The Red Mansion

Chapter 293 There Was Originally a Kind of Man in the World

Yuan Yi said to Tan Chun, "Just now I tested the three of them on their understanding of the classics. Lan Ge'er answered fluently, and Cong Ge'er was able to cope, but Bao Yu's performance was poor." As he spoke, he glanced at Jia Bao Yu and said, "Since you are studying, you should behave like a student. Standing and listening to the lecture will help you stay focused."

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun glanced at Jia Baoyu, a slight smile playing on her lips, finding it amusing.

At this moment, Xiangling took out the celadon bowls from the food box and filled them with mung bean soup. The soup was crystal clear and steaming. Jinchuan and Yuchuan then placed several plates of fruit and pastries on the table.

Seeing that everything was in order, Li Wan bowed to Yuan Yi and Lin Ruhai and said, "Lan'er is naughty. Thank you, Fourth Master and Uncle Lin, for your careful guidance today."

Yuan Yi said, "Lan Ge'er is intelligent and hardworking, and he may become a great man in the future."

Upon hearing this, Li Wan was overjoyed.

Lin Ruhai sighed inwardly, "Li Wan has been a widow for many years, and she is counting on Lan Ge'er to succeed. Now that she sees her son so promising, no wonder she is so excited." Seeing Jia Baoyu's pitiful appearance with his head hanging down, he couldn't help but feel both amused and annoyed.

After the five people left and the bamboo curtain fell, Jia Baoyu's gaze involuntarily drifted to the spot where Xiangling had stood, as if a wisp of fragrance had not yet dissipated.

Seeing that Jia Cong and Jia Lan had both received a bowl of chilled mung bean soup while he hadn't, Jia Baoyu felt even more distressed.

"Stand up straight!"

Yuan Yi gave a soft shout, which startled Jia Baoyu.

Jia Baoyu stole a glance and saw that Yuan Yi's face was ashen. He was terrified and straightened his crooked body, inwardly lamenting, "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have come here to suffer this torment!"

He couldn't help but think of Lin Daiyu: "If Sister Lin were here, she would surely laugh at me for deserving of my fate! Alas, it's a rare treat to meet Sister Lin today, yet I can't play with her!"

Thinking about it this way, she felt even worse, and her face was full of grievance.

……

……

Li Wan, Tan Chun, and their group left Li Shen Zhai and returned to Hui Fang Yuan.

The garden is shaded by summer trees, and the cicadas chirp incessantly.

As Tan Chun walked, she laughed with Li Wan, "Did you see that, sister-in-law? Bao Er-ge looked like he had suffered a great injustice."

Li Wan smiled and said, "It's time someone kept an eye on him. He's always hanging around with women."

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at Tianxiang Tower.

When Yuan Chun saw them return, she asked Li Wan with a smile, "Is everything alright in the study? Has Lan'er been naughty?"

Li Wan quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. Lan'er is studying with Fourth Master and hasn't dared to be naughty."

Before she could finish speaking, Tan Chun interrupted with a laugh, "Elder sister, you don't know, but there's something interesting happening in the study. Cong-ge'er and Lan-ge'er are both sitting and reading, but Bao-er-ge'er is the only one being punished by standing."

As she spoke, Tan Chun vividly imitated Jia Baoyu's posture: "His head drooped, his feet kept shifting, and his eyes glanced at us, just like a bird trapped in a cage."

A chuckle immediately broke out in the room.

Zijuan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and stole a glance at Lin Daiyu, who lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Yuan Chun found it both amusing and pitying, and said, "Fourth Master is teaching according to aptitude. Bao Yu is intelligent, but he lacks discipline. Now that Fourth Master is willing to discipline him seriously, it is his good fortune."

……

……

Near the back gate of the Duke's mansion, there is a two-courtyard house, which is where Lady You lived.

At this moment, Madam You and Old Mother You were sitting opposite each other on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, while Second Sister You and Third Sister You were sitting at the lower end.

Old Lady You was wearing an indigo satin shirt, her hair neatly combed, but her eyes and brows were clouded with sorrow. She sighed, put down her teacup, and said to Madam You, "My child, just thinking about this makes my heart ache like it's being pricked by needles."

What was your life like back then in this mansion? You were the mistress of the house, your word was law. Back then, whenever I brought your two younger sisters to visit, we were always treated as honored guests. We would have banquets and plays in Huifang Garden, enjoy flowers and the moon—what a magnificent sight that was!
Unexpectedly, things have turned out this way... Alas, it's true that 'even a long shed can't last forever.'

"And here you are, begging for someone's attention, having to watch their every whim. Today, the lady of the manor is throwing a grand banquet, inviting all the ladies and young women of the Rongguo Mansion. How lively it is! Yet we, so close by, seem to have been forgotten, not even allowed a glimpse."

Although Madam You wore light makeup, it couldn't hide her haggardness and loneliness. Hearing her stepmother's words, she felt a mix of emotions, a bitterness she couldn't express.

