RPAGF Chapter 76 Jia Baoyu: My sister is still the same as before, a priceless jewel...
Chapter 76 Jia Baoyu: My sister is still the same as before, a priceless jewel...
In order not to appear out of place, and also to impress the Emperor and the Dowager Empress, Shui Rong has been taking the second daughter of the Zhen family on sightseeing trips and visiting relatives and friends these days, putting on a loving and affectionate act as if they were newlyweds.
On the dock, Shui Rong gently waved to the official ship that was gradually sailing away.
The Zhen family returned to Jinling, and their departure was quite hasty, supposedly at the behest of the Dowager Empress.
Shui Rong understood that the Dowager Consort had sensed something was amiss and did not want the Zhen family to be dragged into this turmoil that affected both the imperial court and the harem.
Shui Rong only turned and walked back after the Zhen family's boat had completely disappeared at the end of the river.
He was still resentful at failing to completely annihilate the Beijing garrison. So he spread the news. Firstly, to disrupt the court, and secondly, to avenge the wedding being disrupted. If he could force the emperor to kill the Duke of Cheng'en, causing the Empress Dowager and the emperor to turn against each other, that would be the most perfect ending.
Walking to the carriage window, Shui Rong whispered, "Don't be sad. Next spring, I'll go to Jinling with you. It's getting late, let's go to the Rongguo Mansion for the banquet."
A soft "Mmm" came from inside the carriage, gentle and tender.
Shui Rong took the reins, mounted the horse, calmly rubbed his back, and then spurred his horse toward the city.
As soon as they entered the western part of the city, they ran into the steward's servant.
The servant approached Shui Rong and loudly announced, "The banquet at the Rongguo Mansion is ready. We invite Your Highness and Your Highness's wife to attend." While others were distracted, he secretly slipped a wax pill into Shui Rong's hand.
Shui Rong rode his horse toward Ningrong Street, crushing the wax ball as he took out the paper ball inside and unfolded it. He was first stunned, then sneered, thinking to himself: This Zhao Chongjian is ultimately from a small place. He becomes paranoid and sees danger everywhere at the slightest disturbance.
What great risks could there be? Even if the emperor catches a few people spreading nursery rhymes, what can he do to me!
At this moment, the main gate of the Rongguo Mansion was wide open, and Jia She and Jia Zheng led the gentlemen of the Ning and Rong mansions to stand solemnly in front of the gate, waiting for Shui Rong.
Jia She yawned, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.
He had originally opposed the meal. However, Grandmother Jia was determined, and the Dowager Princess also hoped that the Jia family, as half a maternal relative, would support the second daughter of the Zhen family and have more contact with the Prince of Beijing's mansion, which is why the meal came about.
Before long, the water dissolved.
Although Jia She was extremely unhappy, he had no choice but to step forward and kneel to greet him.
Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen quickly followed suit and knelt down.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Uncle, Brother, there's no need for such formalities, please rise quickly!" Shui Rong dismounted, smiled, and stepped forward to personally help Jia She and Jia Zheng up.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shui Rong glanced at the Jia family members and asked with a smile, "Where is that young master who was born with a jade in his mouth now?"
Jia Zheng, looking embarrassed, stammered out the story of Jia Baoyu's injury and bedridden state. After finishing, he quickly pulled Jia Yucun out of the crowd and introduced him to Shui Rong.
Upon learning that Jia Yucun was waiting for the position of Prefect of Jinling, Shui Rong began to seriously examine him. Seeing that the man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and an extraordinary demeanor, he immediately wanted to befriend him. He smiled and said, "I have some connections with the officials in the Ministry of Personnel. Tomorrow I will have my steward take a letter to them and make the arrangements. I think we will hear from them soon."
Jia Yucun was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Shui Rong smiled and nodded, then suddenly noticed a scar on Jia Lian's neck.
He was taken aback at first, then understood, and his slight resentment towards the first wife instantly vanished. (Use your imagination: the first wife must have skipped the wedding because her son and daughter-in-law had fought and she was afraid of losing face—that's perfectly understandable!)
"It's windy outside, let's go inside and talk."
Shui Rong personally helped Jia She walk into the doorway.
Jia She smiled outwardly, but inwardly he thought to himself: "He's like a piece of chewing gum, the more I try to avoid him, the more he sticks to me."
......................
Although the battle at the front was unfavorable, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives, the capital city remained a place of feasting, singing, dancing, and entertainment, with plays still being performed and life continuing as usual.
Since it was a family banquet, the feast was held in the newly built grand hall of Grandmother Jia.
