Dream of the Red Chamber: Eating, Sleeping, and Angering Baoyu

The next day.

Before dawn, there was already movement in the courtyard.

Jia Heng opened his eyes right on time.

There wasn't a single moment of lingering in bed.

He had just sat up when Qingwen and Qiuxiang, who were outside, heard the commotion and immediately brought in their toiletries.

Qingwen had faint bluish tints under her eyes, clearly indicating she hadn't slept well the night before.

"Third Master, you're up really early today."

As Qiu Xiang helped him put on his coat, she said with a smile.

Jia Heng did not respond, but only asked, "Is breakfast ready?"

"The kitchen supplies have been delivered and are being kept warm in the small living room."

"Um."

After washing up, Jia Heng strolled to the small hall.

The table was already laden with a dazzling array of breakfast items.

Crab roe soup dumplings, shredded chicken rolls, lotus leaf soup, almond tea, and several other delicate Jiangnan side dishes.

Jia Heng sat down leisurely and picked up his chopsticks.

He didn't eat much; he only tasted one or two bites of each dish.

Qingwen and Qiuxiang stood by serving, and as they smelled the enticing aroma, their stomachs began to rumble uncontrollably.

Jia Heng put down his chopsticks.

"I'm done eating. You can share this."

He pointed to the remaining breakfast on the table.

Qiu Xiang said, "Thank you, young master."

Qingwen said, "Thank you, young master."

"You all eat, I'm going to check on Brother Baoyu."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the small hall.

Qiu Xiang's face was full of joy and excitement. She looked at Qing Wen and said, "Sister Qing Wen, Third Master... Third Master is so good to us!"

Qingwen did not speak.

Jia Heng stepped out of his small courtyard. The sky was still a hazy, bluish-gray, with a few remaining stars hanging on the horizon, not yet completely gone.

The morning breeze carried a hint of coolness as it brushed against his thin clothes.

The mornings at Rongguo Mansion were quiet, yet imbued with a sense of oppressive discipline.

He didn't bring any maids with him, and walked alone through the covered corridor, following the route he remembered, towards the green gauze-covered room where Jia Baoyu lived.

Before even getting close, one could see the warm candlelight shining through the paper window of the gauze-covered wardrobe, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding darkness.

Why are people up so early?

Jia Heng tiptoed and quietly approached the door.

Xiren was seen bending over, busy at the table.

She arranged a stack of neatly cut Xuan paper, then took out a stick of Huizhou ink, an inkstone, and several wolf-hair brushes of different sizes, carefully placing them on the tray.

On the small plate next to it were several pieces of delicate osmanthus sugar cake and almond shortbread.

"Sister Xiren, you're up so early?"

Jia Heng's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet morning.

Xi Ren was startled, and the pen in her hand fell onto the tray with a crisp "clang".

She turned around abruptly, and only after recognizing Jia Heng did she breathe a sigh of relief and quickly curtsy.

"Third Master, what brings you here? It's not even dawn yet."

"I've eaten, so I'll get up and walk around a bit." Jia Heng stepped forward, his gaze falling on the tray on the table. "Sister, are you preparing things for Brother Baoyu to go to school?"

"Yes." Xiren replied while rearranging the fallen pen. "Today is the first day that Master Bao is going to his home school. The old lady and the madam both instructed that he must not be negligent. These are the pens, ink, paper, and inkstones he will need for class, as well as some of his favorite snacks, in case he goes hungry."

Jia Heng nodded slightly and sincerely praised, "Sister is so thoughtful, taking such good care of Brother Baoyu. With you by his side, Brother Baoyu is truly blessed."

These words both praised Xiren and flattered Baoyu.

Xi Ren felt comforted and a smile appeared on her face. She said humbly, "This is all my duty."

Jia Heng changed the subject and sighed softly.

That sigh, in the quiet room, carried a hint of loneliness and grievance.

Xiren couldn't help but look over: "Why is Third Master sighing?"

"It's nothing." Jia Heng shook his head, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. "I'm just a little envious of Brother Baoyu."

He lowered his eyes and his voice also softened: "As you know, I grew up in Jinling and only returned to the manor when I was eight years old. Everything in this manor is still unfamiliar to me."

"I'm not familiar with the maids and servants in the courtyard yet, and they're all clumsy. I'm about to go to school, but I... I haven't even prepared a pen or a piece of paper yet."

His words carried a sense of loneliness and helplessness, like a forgotten little animal.

Xi Ren hesitated for a moment.

"this……"

Although she is kind-hearted, she can also distinguish between what is important and what is not.

She was Baoyu's maid, so these things were naturally prepared for Baoyu.

The Third Master's affairs are handled by his own people; it's not her place to manage them.

Seeing her hesitation, Jia Heng continued in that pitiful tone, "I don't dare to trouble my mother, for fear that she will think I can't even handle such a small matter, and will dislike me even more."

"Thinking about going to the school with Brother Baoyu today, if I stand in front of the teacher empty-handed, not only will I be embarrassed, but I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will also make Brother Baoyu lose face."

These words were reasonable and put him in a very low position, even bringing up the idea of ​​"thinking of Baoyu".

Xi Ren's initial hesitation vanished instantly.

Yes, how long has Third Master been back? Who in the manor can't see Madam Wang's attitude towards him? The maids in his courtyard are probably all opportunists.

If Third Master really went to the school empty-handed, it would be a disgrace to the entire Jia family, and Second Master Bao would naturally not look good either.

Having figured this out, Xiren immediately said, "What are you saying, Third Master? It was my oversight. Please wait a moment, and I'll prepare a set for you as well. Everything is ready."

As she spoke, she deftly took out a brand-new set of writing implements from the cabinet and placed them, along with some snacks, on another tray.

"Thank you so much, Sister Xiren." Jia Heng took the tray with a grateful smile on his face. "Sister, you are such a kind person. I will definitely thank you properly when I receive my monthly salary."

He praised her so sincerely that Xiren felt a little embarrassed and quickly waved her hand.

"Third Master, please don't say that. You're making me feel too bad."

Jia Heng smiled, then casually glanced into the inner room and asked, "Brother Baoyu, are you still not up? It's getting late."

Xi Ren's face showed a hint of helplessness: "Young Master Bao went to bed late last night, and he said he wanted to stay in bed a little longer today. No matter how I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen."

Jia Heng sneered inwardly.

Staying in bed? Great.

Just then, a dignified and rigid cough came from outside the door.

"Ahem!"

Everyone in the room froze instantly.

Xi Ren and the other maids who had just woken up all turned pale and hurriedly knelt down.

"Greetings to the master."

Jia Zheng, dressed in a royal blue robe, walked in with his hands behind his back and a blank expression.