Chapter 467: Baichai: If Brother likes it, Sister is also willing…

Under the banyan tree by the pond of Hui Fang Yuan,

Jia Jing embraced Baichai, whose jade-like face was slightly flushed and lovely, a cool fragrance assailing his nostrils; as he lowered his head, his gaze fell upon her smooth, jade-like neck.

Only see a silk cord tied around her neck, setting off that patch of skin even more lustrous like snow; clearly the green jade tablet he had given her last time is being worn.

The youth's slightly warm voice sounded in the girl's ear:

"Is that green jade tablet you've been wearing still convenient, or does it feel a bit heavy?"

The tablet's texture is fine; compared to ordinary ornaments it's a bit heavy, of course, still not as heavy as a gold lock!

Baichai lowered her head further, her pearl teeth biting her lower lip, her voice as faint as a mosquito:

"Since Brother gave it to me, I have never taken it off; each morning when I dress, the first thing I do is put it on."

She paused, her voice growing even softer:

"Wearing it, I feel Brother is near, and my heart inexplicably feels more at ease!"

This is the art of speech: Jia Jing asked whether it was heavy, Baichai did not answer about weight but said she inexplicably felt reassured, using the object to allude to the person, a double entendre.

Jia Jing looked at the bashful, slightly timid Baichai, gave a light laugh, and spoke gently:

"Wearing it is fine! I notice you usually don't like to wear jewelry, and your clothes are often half-new, half-old. This outfit, if I recall correctly, is the same silver-mink-fur half-sleeve you wore when I saw you at Rong Qing Tang last time."

Baichai has always been externally simple, her attire plain,

Recently, because of him, she only applies a little rouge and adds a pair of ruby earrings when they meet.

Hearing Jia Jing's words, Baichai blinked slightly, then lowered her head, pressed her lips and smiled faintly; that smile was light, like a ripple stirred by wind on the pond, fleeting.

Obviously, she felt a touch of delight that Jia Jing remembered her previous attire.

"I really haven't cared much for these things before. This half-sleeve was made the year before last; the material is good, I've only worn it three or four times, and it would be a waste to discard it, so I keep wearing it."

Baichai raised her hand to tidy a stray lock of hair blown loose by the evening breeze, then spoke softly:

"As for ornaments, Mother does have new ones made for me every year; just this spring she sent several sets of red-gold headgear, plus the award from the palace ladies last time, and Third Sister also gave me a box of southern pearls, each the size of a fingertip."

"But I find those things heavy when worn, they jingle when I walk, really inconvenient, so I've put them all away!"

She paused, lifted her clear, lustrous apricot eyes to glance at Jia Jing; her gaze held a hint of probing, and also a deeply hidden shyness.

"However, if Third Brother likes me to wear more and adorn myself, I am also willing to prepare..."

"That's fine." Jia Jing cut her off, his tone calm yet revealing a broad-minded, tolerant attitude:

"Heavy or light makeup is always appropriate; Sister, you are naturally beautiful, so you don't need these externals to enhance you! Moreover... I don't want you to change yourself deliberately for my sake, making yourself uncomfortable in what you wear!"

Baichai, hearing this, lowered her apricot eyes slightly, pondering the words "naturally beautiful" and "I don't want you to make yourself uncomfortable for my sake"; waves of joy rose in her heart, and she spoke softly:

"Brother treats me so well; how could I not be willing... to please myself and delight my lord!"

If Jia Jing truly liked her to dress up, she would naturally be happy to add more adornment to her appearance!

Frankly speaking, Baichai actually finds it somewhat hard to discern Jia Jing's preferences.

If one said he liked lavish dress, that isn't entirely true, for he hasn't even glanced twice at any heavily made-up, jeweled ladies in the mansion, such as Feng Jie!

If one said he disliked it, today he happens to bring up this very topic.

Jia Jing sensed the sentiment in Baichai's words and pondered.

He is not saying he dislikes women dressing in splendid, bright, vivid attire,

but as he just said, light or heavy makeup is always appropriate; the key is not whether it's heavy or light, lavish or plain, but the word "appropriate"!

In short: the attire that suits oneself is best!

And Baichai's floral signature in the original work is a peony, inscribed "Radiant Crown of All Flowers," which seems to contain the word "gorgeous," appearing to contradict her usual plain attire,

but don't forget her self-reflection in the poem "Ode to the White Hawthorn": "Only when the pale is extreme does one know the flower is more gorgeous; with much sorrow, how can jade be flawless?"

That is to say, her gorgeousness is not the worldly gorgeousness of lavish dress, nor is it a piled-up intensity; it is the grace and charm that emanates from within after all worldly adornment is shed.

Her beauty is "cool fragrance," "crystalline snow," "mountain recluse"; these images also clash with the frivolous, outward display of lavish dress.

Moreover, Baichai's core principle in conduct is "to conceal foolishness and preserve simplicity."

