Chapter 236: Jia Mu: Baoyu Has Always Loved Studying and Making Progress

Li Shi didn't really want to see Baoyu.

It's just that in the inner quarters where the women gather, there aren't many topics to talk about.

Besides gossiping and playing matchmaker, the most they talk about is their promising children and grandchildren.

Moreover, Li Shi had once heard Nian Shilan say that she wanted to improve relations with Jia Mu.

The best way is to praise Jia Baoyu, the son of the Jia mansion's second elder master; he is the matriarch's darling, and praising him works better than praising the Champion Marquis.

Li Shi felt somewhat doubtful about such an outrageous claim.

Champion Marquis! Do you know how weighty this title is?

This is a hero of the age that only appears when the ancestral grave smokes with green smoke; how could any grandmother possibly prefer Baoyu over the Champion Marquis?

She's not senile!

But what she didn't expect was that, upon hearing the words 'Baoyu' and 'naturally talented', Jia Mu's face instantly broke into smiles, her pleased expression quickly taking up the conversation:

"Baoyu! He's gone to the clan school to study! He always loves reading! He's ambitious, filial, and writes well……"

Jia Mu praised Baoyu without reservation, her flowing compliments non-repetitive, practically lifting him to the heavens!

However, there was one thing she wasn't making up: Baoyu really had gone to study at the clan school.

Since Yuan Chun returned to the mansion, Baoyu's former carefree days have vanished completely!

Yuan Chun's main concern was this younger brother; shortly after returning home, she inquired through Tan Chun and others whether Baoyu had made any progress over the years at the mansion.

As one could expect, she heard nothing of progress, but instead heard countless counts of Baoyu's 'blemished deeds':

He mingles in the inner quarters, loves eating the rouge on maids' lips, is the only one in the mansion who doesn't attend clan school, dislikes pursuing an official career, and loves smashing jade……

At that moment, Yuan Chun's vision went dark, and she nearly died from anger.

Who would have thought that after years of bitter endurance in the palace, Baoyu would be spoiled by Lady Wang and Jia Mu into this state?

Where is there any trace of a man's heroic spirit? This is nothing but raising a pampered young noble.

Yuan Chun, vexed that he wouldn't become steel, immediately intervened; within days she ordered Baoyu to attend clan school, and no persuasion could change it.

Yuan Chun is Baoyu's biological sister; she raised him when he was young.

Moreover, over these years she has sacrificed greatly for the Jia mansion in that man-eating place of the palace.

Jia Mu, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and others all felt they owed this daughter, to the extent that the Jia mansion's 'phoenix egg' Baoyu was disciplined by her, yet no one stepped forward to stop it.

Thus, the result was that, even if Baoyu cried out heaven and earth and swore not to obey, he ultimately could not escape the fate of attending clan school.

Counting the days, it's been over a month!

After Jia Mu finished speaking, Lady Wang beside her also smiled broadly and said:

"Baoyu really has been diligent! He's preparing to take the Shuntian Prefecture county examination next year!"

Well, taking the test is one thing, whether he passes is another matter.

Seeing Jia Mu and Lady Wang's mutual praise of Baoyu, the Jia mansion's sisters beside them looked strange.

You look at me, I look at you—we can only hold back our laughter.

Li Shi was also stunned: diligent and fond of study, yet she hasn't even passed the county examination?

You know the county examination is merely the lowest level of the civil service exams; after that come the prefectural and academy examinations, and only after passing all three does one earn the title of scholar.

Then, after passing the provincial examination, one becomes a recommended person.

Only after passing the metropolitan and palace examinations does one become a presented scholar.

I heard that Baoyu is about fifteen?

My own son passed the county examination at nine, yet my husband constantly scolds him for lacking literary talent!

So what about this Baoyu??

Originally Li Shi had planned to marry into the Champion Marquis's family; since that was unfavorable, marrying his cousin would also be fine, and her own natal family has several unmarried sisters.

