Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 451 Chaos Arises During the Engagement Period; Hui Hongyu Secretly Offers Help

Was Baoyu beaten senseless?

Chen Siyuan hurriedly asked, "Has the Rongguo Mansion sent any message?"

The three women shook their heads in unison. Chen Siyuan frowned and pondered, "Since no news has come, I suppose there's nothing to worry about. Right, what did Doctor Ding say?"

Baochai replied, "Doctor Ding said that Brother Bao seems to have a condition of soul separation, which is his specialty. He suggested that the Rongguo Mansion find someone more skilled."

Chen Siyuan immediately found it amusing. He thought to himself, "What nonsense about a soul-separation illness. Baoyu is clearly faking it."

Thinking about it carefully, Jia Zheng first went south as an educational official, and only later did Baoyu have an affair with Xia Jingui, and then they had a child the following year. Jiangnan and the capital are thousands of miles apart, so it's likely Jia Zheng wasn't aware of this beforehand. Was it only upon returning home and hearing of this that he became so enraged?

Given the vicious nature of the Xia family mother and daughter, it's possible they deliberately leaked the information to Jia Zheng in order to pressure him into marriage.

After thinking it over, Chen Siyuan said, "It's alright, I reckon Brother Bao will be fine in a few days... and maybe good things are on the horizon."

Yingchun and Baochai nodded slightly, but Lin Daiyu could not hide her disdain. Firstly, she despised Baoyu for having an affair without a matchmaker and already having a child; secondly, she despised Lady Wang for being irresponsible, not arranging a marriage for a two-year-old child because she looked down on the Xia family's social standing.

Daiyu, too lazy to deal with Baoyu's nonsense, changed the subject and asked, "Husband, shall we have a banquet for the New Year?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "We should have a banquet eventually, but it will mostly be for colleagues and classmates. We can choose a day before the 15th."

Yingchun then said, "I had previously discussed with my two younger sisters that we would return to our parents' home on the third or fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Bao said that she plans to bring Aunt and Sister-in-law Cao over during the New Year, so that it will be more lively."

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded, saying, "Second Sister, Bao Sister, and Lin Sister, just make a plan. Oh, by the way—" As he spoke, he took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, counted them briefly, divided them into three portions, and handed them to the three women respectively: "Regarding the profits from the latex and pharmacy, I will keep some, and each of you will take two thousand of the remaining six thousand taels."

Yingchun said, "I don't need my husband to help me out; I have plenty of money on hand."

Baochai also laughed and said, "That's right. Now that my husband has entered officialdom, what social interaction doesn't cost money? It's better to keep some money on hand."

Daiyu ignored all that, reached out and grabbed the silver notes, laughing as she said, "If you don't want them, I will. I'm really lucky. I never expected to receive two thousand taels of silver as a subsidy before the New Year. In that case, I won't have to work so hard to manage the family business anymore. My husband's subsidies will be enough."

Yingchun and Baochai teased Daiyu for being lazy, and Chen Siyuan became more and more delighted as he looked at Daiyu's mischievous smile.

On this night, Chen Siyuan ignored Daiyu's refusals and stayed in her room.

Although he was mindful of Daiyu's young age and didn't actually do anything, they were still very close, and for a moment they were busy and excited. When the sweet voices and gentle movements suddenly stopped, Daiyu fell down, her legs spread open, her eyes open and her teeth closed, as if she had fainted.

Several months into their marriage, Longyang's skills became increasingly adept, and several times during their procrastination, he almost went all the way. After a long while, Daiyu came to her senses, raised her hand, and playfully punched Chen Siyuan twice, then muttered a few words under her breath, prompting Chen Siyuan to protest, "Heaven and earth bear witness, I didn't even move an inch just now. Ouch... why did you bite me?"

Daiyu said, embarrassed and annoyed, "If you keep talking nonsense, you'll get your skin peeled off!"

Chen Siyuan quickly embraced Yu Zi and coaxed her in every way until he finally calmed Daiyu down. After a while, Daiyu suddenly chuckled and said to Chen Siyuan, "Today, Qin'er came to see me and hesitated for a long time before finally saying what she had to say. Only then did I realize why she had been avoiding you all this time."

