Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 231 Arrives in a Frenzy
Mrs. Wang’s courtyard.

In the west wing room, Madam Wang sat upright on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), clutching the page of poetry that her head maid, Jin Chuan'er, had pieced together. She looked up at Xi Ren, who stood there with her hands clasped, and spoke as if her voice were dripping with ice: "Let me ask you, has Bao Yu been having an affair with that little hussy lately?"

Xi Ren's back stiffened, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her back. In this Yi Hong Courtyard, apart from the servants in the outer room, which one of them hadn't been intimate with Master Bao? She Yue, Qiu Wen, Mei Ren, and Xi Ren herself.

However, such words could not be spoken, and it was not appropriate to use this as an excuse to drive someone away, as it would easily implicate oneself. Therefore, Xiren hurriedly said, "Madam is wise. Second Master Bao is merely seeking entertainment from the young ladies; he would never dare to overstep his bounds."

Madam Wang retorted angrily, "Shut up, you little hussy! What does this have to do with the girls?" She pointed at the pieced-together poem and said, "This flowery poem says 'wiping away fragrant sweat under the bamboo shadow by the window,' but who is it about?"

"Madam, this—I don't know either—"

Madam Wang was clearly furious. Pointing at Xiren, she said, "Since you refuse to tell us, tomorrow tell your parents to pack your things and get out of the mansion!"

"Madam!" Xi Ren was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed heavily.

Xiren's mother's diabetes is now only barely surviving. The money Chen Siyuan gave her last time is almost gone. These days, Xiren has been using the private money in Baoyu's room and is thinking about how to ask Chen Siyuan for more money. If she is kicked out of the mansion now, how will her mother survive?
She gritted her teeth, ready to sacrifice herself rather than let her friend die, when suddenly she remembered something and had an idea. She immediately said, "Second Master often goes to the Green Bamboo Nunnery to see Master Miaoyu, either to brew tea and talk, or to discuss the past and present; he also goes to the Old Madam's room to play with Miss Yun. As for the little hussy that Madam mentioned... the other day Qiuwen saw Second Master pulling Jin Chuan under the tree and eating... eating rouge."

Madam Wang blinked and immediately fell silent.

As for Xiangyun, ever since Daiyu's marriage contract was signed, she was brought in by the old lady, who clearly intended to match Xiangyun and Baoyu together. Miaoyu was also invited by the old lady after she had discussed it with the master. Firstly, she was used to deliver messages between the palace, and secondly, she was wealthy. If they couldn't find a suitable person, it would be better to betroth her to Baoyu.

As for Jin Chuan'er, she was only able to seduce Bao Yu with impunity after being subtly encouraged by Lady Wang. Lady Wang could not punish any of these three.

Xiren raised her eyes and said, "I dare not deceive Madam... If Madam does not believe me, just send someone to listen in the garden. If I tell a single lie, may I be struck by lightning the moment I step out!"

Madam Wang felt utterly disgusted. If she could travel through time and meet Young Jiang, who had just returned defeated from Shanghai, she would surely feel a pang of sympathy. This was truly a case of shooting oneself in the foot!
After pondering silently for a long time, not knowing what to say, Yu Chuan'er suddenly replied from behind the door: "Madam, I heard that another official from the Ministry of Revenue has arrived. Master rushed to the main hall to greet him as soon as he received the news!"

Lady Wang was taken aback. She thought to herself, "No wonder my brother, Prince Teng, values ​​this so much. Not only have two officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War come before, but now the Ministry of Revenue has even sent a physician! It's clear that the court attaches great importance to the latex business."

After replying "I understand," Madam Wang sighed and took a step back, saying, "Alright, get up and give your answer."

Xiren rose tremblingly, then lowered her head and waited for orders.

Lady Wang said, "A few days ago, Baochai sent me a poem, which I thought was good. Who knew that when Master saw it today, he was furious and said that Baoyu had written some flowery and erotic poems again... If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have taken my anger out on you."

Xiren felt somewhat relieved and said, "Madam, if I may be so bold, Second Master... is getting on in years. These things are better left unresolved than prevented. If we keep suppressing them, he might just start looking for someone else—"

Lady Wang was startled and thought to herself, "That's it! No wonder Baoyu has been going to the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion so often these days. The Prince of Bei Jing isn't that old. Maybe the mansion has already prepared a suitable person for Baoyu."

