Chapter 2: The Rongguo Mansion's male protagonist, Gao Dawei, appears at least outwardly harmonious...

Wang Xifeng smiled and replied, "I'll tell him when he gets back. Don't worry, Your Majesty, I'll definitely take care of it for you."

Grandmother Jia nodded, about to say something, when she saw Yuanyang enter with a maid carrying a lantern. She knew this was a reminder that it was time.

Grandmother Jia deliberately yawned and said, "I'm tired too. You should all go back. It's late autumn, and it gets dark early. Be careful on the road."

Everyone in the room stood up and bowed. Grandmother Jia then pointed to the lantern in Yuanyang's hand: "These are lanterns they made for the Mid-Autumn Festival. They were found while cleaning the house the other day. Everyone should pick one to take back. In case it's dark on the road, it will be a good use of them."

The lanterns made for the Mid-Autumn Festival don't have any "ingenious" features; they are all round, symbolizing reunion, and are bright red, at most leaning slightly towards orange.

There were only so many similar items, so everyone took one. Xue Baoqin glanced at Grandmother Jia, and when Grandmother Jia noticed her gaze, she chuckled and said, "Grandmother, I also want one, but I live in your courtyard, so it doesn't matter whether the road is dark or not."

Grandmother Jia liked lively and clever girls, and laughed, saying, "You're something else!"

Xue Baoqin lifted her skirt slightly, her steps as light as a deer's, and happily went to pick out lanterns.

Grandmother Jia was most worried about her two daughters, especially Lin Daiyu, who was already wearing a padded jacket. Most people in the room were only wearing a jacket, and she, being of advanced age, had just put on a padded jacket.

"Send a maid to fetch you."

Before Lin Daiyu could speak, Yuanyang said, "Zijuan is already waiting outside."

"I was just overthinking it." Grandmother Jia immediately felt relieved: "She was always the most considerate; she was very thoughtful when she was in my room."

Jia Baoyu instructed the maids to light the lanterns, handing one to Lin Daiyu and keeping the other for himself, saying, "Don't worry, Grandmother, I'll take Lin Daiyu back."

Lady Wang glanced at her own son, but even in front of Grandmother Jia, she couldn't say anything.

A group of people came out of Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

Grandmother Jia's courtyard was located at the westernmost part of the Rongguo Mansion. Whether it was the group returning to the Grand View Garden or Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Wang Xifeng, and others, they all had to walk east. At the beginning of this journey, everyone was together, so it was quite lively.

However, Wang Xifeng left soon after.

She hadn't fully recovered from her illness, and there were many things to do at home. In addition, two new vixens, Sister You Er and Qiu Tong, had moved into the courtyard. Although she had instigated the two to fight, she was still annoyed.

Wang Xifeng said, "I need to go back to see the children." Supported by two maids, she left as fast as she could.

They were all family, and everyone knew more or less about what was going on in Wang Xifeng's courtyard. No one said much, and after a few quiet moments, they started chatting again.

Madam Wang and Aunt Xue walked at the very back, whispering to each other.

Jia Baoyu pulled Lin Daiyu aside and asked her what she wanted to eat, what she wanted to play, and what she wanted, saying he would go out and bring it back for her.

Xue Baochai pulled her cousin aside and whispered, "You were a bit rude just now. You should be more composed in front of the old lady."

Xue Baoqin looked bewildered: "I don't remember. Next time I do something wrong, just tell me directly, sister. This... I don't know what you mean?"

Xue Baochai's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and Xue Baoqin didn't deliberately lower her voice either. Anyway, Tan Chun heard it. She chuckled, gave her sisters a wink, and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Sister Bao is teaching her younger sister how to conduct herself again."

Ever since Xue Baochai betrayed her when she was managing the Grand View Garden, ruining their efforts to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, and using their own profits to give away as favors, Tan Chun has never gone over to her, taking every opportunity to make sarcastic remarks.

But Xue Baochai was no ordinary person; she pretended not to hear and showed no sign of anything amiss on her face.

However, Shi Xiangyun was a straightforward person and came to her rescue, saying, "I would rather Baochai be my own sister, so she can take care of me every day."

That's a difficult thing to respond to; it's better not to have heard it at all.

Fortunately, the road wasn't long, and they soon reached the intersection. Those living in the Grand View Garden went north, Madam Wang went south, and Aunt Xue continued east.

Shi Xiangyun waited for Xue Baochai to leave together. Aunt Xue smiled apologetically and said, "I need to say a few words to Baochai. You should go back first, Yun'er."

