Chapter 839: Many Sorrows of Emotional Entanglement

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Sister Baoqin bowed to Jia Mu, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and others, then followed Jia Cong out of Rongqing Hall; their retreating figures walked in perfect harmony.

Lady Wang felt a pang of irritation: she had thought Sister Baoqin's earlier response was proper and refined, but now saw she was equally foolish, unable to distinguish between close and distant kin.

She was a maid to the senior maid—how could she not know Jia Baoyu was the true brother, yet grow close to an outsider and undermine Jia Baoyu's dignity? She truly had no sense of hierarchy.

Jia Mu paid no mind, seeing it as a trivial matter; since it involved officialdom, some caution was natural, and others need not hear it.

Moreover, Jia Yuanchun's closeness to Jia Cong was, in Jia Mu's view, a good thing.

Her eldest granddaughter would return home this year; with the second branch's precarious status, Jia Yuanchun's harmonious bond with Jia Cong would greatly benefit family unity in the future.

Jia Baoyu watched them leave, face twisted with suppressed rage, furious and indignant—but Sister Baoqin walked on without a backward glance, treating him as if he were nothing, beyond his power to stop.

Jia Zheng scoffed at Jia Baoyu: "Since this concerns palace news and official entanglements, there are bound to be taboos—how can such things be spoken of openly?"

You spend your days idling in the inner quarters, utterly clueless about the weight of official career, yet still love to chatter and make yourself a laughingstock.

Once you enter the Imperial Academy, you must study diligently and improve yourself. If you still refuse to behave properly, even if you're not ashamed, I'll die of shame!"

Jia Baoyu had been brimming with righteous indignation, convinced Jia Cong was worldly and hypocritical, obstructing every pure intention, utterly incomprehensible.

Jia Zheng's reprimand crashed down like thunder; instantly, his mind cleared, his anger and delusion vanished, and he stood trembling, head bowed, listening in silence…

…

At this moment, Lin Lin Zhixiao's wife entered and said: "Old Lady, word has come from the eastern courtyard: the Xia family has sent word that Madam Xia and Xia Gu Niang are coming to pay a visit."

They've come to pay New Year greetings to you and the household, but Second Master and Second Lady are at the western mansion—how should we receive and accommodate them? We've come to seek your instructions."

Seeing Jia Baoyu scolded again, Lady Wang felt helpless; upon hearing the Xia mother and daughter were arriving, she quickly changed the subject.

She said: "Old Lady, the Xia family values propriety; Madam Xia already mentioned before the New Year that she would come to pay her respects on the second day of the first month—today is precisely that day."

Jia Mu smiled: "That's perfect. Don't bother with the eastern courtyard—invite them straight to Rongqing Hall. It's more convenient, and I can chat with Jia Baoyu's new bride."

Jia Baoyu's heart jolted at the words "new bride," before Lin Daiyu and the other sisters; he felt a burning shame, as if his entire pure life had been washed away.

Lady Wang, however, was delighted: her daughter-in-law was stunningly beautiful and from an immensely wealthy family—this marriage was a point of pride for the second branch, and she naturally wanted to flaunt it.

She rose with Jia Baoyu and went out to greet the Xia mother and daughter; Jia Baoyu, before Lin Daiyu's eyes, desperately wanted to prove his innocence, eager to distance himself from the whole affair.

Though Xia Gu Niang was beautiful, she still paled beside Lin Lin Meimei; but with Jia Zheng present, Jia Baoyu dared not defy him—he could only submit and endure.

…

In the inner courtyard of Lady Rongguo Mansion, winding corridors lined with flowers and trees, sunlight bright, a light wind stirred Sister Baoqin's blue cloak.

The corridor was empty and long, rarely trodden; Sister Baoqin felt serene and content—she had never before been alone with Jia Cong, and deliberately slowed her pace.

Jia Cong also slowed his steps, asking: "Sister Sister Baoqin, what message did Elder Sister send you to deliver to me?"

Sister Baoqin said: "Before the New Year, Prince Zhao frequently visited the palace to pay court to the Empress, repeatedly discussing his remarriage; the Empress selected a woman from the Chen family of Langya."

Langya was part of the Emperor's former fiefdom, and he approved of this match; by year's end, the palace had already sent the Three Documents and Six Rites, and the wedding will proceed after the mourning period for the late Princess Consort."

The Lady said that since the Jinling Garrison case, the Emperor has grown suspicious of Prince Zhao; rumors of his succession have only deepened suspicion.

The sudden death of the Princess Consort has fueled whispers within the palace; all these factors combined have weakened Prince Zhao this past year—his standing is no longer what it once was."

Sister Baoqin paused here, glancing left and right along the corridor—no one was in sight.

Jia Cong noticed Sister Baoqin leaning slightly closer; he caught a faint, sweet feminine scent, and her voice grew even softer.

She said: "The Lady, who often moves about the Empress's side, has picked up some whispers.

The Empress is using Prince Zhao's remarriage to rebuild his network and restore his former prestige—but the wedding is still some time away.

So, during the New Year's visits, when such exchanges are customary, Prince Zhao will host banquets to ease tensions among officials and noble families.

