Chapter 771: The Imperial Examination Suppresses the Nightmare

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

The table was full of delicacies, the incense burners exhaled fragrance, and the sisters sat together. It should have been a harmonious scene, but the atmosphere was somewhat strange at this moment.

Baoyu said something odd, making Yingchun and Daiyu unhappy. Shi Xiangyun spoke bluntly, and Seeing Tan Chun felt a deep headache.

Only Xichun was young and single-minded; her thoughts were entirely on that plate of gold and silver venison, eating with great relish, one chopstick after another.

Hearing Jia Mu speak, Baoyu hadn't said a few words before mentioning Seeing Cai Xia, wanting the kitchen to make a portion of venison to nourish Seeing Cai Xia's pregnancy.

Nowadays, Seeing Cai Xia had almost become Baoyu's nightmare, a sharp claw that could tear his face off at any moment.

Originally, Seeing Cai Xia was respectful and obedient to him on the bed, complying with all his strange antics, and later even became pregnant.

This gave the self-pitying and narcissistic Baoyu an indescribable sense of illusion and delusion, allowing him to shake off the embarrassing stigma of impotence.

He was able to hold his head high in front of Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun. At first, he cherished and cared for Seeing Cai Xia quite a bit, but in the end, good times didn't last long.

Ever since Seeing Cai Xia became pregnant, whether it was Xue Yima, Wang Xifeng, Jia Mu, or others in the household, they would mention Seeing Cai Xia's pregnancy at the drop of a hat.

Moreover, they loved to talk about it in front of him, in front of sisters like Daiyu and Baochai, full of heartfelt sighs about him becoming a father so easily.

This led the sisters to offer sincere congratulations repeatedly. Whenever this happened, Baochai was magnanimous and humble, while Daiyu was distant and alienated.

They stood on an untouchable height, looking down on him from afar, disdainful and not worth mentioning, making Baoyu feel that life was worse than death.

Unexpectedly, Jia Mu brought up this topic again, causing Baoyu to surge with a righteous impulse to reprimand and question the implicit ambiguity between Daiyu and Jia Cong.

Like lighting a fire on ice, it instantly melted into nothingness. He no longer had the face to say another word, and a look of frustration from unfulfilled desire appeared on his large, round face.

……

Lin Zhixiao's wife was sophisticated and worldly, best at observing expressions. Seeing Baoyu's expression, how could she not guess what he was thinking?

She couldn't help but feel schadenfreude in her heart. She already had a long-standing grudge with Lady Wang, and she had long been unable to stand Baoyu's squandering in the Western Prefecture.

Just now, Baoyu's disdain for the venison being fishy made her, the inner courtyard manager, lose some face.

Now, hearing Jia Mu unintentionally mention Seeing Cai Xia, making Baoyu lose face in front of Lin Meimei, she felt heartfelt pleasure.

Her face remained calm, but her words added fuel to the fire, saying: "It is still the Old Matriarch who is compassionate, always thinking about Seeing Cai Xia being pregnant, and wanting to take care of everything inside and out."

"I look at Seeing Cai Xia's physiognomy, she really is a blessed one. This time she will surely have a boy in one go and give Master Bao a big, fat son."

"Master Bao has also had one happy event after another in the past six months. Next year, the Cong Sanye will be able to marry a wife, and immediately after, he will be a father."

"In the future, establishing a family and career, and bringing glory to the family gate is just around the corner. The Old Matriarch really has great fortune."

Jia Mu laughed happily upon hearing this and said: "You old thing really knows how to say auspicious words, they are all very methodical. I will borrow your auspicious words."

Yingchun, Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and others had heard all kinds of remarks from Baoyu. Unlike Jia Mu, who only saw Baoyu's good points, they knew better what was in Baoyu's heart.

His marriage was already decided, he was about to become a father, yet he did nothing, fooled around in the inner chambers, and spent all day thinking about provoking other women.

Regardless of his scheming or his words and deeds, he appeared too greedy and sordid, which couldn't help but make others look down on him.

Even though Seeing Tan Chun was Baoyu's own sister, she had much disappointment in him in her heart.

They also heard the hidden meaning in Lin Zhixiao's wife's words, but no one would point it out.

