Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

"The incense is cold, the golden lion is rustling, the quilt is tossed by the red waves, I get up and lazily comb my hair." Two days have passed in the blink of an eye, and today is the day Wang Xifeng returns home. While resting the night before, Wang Xifeng silently told herself to get up early the next day, but Lin Ruhai was extremely uncooperative. The two of them tossed and turned until midnight. Wang Xifeng had no choice but to kick Lin Ruhai under the bed. Only then did he calm down and fall asleep in her arms.

But they had only rested for a few hours before the maids came to wake them, fearing they would miss their return home. Wang Xifeng was so sleepy that she lay groaning in bed, unable to open her eyes. Lin Ruhai doted on his new wife, and seeing her so, he and the maids helped Wang Xifeng dress and groom herself. Then, Lin Ruhai carried Wang Xifeng to Old Lady Lin's house, only then waking her.

After Wang Xifeng drowsily greeted Old Lady Lin, she smiled and said, "Hai'er, there's no need to rush back with Xifeng. You can stay a few more hours at the Wang residence." Wang Xifeng quickly thanked her, "Thank you, mother! You're so kind!" Her eyes were filled with gratitude, knowing her happiness was inseparable from this loving mother. Lin Ruhai, on the other hand, smiled, watching the heartwarming interaction between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, feeling immensely comforted.

After a while, Xifeng and Lin Ruhai packed up and left with the return gift that Mrs. Lin had carefully prepared. The Wang family's current residence was three blocks away from the Lin family's, not too far, but they still chose to go by carriage.

When they arrived at the Wang family's gate, they saw Xifeng's mother and aunt waiting there with their adorable grandson, Wang Yi. Wang Yi excitedly ran forward to greet Xifeng.

At the Wang family's gate, Lin Ruhai carefully helped Xifeng down from the carriage. As soon as Xifeng regained her footing, she couldn't wait to throw herself into the arms of her mother and aunt, saying coquettishly, "Feng'er missed you so much!"

At this time, the clever Wang Yi blinked his big eyes and said mischievously, "Aunt, you only think about Grandma and Second Grandma, don't you think about Yi'er? Yi'er thinks about you every day, and I've lost weight because of thinking about you."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help laughing. Wang Xifeng happily picked up Wang Yi and said with a smile, "Aunt, look how much thinner Yi'er has become?" Then she gently pinched his little face.

Afterwards, the family happily walked into the main hall together, enjoying a rare moment of reunion. The brothers Wang Zisheng and Wang Ziteng sat firmly in the upper seats. Seeing this, Lin Ruhai hurried forward to greet them and said, "My son-in-law, Lin Ruhai, greets my father-in-law and my second uncle."

However, after hearing this, the brothers' faces turned strange, as if they had a stomachache. After all, they had a close relationship with Lin Ruhai, but now they had to accept him as their son-in-law. This change of status was too abrupt.

The Wang brothers and Lin Ruhai looked at each other for a moment, then went to the study together. Meanwhile, only Xifeng and the two wives of the Wang family were left in the main hall. Wang Yi was taken by a maid to see the gift Xifeng had prepared for him.

At this moment, the two wives of the Wang family quietly asked Xifeng, "Feng'er, your uncle is more than ten years older than you. How does he feel about his health?"

Xifeng didn't understand what they meant for a moment, and replied bewilderedly, "Mother, aunt, what are you talking about! My husband is fine!"

Seeing Xifeng genuinely didn't seem to understand, Madam Wang II asked bluntly, "Feng'er, are you and your husband in bed harmoniously?" Xifeng's ears flushed at the blunt question from her elder, and she practically dropped her head to the table. Madam Wang Da added, "If you're truly useless, don't be embarrassed to tell your family. Your father, Uncle Er, has prepared a lot of aphrodisiac tonics for you. At least you'll have a child." Xifeng lowered her head shyly and said, "Mother, Aunt, my husband is still fine. He doesn't need tonics." She internally complained that she was giving Lin Ruhai tonics. If he took more, she'd be the one in trouble. The two madams saw Xifeng, looking even more mature and charming than before. Her face was rosy, her eyes full of affection, and it was clear that her husband loved her and that she was doing well. Seeing this, the two madams felt relieved.

In the study, three grown men discussed the current situation at court. Lin Ruhai had been able to maintain his position as the Salt Censor for many years, which was quite remarkable. He explained that the emperor intended for him to return to Beijing to report on his duties, replacing the retiring Minister of Personnel, but he declined, believing it was best not to get involved in the struggle for power between the new and former emperors. Lin Ruhai said another piece of news that made Wang Ziteng dizzy: "The emperor wants to publicly kill the four bastards. The older the emperor gets, the more he acts without restraint. He allows ministers in trouble in the court to borrow money from the national treasury, but those who borrowed never pay it back, resulting in an empty treasury. The emperor is very angry and wants to kill a chicken to fill the national treasury. If my second uncle owes money to the national treasury, please pay it back quickly." Wang Ziteng said dissatisfiedly: "The money was given to the emperor to use when he went to the south of the Yangtze River." Wang Zisheng scolded Wang Ziteng and said: "Second brother, a new emperor appoints new ministers. I have been preparing to pay back the money to the national treasury." Then he took out a box from the secret compartment of the desk and handed it to Wang Ziteng: "There are 20 taels in it as interest. It's up to you to give it to the emperor. After paying off the debt, find a way to be appointed to another post. Don't worry about things related to the Jia family anymore." Although Wang Ziteng is not as smart as Wang Zisheng, people like Lin Ruhai are still very obedient.

After seeing her mother and aunt off, Xifeng returned to her unmarried boudoir. She sat before a bronze mirror, carefully dressing herself. Recalling the conversation, a blush crept into her face.

"Miss, your son-in-law is here." The maid's voice came.

Xifeng raised her head and saw Lin Ruhai walking in. His eyes were full of tenderness and love.

"Madam, I'm here to pick you up for dinner." Lin Ruhai said softly.

Xifeng stood up and walked over to Lin Ruhai. He took her hand and they walked out of the room together.

On the way to the hall, Lin Ruhai and Xifeng chatted about family matters. They talked about their future lives and looked forward to better days.

"Husband, we will definitely be very happy." Xifeng looked at Lin Ruhai affectionately.

Lin Ruhai nodded and held Xifeng's hand tightly. Their figures gradually walked away and disappeared at the end of the corridor.