Chapter 3: Baochai of the Dream of the Red Chamber - Yuan Ning's Journey with a Scumbag...
Two years after their marriage, Baochai gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Looking at her two adorable babies in their swaddling clothes, Aunt Xue wept with joy and chanted Buddhist prayers repeatedly.
This complete happiness of having both a son and a daughter finally dispelled the lingering attachment that belonged to the original owner of Baochai's heart.
While the Xue family was thriving, the Jia family was shrouded in gloom, and Lady Wang's illness was getting worse.
Aunt Xue prepared generous gifts and went to visit her at the Jia family. When Lady Wang saw Aunt Xue's pampered and elegant demeanor, and thought about her own current situation and Bao Yu's disappointment, she felt a surge of resentment, which actually worsened her condition.
Baoyu, however, was carefree and thought that since his mother was sick, no one would bother him to study or stop him from thinking about Lin Daiyu, and he could finally have some peace and quiet.
He still spent his days lounging around the inner chambers, constantly muttering about either Lin Daiyu or Yun Daiyu.
Seeing that Lady Wang's illness was getting worse day by day, Grandmother Jia was very anxious. She discussed with Jia Zheng, "Your wife's illness is very dangerous. Why don't we arrange the marriage of the two Yu'ers as soon as possible?"
Firstly, to bring her some good luck and hope she gets better. Secondly... if something were to happen to her, Baoyu would have to observe three years of mourning, which would likely delay the marriage.
Grandmother Jia was worried that, given her advanced age, if she were to pass away, the marriage of her two daughters, Yu'er, would likely be forgotten.
She doted on Baoyu, but Daiyu was also her own granddaughter, and she had to take advantage of her life to arrange her marriage with Baoyu.
Baochai heard from the little system that Old Madam Jia wanted Lin Daiyu to marry Lady Wang to bring her good luck.
Originally unwilling to get involved in the Jia family's affairs, she thought of Daiyu's tragic end, dying after exhausting her tears, and then of the old lady Jia's disdain for the original owner in her previous life, and Lady Wang's repeated scheming. She decided to give the old lady Jia a hard time.
Soon, the old steward of the Lin family, carrying Lin Ruhai's letter of entrustment, finally managed to reach the residence of Liu Yushi, a fellow graduate of the same year as Lin Ruhai.
In his letter, Lin Ruhai stated that he was willing to offer up all of the Lin family's assets, hoping that his daughter Daiyu could have a way to survive. Attached to the letter was a list of the Lin family's assets.
Imperial Censor Liu was upright and incorruptible, and he hated such despicable acts as bullying an orphan girl and seizing her family property.
At the grand court assembly, he launched a scathing attack on the Jia family. Not a single official in the entire court defended the Jia family.
Prince Yong, Yinzhen, grew increasingly disgusted with Jia Yuanchun, a princess from the Jia family. The Vice Minister of Revenue, with righteous indignation, earnestly requested Emperor Kangxi to punish her severely.
No one in the court spoke up for the Jia family, and Prince Yong, Yinzhen, even took his anger out on Jia Yuanchun, a princess in his household.
Emperor Kangxi, seizing the opportunity, issued an edict bestowing upon Daiyu the title of County Princess, granting her a County Princess's Mansion, and ordering 70% of the Lin family's property to be deposited into the national treasury, while 30% to be reserved as Daiyu's future dowry.
An imperial edict caused Daiyu to leave the Jia family mansion in a daze, and she moved into the spacious and bright county princess mansion surrounded by palace maids and nannies.
As for her belongings, palace servants were responsible for inventorying and moving them, ensuring that not a single needle or thread would fall into the Jia family's hands.
Daiyu's feelings for Baoyu have gradually faded. Xue Baochai, who no longer has the "golden and jade" marriage, still has Shi Xiangyun's golden unicorn.
Lady Wang preferred that Baoyu marry Xiangyun rather than his sister-in-law Jia Min's daughter, with whom she had the worst relationship. As a result, the servants often spread the story of the "Golden Unicorn".
