Red Chamber 21

Jia Rong and Jia Qiang traveled back to Jinling together.

Upon learning that Jia Zhen was not long for this world, Jia Rong felt no sorrow in his heart; instead, he felt joy.

That man deserved it!

Liu Jiaying was no longer surprised when she learned that Jia Rong and Jia Qiang had returned to Jinling to settle down.

In any case, this world had already been butterfly-effected into something far different from the original Red Chamber, so a few more changes here or there were nothing to be surprised about.

Liu Jiaying was pretty and had a sweet tongue, making her very well-liked by Lady Jia Shi and Wang.

Lady Jia Shi spoke up to keep Liu Jiaying at Rongguo Mansion, and since Liu Jiaying also wanted to spend more time with the young ladies of the Red Chamber, she acted spoiled and asked Jia Yuanchun to let her stay.

Liu Jiaying lived with Yingchun and was looked after by her.

The three sisters lived in the same courtyard.

It was a courtyard the princess had ordered to be cleared out specifically for the three young ladies to reside in.

The courtyard was quite large, with plenty of living space and rooms, comparable to Lixiang Courtyard.

Since Daguanyuan had not been built in Rongguo Mansion, the three unmarried young ladies did not have the luxury of having a courtyard to themselves.

Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun also had their own dedicated rooms in this courtyard.

Now that the two of them had also been brought to Rongguo Mansion, the girls gathered together, happily playing and studying every day.

Zhang had hired a tutor for the girls.

Although the tutor was a woman, her talent was no less than that of any man, and she taught the girls literature, poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Liu Jiaying studied along with them, feeling utterly miserable.

She was a science student, not a liberal arts student.

She truly could not understand the Four Books and Five Classics or the poetry and prose!

After finishing her studies, Liu Jiaying felt like her soul was leaving her body as she followed the group of girls to Rongqing Hall to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia; they all ate their lunch at Rongqing Hall, keeping Grandmother Jia company.

Grandmother Jia loved a lively atmosphere, and if these girls didn't show up, she would send someone to call them over.

Wang was at Rongqing Hall keeping Grandmother Jia company, while Zhang was absent, busy handling the affairs of Rongguo Mansion in her own courtyard.

Wang Xifeng, however, was present in Rongqing Hall.

Wang Xifeng had a clever tongue, and Grandmother Jia liked her, often calling her to her side to provide amusement.

When the girls arrived at Rongqing Hall, the place became even livelier.

Wang Xifeng pulled Liu Jiaying over, and the two of them performed a "duet," making everyone burst into laughter.

Lady Wang beckoned, calling her granddaughter to her side, and handed a teacup to Liu Jiaying.

"This is sweet water made with rose dew; hurry and moisten your throat. It's hard on you, little girl, to be able to keep up with Feng's chatter."

"Thank you, Grandmother."

Liu Jiaying thanked Wang sweetly.

Wang was truly good to her own kin.

Liu Jiaying had originally held a poor impression of Wang due to the influence of fan fiction, but after more contact, Liu Jiaying had genuinely come to regard Wang as her own grandmother.

Wang Xifeng put on a jealous act: "Aunt only dotes on her granddaughter and doesn't love me, her niece, anymore. Sigh, my heart is so hurt."

Her exaggerated movements and tone made everyone laugh again.

Lady Jia Shi beckoned to Wang Xifeng: "Come here, Feng, if your aunt doesn't love you, I will."

"Old Ancestor is the best." Wang Xifeng ran to Lady Jia Shi's side, hugging her arm and shaking it coquettishly.

At this moment, Ping'er walked in from outside and couldn't help but pause when she saw this scene.

Ping'er was dressed as a married woman now, but she was not a concubine or a maid to Jia Lian.

Jia Lian had been raised by his own mother and older brother, so he was not the little lecher who liked to steal other men's wives as depicted in the original work.

Other than Wang Xifeng, he had not taken any concubines or bed-warmers.

Ping'er had married a steward from Wang Xifeng's dowry, and after marriage, she continued to serve by Wang Xifeng's side.

Wang Xifeng let go of her hand and asked Ping'er: "Why have you come?"

Ping'er replied: "Granny Liu is here."

Lady Jia Shi heard it was someone she wasn't familiar with, but assumed it must be an elderly person, so she asked: "Who is Granny Liu?"

Wang Xifeng hurriedly replied: "She is a relative of the Wang Family, an old woman from the countryside."

She then explained the origins of Granny Liu to everyone: "Granny Liu's son-in-law is surnamed Wang; his ancestors were officials, and they shared a clan connection with our Wang Family, so they count as our relatives. Last year, their family had a bad harvest, so Granny Liu brought her grandson to Rongguo Mansion to find me. I gave them some silver and sent them on their way. I don't know why they have come again this time? Perhaps the money ran out, and they are here to beg for favors again."

Ping'er hurriedly said: "This time it is not to beg for favors. She said the harvest was good, so she specifically prepared many local specialties from the countryside to come and thank you, Madam."

Lady Jia Shi praised upon hearing this: "That is a person who knows how to repay kindness."

She said: "I was just thinking of talking to an old, experienced person, and here is a heaven-sent opportunity. Invite her in to see me."

Ping'er acknowledged the order and left Rongqing Hall to find Granny Liu.

Liu Jiaying looked toward the courtyard of Rongqing Hall with anticipation.

She never expected that she would actually be able to see Granny Liu today!

She held a great deal of affection for this wise old woman.

After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Ping'er led an old woman dressed in plain cloth and a child of five or six years old into Rongqing Hall.

Liu Jiaying looked over carefully; the old woman's face was full of wrinkles, but her eyes were bright and spirited, not at all clouded.

Those wrinkles held the weight of life's hardships and wisdom.

This image matched Liu Jiaying's imagination perfectly.

The events that followed were much like those in the original Red Chamber.

The only difference was that there was no Daguanyuan, so the group did not play there, instead holding only one banquet within the Rongguo Mansion.

When Granny Liu left the next day, Liu Jiaying had her maid give her two taels of silver.

This was money she had saved from her New Year's gifts.

Because of Granny Liu's arrival, Liu Jiaying was reminded of Miaoyu.

Since the Rongguo Mansion had not built the Daguanyuan and had not invited Miaoyu, where could she be?

Was she still in Gusu?

Liu Jiaying inquired with Jiqiu, asking if she knew of a nun named Miaoyu.

Jiqiu nodded: "I know her. The Family Visit Garden built by the Duke of Qi's mansion invited a nun, and her name is indeed Miaoyu."

Liu Jiaying: "..."

When the Duke of Qi's mansion is eventually raided, she would just have to hire someone to escort Miaoyu and her group back to Gusu; she must not let her fall into the hands of bandits.

Of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, this was perhaps the only one she could actually help, right?

Life in the Rongguo Mansion was peaceful and happy, and in the blink of an eye, Yingchun's marriage was settled.

Her future husband was from a branch of Zhang's maternal family, a young man with considerable talent.

After the Retired Emperor passed away, the Emperor summoned the Zhang family to the capital and began to rely on them heavily.

The members of the Zhang family were all talented, and even those from the branch families were quite capable.

Yingchun's husband was one of the more capable members of the younger generation of the Zhang family, and he was highly regarded by Zhang's own eldest brother.

This marriage had been arranged by Zhang's eldest brother himself.

Yingchun was now at home preparing her bridal trousseau, laughing and joking with her sisters about the wedding, a smile curving her lips and her eyes filled with longing for the future.

This was completely different from the "wooden block" she was in the original work.

Liu Jiaying said to Yingchun: "Second Sister, you will definitely be happy."