Not long after, two eunuchs emerged from the palace gates, their faces solemn and loudly announcing, "Ladies and grandmothers from the Jia family who have come to visit their relatives, listen up! The Emperor has specially ordered you to enter the palace immediately! As for the gentlemen, you must remain outside the inner palace gates to pay your respects. No one is allowed to enter to see the Emperor."

After receiving the imperial edict, the Jia family immediately sprang into action. Soon, four beautifully decorated sedan chairs slowly emerged, followed by a young eunuch leading the way. The other gentlemen of the Jia family followed closely behind, marching in unison. Numerous servants waited respectfully outside the palace, quietly awaiting their masters' return.

As the group gradually approached the majestic palace gate, several eunuchs had already been waiting there for a long time. Seeing them arrive, one of the eunuchs hurried forward and announced loudly: "The gentlemen of the Jia Mansion have arrived!" Hearing this, Jia She and Jia Zheng did not dare to neglect and quickly stood firmly in accordance with the order.

Afterwards, the four sedan chairs were smoothly carried to the palace gate. At this point, Jia Mu and the others in the sedan chairs lifted the curtains and carefully dismounted. They followed closely behind the eunuchs leading the way, with attentive maids carefully supporting them as they walked towards the Yuanfei's bedroom.

After many twists and turns, everyone finally arrived at the door of the palace where Concubine Yuan lived. At this moment, two clever and well-behaved maids hurried out of the palace, bowed to Lady Jia and others, and crisply conveyed Concubine Yuan's instructions: "The Queen said that the elders only need to pay their respects, and all the red tape is gone.

Princess Yuan smiled, looked at Grandmother Jia tenderly, and asked softly, "Grandmother, are you doing well these days? Your granddaughter-in-law has been thinking about you."

Upon hearing Princess Yuan's greeting, Grandmother Jia quickly helped the clever and well-behaved little maid beside her and tremblingly stood up. A loving smile filled her face, and her voice, slightly trembling but clear, replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Thanks to your great blessing, I am in good health."

Concubine Yuan nodded slightly, expressing her reassurance. She then turned her gaze to Lady Xing and Lady Wang, inquiring with equal concern about their recent situation. Lady Xing and Lady Wang hurriedly stood respectfully, responding to Concubine Yuan's concern in unison.

After a brief pause, Princess Yuan spoke again, this time addressing Lady Wang, softly asking, "How are things at home these days?" Lady Wang, not wanting to be indifferent, immediately stood up and respectfully replied, "Thanks to your Majesty's concern, everything at home is holding up."

Just as Princess Yuan was about to ask more questions, a palace maid hurried in, holding a thick sheaf of paper. The maid approached, knelt in greeting, and presented the paper to Princess Yuan. She took a look at it, and upon closer inspection, she saw numerous titles listed. She discovered they were those of Jia She, Jia Zheng, and others.

Princess Yuan understood and turned to look at everyone. Her gaze finally fell on Lady Jia. She asked with a smile, "I wonder how Baoyu is doing lately?" Lady Jia's face was filled with relief and she smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, you may not know that Baoyu has been quite diligent and studious lately. It's because his father has been very strict with him. Now, not only has his writing improved, but his handwriting has also improved."

After hearing this, Concubine Yuan smiled with satisfaction and nodded gently, expressing her approval. Then, in a gentle, approving tone, she said, "That's excellent! Boys should read more books to understand the truth. Only then can they achieve great things in the future." With these words, her eyes, as bright as autumn water, casually glanced in the direction of Jia Lian's wife. She saw Jia Lian's wife standing there, graceful and elegant, her every move gracious and proper. Seeing this, Concubine Yuan couldn't help but feel a pity—such a wonderful woman, it was a pity that she came from a minor official family, unable to bring more substantial help and support to the family. However, despite this regret, she maintained a warm and gentle smile and said, "This must be Second Brother Lian's wife, right? Well, taking a closer look, she is indeed a dignified, virtuous, and well-mannered person."

