Chapter 879

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu, upon hearing Baoyu’s words, couldn’t help but smile wryly inside; though advanced in years, she was not yet senile.

Though Baoyu invoked filial piety, his words sounded touching and plausible, they were merely an excuse to avoid studying—Jia Mu knew this full well.

Yet Baoyu had been pampered since childhood, and the National Academy’s studies were so grueling that Jia Mu pitied him and secretly hoped he wouldn’t go.

Jia Mu had never expected Baoyu to pass the imperial examinations.

Perhaps it was because she was born into a noble house and married into another, and thus naturally dismissed scholarly pursuits and the civil service exams.

Or perhaps she understood Baoyu’s nature too well—knew he was no scholar—and seeing him complain so bitterly, she naturally wanted to back out.

But this place at the National Academy was specifically secured for Baoyu by Jia Cong; if he abandoned it halfway, Jia Cong would surely be displeased.

This eldest grandson now bore dual peerages and was lord of both mansions, his status so exalted that even Jia Mu dared not take him lightly.

Moreover, this eldest grandson was a top scholar himself, just like his father Jia Zheng—he held scholarly pursuits in the highest regard.

If Baoyu refused to attend the National Academy out of fear, he would not only shame him but also earn his contempt, breeding resentment between cousins.

In the future, when he had good things to offer, he would never again lift a finger for Baoyu; after his death, he would look upon Baoyu with utter disdain.

Thus, though Baoyu’s expression was terrified and his voice trembling with tears, Jia Mu hesitated, unable to speak immediately.

…

Wang Lady, though eager for her son to shine and ideally surpass Jia Cong, still possessed some self-awareness.

That Baoyu could outperform Jia Cong in study—even she thought it absurd, and she never entertained such a hope.

She had merely wished for Baoyu to enter school and gain enough prestige before outsiders; now, stirred by Shi Xiangyun’s words, she was suddenly startled.

She recalled how her eldest son had overworked himself in study, exhausting his vital essence, collapsing suddenly, and dying young.

This had become Wang Lady’s nightmare; now hearing Baoyu cry out in distress, she panicked.

Yet before Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other younger generations, if she immediately agreed to let him skip school, her dignity as an elder would be utterly shattered.

She had assumed that, since the old lady adored Baoyu, hearing his plea wrapped in filial piety, she would decisively settle the matter—sparring Wang Lady the humiliation before the younger ones.

But the old lady had grown shrewd; hearing Baoyu’s plea, she refused to take the bait and remained silent, leaving Wang Lady stunned.

…

Yingchun and the others, seeing Baoyu’s behavior, knew his arguments were merely flimsy excuses to avoid studying, and each inwardly despised him.

Daiyu even began formulating an excuse to leave Rongqing Hall, to avoid listening to Baoyu’s nonsense.

Only Shi Xiangyun, straightforward and clear in her likes and dislikes, found Baoyu’s weakness utterly contemptible—though she had forgotten she herself had started this.

She said: “Second Brother needn’t speak like that. How can a man have a future without studying? How can he understand the ways of officialdom and governance?”

“Third Brother has studied for years and never defied filial piety; Huan Brother also attends the National Academy—does that mean we’re all unfilial?”

Hearing Xiangyun mention officialdom and governance again, Baoyu felt a surge of bitter indignation and wanted to denounce her as a corrupt, greedy official.

But he remembered how she had mocked him harshly last time for careless words, and the memory still chilled him—he swallowed his retort and dared not speak rashly again.

…

Xiangyun continued: “Third Sister, I’m puzzled—why do I never see Huan Brother around?”

Tan Chun, fearing Baoyu might lose control and cause further embarrassment, was relieved when Xiangyun’s sudden question distracted him.

She quickly said: “Huan’s natural talent for study is far inferior to Second Brother’s. As the saying goes, the slow bird must fly early.”

“I’ve had his mother keep him at home, forbidding him to go out, so he studies indoors.”

“Second Brother truly has a weak constitution—he simply cannot endure the hardship of study.”

“Huan, by contrast, has been sturdy since childhood—a rough, thick-skinned boy who can take punishment.”

“He’s been willful since youth, and as a junior branch bastard, I discussed it with Father—we must let him be tested in the world, or he’ll never survive.”

Tan Chun was sharp-minded; Xiangyun’s words had nearly driven Baoyu to tears, and both the old lady and Lady Wang had already retreated from the idea of him attending the Academy.

She naturally wished to have nothing to do with this mess, so she echoed their sentiments, claiming Baoyu’s frailty made study too taxing.

She slightly belittled her own brother, calling him a coarse, sturdy fellow who didn’t need to worry about diligence, and added that as a bastard, he had no choice but to study to find his way.