After saying that, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh for a while before whispering to Chen Siyuan. Chen Siyuan couldn't help but chuckle as well, realizing that Baoqin was too young to understand how she had suddenly gotten her pants dirty.

Chen Siyuan then laughed and said, "It's fortunate that my sister mentioned it, otherwise wouldn't Qin'er have had to wait until June or July of next year to find out the answer?"

Daiyu's mind raced, and she asked, "Is Qin's mother coming to the capital next summer?"

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "Xue Ke has taken on a royal merchant post and cannot leave the capital easily. It would be of no use for his mother to stay in Jinling. Why not come to the capital?"

Daiyu laughed and said, "That's going to be lively! Xiangling said today that her mother will come to the capital next summer."

Chen Siyuan hugged Daiyu tightly and laughed, "More than that? Before, when you were in the Rongguo Mansion, you couldn't get away easily. But now it's different. This time, I'll definitely take you to have a good time during the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Qixi Festival."

"Mmm." Daiyu nodded vigorously and unconsciously pressed herself closer to Chen Siyuan.

The young couple chatted for a while, and only stopped to rest when the second watch of the night was about to pass.

For the remaining days, Chen Siyuan continued to sit in the yamen as usual. Each day, he would have a cup of tea, a copy of the official gazette, and a little time to peruse historical records before leisurely returning home around noon.

Yingchun was six months pregnant and could not handle any strenuous work, so all the general affairs of the Zhonglu Courtyard were handed over to Hongyu to manage.

For a time, the three courtyards were preparing for the New Year. On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Wu Jun returned from Liaodong and told Yingchun about the situation of the Liaodong estate. After thinking it over, Yingchun made a decision to buy 1,200 mu of farmland in Liaodong after the New Year and after the contract was signed.

Before long, it was New Year's Eve. During the day, Baochai picked up Aunt Xue and Madam Cao and brought them to the East Courtyard. At night, Daiyu, Baochai, and the concubines gathered in the Central Courtyard. The feast was extremely lavish, with all kinds of delicacies, such as sea cucumber, shark fin, and abalone. However, compared to the Rongguo Mansion, it was far more frugal.

The three tables of fine food, plus the wine and dishes given to the servants, cost no more than a hundred taels of silver. In the Rongguo Mansion, three to five hundred taels of silver wouldn't be enough for this.

The women, usually carefree, became even more unrestrained at this moment. Since they were all of similar age, they began to frolic and play without regard for age. After the banquet, they went to play cards.

The women don't need to get up early tomorrow; they'll be staying up all night to welcome the New Year. But Mr. Chen isn't so lucky—he has to attend the morning court session on New Year's Day.

Chen Siyuan took a short nap and headed to the capital city after midnight. The ceremony began at dawn, and the numerous formalities made everyone drowsy. Finally, at mid-morning, the Emperor bestowed lucky bags, and the civil and military officials dispersed like birds and beasts.

Chen Siyuan returned home and went straight to sleep, not getting up until late afternoon.

Immediately, Qingwen said, "Just now, the Rongguo Mansion sent a message saying that the old lady is hosting a banquet on the third day of the month and has invited the three ladies to go together."

Chen Siyuan asked, "What did Sister Bao say?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "Mrs. Xue declined directly, saying that she was not feeling well."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, "I'm afraid Baochai hates Lady Wang to the core. If it weren't for the coincidence that Baochai overheard this, and if someone had really ruined her reputation, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Chen Siyuan sighed inwardly. He wasn't afraid of his enemies' elaborate schemes, but rather of a fool's sudden inspiration. Anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't have thought of such a thing! Chen Siyuan wondered, putting aside the Xue family's situation, wasn't Madam Wang afraid of his future revenge? Or had she simply not considered that he would one day pass the imperial examination with flying colors?

Now, things have turned out badly. Only Aunt Xue, who couldn't refuse to be polite, was going along with the Jia family. The rest of the Xue family, whether it was Cao Shi or Baochai, all considered themselves no longer related to the Jia family.

