Chapter 316: Jia Mu: Baichai Can Only Be a Concubine

Jia Jing hadn't finished speaking, paused, then picked up the teacup beside him and took a slight sip.

Beside her, Baichai's snow‑like jade complexion showed a hint of contemplation, her almond eyes flickered slightly, and her gaze drooped.

She pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, and couldn't help but speak:

"What Third Brother said about a virtuous person shouldn't just refer to someone with moral virtue; this 'de' probably also means martial virtue!"

"According to the court's hereditary military merit ennoblement system, aside from dividing military and noble ranks based on whether one has military achievements, and besides the rule that the eldest legitimate son's inheritance lowers the rank by one grade,"

"concubine sons and others must obtain ranks through the ennoblement examination, and when inheriting, they likewise decrease by one grade each generation."

"The general ennoblement examination covers martial arts, archery, and military strategy; the virtuous person Third Brother mentioned might thus be someone proficient in martial arts, archery, and military strategy!"

Daiyu's recent performance obviously gave Baichai a sense of crisis, prompting her to jump in and show off her own talent.

This also served to show Jia Jing that not only is Little Sister Lin always clever, but I am no less capable!

However,

Yet displaying her talent so openly before everyone still left her with a hint of shyness she could hardly conceal.

After all, she wasn't the one Jia Jing called on, and her nature isn't like Xiang Yun's,

normally she hides her ignorance and keeps quiet in public; being this proactive now seems somewhat out of character.

Faced with Baichai's sudden "buzz‑in" answer, the people in the hall showed varied expressions.

Xue's aunt first glanced at her own well‑behaved daughter beside her, only to see that Baichai's snow‑like cheek, smooth as congealed lychee, bore a faint flush, her brows and eyes lowered, the tips of her brows seeming tinged with shyness.

This…

The faint smile perpetually on Xue's aunt's face slightly faded, her heart feeling somewhat complex and unfathomable!

If her daughter's such proactive display before everyone could earn Jing'er's approval, that would be fine.

If not, then even the retreat of marrying Baoyu might be gone!

Xue's aunt then glanced at her sister Lady Wang, and indeed saw her furrowing her brows while staring at her own well‑behaved daughter, her expression betraying barely concealed astonishment.

And at that moment Lady Wang seemed to feel Xue's aunt's gaze, turned her head and met her eyes, her look filled with shock and resentment.

No wonder,

I've several times mentioned to my sister the matter of the "golden jade good fate," but she hemmed and hawed, being evasive,

it turns out she still harbors thoughts for the eldest branch's concubine son in her heart.

She had previously thought Baichai's dignified bearing made her a suitable backup choice for her son's wife, and marrying her to her Baoyu would still be a rise for her family!

Now it seems her own Baoyu is actually looked down upon by them!

They want to climb onto the high branch of the eldest branch's concubine son, yet they're still stringing along this side, clearly treating Baoyu as a backup candidate!

This is simply outrageous!

Well then! Since they have eyes that fail to recognize true gold, discard the excellent for the inferior, and don't cherish blessings, I can't force it either!

However, they will surely have a day of regret!

As for a daughter‑in‑law, it seems we can only choose a maid from the Nian family now!

Lady Wang turned her head with the resentful thought, "Today you ignore me, tomorrow I'll make you unable to rise high," and silently pressed her anger deep inside.

Beside her, Jia Mu at this moment also gave Baichai, whose beauty was blossoming like flowers and moon, a deep look with her aged eyes.

Don't think she often can't guess Jia Jing's mind, but having seen countless people in the inner quarters, she understands Baichai's thoughts as clearly as seeing fire.

She even knows that Lady Wang intends to match Jia Baoyu with Xue Baichai.

In her view, Baichai is actually not lacking.

Just looking at appearance, she could rank among the top three of the girls she has seen!

Especially her pearl‑round, jade‑smooth complexion, which is an auspicious sign for bearing sons!

If Daiyu weren't her own granddaughter and her temperament more to her liking, she might even be willing to choose her as the beloved wife of her precious Baoyu!

But now it seems this girl clearly has designs on her own wicked third grandson, leaving Jia Mu with a mix of feelings!

If one says intermarriage among the four great families is also common, the Wang family marrying daughters to the Xue family, the Wang family marrying daughters to the Jia family, the Wang family…

Hmm! Mainly the Wang family marries off more daughters!

But even if Jia Mu looks down on her own wicked third grandson, she cannot deny that the Xue family is far inferior in status!

You should know, Jia Mu originally intended to betroth her maternal niece's daughter Shi Xiangyun to Jia Jing, but why did she later stop mentioning it?

It's because too many noble houses came seeking marriage for that wicked grandson, causing Jia Mu to belatedly realize her natal family actually can't rise high enough!

Even Xiang Yun, born of a marquis's manor, is like this, let alone Baichai from an imperial merchant family!

Therefore, Jia Mu thinks the Xue family may have miscalculated this time; unless as a concubine, becoming a principal wife is absolutely impossible!

Jia Mu pondered silently in her heart, yet her expression remained unchanged!

As for this wicked grandson's marriage, she couldn't be bothered to meddle; let him marry whoever he wants, as long as it doesn't interfere with her plan to pair the two jades!

Beside her, Xiang Yun at this moment was cracking melon seeds, watching Daiyu's silver teeth biting her pink lips, her face slightly sunk, appearing thoughtful.

She turned her eyes, pulled Daiyu's bare hand, brought it to her ear, and whispered jokingly:

"Older Sister Lin, Baichai's words are reasonable and well‑grounded; it seems her wisdom and insight are not inferior to yours! What do you think?"

Daiyu clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her smoky brows slightly raised, and her tearful yet not quite tearful eyes gave Xiang Yun a sideways glance.

She then covered her mouth with the handkerchief and let out a low laugh, that laugh carrying a hint of elusive chill:

"Hehe! Your older sister Baichai is naturally dignified and courteous; how could someone like me, a petty‑tempered weed‑like person, ever compare?"

Daiyu's tone carried a touch of self‑mockery, emphasizing the four words "dignified and courteous," as if light wind and thin clouds.

Yet the fleeting loneliness in her gaze still didn't escape Shi Xiangyun's eyes, making Xiang Yun's smile turn a bit more strange.

Because of Baichai's remarks, everyone in the hall had their own thoughts, and for a moment it fell into an eerily quiet hush.

Meanwhile Baichai sat in her chair, eyes lowered, cheeks slightly warm, facing scrutiny from all directions!

Especially the gaze Jia Jing cast upon her made her feel somewhat uneasy.

"Third brother, could I have said something wrong?" Baichai blushed, lifted her gaze to Jia Jing, and asked softly.

She didn't really care what others thought; she only cared about how Jia Jing viewed her.

Even before Jia Jing returned home, she had resolved to seize her own happiness by taking the initiative when he came back.

Jia Jing suited her ideal in every way—status, beliefs, talent, looks—and if she let such a fine man slip away, she would regret it forever.

Jia Jing fell silent for a moment, staring at the girl's faintly flushed, snow-white pretty face, gave a slight nod, and then spoke slowly.

"Miss Xue is learned and knowledgeable; you're absolutely right!"

The moment Jia Jing spoke, everyone's attention that had been on Xue Baichai snapped to him.

Especially that one glance—sly, lively, and deep, with lustrous dark eyes—seemed especially sharp and blazing.