She aimed to distance Jia Huan from this affair, so Baoyu’s tantrum wouldn’t disrupt Huan’s enrollment at the Academy.

…

Jia Mu, hearing Tan Chun’s words, found them perfectly reasonable; Wang Lady found not a single flaw in them.

As for Jia Huan attending the National Academy, they all unconsciously ignored it.

In their eyes, if Baoyu couldn’t do it, Jia Huan—the “frozen cat”—certainly couldn’t either.

Who cared whether he went or not? Let him fumble about on his own.

Jia Mu said: “Third girl has some insight. Studying is indeed excellent—but Baoyu’s constitution is frail; this cannot be taken lightly.”

“Since you, as his sister, have ideas, tell us—what would be a suitable solution?”

Upon hearing this, Shi Xiangyun, blunt by nature, didn’t immediately grasp the implication.

Yingchun, Daiyu, Baochai, and the others, with their keen minds, instantly understood.

Just now, Tan Chun had been forced by circumstance to echo the old lady’s view—that Baoyu was too frail to endure study.

The old lady couldn’t openly oppose the National Academy, lest she offend the eldest grandson, so she seized Tan Chun’s words to use her as a pawn.

If Tan Chun also declared Baoyu needn’t attend, they’d have a pretext—later, when Jia Cong learned it was Tan Chun’s suggestion, he couldn’t blame her too harshly.

The old lady wouldn’t damage her own dignity, avoiding the scandal of a scholarly family where elders disdained books.

But this had nothing to do with Tan Chun—why should she bear the blame?

The three girls felt injustice, fearing Tan Chun, caught in the moment, would be manipulated by Jia Mu’s words and say exactly that.

Tan Chun paused briefly, then said: “Grandmother, Second Brother is the legitimate son of the second branch—he must uphold the family line, unlike ordinary youths.”

“Studying has always been a matter for men; though Second Brother is frail, I am merely a girl—I dare not offer advice on such matters.”

“Only someone with true insight in the household can devise a balanced solution. Third Brother has insight, but he is still a junior.”

“Among the elders, besides Grandmother and Lady Wang, Father has the most discernment—this matter should be left to him to decide, for that is most proper.”

“Moreover, even if Second Brother doesn’t enter the National Academy, Third Brother won’t say much—he likely won’t care too much.”

“But Father’s approval is still necessary; we can’t avoid him anyway. Why not summon him to discuss it?”

“The National Academy opens for classes after the Lantern Festival; if Second Brother won’t attend, we must quickly remove his name from the rolls.”

“That way, the spot can be given to someone else, and Third Brother won’t be left owing a favor…”

…

Jia Mu, hearing Tan Chun’s words, was stunned. If Baoyu didn’t enter the National Academy, others might not mind.

Even if Jia Cong was merely displeased, he wouldn’t force Baoyu to attend—but her own son, upon hearing this, would fly into a rage.

Jia Mu had gone to great lengths to let someone else voice the objection, sparing her own dignity and avoiding gossip among noble kin.

She had hoped to create a favorable atmosphere, then gently nudge it along—so her son, bound by filial duty, would naturally yield, making the matter seem inevitable.

She feared Baoyu, before even entering the Academy, would be so terrified he’d fall ill—if he truly came to harm, what then?

But this third girl was either foolish or feigned cleverness—she hadn’t followed Jia Mu’s lead, but instead dragged her son into it…

…

Baoyu, hearing Tan Chun’s words, felt immense gratitude when she said he was too frail to endure study.

He thought: My insight is correct—women of this world are indeed refined and gifted, and she proves it.

Tan Chun, such a paragon among maidens, understands my pure nature and character, and speaks so earnestly on my behalf.

To have a sister like her—my life is not wasted.

She speaks truly—I was born with a delicate, sickly frame…

Baoyu was lost in self-satisfied bliss, when the first few words of Tan Chun’s speech had been like a gentle breeze and fine rain, tender and kind.

But the later words became blades and frost, cutting mercilessly.

Tan Chun had lost her mind—she wanted to summon Father to decide this matter!

That Father would agree to let him skip the Academy? Baoyu dared not imagine it.

But if Father learned of this, he would surely beat him to death—there was no doubt.

He turned deathly pale; his earlier indignation and filial sincerity vanished instantly.

His eyes glazed over, as if he might faint at any moment—he wanted to beg, but couldn’t think of a single word to say.

His heart felt as if slashed by knives and pierced by swords—how had everyone in this household become so foolish?

Tan Chun, once so clever—how could she devise such a stupid plan? Were they all trying to drive him to death?

Even with Daiyu and the other sisters present, Baoyu no longer cared about humiliation—his father Jia Zheng was being summoned, and he could only humiliate himself further…

He rushed forward and knelt before Jia Mu, crying out: “Grandmother, I don’t mean to avoid studying.”