Chapter 347: Baichai: The Lin girl won't follow… last night's old story?

Lady Wang's hand holding the prayer beads paused; she actually didn't care how the Yu and Qin families were!

Especially that Qin lady, she looks like a fox spirit; I heard our Baoyu once was in her room…

In short, just looking at her is not good!

At this moment, Lady Wang, thinking of the Qin and Yu families' return to the clan and remarriage, was reminded of Yuan Chun's marriage!

Speaking of which, our eldest daughter has been back from the palace for some days now; seeing her grow older day by day, it's also time to properly consider her marriage!

I heard my sister-in-law sent someone this morning to say she found a heavenly good match for Yuan Chun, but I don't know the specifics.

The marriage of our eldest daughter concerns Baoyu's future prospects; it absolutely cannot be taken lightly!

Just as the hall was silent, Jia Mu's face sank slightly, she frowned and spoke to Jia Jing in an unhappy tone:

"Fine, fine, fine! You are now the head of the clan; clan affairs are yours to handle as you wish! Do as you like, this old lady can't control you!"

"But I also want to remind you, don't keep saying that observing chastity is a wicked thing; it somewhat offends those outside scholar-officials of the pure stream, and it harms your reputation!"

Now Jia Mu has become somewhat numb to Jia Jing's reproaches,

After all, if you think about it carefully, this wicked third grandson, ever since he enfeoffed himself as a marquis, has never failed to make me suffer his anger whenever we meet!

Moreover, this third grandson is different from that foolish Xie clan egg; every time he speaks he has reason on his side, making it hard for her to retort when he scolds her!

But it doesn't matter anymore!

Taking a step back opens up vast skies; there's no need to quarrel with this unfilial scoundrel!

Actually,

Speaking from personal feelings, Jia Mu never truly wanted Qin Keqing and the Yu lady to remain widowed at such a young age.

Her previous considerations were more from the clan's interest perspective, fearing gossip from the clan members!

Now, since Jia Jing is willing to step forward and make this decision, she naturally went along with it!

However, in her view, even if Yu and Qin were given the right to choose freely, they probably wouldn't choose to return to the clan and remarry.

First, after all, the Dong mansion just had an incident; if they rushed to remarry immediately, wouldn't that invite gossip!

Second, the Yu family has a greedy, materialistic stepmother; remarrying might not be better than staying chaste, and staying in the Dong mansion still retains some dignity.

Moreover, Qin's father is also a civil official who values reputation; he likely wouldn't want his daughter to remarry, lest it disgrace the family gate!

Jia Jing listened to Jia Mu's admonitions, his face remained calm and composed, and he said in a deep voice:

"Old lady, you overthink! Among the scholar-officials who truly study and understand principles, they may not truly believe in this set of ritual rules; they also have wives, daughters, sisters—how could they not consider their own kin!"

"Those who promote this doctrine are mostly selfish people who have read but not understood the teachings!"

"They force women to observe chastity or even die for it, calling them 'chaste and heroic women' in name only, merely to boost their own political achievements and gain a good reputation!"

"As for such hypocritical villains, why bother with their yelping? They're nothing but jumping clowns!"

Actually speaking, the prevalence of ritual teachings is indeed related to the system of the Great Han court.

The Han founder once issued an edict: "Commoner widows, if widowed before thirty they must observe mourning; if after fifty they do not change their conduct, they will be honored with a plaque at their gate and exempted from household corvée."

This is the first ever special decree in history issued to reward chastity.

The court, through erecting chastity arches, building shrines to heroic women, bestowing "imperial decrees," etc., rewarded chaste women and recorded their names and deeds in local gazettes' "Biographies of Chaste Women."

Actually, the court's policy originally had good intentions; at least it played a protective role for chaste women.

However, any policy has loopholes to exploit; when observing chastity becomes a profitable venture, the executors below are prone to distortion!

Thus many ulterior‑motive people, under the banner of ritual teachings, actually carry out schemes that harm others for self‑gain and persecute women!

Just as today Emperor Jing Sheng seeks reform to strengthen the state, many officials oppose it under the banner of "ancestral statutes must not be violated"—are they truly upholding the ancestral statutes?

They have always upheld only those ancestral statutes that benefit themselves or their own class!

Like the ancestral statutes "peeling skin and eating raw grass" or "direct execution for embezzling sixty taels"—they turn a blind eye to those!

Jia Mu saw that her well‑meaning advice was not accepted by Jia Jing; her aged face full of helplessness, she sighed and spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Good, good, good! You're brilliant! You're amazing! Everything you say is right! I won't argue with you about these big principles."

"I'm tired; hurry back and attend to your affairs, don't waste time here with this old lady!"

Jia Jing, hearing that, said nothing more, immediately greeted everyone, rose and took his leave.

Baichai, seeing this, flashed her almond eyes; she wanted to follow but had no suitable reason at the moment.

Although she and Jia Jing have plighted their troth, at present they have no name or status, so it's naturally improper to show it in public.

Just as she hesitated, Daiyu rose, her autumn‑water eyes shimmering, and lightly laughed to Jia Mu:

"Grandmother, I'll go back as well! My father wrote a letter to Third Brother a few days ago; I forgot to bring it to him yesterday!"

Jia Mu, hearing that, showed a hint of smile, nodded and said:

"Jade child, go!"

Daiyu then bade farewell to everyone, taking Zijin and Xueyan, and closely followed Jia Jing as they left!

Baichai watched the two figures gradually disappear with a slightly solemn expression, her heart sinking a little: "Will this Lin girl not follow my own past affair from last night……"

On the covered walkway, Daiyu stepped lightly to catch up with Jia Jing, speaking softly:

"Third Brother, my father sent a letter from Yangzhou a few days ago, one of them is for you! I placed it in my room!"

Jia Jing, sensing a faint fragrance different from cold incense pills drifting from his nose, gazing at Daiyu's picture‑perfect brows and eyes, said thoughtfully:

"Then let's go to Lin sister's courtyard! I also happen to want to find a chance to speak with Lin sister."

Daiyu's pretty face blushed slightly, her jade‑like skin tinged with hints of scarlet, her gentle, water‑like eyes holding a hint of joy, she spoke softly:

"Will I not delay Third Brother's proper business?"

Just now Aunt Xiang Yun said that this afternoon someone also wants to visit Third Brother.

Jia Jing pondered for a moment, then said:

"It's fine, just sit awhile!"

As they spoke, they walked slowly south along the covered walkway toward Daiyu's little courtyard.

The afternoon sun slanted across the eaves of Rong Qing Tang, and the banana leaves in the courtyard were baked until their edges curled, the leaves drooping like a person who hasn't woken up.

The wind came from beyond the flower wall, carrying the sweet scent of tuberose, soft, brushing the face as if someone had gently touched it.

The covered corridor was long, sunlight leaked through the gaps between the columns, drawing a pattern of light‑and‑shadow squares on the floor.

Jia Jing walked ahead, Daiyu lagged half a step behind, neither hurried nor slow; the moon‑white padded coat flickered in the light and shadow, like a cloud being blown away.

Their shadows fell on the blue‑brick ground, one ahead of the other, lying very close together.

Zi Juan then held the little girl Xueyan back, preventing her from stepping forward and disturbing the two's conversation.