Chapter 366: Damned Second Master Bao!

In Rong Qing Tang, Madam Wang is speaking softly with Jia Mu about Baoyu's schooling, constantly mentioning how hard and tiring it is, how he often gets beaten, and so on.

Beside them, Yuan Chun intermittently retorts, clearly stating she firmly disagrees with Madam Wang's idea of letting Baoyu return home to study.

Jia Mu listens to their opposing words, her aged face showing entanglement and difficulty.

Emotionally, she naturally also feels heartache for Jia Baoyu and wants him to come back to study.

But logically, she knows Yuan Chun truly cares about Baoyu's future; studying martial arts at the clan academy is certainly better than at home.

While Jia Mu is handling the dominoes with Xue Yima and others, and chatting with Madam Wang and Yuan Chun,

the huge commotion from the side room finally reaches their ears, especially Baoyu's loud roar, which startles them.

Jia Mu's hoarse voice urgently commands the maid behind her, Yuan Yang:

"I hear it seems the room is making trouble again; go quickly and see what's happening!"

Though startled, Jia Mu thinks it's just ordinary bickering and tells Yuan Yang to check first.

At this moment, Madam Wang's usually bright face shows a hint of gloom; she doesn't need to think to know it's that little‑tempered Lin girl provoking her Baoyu again.

Only she always opposes her own Baoyu; the other maids would never dare defy Baoyu's wishes!

That sharp‑tongued, whiny Lin girl, like her mother who died early, is a troublemaker!

From childhood to now, she doesn't know how many times she's quarreled with Baoyu!

Such a maid without virtue, and the matriarch still wants her to become Baoyu's wife—simply blind‑hearted!

As long as she's around, she'll never think of entering her own household.

Xue Yima, seated to Jia Mu's left, also shows a slight change in expression upon hearing the noise, feeling uneasy.

Her own Baoyu's maid is now inside; could something happen?

Thinking this, she stands up and laughs:

"Madam, let's go in and see! I hear the noise is loud; we don't want any trouble!"

Feng Jie's phoenix‑shaped eyes under her willow‑like brows blink, her expression oddly unfamiliar; she seems to have heard a crisp sound of jade or stone striking the ground inside, very familiar!

Could it be Baoyu again… smashing jade?

It shouldn't be, right?!

Last year Baoyu smashed jade, causing a huge uproar.

Not only did he get beaten, but his mother and the matriarch were scolded by the third brother, and over a hundred servants in the mansion were killed or injured—hasn't he learned?

Moreover… even I was implicated that day, losing… the steward's authority!

At this thought, Feng Jie's phoenix eyes flash a cold light, her gaze casually sweeping over Madam Wang.

As Jia Mu, Madam Wang and others stand up, Yuan Yang has already rushed back from the side room.

Her snow‑white duck‑egg face bears a startled hue and a trace of unhidden worry, reporting to Jia Mu:

"Madam, Second Master Bao has again broken the jade on his neck, and Miss Lin is crying!"

This is truly a bad omen, exactly like last year's scene; I wonder what the Prince of the State would do if he learns!

Yuan Yang's voice in Rong Qing Tang sounds like the cold wind of the ninth winter, turning everyone's complexion.

Even the maids and old women busy in Rong Qing Tang stop their work, suddenly feeling their limbs cold, daring not to breathe!

Damn this… Second Master Bao!

How did it erupt again? This time it won't involve us, right?

Jia Mu's heart suddenly sinks, she cries urgently:

"Why does he keep smashing jade out of nowhere? Didn't we tell Baoyu not to smash that vital piece when playing with the sisters?"

In fact, not only Jia Mu felt a jolt, but Madam Wang also became chilled all over at once!

She seems to recall again that voice, "Foolish woman, shut up!"

Back then the eldest secondary son was only a third‑rank attendant yet dared to act like a commander, cursing himself; now he's a first‑rank Prince of the State with overwhelming power!

Yuan Chun's graceful, dignified pretty face also turned pale; she likewise knows last year's incident in great detail,

having heard that the third brother thundered then, wondering what to do now!

It must be said, Jia Jing still wields great intimidation over Jia Mu and the others,

so that upon hearing Baoyu's jade‑smashing, Jia Mu and the others first consider the consequences rather than Baoyu's wellbeing!

Jia Mu's expression shifts rapidly several times, but concern for Baoyu still outweighs fear of Jia Jing, and she urges:

"Come, come! Let's go quickly; their childish quarrel is just petty, why smash that vital piece!"

Regardless, Jia Mu first classifies the incident as a mere childish spat!

Madam Wang also pushes down the unease rising in her heart; worry for Baoyu instantly occupies the high ground of her mind, and she says urgently:

"My Baoyu… must not have any trouble!"

Feng Jie, listening nearby, slightly narrows her phoenix eyes, a smile curling her mouth; she hadn't expected Baoyu to smash jade again, now a good show awaits!

Xue Yima's usually pure face also shows alarm; she personally experienced last year's jade‑smashing drama, how could it happen again?

This Baoyu's childish temperament, willful and reckless, is rather… chaotic!

When Jia Mu, Madam Wang, Xue Yima, Yuan Chun and others hurriedly pull aside the curtains to enter the side room,

they see the people inside gathered, with Sheyue, Xiren and several of Baoyu's maids kneeling on the ground searching for something.

Baoyu at this moment seems lost of soul, stupidly standing still, his gaze blankly fixed on Daiyu,

saying nothing, his chubby black face shedding tears silently.

Opposite him, Daiyu also looks pale, eyes rimmed red, with fresh tear stains on her face; Xiang Yun, Baichai and a few others whisper comfort around her.

Jia Mu and Madam Wang, seeing Baoyu's condition, jump in their hearts, instantly unable to care for anything else, and rush quickly into the room.

Jia Mu reaches Baoyu first, pulls his arm, but sees he doesn't move a hair, and cries urgently:

"My Baoyu, my heart, are you okay? What happened to you? Don't scare me!"

Lady Wang, pulling Baoyu's other arm, found she could not budge him at all; her heart sank, and in a panicked, hurried voice she said:

"Baoyu, my Baoyu, you must not have any trouble; if you have trouble, how could I, your mother, survive!"

Jia Mu, while caressing Baoyu and calling to him with heartfelt affection, heard Xiren report that Baoyu was missing; her heart pounded, and she said to the people in the side room:

"What are you all just standing there doing? Find Baoyu, find Baoyu! That's Baoyu's lifeline…"

At Jia Mu's order, the side room instantly became a chaotic mess.

Xiren lay on the floor, lifted the edge of the carpet, and stuck her head under the chair, her head almost pressed to the ground.

Sheyue knelt at the cabinet, pulling each drawer out, turning them completely upside down.

Qiuwen crawled under the couch, her skirt dusted with ash, her hair in disarray, and she could not bother to fix it.

A few young maids held lanterns, moving them around the wall corner, behind the door, under the flower trellis, their shadows wavering on the wall in a tangled mass.

"Found it yet?" Jia Mu's voice was urgent and shrill.