Jia Zheng was left speechless by Grandmother Jia's string of pointed analysis. Shame and panic welled up within him.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but felt that any words at this moment would seem far too feeble. In the end, he could only lower his head submissively, not daring to argue further.
After a long while, he finally raised his head resentfully and sighed bitterly:
"How could your son not know these things?"
"How could I not have toiled day and night, worrying over the family's future?"
As he spoke, he looked up at Grandmother Jia, his face full of helplessness and self-mockery.
"But..."
"But that wretched Baoyu—you must know full well what he is like. He... if only he had been a little more diligent, a little more promising, then Daiyu, she..."
"She wouldn't have been scared away!"
"What kind of situation is this?"
"Cough—"
Shaking his head and sighing once more, he staggered back into his seat.
Grandmother Jia naturally felt anger, sorrow, and resentment, but she also knew it was the truth. So she simply turned her head away and said nothing.
How could she not know that her precious grandson was good for nothing?
Baoyu had been raised by her own hand. He had been born with jade in his mouth and was indeed exceptionally clever, yet he refused to study, had no interest in cultivation or an official career, and did not apply himself to any other proper pursuit. All day long, he merely idled away his time among the women's quarters, spouting madness like, "Girls are made of water."
How could such a grandson be worthy of her granddaughter, who was now renowned throughout the Divine Capital as one of the Four Champions of the Immortal Examinations?
She truly understood