Chapter 102

Xir Ren, who was beside Jia Baoyu, presented him with a cup of fragrant tea and, with a gentle smile, urged:

"Second Uncle, you must not speak recklessly! Xiangling is the only senior maid in the Marquis's quarters, and may well become a member of the Marquis's household in the future!"

"There is no reason for a younger brother to demand someone from his elder brother's quarters. Even if the Marquis were to permit it, it would be easy to say but hard to hear!"

"Those who don't know might think you are using your elders' favor to seize your brother's household staff! That would tarnish your reputation."

"Moreover, the matriarch would not approve such a matter!"

Although Xir Ren's pretty face was smiling, her eyes showed a hint of panic, and she felt uneasy inside:

"My lord! How can one speak so carelessly! Who doesn't know the Marquis's current standing in the household, which even the matriarch must respect a bit."

"You still dare to request his household maid; if you offend the Marquis, perhaps neither the matriarch nor the lady can protect you?"

"You should know that the esteemed elder of Dong Fu, Zhen, was reprimanded by the Marquis and lay in bed for more than half a month before getting up; how can you still dare to provoke him!"

Beside them, Daiyu smiled, glanced at Xir Ren, and thought to herself:

"Brother Baoyu's senior maid does have a certain loyalty to her master. On the surface, the words are for Baoyu's reputation, but in fact they fear he might anger Third Brother."

Shi Xiangyun, without much thought, bluntly agreed:

"Exactly! There is only this one senior maid in Third Brother's quarters; how could one properly request her for the beloved brother! What would that become!"

"Moreover, the beloved brother already has so many senior maids in his courtyard; still not satisfied? One cannot take every attractive maid in the mansion into one's own courtyard!"

"Xiangling is now staying well with Third Brother! Why do you make things difficult for her! If the lord finds out, you'll have many troubles!"

Jia Baoyu, flushed red in the face from the two's words, forced a rebuttal:

"I merely said it offhand, without any intention of forcing it!"

Shi Xiangyun snorted:

"Whether it was offhand you know yourself! I am only advising you not to do something without a foundation!"

"Third Brother works hard outside, yet you disrespect his maid at home; what kind of person are you!"

Jia Baoyu, his face reddening, said shamefully angry:

"Now you no longer get along with me! You keep mentioning Third Brother! You side with him, not with me!"

Shi Xiangyun spat:

"I am not siding with Third Brother; who am I to have reason to side with whom! This matter was originally your fault!"

Shi Xiangyun has always been bold and straightforward, never yielding to Jia Baoyu; a few words left Jia Baoyu flushed and angry.

Shi Xiangyun continued:

"If I may say, the beloved brother should stop constantly thinking about beautiful maids; now that he's of age, he ought to go with Brother Huan and the others to the clan academy for improvement!"

"Now Brother Huan, Brother Cong, and Brother Lan have all made progress; it cannot be that the beloved brother stays at home without attending school!"

Xiangyun's words were sincere; she also thought of Jia Baoyu, for a young man, studying and advancing is the proper matter, not forever lingering in the inner quarters.

This is not the first time Shi Xiangyun has advised Jia Baoyu; whenever this topic comes up, a quarrel is inevitable.

Jia Baoyu, suppressing his displeasure, retorted:

"How could I not have attended school? The lord has already hired a tutor at home, and I study daily!"

Xiangyun sneered:

"Studying one day and resting three days—such a schedule cannot work! I think the clan academy is better; a half‑month there, with a teacher supervising daily!"

"Whether studying literature or practicing martial arts, such perseverance is needed for progress! Not seeking official rank or military command, merely to know more of the outside affairs is also good!"

Beside them, Daiyu saw Jia Baoyu's complexion change; knowing his temperament, she hurriedly gave Shi Xiangyun a gentle pull, signaling her to stop speaking, lest the argument continue into another uproar.

Xiangyun, seeing Jia Baoyu's obstinate refusal, felt a pang of melancholy; if not for their lifelong friendship, she would not have spoken up.

She then ignored Jia Baoyu, changed the subject, and asked Lin Daiyu:

"Third Brother has been away from the mansion for over two months; we don't even know what he's busy with outside!"

"The New Year is approaching; when might Third Brother return? Sister Lin, do you know?"

What topics could the ladies of the inner quarters discuss? Aside from reciting poetry, making couplets, and idle chatter, their conversations mainly revolved around Jia Jing, the brother they knew and were close to.

Lin Daiyu's bright eyes watery, she smiled lightly and shook her head:

"How would I know? I don't! But I think he'll return for the New Year! Even high officials of the court take a break and go home during the year‑end."

Speaking, she turned to Xiao Jiaoer, who was playing with Xichun nearby, and asked:

"Xiao Jiaoer, do you know when Third Brother will return to the mansion?"

"I know! Once Third Uncle finishes his business in the next two days, he'll come back, and he'll bring me a little foal; Third Uncle said he'll teach me to ride, hehe!"

Xiao Jiaoer replied with a smiling face, saying she asks the palace guards in the courtyard daily for news about Third Uncle, hoping he returns soon to teach her horseback riding!

This was the reward Third Uncle gave her for defending his cause last time at Rong Qing Tang.

Since the elder of Dong Fu was beaten, Xiao Jiaoer's status in the mansion has become increasingly 'pivotal'.

The servants in the mansion dare less to neglect her, and behind the scenes they have nicknamed her the 'Dong Fu Nemesis'.

Shi Xiangyun, hearing Xiao Jiaoer's words, clapped her hands and said:

"Third Brother has been away for over two months and is finally returning! I heard that a few days ago the court assigned him to suppress bandits in the capital region; I feared he wouldn't have time to return for the New Year!"

"I propose that when Third Brother returns, we hold a poetry gathering in his courtyard."

"Last time Sister Lin and Sister Bao managed to sneak out a good poem; this time we must not let that happen!"

Lin Daiyu, hearing that Jia Jing would return in the next two days, felt a bit of joy and said with a light laugh:

"What sneaking around? It's just a matter of timing! As for your suggestion?"

"Third Brother is a very busy man; if you can persuade him to join our inner‑court poetry gathering, then you truly have skill!"

"Heh heh, if Third Brother refuses, I will imitate Sister Lin and throw a tantrum to make him cry!"

Shi Xiangyun snorted mockingly.

"Who do you say throws a tantrum!" Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun laughed and teased each other.

Beside him, Jia Baoyu's complexion grew ever more sullen, the blue veins on his head bulged, his face changed from red to black, and he stood dazed in place.

A face like a full Mid‑Autumn moon, eyes wide open, breath knotted in the chest, expression frozen.

Even Lin Daiyu now keeps saying Third Brother, her heart is no longer with me!

Her tears will never again flow for me alone!

Jia Baoyu stared blankly at Lin Daiyu, his heart suddenly a mixture of urgent anger.

His feelings for Lin Daiyu were unlike anyone else's; his heart already bore a different significance.

At that moment, seeing the two laughing and teasing over "Third Brother," Jia Baoyu finally could not restrain himself and let out a booming shout, yanking the jade pendant from the collar on his chest and smashing it hard onto the ground:

"What a lazy brat, still bragging about spirit communication! I smashed you!"