The Red Mansion

Chapter 310 Baochai's Thoughts, A Letter Suddenly Arrives

At noon that day, Xue Baochai sat alone in her room, lost in thought, feeling an inexplicable pressure in her heart.

She was contemplating her future position.

According to the relevant system of Daqing, if Yuan Yi is promoted to the rank of Prince, the quota for concubines is three, but in practice, only one concubine is usually appointed or no concubines are appointed; if he is promoted to the rank of Prince, the quota for concubines is four, but in practice, no more than two concubines are usually appointed.

Yuan Yi is currently only a Duke of the Commandery. Above a Duke of the Commandery is a Prince of the Commandery, and above a Prince of the Commandery is a Royal Duke. This path to promotion is neither too far nor too near.

Xue Baochai had already secretly planned to become a concubine once Yuan Yi was promoted to the rank of Prince. This meant that she would have to compete with Jing Qing, as well as with Yuan Yi's other concubines who would later marry into the family, such as Qin Keqing, whose status had already been decided.

Xue Baochai was initially quite confident in herself. Firstly, she was the first of Yuan Yi's wives and concubines to follow him; secondly, Yuan Yi favored her greatly and often praised her; thirdly, Jing Qing's father, Jing Yunduan, was convicted of a crime, his family property confiscated, and he was exiled, with Jing Qing even forced into prostitution, and Qin Keqing was Qin Ye's adopted daughter from an orphanage, who had also died long ago. Her Xue family, at least, was a prominent imperial merchant clan, far superior to these two.

However, she now felt the pressure. Jing Yunduan was about to enter the capital. She had inquired about him and knew he was a pragmatic and incorruptible official who benefited the people. She speculated that Jing Yunduan would redeem himself upon his arrival and would most likely be reinstated and given important responsibilities. If Jing Qing gave birth to a child before her, then Jing Qing would most likely surpass her and become a concubine.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh softly, feeling lonely and helpless, with no family members by her side to help her! She sighed inwardly, "Fate is so cruel, putting me in such an awkward situation!"

Just as Xue Baochai was pondering this matter, her maid Ying'er rushed in from outside. Ying'er, her face beaming, went straight to Xue Baochai and hurriedly said, "Auntie, a letter has arrived from Madam!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's eyes lit up and she was overjoyed.

……

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The Duke's mansion had strict rules; outsiders were not allowed to easily enter the inner quarters, and even the eunuchs of the mansion were restricted from entering. This deep mansion, with its many gates and restrictions, was like a vast sea, with a clear distinction between the inner and outer quarters.

Because Xue Baochai was in charge of the Xue family business, she often needed to meet with Xie Jixing, her assistant in the capital. Yuan Yi, being considerate of her, specially arranged a room next to the inner hall for her use, essentially her office in the outer residence. Although the room was small, it was elegantly furnished with a desk, chairs, bookshelves, and a display cabinet, resembling a place for managing affairs.

At this moment, Xue Baochai, accompanied by Ying'er, hurriedly arrived at the "office" next to the inner hall, and then quickly ordered Ying'er to go outside the ceremonial gate to bring Xie Jixing in.

Soon, Xie Jixing followed Ying'er in and saw Xue Baochai sitting upright in a chair. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Aunt."

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "No need for such formalities."

Xie Jixing handed a letter written by Aunt Xue to Xue Baochai, saying, "The lady of the house instructed the messenger to deliver this letter to Aunt as soon as possible. This letter was originally supposed to arrive in late June, but due to flooding in Zhili and blockage of the canal, the messenger only arrived in the capital today. When I learned of this, I hurriedly brought this letter to Aunt."

Xue Baochai eagerly unfolded the letter her mother had written to her.

In this letter, Aunt Xue wrote that she was very happy to hear that Yuan Yi had returned to the imperial family as a prince and been granted the title of Duke, and she congratulated him. She also intended to take Xue Pan to the capital.

There are three reasons: First, thanks to Yuan Yi's good fortune, the Xue family's imperial merchant status has been restored, and Xue Baochai manages all the family's businesses in the capital with clear and organized management. She and Xue Pan can go to the capital with Xue Baochai's support. Second, the collateral relatives of the Xue family in Jiangning have always been quite restless, eyeing her business as a widow and her orphan. She and Xue Pan have to be constantly on guard against being plotted against in Jiangning. Third, she intends to bring Xue Baoqin with her to the capital. Xue Baoqin has already promised herself to Yuan Yi, and this trip would be perfect to bring Xue Baoqin to the capital, sparing her the loneliness of the long journey. Xue Jin has already agreed to this.

In her letter, Aunt Xue also wrote that she dared not act rashly and asked Xue Baochai if she was willing, and suggested that Xue Baochai consult Yuan Yi and ask for his consent.

After Xue Baochai had carefully read the letter, Xie Jixing asked, "Aunt, what did Madam write in the letter?"

Xue Baochai handed the letter to Xie Jixing, who read it carefully before saying to Xue Baochai, "Actually, my wife at home also wrote me a letter this time."