That's still considered good; if the Prince's mansion hadn't prepared anything, Baoyu would have had to search the brothels and pleasure quarters...

Thinking of this, Madam Wang said, "How could I not know what you're saying? It's alright during the day, I can go and check on him every few days. But at night... my son, you'll have to look after Baoyu. It's true that it's better to guide than to block, but we can't let Baoyu get too caught up in it."

Upon hearing this, Xiren felt completely at ease and readily agreed. After a while, the interrogation, which should have been a furious outburst but turned out to be all bark and no bite, finally came to an end.

As Xiren left Madam Wang's courtyard, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Turning her head, she glanced at the courtyard gate, her face a mixture of smugness and disdain. Did she think she didn't know what Madam Wang was up to?

It's just a power struggle with the old lady that makes her look down on the maids the old lady has placed there. Why don't we see the madam restraining Jin Chuan'er from getting close to Bao Yu?

So she used the enemy's own words against him, and Xiren's single sentence left Lady Wang speechless. She then made a plan in her mind and went back to find Musk Moon, Charming Woman, and Autumn Pattern to inform them that there should be no more noise coming from the Grand View Garden at night.

Turning her head, she remembered the poem and thought to herself that she was illiterate and her mother had never been to school, but Baochai was knowledgeable and reasonable, so how could she not see what Baoyu had written? She copied it on the spot and then sent it to her mother... Did Baochai look down on the maid in Yihong Courtyard who had an affair with Baoyu, or did she have other intentions?
Xiren frowned in thought, unsure of Baochai's intentions. Confused, she took the wrong turn. When she came to her senses, she realized that she had already passed Mengpo Studio, and a few steps ahead was a passageway—the path to Qixian Studio.

Xiren looked up at the sun and guessed that it was past noon. She decided to go and take a look at Qixianzhai. So she went through the passageway and headed towards Qixianzhai.

But as soon as they passed through the passageway, they heard bursts of laughter coming from the main hall to the south. Soon after, Master Yuan and Master Yuan escorted the three of them out.

There were side doors on both sides of the south-facing hall, and Xiren moved to stand behind one of them to observe. As the group arrived at the gate, an official in a red robe stopped and turned around, saying, "Cunzhou, Shuliang, please wait. I will go on my own."

Both the master and Master Yuan refused, and simply saw them off all the way to the ceremonial gate. Seeing that Master Yuan, whom they hadn't seen for many days, had become even more handsome and dashing, and was now chatting happily with court officials, compared to Baoyu, they were worlds apart!
Although Xiren was long past the age of first love, how could she not fantasize about a good man by her side in the future? She also hoped that Baoyu could make progress in his studies, which is why she would occasionally give him a nudge. If Baoyu were replaced by Master Yuan, she would only serve him obediently and attentively, and would she not utter a single word?

Yes, like Master Bao, Master Yuan is a man who cherishes women, but Master Yuan is capable and resourceful! It's like his own mother suffering from diabetes. For Master Bao, it's just a matter of sighing and spending all his wealth. But what good are those few coins?

A little bit of medicine that Grandpa Yuan squeezed through his fingers was enough to keep treating his mother's illness.

And then there's the bedroom... Master Yuan may be a bit domineering, but Xiren just happens to like this kind of rough and uncouth behavior—

As she pondered with pursed lips, Chen Siyuan and Jia Zheng returned hand in hand. Seeing the two chatting and laughing, Master Jia Zheng could not hide his admiration, which made Xiren even more discouraged. She felt that even if Baoyu changed his mind and worked hard, he probably would not be able to catch up with Master Yuan even a little bit.

At that moment, Xiren no longer had the intention of going to Qixianzhai to see Baoyu. After a moment's thought, she turned around and hurried away, heading first to the Grand View Garden.

Meanwhile, Chen Siyuan and Jia Zheng chatted and laughed all the way. When they were about to part ways in front of Mengpo Studio, Jia Zheng said earnestly, "Making a living is just a minor matter. Shuliang must not let this interfere with your studies. You must know that it is the great path that will be clear in the imperial examination one day."