Baoyu's words just now were inappropriate; not only was he somewhat disrespectful to Jia Cong, but he also offended Lin Zhixiao's wife.

Baoyu was the most pampered grandson in Jia Mu's heart, but the Lin Zhixiao couple were only loyal to Jia Cong. In their eyes, Baoyu was nothing more than a son of a side door.

Coupled with Baoyu's offensive words, Lin Zhixiao's wife naturally had no respect, but in front of Jia Mu, she didn't point it out.

……

Baoyu originally thought that Jia Mu invited him to dinner to take the opportunity to ease and get closer to his sisters, but he didn't expect it to be so disgusting and stifling.

Not to mention that Lin Meimei didn't want to pay attention to him at all, not even saying a word to him directly. It must be that because he was becoming a father and getting married, he was truly disliked by his cousin.

The Second Sister, who had always been gentle and kind in the past, hadn't said a word to him since he entered the hall today. She must be holding a grudge about the events of the day before yesterday.

Baoyu really didn't expect that he was wholeheartedly trying to get close to his sisters, only to be disliked by them in the end. What was the point of living?

It was fine for the Old Matriarch to talk about Seeing Cai Xia, Baoyu absolutely didn't dare to show his face.

But an old slave like Lin Zhixiao's wife actually dared to talk about Seeing Cai Xia's affairs, and in front of Lin Meimei, spouting nonsense about marriage and becoming a father.

Baoyu was furious beyond measure. His face turned red and then white. He felt aggrieved and painful in his heart, and his hands trembled slightly.

A wave of evil fire surged back and forth in his chest, and he only wanted to vent it to feel refreshed.

He didn't expect that Lin Zhixiao's wife's dead-fish eyes were so hateful. Last time, she had copied away the antiques in his room.

Now, in front of his sisters, she was making a fool of him and exposing his shortcomings. It was truly unbearable.

It was just that although Lin Zhixiao's wife was hateful, this old thing was too cunning. Her words were full of joy, and one couldn't pick out a single fault.

Baoyu wanted to flare up, but it was like a dog biting a hedgehog; he really didn't know how to bite.

Moreover, the Old Matriarch said she wanted to borrow her auspicious words, saying this old thing had a clever mouth and could say auspicious words.

If he flared up at this old thing, wouldn't he be offending the Old Matriarch as well?

If he also became distant from the Old Matriarch, who else in this mansion would cherish him and protect him like this?

Like today's opportunity to get close to his sisters, the Old Matriarch wouldn't want to call him again. I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to in the future.

Thinking of these things, Baoyu felt a chill in his heart. He really couldn't imagine what he would do if he lost the Old Matriarch's favor……

……

At this moment, Jia Mu saw Baoyu's gaze was dull, his round face had lost its color, showing a hint of paleness, and his mouth was slightly open, forgetting to close it.

She hurriedly asked: "Baoyu, your complexion is so bad, what happened again? Is your body uncomfortable?"

Yingchun and Daiyu both knew Baoyu's nature well. Seeing his appearance, they guessed a few points.

It was nothing more than Lin Zhixiao's wife's words about becoming a father and getting married, which made Baoyu feel uncomfortable again.

It was clearly an open and aboveboard matter, but he had to make it sneaky, refusing to let people mention it. Always acting so funny and squandering, it was truly tiresome to watch.

Seeing Tan Chun saw Baoyu's appearance and also frowned with a headache. She was already too lazy to ask or comfort him.

Her brother was always so muddled. He had already set a wedding date with the Xia family girl, and Seeing Cai Xia was about to give birth to his offspring.

These were all obvious things. Not only did everyone in the Jia family of the two prefectures know, but which of the noble relatives who often visited didn't know?

Yet he had to cover it up in every possible way, burying his head in the sand. If others mentioned it unintentionally or out of good intentions, he would give them a look.

He had already reached this point, yet he still wouldn't give up on Lin Meimei, making his sisters look down on him even more.

As long as he couldn't let go of these delusional thoughts, just like Lin Zhixiao's wife, sooner or later everyone would know his thoughts, and in the future, everyone in the family would stay away from him.

Even if the Old Matriarch pampered him again, it would fade……

……

Jia Mu saw that she had called Baoyu twice, but he was still stupidly unresponsive, and she felt a little panicked.

