The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 79 The Xue Family Enters the Jia Mansion

Meanwhile, the Xue family had already arrived in the capital and, after staying overnight, went to the Jia residence the next day.

The Xue family's grand procession of carriages and sedan chairs made a dull, cautious sound as they rolled along the magnificent bluestone road of Ningrong Street.

From afar, the gate tower of the Rongguo Mansion, built by imperial decree, with its five-bay gate adorned with beast-head ornaments, gold nails, and vermilion lacquer, exuded a magnificent and imposing aura that overshadowed even the grandeur of the Xue family, a wealthy and powerful family in Jinling. Several prominent stewards and their wives, having already received the news, greeted them with beaming smiles at the side gate.

Madam Xue alighted from her sedan chair and glanced at the grand mansion. A chill ran through her at first, but then a sense of security at being with her sister and the satisfaction of climbing the social ladder through the gates of the Jia family surged within her. Xue Pan also dismounted. His usual arrogance subsided somewhat under the imposing presence of the Jia mansion, though his eyes still darted restlessly towards the elegantly dressed, slender maids.

Supported by Ying'er, Baochai gracefully stepped out of the carriage, her expression calm and serene. She glanced briefly at the imposing gate before lowering her eyes, displaying the poise of a well-bred young lady.

Entering through the side gate and passing the massive screen wall, a breathtaking view suddenly unfolds before you. Deep courtyards, painted beams and carved pillars, winding corridors leading to secluded spots, exotic flowers and rare herbs dotting the landscape, servants and young men moving about in hushed tones, all displaying a strict adherence to rules and regulations.

Several of Madam Wang's maids, such as Jin Chuan, Yu Chuan, and Cai Xia, dressed in their finest attire, came forward with smiles, addressing her as "Auntie," "Master Xue," and "Miss Bao," their warmth tinged with a hint of scrutiny.

Jin Chuan smiled, her eyes sweeping over Xue Pan before settling on Baochai, before saying, "Madam has been waiting inside for a long time! She instructed us to take good care of the concubine, young lady, and master as they enter. You must be tired from your journey, please come inside and have some tea to rest!" As she spoke, she directed the maids to step forward and help carry some light luggage, then led everyone inside.

The group moved through the halls and courtyards. Xue Pan walked along the covered walkway, his eyes darting around, taking in the sights. He noticed the maids standing there, each clad in silk and satin, their faces radiant with youthful charm, far more alluring than the maids in his own quarters. One maid, in particular, dressed in a light red silk jacket and bright green floral trousers, had slender shoulders and a delicate waist, her eyes sparkling with a hint of allure, and she was secretly glancing at him.

Xue Pan's heart fluttered, and he felt as light as a feather. He couldn't help but wink at the girl. The girl blushed and hurriedly lowered her head.

Madam Xue, seeing this, was furious and muttered under her breath, "You good-for-nothing!" But since they were at a relative's house, she could only finish her curse by giving Xue Pan a fierce glare. Xue Pan awkwardly turned his head away, pretending to look at the goldfish tank under the eaves.

Baochai kept her eyes straight ahead, her steps steady, taking in the opulent atmosphere and elaborate manners of the Jia family mansion. She noticed that while the servants and maids were respectful and polite, their eyes were quite darting, and they occasionally exchanged glances. She knew then that the relationships within the mansion were complex and far from the harmonious facade. A dignified smile remained on her lips, but inwardly she was on high alert.

Upon arriving at Madam Wang's courtyard, a maidservant had already raised the curtain high. A warm, sweet fragrance mixed with the delicate aroma of fine tea wafted over. Needless to say, the main room was lavishly furnished, with scarlet carpets on the floor, gleaming rosewood tables and chairs, a display cabinet filled with precious artifacts, and calligraphy and paintings by famous artists hanging on the walls.

Lady Wang, dressed in a dark blue satin gown and wearing a gold-threaded hairpin, was already waiting in the hall. Upon seeing Lady Xue enter, she burst into tears before even speaking.

The two sisters, one a real widow and the other a fake widow, immediately took hands and embraced.

One cried, “My dear sister, it’s been years since I last saw you, and you’ve even got gray hair at your temples!” The other sobbed, “My poor sister, you’ve become quite well-off, which shows that God still has mercy on you…” The two cried for a while, talked for a while, and then laughed for a while, while the maids and servants below hurriedly handed them fragrant embroidered handkerchiefs to wipe their tears.

The two sisters held hands and looked at each other with tears in their eyes. Madam Xue then began to recount the hardships she had endured on her journey and the misfortunes that had befallen her family. When she spoke of Xue Pan causing trouble, she couldn't help but beat her chest and stomp her feet, squeezing out a few tears of sorrow that soaked half of her handkerchief.

