Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 86: Master Bao is unparalleled (Subscribe)
A small courtyard next to Lixiangyuan.

A stove had been set up next to the second room in the east wing, and the maid Yunxiang was puffing her cheeks and blowing air. In the main room, Chen Siyuan had changed his clothes and sat down on a chair, looking quite relaxed.

Hongyu dumped all her changed clothes into the basin and couldn't help muttering, "Master is still a legitimate master after all. I heard that Master Heng from the third room brought a maid with him, but Master went alone."

Chen Siyuan said, "There are hundreds or even thousands of people in this mess. When they go to change clothes, some maids get left behind and don't get on the carriage. If you go, will you take care of me, or will I take care of you? Besides, I'm used to it. It's only a few days, so it won't be a big deal."

Hongyu curled her lips and said, "Master always looks down on others. If I go there, I will definitely take care of you. How can I expect you to take care of me in return?"

Chen Siyuan laughed heartily and didn't respond. Instead, he said, "Just now, Yunxiang seemed to be hesitant to speak. What news has she heard?"

Hongyu hesitated for a moment, then said, "It actually has something to do with me."

He then recounted the ugly behavior of Baoyu, Qin Zhong, and Zhineng, and finally said in surprise, "Did you really catch them red-handed that day, sir?"

Chen Siyuan said playfully, "That's strange. You usually tell me not to pry into other people's affairs, but why are you asking about me now?"

Hongyu blushed, feeling a little embarrassed, then smiled and said, "I believed what you said—everyone is curious. Besides, I'm here to verify it with you."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "I won't tell you about this matter...and don't ask about it in the future."

Hongyu was indeed smart, and suddenly realized: "It's true? I didn't expect Master Bao to actually -"

Hongyu couldn't continue. If she had just been hanging out with Qin Zhong, she wouldn't have cared less about the current atmosphere. But being with Qin Zhong and Zhineng, especially in Shuiyue Temple during the mourning period for Qin Zhong's sister—to call him a jerk would be an understatement!

Especially considering how old Baoyu and Qin Zhong were. Baoyu would only be twelve next year! Ordinary people knew premature ejaculation was harmful to health, and this was especially true for the wealthy. But if a seductress seduced a young man and deflowered him early, and the family discovered it, she would be beaten to death!
The more strict ones would not let go until the boy was sixteen; even if they were more relaxed, they would probably not let go until he was fourteen or fifteen. And Master Bao was only twelve!
Being obsessed with a girl's beauty at such an early age may be detrimental to one's offspring and may also be a sign of premature death.

Hongyu was very insightful and said nothing more than she was amazed. Seeing that Chen Siyuan was in a very good mood, she was about to say something else when Yunxiang came in from outside, "The eldest wife is here!"

Upon hearing this, Hongyu hurriedly put the wooden basin filled with dirty clothes aside and went to greet them with Chen Siyuan who had stood up.

Walking around the screen and opening the main door, Chen Siyuan met the gaze of Madam Xing, who was walking in the courtyard. Seeing a look of inquiry in her eyes, and even more of concern, as if filled with deep longing, Chen Siyuan was immediately moved.

The fire in this old house spread faster than usual. Even though Mrs. Xing was alert and trying to hide her fear, she couldn't hide the concern in her eyes. You can imagine how intense the fire must be when no one is around!
Chen Siyuan smiled and stepped forward, bowing and greeting him. Madam Xing retracted her gaze and said with a smile, "Brother, are you planning to take a bath? It's really an unfortunate coincidence that I've arrived... Well, I'll just say a few words and then leave."

"Auntie, what are you talking about? Please come in and take a seat."

Once everyone entered, Hongyu hurriedly served them fragrant tea. Madam Xing asked a few indifferent questions about the past few days. After Chen Siyuan returned, she said, "The master sent me to ask you a few questions—" She glanced around and ordered, "Everyone, leave."

Hongyu, Miao'er, and Tiao'er all agreed. After they left the room, Madam Xing lowered her voice and asked anxiously, "Is that matter...did it get done?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded: "Thanks to you."

Mrs. Xing said, "Just now, when Zhen'er came to look for the master, he actually became suspicious of you... You don't know, I was scared to death just now."

Chen Siyuan was puzzled and asked, "Why would you suspect me?"

Madam Xing rolled her eyes at him and said, "Don't worry, the eldest master thinks it's nonsense. I think it's just that Zhen'er is desperate and trying all sorts of remedies. He's just making random guesses and has no basis for his claims."

Chen Siyuan finally felt relieved and said, "I told you, this is foolproof. There's no way anything could go wrong."

Mrs. Xing snorted without saying anything, just looked at him with a squinting eye.

