The Red Mansion.

Chapter 24 Baochai Becomes a Concubine
Aunt Xue also had a bad feeling and felt that Jiang Nian might ask for a reward related to Xue Baochai.

At the same time, Aunt Xue also felt that Mr. Jiang was still overbearing. Jiang Nian had shown great kindness to the Xue family today, and she had originally planned to reward him generously, but Jiang Nian actually took the initiative to ask for something in return.

What could Aunt Xue do? She could only say awkwardly, "Mr. Jiang is absolutely right. Our Xue family should repay you."

Fearing that Jiang Nian would make an embarrassing request, Aunt Xue hurriedly said, "I'd like to offer you ten thousand taels of silver. I hope Master Jiang won't despise it."

Jiang Nian shook his head lightly, his expression indifferent: "I am not short of money at the moment. Besides, ten thousand taels of silver is not enough to repay my great kindness to the Xue family."

Aunt Xue: "..."

I was speechless for a moment, and felt increasingly uneasy.

Jiang Nian's gaze turned to Xue Baochai. Xue Baochai's heart trembled, and she lowered her head in a hurry, her heartbeat quickening.

But he is afraid of what will happen.

As expected, Jiang Nian opened his mouth and said, "When I first saw Miss Xue on the Qinhuai River that day, I said that I was very fond of her and fell in love with her at first sight. This was not a joke. Today, your Xue family and I have met here, and I saved your family from the bandits. I think this is heaven's will, indicating that Miss Xue and I are truly destined to be together. If so, I want Miss Xue to be my maid, and when I get married in the future, I will make her my concubine. This is your family's reward for me."

His tone was calm as water, as if he was talking about a very ordinary little thing.

However, these words exploded like thunder on the deck in the rain.

Even though Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai had a premonition, they were still shocked.

He... he is so shameless that he can say such words so bluntly and calmly.

Xue Pan was the first to lose control and said anxiously, "Jiang...Brother Jiang, you have truly done a great favor to our Xue family today. Just ask for any silver you want in return. But you cannot let my sister be your maidservant, nor can she be your concubine. After all, my sister is the daughter of our Xue family!"

Aunt Xue quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, that's unacceptable! Master Jiang, just tell us how much silver you want. If ten thousand taels is too little, we can add more!"

Xue Baochai lowered her head, her originally fair cheeks flushed with shame and anger, her hands were clenched tightly, her nails dug into her palms, leaving nail marks on both palms.

Jiang Nian remained composed, his tone calm, "Don't think I'm overbearing. I'm simply asking you to pay what you deserve. Today, I saved your entire family and your entire ship's worth of belongings. For such a great favor, I'm letting Miss Xue be my maid. This is a legitimate reward, not an unreasonable demand."

Although his tone was calm, it carried an unquestionable meaning, as if he was just making a reasonable deal.

Aunt Xue saw Jiang Nian's resolute attitude and thought that at this point, she had no choice but to use her backers to pressure Jiang Nian. She deliberately sighed and said, "Even if I agree to this, Bao's uncle won't agree, and her uncle won't agree either. Her uncle is..."

Jiang Nian interrupted calmly, "I know her uncle is Wang Ziteng, the governor of the Beijing Camp, and her maternal uncle is Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Mansion. So what? I'm not afraid of them. Even if they were here today, I would still truthfully offer the due reward."

This made Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai believe that Jiang Nian had an extraordinary background. Xue Pan sighed and said, "How about this, you...you marry my sister."

He felt that the Xue family should repay Jiang Nian well this time. Since Jiang Nian didn't want money but insisted on his sister, then letting his sister marry Jiang Nian would be a way of repaying the favor. Moreover, he thought Jiang Nian was handsome, strong, and capable of being powerful. He also believed that Jiang Nian had an extraordinary background, so his sister marrying him would be a good match.

When Aunt Xue heard what Xue Pan said, she didn't think of objecting. Even Xue Baochai just lowered her head shyly and didn't get angry because of what he said. Both mother and daughter had the same idea as Xue Pan.

Moreover, even if Xue Baochai was unwilling to admit it, her affection for Jiang Nian had quietly overwhelmed her aversion.

After all, she is a girl who has not yet reached the age of marriage. Since she was old enough to understand, she has rarely met men outside the boudoir. Today is her third meeting with Jiang Nian. The last time she saw Jiang Nian in the back garden of the Jiang family, she already felt that Jiang Nian was extraordinary and heroic. Today, Jiang Nian's performance of saving the Xue family like a savior from heaven made her feel even more favorable towards him.

Jiang Nian shook his head and said, "It's impossible to marry Miss Xue. As the saying goes, my parents' orders and the matchmaker's words are final. My marriage is not my own decision."

In this era, people pay attention to the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers, especially for wealthy and noble families.

Even though he hadn't yet been recognized as a prince by Emperor Taishun, he was still his son. He wouldn't be so foolish as to think he could decide his own marriage after arriving in Beijing. Furthermore, he was confident he would be recognized as a prince, and Xue Baochai's background wasn't suitable for being the principal wife of a Daqing prince.

Jiang Nian stared at Xue Baochai again and continued in a calm tone, "Although Miss Xue comes from a noble family, it wouldn't be a disgrace to you if you became my concubine in the future."

Aunt Xue grew increasingly puzzled, wondering to herself, "Could it be that his origins are truly extraordinary? I heard earlier that no one knew who his father was. He took his mother's surname and was raised by her, who has since passed away. Why is he saying this now? Could it be... could it be that he himself knows who his father is, and that his father is some great nobleman in the capital?"

Aunt Xue was quite smart and managed to figure out the truth of the matter. However, she would never have imagined that a certain nobleman was the current Emperor of Daqing!

Aunt Xue was not in a position to ask directly about Jiang Nian's parents, so she asked tactfully, "Excuse me, what is Mr. Jiang's background?"

Jiang Nian shook his head again: "When Miss Xue becomes my maid, she will know in the future. There is no need to talk nonsense. I can't stay here for long. I am afraid that the vicious pirates will come back again. I must return to my boat as soon as possible so that I can defend myself with weapons. I only ask you, will you, the Xue family, repay this great favor today or not?"

He thought to himself, "Since I have already secretly decided to spend my life with Xue Baochai, then Xue Baochai will be my woman. Now that I have come to this world of the Red Mansion, and have an extraordinary identity and a golden finger, if I can't even win Xue Baochai's golden hairpin, how can I fight for that supreme position..."

The atmosphere made Aunt Xue, Xue Pan and Xue Baochai feel suffocated.

The drizzling rain seemed to have stopped.

It seemed as if even the rain was waiting for the end of this deadlock...

I kowtow to everyone and ask for your monthly vote!

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(End of this chapter)