Madam Wang patted her hand gently, comforting her, "Sister, don't be sad! Here, you'll feel right at home. Pan'er is young; how can he not be mischievous? His uncle will teach him well." Despite her words, her slightly weary eyes swept over Xue Pan, who stood to the side. Seeing this, Xue Pan quickly stepped forward, knelt, and prepared to kowtow, "Greetings, Aunt! My father is gone; I rely entirely on your care!" Madam Wang carefully examined her nephew: a round, chubby face, dressed in a crimson robe with floral patterns and a jade belt; though somewhat dull-witted, he was quite presentable. She smiled and said, "Young master, get up!" but a barely perceptible hint of coldness and scrutiny flashed across her face.

Xue Pan, being quite obedient, stepped forward and respectfully kowtowed, saying, "Nephew Xue Pan greets Madam!" Madam Wang nodded, "Good child, get up. You must be tired from your journey." Her tone was flat, lacking any warmth.

It was Baochai's turn to step forward and pay her respects. Baochai bowed gracefully, her movements fluid and elegant, her voice clear and gentle: "Baochai greets Auntie and wishes her good health." Upon seeing Baochai, Lady Wang's eyes lit up, her smile genuine and warm. She quickly reached out to help her up: "Rise quickly! Good child, so well-groomed and poised, truly a blessing for your sister!"

She took Baochai's hand and examined her closely:
Needless to say, her appearance was stunning. The Jia family mansion was filled with a riot of colors, each with its own unique charm, but the more you looked at her, the more you loved her.

She was plump. Just by looking at her neck, one could tell she wasn't a thin, slender willow branch; rather, it was round and plump like a snow lotus root, peeking out from her neckline, smooth and lustrous, without any visible joints, only exuding wealth and gentleness. Looking down, although her clothes were simple and loose, the fabric, when it clung to her body, outlined her full chest.

Her waist wasn't a tightly cinched wasp waist, but rather a plump, smooth jade pillar, round and flowing without any abrupt edges. Her hips and buttocks were also perfectly rounded and full, and even hidden under her skirt, one could sense their abundance, exuding a physique that suggested she was suitable for domestic life and capable of bearing children.

The older generation is most fond of this kind of elegant demeanor and prosperous appearance, so they quickly said, "How was your journey? Are you feeling alright? If you need anything, just tell your sister Feng to ask for it, don't tell anyone else!" Their warmth was completely different from their polite and distant attitude towards Xue Pan.

Suddenly, the tinkling of jade pendants was heard. A person entered, and there was Baoyu returning from school, dressed in a bright red robe with a golden python sleeve, wearing a golden dragon necklace, his face as white as powder, his eyes like morning stars, truly a jade-like figure. Madam Xue was overjoyed and hugged him, saying, "My son! He has grown up to be as handsome as Pan An!" She quickly took out a piece of red gold Kui Xing (a symbol of success in Chinese literature) and a clam-shaped gemstone from her sleeve and stuffed them into his hand.

The moment Baoyu entered the room, his eyes caught sight of a young woman standing by the curtain. Although there were many beautiful women in the Jia household, none had ever seen such a gentle, fragrant, and alluring beauty. He was so captivated by her that his feet seemed rooted to the spot, and he longed to approach her and strike up a conversation, but Madam Xue held his hand firmly, preventing him from moving.

Just as they were about to strike up a conversation, a loud tinkling of jade pendants and rustling of clothes came from outside, followed by a cheerful voice that rang out before the words were even spoken: "Oh dear! I'm late! I haven't greeted our distinguished guest!"

The curtain was suddenly flung open, revealing a young woman, adorned in colorful embroidery, who strode in, surrounded by a group of maids. It was none other than Wang Xifeng, the Second Mistress of the Lian family!

She wore a gold-threaded, eight-treasure, pearl-encrusted hairpin, a five-phoenix hairpin with pearls hanging from the morning sun, and a red-gold dragon-patterned necklace. Her upper body was covered by a narrow-sleeved, bright red satin blouse that tightly hugged her tall and voluptuous figure; her unusually large, millstone-like buttocks stretched the jade-emerald-patterned crepe skirt below.

Truly: Her face was flushed with spring-like beauty, yet her power remained undisguised; before her feet even entered the room, her buttocks had already arrived.

Fengjie walked up to Madam Xue in a few steps, took her hand affectionately, looked her up and down, and said in a rapid-fire tone, "My dear Madam! You've finally arrived! The old matriarch has been asking three or four times this morning if the concubine has arrived yet. I was so worried about you! You must have had a tiring journey. Look at you, you look so well! You are truly a blessed person!"

She then turned to Baochai, grabbed her arm, and exclaimed in admiration, "This must be Baochai! Oh my! There really is such a beautiful person in the world! I've only just seen one today! No wonder Grandmother can't stop talking about her! Look at her whole demeanor, she doesn't seem like a concubine's daughter at all, but more like our Grandmother's own granddaughter!" These words flattered Baochai and pleased both Lady Wang and Grandmother Jia. The room was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)