Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 96: Mixed Joy and Regret

Xiaoqiu had some snacks and tea in Qingzhizhai, and left with a bulging belly, feeling satisfied. However, she did not go directly back to Lady Jia's courtyard, but went to Tanchun's residence instead.

Xiaochan, the maid in Tanchun's room, is Xiaoqiu's sister, so Xiaoqiu knows that the third lady has always been best friends with the third master Cong.

The third lady must be happy about the good news that the third master won the first place in the case. I wonder what reward the third lady will give after getting the good news, hehe.

But he is likable anyway, so it doesn't matter whether he is rewarded or not. Since the Third Master is so handsome and capable, I am willing to run errands for him.

Xiaochan is at an age when she yearns for all the beautiful things. For the sake of Jia Cong, the handsome young master, she spent the entire meal running back and forth between the girls' rooms like a butterfly, delivering the good news.

The sisters were overjoyed when they heard the good news about Xiaoqiu, so Xiaoqiu returned with a great harvest.

Tanchun gave her two silver ingots for pens, and Yingchun gave her a sachet with Sichuan brocade cloud pattern.

The gift that Daiyu appreciated the most for Xiaoqiu was a box of top-quality lotus root starch and cinnamon sugar cake.

But Xiaoqiu also felt a little regretful. She had originally wanted to go to Qingzhizhai to announce the good news and take a look at the particularly handsome Master Cong. The sisters-in-law and wives in the courtyard all said so, but unfortunately she didn't see him.

……

In Daiyu's room, Zijuan, wearing a thin jacket made of black silk and a blue satin vest, was tidying up the house quickly, working diligently without stopping for a moment.

Seeing Daiyu taking out the letter from Master Cong from her dressing box and reading it, she was smiling, with joy in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. Her pretty appearance was really endearing.

Zijuan looked at Daiyu's expression and said with a smile, "You have read this letter so many times, and you don't seem to be tired of it.

This Third Master Cong is truly amazing. He is so young, but not only did he not enter school, he also took the first place in the exam. This is the first time I have heard of such a thing."

Daiyu smiled and said, "My father was a famous scholar in Suzhou, but he was already fifteen when he entered the imperial examination. Third Brother Cong actually passed the examination earlier than my father."

Zijuan smiled. Third Master Cong won the first prize. Seeing the girl's expression, she seemed to be very happy. She couldn't help teasing her: "With Third Master Cong's performance, won't he be the top scholar in the future?"

"Silly girl, it's not that easy to be the top scholar. But for someone like Third Brother Cong, as long as he doesn't make any big mistakes, he can always pass the imperial examination like dad."

Zijuan added: "It is really rare to have a man like Third Master Cong in the mansion. Not only is he well-educated, he entered school at such an early age, he is also very handsome, and he also cares about you, young lady.

Take the year when the girl vomited blood. The third master personally bought the ingredients and sent her medicated food for more than half a month. He was relieved only when he saw that the girl was well again.

Although she did not return home often in the past two years, she would send messages to the sisters in the garden every day, and the girl was always included. In the past two years, the girl's health has improved a lot, and she is not as crybaby as in previous years.

Take the letter from the Third Master about the college entrance examination essay, for example. The other girls did not have this letter, which shows that he treats her differently from other sisters.

It’s just that the old lady always dislikes him, and it’s hard to say what will happen in the future.”

Daiyu blushed and said, "Maybe you took the wrong medicine today? Why are you talking nonsense?"

Zijuan poured a cup of hot tea for Daiyu and chuckled, "I am only thinking about you, don't you understand?"

Daiyu took a sip of tea, then turned around so that Zijuan wouldn't see her blushing face, and said, "I don't want to listen to your nonsense. I'm tired and I'm going to lie down for a while."

Daiyu lay on the bed, but her mind was disturbed by Zijuan's words. She thought of what she had just said: The old lady always dislikes him, and it is hard to say what will happen in the future.

My heart is in turmoil, and I feel a little worried and sad.

... Ever since Yingchun heard the good news that Jia Cong won the first place in the case, the smile on her face has been there. Now she can't see her brother Cong and doesn't know where he has gone.

