Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Winter goes and spring comes, summer comes and autumn comes, and a year passes in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to Li Wan's efforts, in the end, only four people knew about the words "the monster that replaced the core" and it was not spread out.

After learning that her son was "persuaded to study" by Lin Daiyu, although Mrs. Wang was even more angry, she had to pretend to have suddenly realized something. Not only did she humble herself in front of Lady Jia and admitted her mistake, she also personally mediated and arranged the daily expenses of Lixiangyuan, thus securing her power to continue to manage the household expenses.

As for Jia Lian, he managed to hide behind Wang Xifeng for half a year. When Jia Min was released from mourning, he respectfully presented his own handwritten ten volumes of "The Sutra of the Original Vow of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva". Grandmother Jia was overjoyed and encouraged him in public to "correct mistakes as soon as they are known, which is the greatest good". Only then was he freed from the shackles and walked outside again, continuing to be his second master Lian.

Except for wearing mourning clothes for a while, everything seemed to be normal at home.

Only Baoyu is different.

He cried for three or four days, then was sick for seven or eight days, then locked himself in the room for ten days, and finally went to the ancestral temple and lived there for half a month.

Jia's mother and Mrs. Wang were terrified and sent people to the temple to cry. Jia's mother even sent Yuanyang to ask Lin Daiyu to persuade Baoyu to go home.

Before Daiyu could say anything, Qingwen said, "Second Master said that monks are all smelly. How can he endure this forever? He will definitely come back."

Yuanyang was immediately relieved and left with a smile.

Sure enough, half a month later, Baoyu came back pinching his nose. However, he started to eat vegetarian food and read scriptures again. Jia Mu sent Yuanyang again.

Lin Daiyu was annoyed and ordered Yuanyang to tell Jia's mother: "If he loves to practice Buddhism so much, send him to live with his uncle Jingda in the East Palace for a few days."

Although Jia Zhen is the head of Ningguo Mansion, his father Jia Jing is still alive. He is just devoted to practicing Taoism and refining mercury in order to become an immortal, so he lives in a Taoist temple outside the city.

How could Grandmother Jia be willing to send Baoyu out of the city? She only ordered someone to tell Baoyu this, and Baoyu immediately became normal. Although he still ate vegetarian food, he went to the family school twice, brought back many books, and studied hard under the window every day.

For Lady Jia and Lady Wang, this was a pleasant surprise. Later, Baoyu's maid Xiren secretly told him the reason:

"Second Master said that when he saw Miss Bao dealing with people the other day, although she was self-respecting, he felt sorry for her. This was all because Master Xue couldn't get ahead, so he let the sisters go out to fight.

"The same will be true for our daughter in the future. Besides, there are the old lady and the wife. If he reads a few more books now, what if they are useful in the future? Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Although it was still a little far from what she wanted, it was at least human. Mrs. Wang was so excited that she kept chanting Buddha's name.

But Grandmother Jia seemed to be thinking about something. Later, she privately called another maid of Baoyu, Sheyue, to ask her about it. Sheyue was ignorant and told the truth right away:

"…Second Master also said that if Miss Lin observes mourning and studies every day, she will surely make great progress. If he spends all his time playing, he is afraid that when the gate of Lixiang Courtyard opens again, he will not even be able to talk to Miss Lin."

After hearing this, Jia's mother sighed and asked, "Then he is a vegetarian, so I guess he is accompanying Lin girl?"

"Exactly."

If this isn’t a bad fate, what is it?

Grandmother Jia tried to persuade and test Baoyu in every possible way, but how could Baoyu change? Grandmother Jia was afraid that if she talked too much, others would see it, so she had to let him go, but privately asked Yuanyang to pay more attention to him.

As the anniversary of Lin Ruhai's death was approaching, Wang Xifeng first discussed it with Mrs. Wang, and then asked Lady Jia for advice on how to make Xiaoxiang.

Grandmother Jia waved her hand and said, "Give the rules directly to Lin girl."

Wang Xifeng had no choice but to go to Lixiangyuan, smiling broadly and saying nice things, and finally Daiyu nodded: "Let's do it!"

On the day, except for Jia Mu, Lin Ruhai's elder, who did not come, the whole family accompanied Lin Daiyu in performing the Xiaoxiang ceremony.

Lin Ruhai's death was the main reason why the Jia family was criticized by the emperor. This time, Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng were determined to make up for their crimes. Not only were the memorial ceremonies arranged with great fanfare, but even the monks who chanted the sutras at the ceremony were specially invited from the Da Ci'en Temple.

Just as the ceremony began and the bells and chimes struck the first time, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Welcome the angels!"

Everyone's face changed, and they hurriedly lowered their heads to straighten their clothes.

In a blink of an eye, Tao Xingjian came in with a little eunuch. He looked at Jia She and Jia Zheng, who were leading the group, and nodded with a fake smile:

"You two, His Majesty is planning to hold a funeral for the late Marquis Wen'an today, so he specially asked us to come and see if we can help your family in any way."

Jia She and Jia Zheng were covered in cold sweats, and they kept saying "I dare not" and almost fell to their knees immediately.

On the other side, the incense table was finished. Tao Xingjian stood behind the table, raised his chin and looked at him with disdain: "Your Majesty has spoken the order. Jia Shi kneeled down to receive it."

Everyone knelt down.

Lin Daiyu, dressed in mourning clothes and a mourning hat, also knelt down with the crowd.

"Lao Tao, go and take a look yourself.

"Ru Hai passed away miserably, leaving only this one daughter, which is really pitiful. Concubine Jia told me the other day that the girl was very opinionated, and she closed the courtyard and stayed at home to observe mourning. I admire her strong character very much!

"If the Jia family treats this child well, you can smile more at them on my behalf. If they are perfunctory, then you can destroy their Rong Xi Tang!"

When Tao Xingjian said this, he looked at the people kneeling below with a smile and nodded, "I decree this."

Everyone held their breath and listened to him, then they chanted, "Thank God." They all staggered to their feet with weak knees.

Tao Xingjian tilted his head to signal the eunuch, who ran over like the wind and helped Lin Daiyu up with his own hands, his mouth as sweet as honey:

"Oh my, Miss Lin has lost so much weight in this year! Although we have to observe the mourning rules, we can't be too sad! It's so heartbreaking to see her like this!"

Daiyu felt that the voice sounded familiar. She looked up and found that it was the eunuch who came to give her Ruyi a year ago.

How come this person is not the Queen's man, but the Emperor's? !

Daiyu hurriedly took his hand and stood up, smiling and bowing: "Thank you, eunuch."

Jia Lian, who was standing next to him, also recognized this man. He immediately began to sweat and his legs were shaking. He almost fell to the ground again. Fortunately, Wang Xifeng was standing next to him this time. She reached out and held him. With a fierce glance, Jia Lian felt more confident and stood firm.

"I have nothing to do here. I just want to pass on His Majesty's order and hand over the profits from the Lin family's business operations over the past year to Miss Lin. That will be enough for me."

Tao Xingjian took a few steps forward with a smile, took out a purse from his bosom and handed it to Lin Daiyu, "Go ahead. I'll come back during the funeral rites."

Lin Daiyu was a little at a loss.

She was used to the twists and turns of the people in the Jia family, and suddenly she met a man like Tao Xingjian who was concise and straightforward. For a moment she didn't know how to respond.

So, Lin Daiyu unexpectedly asked a question that she regretted saying: "If uncle is free, would you like to stay and watch the ceremony?"