Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Jia Zheng nodded slightly, indicating his understanding, and said slowly, "I'll spare you the trouble. If this marriage can be facilitated, it will truly be a wonderful event for our Jia family. However, this matter is of great importance, involving many aspects. I will certainly carefully consider it and weigh the pros and cons." Without pausing, Jia Zheng hurriedly turned and left, leaving Mrs. Wang standing alone. She watched Jia Zheng's retreating figure, her eyes still flickering with a subtle hint of resentment and calculation. That resentment seemed to be resentment at not being able to fully influence Jia Zheng's thoughts; that calculation seemed to be plotting alternatives to ensure that things would develop in the direction she desired. A gentle breeze rustled the hem of Mrs. Wang's clothes, but it failed to dispel the gloom that hung over her.

Mrs. Wang stood there for a while, then returned to her room. As soon as she entered, she saw Zhou Rui's wife waiting for her. When Zhou Ruijia saw her come in, she hurried forward and bowed, and said with a smile, "Madam, has today's matter been resolved?" Madam Wang sat down, picked up the teacup and took a sip, snorted and said, "The master is cautious. He only said to send someone to the Zheng family to sound out the situation first, and said that he would weigh the pros and cons." Zhou Ruijia's eyes turned, and she said softly, "Madam, don't worry. No matter what, the third sister is also a smart person. If the Zheng family knew about the benefits of the third sister, they would definitely not refuse. And if you want this matter to go smoothly, you might as well secretly let someone tell the Zheng family about some of the benefits of our Jia family." Madam Wang's eyes lit up, and she put down the teacup, "Your idea is not bad. But this matter must be done extremely secretly, and must not be discovered." Zhou Ruijia smiled and said, "Don't worry, madam, I am the best at this kind of thing. But madam still have to be more careful, because there may be variables on the master's side." Madam Wang nodded, a hint of satisfaction appeared on her face, and she secretly thought about how to quietly push Tanchun and the Zheng family's marriage in the direction she expected.

Madam Wang waved to Zhou Ruijia to come closer and whispered, "Tomorrow you should go find those maids in our house who have some dealings with the Zheng family and find out what the Zheng family values most now." Zhou Ruijia replied yes.

The next day, Zhou Ruijia left early. Returning in the evening, she hurried to Lady Wang's room to report. "Madam, I've heard that the Zheng family is worried about their young master's education and says they need a good teacher." Upon hearing this, Lady Wang's heart moved, and a smile curled up at the corner of her mouth. "That's easy to do. We have several old scholars who frequently visit our house. Pick out the most reputable one and quietly send him to the Zheng family to give lectures. Just say it was a chance meeting, and he'll give free lessons for a few days."

Zhou Ruijia stood there with an embarrassment on her face. She said hesitantly, "Madam, if the master knew about this... I'm afraid it wouldn't be so good." Mrs. Wang frowned slightly, waved her hand impatiently, and said, "What are you afraid of? As long as we can keep it secret from the master. The master is devoted to official duties all day long and is so busy that he doesn't have the mind to pay attention to these trivial matters?" Hearing this, Zhou Ruijia breathed a sigh of relief and quickly responded, "Yes, madam, I'll go down and arrange it right away." With that, she hurriedly turned and left.

Meanwhile, in his study, Jia Zheng sat at his desk, brush in hand, seemingly absorbed in official documents, but his mind was already swirling with thoughts. While he verbally stated he would weigh the pros and cons before making a decision, he was actually already 80% convinced of the proposed marriage. However, he was always mindful of his image and his family's reputation, and therefore, despite his initial inclination, he planned to observe the situation for a while to avoid any potential missteps.