Yes, back then, I was in charge of the household affairs in this mansion, how prestigious I was! Now, I'm reduced to relying on this newly rich Duke's mansion with my mother and sister. All my former glory and prestige have vanished like smoke.

She suppressed the sorrow in her heart and whispered, "Mother, please don't say that. We are currently staying here as guests. We are already deeply grateful to the Duke and his wife for their kindness in providing us with this place to stay. If these words reach their ears, how will we save face? How will we be able to stand here?"

Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Old Lady You quickly looked around and lowered her voice, saying, "I know what I'm doing. There are no outsiders in the house, just the four of us, mother and daughter, having a private talk behind closed doors. Can't I even vent my frustrations in front of my own daughter?"

Second Sister You kept her head down, twisting a silk handkerchief in her hand, listening carefully to every word her mother and eldest sister said; Third Sister You's eyes darted around, lost in thought.

Looking at her two beautiful daughters, Old Lady You's eyes lit up with hope again. She said to Madam You, "My children, that's precisely why we must plan for the future. If we want to live here peacefully and for a long time, we need a strong support system."

In your mother's opinion, your two younger sisters are both outstanding in appearance and character. If one of them could become a concubine of the Duke, you wouldn't be so isolated and helpless, and our family would finally have a solid foundation.

After she finished speaking, she looked at Madam You with fervent eyes, and then glanced at Second Sister You and Third Sister You.

The room was quiet for a moment, while the cicadas chirped noisily outside the window.

Madam You remained silent, her fingers unconsciously tracing the small table on the kang. She thought her stepmother's words, though blunt, were reasonable. Living under someone else's roof was not a long-term solution. Having a younger sister who could climb the social ladder through Yuan Yi's connections would indeed be a convenient way out.

After a long pause, she sighed softly, her voice filled with weariness and helplessness: "Mom, I've thought about what you said carefully. Although it's a little hard to say, it makes sense for the sake of our family's future."

When Sister You heard her eldest sister's confirmation, she was overjoyed, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly. She had already developed feelings for that extraordinary Duke, and her heart was filled with longing. She thought that if she could stay by such a person's side, even as a concubine, it would be better than being in this ambiguous and dependent situation.

Third Sister You's thoughts differed from Second Sister's. Although she also felt that Yuan Yi, with his high position and powerful influence, was a truly outstanding individual, her heart had already been occupied by another person. Last year, at a performance, she happened to see a young male lead actor named Liu Xianglian. Liu Xianglian was handsome and had a charming acting style, instantly captivating her heart. From then on, she could not forget him and wanted to marry him.

Hearing her mother and eldest sister discussing sending her or her second sister to the Duke as concubines, she felt a little irritated and resistant.

She thought, "This Duke's mansion is indeed a place of luxury and wealth, but how easy is it to deal with the rules of a high-ranking family and the majesty of the Duke's wife? My second sister is gentle and might be able to adapt, but am I the kind of person who would willingly be trapped in a golden cage, dependent on others and vying for favor?"

She thought for a moment and realized, "I'm younger than my second sister, so if Mom and my eldest sister are making plans, they'll naturally prioritize my second sister."

Thinking of this, she lowered her eyelids, concealing the complex expression in her eyes.

Seeing that Madam You had agreed, Old Lady You felt a weight lifted from her heart, and a relieved smile appeared on her face. She began to discuss the next steps with Madam You in a low voice...

……

……

Inside the study, Jia Baoyu stood dejectedly for a full hour, his legs feeling like lead and his knees weak. When he finally heard Yuan Yi say "Sit down," he felt as if he had been granted a pardon. But Lin Ruhai continued to lecture on the importance of young people setting goals and pursuing knowledge, his words like hypnotic incantations, making Jia Baoyu's eyelids heavy.

Finally, noon arrived, and seeing that Lin Ruhai was about to take his leave, Jia Baoyu felt like a sparrow breaking free of its cage, thinking to himself that he could finally find some freedom with his sisters.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Yi slammed the ruler heavily on the table and said in a deep voice, "The principles the master taught today require careful contemplation. The three of you must each write an essay immediately, at least six hundred words long. I will check them this afternoon. If you dare to be perfunctory—"

At this point, the ruler whistled as it struck down from the air.

Yuan Yi then ordered the middle-aged eunuch Fang Ju and another eunuch to keep watch in Lishenzhai.

Jia Baoyu felt as if he had been doused with ice water. He watched helplessly as Lin Ruhai left leisurely, and Yuan Yi turned and left with his robes fluttering, leaving only two eunuchs standing there like clay statues.

Jia Lan was already sitting and grinding ink, and Jia Cong had also spread out the paper, but Jia Baoyu was in a daze.

Fang Ju coughed lightly and handed Jia Baoyu a wolf-hair brush. Jia Baoyu reluctantly dipped his brush in the ink and wrote only five characters, "The Way to Establish One's Will," before he found himself at a loss for words...

The banquet at Tianxiang Tower had ended, but Lin Daiyu, Li Wan, Tan Chun, and Xi Chun remained at the Duke's mansion, some resting, some strolling in the garden, some playing chess, and some chatting idly...

