The Red Mansion

Chapter 128 Three Beauties Competing for Attention
Because Jiang Nian was granted a noble title, Yuan Chun's return to the Rongguo Mansion to visit relatives today was exceptionally dignified.

Yuan Chun was delighted and returned to the Jiang family's new residence from the Rongguo Mansion, her face still showing a hint of joy.

During dinner, Yuan Chun surprisingly suggested drinking with Jiang Nian. Although Jiang Nian didn't like drinking and rarely drank, he wouldn't refuse Yuan Chun's invitation.

After a few cups of wine, Yuan Chun's cheeks flushed, and her eyes became even more alluring.

Seeing that she was in high spirits, Jiang Nian was also pleased.

That night, with the curtains drawn low, Yuan Chun was even more proactive than the night Jiang Nian returned to the capital. Her hair was disheveled, and her slender hands, usually wielding a brush and playing the zither, were unusually bold tonight.

After everything was over, Jiang Nian was about to rest when she suddenly heard the person beside her whisper, "That moon-white long robe... was it the work of that young lady from the Qin family?"

She discovered that the package Jiang Nian brought back yesterday contained an exquisitely crafted moon-white long gown.

Jiang Nian was taken aback upon hearing this, but simply replied frankly, "That's right."

The tent was utterly silent for a moment, and one could almost hear each other's breathing and heartbeats.

Yuan Chun's dark hair spread across the embroidered pillow as she asked, "Master and her... have you become engaged?"

Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment, then finally told the truth: "That's right. After her twenty-seven-month mourning period is over, we will take her into our family."

Although he hadn't originally planned to tell Yuan Chun about his affair with Qin Keqing, now that Yuan Chun had asked, he didn't want to lie to her about it.

Yuan Chun was not surprised, as she had anticipated this answer.

Yuan Chun was not angry. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder and said, "I've heard that Miss Qin is extremely beautiful. I'd like to invite her over tomorrow so I can see what kind of person she is. What do you think?"

Jiang Nian paused, then said, "Okay. But please don't make things difficult for her."

"Don't worry, sir, I mean her no harm." Yuan Chun chuckled, her breath sweet as orchids. "Does sir truly think of me as such a jealous and intolerant woman?"

Jiang Nian stroked her long, flowing hair: "You are not, and I hope you won't be in the future either."

……

……

Qin family.

That morning, Qin Keqing was dressing in front of the mirror in the west wing. She only applied a light layer of powder, styled her hair in a casual, relaxed bun, and wore a moon-white dress, yet she still exuded a certain charm.

Ruizhu was tidying up the sewing basket.

Suddenly, Peng Jizhong's wife hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered, forgetting all manners, and said, "Miss, the Jiang family's matriarch has sent someone!"

Qin Keqing paused, her hand holding the jade hairpin still. She couldn't immediately grasp the meaning, and when she finally realized who "Grandma Jiang" was, she couldn't believe it: "Who?"

"That's Mrs. Jiang!" Peng Jizhong's wife clapped her hands. "It's Aunt He who's here; she's waiting outside the second gate to see the young lady!"

Qin Keqing was stunned; her slightly pale face was reflected in the mirror.

Why did his wife send Aunt He to see me? Could it be that she knew I had given him a long gown? Or perhaps she even knew about our engagement?

After forcing herself to calm down, Qin Keqing got up and went to the second gate, the hanging flower gate, to greet Meng Shi. Firstly, Meng Shi was no ordinary servant; her husband, He Yun, was a fifth-rank Imperial Guard. Secondly, Yuan Chun had sent Meng Shi this time. Thirdly, Qin Keqing was acquainted with Meng Shi.

Qin Keqing took Meng's hand and entered the inner courtyard, then went into the west wing. She felt that Meng's palm was warm and dry, while her own palm was slightly cool.

Ruizhu quickly prepared fragrant tea and snacks.

Seeing Qin Keqing's attentiveness, Meng took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "This tea is good, Miss."