A few days later, a strange old man suddenly appeared at the Zheng family's door. The old man was wearing a tattered long gown, his hair was gray and slightly messy, his face was haggard, and he was carrying a simple bag. He claimed that he was just passing by and heard that the young master of the Zheng family was diligent and studious, so he offered to teach him for a few days. The Zheng family was very surprised when they heard the news. For a moment, they were confused and didn't understand why this person came. But then they thought that since the other party had come to the door, even if there was a conspiracy, keeping him in the mansion would make it easier to monitor and control him. So, after a brief thought, the master of the Zheng family, Mr. Lu, instructed the housekeeper beside him: "First, find a secluded courtyard for this old man to settle down. Treat him well and don't neglect his food, clothing, and daily life. Also, send a few people to keep an eye on him and don't let him move around freely. At the same time, find out his background as soon as possible."

At that moment, on the official road outside the capital's gates, a monk and a Taoist priest were slowly making their way. Their clothing was patched upon patched, tattered and worn, as if they had weathered countless storms. Even more peculiar, despite the many glances from passersby, no matter how hard they tried, they could not discern their true features; only a blurry, indistinct silhouette could be seen.

"Huh? This... this... how could the will of heaven change so drastically? It's all messed up, all messed up!" The Taoist frowned, his face filled with astonishment, and he muttered to himself while rapidly snapping his fingers. He was a master of divination, yet now he discovered that the will of heaven had been thrown into unprecedented disarray, and all his carefully planned arrangements had been thrown into disarray.

"Hiss—" The monk beside him gasped, his face also showing panic. "According to the predetermined time, Lin Ruhai should have passed away long ago, but now he is not only alive and well, he has even divorced his wife, remarried, and has children! This man was destined to be childless, how could such a sudden change happen? It is truly puzzling!"

The two exchanged glances, each seeing deep confusion and worry in the other's eyes. After a moment's silence, the Taoist was the first to speak, "It seems this matter is of grave importance. We must journey to the Grand Illusionary Realm and consult Fairy Jinghuan to find out what is truly going on."

"That's right!" The monk nodded in agreement, "There's no time to lose, let's set off immediately." After that, the two of them cast a spell at the same time, and their bodies flashed, instantly turning into two streams of light, rushing towards the Taixu Illusionary Realm.

Before long, they arrived at the gate of the Grand Illusionary Realm. Seeing someone approach, the immortal attendant at the gate quickly stepped forward and asked, "What brings you here today?"

The bald-headed monk changed his usual casual demeanor and replied solemnly, "We two have come here on a matter of utmost urgency. We wish to see Fairy Jinghuan. Please have the fairy attendant pass on the message as soon as possible."

Since things have come to this, I would like to ask you two to wait here for a moment. I will quickly go and pass on the message. The immortal servant naturally did not dare to slack off. After respectfully agreeing, he immediately turned around and hurriedly left the place.

At that moment, the bald monk and the lame Taoist exchanged a glance, both faces revealing a hint of helplessness. After all, they were merely wandering cultivators, wandering the mortal world. However, Fairy Jinghuan was something completely different! She possessed the vast Taixu Illusionary Realm as her own shrine. Though Fairy Jinghuan was merely a terrestrial immortal, she controlled the love, hate, and grudges between all men and women in the world.

Think about it: love in this world is inherently complex. There are the happy, perfect couples, and naturally, there are also countless infatuated men and women, trapped in the bittersweet longing for love for various reasons. And Fairy Jinghuan is responsible for managing the deepest waves of desire in the hearts of these infatuated men and women! Because of this, in terms of true strength, Fairy Jinghuan is indeed slightly stronger than the two of them.

After a thorough search, Fairy Jinghuan finally spotted Wang Xifeng. She muttered to herself, "This Madam Lin wasn't supposed to be Wang Xifeng, but her sudden appearance has caused such a dramatic and unexpected turn of events. She not only saved Lin Ruhai's life, but also completely reversed the tragic fate of the Lin family, which had been left without a successor and whose lineage had been extinguished!" With Wang Xifeng's unexpected appearance, those who had been following their predetermined trajectory experienced a series of profound changes... "How could this be? Does this tribulation still count?" the lame Taoist asked doubtfully, his cloudy eyes revealing a hint of anxiety and unease.