Yingchun said: "Old Matriarch, don't worry. I see that Brother Bao is a bit uncomfortable. It's better to call Xi Ren over to serve him back to rest first."

Jia Mu said: "That makes sense. Usually, he has this dull illness, and Xi Ren serves him daily. Go call her over quickly."

She also hurriedly asked the maid Feicui to call someone. At this moment, everyone had lost their appetite, and even Xichun, who was focused on eating, stopped her chopsticks.

After a while, Xi Ren hurried over, followed by Seeing Seeing Caiyun.

Just now, Feicui came to pass the message, saying that Baoyu was uncomfortable in Rongqing Hall. Xi Ren thought that before he went out, he was already a bit muddled.

Could it be that he caused some trouble again? She didn't have time to ask Feicui for the truth in detail, so she hurried to Rongqing Hall.

Worried that her Bao Er Ye would cause trouble and that she alone wouldn't be enough, she let Seeing Seeing Caiyun follow her.

When she entered Rongqing Hall and saw Yingchun, Daiyu, and other young ladies sitting properly, and Baoyu not making a scene, just sitting there in a daze.

Xi Ren breathed a sigh of relief. She had served Baoyu closely for many years, and no one in the mansion understood Baoyu's temper better than her.

It must be that just now at the banquet, the Bao Er Ye heard something unpleasant again and encountered something he didn't like.

The Lady wasn't around, no one was there to make decisions for him, and he didn't dare to flare up in front of the Old Matriarch and the young ladies, so he put on this appearance.

The Bao Er Ye had been pampered since childhood, and the world was huge. Once things didn't go his way, he always had various ways to attract the Old Matriarch's pity. Xi Ren had seen it many times.

It was just that if she helped him back now, the Bao Er Ye's heart wouldn't be cleared, and I'm afraid he would be awkward and make a scene for a long time.

……

Jia Mu asked: "When Baoyu first came, he was fine. Now he is suddenly in a trance there."

"Could it be that he has been angered by something recently and has something on his mind?" Xi Ren naturally didn't dare to say that Cong Sanye Cong sent game over, making the Bao Er Ye uncomfortable, or he would be ashamed to death if people heard it.

She hurriedly said: "Recently, the Bao Er Ye has been quite good and hasn't been angered by anything. I think it's because the weather is freezing, and the Bao Er Ye went out in a hurry, accidentally catching a cold."

Jia Mu asked again: "Has his father forced him to study recently? Could it be that he was frightened and kept it in his heart? You are not allowed to hide it from me."

Hearing this, Sister Xi Ren could not help but glance at Baoyu, her heart stirring slightly; it was better than letting the Bao Er Ye act as a go-between and causing everyone to be unsettled.

It would be better to break it early in secret, so the Bao Er Ye wouldn't make a scene when he returned to the courtyard, and everyone would be at ease.

She said: "The Master didn't force the Bao Er Ye to study. Just a few days ago, he called the Bao Er Ye to the East Courtyard to ask about his homework. Because I also followed to serve, I heard it all."

"The Master said that the Cong Sanye gave the quota for the Imperial Academy to the Bao Er Ye. This is the affection between brothers, and he asked the Bao Er Ye to cherish it."

"He also said that before the end of the year, the Bao Er Ye should put in some effort to lay a good foundation in his studies, so he wouldn't be embarrassed when entering the Imperial Academy, and he couldn't lose the face of the Hanlin family."

"He also said that after next year, the Bao Er Ye should take the courtyard examination. He is not young anymore and should gain some experience."

……

Baoyu was stimulated by Lin Zhixiao's wife's words and was indignant in his heart, but weighing the importance, he didn't dare to flare up.

Now without the Lady's protection, and having lost that unbreakable protective jade, he could only play dumb and vent his dissatisfaction.

It would also allow the Old Matriarch to pity him more, and perhaps attract the sisters' pity. This was originally Baoyu's usual routine since childhood……

Originally, Baoyu saw Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun rushing over and saw them anxious for him, which was somewhat gratifying.

He didn't expect the Old Matriarch to suddenly ask about the Master, and Baoyu was already startled.