Qin Keqing forced a smile and said, "It's just an ordinary thing."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Madam Meng put down her teacup and said seriously, "Our mistress wishes to meet you, young lady, and has specially sent me to invite you to our home. May I ask when you are free today?"

Qin Keqing's heart pounded. She recalled the collapse of the Ningguo Mansion and her affair with Jiang Nian, and for a moment she felt extremely uneasy.

After a slight hesitation, Qin Keqing said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Please ask Aunt He to inform Madam that since Madam is so kind, I dare not refuse. If Madam is free at the beginning of the morning, I will come to pay my respects."

Madam Meng smiled and said, "My grandmother said that no matter when, she will wait for you today, Miss. Since you said it's early morning, then you should go at early morning. I don't need to ask my grandmother for permission again."

After seeing Meng off, Qin Keqing returned to the west wing. Ruizhu hurriedly closed the door: "Miss, are you really going?"

Qin Keqing remained silent, staring blankly at herself in the mirror. Suddenly, she noticed a stray lock of hair hanging down by her temple, just like the tangled emotions she was feeling at that moment.

Ruizhu muttered, "What if that person is deliberately trying to make things difficult for you, young lady?"

Qin Keqing shook her head and said, "Judging from Aunt He's words and actions, she doesn't seem to have ill intentions. If she wanted to make things difficult, she wouldn't have sent Aunt He to invite me."

After saying that, she got up and opened the wardrobe. Her slender fingers wandered among the clothes, but she didn't choose any of them. She turned to Ruizhu and said, "Take that sky-blue silk skirt from the camphor wood chest."

Ruizhu smiled to herself, thinking to herself, "That sky-blue silk skirt is a favorite of the young lady, one she always hesitates to wear, but today she's going to wear it."

She didn't find it strange.

……

……

The news that Qin Keqing was about to arrive at the Jiang family's new residence spread like wildfire throughout the Jiang family, and the servants of the Jiang family were all talking about it.

In the west wing, Ying'er was combing Xue Baochai's hair, her rhinoceros horn comb scraping fiercely against her dark hair as she muttered, "That Ruizhu is such a frivolous little hussy, how good can her mistress be?"

The glass mirror reflected Xue Baochai's calm expression: "Stop gossiping!"

"You're such a good girl!" Ying'er suddenly turned around, opened a camphor wood chest, and took out a honey-colored satin skirt with gold embroidery of butterflies and flowers from the bottom of the chest. "Today, you must outdo her."

Xue Baochai was not one to care much for dressing up; she usually wore simple and elegant clothes. The honey-colored satin dress with gold thread and butterflies that Ying'er was presenting was a dress that she had kept at the bottom of her trunk, which she had only worn twice because she thought it was too flashy.

However, at this moment, Xue Baochai tacitly approved of Ying'er's actions.

Ying'er used jasmine dew to moisten Xue Baochai's hair, styled it into a fashionable bun, and then picked out a gold phoenix hairpin with pearls and filigree from her dressing case. Then she opened the rouge box, picked out some rose cream, dissolved it in her palm, and gently patted it on Xue Baochai's cheeks, adding a touch of color to Xue Baochai's fair face.

“Look, young lady,” Ying’er said happily, staring at Xue Baochai as if she were looking at her own masterpiece.

When Xue Baochai saw the person in the mirror with her hair piled high and her gold hairpins gleaming, she felt somewhat unfamiliar with her. Subconsciously, she raised her hand to remove the gold phoenix hairpin with its pearl and filigree, but her hand was stopped in mid-air by Ying'er.

"Today, Miss is with Grandma and Miss Qin. Master may want to see them," Ying'er whispered.

Xue Baochai was taken aback. Her hand, which had been stopped in mid-air, slowly fell down, smoothing the wrinkles on her clothes.

……

……

Qin Keqing was a strong-willed person. In her view, this trip to the Jiang family to see Yuan Chun was a secret contest with Yuan Chun and Xue Baochai. Moreover, Jiang Nian might witness a scene of "three beauties under one roof".

So Qin Keqing dressed up carefully.

