.

Yingchun, Daiyu, and other sisters came to walk around almost every day, but only Jia Cong showed his face every five or six days.

Because he went out to court before dawn every day, he couldn't pay his respects every day, and even when he encountered a day off, it was common for him not to be at home.

Grandmother Jia had also heard from Yingchun many times that Jia Cong's duties in the Ministry of Works were heavy and that he was often busy day and night.

Yingchun didn't know the reason, but it was nothing more than the busy construction affairs of the firearm workshop as the end of the year approached.

Even on days off, Jia Cong spent the whole day in the workshop.

Therefore, it was no surprise that he sometimes only showed his face in Rongqing Hall every ten days, but in terms of family etiquette, it seemed somewhat negligent.

But Yingchun knew deeply that the brother and grandmother were not close, which was a psychological barrier from childhood, a matter in the big mansion that was hard to speak of.

Even if the grandmother and grandson sat together, there was nothing intimate to say.

The brother was naturally busy with official business and couldn't get away, and in his heart, he hadn't lacked the intention to avoid it.

As the eldest sister, Yingchun naturally covered for her brother in everything. Every time she came to Rongqing Hall to pay her respects, she would often ask after Grandmother Jia on Jia Cong's behalf.

Whenever there was anything to show filial piety, her words were always that the brother and sister were one, and that her brother was busy with official business but never forgot the intention of being filial to his elders.

Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun were also intelligent people, and naturally understood Yingchun's painstaking efforts, often speaking good words on the side to harmonize the relationship between grandmother and grandson.

……

Although Grandmother Jia was old, she was not completely muddled in inner-chamber matters and naturally saw the painstaking efforts of her granddaughters.

Originally, before Jia Cong was granted a title, Grandmother Jia often complained that he was prone to trouble, cold in his dealings, and didn't care about feelings, often inviting gossip from relatives.

But since he inherited the two mansions of Ning and Rong, his official title became increasingly prominent, and everything he did was dazzling, and the reputation of the two Jia mansions rose accordingly.

Grandmother Jia could enjoy wealth and honor in Rongqing Hall, and she had to rely on Jia Cong to support the situation outside, so she naturally didn't dare to have any complaints.

She had even less confidence to let Jia Cong pay his respects morning and evening. If she insisted on these empty rituals, it would only make the already distant grandmother and grandson even more estranged, which would not be worth the loss.

Since the granddaughters were well-behaved and sensible, mediating and harmonizing, Grandmother Jia naturally went with the flow—everyone lifts the flowery sedan chair.

For Grandmother Jia, the family was prosperous, the descendants were harmonious, and she was at peace and happy, which was enough; there was no need to be too serious about the rest.

……

Therefore, Grandmother Jia had no harsh expectations for Jia Cong in terms of filial piety.

As long as Jia Cong could support the situation outside and ensure the prosperity of the two mansions, Grandmother Jia was satisfied.

If Jia Cong could still come to Rongqing Hall to pay his respects and give her, the grandmother, face inside and out, she naturally had nothing more to say.

Therefore, on the first day of the twelfth lunar month, when Jia Cong brought the sisters of the family to pay their respects, Grandmother Jia was still quite pleased.

After Jia Cong and the younger generation took their seats, Grandmother Jia asked Sister Sister Hupo to call Baoyu over so that everyone could be lively together.

In fact, Grandmother Jia could also see that Baoyu was not close to Jia Cong, which in her view was due to two reasons.

One was that the two were somewhat at odds in their studies and couldn't walk the same path, so naturally, they didn't have much to say.

Another was Baoyu's nature since childhood, liking to be close to the maids around him, but he would approach and curry favor with any maid who was good-looking.

It just so happened that this grandson of the eldest branch had a great peach-blossom luck, and the young women entering and exiting his side were all the most outstanding maids in the two mansions. How could Baoyu not be envious and jealous?

Last time Baoyu stopped Ping Er from entering Jia Cong's room, it was for this reason, which Grandmother Jia didn't consider a big deal.

Baoyu was just a child's temper; as long as he grew a few years older and gained more knowledge and opened his mind, he naturally wouldn't compete in these matters.

Now, according to Grandmother Jia's thoughts, she still very much hoped that Baoyu could be close to Jia Cong.

Her own Baoyu had been spoiled and pampered since childhood and was mostly destined to guard the family, so if he could enjoy wealth and honor, that would be excellent.

But now the eldest branch had completely gained the upper hand, and this grandson of the eldest branch was too outstanding. If Baoyu wanted to live a good life, he naturally had to be close to him.

