The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 121 The Right Time
It was May and Jia Rong was still in seclusion.

Xue Baochai, fanning herself with a small fan, walked quickly into the Four Seasons Garden with her maid.

I just returned to the house and sat down to rest when I heard someone shouting at the window.

"Miss Baochai, please go to the hall quickly. Someone has brought in some beautiful foreign clothes and jewelry, and the girls are looking at them now."

Xue Baochai didn't recognize who it was, so she quickly said, "Okay! Who's talking outside?"

The maid said, "I am from Third Madam's courtyard."

Xue Baochai wanted to recognize the person from the window, but the person had already left.

Soon Xue Baochai could only drink a sip of water and then went to Tianfang Tower again.

I didn't feel it when I was in the house, but after I walked out a hundred meters or so, I wanted to go to the toilet.

Xue Baochai walked another twenty meters and entered Tianfang Tower.

Tianfang Building is similar to a large hotel. The first floor is a busy lobby. You can go up the circular staircases on both sides of the house to the second floor, which is the resting room.

Grandmother Jia and Mrs. Wang lived here. The whole structure was still made of wood, but it was built thicker to keep the temperature down, giving it a very tall and heavy Western style.

After entering Tianfang Tower, it was indeed much cooler.

The floor of the house is cleaned regularly by maids. The windows and walls are relatively high, and there are shade trees and rockery nearby. In addition, it is close to the lake, so it is more comfortable than other places.

The girls in Four Seasons Garden and the garden all like to come here to escape the summer heat. Even Miaoyu, who doesn't like crowds, often has afternoon tea here.

Xue Baochai doesn't come here often, mainly because she feels that Jia Mu and others dislike her.

When Xue Baochai came in, she did not attract the girls' attention.

Shi Xiangyun picked up a black piece of clothing and asked, "What is this? It looks like a sweatshirt, but also like a vest."

Lin Daiyu held up a white umbrella and said, "Is this umbrella made of cloth? It looks really strange."

Xue Baoqin was well-informed. She took the vest from Shi Xiangyun and said, "This is a man's suit, and that umbrella is a parasol used by Western aristocratic women."

"It's so sunny outside today, so you can go out for a walk with an umbrella."

Jia Xichun picked up another object that looked like a metal vase and asked, "What is this?"

Xue Baoqin looked at it and shook her head.

"I don't know. Maybe I'll know when the master comes out."

Jia Xichun asked curiously, "Why does he know?"

Yinglian explained: "The master's room has a lot of Western things, and a lot of books in Western languages. He knows a lot about those things."

Jia Rong always understands a lot of things that others don’t understand.

Lin Daiyu was very curious about where Jia Rong learned all this, as even her father didn't understand it.

Wang Xifeng looked at a box of glasses.

"These glasses look beautiful and exquisite. They are good things. Let's keep a few for now and put the rest away. We can decide how to divide them when the master comes out."

Xue Baochai asked curiously, "Is it a reward from the Emperor?"

Jia Xichun smiled and said, "No, it was sent by the Southern Chamber of Commerce. Now the Southern Chamber of Commerce is doing business with Western countries, and has also started a spice business with Southwest India. Last time, they sent six strings of Buddhist beads."

Xue Baochai obviously didn't know about this, but she also knew that the good things must have been given to others.

Wang Xifeng saw the expression on Xue Baochai's face and said to Jia Xichun with a smile, "Don't look at these, ma'am. I'll seal it and ask someone to carry it into the house. You guys can eat the melons first."

Everyone sat down in the hall, and soon a few children came over holding watermelons.

These children were afraid of the heat, so they wore open-crotch pants, and came over with their bellies bulging, holding the watermelons and waiting to eat them.

The maids and old women came over to tell the children not to touch it, and cut some watermelons and passed them over to each child.

Jia Xichun and others took a small bite of the melon and stopped eating. They all sat there chatting and laughing.

When Xue Baochai came out of the toilet, she saw that no one was eating much watermelon.

"Why don't you eat anymore?" Xue Baochai obviously sensed something was wrong.

Shi Xiangyun whispered, "Keep your voice down and wait until they leave."

Xue Baochai discovered that Shi Xiangyun was referring to children.

After eating the watermelon, more than a dozen children quickly went outside to play. Several maids and old women followed this group of energetic children.

Not long after the children left, the maids brought up iced yogurt that was sweeter than watermelon.

Each of the ladies in the room was given a bowl of brightly colored iced yogurt.

The bowls used by Sanchun are all glass cups, with white semi-frozen yogurt on the bottom and red and yellow fruits on the top.

