Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Seeing that all the guests had faces filled with great interest, the Eighth Princess raised the corners of her mouth slightly and said with a smile: "Looking at these beautiful girls, my heart is so happy. How about we have a drinking game to add some fun to the banquet." When everyone heard the Eighth Princess's suggestion, it was naturally difficult to refuse directly. They all nodded in response and said: "Okay, okay." Seeing this, the Eighth Princess' eyes flashed with pride. She waved her hand lightly, and ordered someone to quickly pick a beautiful chrysanthemum. Then she solemnly ordered a female official to pick up the drumstick and start beating the drum. She said calmly, "When the drum stops later, whoever happens to have the flower in their hands must compose a poem immediately. If anyone cannot compose a poem, they will have to drink a glass of wine as punishment. Don't cheat." At this moment, the entire hall suddenly became quiet. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the female official who was slowly beating the drum, and the chrysanthemums swaying with the drumbeats, as if an exciting competition was about to begin.

The drumbeats suddenly stopped, as if under a spell, as if time had stood still. The delicate, alluring chrysanthemum, like a calm spirit, landed securely in the hands of a lady dressed in elegant attire. Her face, as white as snow, resembled a blooming white lotus, a faint blush etched across her cheeks, clearly flustered by the suddenness of the situation.

Under the curious and ardent gazes of the crowd, she tried her best to calm herself, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened her mouth, softly reciting the poetic words: "The autumn chrysanthemums are of beautiful color, and their petals are picked in the dew." As soon as the words fell, a burst of warm cheers rang out all around, and the sound echoed throughout the venue like thunder. The Eighth Princess also showed a satisfied and appreciative smile, with admiration flashing in her eyes.

Then, the clear drumbeats echoed again, and the chrysanthemum, as if carrying an endless mission, continued to be passed from person to person. During this process, Yingchun and Tanchun, two equally talented women, were not spared. Helplessly, they each calmed down, contemplated for a moment, and composed a poem. Tanchun's poem, with its profound artistic conception and beautiful phrasing, was truly commendable; Yingchun's, on the other hand, was somewhat bland, lacking that striking, eye-opening quality.

After the chrysanthemum had been passed through everyone's hands for three full rounds, the Eighth Princess waved her delicate hand, signaling an end to this unique game. Everyone's tense nerves finally relaxed, and they all breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Afterward, everyone sat quietly again, sipping tea for a while. The Eighth Princess, observing the slightly weary expressions on everyone's faces, gently said, "Don't be so restrained. Feel free to relax. There's no need to sit so rigidly." At her words, the ladies and ladies all rose, their faces apologetic, their mouths tinged with irritation. Then, with light steps, they headed towards the garden of vibrant chrysanthemums, to fully appreciate the beauty of nature's gift. Today's banquet was truly a lively affair! From the halls to the courtyards, everything was beautifully decorated. Colorful lanterns hung high, resembling a dazzling starry sky. Exquisite pastries filled table after table, their aroma filling the air, drawing everyone's attention. The Eighth Prince, clad in a magnificent brocade robe and a gold and jade-inlaid belt, stood with a distinguished demeanor, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He turned around, smiled, and asked the princess, "How was the banquet today? Was there anything wrong?"

In the evening, the princess approached gracefully, dressed in a pale pink dress that swayed gently like a blooming peach blossom. Seeing her, the Eighth Prince's eyes flashed with amazement. He hurried forward and asked with concern, "Is everything going well?" The princess smiled faintly and whispered, "Everything is going well! Your Highness, don't worry."

Then, the Eighth Prince remembered the girls he had asked the Princess to keep an eye on, and asked, "How did the girls I asked you to keep an eye on perform today?" The Princess nodded slightly and said slowly, "I've observed them carefully. The second young lady from the Jia family is as gentle as the warm spring sun, calm and reserved as a mountain spring, and her every move exudes the demeanor of a lady from a noble family. The third young lady is graceful and elegant, with a firm gaze, and she looks decisive and intelligent. If it goes according to your wishes, I'm afraid the second young lady is more suitable."