Even after she passed away a hundred years later, Baoyu would have a brother to protect him, and she could close her eyes when she died.

Therefore, in this scene of the younger generation filling the hall, Jia Lan was not convenient in the East Road Courtyard, and Baoyu could not be left out.

……

Grandmother Jia smiled and asked Sister Sister Hupo to call Baoyu, not paying attention to anything else, but Yuanyang, who was pounding her back behind her, saw some clues in the hall.

Her thoughts had always been on Jia Cong. Since he entered the hall, Yuanyang's gaze had been flowing, and she couldn't leave him.

She noticed that when the grandmother wanted to call Baoyu over, Cong Sanye frowned slightly.

The always gentle Second Sister, upon hearing the grandmother's words, also felt uncomfortable.

Even Third Sister, who was sitting beside Cong Sanye, had a flushed face and an awkward expression.

Second Master Bao usually said and did absurd things, which was somewhat annoying, but Cong Sanye and Second Sister were both bright people and wouldn't show these things on their faces.

Why were they all so strange today? Yuanyang felt there must be something fishy.

Sister Sister Hupo had just gone out to call someone when Xichun, sitting beside Yingchun, suddenly blurted out: "Calling Second Brother over will make him angry again..."

But she only said half of this, and suddenly cut it off. Everyone looked over curiously.

They saw Xichun take a loquat out of her mouth, frown, and say: "Second Sister, you gave me a loquat to eat; you should at least peel it. Just stuffing it in, am I that greedy?"

Yingchun bit her cherry lips, her eyes gentle, and said: "You're just a child; just eat the fruit. There must be rules in front of Grandmother; don't talk nonsense."

While Yingchun was speaking, she also winked at Xichun. Although Xichun was young, she was a smart person. Having lived with Yingchun for a year, there was more tacit understanding between the sisters.

She immediately understood Yingchun's meaning: Second Sister knows Grandmother dotes on Second Brother the most and doesn't want me to speak ill of him in front of Grandmother. If I don't say it, I won't say it.

As for why she couldn't say it, Xichun was young and shallow, and didn't understand the reason, so she pretended to be stupid and peeled the loquat in her hand.

……

Grandmother Jia heard half of the words and felt somewhat strange, laughing: "Fourth girl, come sit here; it's warm on my couch."

Xichun responded and went to sit on the arhat couch, stuffing the peeled loquat into her mouth.

Grandmother Jia laughed: "You just said your Second Brother was angry; why only half a sentence? Tell me the whole thing."

Yingchun laughed: "Grandmother, Fourth Sister is still a little girl; she thinks of one thing and says another, and forgets it herself in a blink."

Xichun said unconvinced: "Who said I think of one thing and say another? Isn't Second Brother often inexplicably angry, muttering, and no one knows the reason?"

"Did I say anything wrong? We sisters see it often in our daily lives."

Daiyu saw Xichun, at such a young age, actually being clever and knowing how to smooth things over, and couldn't help but smile.

Grandmother Jia was stunned, then laughed: "So that's the reason. Your Second Brother is sometimes really like that. Treat him better in the future, and he won't be like that."

Xichun chewed the loquat in her mouth, but thought in her heart that Third Brother was the best to her, and was very capable—not only was his calligraphy beautiful, but he could also paint, and he looked very good.

Second Brother didn't seem to know anything, only knowing how to scold others as corrupt officials. What's the fun in being good to him...

Yingchun heard Xichun's words and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The little girl was clever and knew how to turn the corner herself.

She laughed: "Fourth Sister, you love eating loquats; Second Sister will peel them for you, just eat them."

Xichun laughed joyfully: "Alright, Second Sister is the best; I hate peeling fruit skins the most."

……

Baoyu, urged by Xi Ren, walked into the hall hesitantly. Seeing the hall full of sisters, he should have been happy, but now he was full of anxiety. Yingchun and Jia Cong had a tacit understanding, and neither turned their heads to look.

Jia Cong was talking to Seeing Tan Chun, and Yingchun was lowering her head to peel a loquat for Xichun.

Yingchun was originally gentle and kind, and usually wouldn't give people a hard time.

Today, outside Rongqing Hall, Baoyu said such wild words, and she and her brother had heard it with their own ears; she was truly angered.

But today she came to pay her respects to Grandmother with her brother, which was originally a good thing, and it would be better if everyone was harmonious.

There was no need to make everyone uncomfortable because of Baoyu's crooked words, so she stopped Xichun from speaking, but she had already made up her mind in her heart.

Baoyu had become increasingly absurd this year, often slandering Third Brother behind his back. They were all brothers and sisters of the same family; why have such a face?

