The Red Mansion

Chapter 240 Who exactly was Daiyu longing for?

Jia She returned to the east wing from Rongqing Hall, his anger simmering and his steps heavy. He was filled with resentment, his heart burning with unresolved frustration, like oil being poured on a raging fire, with nowhere to vent his anger.

There are three reasons why he was so angry:

Firstly, he was a violent and volatile person, and he had always disliked Jiang Nian, regarding her as a thorn in his side. Now that Jiang Nian had taken over the Ningguo Mansion, which was originally the Jia family's property, how could he not be upset?

Secondly, the Ningguo Mansion is right next to the east wing of the Rongguo Mansion. Although the east wing of the Rongguo Mansion where he lives is also spacious, it is far inferior to the carved beams, painted rafters, pavilions, and towers of the Ningguo Mansion. Now that Jiang Nian and Yuan Chun have taken over the Ningguo Mansion, he seems to have become an accessory to Jiang Nian and Yuan Chun. How could he be willing to accept that?
Thirdly, he had just expelled Yuan Chun from the Rongguo Mansion, and the news had already spread like wildfire. Who would have thought that Yuan Chun would enter the Ningguo Mansion as the mistress of the house? Wasn't this a slap in his face?
Thinking of this, Jia She became even angrier. With nowhere to vent his anger, he took it out on Madam Xing, raising his hand to slap her across the face and shouting, "Stupid woman!"

Caught off guard, Madam Xing's face stung with pain, but she dared not utter a single complaint. She could only whisper, "Master, please calm down. I don't know what I did to offend you."

Jia She snorted coldly and said, "You stupid woman, you're utterly useless, you only cause me trouble!"

Although Madam Xing felt wronged after hearing this, she dared not argue.

Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she whispered, "Why is my lord so angry? Although Jiang Nian has acquired the East Mansion, it's already empty. The vast fortune inside has long been emptied by Madam You and Rong-ge'er. Now, Master Zhen and Rong-ge'er have been dead for almost a year, and Master Jing is busy cultivating immortality at the Xuanzhen Temple outside the city, neglecting the family business. The only ones managing the household are Madam You and Jia Qiang; how can they possibly protect the family fortune? If my lord could acquire that vast fortune, wouldn't that be better than Jiang Nian getting an empty shell of the East Mansion?"

A glint flashed in Jia She's eyes, his anger subsided slightly, and he pondered, "That makes some sense..."

In truth, he had long coveted the former wealth of the Ningguo Mansion, and had mentioned it to Madam You more than once recently. However, Madam You was not easily bullied and stubbornly guarded her family fortune. Now that Jiang Nian had taken over the Ningguo Mansion, and with Madam Xing's words, his greed had been reignited.

He thought to himself, "That's right. That little beast Jiang Nian only got an empty mansion. If I can take this opportunity to seize the Ningguo Mansion's wealth, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Thinking of this, Jia She revealed a sinister smile and said to Madam Xing, "You do have some insight."

He paced back and forth, his eyes growing increasingly calculating. He thought to himself, "That woman, Madam You, doesn't know what's good for her. I'll see how long she can hold out!"

……

……

Jiang Nian rode away from Ningrong Street, leading several imperial guards, and soon arrived at an alley.

In the alley, a three-courtyard house sits quietly, with blue bricks and gray tiles, a simple and clean gate, and an old locust tree in front of the gate with its graceful canopy and swaying leaves, as if it were sheltering the house from the heat.

This is the Lin residence.

Lin Ruhai valued his concubine, Aunt Qiu, and regarded her as his second wife. Therefore, he specially arranged for her to live in the east wing, while his only daughter, Lin Daiyu, lived in the west wing.

At this moment, Lin Ruhai was at home, leisurely reading ancient books in his study. The tea smoke curled on the table, and birds chirped and cicadas sang outside the window. He was quite relaxed and carefree.

