is a bit of a persistent ghost.

Inside the Rongguo Mansion, the pomp and circumstance on New Year's Eve was extraordinary.

After the Kitchen God Festival on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the household has been busy every day.

Sweeping and cleaning the courtyard, hanging ancestral portraits, tidying up the offering utensils, inviting the ancestral tablets, and cleaning the main room in preparation for hanging the offerings—the list goes on and on.

Large rosewood tables carved with dragons were set up in front, behind, left, and right of the main hall, with various exquisite bonsai and antiques piled on them; sixteen nanmu chairs were arranged in two rows on the ground, and there was also a couplet, which was made of ebony and inlaid with silver characters.

The servants in the mansion were all dressed up according to their rank, adorned with flowers and filled with laughter and chatter.

The grand banquet was held in Rongxi Hall, with Grandmother Jia in the center, surrounded by Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Madam You, Li Wan, Feng Jie, Bao Yu, and others. On the outer corridor, there were several tables for Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Huan, Jia Cong, Jia Rong, and others.

Words cannot describe the fluttering phoenixes on the curtains, the lotus blossoms on the cushions, the burning incense of lilies in the cauldron, and the evergreen buds in the vase. Amber cups overflow with tears, and the glass railings let in the cool breeze of willows.

Everyone took their seats according to seniority, and were offered Tusu wine, Hehuan soup, auspicious fruits, Ruyi cakes... a scene of wealth and elegance befitting a family of high-ranking officials.

Grandmother Jia looked at her children and grandchildren, her face beaming with joy. She especially held Baoyu's hand, asking him all sorts of questions and calling him her beloved son and daughter.

Just as everyone was laughing and enjoying the delicacies, Lin Zhixiao's wife suddenly came in with a nervous expression and reported: "Grandma, Master, someone from Prince Xin's side has come again! He says that His Highness Prince Xin invites Yun'er to come to the mansion immediately for a chat."

In an instant, the laughter and chatter in the hall seemed to be cut off by a knife, and everyone's eyes turned to this direction.

The smile on Grandmother Jia's face vanished instantly, and a nameless anger suddenly surged up inside her.

And now, during the Lunar New Year, they're inviting me again!

Why is it that everything revolves around Jia Yun?

He stole the spotlight from what should have been a wonderful family reunion dinner!

Am I, Baoyu, not even as good as a collateral descendant?

She felt a tightness in her chest, and suddenly felt a surge of gratitude for her good fortune, otherwise she would have been driven to her death by anger long ago.

Seeing his mother's displeasure, Jia Zheng hurriedly asked, "Do you know where Yun-ge is now?"

The servants stammered, seemingly unaware of the situation, but Zhou Rui's wife finally mustered the courage to reply, "Master, I've inquired... Yun-ge'er... he left the city after lunch, saying he was going to the Iron Threshold Temple..."

"What? On New Year's Eve, instead of staying home to serve your mother, what are you doing running off to that desolate mountain temple?" Jia Zhen already had a prejudice against Jia Yun, so he frowned first, his tone full of dissatisfaction.

Once someone started talking, the meddlesome old women and young men below began to whisper among themselves, harboring resentment:

"What a disregard for the rules! They can't even enjoy the New Year properly, they're out traveling!"

"I heard... he didn't just go to the temple, he went to that dilapidated Taoist temple in the back mountains, and hung out with a bunch of roughnecks who were out escorting goods and practicing martial arts, saying... they were practicing martial arts!"

"Practicing martial arts?" someone immediately scoffed. "They shout about taking the imperial examinations while simultaneously practicing with weapons. How can they possibly study well? That's wishful thinking!"

"Indeed! With their minds wandering, how can they possibly calm down and study the classics? I think they're doomed for the imperial examinations next year!"

"Neither good at literature nor martial arts, he's become so arrogant just because he somehow managed to curry favor with the prince..."

The sarcastic and mocking voices were incessant, though they dared not speak loudly, they still reached Jia Zheng's ears clearly.

Jia Zheng's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He had just placed high hopes on Jia Yun, but now, hearing these discussions, and being invited by the prince during the New Year but unable to find him, he felt humiliated, both angry and anxious.

At this moment, Jia She, usually so unreliable, surprisingly spoke up to smooth things over: "Mother, please calm down. It's a matter of honor for our Jia family that Yun-ge'er has gained the Prince's favor..."

"Decent?" Before he could finish speaking, Grandmother Jia sneered, "In the middle of the New Year, you can't even enjoy a peaceful reunion dinner! What decentness? I think it's shameful!"

These words were extremely harsh, and Jia She immediately shut his mouth in embarrassment, his face turning pale and then red.

Seeing this, Baoyu quickly picked up a piece of Ruyi cake and held it to Grandmother Jia's lips, saying in a coquettish tone, "Grandmother, please try this. It's sweet but not cloying, just your taste."

