The Splendor of the Red Chamber

After leaving home, Jia Lian went to the front yard and found his personal servant Xing'er, giving him a detailed and earnest instruction.

Then he specifically instructed, "Disguise yourself before you go. If Granny Ma asks, just say you're from the East Mansion. Don't let the secret slip out."

Xing'er was Jia Lian's confidant. Although he was not the most clever among the servants, he was the most loyal and reliable.

After hearing the Second Master's instructions, he accepted the order without asking any further questions.

Jia Lian thought to himself that this was a good start with Granny Ma, but he still needed someone to ask about Qin Keqing's illness at the right time.

And this candidate is readily available.

Jia Lian first prepared his speech in his mind, and then went through the hanging flower gate on the west side to his grandmother's five-courtyard house.

As soon as they entered the second courtyard, they met the maid Amber.

"Second Master?!"

Upon seeing Jia Lian, Amber rubbed her eyes in surprise before believing she wasn't mistaken. She exclaimed joyfully, "Second Master, you're completely healed?! It's truly a blessing from heaven! Yuanyang and I were just talking about you last night!"

Both Amber and the newly arrived head maid, Yuanyang, were servants who had grown up by the old lady's side and were highly regarded by her.

They were usually at the beck and call of the old lady and often dealt with Jia Lian, the head steward, so they were already quite familiar with each other in private.

Seeing that there was no one else around, Jia Lian said mischievously, "I won't hold it against you for gossiping about me in private, but just don't offend the old lady's ears."

"Pah!"

Amber clearly understood the 'key point' and spat, "We were worried about Second Master, but I'll tell Second Madam what you said later."

Though she said this, she didn't really care, and then eagerly greeted him, "Second Master, are you going to pay your respects to the Old Madam? I'll take you there right away..."

"There's no rush yet."

Jia Lian called her over and said, "Could you please call Baoyu out for me? I have something to say to him."

"That's easy to say."

Amber agreed and hurriedly entered the inner courtyard, soon returning with a handsome young boy.

"Brother Bao!"

Upon seeing this, Jia Lian immediately waved to him.

Jia Baoyu was the second son of his uncle Jia Zheng and Lady Wang.

Because his elder brother Jia Zhu died young, and Jia Baoyu was born with a magical jade, everyone said it was an auspicious omen, so he was regarded as the apple of the eye by the old lady and Lady Wang.

They were always afraid of upsetting him, afraid he would get cold if they held him in their hands, afraid he would melt if they kept him in their mouths. Although Baoyu was already 12 years old, he was still as innocent as a child.

"Second Brother Lian, Second Brother Lian!"

Baoyu jumped and leaped over to Jia Lian, grabbing him in delight, and exclaimed, "Yesterday, when my sisters and I came to see you, you were still lying unconscious in bed! How come you're walking around so quickly?!"

"Ha ha."

Jia Lian laughed heartily and said, "This is an acute illness of mine. It was only thanks to the blessings of my ancestors that it came and went quickly."

At the same time, he was thinking to himself that Baoyu was probably quite suspicious of the matter of confiscating the family property and exterminating the entire clan. He would definitely have the opportunity to discipline him properly and make him understand what he should and should not do.

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu immediately exclaimed, "If only Lin Daiyu could be like that!"

"you do not say."

Jia Lian had been waiting for these words, and sighed, "I heard that Rong-ge's wife in the East Mansion has also been ill for a long time. If only she could be blessed by our ancestors like I am..."

slap~

As they were talking, Jia Baoyu raised his hand and slapped himself on the forehead, which immediately turned red.

Seeing this, Jia Lian hurriedly asked, "Brother Bao, what's wrong?"

But then Jia Baoyu said in a serious tone, "I was confused just now. I was so focused on Lin Daiyu that I forgot that Rong-ge's wife has also been ill for a long time. I deserve a beating, I really deserve a beating!"

Jia Lian couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

Only Baoyu would do something like this.

He casually steered the conversation back on track: "By the way, I heard that your godmother, Granny Ma, is a famous sorceress in the capital, best known for her ability to pray for blessings, ward off disasters, and interpret divination and dreams?"

