Chapter 892

Count's mansion, Daiyu's courtyard.

The bedroom was fragrant and soft, the incense burner exhaled fragrance, the charcoal fire was slightly red, and Hearing Zi Juan was lying on the side couch, wrapped in a brocade quilt, her pretty face flushed, sleeping sweetly.

Her left arm was stretched outside the quilt, a small purple floral-patterned jacket was rubbed up a section, revealing a section of snow-white, jade-like arm, and she was still wearing a twisted silver bracelet on her wrist.

Outside the window, it was pitch black, only in the far east was a wisp of rosy light faintly revealed, the light was weak, and it would take a while to illuminate the sky.

A slender hand stretched out from the embroidered bed, with delicate bones and snow-white skin, five fingers glistening and moist, set against the darkness of the room, becoming even more bright and jade-like, elegant and graceful, indescribably beautiful.

The bed curtain had just been lifted when Hearing Zi Juan was startled awake from the side couch and said: "Miss, it's not even dawn yet, why not sleep for a while longer?"

Daiyu rubbed her eyes and said: "I lay down before the hour of Hai last night, and my shoulders were sore, and I couldn't sleep anymore, so I might as well get up early."

Hearing Zi Juan smiled and said: "Miss only lay down early last night, but you tossed and turned for a long time, struggling for half an hour before falling asleep, so it doesn't count as sleeping too much."

Hearing Zi Juan lifted the green embroidered bed curtain and hung it with the old copper curtain hooks on both sides, seeing that Daiyu had already sat up, her hair disheveled, her beautiful eyes like stars.

She was wearing a moon-white printed cross-collared pajama, the collar was a bit loose, revealing her glistening and flawless chest and neck, exuding a lazy beauty, moving and touching.

Hearing Zi Juan sat on the edge of the couch, considerately stretching out her hands to rub Daiyu's shoulders.

She tilted her head and smiled: "Miss, is it because the Cong Sanye has gone out? The garden is much colder, and Miss is not comfortable in her heart."

Daiyu smiled and said: "You just love to talk too much; I'm not uncomfortable. Third Brother's expedition this time won't be for ten days or half a month."

"He's only been gone for two days, and he's only just arrived there; it's just that today is the Lantern Festival, and the family is missing only him, so I feel a bit bored."

……

Daiyu was rubbed by Hearing Zi Juan for a while, and her shoulders felt clear; she lifted the brocade quilt and got out of bed, and Hearing Zi Juan hurriedly took a lined jacket and draped it over her.

The two went behind the screen for a while, and Daiyu took off her sleeping jacket; when she came out, she changed into a white silk peach-red-trimmed cross-collared jacket, and wore an oil-green pleated skirt on her lower body.

She walked to the dressing table and sat down, saying: "I should get up early today; although because Third Brother is on an expedition, both mansions have reduced their plays and banquets."

"But the fifteenth of the first month won't be quieter than last year; the outside world knows Third Brother is a talented general, and he had such glory when he went to Liaodong on an expedition last time."

"This time he is going north on an expedition to suppress the Mongols; I don't know how many people will be watching; there will surely be many visitors to both mansions today."

"Third Sister will surely be called to the West Mansion, and Sister Yun won't be left out, to entertain those old relatives and female guests."

"I should also get up early, go to pay my respects to Grandmother, and come back early to help Second Sister manage things."

Seeing Daiyu speak seriously, Hearing Zi Juan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

She said: "Miss is becoming more and more virtuous and capable; although Third Brother is away, with Second Sister and Miss managing the mansion."

"Everything inside and out is so meticulous and proper; I just say Third Brother is very blessed."

Daiyu snorted, pinched Hearing Zi Juan's hand, and said: "Third Brother has not treated me thinly, even my chronic illness was cured by the physician he invited."

"Now that he is away, it is only natural for me to help Second Sister; you don't need to talk too much, you girl."

Hearing Zi Juan smiled and said: "Miss is right; going to pay respects to Grandmother so early and then rushing back so tightly, it's like you don't want to stay in the West Mansion for long."

Hearing Zi Juan had been by Daiyu's side for many years; although they were mistress and servant, they were like sisters, tacit and understanding; Daiyu only said half a sentence, and she sensed the meaning.

She continued: "I understand Miss's heart best; is there a reason for this?"

……

Daiyu smiled and said: "You are the smartest; naturally there is a reason; on this fifteenth day of the first month, the female guests of all the old relatives will be moving about."

"Grandmother's old relatives have the highest seniority, her title is precious, and she is of advanced age, so naturally, she has the most relatives visiting."

"This year is different from previous years; the second branch has just added new relatives; yesterday I heard that the Xia family's wife and young lady are also coming to pay their respects to Grandmother."

"When they come to move about, Second Aunt and Baoyu will surely come; you know Baoyu's temperament; now that Third Brother is not at home."

"I know Baoyu's temperament best; without Third Brother at home to suppress him, he will lose his restraint in his heart and will again have the idea of showing off."

"He can't help but be mystical again, showing off in front of so many female guests."

"If I meet him and he says some nonsense again, it would be too embarrassing in front of the Xia family's female guests."

"I won't go and bump into this unlucky nail; let's just stay in the East Mansion and tinker, that's called being relaxed and comfortable."

"This time Third Brother is not at home, so there will be no male guests visiting the East Mansion; they are all female guests of Third Brother's classmates and colleagues."

