Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 186: Black Clothes and Beautiful Beauty

Daiyu, standing at the door of Rongxi Hall, watched the whole scene in the hall. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and her watery eyes were filled with a smile.

But when he saw his grandmother's expression, he felt that he shouldn't laugh, and forced himself to put away the smile on his face. But he was happy in his heart, thinking that his third brother Cong should finally be back.

……

After Jia Cong returned to the inn from the palace, he asked Wu'er and the others to start packing.

Before entering the palace, Jia Cong was thinking about going to the Xuantian Palace Villa in Luocang Mountain when he returned. The environment there was quiet and peaceful, and it was very close to his master Liu Jing'an's residence, so it would be convenient for him to ask for advice at any time.

I'm afraid that it won't be possible now. As soon as the Queen sends the eunuchs with gifts to the Jia Mansion, no matter what the reason is, I will take Jinghui and the others back home immediately.

By the time Wu'er and the others had almost finished packing, Jia Lian had already found the inn with his servants and carriages.

Jia Lian had little contact with his brother Jia Cong since he was a child, but in the past two years, Jia Cong has become more and more outstanding. In addition, Sister Feng is the one who knows how to observe the situation best, and she often whispers in his ear.

Let’s look at what Jia Cong did, whether it was being chosen as the top judge, writing good poems, or solving major cases in Jinling, these are not things that ordinary people can do.

Normally, when he was out socializing, he would often hear others mention various events concerning Jia Cong during banquets and tea talks, and they would talk about them with great relish.

Knowing that he was his own brother, he was even more flattering and envious, which really earned him a lot of respect.

Therefore, his younger brother Jia Cong now holds a very important position in his heart.

He was a bit overbearing when it came to women. No matter if they were his father's concubines or other people's wives, he didn't care whether they were fragrant or smelly, raw or cold.

But he doesn't have any sinister or vicious thoughts. He can handle daily chores. As for the rest, he just wants to watch movies and drink wine. He is a typical playboy from a wealthy family.

"Third brother, you can't just hide away here. The Queen has sent someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give Miss Zhishao a gift. The Master asked me to take you back to the mansion.

Among the young men of the East and West mansions, there is really no other one as prestigious as my third brother. Even the women around him can receive gifts from the Queen. I, your second brother, am so envious.

Let these servants pack up the luggage and belongings, and you take the people back to the mansion with me first. The old lady and the eunuchs who gave the gifts are waiting in Rongxi Hall, so don't delay."

Jia Lian was reminded by Sister Feng when he went out. Now the old lady was embarrassed, but she did not dare to leave the angel in the palace alone in Rong Xi Hall.

Now the old lady and the mistress were just standing there with them, just like making pancakes on a red-hot iron pan, it was so uncomfortable.

Let Jia Lian meet Jia Cong, and use coaxing or deceiving means to get the boy back home as soon as possible, so that this matter can be put to an end and everyone can be relieved. Otherwise, there will be no peace in this new year.

Jia Lian was relieved when he saw Jia Cong and his men get on the carriage. He finally did what his master asked him to do. If Jia Cong had been unwilling to go back just now, he really would have been helpless.

By then, everyone in Rong Xi Tang will be embarrassed...

The old lady and the wife are the same. Why do they provoke this boy for no reason? Don’t they know that he has a bad nature?

……

Rongxi Hall.

Grandmother Jia looked a little exhausted, and the exquisite imperial attire she was wearing did not seem as gorgeous and eye-catching as usual. Instead, it looked a little out of place.

Mrs. Wang's face was wooden but with a hint of gloom.

Zhou Rui's wife was her confidant and companion, and she understood her thoughts best. That was why she hurriedly reported to Lady Jia when she heard the ridiculous news about Jia Cong. She was trying to please her mother and gain power for herself.

Ever since her sister-in-law's accusation against Jia Cong was exposed, Mrs. Wang has not dared to act rashly.

But this time it was Jia Cong himself who behaved inappropriately and brought a nun back home. She could not blame others, as it was Zhou Rui's wife who instigated it. She just pretended not to know and watched Jia Cong's show.

But unexpectedly, in the end, Zhou Rui's wife was slapped in the face by that man in public. She was treated like a non-human being and her own reputation was completely lost. Instead, it helped that man's maid to get the Queen's reward.

Just now, the old lady went to receive the gift in her imperial attire, and made a big fool of herself in front of the palace eunuchs and the maids in the mansion.

It is easy to imagine how ashamed and angry the old lady felt. As a daughter-in-law for many years, she naturally knew that the old lady was usually in a good mood. Once she got really angry, even she, the daughter-in-law, could not bear it.

When the old lady has recovered, she will most likely vent her anger on Zhou Ruijia for causing trouble out of nothing. After all, she is her mother's family's maid, and if they make a fuss, she will be the one getting slapped in the face.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Wang felt...

