Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 19: Qin
dead?
Although Grandmother Jia was old, she was in good health and lived until Yingchun got married. So, could it be Qin Keqing who died at this moment?

Chen Siyuan felt a pity. It was said that Qin Keqing was as beautiful as both Daiyu and Chai Bao. Although he had never coveted her, even a single sight of her would have fulfilled his long-cherished wish. But he was denied the chance to meet her, and now Qin Keqing was dead!

Chen Siyuan stood up and ordered, "Look ahead and listen to see who's in trouble."

"Hey." Hongyu agreed and walked away quickly.

Unable to sleep, Chen Siyuan stood up. Xiangling hurriedly helped him get dressed and brewed a cup of strong tea to refresh him.

A moment later, Hongyu returned and saw the flickering lights inside, realizing Chen Siyuan had gotten up. She knocked on the door and entered, reporting, "Master, they say Dongfu Rong's Madam is unwell. Even the old lady is alarmed, and Master Bao is coughing up blood."

Chen Siyuan nodded slightly, thinking that Baoyu's coughing up blood was due to a dream he had in Qin Keqing's room that day. It was also because of this that the term "sexual fantasy" came into being.

Although the East and West Mansions were separate, they were actually one. Now that someone had died in the family, Chen Siyuan, as a distant relative, couldn't just barge into the inner house, nor could he pretend to be unaware.

He stood up immediately, and before he could give any instructions, Hongyu said, "Master, you are the eldest lady's nephew. You should go to the east wing and ask."

Chen Siyuan said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Xiangling and Yunxiang will stay at home, and you can come with me."

Hongyu agreed. Yunxiang, the young maid at the door, was yawning profusely. Hearing Chen Siyuan's order, she didn't feel like fighting for it. It was the middle of the night, and someone had died in the East Palace. Who knew how much longer they'd have to stay awake. Instead of this, why not go back and get some sleep first?

Chen Siyuan led Hongyu away. After a brief discussion with the doorman at the back door, he left through the back door and went around to the private alley.

As I walked, I could faintly hear the deafening cries coming from Ningguo Mansion.

Chen Siyuan was puzzled and could not help but slow down his pace. He asked Hongyu in a low voice, "What kind of person is that Rong Madam?"

Hongyu glanced at Chen Siyuan in surprise and said, "Master, what are you asking? I'm just a maid and haven't seen Madam Rong many times, so how can I know what kind of person she is?" After a pause, she continued, "I have heard from the servants that Madam Rong is very respectful to her elders, friendly and kind to her peers, and very kind to the younger ones. She is usually knowledgeable and thoughtful, and she is compassionate to the poor and the humble, and kind to the elderly and the young. No one has ever said anything bad about her."

After a while, he continued, "I worry too much. When I hear something, I often think about it for three to five days."

Chen Siyuan nodded and asked, "Do you know anything about this Grandma Rong's family?"

"I have heard that the Qin family's master is a construction official and is quite familiar with the master of the mansion. Grandma Rong was adopted by Master Qin from Yangsheng Hall."

"Health Preservation Hall?" Chen Siyuan asked, "So, that Grandma Rong is an adopted daughter?"

"Yeah." Hongyu responded. Although her expression did not change, Chen Siyuan could vaguely see a hint of contempt in Hongyu's eyes in the light of the lantern.

If Chen Siyuan hadn't spent many years here, he really wouldn't have known why Hongyu despised him. This contempt fell on the word "adopted daughter".

In Chen Siyuan's previous life, adopted daughters and goddaughters seemed to be mixed up, and there was no distinction between high and low. But in fact, at this time, there is a world of difference between them.

There are two famous adopted daughters in the history of the Qing Dynasty. One is Diao Chan, the adopted daughter of Prime Minister Wang Yun, who used a beauty trap to alienate Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu; the other is Wang Zhaojun, who was adopted by Emperor Yuan of Han and was later given to Huhanye Chanyu.

