Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

In the pitch-black darkness, Jin Chuan'er slowly opened her eyes. Her hands gently stroked her flat belly, tears streaming down her face like a broken dam, soaking the pillow. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she were mumbling something, but it was impossible to make out what she was saying.

Jin Chuan'er's thoughts drifted back to Lady Wang and Jia Zheng, her heart filled with endless resentment. She knew her lowly status meant she couldn't stand up to them, so she could only bury this hatred deep within her heart. Yet, she decided to use her own life to deliver the final blow to their family. She remembered Lady Wang's fondness for Jia Baoyu, and a sneer welled up in her heart. She intended her death to be an opportunity for her family to rise to prominence.

Jin Chuan'er silently took out all her private money and walked to the door. She gently made a few "meow" sounds outside the door, and soon heard a female voice responding: "Miss Jin Chuan, what can I do for you?" Jin Chuan'er's voice became hoarse and low, as if squeezed out from between her teeth: "I am about to die, but I am unwilling to give up. These are all my private money, please do me a favor." The woman took the property from Jin Chuan'er's hand, checked it carefully, and then asked: "Miss, please tell me what it is first!" Jin Chuan'er looked at the woman in front of her expressionlessly, and said calmly: "These things are just a matter of life and death for my aunt. It's just a simple favor, and I won't embarrass you. As long as everyone in the capital knows tomorrow morning that Master Zheng of the Rongguo Mansion and his son competed for a pregnant maid, and that the maid, unable to bear the humiliation, chose to commit suicide by jumping into a well, that's all. Oh, by the way, I heard that this maid was the one who had sex with Master Zheng in the mistress's bed. "The woman's eyes flashed with surprise after hearing this, but she quickly regained her composure. She smiled and said, "Young lady, you're really ruthless. Don't worry, I will definitely see to it." With that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Jin Chuan'er stood quietly, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky, a look of determination on her face. After a while, she slowly walked out of the courtyard, arriving at a well outside Rong Xi Tang. She silently took off one of her shoes and placed it on the ground, then without hesitation, jumped into the well. The water instantly submerged her body, and her figure gradually disappeared into the darkness...

The next morning, the entire capital was in uproar.

People were talking about the scandal in the Rongguo Mansion. Master Zheng and his son Jia Baoyu were fighting over a pregnant maid, and the news that the maid had committed suicide by jumping into a well spread like wildfire.

Inside the Ministry of Works, Jia Zheng noticed that his colleagues, who had been quite friendly to him before, suddenly became very strange in their attitude towards him, and several officials of higher rank than him were looking at him as if he were an idiot, which made him feel very confused and uneasy.

He tried to find some clues from these people's expressions and behaviors, but they all seemed to deliberately avoid looking at him, which made him even more uneasy.

The situation did not return to normal until the Minister of Works arrived, and Jia Zheng hurried forward to greet him. However, the Minister of Works only glanced at him indifferently, did not respond to his greeting, and went straight to his seat and sat down.

Jia Zheng felt a little embarrassed, but still stood aside respectfully waiting for instructions.

The Minister of Works was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Cunzhou, on my way to the yamen today, I heard people on the street talking about some matters that needed to be dealt with in your mansion. How about this: you go ahead and do your work. I'll let others take care of the yamen matters for you. Once you've sorted out your family affairs, come back for duty. Go ahead."

After saying this, without waiting for Jia Zheng to reply, the Minister of Works stood up and left the room. Jia Zheng was stunned where he was, not knowing how to react.

He didn't know what had happened, nor did he understand why the Minister of Works suddenly asked him to go home to take care of household chores. But since his superior had given the order, he could only obey the arrangement. So, he left the Ministry of Works with a heart full of doubts.

At the same time, when the maid from Rong Xi Tang came to fetch water in the morning, she saw the shoes by the well and felt that something was wrong. She slowly stretched her head and saw Jin Chuan'er's body floating quietly. She was so frightened that she shouted loudly, "Someone jumped into the well and drowned..." Yuanyang, who was the most trusted person around Mrs. Jia, heard the noisy noise and came out and said, "Why are you so panicked? How disgraceful!" As she spoke, she quickly walked to the well to check the situation.

After taking in the scene, Yuanyang was startled. "This... isn't this Jin Chuan'er!" Her eyes widened, and she stared at the water in astonishment. Jin Chuan'er's body swayed slightly with the well water, her hair and clothes fluttering with it, as if she were still alive. However, her lifeless face clearly told everyone that she had left this world.

Yuanyang came to his senses and hurriedly ordered, "Go and report to the old lady!"

Soon, Jia Mu arrived at the scene, surrounded by a group of people. She looked at Jin Chuan Er in the well with a serious expression, her eyes full of regret, "What happened? Why did she commit suicide when she was fine?"

Mrs. Wang rushed over when she heard the noise and pretended to be ignorant and said, "You are so young, why are you so stupid!" As she said this, she covered the corners of her slightly curved mouth with a handkerchief.

Zhou Ruijia and the others hurried to comfort her, "Madam, please accept my condolences. We should first salvage the body and then make plans."

So, a few servants found ropes and, after much effort, finally pulled Jin Chuan'er's body out. Everyone gathered around, talking about it in a flurry.

"This is really pitiful. A good girl is gone just like this."

"Yeah, I don't know why she jumped into the well and committed suicide."

"Could it be that he has suffered some injustice? Or has he been bullied?"

"Oh my, everyone, look, is there blood on her clothes?"

Everyone was talking at once, while Grandmother Jia stood silently by with a sad expression, as if she was thinking about something.

After a while, Grandmother Jia slowly said, "Forget it, send her body back home so that her family can bury her properly." After that, she turned and left, leaving the servants looking at each other in bewilderment.

Seeing this, Mrs. Wang hurried after her, saying hypocritically as they walked, "Old lady, please take care of yourself. Don't let this get you upset."

Grandmother Jia stopped, glanced back at Mrs. Wang, and said in a cold tone, "I naturally know my limits. You don't need to remind me. I usually see that you like Jin Chuan'er very much. Now that she has encountered such a thing, aren't you sad at all?"

Mrs. Wang was startled and quickly squeezed out a few tears. She choked and said, "Of course I'm sad, but this happened so suddenly that I can't accept it right away."

Grandmother Jia snorted coldly and said nothing more. She knew in her heart that there must be something fishy about this matter, but the most urgent thing at the moment was to take care of Jin Chuan'er's funeral, and leave the rest for later.