Lin Daiyu used a small celadon bowl, Shi Xiangyun used a small wooden crabapple bowl, and Xue Baochai found that her cup was a small bowl with yellow flower patterns, similar to the ones used by the maids.

Even though I was a little bothered, I ate it the same way, I just put a scoop of it into my mouth with a wooden spoon, and instantly I tasted something happier than watermelon.

Wang Xifeng held the gilded bowl, walked over to the old lady, sat down, and said with a smile: "It's not that I don't want to give it to the child, and our family is not petty, but after eating it, he will definitely make a fuss again, and it will be difficult to appease him with watermelon, fruit, candy, or snacks in the future."

The old lady was also lying on a cool mat and drinking ice milk, pointing at Wang Xifeng with a smile.

Xue Baochai looked carefully at the golden bowl in Wang Xifeng's hand and felt that it was a little dangerous as it exceeded her family's standards.

Wang Xifeng also looked around while eating, and when she saw Xue Baochai's eyes, she smiled.

"This golden bowl was given by the emperor, but the master doesn't like to use it, so he just gave it to us. It's not easy for me to hold it, and it's not as good as an ordinary porcelain bowl."

After hearing this, Third Sister You smiled and said, "If Sister Feng doesn't want it, just give it to me. I want it."

Wang Xifeng was reluctant to part with the golden bowl. "It may not be useful, but it is still valuable if I keep it. You are so shameless that you drank my milk without calling me mother, but you still want my golden bowl?"

Third Sister You scolded, "Look at your tongue. If I call you mother, will you feed me milk every day?"

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "I dare not. This little brat is eating me out of money. If Third Sister eats my food every day, I will become thin!"

Everyone was talking and laughing, and at this time Caixia came in from outside.

"Old lady, Madam, Grandma, the Prince of Nan'an's Mansion sent three food boxes. They said that the summer heat is unbearable, and they thought that the old lady and the grandmas in the mansion would not want to eat, so they sent wine, meat and side dishes suitable for summer."

The old lady looked at Jia Yuanchun and said, "In the past one or two months since I came here, the Prince of Nan'an's Mansion has sent gifts five or six times."

Jia Yuanchun nodded, "Almost."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Many other princes and the imperial palace have also sent us letters, and they have all asked about the master's situation."

After hearing this, Jia Yuanchun sighed and said, "Give one box to Xichun, one box to the master, and keep one box for yourself."

"It's so hot, and the master is still busy in the hot house. I can't eat."

Wang Xifeng comforted him, saying, "The master will be busy in the room for a while and will come out. He will naturally relax and enjoy himself when he comes out. We all know his character. He will not wrong himself. Sister, don't be sad all the time. The master will be unhappy if he sees you."

Jia Yuanchun smiled and said, "My sister is right. It will be more lively when the master comes out. Is there anyone having a birthday this month? It will be more lively in the evening."

Wang Xifeng said, "There really isn't any this month. May and June are idle months. July and August are busy months. Most of the brothers and sisters in our family are busy in July and August."

The old lady took a bite of the cold yogurt and said, "May is not a good month, it is an evil month. Everything in this month is not good. Your Master She is from this month."

Old Lady Wang Xifeng mentioned the sad story and said hurriedly, "I was busy with many things when I was in the mansion. I remember that Sister Baochai's brother was also in May, it seems to be the fifth day of May."

The old lady said directly: "That's even worse. The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the most poisonous day. A man born on this day will be unlucky for his father, and a woman born on this day will be unlucky for her mother."

Xue Baochai had a very bad expression on her face. She wanted to curse but couldn't, so she could only be angry and endure it.

Lin Daiyu was kindhearted, and upon seeing this, she took the initiative to say, "I remember Yinglian's birthday is in June, June 24th, the birthday of the lotus. My family would go to the lotus pond to appreciate and pick lotus flowers on this day."

The old lady smiled and said, "It sounds like a good day. It will be very lively on that day."

Yinglian was well-behaved and docile. She had been brought by Jia Yuanchun to visit Rong Mansion since she was a child, and had known the old lady for several years.

Mrs. Wang asked, "Why didn't Yinglian come today?"

Jia Yuanchun said, "Yinglian and Xiaohong are serving the master. I have sent desserts to them. They are busy in the front yard too. Don't worry about them."

The old lady took another bite, leaning on the straw pillow with the cold bowl in one hand and a small spoon in the other hand with a look of reminiscence in her eyes.

