Chapter 1108
: Things Have Changed After All
Chapter 1108: Things Have Changed After All
On a June afternoon at Rongguo Mansion, the cicadas' chirping was filtered through layers of banana leaves, while a breeze carried the sweet fragrance of crabapple blossoms, passing over the vermilion railings of the covered walkway.
A cool breeze permeated the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion. Fine grass was embedded in the cracks of the water-polished blue brick floor. The bamboo curtain hanging under the eaves rustled in the wind, revealing the figures of the people in the inner hall of the pavilion. With a gust of cool wind, the room finally felt cool.
Daiyu leaned back in her recliner, her moon-white silk skirt embroidered with a few pale purple orchids. The hem of her skirt draped over the edge of the couch, trembling slightly in the breeze. Her gaze fell on the green lotus leaves swirling in the pond outside the window. Her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyes. Thinking that the Marquis had not come to see her these days, she felt a pang of melancholy.
"The weather has been getting drier these past few days,"
Xue Baochai sat on the pearwood chair opposite, using a silver skewer to pick at chilled lychees, her voice soft and gentle, like a gentle spring.
"Did you enjoy the lotus seed soup that Madam asked the kitchen to make yesterday?"
She casually handed over the lychees. The light purple satin jacket she wore was embroidered with lotus scrolls, and the collar and cuffs were trimmed with fine silver thread, which made her skin appear even whiter.
Daiyu glanced around, but the figure from behind the curtain didn't appear. She then withdrew her gaze, offering a faint smile, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"It's kind of nice to hear you worry, Sister Lao."
She took the lychees and casually placed them on a small table to the side, her porcelain-white fingers gently caressing the cool glaze.
"It's just that the summer heat is so oppressive that I feel uneasy. I woke up three or four times last night."
Xue Baochai paused, then put down the silver token in her hand, took the handkerchief Ying'er handed her, and wiped her fingertips:
“Miss Lin is right. I also feel heavy right now. Perhaps it’s because I was tired from going to Yao’s shop with Madam the other day.”
After a brief moment, his gaze swept over Daiyu's rosy cheeks.
"I heard that Lin Daiyu is feeling much better these past few days. That's great news!"
"It's just an old ailment, it'll be fine with rest!"
Daiyu waved her hand lightly, looking at the lively scene inside the room, feeling quite pleased. Especially Xichun, who was giggling at something, which made her feel extremely comfortable as well. Fortunately, there were no worries in the mansion.
was saying,
From the next table, Xiangyun's hearty laughter rang out again, mixed with Tanchun's clear voice.
Daiyu frowned slightly, wondering what she had said again, and Baochai smiled and said:
"I suppose my third sister and the others are talking about something exciting."
With a forced smile, she got up and walked to the curtain. She lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain and looked inside. She saw Xiangyun wearing a light red floral jacket and skirt, whispering something in Tanchun's ear, which made Yingchun cover her mouth and giggle. Xichun, however, kept her head down and fiddled with the jade pendant on the corner of her clothes, her expression indifferent.
Lotus Fragrance Pavilion and Warm Pavilion were separated only by a moon gate, with a slightly worn blue gauze curtain hanging between them. The embroidered peach blossom branches on the curtain had faded somewhat. Xiangyun's voice drifted through the gauze curtain, carrying the clear, melodious sound of a woman:
"The other day I went to Xiren's place, thinking of talking to my second brother. But as soon as I entered the room, I saw her sewing a jade-colored silk vest, saying it was for my second brother. In my opinion, our second brother has really suffered a great loss this time."
Tan Chun held a pastry in her hand and said softly:
"Don't say things like that. After all, he was locked up in the military prison for three days. Ping'er said he came back covered in dirt and his hair was a mess. He saw a doctor today and thankfully he's alright."
Tan Chun put the pastry into her mouth, her dark blue jacket embroidered with butterflies and flowers showing a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Although I wasn't subjected to any torture, that place was ultimately not a safe haven. I don't know how I've managed to stay there these past few days."
Yingchun timidly replied:
"The ladies were saying in the house the other day that they seemed to have had a conflict with someone from some prince's mansion."
She was halfway through her sentence when she saw Tan Chun give her a cold glance, so she shrank back and stopped talking.
Xi Chun tucked the jade pendant into her waistband, making a clear, crisp sound.
"Why ask so many questions? It's good that he's back."
She slurped down a cup of tea in a huff, her light pink dress swaying slightly, her hair simply tied in a bun.