A large screen separated the two groups, with the women inside and the men outside, each drinking and watching the play together.
Lin Daiyu was taking medicinal food recently and could not drink alcohol, so she took the initiative to sit at the table with the three sisters of the Spring Festival and did not sit with Grandmother Jia.
Not only because of this, but also because Lin Ruhai had instructed him before coming to the capital: Don't get involved in anything.
Lin Daiyu put down her spoon and glanced at the second daughter of the Zhen family who was chatting and laughing with Grandmother Jia. Today's so-called family banquet was really more than just a family banquet.
In wealthy families, it was customary for wives not to eat at the table. They were expected to serve their elders, entertain guests, and take care of their unmarried sisters-in-law.
Taking advantage of a moment, Wang Xifeng walked over to Lin Daiyu's side and said with a smile, "Good sister, move over there a bit, let me rest my feet and catch my breath."
Lin Daiyu smiled and moved aside. Wang Xifeng sat halfway down in the chair, leaning against her, and sighed, "It's still better to be a young lady. You don't have to serve this person or that person. You're free and at ease, and there are people to serve you."
Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Then you can be a girl."
Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes: "I'd like to do it, but that layer..."
Suddenly realizing, "I can't explain this to a girl like you who hasn't even reached adulthood yet."
Lin Daiyu became interested: "Why can't it be explained?"
Wang Xifeng chuckled: "You'll understand when you marry your ideal husband."
Lin Daiyu blushed deeply and spat, "No wonder everyone says you're a fiery shrew, a real scoundrel from a poor family, shameless and brazen."
Wang Xifeng smiled smugly; she loved seeing Lin Daiyu so angry yet helpless.
Without any hesitation, Wang Xifeng picked up Lin Daiyu's chopsticks and started eating. After filling her stomach and chatting and laughing with the three sisters, she turned to Lin Daiyu and said, "Good sister, I have a favor to ask of you."
Lin Daiyu swallowed the medicinal food in her mouth, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and slowly looked at her: "What is it?"
Wang Xifeng: "Well, didn't I partner with Master Zhen from the East Mansion to open a pawnshop...?"
Lin Daiyu chuckled, then quickly pursed her lips.
Wang Xifeng rarely showed a hint of embarrassment. Now everyone in both households knew she had tricked Jia Lian, but she was thick-skinned. She coughed and continued, "This isn't a business involving tens or hundreds of taels; it involves hundreds or thousands in a single transaction. I really don't trust anyone else with it. I'll trouble you, sister, to check it for me every five days."
"Please keep the accounts and give me a final tally at the end of the month."
Lin Daiyu: "Is that all?"
"So it's settled then?" Wang Xifeng fawned over her, placing a piece of food on her plate.
Lin Daiyu glanced at her, sensing something mischievous lurking within her, but still nodded generously.
Wang Xifeng did indeed have ulterior motives. No one in the inner quarters knew that Liu Feng's share was still in the pawnshop.
She asked Lin Daiyu to help with the accounts, so that if there were any unclear issues, she could use Lin Daiyu as a shield.
"Master Bao is here!"
Except for Lin Daiyu, all the girls looked up. They saw Jia Baoyu, dressed in that flamboyant bright red robe, staggering in with Xiren's help.
Jia Baoyu spotted the second daughter of the Zhen family at a glance, and immediately beamed like a flower, scurrying over to her: "Sister, you've come! The other day you had a big celebration, but I wasn't feeling well and couldn't go to congratulate you. Please don't be angry with me, sister."
When the second daughter of the Zhen family saw the large face that was almost touching her own, she quickly moved aside and said with a smile, "You're not feeling well, you should take good care of yourself."
"It's good that my sister understands me."
Jia Baoyu tried to join in, but Wang Xifeng, who had rushed over, pulled him back and said with a smile to the second daughter of the Zhen family, "Your Highness is too kind. Baoyu is still young and doesn't understand things. He just says silly things and makes jokes. He doesn't have any bad intentions."
The second daughter of the Zhen family smiled, but when she saw Jia Baoyu staring at her intently, she immediately regretted not bringing her nanny.
"Baoyu!" Grandmother Jia's face darkened, and she slammed her chopsticks on the table.
Jia Baoyu acted as if he hadn't heard, staring intently at the second daughter of the Zhen family, and said to himself, "I used to think that once a girl got married, she lost her luster and became a dead pearl. But seeing you today, I realize that people are all very different—Sister, you are still the same as before, a priceless jewel..."
"Baoyu!" Wang Xifeng's face turned pale, and she quickly covered his mouth.
The second daughter of the Zhen family turned pale and stood there stunned.