Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Mrs. Wang had always been annoyed by Jia Baoyu's constant attentions to Lin Daiyu, constantly flirting with her. Seeing this, Mrs. Wang felt unhappy and decided to quickly find a suitable marriage for Jia Baoyu, thus completely severing his attachment to Lin Daiyu. With her mind made up, Mrs. Wang quickly summoned the astute and capable Li Wan to discuss the selection of suitable young ladies in the Jia family.

Li Wan, standing by, was a person of great intelligence and dexterity. How could she not know the true intention behind Mrs. Wang's actions? Although she knew the true feelings between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, she still did not dare to disobey Mrs. Wang's wishes. She could only reluctantly agree and continue speaking along with Mrs. Wang's words.

On this day, Mrs. Wang cleverly invited her sisters to enjoy the spring flowers, but secretly arranged for several young ladies from wealthy families to come to her house, clearly to let them meet Jia Baoyu. When Jia Baoyu heard the news, he felt annoyed. However, facing the arrangements made by his elders, no matter how reluctant he was, he had no choice but to refuse.

Meanwhile, upon learning of this incident, Lin Daiyu was overcome with grief. She retreated to her own Xiaoxiang Pavilion, where she lived, weeping all day long. Her delicate appearance truly moved people to pity. Meanwhile, Jia Baoyu, seizing the moment when everyone was least prepared, quietly slipped out of the crowd and hurriedly headed straight for the Xiaoxiang Pavilion...

After finally finding Lin Daiyu, Jia Baoyu ran to her in a hurry as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw, with an anxious face but unable to hide his deep affection, and said: "Sister Lin, no matter what others are like, there is only you in my heart! Even if the seas dry up and the rocks crumble, and the world changes color, this affection will never change in the slightest." After that, he held Lin Daiyu's hand tightly, as if he was afraid that she would disappear if he let go.

When Lin Daiyu heard this, her eyes turned red and tears welled up in her eyes, but she still blamed him in a coquettish tone: "You, please don't let the lady hear these words, otherwise we will all be in trouble." After that, she gently broke free from Baoyu's hand, turned her head away, pretending to tidy up her hair, but in fact she didn't want Baoyu to see her shy look.

The two were whispering when suddenly a commotion erupted outside, followed by the voice of a woman calling Baoyu, which sounded as if Mrs. Wang had discovered Baoyu had disappeared. Baoyu felt a pang of worry, a hint of helplessness on his face, but he couldn't bear to leave Lin Daiyu like this. So he hurriedly comforted Daiyu and turned to walk quickly towards the source of the commotion.

When Baoyu finally returned to the place where he had admired the flowers, he saw everyone's gaze fixed on him. Mrs. Wang sat upright in her chair, her face slightly gloomy, and she scolded him in a low voice, "Where on earth have you been playing, you careless child? So many people are waiting here, and you just vanished without a trace." Baoyu lowered his head and stood there like a child who had made a mistake, not daring to say a word.

The rich young ladies present looked Baoyu up and down with curious eyes, especially the girl in a goose yellow shirt. She not only stared at Baoyu blatantly, but also smiled at him without any hesitation. That smile seemed to contain many elusive meanings.

Baoyu felt uncomfortable under their gaze, secretly complaining bitterly, hoping that this embarrassing situation would end quickly. Just then, Jia Tanchun, with her sharp eyes, noticed Baoyu's embarrassment and quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. With a charming smile, she vividly recounted a funny story, making everyone burst into laughter. For a moment, the tense and awkward atmosphere finally eased a little.

Lin Daiyu, meanwhile, was like an ant on the hot pot in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, unable to sit or stand, her heart in turmoil, unable to find peace. Seeing this, Zijuan, beside her, felt deeply distressed and hurried forward to comfort her, saying, "Miss, please don't be so heartbroken. Master Bao's love for you is evident to all! He will certainly not let you down." Hearing this, Daiyu sighed softly and said quietly, "That's true, but how can things in this world always go as we wish? Many times, we have no control over our own actions."

