Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 73: Not Entering Rongqing Hall

After six or seven days of recuperation, Daiyu recovered greatly. She was even more energetic than before she vomited blood and became ill, and her face had a rosy, jade-like color.

I don’t know whether it was the imperial physician’s medicine that worked, or the medicated food that Jia Cong sent over every night that had miraculous effects.

Daiyu and her sisters went to Rongqing Hall to pay their respects to Lady Jia as usual, but Jia Cong naturally had no part in such a matter.

Of course, Jia Cong was also happy not to go into Rongqing Hall and listen to a bunch of people praising Gao Le there. He was more interested in reading in Qingzhizhai.

Even Grandmother Jia was a little surprised to see Daiyu. Originally, she was frightened to see Daiyu vomiting blood at such a young age, and thought that her precious granddaughter might not live long.

Now, seeing that she had been ill, she seemed to have been reborn. Her complexion was three times better than before she was ill. She looked even more beautiful and charming, which made Lady Jia love her even more.

When Baoyu saw that Daiyu became even more beautiful after recovering from her illness, he felt sour again, and his feelings were nothing more than cheap sighs like all the beauty of heaven and earth was concentrated on his daughter.

He was more like a patient in the late stage of dementia, staring at his Lin Daiyu intently.

After waiting for a while, he found that his sister Lin did not notice his affectionate gaze just now, and did not even look at him.

I subconsciously touched the jade on my chest, thinking that Lin Daiyu was still angry with me.

Now he didn't dare to act rudely in front of Daiyu. Last time, Daiyu was so angry that she vomited blood. If he made trouble again, even the old lady would not agree with him. If Jia Zheng knew about it, he would be dead.

How can a man like me deserve the favor of a fairy-like figure like Sister Lin? Wouldn't that be a blasphemy to such a fairy-like figure like Sister Lin?

Baoyu's eyes started to widen, and he seemed to be having a hysterical attack again.

Wang Xifeng was the most observant of all the people. She saw that Daiyu looked even more radiant than before after she recovered from her illness, but there was a hint of sadness between her brows.

And seeing that she didn't even look at Baoyu, Wang Xifeng was also a person who had experienced the feelings of a young girl, and when she saw this scene, her heart couldn't help but be moved.

A raging fire of gossip ignited in his heart, and he wished he could include Daiyu in it and extract the truth.

Could it be that the reason behind the quarrel between her and Baoyu that day was actually true? That kid from Qingzhizhai actually had such tricks.

Everyone in the hall was thinking about their own things when Jia Zheng came in with a happy face, followed by a maid with a tray in her hands holding a piece of paper and a few books.

"Madam, Qingshan Academy just sent Cong's admission certificate. He will be enrolled on April 5th.

Mr. Jing'an also specially asked someone to send a set of collected annotations on the Four Books, all of which were personally reviewed by him and were very precious. This was to encourage Cong'er to study hard.

I never thought that Cong would be so valued by Emperor Wenzong!"

"Old Madam, these things were originally sent to Rongxi Hall by someone. I thought it would be polite for Cong to come and get them himself. Besides, the person who came also wanted him to attend the socializing. Isn't he here?"

Jia Zheng originally thought that at this time, Jia Cong and other sisters should go to Rongqing Hall to pay their respects to Lady Jia. This was the traditional filial piety etiquette of the Rongguo Mansion.

It would have been fine if Jia Cong had lived in the East Courtyard before, but now that he had moved to the West Mansion, he should have been treated with the same etiquette as Baoyu and his sisters, but he did not expect to find nothing.

That day, Grandmother Jia exempted Jia Cong from the filial etiquette, but no one dared to tell Jia Zheng about this, as everyone knew that he was an upright person and had always respected Jia Cong.

If he knew about this, he would definitely have something to say, which would make the old lady unhappy.

So no one wants to get into this bad luck.

Jia Zheng had to go to the Ministry of Works to attend classes every day, so he didn't spend much time at home.

He usually doesn't pay attention to these mundane affairs, but half of the people in the mansion know about it, except for him.

