Chapter 875: Spring Sorrow Presses on the Embroidery Couch

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

The fiery red sunset shone on the courtyard, and the vermilion pillars on the winding corridor cast long shadows in front of the main hall.

The sunset shone on the door lintel of the main hall, reflecting golden light, and together with the shadows of those pillars, they intertwined with light and dark, creating an unusual warmth and tranquility.

Douguan's voice was clean and clear, with the brightness and crispness of a child's voice, revealing playfulness and teasing.

Zhen Ying Lady Lian and Lingguan covered their mouths and giggled, and Jia Cong was actually quite unscrupulous, even laughing out loud on purpose.

Qingwen's pretty face flushed red, and she scolded with a laugh, "You half-grown little girl, you argue with me every day.

I think your skin is itching, I'll come and help you peel it off!"

Seeing Qingwen pouncing over, Douguan screamed, but there was no fear in her voice; instead, it was excitement and joy, and she ran away in a flash.

Douguan had learned opera and practiced skills since she was a child. Since entering the Eastern Prefecture, because she was young, no one had restrained her.

She climbed high and jumped low every day, never stopping for a moment. In terms of agility, Qingwen couldn't compare to her.

The two chased each other on the winding corridor, and Douguan ran a circle, but Qingwen didn't catch her.

Douguan ran a circle quickly and turned back to the front of the main hall, hiding behind Jia Cong.

She shouted, "Cong Sanye, Qingwen sister wants to peel my skin and eat my meat. You can stop her for me."

Jia Cong opened his hands to stop her and smiled at Qingwen, "I'll teach her a lesson for you later. Spare her this time."

But Qingwen ran too fast and couldn't stop her feet in time, crashing into his arms.

Jia Cong was hit full in the arms, and the touch was wonderful, soft and plump, fragrant and slippery, which was truly enjoyable, so he couldn't

Dou Qi Guan poked her head out from behind Jia Cong, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, appearing dissatisfied.

She said, "Cong Sanye, since we were chased and had to run, and Sister Qingwen wanted to beat me, you should have held me instead—why did you hold her instead?"

Jia Cong subconsciously let go, and Qingwen's pretty face turned pink.

He laughed and scolded, "Look at you, you little yellow-haired girl, you aren't even as tall as the back of an armchair, yet you want Cong Sanye to hold you; have you no shame?"

Dou Qi Guan was unabashed and said nonchalantly, "Wanting to be taller than the back of a chair? That's easy; just another half year of eating and I'll be there."

Qingwen still wanted to bicker with Dou Qi Guan, but Jia Cong laughed, "You're holding a padded jacket in your hand—is it made for me? It looks really good."

Qingwen was distracted by Jia Cong changing the subject and said, "I've been so confused by this little girl that I even forgot the main business; this padded jacket isn't something I made.

It was specially rushed by Miss Lin, and she had Hearing Zi Juan send it over at noon. Although I see it fits well, Cong Sanye should still put it on and try it; it is also Miss Lin's heartfelt intention."

The group entered the inner room with Jia Cong; Dou Qi Guan closed the door, and Ling Qi Guan added charcoal to the incense burner, making the fire burn brighter.

Zhen Ying Lady Lian then stepped up to loosen Jia Cong's outer robe and took off the inner padded garment; Qingwen helped Jia Cong put on the fur-lined padded jacket, which fit perfectly from top to bottom.

As the group was chattering away, a voice came from outside: "Sister Qingwen, is Cong Sanye at home?"

Jia Cong recognized it as Seeing Yingchun's maid, Xiuju. Qingwen said, "Cong Sanye is home. Wait a moment, we are coming out."

The group helped Jia Cong dress neatly again, and then Dou Qi Guan opened the main room door. Jia Cong laughed, "Is Second Sister looking for me for something?"

Xiuju said, "Today, Miss Sister Miao Yu moved back to the South Slope courtyard, and Second Young Lady has set up a vegetarian banquet in the courtyard.

It is firstly to welcome Miss Sister Miao Yu, and the young ladies are also gathering for the meal; the young lady asked me to invite Cong Sanye to come over together."

……

Earl's Mansion, Seeing Yingchun's courtyard.

Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Xue Baochai, Shi Xiangyun, Little Xichun, and the other sisters were all present, dressed in embroidered finery with jeweled hairpins, the hall filled with an elegant and opulent atmosphere.

Zhi Shao was also seated on the left, talking to Xing Xing Xiuyan; they had spent several years together at Panxiang Temple in Gusu, so their bond was naturally deeper than others.

Shi Shi Xiangyun listened from the side, her expression appearing somewhat bored, her bright eyes darting back and forth.

She either looked at Zhi Shao or Xing Xing Xiuyan, often lost in thought by herself.

Seeing Tan Chun was talking to Xue Baochai, but the topic was somewhat drifting, and both were distracted; only Little Xichun was focused on eating fruit, looking carefree.

Sister Miao Yu was talking to Seeing Yingchun, wearing a Miaochang bun, a moon-white long jacket with plain sleeves, an outer long vest with green satin trim, and a pale ink-colored white silk skirt tied at her waist.

Her hair at her temples was ink-black, her cheeks had a jade-like glow, her bright eyes were clear and crystalline, and her expression was calm and peaceful.

Compared to the elegant and wealthy Jia sisters, she appeared distinctly different.

…………

Seeing Yingchun laughed, "It is a good thing that you moved back to live here; our sisters have more company again.

I have many chess friends on weekdays; after you finish your daily scripture studies, remember to come visit often so we sisters can talk and drink tea together."