Elsewhere, the visit finally concluded. Returning to his room, Jia Baoyu breathed a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart. As night fell and all was still, he quietly sent a trusted servant to deliver a secret letter to Lin Daiyu. Scripted in vibrant flourishes, it read: "Even though the road ahead is bumpy, the difficulties are numerous, and countless obstacles stand in my way, my love for you will never waver. This resolve remains unwavering!" Lin Daiyu eagerly unfolded the letter and read it carefully. The heartfelt words moved her to tears. She clutched the letter tightly in her hands, as if it were a rare treasure, and the flame of hope that had been extinguished in her heart suddenly reignited.

Meanwhile, the Jia Mansion was brightly lit at night. Mrs. Wang was complaining to Zhou Rui's wife, "Hmph! Look at those young ladies who came to see me today. They're either the unloved daughters of minor officials, or the daughters of lowly, money-grubbing merchants. They're all unworthy of the stage. They're simply absurd! How dare they treat my precious son, Baoyu, with such disdain!"

The next morning, before daybreak, Lin Daiyu was already up. She sat alone by the window, her eyes hollow and lifeless, as if she had lost her soul, staring blankly at the scenery outside. Seeing this, Zijuan hurriedly brought a steaming hot breakfast, carefully placing it on the table. Then, softly, she advised, "Young lady, no matter how upset you are, you must eat something. If you continue like this without food or drink, what if you end up hurting yourself?" However, Lin Daiyu seemed oblivious, still gently shaking her head, her mind preoccupied with Jia Baoyu and the heartwarming letter.

Meanwhile, Baoyu was still unaware that his mother, Lady Wang, was planning another marriage for him! Lady Wang sat upright on the couch, her hand resting on her cheek, pondering the matter. After a while, she summoned Zhou Ruijia to discuss the matter. Zhou Ruijia was a shrewd woman, adept at reading her master's words and expressions, and seeing Lady Wang's expression, she already understood about half of what was going on.

Mrs. Zhou Rui's wife smiled and replied, "In my opinion, the young lady of the Shi family is really good. She is on par with ours in terms of family background. She is extraordinarily pretty, truly a beauty! But..." At this point, Mrs. Zhou Rui's wife paused for a moment, glanced at Mrs. Wang's face, and continued, "But I feel that our own Miss Bao is better after all. Look at Miss Bao, not only is she dignified and generous, but her every move shows the demeanor of a lady from a noble family. Moreover, her family has been running the imperial merchant business for generations, and they are very financially strong! Wouldn't it be a great thing to marry such a virtuous daughter-in-law?" Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang nodded slightly in agreement.

Meanwhile, the news somehow reached Baoyu. He was instantly terrified, like an ant on a hot pan, restless and unable to sit still. Without a second thought, he set out for the Xiaoxiang Pavilion to find Daiyu and discuss a plan. However, as the saying goes, there's no such thing as a coincidence. Just as Baoyu was halfway there, a servant suddenly ran up and blocked his path, informing him that the master had come to see him.

Baoyu's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, but he couldn't disobey his father's order, so he turned and walked towards Jia Zheng's study. When he arrived, he saw Jia Zheng sitting at his desk, his face gloomy and intimidating without even being angry. As soon as he saw Baoyu enter, Jia Zheng immediately scolded him, ordering him to focus on his studies and stop thinking about romantic matters.

Baoyu had no choice but to agree to Jia Zheng's request for the time being, but his heart was in turmoil. When Jia Zheng finally allowed him to leave, Baoyu ran towards Xiaoxiang Pavilion like a wild horse.

Lin Daiyu saw Baoyu approaching from afar, his steps hurried and his expression anxious. Her heart tightened, and she quickly stood up and went to meet him. Before she could ask, Baoyu eagerly told her the whole story. After hearing this, Daiyu felt dizzy and her vision went black. Her pretty face turned pale as paper, and tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to burst out.

Baoyu was overwhelmed with heartache at the sight. He quickly grasped Daiyu's delicate little hand and said soothingly, "Sister Lin, please relax and don't worry. No matter what, I will never let those people manipulate me!" Daiyu burst into tears and sobbed, "The old lady doesn't seem to care about us anymore, and Madam is obsessed with arranging a marriage with someone else. What should we do now?"

