Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

At the banquet, the tables were filled with a wide variety of delicacies, which was simply too much to take in. The aroma emitted by these delicacies filled the entire space, making people salivate.

Mrs. Zheng sat beside Jiaojiao, her kind face overflowing with love, her eyes never leaving Jiaojiao. Her chopsticks danced frequently, constantly picking up delicious dishes and placing them in the bowl in front of Jiaojiao, all the while asking with concern, "Jiaojiao, try this! It's delicious! I wonder if it suits your taste. If you like it, eat more. Also, did you sleep well tonight? Did you have any good dreams?"

Jiaojiao, sitting nearby, witnessed this heartwarming scene and couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude. She quickly stood up, bowed respectfully to Madam Zheng, and said in a gentle and pleasant voice, "Thank you, Madam Zheng, for your compassion and concern. I'm truly honored. I'm already very satisfied to receive such meticulous care from you." She bowed slightly and slowly returned to her seat, a faint, yet incredibly charming smile lingering on her lips.

By this time, the banquet was already well past its prime, and the atmosphere was growing increasingly lively. People raised their glasses to toast one another, laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere. Madam Zheng chatted and laughed with the people around her, scanning the surroundings with her sharp eyes. Noticing no one else was paying attention, she quickly turned, smiling, and whispered to Wang Xifeng, "I wonder if Miss Lin is married?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Jiaojiao, who had been concentrating on savoring her food, felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue. A loud buzzing sound suddenly filled her head. The sound shook her completely, causing her to almost drop her chopsticks. She swallowed hard, feeling as if her throat were blocked by something, making it incredibly difficult. At the same time, her cheeks flushed bright red, like ripe apples, spreading all the way to her ears.

Jiaojiao felt extremely embarrassed at this moment, as if she had turned into a little rabbit with nowhere to hide. She could only lower her originally proud head in shame, and did not dare to look directly into the meaningful gazes of Madam Zheng and Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but laugh inwardly at her daughter's appearance, but she maintained a doting expression as she slowly said, "Her father and I love our daughter Jiaojiao the most, so naturally we want her to stay home with us for a few more years. So, there's no rush to find her a good family right now."

When Madam Zheng heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up, like fireworks suddenly bursting into life in the night sky, dazzling and brilliant. She quickly turned around and anxiously ordered the maid guarding the door, "Go and call my son!"

"Ah!" Jiaojiao couldn't help but exclaim inwardly. Just as she was about to open her mouth to explain, Wang Xifeng, who was sitting beside her, suddenly reached out and gently pressed her hand down. Jiaojiao's face was filled with anxiety, and her eyes were fixed on Wang Xifeng, full of pleading, hoping that her mother could help her explain the embarrassing situation. However, Wang Xifeng only raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, as if to indicate that Jiaojiao should calm down and not panic.

Not long after, a tall, imposing young man walked in with a leisurely gait. He was tall and slender, as straight as a mountain pine; his face was remarkably handsome, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and a faint smile that curled the corners of his mouth, making him unforgettable. He exuded a unique aura, possessing the elegance of a scholar and the fortitude and courage of a warrior.

Upon seeing this, Madam Zheng quickly stood up and went to greet him. With a beaming smile, she introduced him to everyone, "This is my son, Zheng Bai. He's just sixteen years old this year."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Bai smiled and bowed to Jiaojiao. Seeing this, Jiaojiao, though a little shy, still politely returned the greeting. Meanwhile, Madam Zheng's gaze darted back and forth between the two of them, her eyes filled with unconcealed joy. Then, she reached out and grasped Lin Tangyu's delicate hand, asking affectionately, "Miss Lin, what do you think of my brother Bai?"

Hearing this, Jiaojiao's face flushed, her cheeks instantly flushed like the sunset. She lowered her head and whispered, "Young Master Zheng is so elegant and handsome, naturally... naturally he is excellent."

After hearing this, Madam Zheng's smile grew even brighter, as charming as a peach blossom in full bloom in spring. She continued, "If that's the case, then in my opinion, you two are a perfect match. How about..."

However, before Madam Zheng could finish her words, Zheng Bai interrupted her: "Mother! What is your intention in doing this? How can you make such a hasty decision about a young lady's life?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's eyebrows immediately arched, and she glared at Zheng Bai fiercely, scolding him, "You little rascal, I'm doing this all for your own good! A woman as virtuous and beautiful as Miss Lin is hard to find, so what are you dissatisfied with?"

Facing his mother's accusations, Zheng Bai seemed quite helpless. He smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying slowly, "Mother, marriage is a matter of paramount importance in life. How can it be treated lightly or frivolously? Besides, Miss Lin and I have only just met today, and we don't know each other well enough yet. This matter requires careful consideration, and we must not rush into anything."

Jiaojiao glanced at Zheng Cheng with gratitude, her gaze as gentle and warm as the spring sun. The tension in her heart finally relaxed slightly, and she felt a sense of relief. Then, with a slight nod, she softly agreed, "Madam Zheng is absolutely right. We shouldn't be too hasty in resolving this matter."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng fell into deep thought. Her wise eyes shifted for a moment, a faint smile playing on her lips. She nodded in agreement, saying, "Well, Cheng'er does have a point. Well, let's wait until you two get to know each other better before discussing this matter. However, I sincerely hope to see a happy and satisfying ending."

Jiaojiao's face was slightly embarrassed, and she managed a forced smile. However, at this moment, she suddenly realized that Wang Xifeng had quietly disappeared without a trace. She quickly bowed to Madam Zheng and said, "Madam, please take a seat. It has been a long time since I last saw my grandmother and her family. I miss them so much that I wanted to go look for them."