Chen Siyuan thought for a moment, and now that the imperial merchant position had fallen to the second branch of the Xue family, the Xue family was no longer among the four great families of Jinling, and the remaining three families were probably not far from their demise.

On the third day, Chen Siyuan bid farewell to Baochai and, along with his second sister Yingchun and Lin Daiyu, went to the Rongguo Mansion.

Since this banquet was hosted by Grandmother Jia, the feast was held in Rongqing Hall.

After the banquet began, Chen Siyuan and Jia Lian had tea and chatted in the small hall at the front. Jia Lian steered the conversation toward the Eastern Palace several times, but Chen Siyuan interrupted twice, and immediately sensed something was amiss.

Seeing the eagerness in Jia Lian's eyes, Chen Siyuan thought to himself, "Could this fellow have been sent by the Crown Prince to win me over?"
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, which terrified Chen Siyuan, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. The Jia family wanted to die, and Chen Siyuan dared not follow them to their doom. His eyes darted around, and he quickly suggested that he hadn't visited the Grand View Garden in a long time and wanted to revisit it.

Just as Jia Lian was about to get up to accompany them, an old woman suddenly came to report that a guest had arrived, so Jia Lian had no choice but to go forward to answer her.

Chen Siyuan entered the Grand View Garden in a flash. He originally intended to cover it up vaguely, but after a short stroll, all the past scenes came to mind, and he couldn't help but think of Li Wan.

Walking with my hands behind my back, I crossed the Qinfang Gate Bridge and came to the Jade Emperor Temple. Following the path, I reached the thatched cottage where I had lived before.

Chen Siyuan sighed inwardly as he strolled along when he suddenly heard a soft cough. Looking up, he saw a graceful figure peering at him from behind the bamboo fence on the west side of the Jade Emperor Temple—it was Sister Feng.

Chen Siyuan paused, quickly looked around, and seeing that no one was watching, he turned his head and saw that Sister Feng had disappeared. Only then did he hurry to catch up.

Before long, they arrived at the gate of the Jade Emperor Temple. Chen Siyuan had just climbed the steps when the inner gate creaked open a corner. Feng Jie quickly waved and, when Chen Siyuan got closer, reached out and pulled him inside.

Seeing the resentment in her phoenix eyes, Chen Siyuan coughed lightly and chuckled, "What's wrong, Second Sister-in-law? Are you looking for me to handle after-sales service?"

What kind of after-sales service?

I was hoping for a boy, but I had a girl instead. Now I'm in for after-sales service.
Naturally, Chen Siyuan couldn't bring himself to say such a humorous thing, so he said, "There are people waiting ahead, so speak quickly."

Sister Feng was secretly furious and resented Chen Siyuan for being heartless and ungrateful. But what could she do? Unless she dragged Chen Siyuan down with her and they both perished, there was nothing she could do about him.

Sister Feng secretly gathered her strength, suppressing her resentment, and finally got to the point: "The master is getting worse and worse. The imperial physician said he might not live more than half a year. After the master passes away, we will have to trouble Brother Yuan to help us put in a good word with the Ministry of Rites, so that your second brother can at least inherit the title."

Chen Siyuan said in surprise, "The court has its own rules for inheriting titles. I am just a powerless Hanlin official. How much help can I possibly provide?"

Sister Feng sighed, "You don't know, His Majesty is quite harsh on nobles these days. Take the matter of the Earl of Linchang inheriting his title, for example. The Ministry of Rites is nitpicking and has dragged it out for more than a year without any result."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Second sister-in-law, you seem to have gone to great lengths. Have you forgotten that there is still an empress in the palace?"

Sister Feng frowned and said, "I'm afraid that because of Your Majesty, this matter will become even more uncertain."

Chen Siyuan pondered for a long time. Jia She had suffered a stroke for almost half a year and was no longer able to cause trouble. However, Jia Lian still made a trip to Ping'an Prefecture in the autumn. It was unknown to what extent Jia Lian was involved in the business there.

Furthermore, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and Jia Zhen have close ties with the Crown Prince, suggesting that the Jia family is likely doomed.