Chen Siyuan understood, moved his stool closer, reached out and cupped a pair of delicate hands in his, and said with a smile: "It's all my fault that you've been so worried. Now that my life-threatening situation has been resolved, I don't have to take risks anymore."

It was meant to be a soothing remark, but when Mrs. Xing heard it, she was startled and asked, "You...when are you leaving?"

"There's no time to lose. I'll leave in a few days." Looking up, he saw Madam Xing pursing her lips and saying nothing. Chen Siyuan said, "A great scholar is giving a lecture in Hejian. I'm using this as an excuse to leave in a few days."

Madam Xing pondered secretly for a long time before she said, "No...can't it be later?"

Chen Siyuan said, "If it's any later, I'm afraid your cheap son will come back."

Madam Xing estimated secretly, saying, "It's frozen now, so it's hard to travel by canal. We might have to travel by land like last year. That would take a long time... I calculate it shouldn't arrive until the end of winter or the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. It wouldn't be too late for you to leave until mid-winter."

Chen Siyuan was stunned for a moment, then he understood what she was thinking.

Yin Shi frowned and said, "Aren't you afraid that the master will become suspicious?"

Mrs. Xing bit her lower lip and said, "I have my own way, don't worry about it." After a pause, she continued, "The more I think about it, the more I feel that you are right. Without a child by my side, I will always be a clay sculpture or wooden sculpture.

He's already over fifty, and if he keeps going on like this, he might pass away someday. When that happens, I'll be the only one left. Am I supposed to follow the example of Second House Concubine Zhou, who's neither human nor ghost, and rarely sees me in a year?"

Chen Siyuan asked uncertainly, "Have you made up your mind?"

Madam Xing leaned forward and lowered her voice, saying, "They say Ma Dao Po has some good medicine, and many people have had sons."

"Is he eating it or are you eating it?"

"I'm not sick, so naturally he eats it."

Chen Siyuan finally felt relieved and said after some thought, "Then it's up to you. I'll leave in mid-winter."

Mrs. Xing smiled in relief, then shook Chen Siyuan's hand. Her eyes were filled with indescribable tenderness, and she said angrily, "I must have gone mad. I have to worry about you, a little thief."

Chen Siyuan said seriously: "If not, just follow me."

Mrs. Xing was startled, then hesitated. After a long while, she frowned, bit her lower lip, and shook her head. "I'm not like you, who has no worries. I still have my third sister and Dequan. My parents passed away early, so I have to take good care of the little ones."

Chen Siyuan had just spoken out of his feelings, and he felt something was wrong as soon as he said it. Now, hearing Mrs. Xing's answer, he smiled bitterly and said, "Forget it, you have your difficulties too, I understand." Fearing that he would feel lonely, Mrs. Xing took the initiative to come over and be intimate with him for a while.

When they separated, Mrs. Xing suddenly said, "Yes, about Baoyu's affair...is it true or false?"

Although Chen Siyuan despised Baoyu's character, he didn't want to spread rumors. He just said, "I only saw Qin Zhong pulling Baoyu's belt, I didn't see anything else."

Madam Xing clapped her hands and said, "It must be true! Great! I thought it was some precious treasure, but now it looks like nothing more than a silver-plated spear head, no different from any other fine lady's clothing! My dear, you don't know, but this story has gone viral! I'm sure the old lady must have heard about it. I'll go and see what's going on!"

Chen Siyuan instructed, "Just watch the fun, but don't say anything, or the old lady will get angry."

Mrs. Xing said happily, "I don't know this yet? Don't worry."

Seeing that it was getting late, Madam Xing called in her maid and said to Chen Siyuan, "My dear, take a bath now. I'll go see the old lady."

After sending Madam Xing out of the hospital, Chen Siyuan felt something was wrong when he saw her rushing around. He thought that this time Madam Xing might be the first to be punished!
............................................................

Mrs. Xing took a detour all the way, passing the large painted screen wall from the corner gate, entering the hall, and then going around in front of the large flower hall to the Rongqing Hall in front.

The head maid Yuanyang exchanged a few words of greeting and then led Madam Xing inside.

Mrs. Xing turned around the screen and glanced around. She saw that Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Baochai, Sanchun, and Baoyu were all there, but only Sister Feng, who had not yet returned.

Mrs. Xing stepped forward to pay her respects, and seeing that Lady Jia's face was gloomy, she obediently sat down at the head of the table.

Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Jia were just talking about the daily affairs of the palace. After a pause, Mrs. Xing couldn't help but say, "Old Madam, you don't know. I overheard some old women gossiping on the way here. It's totally incomprehensible!"

Grandmother Jia looked over with a stern face and asked, "What did the eldest lady hear?"