Jia Baoyu, however, remained confined to Lishenzhai. He glanced at Jia Lan, who had already written a six-hundred-word essay, and even Jia Cong, whose thoughts were flowing freely. He himself, however, had only managed to write three hundred words. He simply threw down his pen and sulked.

In fact, among the three brothers, Jia Baoyu was the eldest and the most skilled in poetry. However, his ambition to study as a young man was compounded by his aversion to economics and literature. Moreover, he cared deeply for his sisters, especially Lin Daiyu, and his talent was even inferior to that of Jia Cong and Jia Lan.

In the afternoon, Yuan Yi returned to Lishenzhai and first carefully read Jia Lan's article. Seeing that the handwriting was neat and there were some insights, he nodded and smiled, "Lan-ge'er has grasped some of the essence." Then he looked at Jia Cong's article, which, although not well written, had reached the word count. When he opened Jia Baoyu's article, it was only three hundred words.

Yuan Yi shouted, "Give me your hand!"

Jia Baobao tremblingly opened her palm.

The ruler flashed with a cold light, and then cracked with a sharp "snap".

"Three hundred words written so perfunctorily, he deserves a beating!"

The ruler fell again.

"Having talent but not using it properly, he deserves a beating!"

The ruler fell again.

"Those who show disrespect and disgrace to the teachings of their teachers deserve to be punished!"

The ruler struck ten times in succession, making ten crisp sounds in the study. Jia Baoyu first bit his lip and groaned in pain, then screamed out in agony, tears even welling up in his eyes.

Jia Cong, standing to the side, shrank back in fright, while Jia Lan lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.

Jia Baoyu had been hit ten times with the ruler, his palms were sore and swollen, and his face was streaked with tears. He was feeling wronged and embarrassed when Yuan Yi said in a deep voice, "Now that the literary matters are finished, it's time to practice martial arts. The three of you come with me."

Jia Baoyu was struck dumb. He had always regarded martial arts as a crude and vulgar activity, and now, with his hand aching and his heart pounding, he couldn't help but stammer, "I...I really hurt...can I not practice martial arts..."

Yuan Yi's gaze was like lightning, and his voice was like frost: "I taught you martial arts to strengthen your body and temper your will. You don't know what's good for you? In that case, you have two choices: either learn martial arts with me immediately, or I will send someone to take you back to the Rong Mansion immediately and ask your father to come over so that he can discipline you properly!"

Jia Baoyu was always most afraid of Jia Zheng. The image of Jia Zheng's stern face immediately flashed before his eyes. If his father knew about the punishment he had suffered at Yuan Yi's place today—standing in the corner, being beaten, and disobeying—it would likely be far more severe than just the ruler. Terrified, he hurriedly said, "No...don't tell my father...I want to learn martial arts..."

So Yuan Yi led Jia Baoyu, Jia Cong, and Jia Lan to the main courtyard.

Because the training ground on the west side of the mansion was not yet completed, it was still temporarily used as a training ground in the main courtyard.

Yuan Yi summoned the ceremonial staff, guards, and soldiers of the manor as usual, but the number was smaller than usual because many people were busy investigating and rectifying the Rong manor next door, including Meng Xiong.

The sun was blazing, making the weapons on the sword rack gleam coldly.

Yuan Yi took out a short-handled knife first and demonstrated a starting stance. His body was graceful, and the blade flashed like a ribbon, as agile as a swimming dragon.

Although Jia Lan was young, he learned meticulously; Jia Cong was even better, his moves were quite methodical; but Jia Baoyu was already pampered, and after being punished to stand for an hour in the morning, his palms were swollen and painful, and he held the knife handle as if it were a branding iron, his movements were weak and powerless.

After the sword practice, they practiced archery. Jia Cong and Jia Lan both had some skill, while Jia Baoyu shakily drew his bow, the arrowhead wobbling wildly. With a soft "whoosh," a feathered arrow landed crookedly three steps away.

Just then, Li Wan, Lin Daiyu, Tan Chun, and others were secretly peeking from the ceremonial gate.

Seeing Jia Lan's focused expression and methodical movements, Li Wan was secretly delighted: "Fortunately, I brought Lan'er here today; we've been so fortunate!"

Seeing Jia Baoyu's disheveled appearance, Tan Chun covered her face with a round fan and said to Lin Daiyu with a smile, "Second Brother usually says that girls are made of water, but looking at him like this, he is even softer than water."

Lin Daiyu did not answer, but stared blankly into the courtyard. She saw Yuan Yi standing tall and straight, commanding with composure and extraordinary demeanor; on the other hand, Jia Baoyu was stumbling and staggering as he tried to pick up the arrow, looking quite disheveled.

She sighed inwardly, "I used to think Baoyu was genuine, but today I realize he's just unambitious. There is indeed a kind of man in this world, talented in both literature and martial arts, capable of governing the world..."

As soon as this thought crossed her mind, she was startled—when did she start judging people in this way?
(End of this chapter)