Chapter 499: Jia Mu: I Dreamed an Ox Came!

It truly is absurd, that the son is fraternizing with his father's concubine; if it weren't for our own eldest son being out of his senses, Jia Lian would have a lot of trouble…

Nevertheless, regardless, Jia Mu still intends to have the couple exchange some gentle words, to smooth things over!

Feng Jie lowered her eyes, her expression a little indifferent; she has now seen clearly what kind of men the household has, and she has no expectation of any courtesy, so she said softly:

"Old lady, in my view what you said isn't entirely correct! What's this 'in a man's house, which cat doesn't steal a bite'? The other families may be fine, but you only look at the third brother."

"What high an office does he hold now? The splendor of Shenjing is said to be monopolized by him alone; his power, his age, his appearance—what isn't attractive? If he were merely a gluttonous cat, wouldn't the girls outside line up to rush to Dong Fu?"

"But look, when has he ever caused such messy trouble? When he returns to the mansion, he either goes to the yamen to handle affairs, or he manages official business at home, not even glancing at the maids."

"In my opinion, that saying 'all cats steal a bite' presupposes a cat first! But the third brother is not a cat; he is a tiger."

"His vision is lofty; his mind is filled with matters of the nation. The filthy, stinky concerns of others cannot enter his sight. Unlike some men who are already a heap of rotten mud, yet still crawl into the cesspit."

The remarks were both witty and sharp, half praising Jia Jing, half scolding Jia Lian, with a hint of veiled criticism.

Jia Mu knew she was angry, let her vent, and did not retort, merely holding a cup of tea and sipping slowly.

Auntie Xue was the best at joining in the fun; hearing this, she quickly smiled and said:

"Feng girl, your mouth is truly sharp and keen, yet the words are coarse but not without sense."

"Strangely enough, at Jia Jing's age he should be at the stage of soft eyes and weak bones, yet he was born with a demeanor of pure heart and few desires, appearing more composed than many older men."

"In my view, this is not only high ambition but also good virtue. Such a character is hard to find a second of in all of Shenjing, even under lantern light. When a girl eventually marries him, that will truly be a blessing cultivated from a past life."

While speaking, Auntie Xue's gaze drifted lightly toward Baichai, then quickly withdrew!

Hmm! Our own daughter was born with blessings!

Mrs. Xing had been silent until now; hearing Auntie Xue praise Jia Jing and sensing hidden meaning, she perked up, leaned toward Jia Mu, and said with a smile:

"Auntie is absolutely right! My Jia Jing's talent and bearing are such that, not to mention Shenjing, even the whole Da Han Empire could scarcely find a few alike."

"From what I hear, he spends every day either busy with official duties or studying and practicing martial arts; the household's troublesome matters he handles very properly."

"A man with such promise and who can keep the family in order truly must be the result of ancestral virtue."

Mrs. Xing, as if activating a passive skill, began to lavish praise on Jia Jing!

Jia Mu forced a dry laugh twice, somewhat speechless, not wanting to join the flattery at all, scanned the courtyard with her gaze, then asked:

"Feng girl, where is Xiuyan? On this Mid‑Autumn day, why isn't she here? Could she have gone home to reunite with her parents?"

Jia Mu had a fondness for Xing Xiuyan, a quiet and well‑behaved maid who was usually obedient and taciturn; not seeing her today, she asked casually.

Feng Jie heard this, glanced toward Longcui Nunnery, and replied with a smile:

"She went to see Master Miaoyu of Longcui Nunnery; she said Master Miaoyu lives alone and the Mid‑Autumn Festival is rather lonely, so she went to keep her company and chat."

"They had met back in Suzhou; apparently they were neighbors, and Master Miaoyu even taught Xiuyan how to read!"

Jia Mu nodded, as if recalling something, and after a moment said:

"Since that's the case, why not invite Master Miaoyu here as well? Even a monk is a person; on the Mid‑Autumn Festival one shouldn't stay cooped up all the time."

"It happens that my mind has been unsettled these past two days; I'd like her to come and offer some counsel."

