Xue's Predicament

When Xue Baoqin entered, she was clearly carrying a grudge.

One could tell from how high she had flung up the heavy cotton curtain.

But the moment she spotted Sun Shaozong inside, her momentum faltered, and she instinctively tried to put on a pleasant expression.

Yet unlike Sun Shaozong, who had spent years honing himself in officialdom, she could not simply hide her true feelings whenever she wished.

Fortunately, just as she found herself in an awkward bind, Xue Ke arrived behind her and urged her in surprise, "Either go in or wait outside. What are you doing blocking the doorway?"

At last, Xue Baoqin entered the room, bent to offer a Wanfu Greeting, and said crisply, "Baoqin greets Aunt, Second Brother Sun, and Brother Bao."

The different forms of address alone revealed how close they were to one another.

Strictly speaking, Sun Shaozong had lived under the same roof as her for nearly as long as Baoyu had.

But there was still a distinction between men and women. He could hardly compare to Jia Baoyu, who habitually mingled among the ladies and styled himself their friend.

And when Xue Ke heard the words "Second Brother Sun," he finally understood why his sister had stopped short at the door.

He hurried in as well to pay his respects, then deliberately raised a thumb. "These past few days, Second Brother's name has resounded through the capital once again. Even I feel honored just hearing it."

In truth, nearly half of the commotion this time had been secretly stirred up by Sun Shaozong himself.

But there was no need to explain that to Xue Ke. Smiling, he said, "I merely took the ruler's pay and did the ruler's work. What is there to talk about? Still, you came at just the right