As he spoke, Xie Jixing took out another letter and handed it to Xue Baochai. This letter was nominally written to him by Aunt Xue, but it was actually also intended for Xue Baochai to see.

In this letter, Aunt Xue wrote: Now that Yuan Yi has become a prince and a duke, Baochai is in the capital without any support from her family, which is ultimately improper. This time, she is bringing Xue Pan to the capital to help Baochai.

Although the letter did not explicitly state this, both Xue Baochai and Xie Jixing could tell that the so-called assistance must be to help Xue Baochai compete for the position of concubine.

Xue Baochai, who had just felt lonely and helpless, was deeply moved upon seeing these two letters and sensing her mother's concern and expectations for her. She immediately decided to send her mother and brother to the capital.

Xue Baochai put away the letter and said to Xie Jixing seriously, "Since Mother intends to go to the capital, I am naturally happy. However, this matter still needs to be discussed with Fourth Master."

Xie Jixing nodded: "Auntie is right."

The two discussed some more matters before Xie Jixing took his leave.

After seeing Xie Jixing off, Xue Baochai returned to her room and carefully read her mother's letter again. The familiar handwriting and the concern conveyed in the words brought tears to her eyes. She rarely cried.

Seeing this, Ying'er said softly, "Auntie, this is a joyous occasion. With Madam and Master coming to the capital, you will have someone to rely on."

Xue Baochai quickly wiped away her tears and said, "How could I not know? It's just that I really miss my mother and brother, and I feel bad that my mother still has to worry about me so much."

After saying this, she got up and walked to the window, gazing at the bright sunshine outside. She thought to herself, "Mother's letter has come at just the right time. Although my mother isn't much of a help, and my brother is utterly useless, at least with them around, I have something to rely on. And when my little sister Baoqin marries into the family, I won't be so lonely in this household anymore."

……

……

Xue Baochai was a composed and steady woman. After reading her aunt's two letters, although she was eager for her mother and brother to come to the capital as soon as possible, she remained calm and did not discuss the matter with Yuan Yi during the day, so as not to disturb him. This thoughtfulness and consideration was a testament to her wisdom in dealing with people.

Fortunately, Yuan Yi stayed in her room that night.

When Yuan Yi arrived that evening, Xue Baochai hurriedly stepped forward to serve him, personally offering him fragrant tea and softly saying, "Fourth Master, you must be tired today."

After chatting for a while, Xue Baochai, seeing that the time was right, revealed that Aunt Xue intended to take Xue Pan and Xue Baoqin to the capital, and then showed Yuan Yi a letter that Aunt Xue had written to her. As for the letter that Aunt Xue had written to Xie Jixing, which involved a struggle for position, it was naturally inconvenient for Yuan Yi to read it.

Yuan Yi took the letter and examined it carefully by the lamplight, his expression calm. Xue Baochai sat beside him, her heart pounding with anxiety, unconsciously clenching her handkerchief.

After Yuan Yi finished reading the letter, he looked up and asked Xue Baochai, "Do you intend to have your mother and brother come to the capital?" Xue Baochai carefully chose her words and replied, "My mother's words in the letter make sense. If my mother and brother come to the capital, they can look after each other, which will facilitate business matters. The collateral relatives of the Xue family in Jiangning are also making my mother uneasy. And since my sister Baoqin has already been betrothed to Fourth Master, it would be good for her to come to the capital sooner rather than later."

She paused, stealing a glance at Yuan Yi's expression. Seeing that he was not displeased, she continued, "Besides, to be honest, Fourth Master, I don't have any family members by my side here. I often miss my mother, brother, and sister Baoqin."

After hearing this, Yuan Yi nodded: "If that's the case, then let your mother take your brother and Baoqin to the capital."

Xue Baochai was overjoyed and felt relieved. She quickly stood up and bowed to express her gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Master."

Yuan Yi wanted to talk about disciplining Xue Pan, but after a slight hesitation, he decided to put the matter aside for the time being.

He knew, of course, that if Xue Pan wasn't strictly disciplined after arriving in the capital, he would inevitably cause trouble and even create problems for him. In his view, Xue Pan wasn't inherently bad; it was mainly due to his father's early death and his mother's spoiling that he had become a spoiled brat and a simpleton. He planned to discipline Xue Pan properly once he arrived in the capital, and even intended to send him to the army for training. In that place of strict military discipline, he hoped to wear down Xue Pan's纨绔 (spoiled brat) habits.

At this moment, Xue Baochai was unaware that Yuan Yi was considering sending Xue Pan to the army; otherwise, she might not have allowed Xue Pan to come to the capital...

Yuan Yi thought to himself, "Jing Yunduan is going to the capital to atone for his sins. Even Aunt Xue, Xue Pan, and Xue Baoqin are going to the capital. And Qin Keqing is living in the backyard of the mansion, waiting to be married into the family... It seems that there is going to be some turmoil in the inner quarters of my household!"