Upon hearing the praise from Concubine Yuan, Mrs. Jia Lian hurriedly took a small step forward, then bent slightly, performed a standard bow, and said softly, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I am humbled." Seeing this, Concubine Yuan nodded slightly in response. Then, she shifted her gaze to Li Wan who was standing beside her. Looking at her sister-in-law who seemed increasingly calm and steady, Concubine Yuan smiled and said, "Your sister-in-law is becoming more and more calm and reserved." Upon hearing this, Li Wan hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, all this is thanks to your blessing, which has enabled everything in our family to proceed smoothly. I am just doing my part, and I really don't deserve such praise from Your Majesty."

Concubine Yuan frowned slightly, sighed softly, and a hint of melancholy crossed her beautiful eyes. She parted her rosy lips and spoke slowly, "Although I live in the opulence and splendor of this palace, deep down I yearn for my family far away. Seeing you all safe and well today brings me some comfort." With that, she raised her delicate hand, motioning for the maidservant beside her to fetch some gifts. Soon, the maid arrived bearing several trays, filled with the usual gifts of gold and silver jewelry, silks, and satins. Concubine Yuan pointed out the gifts to the guests, and everyone expressed their gratitude.

At that moment, Jia Yuanchun turned slightly, her beautiful and dignified face revealing a hesitant expression, as if she had something private to discuss with Lady Wang and Lady Jia alone. Then, she gently tilted her head, her gaze fixed on Baoqin, her personal maid standing nearby. She parted her rosy lips and instructed in a remarkably gentle voice, "Baoqin, please take these ladies for a stroll in the garden. It's the Spring Festival, and the garden must be bustling with activity. Let them fully appreciate the beautiful scenery of spring. As for the mistress and the old lady, let them stay here for a while and chat with me about family matters."

After hearing her master's words, Baoqin did not dare to be negligent. She hurried forward and responded respectfully, "Yes, your majesty!" Then, a gentle smile appeared on her face. She turned around and said softly to the female relatives behind her, "Ladies and grandmothers, please follow me." Then, she gracefully raised her arm to make a gesture of invitation and took the lead to walk towards the garden.

Seeing this, everyone followed Baoqin's footsteps and slowly moved forward. At the front of the group, Mrs. Jia Lian walked side by side with Li Wan. As they walked, they would occasionally lower their heads and whisper to each other, as if discussing something important. Mrs. Jia Lian's pretty face was filled with curiosity. She deliberately lowered her voice so that only Li Wan, who was standing right next to her, could hear clearly. She whispered to Li Wan, "Sister-in-law, in your opinion, is our queen really as glorious and glorious as we usually see her in this secluded palace inner courtyard?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wan's heart tightened. Her beautiful, intelligent eyes shifted rapidly, scanning every corner of her surroundings with vigilance. Once she was sure no one was eavesdropping, she breathed a sigh of relief. Lowering her voice to a level barely audible to the two of them, she replied softly, "In my opinion, this matter may not be as simple as it appears. Although one enjoys boundless splendor and wealth, one cannot escape the towering, impenetrable walls of the palace. Confined within this inner court, how can one truly enjoy the daily companionship of loved ones, like ordinary families?"

As they spoke, they slowly approached a pavilion. Looking up, they saw a profusion of flowers everywhere, each vying for beauty. The meticulously arranged scene unfolded like a vibrant, colorful scroll, captivating the senses. Baoqin smiled and softly introduced the scene, "This beautiful scenery was specially commissioned by the Empress. She said she only hoped that the sight would delight the family." Before she had finished speaking, a vibrant butterfly fluttered gracefully, fluttering past, finally landing gracefully on a delicate, alluring flower. Seeing this, Mrs. Jia Lian was instantly delighted and reached out her delicate hand, wanting to play with the lovely butterfly. However, she accidentally touched a nearby branch, startling the peacefully resting butterfly and sending it soaring away.