Glancing at Sister Feng before him, Chen Siyuan sighed inwardly. Recalling their past fleeting romances, he said, "There are some things I can't say outright. Believe it if you want, or just consider it me making things up. At this critical moment, the Rongguo Mansion is in a precarious state. One wrong move and it could lead to the confiscation of its property and the extermination of its entire clan."

In my opinion, delaying the matter of Lian Erge's succession to the title might not be a bad thing.

Feng Jie was, after all, a woman confined to the inner quarters, and how could she know much about the intrigues of the court? She glared at him with her phoenix eyes and said, "How is it not a good thing? Explain yourself clearly."

Chen Siyuan simply shook his head and remained silent, then said, "Fine, even if Second Master Lian doesn't inherit the title, I'm afraid he can't escape it anyway. We've been husband and wife for a few days, after all. I'll only tell you one thing: from now on, you must never commit any crimes. If the Rongguo Mansion truly falls into ruin one day, and you haven't gotten into legal trouble, I'll find a way to rescue you." Upon hearing this, Feng Jie couldn't help but chuckle, but seeing the extremely serious look in Chen Siyuan's clear, cold eyes, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Just as they were pondering what trouble the Rongguo Mansion might be in, Chen Siyuan turned around and left in a huff.

Sister Feng regained her senses and quickly gave chase.

As soon as they came down from the Jade Emperor Temple, a maidservant came towards them. Sister Feng quickly hid behind the bamboo fence. After the maidservant passed, she tried to chase after Chen Siyuan, but there was no trace of him anywhere.
Feng Jie turned back with a heavy heart, planning to find Chen Siyuan later to get some answers.

Just as they reached the Qinfang Bridge, they suddenly heard a bustling noise coming from the north. Fengjie stopped and turned around, only to see Baoyu coming out of the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, turning around and chatting happily with Yun'er.

Sister Feng blinked, and suddenly an idea came to her mind—she had never liked the flirtatious Yun'er, and Yun'er was not a well-behaved girl, while Baoyu had no sense of propriety with women. Perhaps she could take this opportunity to get rid of Yun'er.

With a cold snort, Sister Feng then stepped forward.

At noon, the banquet began at Rongqing Hall. As before, screens separated the left and right sides. Feng Jie glanced eastward through the screens several times, but Chen Siyuan remained as steady as a mountain, showing no intention of leaving his seat.

The banquet was rather bland, but after drinking a cup of tea, Chen Siyuan, along with Yingchun and Daiyu, bid farewell to Grandmother Jia and the others, and took their leave by carriage.

On the way back, Chen Siyuan held the tipsy Daiyu in his arms. Daiyu leaned half of her body against his chest and said, "It's strange. Just now, my second sister asked around several times, but she glossed over both my maternal grandmother and my aunt. I wonder how my cousin is doing now."

Chen Siyuan said, "Baoyu is fine. I was wandering around the garden to avoid Lian Erge when I saw Baoyu go to Lixiang Courtyard. He walked like the wind and didn't seem to be in any trouble."

"Pear Fragrance Courtyard?" Daiyu was taken aback. She knew that Yun'er lived there now. She frowned and said with displeasure, "Cousin, you really have no sense of propriety. No matter what, the Pear Fragrance Courtyard is where Lian Erge's concubine lives. How can he disturb her so casually?"

Chen Siyuan smiled noncommittally, thinking to himself, "That's just how torrential rain is."
After a short while, Chen Siyuan asked again, "That's right, I shouldn't ask Second Uncle during the meal, what's the story behind Brother Bao's marriage?"

Daiyu said, "I only half understood what they said. They only mentioned that we would go to the Xia family to discuss it after the first month of the lunar calendar, but they didn't say what the arrangements would be."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Madam wants both substance and face, but she doesn't seem to realize that there's no such thing as a free lunch. If Xia Jingui only inherits the family line, that's fine, but if she really wants to have both... I'm afraid the Jia family will be in for a lot of trouble."

Daiyu frowned, feeling utterly dejected, and fell silent.