The Han Dynasty seems a bit far-fetched, so let's move on to the Song Dynasty. During the Song, human trafficking and slavery were prohibited. Servants in wealthy households were mostly indentured servants, and their masters couldn't kill or beat them at will. They were essentially salaried employees. The Song also prohibited the free adoption of concubines, but wealthy families still needed them. So what could they do? When poverty strikes, they seek change: adopting a daughter.

Therefore, in the history of the Qing Dynasty, adopted daughters were no different from the concubines and prostitutes of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. They not only had to meet the needs of the male owner, but also the needs of the guests.

Therefore, at this time, an adopted daughter has only two options: either she catches the eye of the master and becomes a concubine; or she becomes a bribe for the master's communication and has to deal with all kinds of people.

Therefore, Qin Keqing's background made Hongyu secretly despise her. But what puzzled Chen Siyuan was how this adopted daughter could marry Jia Rong and become Rong's wife. How could a family of Ningguo Mansion, with such status, marry an adopted daughter as their principal wife?
Chen Siyuan couldn't bring himself to say this, and even if he did, Hongyu wouldn't know. The master and servant hurried on, and soon arrived in front of the black oil-painted gate. They saw the corner door open, and servants were coming in and out.

Hongyu stepped forward and spoke a few words to the steward, and then the master and servant went straight inside. They were then led by the servant to the outer study to wait.

After about a cup of tea, there was a noise outside. It turned out to be Mrs. Xing and a man with a flat head and a straight face, who was over fifty years old, coming in.

Chen Siyuan guessed that this person was Jia She, and hurriedly stood up to greet him: "Nephew greets uncle and aunt."

Jia She only nodded slightly, his brows etched with worry. Madam Xing stepped forward and said, "Lian'er hasn't returned yet, and the master is in need of a second hand. Brother Yuan, come with the master to the East Palace."

"Yes, uncle, if you have anything to ask, just tell me."

Jia She said: "There is no time to lose, let's go now."

Chen Siyuan led Hongyu and followed Jia She. Madam Xing followed behind briefly and whispered, "Have some good eyesight!"

Chen Siyuan replied in a low voice: "Don't worry, aunt."

As they exited the black-oiled gate, the Ningguo Mansion loomed large, and carriages were already waiting outside. Jia She and Madam Xing got in, but Chen Siyuan naturally couldn't. Fortunately, a servant brought a horse.

The servants in front carried lanterns and cleared the way, and soon they arrived in front of Ningguo Mansion.

Riding on his horse, Chen Siyuan looked around carefully and saw that the gate of the mansion was wide open, with lanterns on both sides illuminating it as bright as day. People were coming and going in a bustling crowd, and the crying sounds inside were shaking the mountains and hills.

The carriage entered directly through the central gate and stopped in front of the ceremonial gate. Jia She and Madam Xing disembarked, and the troops split into two groups. Madam Xing went to the inner house in the east courtyard to meet Youshi, while Jia She led Chen Siyuan through the ceremonial gate, the main hall, the inner hall, the inner third gate, and the inner ceremonial gate, arriving at the main house in the central courtyard.

The main house was built just like the Rongguo Mansion, with five main rooms and three side halls. It was crowded with people, and an old man, several members of the Jia family, were talking with a middle-aged man.

Chen Siyuan looked carefully and saw that the man had a tall and sturdy face and a beard. He was crying like a tearful man, beating his chest and stamping his feet, obviously he was in great grief!

Chen Siyuan thought to himself that this person must be Jia Zhen. Considering Jiao Da's words about "stealing ashes," and Jia Zhen's grief, this must be true for this person.

While he was pondering, Jia She in front of him suddenly took two quick steps, frowned and scolded: "Brother Rong's wife was fine, how could she be gone just like that?"

As soon as he said this, Jia Zhen left the old man alone to wail, while Chen Siyuan was stunned by Jia She. "Jia Zhen is having an affair, and it's natural for him to grieve over Qin Keqing's death. Why are you, an elder from another residence, so anxious? Could it be that he's also having an affair with Rong's daughter-in-law?"
(End of this chapter)