Upon hearing Feng Jie mention Miaoyu, Jia Mu suddenly recalled the strange dream she had last night, and thought it would be perfect to invite Miaoyu to interpret it!

Feng Jie responded with a nod and hurriedly ordered two matronly women to fetch lanterns and go invite her.

In less than half a incense stick's time, Xing Xiuyan arrived with Miaoyu, one after the other, entering the courtyard.

Miaoyu wore a moon‑white crane‑silk Dao robe, its collar revealing a plain white neckline; a very thin azure cord was tied at her waist, and she bore no jewelry, her long hair piled high on her head, secured with a jade‑green hairpin.

Moonlight fell upon her, making her figure as slender as bamboo, as if she could melt into the watery moon‑glow at any moment.

Her complexion was extremely pale, her brows and eyes cold and detached, lips bearing only a faint hint of color; her gait was light and unhurried, exuding an otherworldly aura hard for ordinary people to approach.

"Poor nun has met the old lady!"

Jia Mu quickly sat upright and smiled:

"Master Miaoyu, no need for formalities; this Mid‑Autumn day, with you free, I boldly invite you—first, for us to chat together."

"Second, I had a strange dream last night that left me uneasy; I wish to ask you to interpret it a bit."

Miaoyu was momentarily stunned; after all, she is a tonsured practitioner, skilled in tea ceremony, occasional meditation, chess and philosophy, but interpreting dreams…

However, coming from an official family and accustomed to the social dealings of the powerful, she knew a thing or two of divination, and thus pressed her palms together and said:

"Please speak, old lady; I will do my best!"

Jia Mu pondered, recalling as she slowly said:

"Last night I dreamed of a yellow ox, with a full moon perched on its back, coming from the southeast toward me; it stepped on and broke a withered branch extending southward, let out a long cry to the heavens, and as I was startled, I woke up."

"After waking, I felt uneasy; the outside world is now unsettled, the Prince of Nanan in the court is stirring up a purge of the ruler's side, which concerns my family's third grandson. Though I'm not fully aware of the details, my heart is tight with worry! Could this dream be an omen?"

When Jia Mu said this, the girls who had been playing stopped, turning to look this way.

Xiang Yun set down the pen she was holding, leaned toward Daiyu's ear, and whispered something.

Yuan Chun, Yingchun and the others also put aside their tasks and looked up at Jia Mu.

The atmosphere in the courtyard grew a few moments quieter because of the words "strange dream" and "purge of the ruler's side."

Miaoyu remained silent for a while, then mused, "Dream of an ox arriving? …"

She paused, pressed her lips together, and said:

"In my view, old lady, this dream is a great auspicious sign; the ox symbolizes the state, the virtue of earth, its yellow color further denotes a central guardian protecting the capital."

"The ox bearing the moon, the moon full at Mid‑Autumn, signifies a propitious month shining in the sky, the four directions clear; the withered branch breaking toward the south indicates the south cutting itself off."

"Old lady need not worry; in my reading, within these days a joyful message may arrive, and the ox that can carry the moon shines upon you, suggesting a person of state who can relieve your worries."

Miaoyu attempted to interpret using the astrology taught by her own master; whether accurate or not, she had a ready explanation.

Jia Mu listened attentively, her expression gradually relaxed, and she smiled:

"Master Miaoyu, are you just picking pleasant words to cheer up this old woman?"

She said that, yet she was already relaxed, turned and ordered Yuanyang to fetch the string of sandalwood beads that had been awarded in the palace a few days earlier, to present to Miaoyu.

But before the words finished, a distant clamor came from the direction of Rong Guo Mansion's front gate.

Not long after, a servant woman rushed into the back courtyard, out of breath, shouting:

"Granny! Third Miss! A great victory! A great victory! The court scored a great victory at Jizhou! Prince Nan'an was taken alive…"

The whole courtyard fell silent at first.

Then, some unknown maid let out a "ya", and immediately the whole courtyard erupted in an uproar.

Jia Mu's face broke into a delighted smile, and she exclaimed in surprise:

"It... is this miraculous, this ox... is indeed an auspicious sign, Master Miaoyu's divine calculations!"

Beside her, Lady Wang's eyes flickered upon hearing that.