"I remember when you brought Yinglian to my place, she had just been pregnant for a short time. At that time, Yinglian was still a little girl. Now she has grown up slowly. The children in the womb have also grown up and are very lively all day long." Mrs. Wang also praised, "I think Yinglian is a sensible and well-behaved child, and she is also steady in her work."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "I think Xiren is not bad either. She thinks about Baoyu every day."

Mrs. Wang's face darkened, but she said nothing.

Wang Xifeng wondered what was going on and how difficult it was to serve her.

If I had known earlier, I would have played cards, taken a bath and taken a nap in the yard with Youshi and the others. Why are you coming here?
Jia Yuanchun asked: "I think Xiren is pretty good, mother, do you think there is anything wrong with her?"

Mrs. Wang sighed and said, "I don't like this very much. Before I even got married, I was already thinking about my grandmother running around the mansion all day, thinking about things with Baoyu. I sent a maid back to tell her that they were doing that kind of thing in the backyard during the day and pestering Baoyu all day long."

"If the Duke hadn't arranged for her to be Baoyu's aunt, I really wouldn't approve of this."

Third Sister You was nearby, and when she heard it, she laughed and said, "Don't you know? Master Bao and Hua Xiren had sex three or four years ago!"

"It should be before the incident at Rong Mansion. At that time, the master mentioned this to me casually, saying that he had just had sex when he was sixteen or seventeen years old, and Second Master Bao had started when he was eleven or twelve years old."

Third Sister You asked curiously, "But it's strange to come here. It's been four or five years, and there's no news."

The old lady and Mrs. Wang were so anxious that their faces turned red.

The old lady cursed: "Go call that bitch over here!!"

Third Sister You clearly sensed something was wrong, and belatedly realized that she... might have gotten into trouble.

Wang Xifeng glanced at her and made a look that told her to leave quickly.

You Erjie quickly took the third sister and left.

Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai and others also realized the problem, but did not avoid it and all joined in the fun out of curiosity.

As Xichun opened the lunch box, she whispered, "It would be strange if something didn't happen in the west someday."

Tanchun rolled her eyes at her and whispered, "You are from the west, too."

Xichun laughed and said, "Bah, I'm from the east."

Lin Daiyu said to her maid Zijuan, "Go and call Sister Yuanyang and Sister Ping'er."

Zijuan said to Xueyan, "Xueyan, hurry up. You run fast. I'll save some food for you later."

"Okay!" The little girl Xueyan agreed happily and ran out to call for help.

Hua Xiren came over soon. Maybe she knew the reason why she was called in advance. As soon as she came in, Hua Xiren knelt down in front of Jia Yuanchun.

"Grandma! I really like Master Bao. I am devoted to Master Bao and have never done anything to let him down, Grandma!"

Hua Xiren knelt directly before Jia Yuanchun, abandoning the old lady who sent her to Jia Baoyu, and also abandoning her mother-in-law, Lady Wang, who had once tried to win her over.

Although it was very disrespectful to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, I have to say that they found the right person.

It was useless to ask Mrs. Wang and the old lady for help at this time. The two of them were obviously very dissatisfied with her and had already planned to drive her away.

The only person Hua Xiren can rely on is Jia Rong. If Jia Rong is not around, then it will be Jia Yuanchun!

Jia Yuanchun looked at Hua Xiren kneeling in front of her. Although she did not like this seductive woman who seduced her younger brother, after all, her brother was only eleven years old at that time!

After having a son, Jia Yuanchun hated this kind of woman even more. Now her son is seven or eight years old. If he meets a slut like Hua Xiren in another three or four years, she will really want to kill him.

I get angry just thinking about it!
"I don't like you." Jia Yuanchun said coldly, "But you are the aunt that the master wants to leave for Baoyu. Although I don't like you, the master has his reasons for doing so. Stand up and speak."

Jia Yuanchun had a very bad expression, as if she was being forced to forgive someone she didn't like.

Hua Xiren prayed to the right Bodhisattva this time, and she worshipped the right Bodhisattva before the old lady and the lady spoke.

Otherwise, once the old lady and the lady spoke, Jia Yuanchun would only add fuel to the fire and would not stand up to express her own position.

Yuanyang and Ping'er who were standing nearby also breathed a sigh of relief, because they knew that Hua Xiren had made a big move this time.

The old lady suppressed her anger and said angrily: "I ask you! When did you seduce Baoyu!"

Xiren knelt on the ground and begged for mercy, "Grandfather, it was Master Bao who came to me first. A few years ago, when I was changing his pants, I saw something dirty on them, and then I did that."

