Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 364: Good and Bad Fate

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Grandmother Jia, Mrs. Wang, and Wang Xifeng were all in the hall talking with Grandmother Jia. Later, Aunt Xue came and they all played dominoes together.

Two days ago, Yingchun talked to Lady Jia about how Jia Cong went to Nanjing on business and she was lonely in the East Palace, so she wanted Daiyu and Tanchun to move in with her.

It was normal for Yingchun to bring up this matter, so Grandmother Jia naturally would not say no.

At the beginning, she agreed to let Yingchun enter the Earl's Mansion, not only did she want Yingchun to be the eldest daughter of the Earl's Mansion, but also wanted to raise the status of this gentle-tempered second granddaughter and make her future marriage more decent.

More importantly, through Yingchun, Jia Cong can have more ties with his family. Otherwise, with this kid's cold temper, he would be like a kite with a broken string after becoming an earl.

Now that he has gone to Jinling on an imperial mission, it is understandable that his second granddaughter wants her sisters to go over and accompany her. In fact, it is a good thing in the eyes of Grandmother Jia.

Because in the matter of Yuanyang, Jia's grandmother saw clearly that this boy was not afraid of strangers or strangers, and sometimes he was even cruel, and even dared to trip up his parents behind their backs.

But he loved his sisters very much. Since he was not at home, he asked his granddaughters to visit his house more often, which not only allowed them to accompany his second granddaughter, but also helped to build relationships.

It's a good thing no matter how you look at it. At worst, he can return to Shenjing and let his two granddaughters move back.

Since the old lady agreed to this matter, Mrs. Wang, Wang Xifeng and others naturally would not say anything.

But Mrs. Wang couldn't help but feel resentful in her heart, thinking that she was right at the beginning.

The kid from the East Mansion first took the second girl in, and now he is instigating the second girl to bring the other sisters to the East Mansion. Now they are people, maybe they will be property in the future.

……

Wang Xifeng and Yuanyang played around at the card table and helped Lady Jia win again, which made her laugh out loud.

As Wang Xifeng wiped the cards, she said, "Madam, the East Palace has been very busy these days. Brother Cong is renovating the garden."

Grandmother Jia asked curiously, "What is your brother making a fuss about?"

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, “Brother Cong was worried that his two younger sisters would not feel comfortable living there, so he planted banana trees in the front yard and sycamore trees in the back yard of the third younger sister’s yard. The scenery becomes even more beautiful in the summer.

In the yard chosen by Sister Lin, there are many top-quality green bamboos planted. The scenery is better than that of the yard of Sister Three. I went to see it for a while this morning. All the furniture and furnishings are of the best quality. "

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Brother Cong is so considerate to girls, no wonder these sisters are so close to him."

Grandmother Jia smiled faintly and said, "This is his only good quality."

Aunt Xue was thinking, why were the other sisters asked to accompany the second young lady, and no one suggested letting Baochai go, after all, their relationship was still a little distant.

A few people played cards for a while. After all, Grandmother Jia was old and got tired easily after playing for a long time, so they disbanded the game. At this time, Baoyu came in to pay his respects, and Grandmother Jia smiled and asked him to sit next to her.

……

Daiyu and Tanchun moved to the East Mansion for a short stay. No one else in the mansion cared, except Baoyu, who was extremely unhappy.

Baoyu's perception of Jia Cong has now become more complicated.

In fact, Jia Cong was able to pass the imperial examinations and become an official and be granted a title, but given Baoyu's personality, he did not feel the slightest bit jealous or envious.

Because fame, wealth and power are vulgar in Baoyu's eyes and he simply disdains them.

He just felt sorry that Jia Cong, despite his first-class appearance and demeanor, was so keen on selfish pursuits, which wasted the favor that God had bestowed on him, giving him a good appearance and a top-notch sentiment for poetry and literature.

However, Jia Cong made Baoyu very sad about another matter.

