Chapter 220 Jealousy

"Mother, Granny Yuan, Yuan Hongqu is the headmistress of the girls' academy!"

Baochai's eyes were bloodshot with rage, filled with extreme regret.

"The headmistress?" Madam Wang frowned upon hearing this. "Impossible. The headmistress of the girls' academy is surnamed Bai. She's a woman in her fifties. How could she be Yuan Hongqu? She only worked as a teacher at the girls' academy."

Madam Wang thought it was impossible. She had heard of the girls' academy before and had even met Dean Bai at a banquet, but they were only nodding acquaintances.

“Aunt, just now the three teachers from the girls’ academy said that as long as Lin Daiyu is willing to go to the academy, their headmistress will also go back. They also said that Lin Daiyu is their headmistress’s last disciple.”

“My child, who cares about them! They have nothing to do with our family. From now on, put these thoughts aside and focus on your needlework and embroidery.” Aunt Xue hugged Baochai tenderly.

"It's only been a few days, but you've lost a lot of weight just from preparing for this entrance exam."

"Sister, that's not how it works. I think there's something strange about this. Let me send someone to inquire about it." Madam Wang found Baochai's words rather odd. It seemed that Dean Bai had mentioned that she was about to retire, so was there going to be a new dean? Could this dean be Yuan Hongqu?

If it really is the original Hongqu, could their family gain some benefit from it?

“Aunt, why don’t you ask Sister Feng? She’s always been on good terms with Granny Yuan, so maybe she knows the truth.”

Baochai quickly said.

Madam Wang nodded, then looked around the Xue family's surroundings. Only the living room looked decent; the rest of the house had only been cleaned a little. It was impossible to say that the place was comfortable to live in.

“Since all those teachers have come, there’s no need to stay here any longer. Sister and Baochai, come back with me.”

Aunt Xue and her daughter had the same idea, but Jia Baoyu's harsh words earlier had humiliated them.

Ultimately, the Xue mother and daughter still had some sense of pride. Although they were tempted by Madam Wang's words, they still declined.

"Sister, we won't go over there. We'll have someone bring Pan'er back later..."

"What are you saying! That wretched boy Baoyu was stirred up by someone and said a few things, and you took it all seriously. Sister, if you act like this, you'll truly break my heart!" said Madam Wang, and ordered her servants to go and help Aunt Xue.

"Sister, I think this place will need to be repaired for a few more years. The Lin family's house took almost two years to repair, and yours has only been under construction for a few months. How can it be habitable yet? Let's talk about it after it's fully repaired!"

Without waiting for a reply, Lady Wang also pulled Xue Baochai aside.

"Besides, Bao and I get along very well. If I don't see her paying her respects to me every day, I won't enjoy my meals."

Lady Wang's words reassured Aunt Xue. Her high regard for Baochai suggests that she intends for Baochai to become Bao Er's wife.

The best way out for Baochai in the future is to please Lady Wang and win over Jia Baoyu. As long as she can have a place in the Rongguo Mansion, even if the title of Rongguo Mansion does not fall to Jia Baoyu, the Xue family will not have too difficult a life by borrowing the name of Rongguo Mansion.

Aunt Xue had always held this thought, so upon hearing Madam Wang's words, she happily went back to Pear Fragrance Courtyard, not caring about saving face at all!

Although Xue Baochai went along with them, her heart was still burning with anxiety and she was in great agony.

I've suffered such a huge loss again. If Yuan Hongqu had told me this rule when I went to the Lin family to seek guidance a few days ago, then...

Then she would only be more cautious and would never go to the Lin family's birthday banquet. Today, she would definitely have someone stop Baoyu and not allow anyone to enter the living room.

After all, she had already registered at the girls' academy when she went to the Lin family, and she couldn't change it.

Or if Yuan Hongqu had been willing to remind her more back then, she could have simply skipped the exam this year and taken it again next year using her own household registration, and she would have passed.

But Yuan Hongqu didn't mention it at all, instead giving him that ambiguous statement. This led him to mistakenly believe that he didn't need to do anything more to be accepted.

Xue Baochai was filled with regret and hatred. She had originally been jealous of Lin Daiyu, but now she hated Yuan Hongqu as well.

It's one thing if Yuan Hongqu isn't the headmistress of the girls' academy, but if she were, even if she couldn't get into the academy herself, what about the three girls of marriageable age in the Rongguo Mansion? Wouldn't Yuan Hongqu help get them into the academy?

If Yingchun and the other two were really admitted by Yuan Hongqu as an exception...

Baochai thought to herself, "Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

She remembered the rules and regulations of the girls' academy clearly that day. Yuan Hongqu would inevitably be removed from her position as dean for recruiting students privately.

Although she had no real grudge against Lin Daiyu, why was Lin Daiyu showered with affection while Xue Baochai had to scheme and fawn over everyone to gain a place in the Rongguo Mansion, and was even ridiculed and looked down upon by that fool Jia Baoyu?

Xue Baochai's ancestors were also Ziwei Sheren (a high-ranking official in the Imperial Household Department), and they still have a vast fortune. They are renowned imperial merchants who supply goods to the palace and do business with the Imperial Household Department.

In what way is she inferior to Lin Daiyu?

He had tried to curry favor with Yuan Hongqu many times, and even tried to persuade her to work for the Xue family, but Yuan Hongqu never even gave him a second glance!

Is that really the reason?

Since Yuan Hongqu was the headmistress of the girls' academy, did she act entirely according to her own will without considering gains or losses?

Xue Baochai felt that she had finally understood Yuan Hongqu.

The clearer she understood it, the more unwilling she became.

Since she can't get into the girls' academy and can't get Yuan Hongqu's wholehearted help, then they shouldn't expect to live comfortably either!

Xue Baochai doesn't yet understand why she has such thoughts, but hatred and jealousy have already taken root in her heart.

You, Jia Baoyu, are so devoted to your Lin Daiyu that you can't stand anyone saying a bad word about her?

Since the elders insist on pairing her up with Jia Baoyu, she will inevitably have more opportunities to spend time with him in the future. She refuses to believe that with her looks, talent, and cunning, she can't tame that fool!

The morning dew had not yet dried, and a light mist lingered.

On the open ground beside the Lin family's Koi Lake, Yuan Hongqu was leading Daiyu in a slow, rhythmic exercise that resembled Tai Chi. Daiyu, dressed in a light green dress, looked quite beautiful as her skirt fluttered in the breeze.

"Mr. Yuan, the girls' academy announced its admission information today. We went there early this morning to wait, and sure enough, the girl's name was listed first!"