Madam Zheng smiled and nodded, agreeing. As Jiaojiao turned to leave, she happened to pass by Zheng Bai. She paused, a touch shy and reserved, and nodded gently to him again. With an extremely polite and humble attitude, she sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, sir, for your words of help and for rescuing me from this predicament." Then, she gently walked away.

Zheng Bai stood still, his gaze following Jiaojiao's petite figure as it gradually retreated and vanished from view. A complex emotion, imperceptible to others, shone in his eyes. When Jiaojiao's graceful figure finally vanished from his sight, he slowly withdrew his gaze, then turned his head to his mother, Madam Zheng, who stood beside him. His brow furrowed slightly, his lips parted, and he asked his mother in a slightly doubtful tone, "Mother, do you really think Miss Lin and I are a good match?"

Upon hearing her son's question, Madam Zheng smiled softly, then extended her right hand and gently patted the back of Zheng Bai's hand. Then, in a tone of earnestness, she responded, "Son, in my opinion, Miss Lin's manners are very appropriate. Although she was a little shy at first, she has retained the dignity and grace expected of a lady from a noble family. And look at her eyes and eyebrows, they are lively and even reveal a hint of cleverness! More importantly, the Lin family has been a family of scholars for generations, with a long and rich tradition of family learning. Her father, Lin Ruhai, is a trusted minister of the current emperor, and her maternal grandfather's family also holds a high position among the military commanders in the court. Such a family background is truly rare!"

Zheng Bai listened silently to his mother's words, never uttering a word in rebuttal. He lowered his head slightly, as if deeply contemplating something. After a long moment, he raised his head slightly and spoke in a low, gentle voice, "Mother, you are absolutely right. I understand your considerations. However, matters of the heart, after all, cannot be easily fostered by external conditions alone. There are many subtleties involved, and they truly cannot be forced..." At this point, Zheng Bai couldn't help but sigh softly.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zheng's face showed a hint of helplessness. She also sighed softly and said slowly: "Mother knows this too. It's just that this marriage is truly beneficial to our family. Therefore, even if there is no deep emotional foundation at present, you might as well have more contact and communication with it for the time being and cultivate it slowly." After that, Mrs. Zheng gazed at her son expectantly, her eyes full of concern.

Meanwhile, Jiaojiao, anxiously searching for her grandmother and the others, hurried along. A thin layer of sweat formed on her forehead, but she refused to give up hope. Just then, she turned a corner and arrived at a quiet corridor. However, to her surprise, she encountered a group of people from the Jia family.

Leading the group was none other than Madam Wang. Her lips curled upwards as she stared at Jiaojiao with a half-smile. That look felt both familiar and unfamiliar, as if concealing countless profound meanings. She said sarcastically, "Oh, look who this is? As expected of a girl from the Lin family, she's got some skills. She's managed to win Madam Zheng's attention so quickly!"

When Jiaojiao heard this, her heart trembled violently, and a feeling of unease instantly surged in her heart. But she still forced herself to remain calm, and quickly bowed and responded, "Mrs. Jia, please don't tease me. This is just an accidental thing."

Mrs. Wang disagreed. She raised her eyebrows and snorted coldly, "Hmph, no matter whether it was a coincidence or not, if you can really enter the Zheng family's gate, don't forget the friendship of our Jia family towards you!" After saying this, she deliberately emphasized the word "friendship", as if it had a deeper meaning.

Jiaojiao's face suddenly turned extremely awkward, and her smile seemed particularly forced. She bit her lip and whispered, "Madam Jia, you're joking. This matter hasn't even started yet, so how can we talk about whether it will be accepted or not?" At this moment, Li Wan, who had been standing silently beside Mrs. Wang, finally couldn't stand it anymore and hurriedly stepped out with a smile to smooth things over. "Madam, please don't embarrass Miss Lin anymore. She must have done it unintentionally, and it's too early to say such things now." As she spoke, Li Wan cast a comforting look at Jiaojiao.

Jiaojiao looked at Li Wan gratefully and nodded slightly to express her gratitude for her help.

Jiaojiao knelt slightly and bowed, then hurried away from the group like a breeze. She felt incredibly upset, as if a tangled mess had become tangled and impossible to untangle. She just wanted to find a quiet place where she could calm her troubled mind.

Jiaojiao then set off with light yet eager steps. Along the way, she paid no attention to the surrounding scenery, simply keeping her head down and moving forward. Before she knew it, she had arrived at a secluded spot tucked away in a corner of the garden. It was shaded by green trees and overflowing with flowers, but due to its remote location, it was rarely visited on weekdays.

Seeing this, Jiaojiao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She walked delicately to a stone bench and sat down. She reached out her delicate hands and gently rubbed her temples, trying to ease the discomfort and restlessness in her head. Just then, a colorful butterfly fluttered over like a fairy and landed steadily on a gorgeous flower beside her.

Looking at the beautiful scene before her, Jiaojiao's thoughts drifted back to the events she had just experienced. Her brows furrowed tightly as she thought about the unexpected troubles that would ensue if her mother and father really agreed to the marriage with the young master of the Zheng family.

Just as Jiaojiao was lost in thought, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps not far away. Then, a little maid ran over, panting, and called out, "Miss, the old lady is looking for you!" Jiaojiao snapped back to her senses, quickly stood up, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and followed the little maid towards where the ladies were.