Inside the east wing, Aunt Qiu was doing needlework with her maids Xiao Dan and Xiao Nan. The three of them chatted and laughed in hushed tones. Aunt Qiu's needle and thread flew as she embroidered a summer lotus pond with lotus leaves covering the ground.

In the west wing, Lin Daiyu was bent over her desk, writing a short poem about summer. Her handwriting was delicate, and the ink smelled faintly. The poem subtly conveyed a sense of longing, yet it was also subtle and poignant.

It was written as follows:
Summer Occasional Poems

The gauze curtain is half-rolled up, the bamboo mat's pattern flows, and the banana leaves, not yet fully unfurled, make it hard to dispel the summer heat.

The ink in the inkstone is fresh and varies in shade; I paint willow branches, not those of a departing lover.

"The gauze curtain is half-rolled up, and the bamboo mat's pattern flows," uses gauze curtains and bamboo mats, two items used in summer indoors, to create a tranquil, stuffy, yet slightly cool environment in the west wing.

"The banana leaves are still curled up, and the summer heat is hard to dispel." On the surface, Lin Daiyu is describing the curled-up state of the banana leaves, but in fact, she is cleverly implying her own pent-up feelings and the difficulty in dispelling them.

"The ink in the inkstone is divided into light and dark shades," which describes the details of grinding and mixing ink in preparation for writing. The beauty lies in the fact that "dividing into light and dark shades" is not only a technical action of mixing ink, but also a metaphor for the ups and downs of emotions in one's heart, and the unspoken feelings.

"Don't paint the departing person, paint the willow branches"—this is the core theme. She prepared the ink, her heart filled with thoughts of the departing person (the object of her longing), yet she deliberately avoided depicting them, instead picking up her brush to paint willow branches. Why paint willow branches? The willow symbolizes separation and longing; she was using the painting of willow branches to subtly express her yearning for separation.

So, who exactly did Daiyu miss?
Zijuan served by her side, not daring to disturb Lin Daiyu as she wrote so intently. Zijuan was not very literate, and although she found the handwriting beautiful, she did not understand its deeper meaning.

The young maid Xueyan couldn't resist the drowsiness and lay on the couch, dozing off, her head nodding off.

Just then, a servant rushed into the inner courtyard and reported that Jiang Nian had arrived.

Lin Ruhai hurriedly put down his book, straightened his clothes, and personally went to greet them at the courtyard gate. Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu had also received the news and were waiting in the inner courtyard with their maids.

Jiang Nian followed Lin Ruhai into the inner courtyard, still wearing the official uniform of a second-class guard, with a jade belt around her waist. She walked with a brisk pace, and her eyes revealed a touch of heroism.

Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu hurriedly stepped forward to greet Jiang Nian when she entered. Jiang Nian smiled and returned the greeting, glancing at Lin Daiyu. She noticed that Lin Daiyu was wearing a light green gauze dress today, which made her look even more elegant and refined.

When Lin Daiyu saw Jiang Nian looking at her, she lowered her head and a faint blush rose on her cheeks, a mixture of shyness and joy, yet she tried to remain calm.

Xiao Nan, standing to the side, was also delighted, but out of politeness, she dared not speak and could only smile with her lips pursed.

Lin Ruhai led Jiang Nian into the main hall, followed closely by Aunt Qiu, Lin Daiyu, Xiao Dan, Xiao Nan, Zijuan, Xueyan, and others.

The main house has three spacious rooms. A plaque hangs in the central hall, with couplets on both sides. The floor is paved with blue bricks, and there are six identical chairs with backs, all of which are exquisitely crafted.

After Lin Ruhai invited Jiang Nian to sit down, Aunt Qiu's eyes darted around, and she specially called Xiao Nan forward to pour tea for Jiang Nian. Today, Xiao Nan was dressed in a vest and a moon-white skirt, with only a silver hairpin in her hair. She carefully poured the teacup to seven-tenths full, and as she humbly offered it to Jiang Nian, her eyes seemed to inadvertently rise, meeting Jiang Nian's gaze. Jiang Nian's face immediately flushed, and she quickly stepped aside.