Chen Siyuan hurriedly cupped his hands in agreement and said, "Yes, thank you for your guidance, Master Mengpo (Jia Zheng's study was called Mengpo Studio, and he adopted the pen name Mengpo)."

Jia Zheng stroked his beard and nodded, unable to hide his admiration. Chen Siyuan had handled things very well, not only conversing amiably with the two officials in charge of general affairs, but also engaging in pleasant conversation with the later-appointed Vice Minister of Revenue. Moreover, he remained humble and polite throughout, showing not a trace of arrogance or haughtiness, truly embodying the essence of a "gentleman like jade"!

How could someone as upright as Jia Zheng not be treated with special regard?
Thinking of his own wretched son, Jia Zheng felt a surge of anger. He had originally intended to ask Chen Siyuan to associate more with Baoyu. But then he chuckled to himself—he probably didn't like Baoyu, such a dissolute boy, when he was young, let alone Yuan-ge'er?
He made no mention of the matter at that moment, only gave some instructions, and then bid farewell to Chen Siyuan.

After bidding farewell to Jia Zheng, Chen Si strode a few steps with his head held high, a smile appearing on his face as he let out a long sigh.

The three ministries sent representatives. The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War only wanted a share of latex, while the Ministry of Revenue had its eye on the entire latex stock. When the later-appointed Physician Wei uttered these words, the two officials in charge were immediately astonished.

At that time, which province or ministry did not have a slush fund? The slush funds of each province and prefecture naturally came from the fire loss. The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the nation's money and grain, and a little bit of it was enough to cover expenses.

Chen Siyuan calculated in his mind that no matter how much money the Ministry of Revenue spent, if he transferred a total of 20% of the shares, he would receive 30,000 taels of silver. Adding this to the more than 10,000 taels he had saved, it would be enough to pay off his debts. As the saying goes, being debt-free is a blessing, and "a happy occasion makes one feel refreshed." With both of these qualities combined, Chen Siyuan walked with a confident stride and a radiant presence.

After a short while, Chen Siyuan reached the end of the alley and carefully looked towards the small courtyard to the northeast, but he did not see Baochai and Aunt Xue because they were in the back room. He was slightly disappointed and was about to walk into the garden when he suddenly saw Ying'er flash by.

She then turned around and saw that it was indeed Chen Siyuan. Ying'er immediately exclaimed with joy, "Uncle Yuan!"

With a call, Ying'er looked around, hurriedly came out of the door, and curtsied to Chen Siyuan: "Congratulations, Master Yuan! Congratulations, Master Yuan!"

Chen Siyuan laughed heartily: "Congratulations to you too!"

Before he could finish speaking, Tong Xi turned around, glanced at Chen Siyuan, and smiled, "Did Master Yuan call for me?"

Chen Siyuan laughed heartily again, reached into his sleeve and took out some silver coins, which he casually distributed to the two maids, saying with a smile, "Everyone has some, consider it a share of the joy."

Chen Siyuan was known for his generosity, and Ying'er, seeing that these silver coins probably added up to ten taels, was overjoyed, her eyes crinkling with delight, and she offered her congratulations without hesitation. If even Ying'er was so happy, how much more so would everyone else share in her joy?
After offering his congratulations, he said, "Master Yuan, our mistress and young lady are probably still waiting for news. Why don't you wait a moment, Master Yuan, while I inform them inside?"

Chen Siyuan pondered for a moment, thinking that he had to conceal it every time he saw the mother and daughter, and that he would eventually slip up. So he simply shook his head and said, "It's just that the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War have set some quotas for latex, and the Ministry of Revenue has also taken a liking to some latex shares. This matter will be discussed in a few days, and it's not certain yet. I won't go in. Just tell Auntie and Sister Bao for me."

Tongxi agreed, and together with Ying'er, they went out to see Chen Siyuan off into the Grand View Garden before hurriedly reporting to the back.

Once inside, she and her daughter, Baochai, chatted happily for a while, and both Aunt Xue and Baochai were delighted to hear it.