It was a good thing that he saved Jin Chuan, but ever since he saved Jin Chuan, she was no longer willing to look at him straight in the eye or speak a word to him.

I went to Lixiangyuan several times, but seeing Sister Bao was secondary. My real purpose was to talk to this maid whom I had known since childhood and express my true feelings to her and to express my grievances about what happened that day.

But I didn't expect that they would become strangers from then on. When Jin Chuan saw me, she was as angry as if she saw a ghost. Am I so hideous...

Also, Sister Yuanyang in the old lady's room is such a strong-willed girl, I admire her very much. But how come she seems to be getting together with Jia Cong? Am I not worthy of her?

……

In fact, although Baoyu was disappointed about these things, he didn't really care too much.

He has liked hanging out with sisters since he was a child, although in recent years, the girl he cares about the most, Lin Daiyu, has become too estranged from him and he can't even say sweet words to her on weekdays.

However, the sisters always lived in the same mansion, so it was easy for them to visit each other. But unexpectedly, everything changed after Jia Cong moved to the East Mansion.

As soon as Jia Cong moved there, he tricked his second sister into living in the East Palace as well.

Originally, Baoyu thought that a pedantic and parasite like Jia Cong must be very boring, and how could his second sister bear to live with him for a long time.

I originally thought that my second sister would get bored of living here for a while and might come back, but I didn't expect that she would actually be so happy with it that she didn't want to leave. The two of them even had breakfast and dinner together every day and lived a very close life.

Baoyu became very angry whenever he thought of this. Later, his fourth sister often went to play at his second sister's house and stayed in her room every two or three days.

But I didn’t expect that it would not stop there. Now Sister Lin and the third sister would also move to the East Palace.

It would be fine if the third sister went there, but how could Sister Lin go to live in the East Palace? What if they are like the second sister and don’t want to come back after they go there? Who will talk and play with me then?

Therefore, Baoyu has been extremely unhappy recently. No matter how carefully the maids in his room serve him and how gentle and considerate Xiren is, he is still unhappy.

"Old lady, why did you agree to let Sister Lin and Sister Three go to live in the East Mansion? Now that she's gone, who will play with me? Good ancestor, can you just tell them not to go?"

Baoyu acted like a candied haws, acting coquettishly and naughtily in front of Lady Jia.

Grandmother Jia coaxed, "Even if she goes, what's the big deal? Brother Cong will go to Jinling in a few days, and your second sister will be lonely, so we asked the sisters to go and keep her company. It's right next door, so it's very convenient for her to come and go.

If you miss your sisters, just go find them."

When Baoyu heard this, his face fell. As long as Jia Cong was at home, the sisters would go to the East Palace to play, except for the third sister who would sometimes call him, Lin Daiyu would never call her.

If Jia Cong went to the government office and was not at home, the sisters would never call them.

Even if I go there myself, the old woman guarding the small gate of the East Palace will definitely stop me. The rules are stricter than those of the West Palace. They say that when the master is not at home, outsiders are not allowed to enter the second gate.

Logically speaking, this is the rule for everyone, but why am I considered an outsider...

Baoyu didn't dare to yell at the old lady and the lady about this, otherwise if something happened, not only would he lose face, but his sisters would probably think he was meddling, and he would be afraid that Sister Lin would be the first one to be annoyed with him.

Baoyu thought about it for a while, and finally he thought of a solution. His eyes lit up and he said, "Madam, why don't we let the second sister move back and Sister Lin and Sister Three won't live there anymore."

After saying this, Baoyu was really proud of his own wit.

Grandmother Jia was slightly stunned when she heard this, but Wang Xifeng said, "Second sister, you can't go back now. Brother Cong said he was going to Jinling to do some work. How can such a big earl's mansion be without a master to keep it under control?"

Wang Xifeng understood best the old lady's intention of agreeing to Yingchun's move to the East Palace. Now the second sister is half the master of the East Palace.