The most considerate Jia Baoyu said, "You ate half a bowl too much for dinner, why don't you come with me to see your Sister Lin off? It'll help you digest. When we turn back, your Sister Bao will probably be at the door, then you can go back with her, wouldn't that be perfect?"

Jia Baoyu's Yihong Courtyard and Lin Daiyu's Xiaoxiang Pavilion were the two courtyards closest to the entrance of the Grand View Garden, located to the west and east respectively, so Shi Xiangyun agreed after thinking about it.

Jia Baoyu then went to say goodbye to Lady Wang.

Madam Wang straightened his sleeves and earnestly guided him, saying, "How have you been studying these past two days? Your father has been away on assignment for two years now, and he should be back next year. He must have read quite a few books in three years, right? He'll ask you carefully."

When Jia Zheng was mentioned, and it was even mentioned as homework, Jia Baoyu immediately became listless.

Madam Wang breathed a sigh of relief. Even if she was listless, she was still better than her sister-in-law's daughter who was always around her.

—What kind of image does it project when one grovels and acts subserviently?

The group said their goodbyes at the crossroads, and Xue Baoqin turned back and headed towards Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

Xue Baochai helped Aunt Xue slowly walk towards the northeast courtyard.

"Baoyu wants to go see the excitement, why don't you ask your brother to help find a place?" Aunt Xue asked her daughter for her opinion. "Although it's only for a couple of days, it will only cost a little more money."

“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Xue Baochai agreed. “If no one would give up their seat for ten taels of silver, surely no one would give up their seat for fifty or a hundred taels? This amount of silver is nothing to us.”

"It's Lian'er..."

Xue Baochai said, "Brother should be back by now. Mother, just ask him when you get back. If he's confident, he should go and tell Feng'er as soon as possible. If not, he can do it tonight and tell her tomorrow morning. Anyway, Lian Erge can only go out and ask tomorrow. Besides... I guess this matter is not easy for Lian Erge either."

Aunt Xue patted Xue Baochai's arm, breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "You should go back too, don't keep Yun'er waiting."

On the other side, Jia Baoyu escorted Lin Daiyu all the way back, their sticky and affectionate interactions making people laugh.

Tan Chun gave Ying Chun a wink with a half-smile, but Ying Chun was preoccupied with her own thoughts. As the eldest of the sisters, she couldn't manage a smile.

Although women tend to marry late when the country is peaceful and prosperous, and in better families, most of them will stay for two more years, with many getting married at eighteen or nineteen, and some even staying until twenty, there is a difference between not being married and not being engaged.

Xiangyun got engaged right after turning fifteen, Baoqin, the new girl, also got married, and even her stepmother's niece got engaged.

Yingchun looked around. Everyone in the household knew that Baoyu and Lin Daiyu were engaged. The old lady talked about the two of them all day long. She... had no one to confide in, so she could only become more and more silent.

Anyway... she can't control anything.

Lin Daiyu returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion and saw Jia Baoyu and Shi Xiangyun off. Zijuan went to prepare hot water and other things to prepare for bed. Xueyan came in and said, "Miss, the clothes and quilts have all been hung out to dry. However, our courtyard is not big and there are many bamboos, so not much can be dried each day. I told them to use charcoal to dry them."

"Hmm." Lin Daiyu nodded, looking at the bamboo forest outside the window. She liked the way the bamboo grove was so swaying in the sunlight. "Anyway, we have enough things, and the weather is still sunny. Let's dry them slowly."

Zijuan and her servants helped Lin Daiyu wash up, changed her into casual clothes, poured her a cup of hot water, and asked, "What book are you reading today, Miss?"

Lin Daiyu coughed lightly twice and said, "I won't read today. Go light some incense and I'll write a few words."

"Was she well today?" Wang Xifeng asked Ping'er as she changed her clothes and washed her hands after returning home.

"I didn't go out today," Ping'er replied meekly.

Wang Xifeng gave a cold laugh and said nothing. Ping'er brought her the medicine, and after thinking it over, she couldn't help but offer a few words of advice: "Taking good care of yourself is the most important thing. Don't worry about things too much—"

But when Wang Xifeng glared at her, Ping'er dared not say anything more.

After Wang Xifeng finished her medicine, the old woman brought Qiao Jie over. Wang Xifeng said a few words to her daughter, and then complained to Ping'er, "She said the wrong thing again today. I just don't understand, after all these years, even if she were a fool, she should have learned to be clever by now. Why is she still so disliked?"

Although she was used as a substitute, her eyes and gestures pointed to the southeast, clearly indicating that she was referring to Madam Xing.

