Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 240 Wasp Sting

Chen Siyuan quickly got up, dressed himself in a few quick movements, and carefully tidied his hair on the kang (a heated brick bed). Only then did he leisurely recline on the kang. As for the beads of sweat on his face, he was too lazy to wipe them away, as he had his own way of dealing with Madam Xing.

A moment later, Madam Xing arrived at the quiet room and was startled to see the door ajar. After a few moments, she pushed the door open and entered. She carefully made her way to the bedroom and saw Master Chen Siyuan reclining on the kang (heated brick bed). Her furrowed brows relaxed, and she breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "I thought some maid had come to slack off, but it's you..." She leaned closer and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "The maid saw you coming to the garden, and I calculated with my fingers that you would definitely come here. So I went ahead and climbed over the wall to wait for you."

Madam Xing smiled and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, saying, "I sent Miao'er to look for you earlier, but Hongyu said you weren't there. I thought you would have to go back for lunch sooner or later, and you would come when you received the news, so I didn't tell you again... Look at all this sweat. You must have been tired from climbing over the wall?"

Chen Siyuan snorted and offered no explanation. He simply leaned back into Madam Xing's arms and mumbled, "These past two days have been hectic. Tomorrow I must go to the Xue family's old residence to hold a farewell banquet, and the day after tomorrow I also have to answer to my sister-in-law's brother."

His interruption did indeed distract Madam Xing. She couldn't say much about the business matters, but as for Li Chongming... Madam Xing couldn't help but wonder, "Why did Zhu Ge's daughter-in-law's brother come at this time of year?"

Chen Siyuan knew that Madam Xing was not very shrewd. If it involved himself, Madam Xing might have kept it to herself. But since it concerned tens of thousands of taels of silver, how could he dare to tell Madam Xing? So he vaguely said, "It was when I was traveling south last year that I passed through Jinling and stayed for a few days. I had some dealings with Li Jijiu. I flattered him a bit, but I didn't expect Li Chongming to take it seriously."

Madam Xing immediately curled her lip in disgust and said, "He looks like a good-for-nothing... Today, the second branch sent someone to the guild hall to invite him, but when the person came back, he said that the man went to swim in the goldfish pond with two guests. Tsk tsk... It's a good thing that my sister-in-law is still in her room. If she knew, I don't know how angry she would be."

She paused, then added, "The second master also seemed quite displeased, but the old lady took it to heart, saying that she had been slighted earlier and that she would definitely host a banquet to welcome him back in the future."

As Madam Xing began to mutter about matters in the household, Chen Siyuan, like a straight man, would chime in with exaggerated intonation and sudden exclamations, captivating Madam Xing's interest. Chen Siyuan had just been through three rounds with Aunt Xue, and even the strongest kidneys couldn't withstand it; his chin needed a moment to recover.

After scolding the few incompetent concubines in the east courtyard, Madam Xing changed the subject, placed her hand on Chen Siyuan's chest, lowered her head and said in a low voice, "I have thought about what you said last time carefully."

"What is it?" Chen Siyuan asked, his eyes half-closed, his head buried in Madam Xing's lower abdomen. If he hadn't been forcing himself to stay awake, he would have fallen asleep long ago.

Madam Xing chuckled and frowned, saying, "What else could it be but your marriage to the second young lady?"

"Hmm?" Chen Siyuan opened his eyes and said, "Didn't I make it clear to you last time? It's not appropriate for me to marry the second young lady."

"What's wrong with her? When choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous one. Look around this garden, is there anyone more virtuous than Yingchun?"

Chen Siyuan clicked his tongue and said, "Putting everything else aside, what about the master? Even if I marry Second Sister, I'm afraid the master will still plot against me later."

Madam Xing said in a low voice, "Let's marry him first..." She paused, then gritted her teeth and said, "If all else fails, we might as well find a way to get rid of him as soon as possible!"

Chen Siyuan blinked, and seeing that Madam Xing was not joking, he was immediately horrified. He stood up abruptly and said, "Are you crazy? With him blocking your way, you are at least the first wife, and you can at least have a say in the east wing; if the master is gone, and you become the second wife, do you think your adopted son and daughter-in-law will treat you well?"