The Eighth Princess pondered for a moment and continued, "Why does His Majesty value the Jia family so highly? The Jia family is now in decline. Its former glory is long gone. Now, it's just a facade, relying entirely on the struggling support of Concubine Jia in the palace. Although Concubine Jia still enjoys some favor from the Emperor, she can't support the family on her own. The Jia family's decline is irreversible."

After hearing what the princess said, the Eighth Prince patted her hand gently, his eyes sparkling as he slowly said, "Princess, you are only half right. Although his family has declined, the brothers Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua were extremely prestigious in the army, and their reputation spread far and wide. Although they both passed away later, the connections they accumulated are still deep. These old families have always been in the same boat. By marrying into a family, even if you only marry a concubine, you can get many tangible benefits. It can be said to be very cost-effective." As he spoke, the Eighth Prince's eyes showed a hint of pride.

The princess nodded gently, her action appearing extremely graceful and nonchalant, as if she already knew everything. At the same time, a barely perceptible trace of thought flashed across her eyes, as if she was recalling every moment she spent with the prince, in order to confirm her understanding of his feelings.

"It's just... the former glory of my Zhen family is gone. Now we are in such a state of decline, and I can no longer help His Majesty with his worries and difficulties as before. This makes me very sad, as if there are thousands of fine needles pricking me non-stop." As she spoke, the crystal tears began to swirl in her eyes, and then rolled down like pearls from a broken string. The princess looked so tearful that people couldn't help but feel pity for her. The Eighth Princess was originally from the Zhen family, and the Zhen family was famous for producing many beautiful women. The Eighth Princess was naturally outstanding in appearance and temperament. At this moment, she looked like a pear blossom in the rain, which was even more charming. Upon seeing this, the Eighth Prince hurriedly hugged the princess tightly in his arms, his eyes full of love and pity, and he comforted her softly: "Cousin, don't be so sad. The Zhen family is not only your natal family, but also my maternal family. If it weren't for me, the adult men of the Manchu race would not face the cruel fate of being executed after the New Year."

Not long after the grand chrysanthemum banquet at the Eighth Prince's Mansion concluded, the official matchmaker hurried into the Jia residence, proposing a marriage. Their proposed matchmaker was none other than Jia Yingchun, the supposedly "wooden beauty" in everyone's eyes. When Lady Wang heard the matchmaker's words, she felt a powerful shock, nearly staggering. Her expression instantly shifted to astonishment, her eyes gleaming with disbelief. Disregarding everything else, she hurriedly dragged the matchmaker along to the upper chambers where Lady Jia was staying.

Upon hearing the news from the official matchmaker, Jia's mother's heart was shaken, like a huge rock dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples surging across it. "The princess said that when she saw the second young lady at the chrysanthemum viewing banquet, she fell in love with her and was overjoyed. She had originally planned to propose marriage in person, but she was worried that the young lady had already been betrothed, and she would be extremely disappointed." As Jia's mother spoke slowly, her brow furrowed slightly, a thoughtful look in her eyes, as if she were pondering the mysteries behind this sudden proposal. "So she sent me here to inquire first. If the young lady isn't already engaged, the princess will come to the mansion to discuss it herself," the official matchmaker said with a smile.

Recently, several wealthy families have sent envoys to the Jia Mansion to propose marriage. Each of these envoys stood respectfully before Lady Jia, carefully describing their sons' talents and character, hoping to gain her approval and betroth their daughters to the young masters of the Jia Mansion. However, despite this constant stream of proposals, Lady Jia remained hesitant to make a decision, carefully considering the circumstances of each family and, as of yet, having not yet decided on a single one.

Grandmother Jia raised the corner of her mouth slightly, a barely perceptible smugness flashing in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Yes, there are indeed several families who have come to propose marriage, but marriage is no joke. How can we make a hasty decision? We still need to consider it carefully."

When the matchmaker heard what Lady Jia said, her face immediately lit up with joy, and she nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Grandma, you are absolutely right. Marriage is a matter that must be treated with caution. If your family were not so noble, how could so many families rush to propose marriage?" Then, the matchmaker asked expectantly: "Grandma, do you have a favorite family in mind? If so, please tell me about it, and I can report back to them."