Ping'er picked out some ointment from the small medicine box and applied it to Wang Xifeng's temples. She didn't say much. The two had been together for many years, and it was obvious that some things didn't need her response. She was just complaining.

Wang Xifeng closed her eyes and rested for a moment when Jia Lian returned.

Before he could even change his clothes after entering the house, Sister You Er came to pay her respects.

"Second Master, Second Madam."

Wang Xifeng sneered inwardly, but her smile was so warm it was frightening: "Why are you being so distant again? You used to call me 'sister,' why are you being so distant in front of the Second Master?"

Sister You called out "Sister" again.

Wang Xifeng was satisfied and said with a smile, "Second Master will come to find you in a little while. The Old Madam has something to tell me, so I need to talk to Second Master first."

Sister You left hesitantly.

Jia Lian, oblivious to the undercurrents within, simply assumed Wang Xifeng was virtuous and thought that while his wife wasn't particularly charming, his concubine was beautiful. He lay down on the bed and asked, "What is it, Grandmother?"

"Baoyu wants to go to Andingmen to watch the army return in triumph, and asks if you can find him a place that is less crowded, safe, and where he can see the excitement clearly."

Jia Lian sneered, "He really is a little devil. Where am I supposed to find him a spot? The Anding Gate is fine, I'll find him a place there."

Wang Xifeng felt unwell all over; she had headaches, backaches, and was especially lacking in energy. She also had an illness that she couldn't seem to get better no matter what she did. What angered her most were the two vixens in her household; she was never at ease and would explode at the slightest provocation.

She could restrain herself a bit in front of Grandmother Jia, but in front of Jia Lian? She would just start arguing directly.

“Go and talk to the old lady. I’ll tell her tomorrow that you can’t do it and that I’ve rejected her.”

When Wang Xifeng got angry, Jia Lian softened. He got out of bed and sat down next to Wang Xifeng: "I did book the place a long time ago, and I also made appointments with people. Just think about what Baoyu looks like? What style does he dress up in? What is his usual way of speaking and acting? What am I supposed to do if those people get any ideas? Wouldn't the old lady tear me apart?"

"Pah! A belly full of male thieves and female prostitutes!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ping'er lifted the curtain and came in: "Aunt Xue is here."

Wang Xifeng wasn't very close to the Xue family. When she heard that she had arrived, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "It's almost dark. What is she doing here?"

As she spoke, she nudged Jia Lian, and the couple stood up. Ping'er turned around and invited Aunt Xue in.

Aunt Xue walked quickly, and her voice was a little weak: "When I got back, I saw Pan'er. He had booked a two-story restaurant by the street, with two tables that can seat quite a few people."

Wang Xifeng's expression immediately became subtle, but Jia Lian didn't care about that; this had solved his immediate problem.

Jia Lian laughed and said, "Baoyu is usually close to Brother Pan, Aunt has really helped me a lot."

Both families were quite satisfied. Since it was getting late, Aunt Xue didn't linger and left after a few polite words.

Jia Lian stood up: "You should rest well. I'm going to Second Sister's room."

Wang Xifeng had a smile on her face, but after Jia Lian left, only anger remained.

"No wonder he's surnamed You; he's already hooked up with three men surnamed Jia!"

"Grandma." Qiu Tong's voice came from outside again.

Her anger vanished instantly, and Wang Xifeng raised her voice, "Is it Qiu Tong?"

Qiu Tong came in, curtsied, and spoke very bluntly: "Greetings to Grandma. I say Grandma's temper is too good. Why didn't she come to pay her respects when Grandma came back? She only came out as soon as Grandpa came back. This is not paying respects, this is clearly coming to seduce men."

“We’re all family, don’t talk about her like that,” Wang Xifeng retorted softly.

"I just can't stand her. Grandma has a good temper, but I can't tolerate that. Just you wait—"

"You... at least don't do it in front of your master, otherwise wouldn't that confirm that we're bullying her?"

Qiu Tong spat at the other side: "I have to give her a good scolding. It's only because she's a master that she brings all sorts of dirty and smelly things into the house."

Wang Xifeng offered feigned advice and appropriate reminders, thinking that something big was bound to happen tomorrow, and she had to hide out early in the morning.

Time flies. At 1:45 AM on the fifth day of the tenth month, Mu Chuan, wearing armor covered in marks, rode his tall horse and was the first to enter Anding Gate.

On the second-floor terrace of the Hao Zailai Restaurant not far away, Jia Baoyu, like the other onlookers, gasped in surprise.

"He's so tall! He's so strong!"

A note from the author:

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This book is set later in the story, when Lin Daiyu is sixteen years old and ready to fall in love at any time.