Lin Ruhai observed the situation and smiled knowingly. He had already learned about Jiang Nian and Xiao Nan from Aunt Qiu, and knew that Xiao Nan would most likely become Jiang Nian's maid in the future. He was actually happy to see this happen, as it would not only facilitate a marriage but also strengthen his bond with Jiang Nian—wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

Jiang Nian took the teacup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea."

After Jiang Nian had finished sipping his tea, Lin Ruhai asked, "Nephew, did you accompany the Emperor Emeritus to the capital yesterday?"

Jiang Nian put down her teacup and said seriously, "That's right. I originally wanted to visit my uncle yesterday, but after accompanying the Emperor Emeritus into Changchun Garden, I was summoned by His Majesty. By the time I left Changchun Garden and entered the city, it was almost dusk, so it was inconvenient to disturb you. Today I had some business to attend to at Ningrong Street, so I came to visit my uncle."

Lin Ruhai nodded and then asked, "Did you go to visit the old lady of the Rong family?"

Jiang Nian shook her head and said, "It's not for that reason. It's just that His Majesty has bestowed upon me the former Ningguo Mansion, so I went to check on that house today. I'll be rushing home soon to have the servants clean and tidy it up, and tomorrow I'll be moving in with my whole family."

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked.

Lin Ruhai exclaimed, "His Majesty actually bestowed the Ningguo Mansion, which was built by imperial decree in the past, upon my nephew?"

Jiang Nian nodded calmly: "Exactly."

Lin Daiyu's heart was already in turmoil. She had lived in the Rongguo Mansion for a long time and had visited the Ningguo Mansion and the Huifang Garden more than once. She knew that the Ningguo Mansion was built by order of the Taizu Emperor and was even more magnificent than the Rongguo Mansion, especially the Huifang Garden, with its exquisite pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and ponds. Now, the Emperor had bestowed such a residence upon Jiang Nian, which showed the extent of his favor.

As Lin Daiyu was pondering this, she suddenly heard Jiang Nian ask her father, "How has Uncle been these past few days in the capital? What position has the Emperor assigned to Uncle?"

Lin Ruhai sighed, "Everything is fine. It's just that His Majesty is considerate and told me to take good care of myself. We will discuss my duties again after the Emperor Emeritus returns to the capital."

Jiang Nian smiled slightly and said, "Uncle has just recovered from a serious illness and should take this opportunity to recuperate. Now that the Emperor Emeritus has returned to the capital, I imagine Uncle will soon be busy with state affairs again."

While Lin Ruhai was pondering, Jiang Nian turned her gaze to Lin Daiyu and asked with a smile, "How have you been lately, Sister Lin? It's been more than a month since we last met, it feels like ages have passed."

Lin Daiyu was immediately embarrassed and her ears burned. She was secretly annoyed: "This stinky brother-in-law, how could he ask me such a question in front of Father and Aunt?"

She forced herself to remain calm, lowered her eyes, and simply replied, "With my father and aunt taking care of me, everything is naturally fine."

Jiang Nian nodded, a hint of pride in his heart. Although he had previously been quite strict in Yangzhou, telling Lin Daiyu that after arriving in the capital, she would no longer reside in the Rongguo Mansion but instead live with Lin Ruhai and continue serving him, and Lin Daiyu had agreed at the time, he hadn't considered it a certainty. And now, Lin Daiyu truly hadn't returned to the Rongguo Mansion.

Jiang Nian chatted with Lin Ruhai for a while longer, then cupped her hands and said, "Uncle, I have some trivial matters to attend to today, so I will take my leave first. After I move into my new house, I will definitely choose an auspicious day to hold a housewarming banquet, and I hope that you will do me the honor of attending. The new house on Ningrong Street is not far from your house, so it's quite affordable."

Without hesitation, Lin Ruhai replied, "How could I refuse my nephew's invitation? I will certainly pay him my respects."

Lin Daiyu's heart stirred, and she thought to herself, "His new residence isn't far from here, so it won't be difficult for me to see him in the future..."