Because she was still in the twenty-seven-month mourning period, she couldn't dress too extravagantly. She wore her beloved sky-blue silk dress, adorned her hair with a magnolia hairpin and two plain silver pearl flowers, applied a light layer of powder to her face, and dabbed jasmine ointment on her lips. This attire was neither ostentatious nor lacking in beauty.

She felt a little regretful, knowing that she would have looked even more beautiful if she had dressed up in a glamorous way.

She is more suited to glamorous than elegant.

Although the Qin and Jiang families' new residences were only a hundred paces apart, propriety was still paramount for the young ladies. Peng Jizhong had prepared a blue silk carriage, and Ruizhu helped Qin Keqing into it. As the curtain fell, Qin Keqing's fingertips trembled slightly—this journey meant meeting the mistress of the house.

At the beginning of the hour of Si (9-11 AM), Qin Keqing arrived at the Jiang family's new residence on time.

In the east wing, Yuan Chun was reviewing the account books when she heard Yao Shi come to report. She calmly closed the account books and gave Yao Shi a few instructions.

Following Yuan Chun's instructions, Yao first went to the study to inform Jiang Nian.

Upon hearing the news, Jiang Nian put down the book in her hand, stood up, took out a top-quality wolf-hair brush from Huzhou from the brush holder, and prepared to practice calligraphy...

Then, Madam Yao went to the west wing to invite Xue Baochai and Yuan Chun to greet the guests together.

Upon hearing the invitation, Xue Baochai adjusted her already meticulously styled sideburns in front of the mirror, a faint smile playing on her lips...

Yao then went to call Meng to bring Qin Keqing in.

Upon receiving the order, Madam Meng hurried to the gate to greet them. She saw Qin Keqing, supported by Ruizhu, alight from the carriage. Her skirt remained perfectly in place as she moved, and she was as beautiful as a fairy, with an air of elegance no less than that of a lady from a wealthy family.

……

……

As Xue Baochai stepped out of the west wing, she saw Yuan Chun standing under the eaves of the main room. She noticed that the mistress of the house was also dressed up carefully today, wearing luxurious clothes, with a five-phoenix hairpin adorned with pearls, and her lips were as red as cinnabar, making her look delicate and beautiful.

Yuan Chun immediately noticed that Xue Baochai had dressed up carefully today.

Their eyes met, and they both exchanged a knowing, slight smile.

Xiangling deliberately followed Yuanchun, and when she saw Xue Baochai's attire, her eyes widened in surprise. She then glanced towards the second gate, clearly waiting to see what would happen.

Just as Xue Baochai finished bowing to Yuan Chun, she saw Meng Shi leading Qin Keqing through the hanging flower gate.

Everyone looked in that direction and saw a beautiful woman walking gracefully towards them. Her lotus-like steps were light and light, like walking on water. Although she was dressed in simple and elegant clothes, she could not hide her innate grace and charm.

Yuan Chun secretly praised, "What a strikingly beautiful woman!"

Xue Baochai unconsciously bit her lower lip.

Qin Keqing walked to the steps and first bowed to Yuan Chun, saying, "Greetings to Madam."

Her voice was so soft it could drip water.

He rose and exchanged greetings with Xue Baochai.

The three beauties stood under the eaves, creating a delicate scene: Yuan Chun was as graceful and noble as a peony, while Qin Keqing and Xue Baochai today seemed to be half peony and half crabapple, half graceful and noble and half charming and alluring.

Even more subtly, Yuan Chun is Jiang Nian's wife, Xue Baochai is about to become Jiang Nian's concubine, and Qin Keqing is already engaged to Jiang Nian. Furthermore, the collapse of the Ningguo Mansion is closely related to Qin Keqing, while Qin Ye's death is closely related to Xue Baochai…

Three women make a drama.

The copper bells on the eaves jingled in the wind, as if adding to the excitement of the performance.

Xiangling was stunned, while Ying'er and Ruizhu secretly glared at each other.

Baoqin remained relatively calm, after all, she had seen the world with Yuanchun in the palace and Changchun Garden.

