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

Hearing Jia Can speak so naturally and firmly, as if he had a plan in mind, Xue Baochai said no more and simply nodded.

I felt that Jia Can was mature and composed. Faced with so many thorny accounting problems, he did not panic or feel helpless. Instead, he was calm, methodical, and far superior to the other members of the Jia family.

Take Jia Baoyu for example. Xue Baochai has seen him several times. Jia Baoyu panics over the smallest things and can only ask his elders or others for advice, unable to come up with any ideas on his own.

Jia Can's performance earned Xue Baochai's secret approval, and her impression of him gradually deepened.

Lin Daiyu felt he was different, and a glint of admiration flashed in her beautiful eyes. Her feelings for Jia Can were not those of a traditional scholar or talented man.

Instead, he was quite pragmatic and reserved, not ostentatious or superficial, and took every step steadily, which is why she had a refreshing feeling about Jia Can.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and a stewardess rushed in, respectfully replying:

"Second Master Can, someone has come to report that some more officials from the imperial court have arrived and request that you go out to entertain them."

Upon hearing this, Jia Can immediately responded, stood up, and solemnly bowed to Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai.

"My dear sisters, thank you so much for sharing my burden. I will remember this in my heart. When I have time in the future, I will definitely invite you all to my residence to enjoy the flowers and be my guests, as a way of expressing my gratitude."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jia Xichun replied with a smile:

"Alright, Second Brother Can, you said it yourself, don't forget, otherwise, we'll have to come looking for you to make it up to you!"

As he spoke, he winked mischievously, which made the girls next to him laugh.

Jia Can glanced at her, then looked around at Lin Daiyu and the others. He saw that the women were all exceptionally beautiful, each with their own unique charm, a sight to behold that pleased him greatly. He smiled and nodded, saying repeatedly:

"Of course...of course, I won't forget."

After saying this, he apologized again and hurriedly followed the stewardess outside.

After he left, Lin Daiyu and the others began to whisper among themselves.

Jia Yingchun said that Jia Can was quite amiable, while Jia Tanchun praised Jia Can for his efficiency. Jia Xichun was full of praise, saying that although her second brother Jia Can was not particularly outstanding before, he seemed to be a reliable person now.

The three sisters chatted amongst themselves, and as they talked, the conversation drifted off into other topics.

Xue Baochai's eyes flickered slightly as she looked in the direction where Jia Can had disappeared, pondering to herself.

It was only then that she suddenly realized that Jia Can seemed to have gone from an unnoticed illegitimate son to the heir of the Ningguo Mansion in an instant.

Not only will Jia Can inherit the vast Ningguo Mansion, but he will also inherit a hereditary title, as well as those intangible and invisible connections and kinship ties.

They had just met the day before yesterday, when Jia Can was just an unnoticed illegitimate son standing in a corner.

But today, Jia Can has completed this magnificent reversal, suddenly bursting into everyone's sight, as if he had suddenly emerged from underground.

Although they had heard of Jia Can before, no one had ever paid attention to what he looked like or what kind of person he was. But in just a day or two, Jia Can had already made them take him seriously.

This change was precisely because the successive deaths of Jia Zhen and Jia Rong allowed Jia Can to achieve a rapid rise in rank.

In Xue Baochai's view, this seemed like a coincidence, but it could be described as the unpredictability of life and the workings of fate.

But she couldn't help but ponder: what if the deaths of Jia Zhen and Jia Rong weren't mere coincidences? What if someone…

Just as she was thinking this, Jia Tanchun suddenly turned to the side and gently pushed her:

"Sister Bao, what are you thinking about? You're so engrossed all of a sudden! You didn't even hear us calling you?"

Xue Baochai snapped back to her senses, her expression becoming somewhat unnatural, her eyes darting away, before she replied in a low voice:

"No...it's nothing, I was just spacing out."

As she spoke, she lowered her eyes, not daring to meet Tan Chun's gaze.

Seeing Xue Baochai's expression, Lin Daiyu put down the account book in her hand, tilted her head slightly, a sly glint in her eyes, and teased her with pursed lips:

"Sister Bao must be thinking about... which young master is he? Otherwise, why would she be so lost in thought that she can't even hear us talking?"

Hearing this, Xue Baochai blushed, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. She suddenly stood up, walked around the table to Lin Daiyu's side, and reached out to pinch her cheek, scolding her:

"You little brat, don't talk nonsense! I'll tear your mouth apart..."

Although a hint of anger was visible on his face, there was a clear smile in his eyes; he was not truly angry.

Seeing the situation was dire, Lin Daiyu quickly shrank back, covering her face with her hands and pleading for mercy:

"Oh dear... good sister, I know I was wrong, I won't say it again, please forgive me... good sister, please forgive me this time..."

When the three sisters, Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun, and Jia Xichun, saw this scene, they couldn't help but laugh.

For a moment, the room was filled with sweet laughter, clear and melodious.

After a while of commotion, Xue Baochai finally stopped, tidied her slightly disheveled hair, and sat down, panting slightly, feigning sternness and helplessness.

"Alright, stop fooling around. Let's finish checking all these ledgers so we can give Brother Can an explanation. It's not right for us guests to delay his important business."

As she spoke, she picked up her teacup and took a sip. The blush on her face had not completely faded, but the corners of her mouth had already turned up slightly, making her seem completely different from her usual dignified and elegant self.

Lin Daiyu blushed, straightened her disheveled clothes, gave Xue Baochai a coquettish look, but didn't say anything more. She sat up straight again, picked up the account book she had just put down, and continued to check the accounts.

After calming down, Daiyu returned to her quiet and gentle demeanor. Her beautiful eyes were slightly open, and her slender fingers turned the pages. She was completely different from her lively and playful appearance just now, as if she were a different person.

The women fell silent and began their own tasks, remaining quiet and peaceful.

……

Meanwhile, Jia Can came out from the backyard, straightened his clothes, and strode towards the front hall.

This visit from the imperial court is a good opportunity for him to officially appear before everyone as the only man of the Ningguo Mansion, and he must not lose face.

But when he arrived at the front hall, he found Jia She and Jia Zheng already seated, chatting animatedly with several officials from the imperial court.

Several officials, dressed in their official robes, chatted and laughed with Jia She and Jia Zheng, as if they were old friends who had known each other for a long time.

Upon seeing this, Jia Can's heart stirred, and he immediately realized something. However, he remained calm and composed, and stepped forward with neither arrogance nor servility. He politely greeted the officials and his two uncles, displaying composure and impeccable manners, without showing any sign of panic or stage fright.

When Jia She saw him arrive, he merely glanced at him indifferently:

"My lords, this is my second brother Jing's other illegitimate son, named Jia Can. After the deaths of Zhen and Rong, father and son, the East Mansion has no one in charge, so he has to take over for now."

The officials from the imperial court, upon hearing this, merely glanced at Jia Can sideways, nodded slightly, or hummed in agreement, before giving him another look.