Daiyu gently advised, "Grandmother, why be upset? Yun'er has gained the prince's favor; if he truly succeeds in the future, it will be an honor for our Jia family. Besides, he's just a member of a collateral branch; no matter what, he can't surpass Baoyu."

With the two girls, Yu'er, coaxing her from both sides, Grandmother Jia's expression softened slightly, and she reluctantly ate a bite of pastry.

Just then, Wang Xifeng put down her chopsticks and laughed loudly, "Oh my, I thought it was something important! Is it worth all this gossip? Yun-ge'er is a polite child, he must have gone to the Iron Threshold Temple to pay New Year's respects to Master Zhou and thank him for his kindness! A teacher for a day is a father for life, on New Year's Day, it would be ungrateful not to go and kowtow!"

The Prince's invitation is a great favor, and Yun-ge'er was unaware of it beforehand. What wrong has he done? He can apologize to the Prince when he returns. Let's enjoy ourselves and not spoil the Ancestor's mood over such a small matter!"

Her words were a mix of rebuttal and criticism, explaining Jia Yun's whereabouts, raising the issue of "respect for teachers," and incidentally bringing up Grandmother Jia, instantly revitalizing the somewhat tense atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's expression softened slightly, and he naturally felt that what Feng Jie said made sense.

Just then, a young eunuch rushed in, bowed, and said, "Greetings to Your Majesty. Since I know Second Master Yun is outside the city, I will not disturb you today."

After saying this, he kowtowed again, then got up and took his leave.

Grandmother Jia hurriedly said, "Quickly, give this young eunuch a top-grade gift."

After saying this, he sighed to Madam Wang, "Look, even the people serving the Prince are so well-mannered."

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Lady Wang noticed Grandmother Jia's displeasure. She lowered her head and approached him softly, saying, "Grandmother, there's no need to worry. When Yun-ge returns, let him bring his recent homework for us to review. If he's made progress, we should naturally encourage him; if he's neglected it, this is a good opportunity to get him to stop practicing martial arts and focus on his studies."

"Who should test him?" Grandmother Jia felt it was time to curb the monkey's arrogance, but she didn't know where to start.

"I fear that the master may be biased, so I think that Jia Dairu and his son Jia Rui from the charity school are suitable for this important task."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia's eyes lit up, and she immediately beamed with joy: "You're absolutely right! That's exactly how it should be!"

Wang Xifeng, standing not far away, overheard these words and inwardly sneered, "What a kind-faced but cunning Second Madam! This tactic of feigning weakness is quite clever; she's clearly trying to suppress Yun'er. Her own son is useless, yet she's jealous of others."

Thinking this to herself, Fengjie put on a smile and quickly stepped forward to help Grandmother Jia: "Grandmother, you look tired today, let me take you back to rest."

Grandmother Jia patted Fengjie's hand with satisfaction, then turned to Lady Wang and said, "Do as you say."

Only then did she feel satisfied, and surrounded by the crowd, she went to the inner courtyard.

As Fengjie supported Grandmother Jia, she caught a glimpse of Lady Wang's seemingly gentle yet smug expression out of the corner of her eye. She thought to herself, "Everyone in this mansion is scheming. Fine, I'll just watch and see how this drama unfolds."

After returning to her courtyard, Fengjie immediately summoned Caiming: "Write a note saying that the matriarch of the mansion intends to test his learning in a few days, and that he must pay close attention."

Turning to Ping'er, she instructed, "Go find Li Gui, the horse manager, and have him send a reliable person to the Iron Threshold Temple tonight, along with a reward. Remember, don't make a fuss."

Ping'er accepted the order and left, but as soon as she reached the second gate, she bumped into Li Wan's maid, Su Yun, who was also holding an envelope.

The two met face to face and were both taken aback.

Ping'er, quick-witted, laughed and asked, "It's so late, where are you going, sister?"

Su Yun blushed slightly and stammered, "Our grandmother asked me to send a letter to Second Master Yun... saying that Lan-ge'er has some academic matters he wants to consult."

Ping'er understood immediately and smiled, "What a coincidence! Our Second Mistress also asked me to deliver a message to Yun-ge'er, saying there's something going on at the manor."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, each understanding the other without saying a word.

Ping'er returned and told Fengjie about it. Fengjie was removing her makeup when she heard this and suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. She slammed her hairpin on the dressing table and sneered, "That Yun-ge'er, he really knows how to get along with people! Even Madam Zhu from the other mansion is taking such good care of him."

Ping'er quickly advised, "Grandma, why get upset? This just shows that Yun-ge'er is destined for greatness."

Sister Feng straightened her hair in front of the mirror and snorted, "How could I not know? It's just that this lad... he certainly has a lot of friends."

After saying that, she laughed self-deprecatingly, "Well, it doesn't affect us anyway. Let's see how the Second Madam tests his studies in the future."

Ping'er breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Feng Jie's expression had softened. She thought to herself that so many people in the mansion were secretly watching the young man under the west corridor. She wondered if this was a blessing or a curse.