As the two of them stared at each other in tears, their hearts aching with sorrow, they suddenly heard footsteps outside the door. It was Yuanyang, Jia's maid, who arrived to deliver a message that Jia's mother wanted to see them. Baoyu and Daiyu exchanged a glance, each revealing a trace of uneasiness and uncertainty, but they nonetheless followed Yuanyang to Jia's mother's residence.

Entering the house, they saw Grandmother Jia sitting upright on the couch, her eyes looking at them with a loving yet slightly worried expression. After a moment's silence, Grandmother Jia sighed softly and said slowly, "How could an old woman like me not understand the thoughts of you two children? However, marriage has always been about the importance of being well-matched, and this is something we must consider. However, if you can be more diligent, be cautious in your words and actions, and behave well, then I will naturally find ways to make this matter easier for you."

After hearing these words, Baoyu and Daiyu finally relaxed a little. However, Mrs. Wang, who was far away, was filled with dissatisfaction and resentment after learning what Grandmother Jia said.

So, the malicious Lady Wang secretly instructed others to spread all sorts of unbearable rumors about Daiyu's frail health and infertility. Soon, these rumors spread like wildfire throughout the Jia household. Poor Daiyu, sensitive by nature, was devastated after accidentally hearing these rumors, and could only shed silent tears in solitude.

At this moment, in another wing of the Jia Mansion, Zhou Ruijia was standing respectfully beside Lady Wang. Before them lay rolls of brilliantly colored, finely textured silks, and Lady Wang carefully examined the exquisite fabrics, occasionally picking up a few pieces to measure against herself.

Zhou Ruijia naturally wouldn't miss this golden opportunity to please her master. With a beaming smile on her face, she supported Madam Wang and, her words smeared with honey, she kept praising Madam Wang's outstanding talent and unique vision. As the two chatted and laughed, a maid suddenly hurriedly ran up to Madam Wang from outside the house and whispered, "Madam, something's wrong! The old lady is coming."

This sudden news was like a thunderclap, shattering the tranquil surface of a lake, instantly shattering the once relaxed, joyful atmosphere, replaced by a suffocating atmosphere of tension. Mrs. Wang and Zhou Ruijia felt their hearts race, their minds blank. In a panic, they hurriedly gathered up the silks, satins, and other colorful fabrics scattered carelessly on the table. Their hands trembled as they tried to quickly organize the items and cover up the embarrassing scene.

Unfortunately, fate didn't seem to be on their side. Despite their best efforts, they were still a beat too late. Just as they were frantically trying to figure out what was happening, Grandmother Jia, like a gust of wind and rain, mercilessly lifted the door curtain and stormed into the room with long, swift strides.

As soon as Lady Jia came in, her eyes fell on the silk that had not yet been completely put away, and her face suddenly darkened. She snorted coldly and said, "I wonder what you are doing, why are you so flustered?"

Mrs. Wang was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a plop. Mrs. Zhou Rui followed suit, not daring to breathe. Grandmother Jia slowly walked over to the chair and sat down, her eyes icy as she swept over the two of them. "Although our Jia family may appear prosperous now, don't you know the difficulties we face inside? How can such extravagance last long?"

Mrs. Wang said in a trembling voice, "My daughter-in-law knows she was wrong, but she was just confused for a moment." Grandmother Jia slammed the table heavily and said, "As the mistress of the house, you should consider the family's interests. If you continue to squander money as recklessly as you do today, I'm afraid that not only will our descendants be ruined, but our entire generation will be ruined."

Mrs. Wang lowered her head, not daring to argue. Grandmother Jia sighed, her tone softening slightly. "Don't do this again. Pick out a few pieces of silk and give them to those poorer relatives. It will be a good deed."

Mrs. Wang replied, feeling somewhat resentful but not daring to show it. After Lady Jia left, she slowly stood up, her eyes filled with resentment. Seeing this, Mrs. Zhou Rui hurried forward to comfort her.