The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 451 Jia Zheng summons
Grandmother Jia was obviously very happy to receive the white crabapple from Jia Huan, and she ordered, "Yuanyang, I remember there are a few bottles of imperial osmanthus dew and rose dew in the room. You can take one bottle of each to Ping'er to take back. It's rare that Huan'er is so filial, let him have a taste too. Hmm... take another bottle of each to Baoyu, I know he has been craving for these two things for a long time."

Although Grandmother Jia has changed her opinion of Jia Huan, she still prefers Jia Baoyu, who was born with a jade in his mouth, more. After giving one portion to Jia Huan, she also did not forget to give one portion to her precious grandson.

Yuanyang hurriedly fetched it and handed it to Ping'er, smiling and whispering, "Madam Ping, please take it carefully. It's none of my business if it breaks. This thing is very precious."

Ping'er's pretty face suddenly felt hot. If it were in private, she would definitely tear the little mouth of Yuanyang. But she didn't dare to do so in Lady Jia's room. After taking it, she knelt down to thank Lady Jia.

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "Ping'er, now that you are Huan'er's aunt, it's not enough to just know how to be warm and cold. You have to persuade him to study hard, be kind, filial and righteous. Also, the new foreign maidservant beside Huan'er is a Western barbarian after all. She lacks etiquette and has a wild temper, like a goblin. You have to teach her how to serve the master. Huan'er is not an adult after all, don't tempt him like a greedy cat. He is still young, but you can't waste his ambition. For now, you have to focus on your studies. Do you understand?"

Ping'er blushed and lowered her head as she replied, "I know!"

"Go!" Grandmother Jia waved her hand.

Ping'er retreated cautiously, and the cold wind helped her pretty face recover a little. Thinking of the old lady's lecture just now, she felt very ashamed. Not long ago, she and Mandalin had a foolish time with the Third Master. It seemed that she could no longer indulge that little ancestor in this regard in the future, and she had to harden her heart.

Ping'er returned to Yueweiju and saw Jia Huan sitting at the desk writing. She felt relieved. She also saw Mandarin standing aside grinding ink. She had tall long legs and an exaggerated waist-to-hip ratio. While she was grinding ink, although it was not intentional, she still swayed in a charming manner.

Ping'er couldn't help but secretly call her a slut when she saw her. She went forward and sent Mandarin to read a book, and even put a loose coat on her to cover her hot pear-shaped figure.

"Sister Ping'er, what's wrong?" Mandalin looked puzzled.

"Go read a book, or take a walk in the garden. We don't need your service here." Ping'er said as she pushed Mandarin to the outer room.

Mandalin said happily: "Then I'll go play outside for a while!"

Because of what happened at the play yesterday, Ping'er was worried that Wang Xifeng would be up to something again, so she didn't let Mandalin leave the house for the past two days. Mandalin was lively and outgoing, and she felt very uncomfortable being confined in the house. Now Sister Ping'er actually took the initiative to urge her to go out and play, which was naturally what she wanted.

"Go, but don't leave the garden!" Ping'er ordered.

Mandarin happily left the house and went to the garden to play happily.

Seeing Ping'er sending Mandalin away, Jia Huan asked curiously, "What happened?"

Ping'er's face was slightly hot, and she shook her head and said, "It's nothing, Third Master, just concentrate on your studies. Oh, by the way, I just sent flowers to the old lady, and she was very happy. She praised Third Master for his filial piety and rewarded him with a bottle of imperial osmanthus dew and nine-rose dew."

As Ping'er spoke, she happily displayed two bottles of tribute, which were placed in white porcelain bottles with cloisonné and were very exquisite.

Jia Huan smiled calmly and said, "It's just two bottles of honey. If you like it, keep it for yourself and let Mandalin have a taste too."

Ping Er shook her head and said, "This is not ordinary honey. It is specially provided for the nobles in the palace to drink. I am not so lucky as to enjoy it."

"Nonsense, now that I have it, my blessing is Sister Ping'er's blessing, just enjoy it." Jia Huan retorted.

Ping'er felt happy, fetched some warm water, carefully added some sweet osmanthus dew into the cup, stirred it thoroughly, and brought it to Jia Huan, saying softly, "Third Master, please have a taste."

Jia Huan picked it up and took a sip. It indeed tasted excellent and had a faint scent of osmanthus flowers. The tribute used by the emperor was indeed of the best quality.

"Mm, it tastes good. Sister Ping'er, you should try it too!" Jia Huan handed the cup to Ping'er, who couldn't resist and took a sip, smiling sweetly, "It's so sweet!"

"Pfft, my dear sister-in-law, what is so sweet!" Just at this moment, Jia Tanchun lifted the curtain and walked in, followed closely by the maid and the servant. Both the master and the servant had smiles on their faces.

Ping Erh's cheeks immediately flushed, she bowed and said, "Third Miss!"

Although Jia Tanchun was born out of wedlock, she had a generous and forthright personality, and was also talented in literature. Even the old lady and the wife looked at her differently. Therefore, the servants were respectful in front of her and did not dare to treat her as a concubine's daughter. Even Wang Xifeng had to give her some respect.

Jia Huan put down his pen and stood up, saying with a smile: "Third sister, you came at the right time. I just got a bottle of osmanthus dew and a bottle of rose dew. I'll give you some to take back and try."