Baochai felt a surge of pride, believing that this was the perfect man she had chosen! Though he was merely a commoner, he enjoyed the trust of the court, conversed with officials, and discussed matters of great importance concerning the people's livelihood! At present, he was only a successful candidate in the imperial examinations; if he were to enter officialdom in the future, he would surely have a bright future!
Just as Baochai felt this way, so did Aunt Xue, who was deeply in love with Chen Siyuan! Although they had just met a few days ago and her body had not yet recovered, Aunt Xue longed to immediately throw herself into his arms and spend some intimate time with him!
After a while, Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Now I can finally relax. Tomorrow I'll find the old shopkeeper and ask him to give me more shares so that we can make this business a success." She paused, then frowned and said, "But your brother is the one who's always causing trouble."

Baochai assumed that Aunt Xue was worried about the Xue family's successor again, so she said, "Although my sister-in-law is a good person, I'm afraid she won't be able to control my brother if he gets out of control... We might have to rely on Mother to keep him in check."

"Absolutely, absolutely," Aunt Xue sighed. "Your brother's temper is so bad that even I sometimes can't control him, let alone your sister-in-law. Well, since there's nothing else here, I'll go stay at the old house for a few days tomorrow."

Baochai was secretly delighted. With Aunt Xue no longer nearby, she could spend more time with Chen Siyuan.

Although the mother and daughter each had their own thoughts at the moment, they were both happy, but let's leave that aside for now.

Chen Siyuan entered the Grand View Garden and, just after turning past the verdant peaks, saw a beautiful figure approaching from the east, coming around the artificial hill.

Turning his head to look, he saw that it was Xi Ren who was coming. Chen Siyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately slowed down.

When Xiren caught sight of him, her pretty face flushed red. She called out softly, "Master Yuan," and then moved closer with graceful steps.

Chen Siyuan then asked, "Are you here to visit the brothel?"

Xiren responded softly, then whispered back, "It was terrifying just now. For some reason, Madam took the poem that Miss Bao had copied from Second Master Bao's poems and demanded to know which little vixen was mentioned in the poem."

Chen Siyuan asked in astonishment, "Is that so?"

Xi Ren observed carefully and saw that Chen Siyuan was indeed taking it to heart, so she immediately recounted what had just happened in detail.

Chen Siyuan secretly rejoiced, thinking to himself that as expected of Baochai, a master of domestic intrigue, her methods were so subtle and intangible. It was only because Xiren was overthinking it that anyone else would have thought so much.

I'm afraid that Sister Bao must have been driven crazy by Bao Yu's pestering, so she simply used a trick, thinking that if Jia Zheng saw this poem one day, he would definitely discipline Bao Yu strictly.
After thinking it over, Chen Siyuan said earnestly, "Brother Bao is already quite sensible at his age... It would be fine if he just fooled around in his own room, but I'm afraid that his interactions with the sisters might lead him to have other thoughts. As Brother Bao's head maid, you should take good care of him to prevent any unspeakable things from happening in the future."

Although the words were meant to be kind, Xiren felt puzzled. She thought to herself, "No matter how outrageous Baoyu is, could he possibly have committed adultery with his sisters?"
Suddenly meeting Chen Siyuan's meaningful gaze, Xiren's mind cleared instantly... Which girl has Master Yuan taken a fancy to?
I'm afraid it's not the second, third, or fourth young lady. Miss Lin has already arranged the marriage ceremony for the second daughter, so it's only Miss Yun and Miss Bao left. Thinking of Miss Bao's unusual behavior before, Xi Ren was stunned... Could it be that these two have a secret affair?
She was extremely flustered, because the "golden and jade match" had been rumored for over two years. Previously, Miss Lin had been eliminated early due to the marriage contract issue. Although the old lady had invited Miss Yun, everyone knew that this "golden and jade match" was likely just a matter of time. She never expected that Miss Bao would secretly take a liking to Master Yuan!

Upon closer reflection, it makes perfect sense. With his looks, talent, and character, even Xiren, who had long been devoted to Baoyu, had feelings for him, let alone Baoyu, who harbored lofty ambitions.