The so-called "gifted godmother" is a nominal godmother recognized for the purpose of warding off evil spirits and protecting the child's life. She is usually a monk, Taoist priest, or shaman.

Upon hearing the name "Grandma Ma," Baoyu immediately frowned: "Why are you asking about her out of the blue, Brother?"

"Isn't this a sign from our ancestors? I want to find a shaman to ask about my fortune."

"Why does my brother believe in this too?"

Baoyu immediately shook his head. He only believed in love and destiny, but never in monks, Taoists, or sorcerers.

"I didn't believe it at first, but now I have no choice but to believe it."

As Jia Lian spoke, he pointed to the large screen in the center of the courtyard: "Brother Bao, how heavy do you think this screen is?"

This large screen is placed in the passageway of the second courtyard, with a base of rosewood and a marble screen on top.

Jia Baoyu was puzzled, but he still answered honestly, "This large screen is made of stone. Even five or six maids can't lift it. I estimate it must weigh two or three hundred catties."

"Then you'll see."

Jia Lian casually rolled up his sleeves, walked over to the large screen, and bent down.

He first tested the weight, then placed one hand on the rosewood base and the other on the marble screen, saying "Rise."

He calmly lifted the nearly 300-pound screen over his shoulder.

"ah?!"

Amber, who had been waiting on the other side, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing this scene.

Jia Baoyu's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Second Brother Lian, you... what's wrong with you...?"

They knew Jia Lian's true worth before, and the scene before them made them wonder if they were dreaming.

"Haha~"

Feeling he still had energy to spare, Jia Lian turned around, carrying the screen, and said to Bao Yu, "When I said the ancestors had shown their power, I wasn't just saying it offhand—come on, come with me to see the old lady."

It turns out that our ancestors really did appear!

While Jia Baoyu was still in shock, he suddenly heard Amber exclaim in astonishment, "Second Master, you...you're going to carry it inside?!"

Only then did Jia Baoyu realize that his second brother Lian was carrying the large screen step by step inside, showing no intention of putting it down.

"Second Brother Lian!"

Baoyu hurriedly chased after him, gesturing excitedly as he asked, "Is your strength truly a blessing from our ancestors?"

"How could this be fake?"

Jia Lian walked unhurriedly, his voice calm and composed: "After I fainted, I dreamed that I was trapped in a crumbling red mansion, trying to escape but unable to, until two ancestral masters appeared and rescued me..."

"Really?! Are they my great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather?!"

"Who else could it be but the two patriarchs?"

"What do they look like? Are they like the portraits in the ancestral hall, or...?"

As the two walked in, they talked, and the maids and servants they encountered along the way were all utterly astonished.

That large screen has been in the hallway for several years; everyone knows its significance.

The fact that Second Master Lian had been in a coma for six days without eating or drinking and was critically ill was common knowledge in the mansion.

Now, Second Master Lian is strolling around leisurely with the large display screen on his back, and he can even chat with Second Master Bao...

What else could this be but a miracle performed by our ancestors?!

When we arrived at the fourth courtyard, the old lady had already received the news and came out to greet us with several granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

Before seeing it with her own eyes, the old lady thought it was just the servants exaggerating. But when she actually saw Jia Lian carrying the screen, even the well-informed Grandmother Jia was astonished.

The others were even more astonished.

"Second Brother Lian, how did you do that?!"

The first to react was her 11-year-old cousin, Jia Tanchun.

She jumped down the steps, circled Jia Lian, and excitedly asked, "There really wasn't a mechanism, Second Brother Lian, how did you lift it up?!"

The old lady snapped out of her daze and hurriedly asked, "Lian'er, what exactly happened?"

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, Jia Lian smiled slightly, gently placed the screen on the ground, and remained calm and composed.

"In reply to the old lady."

Then he bowed to the old lady and announced loudly, "When I was on the verge of death, I was enlightened by the two old dukes, and after undergoing a nine-fold purification of ice and fire, I was finally reborn and came back to life!"