Jia Tanchun said happily, "This is a tribute made by the emperor. It is very rare. It should be a reward from the old lady, right?" Ping'er smiled and said, "They say that the third lady is smart. Sure enough, she guessed it right. The third master has just got a few pots of white crabapples and asked me to send one to the old lady's room. Who knew that the third master was so filial that the old lady rewarded him with two bottles of imperial dew. I also got lucky."

Jia Tanchun was also happy for Jia Huan when she heard this, and smiled and said, "I also received the bottle of white crabapple flower arrangement that Brother Huan had someone send me. It's very beautiful. Brother Huan is very thoughtful. Since these two bottles of imperial dew are rewards from the old lady, you can keep them for yourself. The old lady also gave me a bottle in the past, but I thought it was too sweet, so I still put it in the cupboard without moving it."

Jia Huan heard this and did not force it, and asked Ping'er to put away the two bottles of dew. Jia Tanchun looked over the calligraphy Jia Huan had written, and seeing that it was an eight-part essay, she asked, "Did Brother Huan stay at Diecui Academy last night?"

Jia Huan nodded and said, "I have now joined Diecui Academy and will move to the academy on the ninth day of the first lunar month. The headmaster will give classes in person, and I will return home to celebrate the New Year on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month."

Jia Tanchun was a little worried at first, but then she thought that Huandi had survived the three years of mourning in the south by himself, and now that he was a few years older, it would be no problem for him to live in the academy, so she said, "That's good. There are still two months before the next spring exam. The closer we get to the final moment, the more we can't relax. I feel more relieved that Huandi can have such ambition. Next spring, my brother will definitely pass the exam."

Ping'er couldn't help showing joy when she heard this. Jia Huan smiled and said, "Thank you for your good words, sister."

Jia Tanchun reminded him, "But the weather is cold now, and there is no one to take care of you in the academy. It's not like being at home. Brother Huan, you must take good care of yourself and don't catch a cold. Also, has Brother Huan reported this to the old lady and the madam?"

"No, I will tell my wife and the old lady later."

Jia Tanchun felt relieved when she heard this. She straightened Jia Huan's collar and said reluctantly, "Brother Huan has only been home for less than a month, and he is leaving again."

Jia Huan felt a little warm in his heart and smiled, "Today is the second day of the lunar new year. We just set out on the ninth day, and we will be back on the twenty-eighth. It's only been twenty days."

Jia Tanchun clapped her hands and said, "Yes, we agreed to start a poetry club before, but Sister Bao was late. Yesterday, Sister Bao finally arrived. If it snows again in the next few days, we will start the poetry club. We can't delay any longer."

"We don't have to wait for the snow to come. We can open it whenever we want. But we're missing Sister Yun now. Before she left that day, she told us many times that if Sister Bao comes, we must invite her to join us in the poetry club," said Jia Huan.

Jia Tanchun smiled and said, "Of course, she can't be left out. This is also simple. Laba will be here soon. On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, we can bring her here to celebrate the festival in the name of the old lady. I don't think her aunt will be able to stop us."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "You guys make up your mind. Anyway, Huan'er is always available to accompany you before the ninth day of the first lunar month."

Jia Tanchun nodded and said, "I'll discuss this with my sister-in-law later."

Li Wan now also lives in the Daoxiang Village in the garden. As the eldest sister-in-law, educating the younger sisters-in-law is one of her tasks. Therefore, her opinion must be sought for collective activities such as forming a poetry club, and more importantly, funding must be applied for.

No matter what kind of activities you organize, they all require funding. Even a date for two people costs money, let alone a poetry club with so many people? Writing brushes, ink, paper, tea and fruit to cheer you up, and servants to set up the venue, all of these cost money. Sanchun only has two taels of silver per month, which is barely enough for her own spending. I'm afraid she'll go broke if she opens a poetry club.

That's why this scene appeared in the original novel. Li Wan took a group of sisters to find Wang Xifeng. On the surface, they wanted to ask her to be the supervisor of the society, but in fact, they were asking her for funds!

In fact, if they want to start a poetry club, whether it is Jia Huan or Lin Daiyu, they can afford the funds, and even pay for it all. But public is public and private is private, and if that happens, I'm afraid the three girls will feel uncomfortable. If they can't get funds from the public, it's better for everyone to chip in. In this way, everyone is equal and can have fun with a clear conscience.

As the brother and sister were chatting, someone outside said, "The master wants Master Huan San to come over."

Jia Tanchun and Ping'er were slightly startled, but Jia Huan stood up calmly and said, "Third sister, please wait a moment. I'll be back soon." After that, he left the house.

Jia Tanchun couldn't help laughing and said, "In the past, whenever the master called him, Second Brother Bao would panic, making everyone else panic. I forgot for a moment that the master was calling Brother Huan now, and he would never panic."

Ping'er also laughed when she heard this. Now that the Third Master has become a juren, and has not done anything wrong recently, it seems that it is not a bad thing for the Master to look for him.

When Jia Huan arrived at the gate of the Grand View Garden, he found that Li Shier was waiting there. He couldn't help but frowned.

"Your servant greets Master Huan San!" As soon as Li Shi'er saw Jia Huan, he immediately stepped forward with a flattering smile and bowed.

Jia Huan nodded and asked, "Where is the master?"

"In Rong Xi Tang, the eldest master and Master Zhen are here too!" Li Shier reminded in a flattering manner.

(End of this chapter)