Mrs. Xing flicked her handkerchief and said worriedly, "I wonder which scoundrel spread this lie that Baoyu and Zhong'er were fooling around with that little nun Zhineng at the Mantou Temple the other day... and that Feng'er caught them red-handed."

As soon as the words fell, you could hear a pin drop in Rongqing Hall.

Sanchun and Baochai were both watching their mouths and their hearts. Baoyu was even more furious and said angrily, "Who is so blind as to spread such nonsense? I, I really didn't do anything as foolish as that!"

Mrs. Xing stole a glance and saw that Grandmother Jia looked normal, Mrs. Wang was twirling her Buddhist beads, and the others were silent. Only Baoyu was jumping up and down. Mrs. Xing couldn't help but feel uneasy, thinking that this shouldn't be the case. Normally, the old lady should be furious, so why was she so calm?
She didn't know that Yuanyang had told Lady Jia once after receiving the news, and then Lady Wang told her again, and this was the third time she told Lady Xing.

Grandmother Jia was annoyed and even slammed the table, but as the saying goes, things never happen three times. When she heard it again, she was no longer agitated.

Although Mrs. Xing was a little slow to react, she immediately felt regretful when she recalled what Chen Siyuan had just said. She frowned and scolded, "Don't worry, Baoyu. It's all those old women gossiping. Everyone in the house knows who you are. How could you do such a thing?"

At this moment, Madam Wang raised her eyes and said, "Sister-in-law, did you see clearly which woman was gossiping just now?"

Mrs. Xing was just talking nonsense, so she didn't dare to make such a false accusation. She just said, "This... I was furious when I heard it, and I cursed loudly. When I chased after them, the maids had already run away."

Baoyu was now mad. He knelt before Lady Jia and cried, "Grandmother, please believe me. I really didn't do such a thing!"

Whether it was true or not, since Baoyu was so sure about it, it must be true. But just now, before Sanchun and Baochai came, Jia Mu asked Baoyu if he had lost his virginity, and Baoyu immediately hesitated and became evasive. How could this be tolerated?

Baoyu is not even twelve! If he continues to be obsessed with this vixen, I'm afraid he'll end up like Zhu Ge'er!

Thinking of catching that vixen, Lady Jia remained silent.

Baoyu felt extremely aggrieved. Just before Sanchun, Baochai and Aunt Xue came, Mrs. Wang and Lady Jia kept asking him which maidservant had seduced him. Fortunately, the arrival of everyone covered up the matter temporarily.

Thinking of the maidservants around him, who were as beautiful as flowers and might have to leave this time, Baoyu felt even more aggrieved. Then a plan came to his mind. He walked out a few steps, ripped the jade pendant hanging from his neck, held it high and shouted, "What a rare thing! My sisters don't believe me, I might as well smash it!"

When Jia Mu came back to her senses and took a look, she immediately became anxious: "Quick, stop them!"

Mrs. Xing saw that something was wrong, and taking advantage of her proximity, she stood up and grabbed the spiritual jade in Baoyu's hand, and finally took it away with all her strength.

Mrs. Wang was so frightened that she nearly fainted. She could only say, "Just speak nicely. Who wouldn't believe you? Why would you throw your vitals?"

Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun were startled and rushed over to persuade him. Baochai hesitated for a moment, then rose up as well, but when she came closer she said nothing. Baoyu just stood there, weeping uncontrollably.

Grandmother Jia said, "Madam, go down and investigate. Whoever is gossiping, whether newcomer or old member of the family, will be kicked out of the house!" After a pause, she added, "Hurry and bring Baoyu back to my room. What a pitiful thing! A good child has been corrupted by outsiders!"

At that moment, Sanchun, Baochai, and Aunt Xue persuaded him, and Xiren and Qingwen supported him, and Baoyu went to the west room.

Only Lady Jia, Yuanyang, Lady Xing and Lady Wang were left inside.

Seeing Lady Jia looking towards her with a hint of anger in her eyes, Mrs. Xing suddenly felt uneasy. She stood up and said with a smile, "This... I never thought Baoyu would be angry. This-"

Grandmother Jia glanced at him and said, "I'm tired too. There's no need for the eldest lady to accompany you. Go back and rest."

Mrs. Xing knew that she had displeased Lady Jia, so she lowered her head and agreed, then led her people out in embarrassment.

Mrs. Wang was still inside, and Grandmother Jia sternly said, "Madam, you must not be soft-hearted any longer. Get to the bottom of this matter! How can we let such a thing go on?"

Mrs. Wang agreed obediently.

Grandmother Jia continued, "That Zhong brother... you'd better not come home from now on. I used to think he was a good person, but who knew he was actually a fellow..."

What is a hill? Lady Jia didn't say it clearly, but Mrs. Wang understood it.

He bowed and said, "My wife will do it right away!"

(End of this chapter)