When Xi Ren mentioned the Imperial Academy, the Hanlin family, and taking the courtyard examination next year, Baoyu's hair stood on end, and he could no longer play dumb.

Instantly, like a corpse coming back to life, he woke up from his dull trance.

He begged Jia Mu: "Old Matriarch, save me. I won't go to the Imperial Academy, and I can't bear any courtyard examination."

Daiyu saw Baoyu's virtue and knew that he was acting again. The tricks he had used since childhood hadn't changed, and she couldn't help but feel disgusted.

Jia Mu saw Baoyu wake up and felt relieved, glancing at Xi Ren with some approval.

Letting this girl serve Baoyu was indeed the right choice. She was clever and understood Baoyu's temper best.

Otherwise, if he had stayed in a trance like that, it would have been very easy to cause trouble.

……

She said: "Baoyu, your father forces you to study daily and often scolds you. Although I don't allow him to do this."

"But what your father said is also the right path. Didn't Brother Cong come through this way? Since he can, you should be able to too."

"Even if you are filial to your father once, I don't ask you to pass the Jinshi examination and enter the Hanlin Academy, but if you can pass the Xiucai examination, your life's affairs will be fulfilled."

"In the future, it will also allow your father to look up to you, and it will be a matter of face inside and outside the family."

Baoyu's face was terrified, and he said: "Old Matriarch, how can I be mentioned in the same breath as Jia Cong? Does he do something and I have to do it too?"

"Those imperial examinations and courtyard examinations require people to be locked in cells for days and nights, unable to sit or lie down, exposed to wind and sun, all of which is living torture."

"I would rather die cleanly than suffer this kind of torture. I beg the Old Matriarch to help me plead with my father……"

Baoyu spoke with some emotion, and a sense of generosity and tragedy welled up in his heart. Even he was moved by himself. It seemed he was in high spirits and wanted to continue pouring out his grievances.

It was just that Yingchun couldn't listen anymore. She had always been gentle and kind, but she couldn't help but stand up.

Looking at Baoyu, there was a hint of imperceptible disgust in her eyes.

She said: "Old Matriarch, this meal is almost finished, and we have troubled the Old Matriarch for half a day."

"Now that the winter days are short, the Old Matriarch is getting on in years, so you shouldn't always be tired. You should rest first."

"Since Brother Bao is fine, that is the best. In my opinion, let Xi Ren help him back to rest. We can talk about things tomorrow."

Jia Mu sighed in her heart upon hearing this. Baoyu was too unaware of the occasion. Saying that imperial examinations and courtyard examinations were living torture.

Brother Cong didn't know how many books he had studied before he had such face today. Could it be that he was also tortured out of it?

Baoyu was talking about the dark in front of a blind man. The Second Sister looked at her brother like the apple of her eye. How could she feel at ease hearing this?

Jia Mu originally felt that noble families didn't need imperial examinations to change their family status, but seeing Jia Cong's glory in passing the Jinshi examination and entering the Hanlin Academy.

The thoughts in her heart had already wavered. Thinking that her son valued reading all his life, it didn't seem entirely unreasonable now.

Baoyu was the grandson Jia Mu loved most. Seeing Jia Cong's glory because of reading, she naturally had the idea that Baoyu should also be like this.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have said that Baoyu should pass the Xiucai examination. It was just that Baoyu was so terrified and resistant to imperial examinations, and it was mostly impossible.

Jia Mu felt a little disappointed, but it was just an occasional idea. Since her precious grandson didn't want to, she naturally wouldn't force it, and that was that.

……

She said: "The Second Sister is right. This meal is almost finished. You have a lot of things to do in the East Prefecture, so you sisters should go back first."

"I am also a bit tired. I will go in and rest for a while. Remember to come over tomorrow."

Yingchun and the other sisters hurriedly agreed, and asked the maids to serve them to rinse their mouths and wash their hands, before leaving Rongqing Hall one after another.

It was just that when everyone left, Yingchun and Daiyu went straight out of the hall, not even looking at Baoyu.

When Shi Xiangyun left the hall, she let out a faint hum, seemingly dissatisfied with Baoyu's words and deeds.

Although Seeing Tan Chun glanced at Baoyu, her expression was a bit tired, and she left without saying a word.