But now……

Li Shi's mouth twitched, and she smiled,

"The county examination—truly remarkable, promising; in a few more years one could establish a household and make a name, hehe……"

Upon hearing Li Shi praise her Baoyu, Jia Mu's expression became extremely pleased, her mouth splitting to her ears, yet she couldn't help sighing:

"Studying and making progress is good, but our clan school has been reformed by Jia Jing—rules are strict, it's run as a boarding school with closed‑door learning."

"Baoyu can come home only once every half a month, making me worry sick at home!"

"Moreover, his daily practice of literature and martial arts at the clan school is exhausting; the last time he returned, his body was bruised from martial practice in several places, which pains me to see."

Upon hearing this, Li Shi instantly realized that the Jia family's matriarch is a doting, indulgent grandmother.

In a man's family, if every bump and bruise is cause for heartache, how can he ever enter officialdom or establish a household?

Seated beside Jia Mu, Yuan Chun heard her mother-in-law's implied complaint; her plump, dignified, fair face showed a faint smile.

She bore an indescribable air—not the palace's perfume, but a dignified composure soaked in propriety, every move orderly and proper.

Even sitting quietly there, she exuded a dignified bearing, utterly unlike the other Jia mansion sisters laughing in the pavilion.

At this moment, hearing Jia Mu's lament for Baoyu, she lightly opened her vermilion lips, smiled softly, and spoke in a subdued voice

"The clan school's reforms are excellent; Third Brother, for the family's benefit, has hired renowned teachers, instituted strict discipline, and firmly grasped the education of the clan's youth—laying a foundation for a hundred years of prosperity for the Jia family."

"Even if the matriarch pities Baoyu, she should understand the far‑sighted reasoning behind this plan."

"Moreover, Huan Ge'er, Cong Ge'er, and even Lan Ge'er can remain in the clan school; as the elder brother, Baoyu surely cannot neglect his studies!"

After returning home, Yuan Chun, besides the matter of Baoyu, also learned in detail from Tan Chun and others about the changes in the household over these years.

Especially the deeds of her cousin Jia Jing, whose fame spreads under heaven.

After learning of his ennoblement, the first thing he did upon returning to the clan was to respect the elderly and care for the young, aid the endangered and relieve the distressed, focus on education, and practice benevolence toward the clan—all deeds of great righteousness.

She could not help but admire her cousin's foresight and breadth of vision.

He not only possesses the courage and strategy to fight on blood‑stained battlefields and serve the country, but also literary talent in poetry and prose; what's rarer is that, at his young age, he already has the vision and ambition to govern the family and the state.

It's no wonder the sisters in the family speak of him with admiration and reverence; it's also no wonder that, at such a young age, he has risen to the highest rank among officials and is praised by all.

Even the reason I was able to be taken out of the palace this time is because my third brother couldn't bear to see me suffer there and made the decision.

Although Yuan Chun no longer clearly remembers Jia Jing's appearance, her heart is already filled with curiosity and fondness for this cousin she hasn't seen in years.

Upon hearing these words from Yuan Chun, Jia Mu showed no displeasure at all.

She also feels great affection for Yuan Chun, and her tolerance for her is extremely high.

Jia Mu pointed at Yuan Chun and laughed in a hoarse voice:

"Take a look! Now that her sister is managing Baoyu, I, this old lady, shouldn't interfere too much!"

Lady Li glanced at Yuan Chun, who was in the prime of her youth at sixteen, poised and magnificent, beautiful and graceful, well-read and sensible.

Every gesture bears countless charms; she is indeed a fine young lady, a pity she is a bit older.

Lady Wang, looking at Yuan Chun beside her, had mixed feelings: joy at her daughter's return, yet inevitably resentment toward Jia Jing.

If it weren't for the major branch's illegitimate son insisting on taking her out of the palace, my outstanding eldest daughter would surely have been made a consort…