"It was all just absurd stuff, but getting caught by the authorities is a lesson in itself."
I don't know why, but being with Sister Lin, I always feel that Master Bao is too careless, even more so than Jia Lan. Xiangyun clapped her hands in frustration:
"Why do you say that, Fourth Sister! Although Second Brother is sometimes absurd, he has a good heart. This time, the banquet for fellow disciples at Youlai Restaurant was not something he arranged in advance."
She stomped her foot, causing her water-red skirt to billow in a beautiful arc.
"It was the people from Qinglian Academy who started the trouble and caused chaos, leaving us in this miserable situation."
Daiyu heard everything clearly and her expression showed obvious displeasure. Her father had once said that one who is careless in doing things and indecisive in the face of problems cannot accomplish great things. Baochai, seeing this, knew that Miss Lin was somewhat annoyed, and quickly whispered:
"If my sister doesn't want to listen, then she doesn't have to. They're just talking nonsense."
"I'm fine, it's all over now."
Daiyu sat there, feeling somewhat agitated.
"It's just that it doesn't sound pleasant."
Looking up at the lotus leaves swirling in the pond, blown by the wind, I recalled the quiet days I spent with my parents in Yangzhou. A pang of sorrow welled up in my heart; those days were gone forever.
Just as my mind was in turmoil, I suddenly heard footsteps coming from the warm pavilion, followed by Xiangyun's delighted voice:
"Second brother, you've finally arrived!"
A call caused a variety of thoughts to arise among the people in the room. Tan Chun and Ying Chun hurriedly got up, their faces beaming with gentle smiles.
Daiyu stiffened and subconsciously turned around, her back to the moon gate. Xue Baochai also seemed a little uncomfortable, but didn't say much. Only Xichun didn't care and continued eating her pastries.
When Baoyu lifted the curtain and entered, he still carried a slight smell of travel. After bathing and changing, he was wearing a moon-white silk robe. Although his hair was neatly combed, it could not hide the weariness and melancholy between his brows. He had become thinner in the few days since he last saw him, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless.
The first thing he did upon entering was to look at all his sisters, especially at the table by the window. He immediately spotted Daiyu with her back to him. He quickened his pace involuntarily, about to call out "Sister Lin," but Daiyu didn't even turn her head. She was staring blankly at the lotus pond outside the window. Her back was slender and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over, yet she exuded a distant and aloof air.
The maids serving him, especially Qingwen, seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally blocking Bao Erye's view.
Jia Baoyu's heart sank suddenly. The anger and grievances he had been holding back in the room surged up instantly, only to be chilled by the silent neglect. He stood there stunned, opening his mouth but unable to utter a sound.
Seeing this, Xue Baochai remained silent, but Xiangyun, who was inside the room, quickly tried to smooth things over:
"Second brother, you've finally come out! We were just talking about you!"
"What did you say about me?"
Baoyu's voice was hoarse and nasal, as if he had caught a cold. His gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if the people in the mansion had changed. He muttered to himself.
"Does that mean I deserve to be locked up in jail? Or did I do something ridiculous again that made me a laughingstock?"
Tan Chun frowned, wondering why she was saying such things.
"Why would Second Brother say such a thing? We were just worried about you."
Yingchun stammered a reply.
"Second brother has suffered so much, it's good that you're back."
Only Xichun changed her nature:
"Second brother has learned his lesson and knows how foolish he was."
Perhaps spurred by these words, Jia Baoyu suddenly mustered his courage and walked step by step into the outer room, his voice softening:
"Sister Lin, I've been thinking of telling you something these past few days."
Daiyu did not turn around, but whispered:
"Young Master Bao, please speak frankly. There are still sisters and cousins here."
Although the voice was calm and emotionless, it was more chilling than harsh words.
Jia Baoyu felt a surge of anger rush to his head, only to be suppressed by a deep sense of powerlessness. He had been terrified in prison these past few days, and his greatest concern was for Daiyu. He had planned to tell her his grievances upon his return, but instead, he was met with such coldness.
Now he was treated like a stranger. His initial enthusiasm vanished in an instant. He gritted his teeth, turned around and walked out, but was stopped by Xiangyun.
"Second Brother, don't rush off. You just got back from outside; you should rest. Xiren said you didn't eat much when you came back, so I asked the kitchen to save some lotus seed soup for you."
Baoyu shook off her hand and said sullenly:
"I'm not hungry."
He glanced at everyone in the room, but ultimately said nothing more, turning and striding out of the warm pavilion. Xiangyun, watching his retreating figure, said anxiously:
"Sister Lin, why are you ignoring him? He just got out of jail."
