Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 219: Lying About Marriage

Recently, in both the East and West Palaces, apart from Jia Cong winning the provincial examination, the most eye-catching thing was Jia Rong's marriage. However, the news was unpleasant to the West Palace.

It is said that after Jia Rong got married, he lived in peace for a few days. He then went out every day to socialize and drink with friends, and often did not return home all night.

He didn't care much about his newly married grandmother. Even on the day she returned home, she went back alone, which looked quite desolate.

The servants and maids in the East Mansion were already accustomed to this. The master of the mansion was a playboy and had lived like this before getting married. What was there to be curious about?

Besides, although the newly married mistress is extremely beautiful, her family is just a poor fifth-rank official. Marrying into the Ningguo Mansion is considered up-marrying. Her family has a weak foundation, so it is difficult for her to control the master.

But many people were a little surprised that the master didn't have any restraint.

Everyone in the East Palace knew that the master was polite and considerate to outsiders, but very strict with the eldest master. If he was unhappy, he would beat, scold and spit on him, without giving the eldest master any face at all.

The uncle was very afraid of the master, and acted like a mouse avoiding a cat in front of the master. As long as the master glared at him, the uncle dared not even straighten his back, so he would rather stay out of the house when he had nothing to do.

So if the master wanted to take care of it, I would never dare to disobey. But I didn't expect that the master would just let it go and let me wander around outside.

It is probably because the master himself has many wives and concubines, and lives a life of many prostitutes, so he does not really control the eldest master in this matter.

After hearing these things, Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang felt sorry for Rong'er. Whether this woman married well or not depended entirely on God's will, and this was her fate.

Sometimes when he was free or had no one to play cards with, he would ask Youshi to call Rong'er, his wife, to come over.

Grandmother Jia met Keqing several times and was very fond of her because she was graceful and delicate, like a fairy, and behaved gently and peacefully, and was modest and considerate. She praised her as the most proud one among her great-grandson's wives.

This Rong'er didn't even know he had picked up a gold ingot and he's still fooling around outside. He's really ungrateful. But even though Lady Jia is of a higher generation, she can't say much after all because they live in the same house.

On the contrary, Sister Feng and Grandma Rong got along very well and they often visited each other. Whenever she had free time, she would invite her to visit the West Mansion.

The people in the West Mansion noticed that every time Keqing came, she was always accompanied by a little maid named Baozhu, who was pretty and lively.

It is said that she brought it from her parents' home on the day she returned home. Everyone could see that Keqing loved Baozhu very much. She always stayed by her side when she went in and out every day. Even Ruizhu, who came with her as a dowry, seemed to be inferior to her.

It is rare for a master and servant to have such a relationship.

……

After the results of the provincial examination were announced and he was busy with a wave of social events to congratulate relatives and friends, Jia Cong finally had some free time.

This morning he was called to the Mengpo Zhai study. Jia Zheng talked to him about a memorial concerning him in the court yesterday, and Jia Cong's mood darkened.

Emperor Jiazhao's words: The sons of nobles should cultivate a spirit of bravery and martial arts, may not mean much if heard alone, but if the premise is to refuse admission to the Hanlin Academy, what does it mean?

He would not understand it as unilaterally as Jia Zheng.

It may be difficult to become a noble civil servant in the future.

Jia Zheng did not notice that his expression was a little strange, and said with a smile:

"Cong'er, you have already won the title of Liyuan before you are twenty, and now you are well-known among the elders in the capital. I heard from your wife that several families with girls of the right age have expressed the idea of ​​discussing marriage."

When Jia Cong heard that it was Mrs. Wang who said that, he sneered in his heart. How could he step into the trap? He said, "Master, Cong is still young, it is too early to discuss marriage. Cong is determined to take the imperial examination in spring, so he must study hard for a few years and go all out.

I must wait until I have completed my studies and have shown my ambitions as a man, otherwise I will not dare to stay at home."

Seeing that he was determined to study and achieve success, Jia Zheng was naturally very happy. This was the young man of the Jia family in his mind.