Thinking about this, she suddenly realized that this idea was not right, and she became flustered.

Jiang Nian turned to Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu, and said with a smile, "I hope Aunt Qiu and Sister Lin will also come, so that my humble abode may be honored."

Aunt Qiu quickly smiled and said, "What are you saying? It's my good fortune to be able to broaden my horizons."

Lin Daiyu was flustered and confused, twisting the handkerchief in her hands with her head down. Seeing this, Zijuan gently nudged her. Lin Daiyu then realized what was happening, nodded slightly, but remained silent, a blush rising on her fair face.

Jiang Nian then took his leave. Lin Ruhai, Aunt Qiu, and Lin Daiyu escorted him to the inner courtyard's hanging flower gate, where Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu stopped. Lin Ruhai then saw him to the courtyard gate, watching him mount his horse and ride away with a few personal guards until the sound of hooves disappeared at the end of the alley. Only then did Lin Ruhai turn back, thinking to himself, "This nephew Jiang Nian, at such a young age, has already gained such imperial favor; his future is truly limitless!"

……

……

Meanwhile, Aunt Qiu led Xiao Dan and Xiao Nan back to the east wing. Aunt Qiu held Xiao Nan's hand and said with a smile, "Good girl, you are so lucky! Lord Jiang is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor and has acquired such a mansion as the Ningguo Mansion. When you came with me to pay your respects at the Rongguo Mansion last time, did you see its grandeur?"

Xiao Nan lowered her head and fiddled with the hem of her clothes, saying softly, "The Rongguo Mansion is indeed excellent; even the stone lions in front of the gate are more imposing than those elsewhere."

Aunt Qiu smiled and said, "That's exactly right! The Ningguo Mansion and the Rongguo Mansion are neighbors, and their scale is comparable. Once Lord Jiang takes you there, you'll be a member of such a prestigious and powerful family!"

Xiao Nan blushed deeply, her ears turning red with embarrassment, yet a hint of worry lingered in her voice. She couldn't help but whisper, "Grandma, please stop teasing me. But... Lord Jiang didn't mention picking me up at all today. Could it be... that he doesn't want to come?"

Seeing her like this, Aunt Qiu comforted her, "Silly girl, what kind of status does Lord Jiang have? And what a steady and prudent person he is! Today he came to pay his respects to the master, how could he bring up such a thing in front of everyone? Since he promised you, he will never go back on his word. I saw the way he looked at you when he took the tea just now, he clearly remembered you."

Xiao Dan, who was tidying up her needlework nearby, tightened her grip on the embroidery frame upon hearing these words. She stole a glance at Xiao Nan, noticing her snow-white skin, almond-shaped eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks—truly a beauty. A pang of sadness shot through her heart, and she sighed inwardly, "If I were born with such looks, my aunt would surely have sent me to serve Lord Jiang when he stayed at the salt commissioner in Yangzhou. This good fortune should be mine now." Lost in thought, she accidentally pricked her fingertip with the embroidery needle, letting out a soft "Ouch!"

Aunt Qiu turned around upon hearing the sound and saw that Xiao Dan's expression was strange. She understood the situation quite well and said, "Xiao Dan, go to the kitchen and see how the chilled mung bean soup is being prepared."

Lin Ruhai rarely ate mung bean soup before, but ever since he had chilled mung bean soup at the Jiang family's house when he went to the capital, he has fallen in love with it, finding it as refreshing as bathing in a cool spring during the hot summer. As a result, the Lin family now often cooks mung bean soup, and even Lin Daiyu has come to enjoy it.

After sending Xiao Dan away, Aunt Qiu pulled Xiao Nan to sit down on the couch by the window and said softly, "Don't blame Xiao Dan for being envious. Who wouldn't envy such an opportunity? But everyone has their own destiny. When Lord Jiang takes you away in the future, you must cherish this opportunity and serve him well to please him."

Xiao Nan hummed in agreement: "I'll remember what Auntie said."

(End of this chapter)