"For example, the wife of the Ministry of Revenue's Chen Physician, the young lady of the Cai scholar's family, will mostly come to move about; these people are sensible and reasonable, and it's interesting to chat about the boudoir."

……

Hearing Zi Juan smiled and said: "Miss is truly a female Zhuge, having planned everything for herself early on, not being able to suffer any loss, truly shrewd and powerful."

"Miss, I heard from the older generation about the rules; meeting too many times before marriage will break the feng shui, why is Xia Gu Niang coming again this time?"

Daiyu said casually: "Baoyu and Xia Gu Niang are getting married in March; now it's only the first month; after the fifteenth, the two will avoid each other."

"Besides, how to avoid each other is something Grandmother and Second Aunt understand better; it has nothing to do with us."

Hearing Zi Juan finished dressing Daiyu and asked a little maid to call for breakfast; after serving Daiyu breakfast, a maid from Yingchun came to invite her.

The sisters gathered separately, chatting and laughing, and went to the West Mansion to pay their respects to Jia Mu.

By the time they entered the Rongqing Hall, it was just bright daylight.

The sisters accompanied Jia Mu for a while, and just then Xue Yima and Baochai came over, and the hall became even more lively.

Then they saw Lin Zhixiao's wife lift the curtain and enter the hall, saying: "Grandmother, the Second Aunt of the Shi family is here to pay a visit and has just entered the second gate."

Jia Mu was slightly surprised; in previous years, on the Lantern Festival of the fifteenth, her nephew and nephew's wife would come to pay their respects, why did only one come today?

……

Jia Mu asked Xiangyun to pick up her aunt; not long after, the wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing, Li Shi, entered the hall, smiling and exchanging pleasantries with Jia Mu.

Jia Mu asked: "You came early today; the sky has just brightened, why didn't Xiangyun's second uncle come?"

The wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing, Li Shi, said: "On the Lantern Festival of the fifteenth, the master must come to pay a visit to the Aunt."

"It's just that news suddenly came from the army last night, saying that Cong Ge'er's trusted personal guard wanted to see the master overnight."

"At that time, the city gate was already closed, and the personal guard showed his waist token and Cong Ge'er's handwritten letter, so he was able to call open the city gate in the middle of the night."

"After the master received the letter, his face became very ugly; he originally wanted to enter the palace overnight, but the palace gate was already locked, so he could only plan for the next day."

"The master didn't stay idle at home, but went to patrol the nine gates overnight and didn't return to the mansion until dawn."

"It's just that before the morning court, news came from the palace for the master to enter the palace."

"Because it was so urgent, he didn't come to pay his respects today."

……

Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters were trembling in their hearts when they heard about Jia Cong; wasn't he already leading troops to Tongzhou? Why did he suddenly send a personal guard back to the city to deliver a letter?

And the Marquis of Zhongjing's reaction to receiving the letter was truly somewhat solemn, and he was summoned to the palace early in the morning, sounding like something major had happened.

Jia Mu asked: "What exactly is the urgent matter? Why did Cong Ge'er send a letter to Xiangyun's second uncle overnight?"

The wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing, Li Shi, said: "Sending a letter overnight, so urgent, must be a major military achievement; I am a woman, how dare I ask more."

"The master received the edict and entered the palace early in the morning, and my heart has been hanging ever since."

"That's why I came to the mansion early to tell the Aunt, after all, it relates to Cong Ge'er."

Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters saw that Li Shi didn't know the truth either, and couldn't help but feel anxious...

……

Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace, back hall warm pavilion.

Marquis of Zhongjing Shi Ding walked into the warm pavilion and saw Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao browsing the memorial, his expression shocked, angry, and gloomy, exuding an inexplicable murderous aura, making one's hair stand on end.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao saw Shi Ding enter the pavilion and said: "I just received an urgent memorial sent by Jia Cong; his cavalry scouts discovered remnant Mongol troops in Wuwu Town."

"The number is no less than fifteen thousand cavalry; Wuwu Town has fallen, and the people in the town may have been harmed."

"Jia Cong's personal guard entered the city last night, but because the palace gate was already locked, the memorial was only sent into the palace this morning."

"Wuwu Town is only twenty miles from the Love Shenjing; the presence of such a large remnant Mongol elite force is a major threat to the Love Shenjing."

"That's why I stopped the morning court and urgently summoned you to the palace to discuss."

"I have heard from the palace guards that you patrolled the nine gates last night and strengthened the city defense overnight; could it be that you have already received the news?"

Shi Ding felt awe-inspiring and said: "Jia Cong's personal guard entered the city last night and sent the memorial to the palace, and also sent a letter to this subordinate, in which the enemy situation was detailed."

"This subordinate originally wanted to enter the palace to report overnight, but at that time the palace gate was locked, and it was truly impossible to get through."

"This subordinate patrolled the nine gates overnight and strengthened the city defense to prevent any unpreparedness."

"Fortunately, the Emperor issued an edict yesterday to be on guard during wartime, block the nine gates, and send heavy troops to the nine gates, so even if the thieves covet it, the capital can sleep soundly."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Fortunately, Jia Cong was thoughtful and sent you a letter, otherwise the palace gate would have been locked, and the city defense would have been delayed for a night."

"With over ten thousand remnant Mongol elite cavalry spying around, if the city guards were caught off guard, there might be unexpected danger."