He stroked his beard and smiled, "Cong'er, what you said makes sense. With your character, appearance and talent, you won't have to worry about not having a good match in the future. The Spring Examination is extremely important, and career aspirations are the foundation of a man's life."

Actually, the marriage proposal was just a request from his wife these days, so Jia Zheng casually asked Jia Cong what he thought, and he didn't take it seriously. But he didn't expect that Jia Cong's words would actually delay the marriage proposal for four or five years. He was not stupid, so how could he let such an important matter fall into the hands of Mrs. Wang.

He had won the title of Li Yuan and was gradually becoming famous. He no longer had to worry about how the Jia family could control him.

But if Lady Jia or Jia She stepped forward and arranged a marriage for him, which was a common occurrence among aristocratic families, it would be troublesome to refuse under the rules of ethics and morality that one must follow parental orders.

Now I am using the excuse of taking the imperial examination to serve the country to shirk my responsibility and make it clear that these women in the inner chambers will not make any more noise in the future.

……

Lixiangyuan.

In the main hall outside, Mrs. Wang was chatting with Aunt Xue. She was naturally smiling as she talked about Baoyu's handsomeness and filial piety, and Aunt Xue naturally said something to agree with her.

Aunt Xue was really surprised to learn that Jia Cong had won the top prize in the provincial examination. She had heard that Cong was good at writing poems and lyrics, but she didn't think much of it.

Now, he has won the first place in the provincial examination, which is a real fame that can be seen and touched. This brother Cong is definitely a literary star who has descended to earth.

It is almost certain that such a person will rise to prominence in the future and become an official.

After weighing the pros and cons between Baoyu, who was pursuing wealth and splendor, and Congge's character, Aunt Xue seemed to prefer him.

Her daughter has been smiling these days. Every time someone mentions Cong Ge'er, she sees a look in her daughter's eyes. She understands it because she is also a girl.

Now she felt a little regretful. She had listened to her sister and allowed the story of the perfect match to spread in the Jia family.

Suddenly he said, "Your brother Cong is also amazing. He took the provincial examination once and won the first place. I have never heard of such a thing before."

Mrs. Wang noticed that her sister was absent-minded in her words. As sisters for half their lives, how could she not know that her sister was somewhat attracted to Li Yuan in that boy.

It's no wonder. Brother Cong was born like this, which makes people have some thoughts. His sister gave birth to an outstanding daughter.

"In recent days, the Jia family has met several old relatives, all of whom are noble and official families. They all like Cong's ability and are interested in discussing marriage. The old lady also knows this.

This morning, the master went to discuss with Cong. Cong has been close to the master since he was young and listens to him more than to his own father. It is also a strange thing. If the master likes it, he will naturally agree. "

When Aunt Xue heard this, she felt a chill in her heart. Since this family was from a noble family, their status was higher than Xue's.

Suddenly, there was a sound of shattering in the inner room, and both Aunt Xue and Mrs. Wang were startled.

Ying'er, who was outside the house, hurried into the inner room and quickly brought out a tray covered with broken porcelain pieces.

"Madam, it's nothing. The girl was drawing patterns in the inner room and her hand slipped and she accidentally broke the teacup."

Aunt Xue breathed a sigh of relief, and Mrs. Wang didn't take it to heart.

Aunt Xue asked again, "Baoyu hasn't even discussed marriage yet, why are you focusing on Cong first? Will the old lady agree?"

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "My sister, you don't know. They were born in the same year, but Cong is one month older. Although he is a concubine's son, he is the eldest, so it is right to discuss it first."

The rest of the conversation was spoken by Mrs. Wang. Aunt Xue just listened, but her mind was a little confused.

In the inner room, Xue Baochai's face was as pale as snow, her eyes were full of tears, and she couldn't help shedding tears. The hand holding the pen trembled uncontrollably.

On the small table there was an embroidery pattern of a rich peony, which had just been half completed.

(End of this chapter)