Grandmother Jia shook her head gently and said slowly, "Right now, we haven't decided on a particular family yet. However, since everyone values our Jia Mansion so much, this is also a recognition of our Jia Mansion, and it can be considered a happy event."

Hearing what Lady Jia said, the official matchmaker became even more excited. He quickly stood up and said excitedly: "Oh my, this is really great news! The mansion will soon have a concubine! I will hurry to Prince Beijing's mansion and report this good news to the princess." After that, the official matchmaker made a gesture to get up and leave.

Seeing this, Jia Mu thought to herself that it was not good. If the official matchmaker rushed to the Beijing Prince's Mansion in such a hurry, it would cause trouble if it caused unnecessary misunderstandings. So she quickly winked at Li Wan.

Li Wan, known for her exceptional intelligence, immediately understood what Lady Jia meant when she saw her eyes. She hurried forward, grabbed the matchmaker as she was about to stand, a friendly smile on her face, and helped him sit down again. Her voice, as gentle as a nightingale's, said, "Wait a minute, mother. Have a cup of tea to moisten your throat. This is such a serious matter, marriage can't be rushed."

The official mediator felt a little embarrassed after being pulled and persuaded by Li Wan. He scratched his head, smiled awkwardly, and said, "Look at my impatience. I even forgot to sit down and have some tea first. Thank you, Grandma Li, for reminding me."

Grandmother Jia narrowed her eyes slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. She continued to look at the official media and said slowly: "My granddaughter, on weekdays, just likes to play with flowers and plants in her own small courtyard, or read books and practice calligraphy. She has a gentle and introverted personality and has never thought of being involved in these complicated marriage affairs. Now suddenly saying that she will become a concubine, this is undoubtedly a huge challenge for her. She is not good at socializing. If she goes to the prince's palace and faces all kinds of people, how will she deal with it? I am really worried."

The official frowned slightly, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes, and he slowly shook his head, as if carrying a heavy burden. The embarrassment on his face grew more pronounced, the lines in his face seeming to reveal the turmoil in his heart. He carefully considered each word, as if every one of them held the fate of the Jia family on his shoulders.

"Grandfather, old lady, please don't underestimate yourself! Since the princess specially sent me here to inquire about the news, it is enough to show that the second young lady is quite outstanding! You know, the princess's vision is very high. If the second young lady is not really outstanding, how can she get the princess's favor? What's more, our family has the imperial concubine in the palace. The queen's sisters are naturally outstanding. How could the people they value be any worse? So, old lady, please don't refuse anymore. The feelings of all of us, old ancestor, can actually understand. However, since the princess has already spoken, the interests involved are indeed worth our careful consideration. If your refusal angers the princess, it will have a huge negative impact on the Jia family. Moreover, since this marriage has been proposed, how can we just give up so easily? Why not let the girl meet the princess first, let her observe her character and personality in person, and then make the final decision. This way, we can both save the princess's face and gain more benefits for the Jia family.

After hearing what the official mediator said, Jia Mu felt even more conflicted. She gently stroked her chest with her hand and sighed softly, "Meet the princess? This... I'm still a little hesitant. I'm afraid that after meeting the princess, she'll be so happy that she'll decide on this marriage. What should I do then? I have to think carefully about how to not offend the princess and at the same time protect my granddaughter." As she spoke, Jia Mu fell into deep thought, her furrowed brows seeming to reveal her inner uneasiness and struggle. Li Wan echoed, "What the old ancestor said is absolutely right. We still have to think about our second sister. After all, marriage is about a lifetime of happiness. We can't let her fall into trouble because of a momentary glory."

The official media was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, since the old ancestor and Grandma Li both think so, then I will go back and report the truth to the princess. I hope the princess can understand."

Jia Mu looked at the official media with gratitude and said, "Thank you for your understanding, mother. If I have the chance in the future, I will never forget your kindness."

The official matchmaker waved her hand and said, "Your words are too kind. This is what I should do. I will take my leave now and visit you again another day." After that, the official matchmaker got up and left the Jia Mansion.