Daiyu then slowly turned around, her eyes clear and her breath calm.
"He's almost married, it's good that he's learned his lesson. Lan-ge'er has already entered officialdom, so how can he still be playing around?"
Lin Daiyu noticed this, and realized that if they had focused on their studies, they would have surely passed the imperial examination. The old lady was very disappointed.
Xue Baochai sighed, understanding what Daiyu meant;
“What my sister said makes sense. There are a lot of gossips both inside and outside this mansion, especially after the East Mansion split up. The matter of the imperial examination is weighing on everyone’s mind, and it’s really hard to bear.”
Daiyu smiled softly, gazing at the lotus leaves outside the window, and murmured:
"His suffering is self-inflicted. When studying the classics, one must concentrate. If he hadn't spent his days mingling with those kinds of people, how could he have been questioned by the authorities? If he had truly caused some catastrophic disaster, not only would he be implicated, but the entire Jia family would have been dragged down as well."
As soon as she said this, the warm pavilion fell silent. The sisters all knew that she was telling the truth, but they also understood her worries. Xiangyun wanted to say a few words of comfort, but she didn't know where to start, so she could only sit down dejectedly.
At this moment, the bamboo curtain in the inner hall swayed gently, and Zhou Rui's wife, who was beside Lady Wang, quietly came out. Seeing Baochai sitting there, she stepped forward and whispered:
"Miss Bao, the old lady wants you to come over."
Xue Baochai nodded, stood up and said to Daiyu:
"Sister, rest here. I'll be right back."
She then instructed Sanchun and Xiangyun to take good care of Daiyu before following Zhou Rui's wife to the back hall.
Passing through the winding corridors and around a blooming hibiscus, we arrived at the main room where Grandmother Jia usually rested for the afternoon. Just as we reached the door, we heard Grandmother Jia's slightly tired voice coming from inside:
“Those vassal kings are all cunning and shrewd. They came to the capital under the guise of celebrating the Emperor Emeritus's birthday, but in reality, they just wanted to get a share of the pie in the court.”
Madam Wang's voice followed immediately:
"What the old lady said is true. The day before yesterday, Prince Zhongshun sent someone to deliver gifts, and he specifically mentioned Baoyu's matter. His words implied an inquiry, saying that someone was leading the troublemakers at Qinglian Academy."
Madam Xing sat there without making any other move, and then said:
“It’s not just Prince Zhongshun. In the past few days, quite a few old relatives and nobles have come. I think they have ulterior motives.”
Baochai tiptoed in and, lifting the curtain, saw Grandmother Jia reclining on her cushioned throne, a string of sandalwood prayer beads in her hand. Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Aunt Xue, and Second Mistress sat nearby, their expressions varied. Seeing Baochai enter, Grandmother Jia beckoned her to sit beside her and said softly:
"You've come at the right time. Listen to these troubles."
Baochai smiled and greeted Grandmother Jia and the other elders, speaking softly:
"Don't worry, old lady. I heard that the manor has already prepared congratulatory gifts for the birthday banquet tomorrow. Just wait for them. No matter how much trouble those princes cause, they won't dare to make a fuss at this time."
Grandmother Jia sighed, glancing at Baochai with surprise and a touch of regret. If only Marquis Luoyun had acted quickly, it would have been better to leave her with Baoyu.
“You’re such a carefree child, but things in the capital are getting more and more urgent every day. Even though we’re just women in the inner quarters, we should know what’s going on.”
She turned the prayer beads, her voice lowering.
"I understand. When you go to the palace to offer sacrifices, you can go with your mother to the empresses' quarters."
Aunt Xue was overjoyed to see her daughter, but she disliked these trivial matters.
"Grandma, look at what you're saying. This is all thanks to you. But will the birthday gifts at the banquet still be given according to custom?"
After all, the Xue family had lost its head and its ancestors' official titles, so how should they send them off? They couldn't help but worry.
Even Wang Xifeng couldn't help but worry, thinking about what had happened a few days ago, and still managed to bring it up;
“The other day, Chief Eunuch Xia from the palace sent someone to deliver a message, saying that the Emperor Emeritus has been in poor health lately, and that everyone should prepare birthday gifts carefully to avoid any mistakes. I think there must be something going on behind this.”
Grandmother Jia frowned, ignoring Feng's words, and instead asked Baochai:
"Although your brother doesn't hold a substantive post, he did acquire a fifth-rank official position through donation. Therefore, sending him off according to the regulations for a fifth-rank official wouldn't be considered overstepping the bounds."