Seeing that Master Yuan, a mere scholar, was stirring up trouble, how could Miss Bao remain indifferent?
No wonder that every time Baoyu went to see Baochai in the past six months, after only a few words, Baochai would urge him to study and improve, causing Baoyu to flee in panic. So that's the reason! Thinking about it this way, Master Yuan's words were meant to ruin Baoyu's good fortune in the future.
Xiren suddenly understood, and smiled as she whispered, "What Master Yuan said makes sense. These past few days, every time Second Master went to look for Miss Bao, Miss Bao gave him the same advice... It's just a pity that good advice is hard to hear."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease, and honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial to conduct... By the way, how is your mother?"

Xi Ren pursed her lips and frowned, saying, "It's alright... but I need to take medicine every day to maintain this routine, and I absolutely dare not stop." After saying that, she looked up at Chen Siyuan pitifully, her meaning self-evident.

Chen Siyuan was not short of money, and because Xiren had just told him a good story, he was even more certain of Baochai's feelings. So he looked around, took out a hundred-tael silver note from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "Poor thing, take this and use it. If it's not enough, come back to me."

Xi Ren's eyes immediately welled up with tears as she thanked him. Chen Siyuan, however, did not linger. With a sigh, he strode off towards Qin Fang Pavilion with his hands behind his back.

Xi Ren stared intently at his retreating figure, thinking to herself... "Won't I have to serve him this time?" With this thought, she felt a mix of emotions and a faint sense of loss.

Xi Ren frowned and observed until Chen Siyuan's figure disappeared behind the rocks and trees before she withdrew her gaze, pursed her lips, and returned to Yihong Courtyard.

The day passed quickly, and everyone in the mansion knew that officials from various departments of the imperial court had come to see Master Yuan, all for the sake of his latex business.

Some time ago, it was widely rumored that Master Yuan was going to lose money this time, but who knew that the situation would suddenly change in just a few days! The next day, merchants came to deliver invitations, and even merchants who had ties with the two mansions asked Jia Zhen and Jia She to ask to see Chen Siyuan.

Everyone was astonished, secretly thinking that judging from the situation, Master Yuan had not only made a small profit this time, but had actually made a fortune!

Tan Chun, Xi Chun, and Xiang Yun are still young, so they can simply receive a little praise from everyone.

Daiyu was relieved, but no matter what Zijuan and Xueyan said, she never sent anyone to deliver a message to Chen Siyuan. Since Lin Daiyu had accepted the marriage certificate, she considered Chen Siyuan her future husband. If her husband was in trouble, she would naturally step forward to help; if he was doing well, she would simply withdraw gracefully.

Baochai saw Aunt Xue off early in the morning, intending to meet Chen Siyuan in secret, but he had also left the mansion early that morning. Dissatisfied, she strolled in the garden and saw Xiangling. She boldly took Xiangling to the thatched cottage in Qingtang. The two played with knots for a while and talked for quite some time before Baochai finally returned.
This time, not only Siqi but also Xiuju were tempted by the second daughter Yingchun's advances. After repeated persuasion, Yingchun, though annoyed, couldn't help but develop some feelings for her as well.

The two mansions used to be separated by a private alley, but now they are only separated by a wall. How could the Ningguo Mansion not know about what happened to the Rongguo Mansion?
That day, Jia Zhen frowned as he came to see You Shi. It was because of the profits from Bai Cao Tang that the Ningguo Mansion was doing much better, and Jia Zhen had inevitably become extravagant. Upon hearing that the latex business was very promising, Jia Zhen wanted to emulate Bai Cao Tang and decided to scrape together some money to buy some shares.

However, upon reviewing the accounts, it became clear that, aside from the untouchable items, the only usable funds in the household were the thousand-odd taels of silver received from this month's share of profits. Further examination of the public accounts revealed that only about two thousand taels could be scraped together, to be returned at the end of the year. Thus, Jia Zhen discussed with You Shi the possibility of purchasing a three-thousand-tael share.

After her intimate encounter with Chen Siyuan, Lady You took quite some time to recover. However, her period had just ended a couple of days ago, so her previous efforts were all for naught. Hearing that Jia Zhen seemed hesitant, she immediately understood his intentions.

Last time they managed to scrape together five thousand taels, but this time the prestigious Ningguo Mansion only managed three thousand taels? It wouldn't look good if word got out. That's why Jia Zhen suggested that You Shi should step in.