Upon returning home, Yingchun spoke with Chen Siyuan again, but Jia Zheng and Lady Wang were at an impasse. Jia Zheng was upright and only wanted Baoyu and Xia Jingui to get married as soon as possible; Lady Wang, on the other hand, did not want to inherit the family line and was determined to marry Xia Jingui as a secondary wife.

The situation remains deadlocked, and it seems that a decision will only be made when Yuan Chun makes the final decision.

In the following days, Chen Siyuan visited Jia Yucun, his mentor, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, and the Prince of Yanping. He also hosted a banquet at his home for his classmates and fellow students. Soon after, the three courtyards were closed to host banquets for each other.

Although Aunt Xue had moved to the East Courtyard, she lived a secluded life and rarely met with Chen Siyuan. Seeing her resolute attitude, Chen Siyuan did not press the matter further.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. On the Lantern Festival, Chen Siyuan kept his promise and led Baochai, Daiyu, and a group of concubines to stroll around the lantern festival for two days.

Baochai, with her impeccable demeanor as a first wife, kept the group of women in check, ensuring no mishaps occurred. Daiyu, enjoying a rare stroll through the lantern festival, couldn't help but beam with joy. Her eyes, seemingly about to weep, darted left and right, sometimes fixed on the Golden Lotus Lantern and the Jade Pavilion Lantern, and sometimes pulling Chen Siyuan to look at the Camel Lantern and the Green Lion Lantern.

The place was bustling with activity: princes and nobles vied to watch, football players gathered under the railings, ladies strolled hand in hand, and dazzling lights shone from the high towers.

The monks gathered in droves, their faces like stars in the sky, discussing the blessings of the new year. There were also those who stood on the high slopes, reciting poems and singing songs. And then there was that monk with the sound of cymbals, expounding the Tripitaka.

The vendors selling glutinous rice balls piled high with fruit fillings, while those sticking plum blossoms on withered branches stood side by side.

Spring is cut, and the east wind stirs the hair at her temples; the cool hairpin on her head shines with golden light in the sun.

The screen depicts Shi Chong's brocade curtains, and the beaded curtains adorn the plum blossoms under the clear moon.

Although one cannot see all the sights of Bieshan Mountain, one should still enjoy a bountiful and joyful year.

After two days of sightseeing, Baochai breathed a sigh of relief, while Daiyu was still reluctant to leave.

The next day, when they talked, Baochai and Lin Daiyu were quite different.

Baochai frowned and sighed, "We've finally managed to cover it up. With all this worrying, someone got lost if we didn't look closely. I won't go next year. Husband, just let Second Sister go with you."

Lin Daiyu beamed with joy, and as Chen Siyuan became increasingly tender and affectionate, she took his hand and said, "The lantern festival is indeed very interesting. My husband, would you like to take me there again next year?"

The contrast between the two is like heaven and earth, yet Chen Siyuan seems to enjoy it.

Baochai is sensible and only shows her temper in front of herself; Lin Daiyu is willful and unrestrained, but never oversteps her bounds, and she would never act out of character for no reason.

With such a unique and charming woman by my side, what more could I ask for in this life?
In the days that followed, it was obviously Baochai's and Erjie's birthdays. The family simply followed the usual practice, setting up a feast and inviting female folk artists and opera troupes to make it lively.

February 12th is the day Daiyu gives birth to her son, but this time it cannot be done casually, because this day is Daiyu's coming-of-age ceremony.

On this day, Madam Xing led Feng Jie, Li Wan, Tan Chun, Xi Chun, and Xiang Yun to witness the ceremony. She also invited Aunt Xue as the master of ceremonies, and the Grand Marshal's wife, Jiao Xing, as the principal guest. Daiyu was dressed in her finest attire. The ceremony included the opening of the ceremony, the first bow, the second bow, the third bow, the offering of wine, the libation, and so on, until the ceremony was completed.

After that day, Daiyu finally combed her bangs, dressed up as a married woman, and became a true lady of the West Courtyard.

Madam Xing, Jiao Xing, Sister Feng, and the others lingered all day, only returning home after the meal was served.