Baoyu was the type of person who would forget his younger sister once he saw his older sister, and he often pestered Grandmother Jia to bring Xiangyun to stay at the mansion for a while.
Watching the two of them affectionately call each other "brother" and "sister Yun," Daiyu's heart grew colder and colder.
This time, Grandmother Jia's so-called "bringing good luck" only chilled her heart more deeply.
She saw through the scheming behind her grandmother's loving mask.
Under the guidance of the palace maids, she gradually distanced herself from the Jia family and Baoyu, only wanting to live a quiet life.
The Vice Minister of Revenue, armed with a list, led troops to surround the Rongguo Mansion, forcing the Jia family to exhaust all their resources to barely scrape together the amount needed to escape disaster.
Upon hearing the news, Lady Wang, who was bedridden, coughed up another mouthful of blood. The property she considered hers for the taking had been so cruelly taken from her; it felt like her heart had been ripped out.
At this point, how could the Jia family dare to invite the imperial physician? They were afraid that the emperor would think they harbored resentment.
Within a few days, Lady Wang died with resentment in her heart. Before she died, she held Baoyu's hand tightly and gritted her teeth, urging him: "My son, you must study hard, pass the imperial examinations, and support your sister in the Wang Mansion."
Her mad and ferocious appearance terrified Baoyu, who developed a high fever that night and was unable to attend his mother's funeral.
Not long after, Lady Wang passed away. Before she died, she held Baoyu's hand and gritted her teeth, urging him to study hard and become the top scholar in the imperial examination so that he could support his sister Yuanchun in the Prince's Mansion.
Lady Wang's madness terrified Jia Baoyu. He fell ill after leaving Lady Wang's courtyard, and even missed her funeral.
Daiyu came to pay her respects according to etiquette, but accompanied by her nanny, she came and went in a hurry, her expression distant.
When Grandmother Jia saw that Baoyu was still obsessed with marrying Lin Daiyu even while he was ill, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and invite Daiyu over.
After listening quietly to Grandmother Jia's plea, Daiyu said indifferently, "Grandmother, my second maternal aunt has just passed away, and my cousin Baoyu needs to observe mourning for his mother. It is not proper to discuss marriage at this time."
Having said that, she got up and left, leaving Grandmother Jia alone, her mouth agape, all the words stuck in her throat.
......
Later, when Yongzheng ascended the throne, Yongshu repeatedly presented high-yield crops, making outstanding contributions and being granted the title of Prince. The Xue family also rose in status as a result.
Meanwhile, the Jia family was in turmoil and their property was confiscated and they were punished. Daiyu, who was now a county princess, remembered her old friendship and rescued all the Jia family girls, including Shi Xiangyun, who eventually married Baoyu, and bought them a manor in the suburbs to settle them down.
In this life, Baochai lived to the ripe old age of ninety. She saw off her mother, Aunt Xue, her brother Xue Pan, who had been granted a title and lived a peaceful life, and her beloved Yongshu, with whom she had grown old together.
Surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying wealth and glory, she experienced it all before finally closing her eyes without any regrets and leaving this little world.
As soon as Chen Xia returned to the underworld, he received an official notification that his employee task rating had reached S and he was now granted special privileges.
You can apply to transfer to a higher-dimensional world, or you can apply for a paid long vacation. During the long vacation, you can go to the higher-dimensional world for a holiday. If you adapt well, you can choose to switch groups. If you do not adapt well, you can continue to do tasks in the lower-dimensional world.
With paid vacation benefits, Chen Xia certainly couldn't miss it. She smiled and asked the little system, "System, how about we go on vacation together, see the mountains, play in the water, and eat and drink to our hearts' content?"
The little system rubbed against her palm: "Okay! Wherever Xiaxia goes, I'll go."
Without further hesitation, Chen Xia applied for a long leave, and a soft white light instantly enveloped her and the small system.
She hugged the little ball of light tightly, her voice full of anticipation: "Our good days are just beginning."
-----------------------
Author's Note: See you in the next book!! Thank you all for your continued support of this silly author, Happy National Day!!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com