Little did he know that this was exactly what Madam You wanted. She made a slight refusal, but then readily agreed, saying that she would visit her second and third daughters at the new residence near Nengren Temple in the next couple of days, and then whisper sweet nothings in their ear, and the matter would be settled.

Jia Zhen felt comforted and became much more amiable. He spoke a few words of concern to You Shi before leaving leisurely. However, no matter how hard Jia Zhen racked his brains, he couldn't figure out that this whispered advice... was actually delivered by You Shi herself.

Unable to contain her excitement, Madam You headed towards the Chen family's new residence near Nengren Temple in the late afternoon. However, she was disappointed to find it empty.

If Madam You was merely disappointed, Madam Xing was nearly frantic with worry! Having failed to discern Jia She's true intentions yesterday, Madam Xing feared he might harm the scoundrel, and thus sent Miao'er to search for Chen Siyuan early this morning. However, after three searches, they found no trace of him, prompting Madam Xing to frown and mutter, "Where has he gone?"

............................................................

Big Grid Lane.

Clothes were scattered in the main room. An outer garment lay on the octagonal table, a sock hung on the rattan chair, and an embroidered shoe remained in front of the side room, with silk trousers and undergarments lying on the footstool.

Aunt Xue was lying on her side on the bed, covered only by a brocade quilt. Her eyes were half-closed and half-open, as if she was reminiscing endlessly, or perhaps lamenting the early passing of her youth.

Poems as proof:

The forest, devoid of fragrance, is a source of resentment for bees and butterflies; spring, though fleeting, is beyond measure, shames swallows and orioles.

The flowers have lost the favor of the Eastern Emperor; the rain and wind will never cease.

In a short while, Chen Siyuan, dressed casually in his undergarments, returned with a cup of warm, fragrant tea in his hand.

Aunt Xue smiled and got up to take the cup, gulping it down like a cow. She then threw the cup down and nestled in his arms before asking, "What's the Imperial Household's explanation?"

Chen Siyuan said leisurely, "Thirty percent of the shares, that is to say, the inner palace takes the lion's share, so I suppose they will definitely send someone to take charge and look after it."

Aunt Xue pondered, "In this way, all three families have sent people, and they only need to keep an eye on the latex loading onto the ship every day... It seems like sending the old manager is a bit of a waste of his talents."

Chen Siyuan chuckled and said, "Don't you even think about how much money is involved in this?"

In just two days, the price of latex has risen sharply. Now, raw latex on the market costs six cents a tael, which is more than 20% higher than before (excluding shipping costs)!

Aunt Xue happily said, "That's true... It's only been two days and it's already risen. I'm afraid it will rise even higher in a while."

This pound of latex isn't enough to make a pound of latex products. It's mixed with carbon black and sulfur. Especially since the carbon black is cheap, some conscientious people only use 30%, while others, disregarding elasticity, often add as much as 50%.

Chen Siyuan predicted that merchants would flock to the area to buy latex in the future, at which point he would be able to adjust prices according to market conditions. Moreover, the latex harvesting from Zheng He Island's latex forests was still too conservative; after some negotiation, it would be common for the harvest to increase by 20% over the next five years.

If you calculate it this way, the minimum guarantee is to double your money back, which is great... but that's hard to say.

While overjoyed, Aunt Xue frowned and said, "But with the old manager gone, it will be difficult to handle the accounts in the future."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "What's so difficult about that? You just need to take care of it yourself. It's a good opportunity for us to meet up more often."

Aunt Xue immediately scolded, "Every time I see you, I feel like I'm dying. How dare I come to see you all the time?" After a pause, she thought for a moment and then said, "Besides, those accounts make my eyes dizzy. Why don't I get them later and let Baochai manage them?"

Chen Siyuan said, "The accounts don't belong to your family, how can you take them at will?"

"This—" Aunt Xue bit her lower lip, looking troubled. She glanced at him again and frowned, saying, "You, you don't have ulterior motives, do you?"

Chen Siyuan feigned surprise and said, "What are you saying? If you don't want Baochai to manage it, you can just do it yourself... At most, you can hire a few more accountants."

Aunt Xue grunted twice and fell silent. She was originally a woman confined to the inner quarters, and managing the Xue family was a complete waste of her talents. If it weren't for Baochai's constant help, the Xue family's various businesses would have long since failed, and how could they have survived until today?