Yuan Chun smiled at Qin Keqing and said, "Please come inside, sister."

As he spoke, he took the lead and walked towards the east wing.

Xue Baochai deliberately lagged behind by half a step, seeing that Qin Keqing had the same intention. The two paused, a hint of awkwardness in their expressions. Yuan Chun turned around, giving her a half-smile, a gaze that seemed to pierce through to the heart.

……

……

Yuan Chun led Xue Baochai and Qin Keqing into the east side room and sat down on the sandalwood couch.

On the left and right sides of the ground, there is a nanmu wood chair covered with a flower-sprinkling chair, and a footstool on each side. In the middle, there is a tall table with tea bowls, vases and flowers on it.

Xue Baochai and Qin Keqing each sat on a chair.

The three people formed a "品" shape.

The side room, already not very spacious, felt even more cramped now. Baoqin stood beside Yuanchun, while Ying'er and Ruizhu stood beside their respective mistresses. Meng stood by the door, and Xiangling, thanks to her status as Jiang Nian's head maid and Yuanchun's favor, also had a place in the room.

The others stayed outside the door, peeking in and out.

Ying'er and Ruizhu, these two sworn enemies, had been secretly glaring at each other when they met in the courtyard. Once inside the east wing, they seized every opportunity to secretly compete. Unfortunately, with their mistresses present and Yuan Chun in charge, neither dared to act rashly, and could only glare at each other with sharp eyes. Xiangling, however, witnessed this scene clearly and almost burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth with her handkerchief.

In comparison, Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, and Qin Keqing are more sophisticated, or rather, they are all good at acting. Yuan Chun appears very approachable, Xue Baochai appears very dignified, and Qin Keqing appears very respectful.

Yuan Chun only chatted with Qin Keqing about everyday matters, deliberately avoiding mentioning the love affair between Jiang Nian and Qin Keqing, the Ningguo Mansion and Jia Zhen's affairs, and even the death of Qin Ye.

Three beauties vying for attention, yet their rivalry resulted in a harmonious scene!
……

……

In the study room.

How could Jiang Nian possibly concentrate on her studies?
He stood before the rosewood desk, the finest wolf-hair brush from Huzhou hanging above the tribute Xuan paper from the Cao family of Jing County, yet he hesitated to put it down. Ink dripped from the tip of the brush, spreading into a dark cloud on the precious Xuan paper, much like the turmoil in his mind at that moment.

Suddenly, he picked up his brush and wrote down half a line of miscellaneous ancient poetry. With swift, flowing strokes, it became a single line:
"The flower is not a flower, the fog is not a fog. It comes at midnight and leaves at dawn."

After finishing writing, he threw down the brush. The fine wolf-hair brush from Huzhou bounced twice on the inkstone before rolling to the side of the desk.

Jiang Nian walked to the window with her hands behind her back. She could vaguely hear the sounds coming from the east wing, but she couldn't see what was happening inside. She could only imagine it—Yuan Chun sat regally in the main seat, exuding natural majesty; Xue Baochai smiled gracefully, revealing no sharp edge; Qin Keqing lowered her eyes and looked demure, yet harbored hidden wit. All three women were clever and insightful, and she wondered what kind of subtle exchanges they were currently engaging in.

He was really curious about what it would be like to see those three beauties and three hairpins together.

He turned back to his desk, looking down at the half-line of miscellaneous ancient poem he had just written, the ink still wet.

He hesitated for a moment, then picked up the finest wolf-hair brush from Huzhou again and completed the second half of the sentence:
"How long does it take for it to come like a spring dream? It leaves like a morning cloud, nowhere to be found."

This miscellaneous ancient poem by Bai Juyi, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, compares lovers to fleeting "spring dreams" and "morning clouds," implying that the essence of being amorous is an illusory self-indulgence.

However, after Jiang Nian finished completing this miscellaneous ancient poem, she sighed softly, "Bullshit!"

After sighing, he straightened his clothes, left the study, and headed towards the east wing...

(End of this chapter)