Chapter 146: Aunt Xue: Are You Still Thinking of Jia Jing?

Aunt Xue glanced at the poem, froze for a moment, did not take it, and asked in puzzlement:

"You know Mother can't read a few characters, why show me this? Is it what the obedient girl just wrote?"

Aunt Xue comes from the Wang Family; the Wang Family does not prioritize teaching daughters to read, but focuses on household management.

Even Wang Xifeng and Lady Wang cannot read a few characters; Aunt Xue is slightly better than them, but her ability is still limited.

In the original, during the "Shi Tai Jun's Two Banquets at Grand View Garden" episode, when issuing a tooth‑card order, Aunt Xue's wording included folk sayings such as "The Weaver Girl and Cowherd meet on the Seventh Night" and "Mortal joy cannot match that of immortals."

Lady Wang could not say any at all and needed a pair of mandarin ducks to speak for her, showing their cultural level.

Xue Baichai took back the paper; she never really intended Aunt Xue to read the poem, only to use it as an excuse to dispel Aunt Xue's thought of asking Jia Jing for help.

Xue Baichai recounted the poem and the incident in Lin Daiyu's small courtyard to Aunt Xue, then whispered:

"Third Brother has lofty ambitions; he devotes life and death to the nation, and his mind is filled with state affairs."

"He would not be willing to attend to a minor loss in our trading house; even if he agreed, his heart would still be displeased…"

Aunt Xue glanced at Baichai's expression, fell silent for a moment, then sighed with implication and said:

"Indeed, someone like him is beyond our family's reach."

Seeing Baichai remain silent, Aunt Xue paused, then suddenly spoke:

"Obedient girl, your lifelong marriage… Mother has been pondering it these days."

Baichai lowered her head, drooping her eyelids, her complexion tinged with a hint of pink, and whispered:

"Mother, why bring this up all of a sudden…"

Aunt Xue weighed her words and said seriously:

"To be honest, Mother originally wanted to pair you with Jia Jing."

"He is young, still unmarried, yet holds such a high office; his talent, looks, family background, and abilities are top‑notch—a marriage so fine even a lantern cannot illuminate it."

"Later, the grand‑dames and wives of dukes and marquises in Shenjing came to propose alliances, and Mother realized arranging this would be difficult!"

"Having already abandoned the idea, Mother did not expect that his family's matriarch would place Jia Jing to live beside our courtyard."

"Mother thought perhaps this is fate; your appearance, talent, and temperament are superb, and intermarriage among the four great families is common, so there might be a chance!"

"So Mother sent Xiangling over, thinking… thinking of first establishing a good bond."

Upon saying this, Aunt Xue paused, sighed, and said:

"However, now his rank and power keep rising; not only is he a Second‑Rank Marquis, but also the Third‑Rank Military Governor of Bashang Daying, has taken the title Assistant Minister of War, and just days ago received a commission to suppress bandits…"

"Our family may not be lacking; our ancestors were descendants of the Zǐwēi Chamberlain, and now we are imperial merchants handling the inner treasury, yet compared with Jia Jing we are still far inferior!"

"The last time I heard he killed a Marquis, I was nearly terrified! That Marquis was such a figure; normally our family finds it hard to befriend him, and he killed him!"

"Seeing his imposing presence in the mansion today, Mother knows this matter likely has no chance…"

Baichai's expression held a hint of disappointment; she knew exactly what Aunt Xue said.

Since ancient times, marriage demands a match of status, and her own standing is indeed somewhat mismatched…

Baichai clenched the paper in her hand, lowered her head, and remained silent.

Aunt Xue continued:

"Besides the unsuitable status, Mother also has another worry."

"Your brother is incompetent; if Jia Jing were to marry you, then the Xue family's million‑worth assets, should he try to seize them, who could stop him?"

"Mother does not distrust his character, but… who can be certain about the world's affairs?"

"We, as orphans and widows, cannot take such a risk!"

At this point, Aunt Xue's face showed a trace of worry, she hesitated to speak further.

In truth, she also harbored another concern she felt embarrassed to voice: Jia Jing's recent military maneuver in the mansion had frightened her.

She thought, if this happened to the Xue family, she could not withstand it nor accept it.

Baichai, after hearing this, furrowed her brows, a trace of melancholy on her face, and lightly deflected:

"Mother, my marriage need not be rushed; let my elder brother establish a household first. I still wish to serve you for two more years!"

Aunt Xue's plump face bore a smile as she said:

"Obedient girl, you are no longer young; you should start considering it!"

"Even if you are not eager to marry, you must first seek a good family and get to know them; otherwise when the time comes, it will be troublesome!"

"Mother knows your aspirations are high, so any suitable candidates will be discussed with you first, hearing your opinion, avoiding blind or forced marriages, always seeking a good match for you."

Baichai's complexion softened a bit, and she whispered:

"Thank you, Mother!"

Aunt Xue smiled, then leaned closer to Baichai and said:

"How do you find that child Baoyu? He does seem to know the ins and outs!"

Baichai was startled, her brows slightly furrowed, and hurriedly said:

"Mother, how did you get this idea?"

After today's events, Baichai could say she saw through Jia Baoyu completely.

Originally Jia Baoyu disliked officialdom and finance, lingered in the inner quarters, and liked to eat the rouge from the maids' lips; she never liked those things.

Today he even staged a smashing‑Jade drama that opened her eyes wide.

The child's temper made Lin Daiyu vomit blood, let alone.

At his age, he still hides in the matriarch's lap when trouble arises, pretends to be crazy or foolish so the sisters won't play with Third Brother—simply ridiculous!

He shows no trace of a man's responsibility or ambition!

After being beaten, he cried like a weeping statue; how could such a person be entrusted for a lifetime…

Aunt Xue, unaware of Baichai's thoughts, smiled and said:

"Mother hasn't even met other families in the capital! In the Jia Family, only Jia Jing and Baoyu are suitable."

Although Baoyu is a bit childish, his character is still good; there are no serious flaws.

Moreover, he's your aunt's child, and our two families are close kin; if you marry into it, your mother‑in‑law won't make things difficult for you.

Your aunt mentioned it to me today; I see she also values you, and she even hinted at it earlier at the residence…

Mother! Baoyu's temperament is still unsettled; I think this matter need not be rushed! Xue Baichai's face, as pure and flawless as a pear blossom, was as pale as paper.

She had to speak up to interrupt Aunt Xue; if Aunt Xue kept talking, she feared her marriage would be haphazardly decided!

Since ancient times, marriage has been the parents' decree; if Aunt Xue and Lady Wang truly set a marriage contract, it would be too late to back out later.

At that moment, Aunt Xue also saw that Baichai had no interest in Baoyu, sighed, and said:

Baoyatou, if you don't fancy Baoyu, fine! Tell mother the truth—are you still… lingering in your heart about Jing?