Thinking that even if Baochai were sent to handle the accounts, she would go during the day and return during the day, and Baochai was always a person of good judgment, so she couldn't be fooled by this young master, could she?

Seeing him frown and ponder, Chen Siyuan sighed and said, "Why do you have to do this? Why don't you just marry Baochai to me?"

Aunt Xue immediately became angry again: "Nonsense again! Baochai married you, so what am I?"

Chen Siyuan reached out and hugged him tightly, saying gently, "Can't you see it now? The Rongguo Mansion may seem prosperous, but it's actually a wasteland. The monthly allowances are arriving later and later. If it weren't for my help in taking away the Wu brothers and Dai Liang, those parasites, we would have been in debt by now."

As the saying goes, "The blessings of a virtuous person last only five generations," and there's a folk saying, "Wealth doesn't last three generations." Don't you think about how chaotic your family is? Why does the old lady keep protecting them and refuse to touch those old servants?

Aunt Xue asked blankly, "Why?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "If you didn't protect those old servants, I'm afraid your sister would have taken over the power in the family long ago."

Aunt Xue frowned and said, "But the eldest daughter—"

"Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. How much blood of the Jia family's personal guards has stained your brother's official robes? The eldest daughter was just a lady-in-waiting in the past. How did she suddenly become a virtuous consort? The intention to appease him is obvious to anyone with eyes."

After thinking it over, Aunt Xue felt it made sense and said, "Since you've figured it out, surely neither the old lady nor my brother-in-law have?"

Chen Siyuan said, "They're just pretending to be ignorant. More than ten years ago, during the struggle for the throne, the Jia family offended the current emperor to the core. Now they're just hoping that the eldest daughter will take care of them and at least let the Jia family survive this dynasty. Once the new emperor ascends the throne, the Jia family will naturally be in a different situation... Isn't your brother thinking the same thing?"

Aunt Xue said, "Of all the merits in the world, the merit of following the emperor is the greatest. What wrong have the Jia family and my brother done?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "The mistake was that you placed your bet too early. If you win, that's fine, but if you lose... I'm afraid it will be a disaster."

"Is that possible?" Aunt Xue argued. "I've heard that the Crown Prince is the most virtuous and is greatly favored by the Emperor. His position as Crown Prince is as secure as Mount Tai."

"Tch—" Chen Siyuan scoffed, "Since ancient times, there have been no fathers and sons in the imperial family. Where does this 'as stable as Mount Tai' come from?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue was startled. Indeed, the late Prince Yizhong, during the reign of the Retired Emperor, had been as secure as a mountain, yet in the end, it was the current Emperor who sat on the throne, while the late Prince Yizhong was utterly disgraced…

Last time, the Jia family was only stripped of their title; if it happens again, they might face confiscation of their property and extermination of the entire clan!

Chen Siyuan comforted him, saying, "This matter of vying for the throne is entirely up to the Emperor's will. It's better to enter the fray late than early, and better not to enter at all than late. With my abilities, once I enter officialdom, am I afraid I won't be able to protect your family?"

Aunt Xue remained silent, deep in thought. Indeed, the young master's character and abilities were excellent; once he entered the Hanlin Academy, his career would soar. Especially considering his young age, it's said that the elderly are bullied more than the young; she feared few in officialdom would dare to make things difficult for him in the future.

When the time comes, a word he says... might carry more weight than his brother Wang Ziteng's. Wouldn't that perfectly protect the Xue family?
only……

As if knowing what she was thinking, Chen Siyuan said gently, "In fact, I rarely interact with Baochai, and I was thinking of visiting you more often... Besides, given our current situation, we are already unacceptable to the world, so what difference does it make whether Baochai is here or not?"

Yes, it's already a violation of moral order; Baochai wasn't involved before. Aunt Xue frowned deeply, shaking her head repeatedly, but remained silent.

Chen Siyuan could tell that he was in turmoil and perhaps a little wavering. So he decided to stop while he was ahead and said, "Whether this matter succeeds or not is up to you. In any case, I will definitely marry Daiyu in the future. With her family background and connections, it doesn't matter who I marry as my principal wife."

(End of this chapter)