……

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The next morning, as dawn broke, Xue Baochai's room was already brightly lit. Xue Baochai rose early to help Yuan Yi wash up and change into his duke's robes. Her movements were skillful and gentle. When she tied the golden sash for Yuan Yi, her slender fingers flew like butterflies flitting among flowers.

Seeing that she still looked tired, Yuan Yi said gently, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Fourth Master. I was just thinking about my mother and brother's trip to the capital, and I was so excited that I couldn't sleep."

The two had breakfast together, exchanging only casual conversation.

After breakfast, Xue Baochai saw Yuan Yi off at the courtyard gate until his figure disappeared from sight before turning back to her room. She then tidied her appearance, went to pay her respects to Madam Yuan Chun, and then returned to her room.

As the sun rose, golden rays streamed through the window and fell upon the desk.

Xue Baochai walked to the desk and ordered Ying'er to grind the ink. The inkstone was a gift from Yuan Yi, and the ink was of the finest quality, made from pine soot. The resulting ink was jet black and glossy, with a faint fragrance.

Xue Baochai spread out the letter paper, picked up the wolf-hair brush, hesitated for a moment, and then began to write a letter to her mother. Her handwriting was neat and beautiful, just like her character and demeanor, exuding composure in every stroke.

"To my esteemed mother: Your daughter Baochai respectfully reports. Yesterday I received your letter, informing me of your wish to bring my elder brother and younger sister Baoqin to the capital. I am overjoyed. I informed the Duke yesterday, and he kindly granted permission for us to come to the capital for a family reunion..."

She paused here, pondered for a moment, and continued: "This time when you go to the capital, you must bring many attendants and guards, and be sure to pay attention to your safety. I remember when my mother went to the capital two years ago, she encountered fierce river bandits on the Grand Canal, which almost caused a great disaster. I still feel lingering fear when I think about it. Moreover, Zhili has recently suffered from floods, and the refugees are not at peace. I am afraid the journey will not be safe..."

As she wrote this, Xue Baochai seemed to recall the thrilling scene from two years ago: when the Xue family was traveling to the capital by boat, they encountered river bandits on the canal. Fortunately, Yuan Yi happened to pass by and rescued them, which is why she was promised to become Yuan Yi's concubine.

She dipped her brush in ink and carefully instructed, "Mother, please hire more reliable bodyguards to accompany you. It's better to spend more money than to risk your safety. If you see anything amiss along the way, remember not to rush. Find a safe place to rest. The journey from Jiangning to the capital is long, so please take care!"

As she wrote this, Xue Baochai thought of her cousin, Xue Baoqin. Although this cousin had often traveled far with her father, she was still young and needed extra care. So she added a few more words: "Sister Baoqin is young, Mother needs to take good care of her. The climate in the capital is different from that in Jiangnan, so it is advisable to prepare more clothes."

Before I knew it, the page was already full of instructions.

Xue Baochai carefully read through the letter from beginning to end, and finding no omissions, she then carefully folded it, put it in an envelope, and sealed it again.

Immediately, she ordered Ying'er to summon a maid, handed the letter to her, and solemnly instructed her: "Take this letter to Xie Jixing and tell him that I ordered him to send someone to Jiangning as soon as possible to deliver it to my mother."

The maid took the letter and carefully tucked it into her bosom: "Don't worry, Auntie, I'll go right away."

Xue Baochai then instructed, "Be careful on the road, and don't delay."

After the servant left, Xue Baochai sat by the window, gazing at the sunny scenery in the courtyard. She was overjoyed at the thought of soon being able to reunite with her mother, brother, and sister Baoqin.

However, when she thought of her brother Xue Pan's temperament and behavior, she couldn't help but worry that he would cause trouble after arriving in the capital. So she planned that once Xue Pan arrived in the capital, she would have her mother strictly discipline him, and she herself should keep a close eye on him to prevent him from getting into trouble.

Seeing that she suddenly looked uneasy, Ying'er asked curiously, "What are you thinking about, Aunt? Why does your face suddenly look so pale?"

Xue Baochai said calmly, "I wasn't thinking about anything."

There are some things she doesn't want to tell even Ying'er.

Just then, the maid Xing'er came in to report: "Auntie, Aunt Jing has arrived."

Xue Baochai quickly straightened her clothes and led Ying'er to the door to greet them.

Jing Qing smiled as she approached Xue Baochai. Today, Xue Baochai wore an apricot-red silk skirt, which made her even more radiant. Perhaps it was because she was in high spirits during a joyous occasion.

Jing Qing smiled at Xue Baochai and said, "Sister Xue, you look radiant today." She added, "I brought some top-quality Longjing tea, and I've come especially to invite you to try it."

Xue Baochai temporarily set aside her worries about Xue Pan and spent the time chatting and drinking tea with Jing Qing. On the surface, they were very affectionate, but in reality, they each had their own thoughts.

The inner quarters of this mansion appear calm on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents are surging.

I wonder how the layout of this inner courtyard will change in the future...

(End of this chapter)