Grandmother Jia looked unhappy. Last time, Baoyu was beaten by his father because his studies were not as good as Jia Cong's. This time, Baoyu and Daiyu had a quarrel, and Daiyu was so angry that she vomited blood. Both incidents were caused by Jia Cong. This was a troublemaker everywhere, which made Grandmother Jia feel more and more alienated from this grandson. She exempted him from filial piety and etiquette, and did not let him enter Rongqing Hall, so as to avoid being upset when seeing him.

But Qingshan Academy is the first-class academy in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Many high-ranking officials in the court studied there and entered the officialdom. This is not an ordinary academy, and there is a huge civil service base behind it.

Liu Yanxiu was the former Grand Master of Rites and a famous scholar of his time. Even the retired emperor treated him with great courtesy.

The Jia family cannot easily neglect these two parties, and Grandmother Jia is not completely senile yet.

I just felt that the evildoer had such a hard life that he could not be touched. Yesterday he had an attack and could not let him enter Rongqing Hall, but today he is being invited back to Rongxi Hall. What is going on?

He could only endure the grievance and said to Yuanyang beside him angrily: "Go to Qingzhizhai and ask Conggeer to go to Rongxitang to entertain guests and receive gifts."

After hearing this, Daiyu, Tanchun and others realized that Lady Jia had become increasingly displeased with Third Brother Cong because of recent events.

Although Yingchun was a little dull, she heard that the old lady did not even allow Congdi to enter Rongqing Hall, and only let him go directly to Rongxi Hall to receive the gift.

They all felt indignant for Jia Cong. Baoyu was beaten by the master, and Daiyu was so angry at Baoyu that she vomited blood. What did this have to do with Jia Cong!
Wang Xifeng smiled and said to Jia's mother, "Brother Cong is also a good scholar. After going to the academy for a few years, he may be able to earn a degree as a scholar for our ancestors."

Although Wang Xifeng could not read or write, she knew that it might be possible for Jia Cong to go to school. In the future, he could pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, and at best he could become a juren.

Although that boy studies very hard, does he really think he can pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi?

That was just wishful thinking. How could she become a Jinshi if she was not one in a million capable?
Master Jing of the East Palace is the incarnation of the God of Literature. Not everyone can do that.

Grandmother Jia said calmly, "I don't want him to bring honor to our family. It's his own responsibility to study hard. If he can go to school in the future, he will have a good life. We won't take advantage of him."

Wang Xifeng turned around and saw a look of joy on Baoyu's face, as if he was in a good mood.

He joked, "Baoyu, why are you so proud? Brother Cong can go to the academy to study, but you should be sad that you can't go."

Baoyu smiled at her but said nothing.

She immediately understood what Baoyu was thinking.

It was just that Jia Cong went to the academy and only came back a few times a year, so he didn't have to worry about Jia Cong and Lin Daiyu getting close.

Besides, since Wu'er stayed alone in the mansion, it would be convenient for him to get close to her.

Wang Xifeng is also a woman, and naturally can't stand men being lustful. In fact, she also despises Baoyu's behavior.

But she said something different, and smiled, "I don't know yet, sister promised to help you, and I will make your wish come true."

When Lady Jia heard what Wang Xifeng said, she understood what was going on, but she didn't say anything, because she was just a maid after all.

Daiyu felt a little disgusted after hearing what Wang Xifeng said, but also a little helpless. How could she come out to stop it at this moment?

It's not that she didn't see the look Wang Xifeng was looking at her. Sister Feng said this to Baoyu on purpose. She was setting a trap for her, waiting for her to jump into it.

Daiyu would not fall for this trick and bring trouble to herself and her third brother Cong.

That day, Baoyu was making a fuss in his room and his grandmother became suspicious.

Although there was nothing going on between her and Third Brother Cong from the beginning to the end, Daiyu's heart suddenly became a little confused when she thought about it...

Daiyu had already made up her mind that when her third brother Cong went to study at the academy, she would ask her grandmother to let Wu'er come to her room to serve her, and Baoyu would naturally not compete with her for it.

(End of this chapter)