During the nearly two months that Daiyu and Jia Lian's party had spent traveling by boat to Yangzhou, all sorts of things, both big and small, had happened in Rongguo Mansion. For example, Qin Keqing had died suddenly after falling gravely ill, followed by a grand funeral procession. Wang Xifeng had also taken charge of Ning and Rong Mansions, while Yuanchun had been selected to serve in the Phoenix Palace. Rumor had it that she would soon return to Rongguo Mansion to visit her family.
But no matter what happened in Ning and Rong Mansions or elsewhere, none of it could possibly affect Baoyu, who was as carefree as ever, playing and making merry among the pretty young women in his own household!
See?
Early that morning, with nothing better to do, Jia Baoyu had once again wandered into Baochai's bedroom in Pear Fragrance Court. Without the slightest embarrassment, he sidled right up to her and kept twitching his nose, as though sniffing at something.
"??"
"Baoyu, what are you doing?"
Baochai had already felt that it was somewhat improper to let him wander into her bedroom whenever he pleased. Seeing him act so familiarly, she couldn't help edging a little farther away.
After all, she was two or three years older than Baoyu and naturally understood that men and women should keep some distance. She wasn't like the girls who had grown up in Rongguo Mansion, and she didn't dare act so casually with a man like him.
"..."
"Elder Sister Bao, you're really something. What rare powder or fragrant balm are you wearing?"
The cool, delicate scent wafting from her, the full, smooth skin of her neck, the snowy arm revealed by her gauzy sleeve, her round face, almond-shaped eyes, naturally rosy lips, and willow-shaped brows untouched by