Isn't that what the old lady wanted? Why would she ruin her own plan just because Baoyu was acting like a spoiled brat?

As expected, Grandmother Jia said, "Feng girl, what you said makes sense. Now that Congge is gone, how can the Great East Mansion be managed by your second sister? It's not right to leave a bunch of servants behind after they're gone."

After hearing what the two said, Baoyu's face fell again, but he was helpless.

...Judefang, the Earl's Palace.

In Daiyu's new courtyard.

Zhishao and Wu'er helped Daiyu pack up her things, which were all daily clothes for girls brought from the West Mansion.

The room was covered with newly covered pine green gauze windows, brand new bed curtains and draperies, and the dressing table was stocked with fine rouge, exquisite hairpins, and newly purchased hairpins.

On the half-empty bookshelf, Daiyu was sorting some of the books she brought.

Since following Jia Cong's fitness method, her body has become much more flexible in the past six months, becoming more graceful and slender, and she can easily reach the upper level by just tiptoeing.

She wore a sleeveless top embroidered with light purple plum blossom branches, a white soft silk undershirt, and a horse-faced skirt embroidered with plum blossoms. She was elegant and graceful, with a graceful demeanor. Her every move and the flutter of her skirt brought an indescribable beauty.

On the desk were neatly arranged the maps that Daiyu often looked through, her notes, and a half-new set of the Four Books.

Next to it was an exquisite makeup box, which contained ornaments that were not for girls.

They are all objects related to Jia Cong.

Letters written by Jia Cong to Daiyu when he was studying in the academy or in Jinling and Liaodong.

There were also the essays written by Daiyu that Jia Cong had written on several successful examinations, and a half-new and half-old handkerchief.

There was a painting of hunting written by Jia Cong a few years ago hanging opposite the desk.

It was almost noon. Half of the yard was covered with slender green bamboo poles and swaying bamboo leaves, which rustled slightly in the breeze. The scorching sun was blocked out, and the air was filled with a strange sense of comfort and tranquility.

The path at the gate of the courtyard and the corridor in front of the main house are all cool and refreshing.

……

Walking along the bluestone road that led to Tanchun's new courtyard, Shishu was holding the inkstone that Tanchun usually used, Cui Mo was holding the ink box and pen holder, as well as a large stack of rice paper.

Jia Cong prepared the four treasures of the study in Tanchun's room, but Tanchun was used to using her own, so she asked her maid to bring them with her.

Tanchun and Jia Cong walked in front of the two maids. Jia Cong was pulled over by her to help decorate the room.

Today she was wearing a pink long jacket with embroidered branches, a white pleated skirt, and indigo embroidered shoes. She walked lightly, with the hem of her skirt swaying, looking charming and graceful.

She held a scroll in her hand. It was the Xizhou Ci that Jia Cong gave her. It was also her most beloved thing, so naturally she had to keep it with her. She planned to hang it on the wall of her bedroom.

This calligraphy was written several years ago, when Jia Cong was still trapped in the East Courtyard.

Although Jia Cong's calligraphy is more mature now, Tanchun only likes this one.

The mansion was deep and gloomy. Before that year, she didn't even know that she had such a cousin. That was what her third brother wrote when they were in trouble. It was truly precious and unforgettable to be able to know and be close to each other at that time.

As soon as the two entered the courtyard, several elegant banana trees appeared before their eyes, with the soil around their roots having been newly turned.

Under the summer sun, the broad banana leaves looked so green and juicy that Tanchun was delighted.

There are two slender sycamore trees in the backyard, and their shadows just cover the window of the bedroom, leaving a flickering light and shadow in the room.

……

Shenjing City, Hongde Gate.

Several carriages, escorted by more than ten horsemen, slowly passed through the wide city gate.

These carriages may not appear luxurious in appearance, but they are beautifully and sturdily built. They are simple yet heroic, and not something that ordinary people can afford.