Sister Miao Yu was originally cold and aloof by nature, but because of her junior sister Zhi Shao, she had become much more relaxed in her daily interactions with others than in the past.

She had entered and left the Jia mansion several times, and perhaps out of love for the house and its crow, her speech and etiquette toward Seeing Yingchun and the other Jia sisters were elegant and refined, lacking her usual cold and eccentric ways.

Before the New Year, Seeing Yingchun often came to the South Slope courtyard; because Sister Miao Yu's chess skills were quite high, she was a worthy opponent for Seeing Yingchun, and both took pleasure in playing against each other.

Seeing Yingchun occasionally entered Sister Miao Yu's meditation room and happened to see a prayer plaque for her brother's well-being offered before the Guanyin statue.

Although Sister Miao Yu said she had received Jia Cong's kindness and had no way to repay it, so she was just expressing her feelings and chanting scriptures for his blessing in her spare time.

But Seeing Yingchun was very pleased to hear this; even though Sister Miao Yu was cold by nature, Seeing Yingchun felt close to her and naturally wanted her to visit the mansion often.

…………

Sister Miao Yu said, "I am relying on my junior sister's good fortune; Jia Yuzhang is thoughtful in everything, bringing my master and me into the mansion, which has caused much disturbance."

Seeing Yingchun laughed, "Miss Sister Miao Yu, don't speak such distant words. Now that the war is about to start and the area outside the city is becoming chaotic, it is stable for you to move here to live.

It's just that Brother Cong hasn't had a peaceful year at home, and now he is going on an expedition again; I don't know when he will return after this trip.

Miss Sister Miao Yu, you have a scholarly background and understand the yin and yang of fortune; does Brother Cong's expedition this time look smooth?"

Seeing Yingchun was also too worried about her brother, forgetting that even if one were to divine fortune, Jia Cong himself should be present to cast lots and read his face to make a calculation.

Sister Miao Yu, however, did not mind at all, a smile appearing on her face as she said, "Big Young Lady, rest assured. My master has looked at Jia Yuzhang's life chart.

She said he is a person of great nobility in his fortune; although his life has twists and turns, he will also turn misfortune into fortune.

A few days ago, my master was invited by Zhang Tianshi Zhang to go to Mount Mount Luocang's Profound Heaven Palace to exchange techniques.

When my master returned, she mentioned that Zhang Tianshi Zhang is also an old acquaintance of Jia Yuzhang; when he first met Jia Yuzhang, he was only ten years old.

Zhang Tianshi Zhang then determined that Jia Yuzhang's aura was extraordinary.

Over these years, Jia Yuzhang has been successful in everything, taking steps that bloom with lotus flowers, which shows that Zhang Tianshi Zhang and my master did not calculate wrong.

Therefore, his expedition this time will surely be smooth sailing.

Perhaps Jia Yuzhang's glory this time will lead to even greater achievements for the whole family, which is not something that can be known yet."

As long as others spoke well of her brother, Seeing Yingchun listened with pleasure, smiling as she said, "I don't expect any great achievements from him; I just hope he returns safely soon."

…………

Seeing Seeing Yingchun's peaceful and quiet demeanor and the deep bond between the siblings, Sister Miao Yu felt somewhat uneasy; she had only spoken good words just now, but some taboo things had been left unsaid.

That day, when her master and Zhang Tianshi Zhang were exchanging techniques, Zhang Tianshi Zhang had only mentioned Jia Yuzhang in a few words.

But her master was a high-level expert in this field, understanding the deeper meaning from a single note and knowing the autumn from a single falling leaf.

Zhang Tianshi Zhang had once said that when he first met Jia Yuzhang and observed his face and aura, he was not an ordinary person; his great misfortune suddenly turned into great fortune, and his vitality was unclear.

His spirit and bone structure were incomparably noble; life and death were both present, fortune and misfortune were intertwined; he was from a family of generals, blessed for generations, surpassing his peers, a rare fate that breaks the mold.

At that time, her master had said that Zhang Tianshi Zhang's method of physiognomy and aura and her own calculation of innate divine numbers actually coincided perfectly.

Her master had once calculated that in the year Jia Yuzhang was ten, he was destined to have a great life-and-death tribulation; according to common logic, he should not have survived, but he miraculously escaped death.

When Zhang Tianshi Zhang first met Jia Yuzhang, he happened to be ten years old; he judged his fate to be strange, with great misfortune suddenly turning into great fortune, and his vitality unclear.

This coincided exactly with her master's calculation that he would encounter a death tribulation at ten but ultimately escape it.

…………

Jia Yuzhang also met Zhang Tianshi Zhang at ten, after which his fortune flourished, turning misfortune into fortune and becoming dazzling.

Her master calculated that Jia Yuzhang's life chart was unpredictable, very easily leading to present victory but future defeat, fortune collapsing, and interconnected disasters.

Zhang Tianshi Zhang used physiognomy and aura to infer that Jia Yuzhang was not an ordinary person, a rare fate that breaks the mold.

Her master said these two methods of calculation also coincided, both paths leading to the same destination.

Any fate that breaks the mold is unbearable for ordinary people, destined for a life of ups and downs, with unpredictable fortune and misfortune; he is either a great sage or a great villain.

Thinking of these things, Sister Miao Yu's heart trembled, and she found it hard to be calm.

Jia Cong's image appeared in her mind—handsome, gentle, affectionate, and loyal—he didn't look like that kind of person at all.

…………