Madam Xing pouted and said, "So what if they don't like me? I'll still get my share of food, clothing, and other necessities."

The other day, for some unknown reason, Master Jia She stayed in Madam Xing's room all night and refused to leave. This woman, having cheated on her husband, couldn't possibly have any other thoughts in her heart. Madam Xing was utterly disgusted; she couldn't easily get rid of him. If they were to actually share a bed, she feared she would vomit immediately!
Later, he deliberately pinched the fourth brother, who cried and made a fuss for a long time. The master couldn't stand the noise and left.

The next day, Madam Xing harbored a secret wish that the master would die immediately!
Chen Siyuan was terrified and asked, "What are you going to do? Are you going to poison him?"

Madam Xing sighed and said, "I do feel a deep aversion to it, but if it comes to poisoning... I'm afraid I can't bring myself to do it."

After all, drugging someone is different from poisoning someone to death. Madam Xing had already made up her mind. To prevent the master from acting recklessly again, she decided to take the fourth son with her at night from now on.

Hearing this, Chen Siyuan breathed a slight sigh of relief. He had to coax and persuade her for a while until she calmed down. He then spent some time with Madam Xing before sending her away. Not being able to eat is a problem, but being too full is an even bigger problem; the experience is best left unsaid.

After resting for a long while, Chen Siyuan finally emerged, clutching his back. He twisted his ankle while climbing over the wall and landing, and had to limp back to the thatched cottage in Qingtang. It was nearly noon, and seeing him in such a disheveled state, Hongyu, Xiangling, and the others were naturally quite surprised.

When pressed for answers, Chen Siyuan only claimed that he had twisted his waist and sprained his ankle while riding a horse. After having some tea and snacks, he was about to go to sleep when he heard Yunxiang outside shouting, "The eldest mistress is here!"

Li Wan has arrived? He guessed it was about Li Chongming. Chen Siyuan had no choice but to force himself to get up and greet her.

Stepping into the courtyard, I looked up and saw Li Wan approaching with a frown, accompanied by Jia Lan, Su Yun, and Bi Yue.

Chen Siyuan dared not be negligent and hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. Li Wan forced a smile and said, "I feel really bad for bothering Brother Yuan again."

If it weren't for Li Wan's previous help, how could Chen Siyuan have so easily secured five years' worth of latex production from Zheng He Island?

Since it was Chen Siyuan, he said, "Sister-in-law, you're too kind. Let's go inside and talk."

Li Wan smiled and nodded. Just before entering the room, she glanced behind her. Su Yun and Bi Yue remained silent and simply stayed outside.

Knowing that Li Wan didn't want the matter to become public knowledge, Chen Siyuan gave Xiangling and Hongyu a look. Hongyu served tea and then pulled Xiangling outside, saying, "I heard that Sister Suyun is the best at making knots. It just so happens that I'm not very good at making plum blossom knots. Why don't we ask Sister Suyun to help us out?"

Only Chen Siyuan, Li Wan, and Jia Lan remained.

Li Wan then said, "Brother Yuan, the old lady has said that she wants to host a welcome banquet for my brother..." After hesitating for a while, she said, "My brother has never been a good drinker. I'm afraid that if he drinks a few more cups, he'll blurt out anything."

The Rongguo Mansion appears peaceful and harmonious, but it's anything but a charitable institution. It's rife with the sordidness, discord, scheming, and ruthlessness typical of large families. And now, with their finances strained, if they knew Li Wan had so much readily available money, who could guarantee the master wouldn't harbor ulterior motives? Furthermore, Madam Wang has always disliked Li Wan; who knows if she might take advantage of the situation?
However, Li Chongming seemed to be someone who spoke carelessly, so Li Wan's worries were understandable.

Chen Siyuan pondered and said, "Sister-in-law, I've also thought of a way to deal with this these past two days... but it's a bit unethical."

Li Wan looked over with a puzzled expression in her peach blossom eyes, and Chen Siyuan said in a low voice, "Since your brother wants to become an official, why not go with the flow? If I can get in touch with the Prince of Yanping's mansion and hire him as a guest, I think your brother will be very happy."

