"What are you braying about everywhere? Fluttering around like a headless chicken, completely unfit for high society!"
On the way to the Grand View Garden, a brightly dressed, plump, and exceedingly beautiful young married woman caught up to Concubine Zhao and gave her a thorough scolding.
"Sister Feng, I don't know how to read, so do you mind taking a look at what this document says, and also whether this is official silver?"
Concubine Zhao feigned curiosity, spreading her left palm open while pinching the document with her right hand.
"A reward from the court for Brother Huan?" Wang Xifeng glanced at the sycee, then examined the document closely. This inspection filled her with profound astonishment.
Noticing Ping'er's-wait, Wang Xifeng's expression, Concubine Zhao lifted her chin.
"This Huan'er brat is truly good for nothing. Looks like he's gone and stirred up trouble for me again."
"Just look at that smug, wretched expression of yours!" Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes at her, biting her rosy lips as she praised:
"Promoted on his second day on the job! He used to be shameless and a total coward, but now that he's turned over a new leaf, even I, as his sister-in-law, feel proud."
"Huan'er has capability now, so he'll surely remember Sister Feng's kindness in the future," Concubine Zhao said softly.
She was hardly a fool; Brother Huan must have borrowed the money from Sister Feng to purchase his position in the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the first place.
"Who do you think you're looking down on? Does your old mistress need to rely on the younger generation?" Wang Xifeng huffed.
"I've no time to chat with you, I'm going for a stroll." Anxious and flustered, Concubine Zhao hurried toward the Grand View Garden. "Caiyun, you dead girl, tagging along behind like a block of wood! Shout about how heroic Brother Huan was!"
Watching them walk away, Ping'er whispered:
"Young Mistress, Brother Huan is truly ambitious."
"Indeed he is." Wang Xifeng wore a smile, sighing with emotion:
"His previous cowardice used to make my blood boil. He had no backbone whatsoever, letting anyone bully him with impunity. But look at his guts now-he can finally stand on his own two feet."
"Oh right, hurry back to your room and fetch fifty taels of silver. Brother Huan's promotion calls for social obligations and greasing palms up and down. Every bit of it takes silver. In the past, giving him a single string of cash used to pain me to no end, but today I'm unusually happy to part with it."
Inside the Grand View Garden, within a courtyard blooming with flowers.
"Get lost! Stay twenty steps away from me and go play with the other younger sisters. The mere sight of you makes me sick!"
A frail and delicate young maiden stood by the balustrade. Her skin was dazzlingly white and her face so tender it seemed water could be pinched from it, save for a pair of eyes that, despite holding a smile, carried an unspeakable sorrow.
"Sister Lin, won't you just give me the time of day!" The speaker wore a purple-gold crown, a golden headband across his brows, and possessed a face round as a piece of jade-none other than Jia Baoyu, who was darling to everyone in Rongguo Mansion.
Not far away, Tanchun caught sight of the familiar figure before the courtyard, put down her brush and ink, and demanded:
"Concubine Zhao, what are you here for!"
Concubine Zhao ignored her. Upon seeing that there were only a dozen or so people in the courtyard, she felt somewhat deflated, yet still sighed and lamented:
"Huan'er is unruly, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are preparing to discipline him. Who would have thought he'd get promoted on his very second day on the job? My heart is in such a fret, won't somebody come comfort me."
Hearing this, the beauties were surprised and walked one after another toward Concubine Zhao, instantly filling the air with fragrance.
They had heard yesterday that Brother Huan was working in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but they had assumed he was merely seeking a superficial title to put on airs. How on earth had he gotten promoted?
"Caiyun, come tell everyone about this mischievous fellow!" Concubine Zhao put on a stern face.
Caiyun gave a cough and vividly recounted the scene at the apothecary.
"Young mistresses wouldn't know, but that bald donkey was vicious and ruthless. He was the one who took the life of a newborn baby-scarcely a full month old-belonging to a newly minted imperial scholar..."
Caiyun opened her mouth wide, so frightening Lin Daiyu that she turned pale and shrank into the embrace of her maid Zijuan.
"At that time, that bald donkey started hacking at everyone he saw, scaring pedestrians until their legs turned to jelly and they collapsed on the ground. The Embroidered Uniform Guard were trailing far behind; if no one had stopped the bald donkey, goodness knows how many people he would have injured before escaping! Right at that critical juncture, my master stepped forward!"