After thinking about it, with the Marquis's mansion looking out for them, it wouldn't matter whether they sent more or less. It's just that the Xue family doesn't have anyone who can take on a major role.
"Yes, I'll listen to the old lady."
Xue Baochai nodded, that was all she could do. It would be good if her brother could find a job in the Beijing garrison, but when she thought of the unrest in southern Beijing, she immediately dismissed the idea.
Perhaps feeling the same way, Grandmother Jia remained silent for a long while. The speed at which the prayer beads spun gradually increased. The main room was quiet, with only the tireless chirping of cicadas outside the window, making the discussions deep within the inner quarters all the more heavy.
"Alright, let's just follow the usual etiquette. Feng girl, is the congratulatory gift prepared at the manor?"
"Replying to the old lady, the birthday banquet gifts from the palace, the congratulatory gifts from the harem, and some loose silver have all been prepared. Even the congratulatory memorials have all been prepared in advance by the second master."
"That's good. The things delivered tonight will stay with me. Have someone watch over them overnight, and make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Yes, old lady."
After Wang Xifeng responded, Grandmother Jia finally spoke, her voice tinged with helplessness, as she looked at Madam Wang.
"How is Baoyu doing after he came back? Is he doing any better now?"
Madam Wang quickly replied:
"After returning, she washed up and changed her clothes, but she seemed a bit quiet. She just went to Lotus Fragrance Pavilion, probably to talk to her sisters."
Grandmother Jia nodded:
"Let him rest. The Imperial Academy has granted him a day off. He should stay at home."
Then he addressed the crowd,
"The rest of you should keep a low profile at home. We need to prepare our gifts tomorrow and go to the palace to pay our respects to the Empress."
Everyone agreed, and after exchanging some casual conversation, Grandmother Jia became a little tired. Lady Wang then arranged for the old lady to rest, and the group gradually dispersed.
When Baochai came out of the main room, she saw that the afternoon sun was gradually setting in the west. The golden sunlight filtered through the dense branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick ground. Remembering that Daiyu was still waiting for her at the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion, she quickened her pace and walked back. When she passed the Qinfang Gate, she saw Daiyu had already come out and was standing alone on the stone by the water, gazing at the gurgling water in a daze. Several maids followed not far behind her.
After hesitating for a moment, I still went over.
"Why did Lin Daiyu come out? Is it stuffy inside?"
Daiyu looked up and saw it was Baochai, and nodded slightly.
"Did my sister come back from the old lady's?"
"Yes, the old lady said a few words. Tomorrow we will go to the palace to offer our congratulations and pay our respects to the Empress. She also mentioned some palace rules."
Baochai slowly approached, making no attempt to hide anything. Upon hearing more mundane matters, Daiyu lost interest in asking any further questions.
"This is a big deal. I wonder how lively it will be tomorrow."
Baochai gently echoed her words;
"My sister knows the rules best. Today, she should rest early, in case the Marquis returns."
Composing herself and remaining silent for a moment, Xue Baochai realized that her words were inappropriate. She knew that the Marquis had been too busy these days to have time to come here.
"He comes when he has time, and when he doesn't, he sends a message through someone. Fortunately, it's not far away, and Qingwen has gone back a few times. Right now, my husband is busy with various matters and can't be distracted, so perhaps we'll see him tomorrow."
Daiyu smiled, touched the jade and gold hairpin in her hair, and looked back. In the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion, Sanchun and Xiangyun were nowhere to be seen. Only Yuanyang was tidying up the tea set on the table.
"Miss Lin is so open-minded. Several restaurants in the south of the city have already opened. If you have time, you can go and take a look."
"We'll see. I'll need my sister to come and remind me tomorrow."
The water droplets on the lotus leaves in the pond shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, and the calls of birds returning home at dusk drifted from afar. Everything seemed the same as usual, yet something seemed different.
“That’s easy to arrange. I’ll come earlier tomorrow morning. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have Qingwen make the trip again.”
Xue Baochai smiled. Now everyone in the manor knows that Qingwen is Lin Daiyu's attendant.
Under the bright sunshine and rising heat, the maids lowered the curtains one by one to block out the heat, enveloping the entire Lotus Fragrance Pavilion in a hazy light and shadow. As a gentle breeze blew by, the two women parted ways there and returned to their respective courtyards, leaving behind a garden full of fragrance.
(End of this chapter)