Third Brother didn't want to be the same as him, but he must be unhappy in his heart. As a sister, she didn't need to give him a hard time; they would just see less of each other in the future.

Just wait for Baoyu to get married and move to the East Road Courtyard, and when Third Brother comes to the West Mansion to pay his respects, they would have peace of mind from then on.

……

Baoyu saw Jia Cong and Yingchun's cold expressions, as if they didn't see him at all.

The other sisters turned their heads to look at him, but even Shi Xiangyun, who loved to talk the most, didn't greet him.

The charcoal braziers in Rongqing Hall were hot, but Baoyu felt a chill, as if the sisters of the family had suddenly become estranged, and his heart couldn't help but feel sorrowful.

Grandmother Jia laughed: "Today Cong Ge'er and your Second Sister came over, and I thought I must call you over as well, so that the brothers and sisters can be lively together."

Baoyu listened to Grandmother Jia's nagging, but his gaze looked toward Daiyu, seeing Daiyu talking to Xiangyun and not giving him any face, his heart felt gloomy again.

But he heard Grandmother Jia ask: "Is Cai Xia's body stable these days? She is currently in the stage of morning sickness and must be restless in eating and sleeping."

"You let Xi Ren watch her carefully every day. If there is any inconvenience, come back to tell me immediately, so I can help take care of her."

"A woman raising a child is a matter of life and death; you can't be careless..."

Baoyu was originally depressed and anxious, and hearing Grandmother Jia talk about raising children in front of the sisters, his chest hurt, his brain was chaotic, and he felt ashamed and angry.

But now that his mother wasn't there, he lacked confidence, and Jia Cong was standing in the hall, so Baoyu didn't dare to throw a tantrum in front of him and could only suppress the urge to explode.

He heard that the last time he fell ill, the Zhang Youshi who used needles to prick people was Jia Cong's good friend...

Fortunately, Grandmother Jia didn't continue to talk about him, but instead said: "Cong Ge'er, you don't have to worry about the official business of the government office all the time; take care of your body at a young age."

"Family descendants are a big matter. The maids in your room are all outstanding; keep them in your heart, like Baoyu, and have children early—that is the right principle."

Jia Cong smiled: "I understand Grandmother's meaning. The inheritance of descendants should take its natural course; don't force it. We are all still young, and there will always be offspring in the future."

Baoyu listened to Jia Cong talking eloquently, unable to help but be dumbfounded, and then felt angry and disdainful.

This Jia Cong was born with such an outstanding demeanor, yet he was so ignorant of self-respect, talking about descendants and raising children in front of these outstanding sisters.

He didn't even know how to cover it up; it was truly insulting to literature. This kind of corrupt official who reads books is truly ignorant of protecting his pure and innocent spirit.

To be so unseemly in front of young women is truly a waste of such a look; there is nothing more wasteful than this...

……

At this time, Xichun said: "Grandmother, the north wind blew all night last night, and it snowed all night."

"The snow scene in the East Mansion today is beautiful; the plum blossoms on the south slope have all bloomed. Why don't you come with us to take a look?"

Grandmother Jia laughed: "Fourth girl is still filial and thoughtful, but I am old and dare not walk in the snow."

"You are all still young and should go run and jump. Even if you fall in the snow, you won't be afraid."

Yingchun laughed: "Since Grandmother is not convenient to walk in the snow, that's fine. Recently, Fourth Sister's painting skills have greatly improved, and she has painted many good paintings."

"Let Fourth Sister go back and paint today's snow scene, and show it to Grandmother another day; it will be as if you have seen the snow scene."

Xichun was most proud of people saying her painting was good, and laughed: "Grandmother, I recently painted a picture of the Grace and Honor Banquet, which took me a lot of effort to paint."

When Xichun was in the West Mansion, she was young and just a child. Baoyu rarely spoke to this Fourth Sister in his daily life.

Now seeing her move to the East Mansion for more than a year, she had become increasingly jade-like and cute, and her words and demeanor were charming and moving.

He couldn't help but laugh: "Fourth Sister, you don't even know what the Grace and Honor Banquet is. What did you paint on it that makes you so proud?"

Xichun laughed: "Second Brother doesn't even know about the Grace and Honor Banquet. After a scholar passes the imperial examination, the Emperor will host a banquet in the Ministry of Rites to show favor."

"What I painted is the situation of Third Brother attending the Grace and Honor Banquet. Third Brother told me what the main hall of the Ministry of Rites looked like, and what wine and dishes were eaten."

"What officials attended the banquet, and what kind of clothes they wore—it was very interesting, and I painted it all down."