This coming eighth day of the month is Prince Zhao's birthday; his mansion will hold a grand banquet. He mentioned Third Master twice in conversation with the Empress, suggesting he holds him in high regard.

The Lady says Prince Zhao's position is delicate; any matter touching royal affairs is perilously deep. She urges Third Master to be extremely cautious when the time comes.

Even if you receive an invitation, you cannot refuse due to social obligation—so when you respond, think carefully, tread cautiously, and leave no opening for gossip."

…

Jia Cong listened, his heart tightening slightly: Zhang Kangnian, the key suspect in the Jinling Garrison case, was the late Princess Consort's cousin.

Zhang Kangnian had been Commander of the Su Zhou Garrison, recommended by Prince Zhao Li Li Zhongmao, and rose from military to civil post as Right Vice Minister of the Southern Capital's Ministry of War.

As a key suspect in the Jinling Garrison case, after his movements were exposed, he was executed by the main culprit, Du Heng, to silence him.

Zhang Kangnian's sudden death left Prince Zhao Li Li Zhongmao's possible involvement in the Garrison case an unsolvable mystery.

Suspicion is sometimes a poison that eats through the intestines; knowing Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's nature, Jia Cong understood this unsolved case was an indelible shadow in the Emperor's heart.

Prince Prince Kangshun had once promoted Jia Cong; Prince Ning had been his colleague; Prince Zhao had tried to court him, but they had no personal connection.

Moreover, Prince Zhao had long been rumored as heir to the throne; such a prince naturally drew suspicion and sensitivity from others.

Jia Cong even felt that if Prince Zhao were truly wise, he should never have allowed such rumors to spread through court and countryside, letting them fester until now, beyond remedy.

Regardless of the reason, Jia Cong would keep his distance from Prince Zhao; now that Jia Yuanchun had warned him, he had forewarning—and would be even more cautious.

He smiled and said: "Elder Sister's information is extremely useful—it gives me time to prepare. Tell her I will handle this with utmost care."

…

In the inner courtyard of Lady Rongguo Mansion, flowers and trees flourished, bridges arched over water, and several winding covered corridors threaded through the grounds, shielding from wind and rain, facilitating easy passage.

Because Sister Baoqin slowed her pace, Jia Cong walked slowly too; their conversation naturally delayed their progress.

Meanwhile, Lady Wang, leading Jia Baoyu, took the nearest covered corridor and arrived ahead of Jia Cong and Sister Baoqin, meeting the Xia mother and daughter as they entered the inner courtyard.

Since the Jia family's betrothal, Xia Jingui knew her fate was sealed; thinking of herself, a woman of such stature, being given to Jia Baoyu—a despicable, effeminate creature—filled her with bitterness and rage.

But whenever she recalled Jia Cong riding proudly through the imperial avenue, his horse majestic, his bearing elegant and peerless…

Her blood surged, her heart reeled, all resentment vanished; if it were for Jia Cong, even if it were a dragon's den or tiger's lair, she would rush headlong into it.

…

Today, she came to pay New Year greetings to Jia Mu, having learned officials had a ten-day holiday; as head of both mansions, Jia Cong would surely be at home receiving guests.

By visiting the western mansion, she stood a good chance of meeting her beloved; before leaving, she meticulously arranged her appearance and attire.

In recent days, obsessed with Jia Cong's Rank Jinshi success, she bought a pile of the Four Books and Five Classics, studied them in her spare time, and gained real insight.

Thinking of the profound meanings in those texts, she reasoned: someone like Jia Cong, who read so deeply and passed the imperial exams, must possess extraordinary vision and character.

Jia Baoyu, that effeminate thing, dressed all in fiery red, like an actor, radiating vulgar glitter from head to toe.

Jia Cong must find him repulsive—certainly she did; since Jia Baoyu called them both "corrupt officials," surely they must share some common taste.

The Xia family was immensely wealthy, and Xia Jingui owned many dazzling garments—but she had secretly studied Jia Cong's tastes and would never let a trace of vulgarity show.

Today, her attire was elegant and noble, her makeup refined and radiant, beautiful yet not gaudy, charming yet not seductive, luminous and splendid.

…

Earlier in Rongqing Hall, Jia Mu had declared before Lin Daiyu and the other sisters that she wished to meet Jia Baoyu's new bride—leaving Jia Baoyu utterly humiliated.

Even as he followed Lady Wang to greet the guests, he was reluctant, agonizing over how he would face Lin Lin Meimei when they met in the hall—it was unbearable.

But the moment he saw Xia Gu Niang's beauty, all his sordid thoughts vanished; he marveled inwardly, his legs went weak, his face filled with stunned admiration.

Then he noticed Seeing Baochan, standing behind Xia Gu Niang, her cheeks flushed, eyes glancing sideways at him, studying him with hidden longing, stirring his soul.

Jia Baoyu recalled their passionate entanglement in the Mengpo Study—how they had clung together, consumed by desire—and his heart grew chaotic, yearning to return to Mount Wu.

For the first time, he felt this marriage was actually quite good; in the future, with two beauties in his arms, he would enjoy endless pleasure—what great fortune.

In that moment, he felt as if fallen into paradise, treading clouds, utterly delighted; though his eyes flickered and brows twitched, he barely restrained himself.