Baoyu was speaking with some passion, and seeing the sisters suddenly disperse, disappearing in the blink of an eye, he was dumbfounded for a moment.

He felt even more aggrieved in his heart. Lin Meimei and the others had all left. How could he tell them about his pure feelings of not wanting to stay in the mundane world……

Jia Mu coaxed Baoyu a few more times, letting him go back to rest with Xi Ren, and talk about reading later.

Baoyu saw that Daiyu and the other sisters had all left, and no one appreciated his sorrowful confession. He was a pragmatic person and naturally didn't like to do useless work.

He couldn't help but feel regret in his heart, always unable to meet his sisters at the right time, and let them know that he was different from the mundane flow like Jia Cong.

One day, he would let them understand his pure and outstanding feelings. Thinking of this, Baoyu had some longing and was somewhat intoxicated……

Also because Jia Mu was coaxing him on the side, and Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun were comforting him on the side, he went down the slope, restrained his magical powers, and was helped out of Rongqing Hall by Xi Ren.

……

Da Zhou Palace City, Qanyang Palace.

Since the first heavy snow this winter, the temperature in Shenjing City had dropped sharply, becoming icy and bone-chilling. Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao also moved to the warm pavilion in the back hall to handle government affairs.

The fire wall in the warm pavilion was burning warmly, and the bronze Fushou incense burner was burning top-grade red radish charcoal, exhaling a warm and integrated atmosphere.

In the enamel-inlaid blue incense burner, the clear smoke was curling, and the dragon saliva incense bait offered by the West Sea coast was lit. The fragrance was faint and refreshing.

Today was the five-day break from court. Although Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao didn't need to hold an early court, he still entered the warm pavilion early in the morning to handle government affairs.

Although his temples were increasingly white, he was in high spirits, his eyes were bright, and he was reviewing the piled-up memorials.

When reviewing the memorial presented by the Ministry of War regarding the peace talks with the Remnant Mongol mission, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao frowned slightly, his expression revealing a hint of disdain.

Since the Remnant Mongol mission entered the capital, both sides had reopened the tea-horse market, restored border trade along the Datong-Xuanfu line, and conducted multiple rounds of consultations.

Although the Tuman tribe's Anda Khan had strong soldiers and horses, Da Zhou had deployed heavy troops along the Nine Passes, so it was not easy for the Mongols to knock on the gates and harass.

And now it was the twelfth lunar month, and the cold outside the pass was becoming increasingly unbearable. The Remnant Mongols' three major tribes and 100,000 households were lacking winter supplies and were already stretched thin.

In the overall situation, Da Zhou was waiting at ease and completely occupied the upper hand. Naturally, it would not retreat half a step in the consultations and was pressing forward step by step.

However, although the Remnant Mongol mission had been repeatedly suppressed in the consultations, they did not easily submit and appeared very resilient.

Originally, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao didn't care. Since the Remnant Mongols refused to submit, both sides would just keep talking. Da Zhou could afford to drag out the time.

Conversely, as long as the Remnant Mongols dragged on for one day, the winter pressure borne by the three major tribes would only become increasingly unbearable.

But five days ago, there was a sudden change in the consultations between the two sides.

The three leaders of the Remnant Mongol mission, led by the Tuman tribe's Ale Tang, increased the quantity of market materials originally discussed by a full 40%.

This made the Minister of War Gu Yankui, who was in charge of the peace talks, and the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet Wang Shilun quite angry, tit-for-tat, and not giving an inch.

Gu Yankui stated in the memorial: The Remnant Mongols' ambition is obvious, their greed is rampant, and they are difficult to tame. If they succeed, there will be endless trouble……

In Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's view, the Remnant Mongols were just struggling on their deathbeds, asking for an exorbitant price. There was no need to pay attention to them; both sides were just deadlocked, and Da Zhou had plenty of time.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao casually annotated a few words on the memorial and threw it aside; it was not an urgent matter anyway.

At this moment, footsteps sounded outside the hall. The Deputy Chief Eunuch Guo Lin walked into the hall quickly, holding a secret memorial with a gray-white cover.

He said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, a secret memorial from the Shenjing Zhongche Office, involving Count Weiyuan Jia Cong……" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 772 =====