She dislikes being the center of attention, dislikes attracting gazes, and lavish dress is precisely what draws the most attention, which would certainly make her feel ill at ease.

Jia Jing thought it over, then mused:

"The propriety of outward attire lies not in being lavish or costly, but in being appropriate and fitting."

"Sister's lips are red without dye, brows green without pigment; like a lotus in clear water, naturally unadorned, plus her dignified, inwardly restrained character, she needs no excessive ornate adornment, otherwise it would obscure her innate warm, serene inner charm."

Having said that, Jia Jing paused, then shifted his tone:

"However... I heard from Xiangling that your room has hardly any furnishings; even the desk lacks a vase, and the display shelf is empty—this seems overly austere!"

Baichai's room, as recorded in the original, is like a snow cave, utterly devoid of ornaments; on the desk stands only a Ding ware bottle holding a few chrysanthemum stems, plus two books, a tea set and tea cup; the bed is hung with a plain green gauze canopy, and the bedding is very simple.

The so-called Ding ware bottle is a rough product of the Ding kiln, far inferior to the fine porcelain of official, Ge, and Ru kilns.

Baichai, hearing this, first smiled, then carefully considered Jia Jing's intention, and explained gently:

"Those things were not originally what I used; when we set out from Jinling to the capital, Mother feared our lodging would be shabby and invite ridicule, so she picked several chests of gold and silver ware to bring along."

"After arriving here, I felt displaying them would be too ostentatious, so I kept only a few items for daily use and had Ying Er store the rest in the warehouse."

Saying this, she lightly shook her head, her tone tinged with a bit of self-mockery yet without the slightest resentment, and continued:

"Mother often says I don't resemble a lady from a wealthy household, but rather the daughter of a humble scholar; I find this comfortable. With fewer things in the room, my mind is also clear."

"Those gold and silver antiquities, filling a room, would become a burden to look at day after day."

Jia Jing, hearing this, understood that Baichai was deliberately restraining the natural inclination of a young maiden, and chuckled:

"Sister, you have the air of a high-minded recluse who has renounced material desires, seeks inward, and is contentedly self-sufficient!"

"However, simplicity does not mean crudeness. Later I will have Xiangling send you a few items, not mere flashy decorations."

"I have a small bronze censer from a former dynasty, just right to place on the desk for incense; also a few pieces of Lingbi stone, thin, wrinkled, perforated, which look fine on the display shelf; and an ink-stain frozen stone ding..."

Speaking, he laughed and asked Baichai:

"What I send you, do you still find it showy or burdensome?"

Baichai's pear‑blossom‑white pretty face bore a pink flush, yet she was not shy, smiling softly and saying:

"Since it was given by my older brother, of course I don't mind…"

Afterwards the two did not keep holding each other; they talked while continuing to stroll slowly along the pond edge.

The dusk grew deeper, and the last few streaks of afterglow at the horizon slowly sank behind the distant mountains; the pond surface reflected the two lanterns hanging from the pavilion eaves, their red light breaking into fragments on the ripples, like a handful of stars scattered.

When they reached a small pavilion and saw that night was falling, Baichai suddenly asked:

"The Prime Minister's Military Affairs Office was just established today, overseeing all military affairs of the realm. After tomorrow's birthday banquet, will my older brother become even busier…?"

Thinking that after today they might not meet for an unknown length of time, Baichai felt undeniably very reluctant to part.

Jia Jing's gaze fell on the reflections of those lanterns, broken by the pond ripples, and in a low but clear voice he said gravely:

"Indeed! The court's grand plan to reorganize the army has already begun. The first task is to audit the military farms in the capital region; this is the primary affair of the newly founded Prime Minister's Military Affairs Office, and I intend to seize more of it."

"Moreover, military affairs across the nation must be quickly taken up and familiarized with; there will certainly be a period of intense busyness!"

"Fortunately, unlike before when I commanded the Twelve Regiments and had to stay stationed at the camp for a long time, now after finishing the day's work at the office, I can return to the residence to rest in the evenings."

"If my younger sister misses me, she may come in the evening, hmm… just as today, using the pretext of matters concerning Wang Ziteng!"

It must be said, Wang Ziteng's imprisonment has given Baichai a proper excuse to come to Dong Fu at any time!

Just as Daiyu uses the pretext of her father Lin Ruhai, Baichai can also use the pretext of inquiring about her uncle Wang Ziteng's whereabouts!

Of course, Wang Ziteng does not have much time left, so this pretext won't last long!

However, the Empress's side is already arranging a marriage for him; when the time comes, they can find an opportunity to submit Baichai's and Daiyu's names, giving them a respectable standing in the imperial family,

regardless of whether the outcome is favorable or not, at least future interactions will be much more convenient, and it won't jeopardize their reputations!

Baichai smiled faintly at the thought, but meeting secretly under her uncle's name seemed somewhat improper, didn't it?!