Li Wan nodded and said, "I am naturally happy to be a guest of the prince... but—" Where is the immorality?
Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Since he is a guest of honor, he must have been assigned a task... It is only reasonable for the Prince to send Brother Li to Zhenghe Island to keep watch over the latex business."

Li Wan blinked, first at a loss for words, then feeling that this matter... seemed to be quite appropriate?
Her brother, always sheltered by their father, was arrogant and self-important, yet utterly incompetent himself. If he suffers a crushing defeat this time, perhaps he'll become more obedient in the future?
Even if I give him all the money I received from donating the Diamond Sutra a few years later, am I not afraid that he will bring trouble upon himself?
The more Li Wan thought about it, the more appropriate it seemed, and she couldn't help but become enthusiastic.

Having understood this, Li Wan asked, "Brother Yuan, do you have a way to get through to the Prince?"

Chen Siyuan said, "It's hard to say right now. I'll give it a try later."

Li Wan hurriedly said, "We need to rely on Brother Yuan for this matter. If you need any money, just let me know."

"Okay," Chen Siyuan replied.

After saying this, Li Wan glanced at Jia Lan, who was standing with his hands clasped beside her, and said, "Lan'er, go play outside."

Jia Lan agreed and left the room without saying a word.

Chen Siyuan was still puzzled when he saw Li Wan frown and turn to say, "Brother Yuan... I don't know how to teach Lan'er anymore. Last time, she used my name to steal the money box—"

"Ah?" Chen Siyuan then realized that Jia Lan's act of handing over all the money he had obtained from the Diamond Sutra when he stopped the road last time was not on Li Wan's orders, but rather he did it on his own.

Li Wan said worriedly, "He is becoming more and more opinionated. Brother Yuan knows that I am just a woman. If I discipline him too strictly, I am afraid that he will lose his edge and become timid in his dealings with others. But if I don't discipline him, I am afraid that he will become reckless and bring disaster upon himself!"

Chen Siyuan pondered, "Lan Ge'er is still young. Although he acted on his own before, he meant well... I don't know how to discipline him, so I'll talk to him about it when he comes to study here next time."

Li Wan was immediately delighted and said, "Brother Yuan is outstanding in both character and talent. I believe that with just a little guidance, Lan'er will definitely make progress in the future."

In her joy, her eyes instantly blossomed like peaches in spring, two crescent moons about to melt, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned as if she were slightly intoxicated. As her eyelashes trembled, fragments of starlight fell onto the dimples on her cheeks, just like the east wind in March sweeping through peach branches, shaking down a tree full of fragrance.

Even though Chen Siyuan was exhausted at this moment, he was still stunned by the sight! He couldn't help but think to himself, no wonder Jia Zhu died young. Those peach blossom eyes were so captivating that even Chen Siyuan, who was used to seeing all kinds of women, couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart, let alone Jia Zhu.

Chen Siyuan lost his composure slightly, which Li Wan immediately noticed. Knowing how alluring her peach blossom eyes were, she quickly stopped smiling and said, "In that case, we'll have to rely on Brother Yuan for everything... I'll host a banquet to thank Brother Yuan another day."

"Oh, no problem. I'll take it to your sister-in-law then."

Chen Siyuan got up and saw Li Wan out the door. Jia Lan was looking on expectantly in the courtyard. When he met Chen Siyuan's meaningful gaze, he immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly shrank back.

After seeing Li Wan and her party off, Chen Siyuan yawned repeatedly, unable to resist his drowsiness any longer. He went back to his room, lay down fully clothed, and slept until dinnertime. After dinner, he fell asleep again.

The next day, Chen Siyuan slept until the sun was high in the sky. His two bedmates, Xiangling and Hongyu, one saw through it but didn't say anything, and the other was used to her master's occasional affairs with someone. Since she only showed a little temper, she didn't say anything more.

Chen Siyuan used all his skills to coax Hongyu, because a farewell banquet was to be held that day. After he had coaxed Hongyu, he got ready and took a car to the Xue family's old house.

There's not much to say about the farewell drink, so let's leave that aside for now.