Wang Xifeng was the only one present who stayed out of the matter, and everyone seemed to be at ease. After listening to her, Zhou Rui's wife was too smart and got the old lady and the mistress involved, which was funny to think about.

Now she was just curious. In the past few years, she followed the housekeeper of the second house, and when she went to the East Courtyard, she only went to the main hall to pay her respects to the Master and the Mistress, and rarely went to other places.

Therefore, she had never paid attention to Zhishao. She didn't know what kind of person the boy's maid was that could cause such a big fuss.

At this time, a maid came running to report that Master Cong had returned home.

After a while, Jia Cong was seen entering Rong Xi Hall, followed by a young woman.

Almost everyone's eyes were focused on that woman. In the past two years, the name Zhishao had become well-known to few in the Jia Mansion because of what happened that year, but almost no one in the West Mansion had ever seen her.

Even Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang, who were feeling extremely depressed, stared at her intently.

Outside Rong Xi Tang, many maids and servants were looking inside with their heads lowered.

Now everyone in the mansion knows that Third Master Cong brought a beautiful nun home, causing such a big fuss. Who wouldn’t be curious?

Everyone saw that she was slender and graceful, walked slowly, was extremely beautiful, and was very charming. She was a very good-looking woman.

She wore a Miaochang bun on her head, a moon-white jacket with plain sleeves, a long paddy field blue satin vest on the outside, a dark blue silk sash around her slender waist, and an ink-white silk skirt below her waist.

He was dressed in black and lightly belted, had a calm demeanor, was elegant and refined, and was truly stunning.

It is completely different from the magnificent and luxurious style of Rong Xi Tang.

In the past two years, Zhishao has grown older, her childishness has gradually shed, and she has become more pretty. She has let go of her past, chanting scriptures and worshiping Buddha, and has developed an unconventional demeanor that is different from that of an ordinary girl.

Everyone in the hall was silent for a moment.

It turned out that the woman Jia Cong brought back from outside, who was described by the old lady as an immoral woman with no background, was actually such a beautiful and outstanding person.

At this time, the eunuch who bestowed the gift asked, "This is Miss Zhishao."

Jinghui's bright eyes moved and she glanced at Jia Cong, who smiled and nodded to her.

Jinghui bowed slightly and replied, "That's right."

The eunuch sang: "According to the order of the Empress, I heard that the old lady of the attendant, Zhi Shao, was beautiful and virtuous, chaste and upright, and I have given her a palace flower hairpin and skirt to honor her conduct. Please accept it."

As Grandmother Jia listened to the eunuch announcing the imperial decree, her face turned extremely embarrassed, and she felt ashamed and angry, as if her blood was about to rush to her head.

Back then, his eldest son fell in love with Zhishao and wanted to force her to become his concubine, which led to her jumping into the river and committing suicide.

Saying that this girl is chaste and upright, doesn't that mean my son is licentious and shameless? And she came to my house with such fanfare to give gifts, which really brought shame to the Jia family. How can they go out and see people during the New Year?

Thinking about what happened in the past few days, he suddenly felt a little horrified. In the past, people like Liu Jing'an and Prince Jiashun valued this kid, but how come even the palace is backing him up now?

Jia Cong brought Zhishao to accept the gift and express his gratitude. After the eunuch finished presenting the gift, Jia Lian took it down and served tea.

After the eunuch left Rongxi Hall, Mrs. Wang said to Wang Xifeng, "The old lady is feeling unwell. I will go with her first. You can take care of things here and don't need to reply to me."

Perhaps out of embarrassment or anger, Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang left in a hurry without saying a word to Jia Cong, who had just returned home. However, Jia Cong looked calm and didn't care at all.

He just looked at Zhishao with a smile. The latter noticed his gaze and looked at the palace flowers, hairpins and skirt on the tray. Her pretty face blushed involuntarily.

Wang Xifeng stepped forward and said with a smile: "Brother Cong, this must be Miss Zhishao, right? I have been to the East Courtyard before, but I never found such a stunning person. You are so lucky.

Since you are an old friend of our mansion, you don’t have to worry about anything when you come back. If you need anything, just send a maid to come to me.”

Although Zhishao was Jia Cong's former maid, she was presumed dead after she jumped into the water two years ago, and her name was removed from the register in Zhen'an Prefecture. Now, she was given a gift by the empress's imperial decree.

Except for the old lady, she is the only one in the whole mansion who has such an honor. And judging from the way Jia Cong treats her, Wang Xifeng would not treat her as a maid.

Wang Xifeng said some polite words and left in a hurry. There were too many people reporting to the government in this mansion.

The old lady and the lady had just lost face, and at this moment she was too close to Jia Cong, which would inevitably cause gossip. She might as well wait until this incident was over.

(End of this chapter)