Madam Wang scolded, "You are a wild cat that steals fish! How old was my son at that time?! I really want to beat you to death!"

Jia Yuanchun understood her mother's anger. If her son was seduced by a maid and was corrupted at such a young age, she would probably want to kill someone.

"Xiren! Let me ask you, besides you, who else has done that with Baoyu?"

Xiren knew that she had to share the firepower now, so she confessed honestly: "Bihen and Sheyue in the Second Master's room have done it, and there were also two maids who were driven away before. They all did it secretly, not many times, for fear of hurting the Second Master's body."

The old lady and Mrs. Wang were so angry that they wanted to hit someone.

Jia Yuanchun scolded him coldly: "Have you ever done it with Qingwen? Qingwen used to be Baoyu's roommate!"

Xiren kowtowed hurriedly: "No! Qingwen is proud and arrogant, she didn't do it, but she should know about what happened between us and the Second Master."

Yuanyang and Ping'er both breathed a sigh of relief.

Jia Yuanchun calmed down a bit and asked again, "You guys did it so many times, why didn't you get pregnant? Did you secretly take medicine to get an abortion?"

Xiren quickly shook her head, "No, nothing has happened. I don't know what happened. Maybe I didn't do enough."

These words made the three women of the Jia family very angry.

Wang Xifeng said hurriedly at this time: "I think you should not go back, girl. You should stay here in Ning Mansion until the master comes out. Go to the eldest lady and serve her for a while. Go quickly! Don't kneel here and get in the way!"

Hua Xiren looked at Jia Yuanchun.

Jia Yuanchun cursed in annoyance: "Get lost!"

"Thank you grandma! Thank you madam! Thank you ancestors!" Hua Xiren hurriedly left here and finally escaped the disaster.

Jia Yuanchun stood up and didn't want to stay any longer. Before leaving, she looked at Lin Daiyu and others.

"Miss Lin, Baoyu is already an adult. You should be more careful when you meet him in the future and avoid suspicion."

Lin Daiyu felt that this was unreasonable and there was no need to avoid suspicion when meeting Jia Rong.

"Yes." Lin Daiyu still agreed.

Sanchun and others also knew what kind of person Jia Baoyu was. Even Shi Xiangyun whispered, "I didn't expect my second brother to be so vulgar."

Lin Daiyu retorted: "Your elder brother is not much better."

Xichun said quickly, "That's not right. Her eldest brother would give status to whoever he wanted. If he didn't give status, he wouldn't delay the girl. If he delayed her, she would definitely stay with him. But the second brother is different. He can't keep anyone. If it wasn't for the eldest brother this time, I think Xiren would have been driven away."

Xue Baochai nodded and said, "That's right. Look to the west and then to the east. If Xiren had followed Brother Rong, she wouldn't have to kneel down and beg for mercy."

Tanchun shook her head and said, "Forget it, forget it. Let's eat. If we delay any longer, the food will be heated up."

Tanchun's joke made the few people stop caring about Jia Baoyu's affairs and start enjoying the exquisite healthy side dishes sent by the prince.

Not only could Lin Daiyu taste the exquisite side dishes of the prince's family, but even Lin Daiyu's maids Zijuan and Xueyan got to taste a few bites.

Lin Daiyu also realized the only reason why Hua Xiren could stay.

Xiren was the aunt appointed by Jia Rong for Jia Baoyu.

Now everyone in the West Mansion depends on Jia Rong for their livelihood, so the others have to listen to Jia Rong's words.

Even if Lady Jia, Jia Zheng, Mrs. Wang, Jia Yuanchun and others all opposed it, as long as Jia Rong agreed, things could go on.

When Lin Daiyu thought about the poor woman who was not protected by her husband but by another man, she felt that both Jia Baoyu and Hua Xiren were very pathetic.

The next day, Lin Daiyu remembered something while she was dressing up.

"Zijuan, go ask Sheyue and Bihen how they are doing now."

Zijuan replied, "Why ask? They were definitely driven away. They were still maids in the Jia Mansion. After they were driven away, their indentures were also in the Jia Mansion. They will never be able to get married in the future."

Lin Daiyu was well aware that the world outside was in chaos, and the two girls who were driven out would most likely die if they had no one to rely on.

"Go talk to Sister Feng, or just come to my place. Don't chase them out. There are so many people selling their children out there now. They will definitely not have a good life if they get out."

Zijuan sighed, "Okay, I'll go and talk to you."

Even during Jia Rong's seclusion, various problems still occurred in the Jia family, so Jia Rong could not be blamed for this.

(End of this chapter)