After a good night's sleep, Sister Bao woke up feeling refreshed and invigorated. Looking around, she found the sky clear and the air crisp. She felt a sense of liberation, as if she had been "long confined in a cage, only to return to nature."
Recalling yesterday's events, Baochai couldn't help but smile knowingly. She had previously thought that she was carrying a heavy burden and that revealing it might disappoint her mother. However, after she confided in her yesterday, although her mother hugged her and cried, it was mostly out of pity.

Baochai thought to herself, no matter what, she is still her own mother. How could she be like that wicked stepmother and use her as a bargaining chip?
Feeling relieved, as she got up to do her hair, Baochai gazed at herself in the mirror, lost in thought, and couldn't help but smile. Ying'er hadn't entered the inner room that day, and although she had vaguely heard the mother and daughter sobbing, she didn't know why. Seeing her young mistress smile like this, she said while combing her hair, "Miss looks extremely beautiful when she smiles; she should smile more often."

Baochai raised her eyes and said, "Have I been smiling less often?"

Ying'er smiled without saying a word. Usually, her young mistress would smile too, but it always seemed like she was just going along with it; there wasn't a trace of genuine emotion in her. This natural expression was something she only showed when she saw Master Yuan.

After breakfast, Ying'er brought over the food box and returned, saying, "Master Yuan took a car to the old house early this morning."

Baochai already knew this in her heart, nodded slightly, and went ahead to Lady Wang's courtyard. Now that Fengjie and Baoyu were still being raised in Lady Wang's room, it was only right and proper for her to go and see them.

Upon entering the courtyard, she caught a glimpse of a maidservant hurrying into Aunt Zhao's courtyard. Baochai ignored her and went to the side hall to talk to Jin Chuan and Yu Chuan.

After a short while, Lady Wang answered a few more questions, saying that the two were unharmed, and then Sister Bao got up and went back.

Because the three sisters had to attend classes in the small annex next to Li Wan's room in the morning, Sister Bao went to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to find them.

No sooner had they entered than the parrot in the east wing called out, "Sister Bao is here! Zijuan, quickly serve tea!"

Daiyu had already gotten up to greet her, and upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "That's good, it will save me the trouble of explaining in the future."

Bao Jie glanced at the parrot and said with a smile, "Has this parrot become a spirit? It can even recognize people now."

Daiyu invited it to sit down, glanced at the parrot sideways, and said, "It's hard to say whether it will become a spirit or not. If it weren't tied up, it would probably bully the nest of new swallows under the eaves."

Baochai said, "You too, you didn't care when we were carrying mud a few days ago, but now that you've built a nest, I'm afraid there will be a lot of noise every morning."

Daiyu said, "It's alright, I'll just stuff some dough into my ears tonight."

Baochai glanced up and saw that Daiyu's eyes were bloodshot again. She couldn't help but ask with concern, "Didn't you sleep well again? What's on your mind?"

Daiyu pouted and said, "In Sister Bao's heart, I'm afraid I'm just that kind of sentimental and melodramatic person."

At this moment, Zijuan brought tea and said with a smile, "Miss Bao, you don't know, our young lady has been obsessed with books these past few days, and no matter how we try to persuade her, she won't listen. She reads during the day and even stays up late at night by lamplight... May the Bodhisattva protect her, Miss Bao is the best at persuading people, please persuade our young lady."

Baochai asked in surprise, "What kind of books?" She paused, then laughed and teased, "Could it be those romance novels about talented scholars and beautiful women? Where are you hiding them? Let me see them!"

After Bao and Dai had a playful time, Daiyu pondered and said, "This is not an ordinary story of talented scholars and beautiful women... Let me study it carefully and then I will tell you about it later."

After a pause, Daiyu suddenly shifted her body slightly backward and glanced at Baochai from head to toe.

Baochai raised her arms and looked around: "Is something wrong?"

Daiyu laughed and said, "I don't know either, but I feel that Sister Bao seems a little different today." Baochai laughed and said, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm just the same as yesterday."

She knew in her heart that now that all the pent-up emotions in her heart had been released, she was indeed different from the bitter and resentful person she had been before.