Her gentle almond eyes, like warm water, met the young man's warm gaze beside her; after a moment's stare, her curved lashes fluttered down as she hesitantly said:

"Uncle, this time…"

After all, he is a maternal uncle; taking advantage of Jia Jing's mention of Wang Ziteng, Baichai also wants to ask about the subsequent handling!

Of course, she knows Jia Jing is always clear about separating public and private matters; having heard him readjust the relations among the four great families yesterday, she harbored no hope of pleading, only to ask, having a rough idea in mind.

Jia Jing's expression grew solemn, and he said:

"The emperor's word is golden and jade; if he truly covets it, the only thing I can do is let him bear a lighter punishment."

A lighter punishment naturally means a sudden death in prison, not being kept alive to be skinned and fed to the grass!

Baichai lifted her plump, fair, smooth face, her slightly chubby cheeks lit by the candlelight, becoming even more radiant, and she sighed softly, saying:

"I heard mother speak of uncle's affairs; this time it seems difficult…"

The implication, of course, is that the ill‑gotten silver has an improper origin!

Jia Jing said:

"Even if it truly was taken, it will take some time to investigate thoroughly! Go back and tell Aunt, so she need not go around seeking connections to rescue Wang Ziteng; this is an imperial decree, and no one can overturn it!"

"Especially, remember this lesson; don't fall into the same trap twice, letting the silver end up in someone's accounts again!"

The Wang Ziteng affair should also be able to curb the bribery among officials, serving as a warning to many; in that sense, it is not entirely a bad thing!

Baichai nodded, seeing that Jia Jing seemed unwilling to continue the discussion, she lifted her beautiful face and turned to say:

"There is another matter I wish to ask your opinion on, brother! Recently someone suggested a marriage alliance for my elder brother with the imperial merchant Xia family, who are nominally attached to the Ministry of Revenue. My brother is now of suitable age, and my mother, having heard that they are talented and handsome, wants to secure the match quickly."

"But I feel that Shenjing is currently unsettled; you said yesterday that it is not appropriate to arrange a marriage now, and I am somewhat worried!"

Jia Jing fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, not having expected that Xue Pan could not escape this marriage proposal.

The so‑called imperial merchant Xia family naturally refers to Xia Jinguo,

After all, there is only this one widowed daughter in her family; perhaps Aunt Xue chose her precisely because of the huge inheritance her family will later inherit.

However, this woman, pampered and spoiled, talented but without virtue, is a 'family‑disturbing star' embodying arrogance, jealousy, ruthlessness, and frivolity.

In the original work, after Xia Jinguo entered the Xue Family, she quickly threw the household into chaos.

Aunt Xue was so angry that her left side ached, yet she could do nothing about her.

When they tried to discipline her, she retorted, "Our family's daughters are not made concubines. Though I am young, I manage household affairs; I am not like the girls in your mansion, merely eating ready‑made meals."

Even Aunt Xue, the head of the household, could not control her; she paid even less heed to her younger sister‑in‑law Baichai. However, Baichai, adapting to each situation and subtly pressuring her with words, managed to curb her somewhat.

Yet even so, she spoke ill of Baichai behind her back, calling her 'squeezed out of vinegar juice'.

Nevertheless, the most striking aspect in the original work is her bullying of Xiangling:

Xiangling, originally named Zhen Yinglian, was seized by Xue Pan and renamed Xiangling.

When Xia Jinguo arrived, she said "Who can smell the fragrance of the water‑chestnut flower?", forcibly renamed her "Qiu Ling", stripping her of her original identity.

At the same time, she feigned illness to frame Xiangling, having the maid Xiao She'er summon Xue Pan into her room, then deliberately exposing a flaw before Xiangling, luring her to disrupt Xue Pan's 'affair', which enraged Xue Pan into beating Xiangling viciously.

She even hid a paper doll with needles inside a pillow, pretended to be ill, and framed Xiangling for a 'nightmare spell', intending to kill her.

As for her frequent use of vulgar slurs toward Xiangling—calling her 'grabby flirt', 'promiscuous woman', and countless other filthy epithets—there were countless instances.

In short, she is someone who "loves herself as a bodhisattva while despising others as filth; outwardly graceful like flowers and willows, inwardly bearing the temperament of thunder", possessing a "Daozhi temperament", both fierce and jealous and promiscuous—a "He Dong Lion"—far from a suitable match.

Jia Jing glanced at Baichai, whose jade‑like face bore a worried expression, and said slowly:

"Regarding this matter, perhaps you could investigate further…"

Even though when Xue Pan is imprisoned, this matter will probably be settled. However, since Baichai asked, Jia Jing naturally does not hesitate to remind her!

Just as Jia Jing was about to continue speaking about Xia Jinguo, a series of soft, coquettish voices came from the corner of the artificial rock near the small pavilion:

"Ah! Lord Guogong…"

"Greetings, Lord Guogong!" (repeated twice)

"Uncle…"