At the same time, in the majestic main hall of Fengzao Palace, Jia Yuanchun watched the female relatives walking farther and farther away until their figures disappeared from the end of her sight. Then she turned around and said slowly to the palace maids and eunuchs who were serving respectfully beside her: "You can leave for now. I don't need you to serve here at the moment." Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly bowed and saluted, then filed out. In the blink of an eye, only Jia Yuanchun and the other three were left in the huge palace.

After the servants had left, Jia Yuanchun held her mother and grandmother's hands, tears welling up in her eyes. "Grandmother, Mother, I'm truly lonely and miserable in the palace. It seems so honored, but in reality, every step is a daunting one." Grandmother Jia, with a distressed look on her face, wiped Yuanchun's tears with her handkerchief. "My child, don't be sad. Now that our family is reunited, let's talk about happy things." Lady Wang nodded in agreement. Fighting back tears, Jia Yuanchun slowly spoke, "Mother, how are the men in the mansion doing these days? Mother, you're the head of the household, and the affairs are so complex. Are things going well?" Lady Wang answered each question.

Jia Yuanchun sat upright in a chair, quietly listening to her mother's detailed account of the events at home. Those familiar, heartwarming details brought some solace to her heart, which had grown somewhat lonely after living in the palace for so long. However, this comfort only lasted a brief moment, as her beautiful face was once again shrouded in sorrow.

Jia Yuanchun frowned slightly and asked worriedly, "Now that my second sister has entered Prince Zhongshun's mansion, I wonder if she's doing well there. And what about our third sister's marriage to Baoyu? Are there any specific details?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang's face showed a trace of embarrassment. She sighed softly and then slowly replied, "Your Majesty, there's still no clear decision about Tanchun's marriage. As for Baoyu... Alas! His thoughts are all on Lin Daiyu. This is really worrying."

Hearing this, Jia Yuanchun frowned slightly. After a moment's thought, she said, "Baoyu has been particularly close to Miss Lin since they were young. Their friendship is indeed deep. It's a pity that Miss Lin has always been in poor health. I'm afraid this marriage will be full of twists and turns."

At this moment, Grandmother Jia, who had been silent all this time, interjected softly, "Grandmother, I naturally dote on Yu'er. She is clever, intelligent, and talented, and is truly endearing. However, Baoyu's future is equally important, and we must give him more consideration."

Jia Yuanchun nodded slightly, agreeing with her grandmother's words. After a moment's contemplation, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she said, "Grandmother, Mother, in my opinion, Xue Baochai is a good choice. Not only is she dignified and generous, but she is also well-educated, gentle and virtuous. If Baoyu could marry her, it would perhaps be a good thing for our entire family."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang's eyes lit up with delight. She nodded hastily, saying, "Your Majesty is right. Baochai is truly an excellent candidate! Whether it's talent, appearance, or character, she's first-rate!" However, at this moment, a hint of hesitation crossed Mrs. Jia's face. She frowned slightly and said, "That being said, I'm afraid that doing this will cause that girl Lin to feel wronged. Besides, wasn't there a rumor that the girl from the Xue family was going to marry into the Eighth Prince's Mansion? If this gets out, I'm afraid it won't be good for our Jia Mansion's reputation, right?"

Seeing her mother's worried and anxious expression, Jia Yuanchun quickly extended her delicate hand, as soft and smooth as white jade, and gently placed it on the wrinkled and slightly dry back of her hand, patting it softly. At the same time, her red lips parted, and in a very gentle voice, she soothed, "Grandmother, please don't be so anxious. You must take care of yourself! Remember, when the Eighth Prince last met with us, he clearly expressed his family's fondness for our daughter. However, matters in this world are so complex and complicated, how can everything be perfect? We can only carefully consider the interests involved and the potential losses and gains. Besides, there's no need to make such a hasty decision. We can wait and see if Baoyu and Sister Lin's temperaments change over time before making a final decision."

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like