Coming-of-age ceremony is a woman's affair, and Chen Siyuan thought it best not to interfere, and he didn't want to run into Madam Xing and Sister Feng causing trouble, so he didn't return home until dusk that day.

No sooner had they entered the ceremonial gate than Hongyu hurriedly came to invite them: "Master, Madam requests that you go to the main room to discuss matters."

Chen Siyuan frowned and asked, "Was Lin Daiyu's coming-of-age ceremony today successful?"

Hongyu said, "Everything is in order, but the eldest madam of Rongguo Mansion mentioned two things that made her uneasy."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, "It's probably because Jia She is in bad shape."

He nodded and quickened his pace, but Hongyu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Master, after you've spoken to Madam, could you come find me? I also have something to ask of you."

Chen Siyuan smiled and stroked Hongyu's cheek, saying, "Our affection is extraordinary. You were one of the first to follow me. What do you need to ask for? Alright, I'll come find you later."

"Mm," Hongyu replied with a smile.

Without further delay, Chen Siyuan entered the main room of the central courtyard in no time. Turning around the screen, he saw Xiuju helping Yingchun walk around the room.

My second sister became pregnant shortly after getting married, and now she is eight months pregnant. Her belly is high, and she can only walk with her belly sticking out and supporting her back.

Seeing Chen Siyuan return, Yingchun quickly greeted him. Chen Siyuan waved Xiuju away, then helped Yingchun to a seat before asking, "Is Mount Tai alright?"

Yingchun frowned and sighed, "Mother said that Father has been sleeping more and waking up less these days. He's lucky if he's awake for two hours a day. The imperial physician in the manor also said that Father probably won't last more than two months."

Chen Siyuan comforted her, saying, "Everyone is born, grows old, gets sick, and dies. Second sister is currently six months pregnant, so it's not good to worry too much."

Yingchun smiled bitterly, "He gave birth to me but didn't raise me. People are all made of flesh and blood, so how much grief can I feel? I'm just thinking that I'm afraid my unborn child will be born soon."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "It's understandable, and no one can find fault with it."

Yingchun nodded and said, "I was afraid that Father's departure would delay Baoyu's marriage. I heard from Mother that Madam went to the Xia family a couple of days ago and they agreed that she would personally welcome him on the 28th of this month."

Chen Siyuan asked, "What exactly are the rules?"

Yingchun smiled wryly and said, "Nobody knows. Mother said there's no definite answer yet."

Chen Siyuan laughed heartily. That's good. The wedding date has been set, but whether he will be a concubine or have two husbands is still undecided.

After talking with Yingchun for a while, Chen Siyuan finally said goodbye to Yingchun and went outside to look for Hongyu.

Hongyu was guarding the side hall when she saw Chen Siyuan come out, and she quickly led him to the side room.

Once inside, Hongyu said, "As you know, Master, I have a sister-like friend in the Rongguo Mansion named Jiahui."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "I remember, I remember, that girl is extremely greedy."

Hongyu smiled bitterly, "A few days ago, Jia Hui was kicked out of the mansion. Now she has nowhere to go, and her family doesn't care. So she had no choice but to come to me for help."

Chen Siyuan was astonished and asked, "Jia Hui is Qi Xianzhai's maid, isn't she? What did she do wrong?"

Hongyu said, "I'm afraid it's an undeserved disaster... Before the New Year, the master of Rongguo Mansion somehow found out about Baoyu's shameful deeds and gave him a severe beating. A few days ago, Baochan told the madam that Jia Hui was gossiping, which is why Baoyu was beaten. The madam was furious and insisted that Jia Hui was dishonest, so she kicked her out that very day."

Chen Siyuan frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "It's not a good place to settle things here. If the Rongguo Mansion finds out, it might not be good. Why don't you send Jia Hui to Shajing Hutong? I'll mention it to Third Sister later."

Hongyu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good to have a place to stand. Otherwise, Jia Hui is a young lady, and her indenture is with the Rongguo Mansion... Where else can she find a job besides a place with no resources?"

Chen Siyuan deeply agreed, feeling that Madam Wang was becoming increasingly ruthless.

(End of this chapter)