Dream of the Red Chamber: I can see the hidden labels of the beauties.

Watching Xue Pan leave, Jia Can's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and it was unclear what he was thinking or what he was plotting.

After a while, he returned to his desk and sat down, beginning to seriously consider two things: revitalizing the Longfu Guard and going south to eliminate the malpractices in the salt administration.

Having just seen Xiangling's hidden tag, Jia Can already had a general idea of ​​what to do in the south. However, the most urgent task was to revitalize the Longfu Guard.

While thinking, I picked up a pen and wrote down my thoughts on a piece of white paper, so that I could think it over again and see if there was anything I had overlooked.

...

In the Pear Fragrance Courtyard in the northeast corner of the Rongguo Mansion.

As the lamps were lit, Xue Baochai and Aunt Xue had their evening meal together. After rinsing their mouths and wiping their lips, Aunt Xue looked outside, frowned, and asked:

"Hasn't that wretched child returned yet?"

A maidservant hurried in and replied:

"Reporting to Madam, Master... he... has not yet returned."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue waved her hand helplessly and sighed softly.

Xue Baochai came to her side, gently helped her up, and led her into the inner room, softly comforting her as they went:

"Mother, don't worry. My brother has always been like this. Perhaps he'll settle down once he's older and married."

Aunt Xue sighed:

"Sigh... I don't know if coming to the capital was the right or wrong thing to do. We thought that being close to your uncle and aunt would help discipline your brother, but we never expected that he would become even more unruly than before."

Xue Baochai helped her sit down on the kang (a heated brick bed), then took the teacup handed to her by Xiangling and presented it to Aunt Xue:

"Mother, we've been in the capital for many years now, it's no use saying these things now."

Aunt Xue picked up her teacup, took a sip, then put it down. She looked up and saw Xiangling; a complex expression flashed in her eyes.

"Back then, it was all because of this girl that your unlucky brother accidentally killed someone. Our family had no choice but to leave our hometown and come to the capital. Our business in the south was completely ruined. Now, the capital... sigh..."

In the end, Aunt Xue couldn't continue. The Xue family's situation was indeed not as good as before. The Xue family's roots were in the south, and the business in the north was secondary.

However, because Xue Pan killed someone, he had to rush to the capital to avoid disaster. He lost most of his family business and connections in the south, and could only focus on secondary businesses in the north. It was truly a case of picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons, a loss that did not outweigh the gains.

Xue Baochai was naturally aware of this situation, but she didn't say much, only offering words of advice:

"Mother, it's nothing. It just means we'll earn a little less. As long as our family still carries the title of imperial merchant, we'll always make some money."

After hearing this, Aunt Xue looked at her daughter carefully, patted her hand, and said:

"My child, you have suffered so much. I only hope that you can be selected in the last round of the palace selection. Then I can finally rest easy. Even if your brother is a good-for-nothing in the future, with you as his sister to help him, he won't have to starve."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's lips twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything. Of course, she still hoped to be selected, so that she wouldn't be confined to this one courtyard or one mansion.

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But she vaguely felt that this matter was not so simple. Among so many talented women who were able to get to the second round of selection, which one of them was not a well-bred lady from a good family and knowledgeable in manners?

If she loses the election, what will become of the Xue family?

Just then, a maid came in to report:

"Madam, young lady, the master is back."

When Aunt Xue saw that Xue Pan had finally returned, she immediately prepared to get up and scold him, but Xue Baochai quickly stopped her:

"Mother, please sit down and rest. I'm going to talk to my brother."

Aunt Xue knew that she was thoughtful and even more considerate than herself, so she didn't say anything more, only asking her to say a few harsh words.

Xue Baochai nodded in agreement and got up to walk outside.

Upon entering the side room, they found Xue Pan drunk, surrounded by several maids, some supporting him and others undressing him.

Upon seeing this, Xue Baochai frowned slightly and went over to ask:

"Why is it only now that you've returned, brother? Have you forgotten what promise you made to Mother a few days ago?"

When Xue Pan saw Xue Baochai arrive, he sobered up a bit and hurriedly pushed aside the maids, a smile plastered on his face:

"Little sister, you're here. Um... I was in a good mood today and drank a little too much. Mother didn't say anything, did she?"

Xue Baochai smelled the strong odor of alcohol on him, her brows furrowed even deeper, she quickly took two steps back, and said in a deep voice:

"And you still dare to talk! Your mother was just sighing and complaining; if I hadn't stopped you, you would have gotten a good scolding today!"

Xue Pan's face flushed red, and he scratched his head in shame, remaining silent for a moment.

Xue Baochai looked at him and sighed helplessly. Xue Pan was in such a state because of Aunt Xue's doting on him. It was almost impossible to rely on him.

But since he was her elder brother and the only man in the Xue family, Xue Baochai could only patiently persuade him:

"Brother, the Jia family is currently facing a great upheaval. Two generations of masters from the Ningguo Mansion have passed away one after another, and the eldest master of the Rongguo Mansion has been stripped of his title. Outsiders are all laughing at the Rongguo Mansion."

"I suppose you should also realize that since we're living in the Rongguo Mansion, we should behave ourselves and not cause any more trouble for your uncle and his family, understand?"

Xue Pan listened with disapproval:

"Don't worry, little sister. Our family has been in the capital for several years now, and I know quite a few of the powerful and influential people there. I promise not to provoke them."

"Besides, I was just having a drink and having fun with my friends. What trouble could I possibly cause? You and Mother can rest assured."

Seeing that he didn't take it seriously at all, Xue Baochai was helpless. She thought to herself, "If you really cause any trouble, you'll regret it too late."

She could only try to persuade him again and again, but Xue Pan seemed to ignore her completely. Xue Baochai had no choice but to give up, knowing that he would never listen to reason. If Xue Pan had listened to reason, he wouldn't be in this state now.

He then frowned and asked:

"Brother, how did it go with my request to befriend Second Master Can of the Ningguo Mansion?"

As he spoke, he stared at Xue Pan, trying to discern whether he was lying.

Xue Pan replied casually:

"Sister, you really are a prophet. At first, he refused outright, but later, I mentioned you and even gave him the salt. He immediately changed his mind and agreed to go out for drinks with me. He's just a money-grubber."

Xue Baochai was stunned for a moment, then her face darkened:

"Brother, you...you actually mentioned me to him?"

Xue Pan didn't see anything wrong with it: "Yes, I brought it up, and he even asked me if it was my sister's idea, and I replied."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai nearly fainted from anger. She was both ashamed and furious, her face changing color repeatedly, and she didn't know what to say for a moment.

Originally, she asked Xue Pan to take the initiative to befriend Jia Can because Jia Can had become the person in charge of Ningguo Mansion, and judging from Jia Can's performance, he was decisive and efficient, and in just half a month, he had completely transformed Ningguo Mansion.

This impressed Xue Baochai greatly, and she felt that Jia Can was worth befriending, whether it was to improve the Xue family's situation within the Jia family or to have another capable friend.

But to her utter surprise, Xue Pan, that heartless bastard, actually betrayed her right in front of Jia Can.

If Jia Can finds out, will he think she's too ambitious? Will he think she's too calculating?

This was originally a meticulously planned scheme by her to secure her brother's future, solidify the Xue family's foundation, and find a reliable backer for the future. However, Xue Pan's reckless actions backfired, turning it into a disgraceful affair that damaged her reputation and gave her something to talk about.