"Especially Third Brother, it's painted so realistically. Second Sister, Third Sister, and Lin Sister all said it was painted extremely well..."

Although Xichun was young, she was very obsessed with the art of painting. As long as she talked about painting, the little girl would talk endlessly and chatter on and on.

Jia Cong, Yingchun, and others all knew the little girl's temperament and were long used to it, listening to her boasting about her paintings with interest.

Only Baoyu, hearing Xichun's words, felt as disgusted as if he had eaten a pile of flies. So that Grace and Honor Banquet picture was about the imperial examination banquet.

Fourth Sister was still so young, yet she had already been poisoned by the corrupt official's poison, talking about Jia Cong's imperial examination success with such relish and painting it—truly hopeless.

Jia Cong was truly harmful to others; even Fourth Sister, such a young girl, had been tarnished and blackened by him, which was truly heartbreaking.

……

Yingchun saw that Xichun was still talking enthusiastically, while Baoyu's expression was dull, his face was red, and his eyes reflected anger, and she couldn't help but frown.

She stepped forward, took Xichun's small hand, and said: "Fourth Sister, don't disturb Grandmother. Let's go back to the East Mansion to see the snow scene, so you can paint it for Grandmother to see."

Xichun said: "Second Sister is right. Let's go back to see the snow scene. If the snow melts a little later, the scenery won't be beautiful, so let's go back quickly."

Jia Cong, Yingchun, and the other sisters, because they had all heard Baoyu's wild words outside the hall, were all somewhat disgusted and didn't want to stay with him for long.

Hearing Xichun's words, they all went with the flow, stood up to say goodbye to Grandmother Jia, and everyone had just stood up to leave.

Only then did they hear Grandmother Jia laugh: "Baoyu, you are also sleeping at home; why don't you go to the East Mansion with the sisters to see the snow scene? Wouldn't that be more interesting?"

As soon as Grandmother Jia finished speaking, Jia Cong and Yingchun and the other sisters turned their heads in unison, each looking at Baoyu with burning eyes.

Baoyu was suddenly ashamed. He noticed Jia Cong looking at him, his gaze bright and clear, like a sharp knife, as if he could pierce through his body.

Although he didn't say anything, Baoyu felt as if he had been slapped twice on both sides of his face, and his face seemed to be burning.

In fact, he really wanted to go with the sisters, especially with Lin Sister, to see that outstanding snow scene in the East Mansion. That should have been such a beautiful and interesting thing.

It was just that because of his wild words outside the hall just now, which Jia Cong and the sisters had heard clearly, how could he still have the face to go to the East Mansion?

After all, he was a person who knew shame, and his heart was tangled and troubled, feeling that Heaven was tempering him again...

Xichun held a small pink-enameled gold-traced plate, in which were the loquats peeled by Yingchun, yellow and glistening, very tempting.

The little girl reached out and picked up a loquat, stuffed it into her small mouth, and walked to Baoyu, looking at his expression carefully.

She asked softly: "Second Brother, are you really going to the East Mansion to see the snow scene? Just now outside the hall, didn't you say..."

Hearing half of Xichun's words, Baoyu felt as if his soul had flown away, fearing that the little girl would speak without taboo and tear his face off in an instant.

Before Xichun could continue, he hurriedly said loudly: "Grandmother, I am also afraid of slipping in the snow, so I won't go to see the snow scene."

"Cai Xia has been having morning sickness these past few days and has been retching severely. She hasn't been feeling well since this morning, so I'm in a hurry to go back and check on her."

As soon as Baoyu finished speaking, he regretted it in his heart, wishing he could hit his head against the wall. What kind of excuse was he making? Why talk about morning sickness?

These people were all in front of him every day, talking about raising children, and they had tarnished everyone, and he himself had muddledly started babbling about it.

Baoyu was ashamed and couldn't even pay his respects to Grandmother Jia. He turned around and wanted to leave the hall, feeling that he had lost all face in front of the sisters by talking about morning sickness.

Only then did he hear Grandmother Jia laugh: "You go back and check on her. After all, you are going to be a father, and you know how to cherish the people in your room. This is a very good thing."

Baoyu had just walked to the door when he heard Grandmother Jia's words about becoming a father. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his heart was ashamed and wanted to die, and he felt as if Daiyu was staring at him.

His heart panicked, his feet went soft, and he stumbled, almost falling face-first to the ground. After finally steadying himself, he lifted the curtain and ran away in a panic.

Grandmother Jia muttered: "This Baoyu is still a child; he is always somewhat clumsy in doing things, and he even stumbles when walking..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 760 =====