Baochai sat idly for half a day when Ying'er came to report that Second Mistress couldn't stand being cooped up and was now making a fuss about moving back. Baochai was very surprised, so she bid farewell to Daiyu and went to Lady Wang's courtyard to observe.

Daiyu sat idly for a while, but eventually couldn't contain her thoughts, so she called Xueyan over and said, "Go and see if Sister Xing is here? If she's free, invite her to my Xiaoxiang Pavilion for a game of Go."

Xueyan agreed and turned to leave. Zijuan was thoughtful, but after pondering for a long time, she still couldn't figure out what Daiyu meant.

Sure enough, Xueyan brought Xing Xiuyan over shortly after. Daiyu hurriedly went out to greet her, smiling and saying, "Sister Xing, come quickly! I've been feeling really bored. How about we play a game of chess?"

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said, "Since Sister Lin has said so, then I must ask for your guidance today."

The maidservants set up a chessboard, and Daiyu and Xing Xiuyan began to play. Zijuan lit incense, and a gentle breeze blew, with petals falling softly. The faint sound of string and bamboo instruments from Pear Fragrance Courtyard drifted over, creating an indescribably elegant and pleasant atmosphere.

Xing Xiuyan was engrossed in her own world when she suddenly noticed Daiyu glancing at her from time to time, which made her feel strange. However, she wasn't the type to pry, so she pretended not to notice and continued to frown.

Little did Daiyu know that the more she pondered Xing Xiuyan's character, the more she felt that it matched the Yunniang in the book. Xing Xiuyan became increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze, and unconsciously picked up a chess piece, raising her eyes to ask, "Why does Sister Lin keep looking at me?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "I think Sister Xing has some of Yunniang's qualities."

Xing Xiuyan asked in surprise, "Who is Yunniang?"

Daiyu shook her head, smiled, and placed a piece on the board: "I'll tell you when you win, sister."

However, after the game, the two were evenly matched, with neither able to gain the upper hand. Xing Xiuyan didn't press the matter further, so she kept her doubts to herself and decided to investigate another day.

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

But on the other side.

Caixia had taken a few days off, but how could she stay at home and not come to work? Today she came to the manor to work again, and when she had some free time, she went to Aunt Zhao's room to look for her.

Aunt Zhao, having committed such a wicked act, was naturally filled with unease. She had to offer considerable comfort before finally persuading Caixia to take up a job in the side hall.

It was said that Sister Feng would not appear until more than a month later, but today she couldn't hold back her excitement and made a fuss for a long time before finally getting Lady Wang's approval.

Ping'er also stayed in the side hall to keep watch. Upon receiving the news, she hurriedly sent a servant to deliver the message to Feng Jie's courtyard. Soon, a group of maids and servants arrived, and Madam Wang also sent Caixia and Caiyun to help out.

Caixia's heart pounded, and she silently helped tidy up the bedding.

Soon after, Baochai arrived upon hearing the news. The two cousins ​​exchanged a few words, and Fengjie laughed, saying, "Madam has always known me; I've never believed in any immortals, Buddhas, ghosts, gods, or hellish retribution. Besides, the house hasn't been well-maintained and no one has been taking care of it. What difference would it make if I went back to recuperate?"

Unable to persuade her otherwise, Madam Wang had no choice but to agree.

A short while later, a group of maids and servants carried bedding and other items to Sister Feng's courtyard, while Caixia remained silent behind Caiyun.

Caiyun was quite surprised and asked in a low voice halfway through the journey, "Sister, are you still feeling unwell today? Why don't you ask your mother to rest for a few more days?"

Caixia mumbled, "Perhaps it's not fully healed yet, it will be fine in a day."

Caiyun had no suspicions and didn't ask any further questions. When she arrived at Fengjie's room, Caixia put down her things and was about to leave when she turned around and saw Fengjie looking right at her.

How old is Caixia? In addition, Sister Feng has always been a powerful figure in the whole household, so she was so frightened that she quickly lowered her eyes.

Feng Jie was suspicious, but didn't think much of it at the moment. After instructing Ping'er to reward the maids and servants, Feng Jie sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed), leaning on the kang table and frowning in deep thought.