Caiyun was flushed with excitement and brimming with pride.
"Lies!" Jia Baoyu refused to believe it. "Stop trying to bamboozle the younger sisters. Everyone knows what kind of character Huan is."
"Caiyun, pay him no mind!" Concubine Zhao said with disdain.
"My master chased him into the alley without even looking back. It was the epitome of decisiveness..."
Caiyun spoke in a gentle, measured tone. The beauties listened with breathless suspense, and even Li Wan, who was usually indifferent to everything, became completely engrossed.
"Absurd! Stop making up stories. You're pinning someone else's bravery onto Jia Huan-you rotten, vile slave-girl!"
Jia Baoyu's face clouded with displeasure. For the first time in his life, his sisters' attention had been captured by Jia Huan, leaving him deeply unsettled.
"Hmph, spineless Baoyu, open your eyes and look!"
Concubine Zhao stomped over and unfolded the document for him to see.
Jia Baoyu reached out to take it.
"Just look, don't touch!" Concubine Zhao stepped back. She knew how to weigh the importance of things; if he tore the document, it would affect Huan'er's assumption of office.
"It really is true. One must look at a scholar with new eyes after three days apart," the dignified and graceful Li Wan was the first to speak.
"Brother Huan truly captured the bald donkey alive and rid the people of a menace?" Lin Daiyu widened her eyes, her gaze harboring a look of deep admiration.
"Of course! Huan'er is brave and fierce, unlike certain people who spend all day slapping on face powder, can't manage to read a few books, and lack the strength in their hands to carry a bucket of water!"
"Tomorrow, Huan'er has to start managing people. He'll be in charge of six Embroidered Uniform Guard Strongmen all at once. Just look at him—he's only seventeen, and who knows if those men will submit to him."
"Alright, you lot stay and enjoy yourselves, I'm going to wander over to Ningguo Mansion next door."
Swaying her hips, Concubine Zhao grabbed Caiyun and departed in a flurry.
Tanchun wore a cold expression, her thoughts unreadable.
The document bore an official stamp, so it was definitely true.
A lucky brash fool was still destined to never amount to much! A truly ambitious man always entered officialdom through the imperial examinations.
"Bah! Even a nobody of an Embroidered Uniform Guard Banner Captain is something to brag about. That girl Caiyun must have exaggerated. Jia Huan doesn't even have as much strength as I do."
Jia Baoyu stepped forward. Seeing Sister Lin gaze at him with eyes full of reverence, his expression turned green with jealousy, and he grew so angry he was ready to smash his jade.
No sooner had they seen off Miss Ping'er than another guest arrived at the courtyard.
The woman appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, plump and rounded, with arched brows and captivating eyes. She possessed a visage fit for bringing peace to the country and the people-a veritable earthly flower of wealth and nobility-while her poise and figure were exceptionally striking, without a single flaw to be found.
"Miss Baochai." Jia Huan invited her to be seated.
"Brother Huan, you've completely changed."
Xue Baochai looked him over, her gaze confident and her bearing at ease. He stood as straight as a sharp sword, completely devoid of his former timidity.
"I heard you single-handedly captured the baby-eating bald donkey alive and got promoted on your very first day on the job. I've come specifically to offer my congratulations."
Xue Baochai spoke in a soft, unhurried voice that flowed like a stream gently into people's hearts.
She drew two ingots of silver from her sachet and placed them lightly on the table:
"Brother Huan, as a Banner Captain you certainly cannot be stingy; you need to maintain social ties with your colleagues."
"Take it back." Jia Huan had no wish to accept her personal money. Xue Baochai was living as a guest in the Jia household, and she needed money everywhere she turned.
Yet Miss Baochai was indeed smooth in her dealings and well-versed in social etiquette.
"Does Brother Huan think it's too little?" Xue Baochai feigned annoyance, picking up the silver ingots and shoving them into his hand.
Jia Huan pushed them away. As the two of them went back and forth, his hand accidentally brushed against her soft, delicate palm. Xue Baochai quickly retracted her hand, smoothed back her hair, and cast a slightly unnatural gaze.
"If Brother Huan won't accept it, it means you look down on me."
"Then I must accept it without modesty." Looking at this stunning and gentle face, Jia Huan had no choice but to take them.
"I'll be leaving then." Xue Baochai smiled faintly at the corners of her lips, offered a slight bow, and gracefully departed.
Before you continue