Red Chamber 25

The Xue family had left, but the matter with the Mei family wasn't over.

Sure enough, the next day, Hanlin Mei was impeached by a censor.

Hanlin Mei's previous post had been stripped from him. He was still being sent away, only this time he was transferred to a remote county to serve as its magistrate.

All the families who had previously considered a match with Madam Mei's son now avoided her.

When Madam Mei had spoken to them about her children's marriages, she hadn't mentioned that her son was already engaged.

Those families' mistresses had only known that Young Master Mei was young and promising. Before reaching twenty, he had already earned the title of licentiate—a man with great potential.

Who would have guessed that he was not only engaged, but already had a son born to a concubine?

The Mei family had actually been looking for another wife for their engaged son. Did they think the woman he was promised to was already dead?

With such a questionable character, how could they feel comfortable marrying their own daughters to him?

Young Master Mei's reputation was ruined. He could forget about marrying a good wife for the rest of his life.

His concubine was delighted, thinking that since Young Master Mei couldn't marry anyone else, she might rise to become his principal wife.

But she didn't know that Master Mei and Madam Mei both loathed her, believing that she had seduced Young Master Mei and given birth to his eldest son by a concubine, ruining his reputation in the process.

Madam Mei had once favored this niece of hers, but now she hated her just as much.

Madam Mei turned all the methods she had originally planned to use to torment Xue Baoqin on the concubine instead, making her suffer so much that she became unrecognizable in a short time.

However, the concubine wasn't a pushover either.

As Madam Mei's own niece, she shared the same nature: they were both wicked.

When Madam Mei tormented her, the concubine secretly retaliated.

The concubine acted faster. In the end, Madam Mei died from the poison she had administered.

The concubine emerged victorious.

But she couldn't enjoy her triumph for long.

Madam Mei had tormented her until she was gaunt and old, and her beauty was gone. How could Young Master Mei still like her?

After Young Master Mei married his principal wife, he cast the concubine aside and left her to fend for herself.

In the end, the concubine froze to death on a bitterly cold winter day.

Young Master Mei couldn't marry a wife of noble birth. In the end, he married a merchant's daughter, whose generous dowry could provide him with a comfortable life.

But the merchant's daughter was of even lower status than Xue Baoqin.

After all, Xue Baoqin was descended from a Purple Tenuity Academician.

Back in the capital.

Liu Zhong told Jia Hu that their family wanted Liu Xianglian to marry Xue Baoqin.

Jia Hu was happy to play matchmaker. After discussing it with Princess, the couple held a flower-viewing party. Jia Hu invited a group of young men, while Princess invited young ladies, and they all gathered at the Princess Mansion to enjoy the flowers and have fun.

The young ladies of Rongguo Mansion didn't know what Princess had in mind, and happily came along. They also brought Xue Baoqin, who was in low spirits after breaking off her engagement, so she could have some fun and cheer up.

Xue Baoqin couldn't bear to disappoint her sisters' kindness, so she rallied herself and went to the Princess Mansion.

She admired the flowers and composed poems with her sisters, and felt much better.

Leaving her sisters behind, she walked through the garden with her personal maid, letting her thoughts drift away on the breeze.

Suddenly, a man stepped out from behind a large tree ahead.

He and Xue Baoqin met each other's eyes, and both were startled.

The man hurriedly apologized for disturbing her, then turned and strode away.

Xue Baoqin watched him disappear into the distance, standing dazed for a long while.

What a handsome and dashing young man!

Meanwhile, the man who had turned away—Liu Xianglian—was also thinking about the young lady he had just encountered.

With one glance, he had taken in her entire appearance.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, more so than any woman he had ever seen.

His sister-in-law, Jia Yuanchun, was a beauty, but she couldn't compare to the young lady he had just seen.

The young lady combined beauty and innocence, drawing the eye at once and leaving an unforgettable impression.

He had to find his elder brother and ask him to have his sister-in-law find out who she was.

If the young lady wasn't engaged, he would have his mother go to her home and propose at once.

He didn't know that two people were watching from the second floor in the distance, taking in the entire scene between him and Xue Baoqin.

Jia Hu said, "Second Brother has fallen for her."

Liu Zhong said, "The second Xue girl is beautiful. Of course he'd fall for her. That's good. I can go home and report back to Mother, too."

Jia Hu laughed. "Don't forget to give me a big red envelope!"

Liu Zhong smiled. "I won't forget."

Liu Xianglian searched everywhere for his elder brother but couldn't find him, growing so anxious that he scratched his head.

It wasn't until he left the Princess Mansion and returned home that he finally saw Liu Zhong and Jia Yuanchun.

Liu Xianglian hurried over and called out, "Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, help me find out about someone."

Jia Yuanchun burst out laughing.

Liu Xianglian was puzzled by her laughter and asked, "Sister-in-law, what are you laughing at?"

Jia Yuanchun said, "Nothing."

Liu Xianglian: "??"

He didn't have much patience, so he quickly set his confusion aside and said, "Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, help me find out about someone."

Liu Zhong pretended not to know and asked, "Who?"

A blush spread across Liu Xianglian's face. "A young lady."

He described Xue Baoqin's appearance and clothing.

Liu Zhong and Jia Yuanchun exchanged amused smiles.

Jia Yuanchun pretended to think it over and said, "The person you met must have been the second young lady of the Xue family."

"The second young lady of the Xue family?" Liu Xianglian asked in surprise. "The one who broke off her engagement with the Mei Hanlin family?"

Jia Yuanchun nodded.

Liu Xianglian snorted. "The Mei family has no taste. They mistook a jewel inlaid with gold for a mere pebble. Serves them right that they can't marry such a fine young lady."

Liu Zhong teased him. "So you have good taste, then? You want to marry the second Xue girl?"

Liu Xianglian didn't beat around the bush. He cupped his hands and said, "I ask my elder brother and sister-in-law to help."

Liu Zhong said, "All right. Go back and wait for good news. You'll get what you want."

Liu Xianglian was overjoyed. He gave his elder brother and sister-in-law a deep bow of thanks, then bounded away.

Liu Zhong and Jia Yuanchun both laughed after he left.

They changed into their home clothes and went together to Mother Liu's courtyard.

Mother Liu had been waiting for them. Seeing them, she asked, "Well?"

Liu Zhong smiled. "It was love at first sight. Mother can ask a matchmaker to visit the Xue family and propose."

Mother Liu was delighted. "I'll have someone find a matchmaker tomorrow. Your brother should be getting married by now. Lian the Second, who's close to him, is already the father of two. But your brother keeps thinking about marrying a peerless beauty, and that's why he's still unmarried."

Jia Yuanchun smiled. "It's not too late. Perhaps his match was destined to be the second Xue girl, and that's why he had to wait until now."

Mother Liu said, "Then it really is a marriage fated by heaven?"

Jia Yuanchun said, "It is."

The next day, Mother Liu found the best matchmaker in the capital and asked her to visit the Xue family with a proposal.

The Xue family took the matchmaker's visit very seriously.

They all hoped Xue Baoqin would marry into a good family.

Among the family, Xue Ke had received a hint from Jia Hu and felt confident. Everyone else was anxiously wondering who the prospective groom might be.