Ping'er saw off the maids and servants, then lifted the curtain and entered the room, where she saw Feng Jie'er in this state. Ping'er's heart tightened at the sight of Feng Jie'er.

She knew her young lady wasn't one to be easily angered, and now that she had almost been harmed, how could she possibly swallow this insult? It was only because she had been kept in Madam Wang's room for the past two days that Ping'er had been able to keep it a secret from Feng Jie.

Just then, Sister Feng glanced at her sideways, and Ping'er was startled. She quickly lowered her head and bit her lip.

These two, master and servant, have been together for many years. Ping'er knows Feng Jie'er, so how could Feng Jie'er not know Ping'er?

Then Feng Jie said, "I didn't say anything about those monks and Taoists in Madam's room earlier. But you know I've never believed in immortals, Buddhas, ghosts, or gods. This hysteria is strange. Have you noticed anything strange these past two days?"

Ping'er knew she couldn't hide the scribbled symbols from the room, so she said, "There is such a thing... That day, when Grandma fell ill, Uncle Yuan came looking for me and told me to search the room carefully for any strange objects. But when I searched the room, I found the scribbled symbols in the pillow."

"Scribbles?"

Ping'er described the talisman and said, "I gave the talisman to Master Yuan, and he said he would go to find a master to break it. He would let me know whether he succeeded or not. But before Master Yuan could come to find me, a monk and a Taoist priest came to our door. That evening, Grandma woke up."

Sister Feng frowned and said, "If that's the case, then the monk and the Taoist priest were brought here by Brother Yuan?"

Ping'er remained silent.

Sister Feng couldn't help but mutter, "Could there really be such a thing as a curse in this world?" After a pause, she added, "Is Brother Yuan here today? I must express my gratitude for saving my life."

Ping'er hurriedly said, "Master Yuan left early this morning, saying he was going to hold a farewell banquet for Manager Zhu."

Sister Feng nodded, then pondered for a moment and said, "Even if there is a spell, how could I have fallen ill if the talisman hadn't been delivered to my room? Think carefully, who came to my room those past few days?"

Ping'er said with difficulty, "Grandma knows that people come and go in this room all the time, so how would we know who put it there at this time?"

Ping'er's words made sense, but Feng Jie was by nature persistent and wouldn't let it go easily. Her phoenix eyes narrowed, and she said coldly, "So what if we can't find the person? To be able to deliver the talisman to my room and harm me and Bao Yu, it must be someone from the manor. Tell me, who in this manor hates me and Bao Yu the most?"

Ping'er knew perfectly well what was going on, but dared not say a word.

Sister Feng hadn't expected Ping'er to say it out loud. Now she understood perfectly and said coldly, "Besides that good-for-nothing Aunt Zhao, who else could it be? I always thought she was just a fool, but I never expected her to have the audacity to harm people!"

Ping'er sensed something was wrong upon hearing this and quickly said, "Grandma, Aunt Zhao is protected by the master... even the madam can't do anything about her."

Sister Feng sneered and said, "I'm not like Madam, who has no idea what she wants. I have plenty of ways to deal with Aunt Zhao!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered that Caixia had seemed dazed and avoided eye contact with her. Fengjie suddenly asked, "Did Caixia come by those few days?"

Ping'er thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I did come once, as instructed by Madam."

Sister Feng sneered again and said, "Then it can't be wrong. That little hussy is close to Aunt Zhao and is determined to become Huan Lao San's concubine. If Aunt Zhao uses threats and inducements, she might do anything, even murder and robbery! We shouldn't deal with Aunt Zhao in a hurry. It's more reasonable to start with Cai Xia."

After a moment's thought, he asked, "How old is Laiwang's son?"

Ping'er's heart tightened again! Laiwang's son, Laishun, was not old, only fourteen or fifteen this year, but he had been led astray by the servants in the family and had indulged in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

What's a beating and being kicked out of the mansion? Sister Feng almost lost her life, so Caixia will never have a moment's peace again!

"Go and find Wang's future wife!"

Ping'er knew she couldn't persuade him, so she could only silently agree and get up to find Laiwang's wife.

A short while later, Laiwang's wife came to report. She went into the room and talked to Fengjie for a while. When she came out, she couldn't help but smile, as if she had received a great deal.