She suddenly wanted to talk to someone. Siqi was doing needlework in the room, so she got up and went to Tanchun's room.

As soon as I arrived at the door of Tanchun's room, I heard Tanchun's crisp and charming voice: "Shishu, go and invite Second Sister and Sister Lin to come. I have something to discuss with them."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Yingchun coming in, and Tanchun said with a smile: "Speaking of Cao Cao, he has arrived. I was just looking for my second sister to discuss this.

Brother Cong has won the first prize, what a happy event, I thought the sisters should host a party to congratulate him in the next one or two days, he will have to go back to the academy to study later."

……

Jia Cong was coming back from the Ministry of Rites when he passed by the west corner gate of Rongguo Mansion. He originally wanted to take a detour through the back street to return to Qingzhizhai.

Then the sound of firecrackers could be heard continuously at the gate of Rongguo Mansion, and many relatives and friends from various families living on both sides of the street came out to watch the fun.

The news that a top candidate in the imperial examination had emerged from the main branch of Rongguo Mansion spread very quickly on Ningrong Street during the short period of time before Jia Cong returned home.

As soon as Jia Cong turned the corner, the doorman at the west corner gate spotted him and hurried to greet him.

In the past few years, these servants who had never looked at Jia Cong in the eye, now all had a smile on their faces, were very attentive, and kept saying congratulations to the Third Master for passing the exam.

He also said that the Second Master was waiting in Rong Xi Hall, and asked him to tell the Third Master to come over early when he saw him.

When Jia Cong entered Rong Xi Hall, Jia Zheng was naturally delighted to see him. He praised him a lot, and his words were so enthusiastic and joyful that Jia Cong was a little overwhelmed.

Jia Zheng asked the servant to go to the east courtyard to tell Jia She the good news, but the servant came back saying that the master was drinking and had no time to come. Jia Zheng shook his head helplessly when he heard this.

After noon, the news was heard at the Jiashun Palace, and Prince Jiashun ordered Wang Dong to bring gifts to congratulate.

Not long after, the Taoist priest who presided over Xuantian Palace also sent his disciples to congratulate him. It was thought that the Taoist priest who was far away in Longhu Mountain would not know the news of Jia Cong's success so quickly.

However, the Taoist priest who presided over Xuantian Palace was well aware of the position of the young master of Rongguo Mansion in the heart of the Taoist leader. When such a happy event happened, he would naturally come to congratulate on behalf of the Taoist leader Tianshi in advance.

By the time they left the yamen, even Jia Zheng's colleagues in the Ministry of Works had heard the news. Although these people were all from the imperial examination system and had seen a lot of the imperial examination world, to be the first in a state examination was a rare honor.

Moreover, since Jia Zheng was the head of the Duke's Mansion, he naturally sent people to present gifts and congratulate. This was also common sense in daily social interactions.

Assistant Minister Li Dekang sent someone to bring a rare Song Dynasty edition of The Analects of Confucius, which was considered a very good gift.

Several other doctors from the Ministry of Works who had come to celebrate the birthday also presented some of the finest four treasures of the study to congratulate the young master of the Jia family on being chosen as the first place in the imperial examination.

It had only been a day since the results were announced, and already so many people had come to congratulate him. Jia Zheng was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. He had been in the yamen for more than ten years, and today was the most honorable day for him.

I think with Cong'er's talent in imperial examinations, he will definitely pass the autumn and spring examinations in the future, and it is even possible for him to make it to the palace examination.

Jia Zheng was already daydreaming happily. By then everyone would know that he was being raised in the second house, which would be an even greater honor.

Unfortunately, Baoyu only knew how to hang out in the backyard. If he had half the sensibleness of Cong'er and could just go to school, his life would have been without regrets.

Although he was very pleased with Jia Cong's actions, Baoyu was his own son after all, so his expectations for his son were naturally higher than those for Jia Cong. Unfortunately, flowers planted within the wall are not as fragrant outside the wall. It was fate, and what else could he do?

(End of this chapter)