Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Yet, at this very moment, Wang Yi's heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he secretly groaned. His brow furrowed, his eyes flickering, as he thought to himself: "I, Wang Yi, have always been oblivious to the world outside, absorbed in the study of sages. Every day, I only know how to study diligently. How could I have ever bothered to notice which girl could truly catch my eye? Now, faced with this situation, I really don't know what to do!"

Just as Wang Yi was feeling distressed, he suddenly heard a commotion at the door. He looked over and saw a group of figures rushing in. Upon closer inspection, he saw his mischievous cousins. Each of these cousins was a chubby, quirky young man. As soon as they entered the room, they saw Wang Yi's flushed face. Their eyes lit up, as if they had discovered something new and interesting. They gathered around him, winking and joking, "Oh, look at our handsome, well-educated, and talented cousin Yi. He's actually feeling shy today! Come on, tell us which girl you've fallen in love with!"

Hearing his cousins' teasing, Wang Yi's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple. Panicked, he quickly scratched his head, trying to hide his embarrassment. Then, hastily changing the subject, he stammered, "Oh, you little brats, all you do is stir up trouble. Stop talking about this! Come on, let's talk about something else interesting!" Then, he quickly pulled his cousins aside and began rambling on about trivial matters to divert everyone's attention.

The two sisters-in-law of the Wang family were poring over a densely packed list of names and information about numerous young women. They carefully examined each name, sometimes whispering to each other, sometimes nodding in satisfaction. Just then, a doorman hurried in to announce that Madam Wang had arrived with an important matter to discuss.

Upon hearing this, the two sisters-in-law looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion. What kind of big deal could this be? One of them couldn't help but mutter, "This eldest aunt has always been a person who doesn't do anything without profit. This sudden visit must be for some reason!" The other nodded in agreement. But no matter what, since the person had already arrived at the door, they couldn't turn him away. So, after a glance at each other, they stood up and prepared to greet him.

Not long after, Mrs. Wang, flanked by a group of maids, walked slowly and gracefully into the room. She wore a faint smile, appearing kind and amiable, but her eyes revealed a hint of shrewdness. Upon entering, Mrs. Wang said with a smile, "Oh, my two sisters-in-law, I'm really not here for no reason today!"

Warm and friendly smiles instantly lit up the two sisters-in-law's faces. They quickly stood up and respectfully invited Madam Wang to take a seat, loudly ordering the servants to quickly serve the finest tea and snacks. Soon, the exquisite tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and the lightly fragrant tea and exquisite and delicious snacks were served one by one.

After everyone was seated, there was a brief but polite exchange of greetings. Compliments were exchanged on each other's attire and complexion, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mrs. Wang finally coughed softly, bringing the conversation to the real purpose of their visit. She straightened slightly and, with a smile on her face, began, "This is the Fifth Lady from our old lady's family. We've come here specially today, primarily to discuss the children's marriages. Speaking of which, we all have such high praise for your Yi-ge! Not only is he an exceptionally virtuous and kind person, he's also incredibly talented and eloquent. Even more remarkable, he's also blessed with a handsome appearance and a refined demeanor. In my opinion, such an exceptional man is truly rare to find! Furthermore, our families have always been close, as close as family, so I won't beat around the bush with you two sisters-in-law. So, I've come directly to visit you today..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Wang gracefully lifted the teacup before her and took a sip. Then, seemingly casually, she glanced at the reactions of her two sisters-in-law. Madam Wang Zisheng still had a faint smile on her face, but she didn't speak, as if she hadn't heard what Madam Wang had just said. Madam Wang Ziteng, on the other hand, simply lowered her head, concentrating on drinking her tea, and likewise made no attempt to join in Madam Wang's conversation. For a moment, the scene fell into a delicate silence. "My two sisters-in-law, you all know our girl Tanchun! She is truly beautiful and stunningly beautiful! Not to mention her first-class looks, her temperament alone is exceptionally bright and cheerful. Since childhood, she has been well-read and knowledgeable, and is proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Her talent is beyond words! She and our Yier are simply a perfect match made in heaven. Besides, our families have had a long-standing friendship, and this good thing of strengthening our kinship is simply hard to find even with a lantern!" Mrs. Wang held Mrs. Wang Zisheng's hands tightly, talking incessantly, praising Jia Tanchun as perfect as a fairy, as if Tanchun was not her concubine's daughter but her own daughter.