Fairy Jinghuan standing aside frowned slightly, her eyes as cold as frost, and she said in a deep voice: "I'm afraid that only by making this sudden change disappear completely can we restore all the original order." After that, a barely perceptible ruthlessness flashed across the depths of her eyes.

The lame Taoist priest and the bald-headed monk exchanged a glance, their understanding mutual. They knew that Fairy Jinghuan was determined to eliminate the suddenly reappearing Shen Qianqian. After all, the Twelve Golden Hairpins were carefully selected by Fairy Jinghuan. Even the Crimson Pearl Fairy, originally from the upper realm, had been left behind in this mortal world by Fairy Jinghuan.

Meanwhile, in the Lin family's Wutong courtyard, Wang Xifeng gently coaxed her young son to sleep. For some unknown reason, a wave of intense sleepiness washed over her like a tide, overwhelming her. Before she knew it, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, the surroundings became hazy and misty. Wang Xifeng felt light and floating, as if weightless. As the thick fog gradually dissipated, she was surprised to find herself before a towering gatehouse. Looking up, she saw four characters inscribed in a flamboyant style: "Taixu Illusionary Realm."

Wang Xifeng's heart trembled, and she instantly realized where she was. Wasn't this the mysterious place governed by Fairy Jinghuan? Just as she was pondering this, a clear and charming voice suddenly rang out beside her: "Madam, where on earth are you from?"

Wang Xifeng wasn't panicking at all, for she had already known that this was a terrestrial immortal. The sword in her hand could slay these unruly immortals. Besides, she hadn't neglected her cultivation over the years and had already broken through the barriers, remembering some things.

"I really have to ask you this! Why did you call me here for no reason?" Wang Xifeng demanded, her eyebrows raised, her eyes wide, and her face filled with anger. She wondered to herself: Is there any etiquette in casually summoning someone's soul like this?

"Uh...well...you, you are not afraid? And you know my identity?" Fairy Jinghuan was caught off guard by Wang Xifeng's sudden questioning and was speechless for a moment.

Wang Xifeng snorted coldly, crossed her arms, and said proudly, "Hmph! What's so scary about that? This is the Land of Illusion, and you must be the famous Fairy Jinghuan, right?"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Jinghuan was horrified. This seemingly mortal woman, yet able to so easily discern her location and identity, was truly unbelievable. Even more astonishing was the aura emanating from her, as heavy as a towering mountain. Especially the subtle pressure emanating from that sword, seemingly obtained from nowhere, almost suffocated her. Could it be that some powerful being from the higher realms had sensed something unusual? At this thought, Fairy Jinghuan grew increasingly panicked.

Yet, at this moment, she had no way of determining the true nature of the situation. Just now, she had attempted to use her magic to decipher this person's origins, only to discover that their story seemed shrouded in an inscrutable mystery, one that no matter how she summoned her powers, she could barely grasp. Faced with such an unfathomable figure, Fairy Jinghuan knew she could no longer adopt a harsh approach. So, she quickly adjusted her demeanor, forcing a friendly facade. Lowering her posture, she spoke softly, "Madam, you truly possess a keen eye and exceptional insight! I have the audacity to summon your spirit here today because I truly have something important to discuss." Her words were filled with humility. After all, the person before her possessed such profound knowledge that even the weapon she wielded was likely beyond her reach.

Originally, if everything had continued to develop according to the predetermined trajectory of fate, the Lin family would have suffered a devastating disaster! Their family would have fallen into the tragic plight of extinction, with no descendants to continue the family line. And the pitiful and talented Miss Lin Daiyu was even more miserable. At the age of seventeen, she had to leave this world helplessly and was forced to report to my mysterious and unpredictable Taixu Fantasy World! But now the situation is very different. I really want to thank you, Madam, for your timely intervention! I don’t know what kind of miraculous means you used to so miraculously turn the tide and change the originally tragic fate of the Lin family. Because of this, the resentment that I have accumulated here has naturally gradually subsided. So...