Ping'er couldn't help but sigh, thinking that things would get complicated in the manor from now on.

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

It was late afternoon when Chen Siyuan returned. Upon arriving at his thatched cottage, he couldn't help but spend some intimate time with Xiangling, Hongyu, and Wu'er.

Xiangling, Hongyu, and Wu'er all scolded him, but seeing that he was in a good mood, they couldn't help but ask him why. However, Chen Siyuan just smiled and remained silent.

There wasn't much to say about the farewell dinner that day, but on the way back, Aunt Xue took the opportunity to talk with Chen Siyuan for a while. Perhaps because she had a clear mind and body the previous night, Aunt Xue had figured things out during the night and told Chen Siyuan about her plans.

It was nothing more than a test of Madam Wang's feelings first. If she didn't get a response, Aunt Xue would no longer stop Chen Siyuan and Baochai.

Overjoyed, Chen Siyuan knew he shouldn't reveal his intentions, so he treated Aunt Xue even more considerately, making her completely infatuated. She thought that Chen Siyuan only had the idea of ​​marrying Baochai because he pitied her.

Would Lady Wang even look favorably upon Baochai? At this moment, the eldest daughter Yuanchun has only recently been made a concubine, and Lady Wang is at the height of her ambition. She already considers Baoyu to be the emperor's brother-in-law and is even thinking of climbing the social ladder. How could she possibly look favorably upon Sister Bao?
In about a month, he will be able to openly and legitimately associate with Sister Bao. Such a joyous occasion deserves a big toast!

Xiangling and Hongyu, both sensible enough, could only complain a little when Chen Siyuan teased them. However, Liu Wu'er, being young, had never been taken as a concubine by Chen Siyuan. She was teased until she blushed, which prompted Hongyu to tease her quite a bit.

Just then, Yunxiang called out from outside, "Grandpa, Grandpa! My sister is looking for you at the back gate!"

It took Chen Siyuan a while to realize that Yunxiang was referring to her third sister, Dongmei, who was now accompanying her on business.

If it's Chunxi, it's probably because Third Sister misses Chen Siyuan; if it's Xiazhu... then it's probably because Madam You misses him.

But it was Dongmei who came. Could it be that something important happened?

Chen Siyuan dared not delay and quickly tidied himself up. Yunxiang followed along, acting like a little megaphone, whispering, "Master, today Second Madam couldn't resist and moved back from Madam's room."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, in the original text, Sister Feng and Baoyu suffered for several days and were on the verge of death, so they should take more time to recuperate.
Because of his own transformation, the uncle and sister-in-law were treated in just two days and recovered quickly.

Yunxiang added, "Yes, I ran into Miss Biao this afternoon. She even asked about Master. When she heard that Master hadn't returned yet, Miss Biao went back."

Chen Siyuan nodded, taking it as a normal occurrence. He quickly walked to the back gate of the Rongguo Mansion and, seeing that it was indeed Dongmei, immediately stepped forward and asked, "Is something wrong at home?"

Dongmei nodded eagerly and said, "Just now, Yindie, who was by the eldest mistress's side, came by and spoke with the third concubine for a while. The third concubine immediately became anxious."

Chen Siyuan nodded. Just then, Dongmei arrived by carriage, so Chen Siyuan took his own carriage to his new residence near Nengren Temple.

When they arrived at the place, as soon as they stepped through the main gate, Sister You Er, Sister You San, and Qingwen came out to greet them.

Sister You said anxiously, "Brother, you've finally arrived. I really don't know what to do now, I need your help to make a decision."

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "No rush, let's go inside and talk."

They arrived at the main room shortly after. No maids were needed to serve tea; only Chen Siyuan, You Erjie, and You Sanjie were present. You Sanjie said, "Just now, a letter came from the East Mansion saying that Rong boy has somehow recruited some hooligans who are throwing excrement at the Guo family every day, and when no one was around, they even beat up Dr. Guo. Dr. Guo couldn't take it anymore, and now they've sent another letter saying... saying... they want to send her back!"

Send Old Lady You back? That's unacceptable!
(End of this chapter)