The dozen or so guards who accompanied him looked smart and energetic, with weapons on their saddles. Only wealthy families could afford guards of this appearance.

In the carriage ahead, the seats were cushioned with vanilla filling and the floor was covered with an off-white hemp rope rug.

On the small table was a bottle of Xinchunhao's newly launched water jade aromatherapy bottle, which contained light yellow perfume, exuding a refreshing and intoxicating fragrance.

Miss Zhen San, dressed in a blue gown and skirt, without any makeup, leaned lazily on the cushion, unfolding a piece of calligraphy with rich ink in her hands, and was appreciating it leisurely.

A lady from the Zhen family who was in the same car laughed and said, "Third girl, this calligraphy is really so good. I saw you haven't let it go these past two days."

Miss Zhen San smiled slightly: "Of course the words are good, but what's even better is the meaning of this poem. It's strange that such a powerful and vast word came from a teenager."

Mrs. Zhen laughed and said, "Look at what you said, you sound very old-fashioned. You are not much older than that Cong brother. You left in a hurry this time, and the old concubine in the palace is reluctant to let you go."

"Madam, I am reluctant to part with the old concubine, but it is rare for a person to live to be seventy. If the Zhen family wants to be rich and prosperous for a long time, this alone is not enough."

Mrs. Zhen replied, "You are right. Your second sister said the same thing. The old concubine has blessed the Zhen family for fifty years. No matter how great the blessing is, it will end someday. Even if you are a good blacksmith, you must be strong yourself.

I heard that the court recently rotated officials in Nanjing, and several of your second brother-in-law's disciples in Nanjing will have to move this time.

After hearing this, Miss Zhen San frowned slightly. The second brother-in-law that the lady mentioned was none other than Prince Beijing Shui Rong.

The second sister is the wife’s biological daughter, and is the Princess of Beijing. She is the wife’s lifelong pride and dignity.

She smiled and said, "Madam, we women can just talk about this in private, but we can't let others hear it. If others hear the words of the prince's disciples, it will be taboo."

The lady looked a little unnatural, and said, "You are such a worrier, girl. Just let the men at home do these things. Finding a good marriage for a daughter is the most important thing."

The girl smiled slightly. She knew in her heart that her aunt wished she could get married earlier and get less involved in family affairs.

It would be best if she could marry into a noble and wealthy family to add support to the family, which would also be the duty of a daughter of the Zhen family.

In the past few years, I had always been thinking about the fact that the Jia family in Rong State had a legitimate son who was born with a jade in his mouth. I thought he was noble and extraordinary. In the past two years, I have also fallen in love with the young earl of the Jia family who was both civil and military.

The family already had an old concubine dowager who was honored with wealth and power, and now also had a princess, which continued the wealth for several generations. Isn't this eye-catching enough?

It has always been the case that the moon waxes and wanes, and the grace of a gentleman will be cut off after five generations. Do you really want to take all the good things in the world?

Although she gave birth to a daughter, she did not want to become a tool for family marriage like her second sister, and did not want to be led by others in life.

Miss Zhen San took a look at the words on her hand and thought that the young man who wrote them was a rare talent in the noble family.

But he and himself were both born into aristocratic families, and were involved in complicated entanglements from the moment they were born. They had to weigh the tiny matters against the huge benefits, so it would be better for them to be born into a commoner family and live a happy and carefree life.

……

Shenjing, Liuyanghexicheng Shipyard, which is only two miles away from Hongdemen.

An official ship of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Music Bureau was cutting through the waves and sailing out of the dock.

In the cabin, Zou Min'er was looking at the endless blue waves outside the window, in a daze.

At that time, her family was destroyed and she was hastily escorted out of Jinling as a lowly person.

Two years later, she returned to Jinling in a completely different identity.

It gave her unforgettable and beautiful visions, but also made her suffer endless sorrow and humiliation.

(End of this chapter)