Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

He repeated this process three or four times. On the final occasion, just as Jia Rui was about to emerge from the mirror, two dark figures with gloomy faces and iron chains suddenly appeared like ghosts. Without a word, they immediately placed the cold, hard chain around Jia Rui's neck, yanked it hard, and quickly dragged him away.

Jia Rui was terrified and struggled desperately to break free from his restraints, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Wait! Let me get the mirror before I leave!" Unfortunately, he could no longer say anything after he had spoken these words.

The people standing by to serve Jia Rui stared at him without blinking. At first, Jia Rui seemed possessed, holding the mirror tightly in both hands, looking at himself non-stop. His eyes were sometimes hazy, sometimes terrified, as if he had seen something terrifying in the mirror. However, just when everyone was caught off guard, the mirror suddenly slipped from his hands and fell to the ground with a "bang".

But even so, Jia Rui still refused to give up. He desperately tried to open his eyes, his body trembling like a candle in the wind. He reached out his hand tremblingly, trying to pick up the mirror again. But his movements became slower and slower. Finally, when the mirror fell to the ground for the second time, it made a crisp sound, and Jia Rui seemed to have lost the last bit of life. He collapsed to the ground and did not move again.

Everyone was shocked upon seeing this, and they quickly swarmed forward to see what had happened. Upon seeing this, everyone gasped, their faces turning pale—Jia Rui had actually stopped breathing! A closer look beneath his body revealed even more astonishment: a large, cold, wet stain emitting a foul odor, clearly left by his previous incontinence. Faced with this horrific sight, everyone was momentarily panicked. Some stood there, at a loss for what to do, while others frantically began to dress and clean up Jia Rui. Others hurriedly lifted the bed to make it easier to handle the aftermath.

Meanwhile, Jia Dairu and his wife, having received the news, rushed to the scene. Upon witnessing the scene, they froze in place, as if struck by lightning. Then, overcome with grief, they burst into unbridled sobs, their cries so agonizing that they felt as if they were drowning in the darkness. The people around them were deeply moved by their heartbreaking cries. The scene was a scene of chaos, filled with sorrow and despair. They wailed inconsolably, cursing at the strange mirror, "What a wicked, demonic mirror! If this curse is not destroyed soon, it will surely bring endless disaster and harm to the world!" Someone quickly brought firewood, preparing to set the mysterious mirror on fire. Just as the flames were about to start, a miserable cry was suddenly heard from inside the mirror: "Who told you to look at the front of this mirror! How can you be so stupid to mistake the false for the true? Why do you torture me like this?" The cry was heartbreaking, as if filled with endless grievances and pain.

At that moment, a figure burst through the door like a gust of wind. Upon closer inspection, it was the lame Taoist priest. As he ran, he shouted, "Who dares to destroy my 'Mirror of Love and Lust'? I'm here to save it!" Before he had even finished his words, he had already rushed into the hall, nimbly snatched the mirror in his hands, and then vanished like a puff of smoke, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

Dai Ru then began to deal with the aftermath. He traveled extensively, informing relatives and friends of the tragic news. According to traditional custom, the funeral required a series of elaborate rituals. First, on the third day, a sutra chanting ceremony was held to pray for the deceased's soul, followed by the formal funeral procession on the seventh day. Finally, the deceased's coffin was temporarily placed at Tiekan Temple, awaiting the appropriate time to be returned to his hometown for burial.

Upon hearing the tragic news, the entire Jia family came to offer condolences. At Rongguo Mansion, Jia She generously donated twenty taels of silver; Jia Zheng, unstintingly, also contributed twenty taels of silver toward funeral expenses. At Ningguo Mansion, Jia Zhen also offered his support, donating twenty taels of silver. Furthermore, other family members, rich and poor, gave gifts of three or five taels, a sum too numerous to count. Friends and former classmates also chipped in, raising another twenty or thirty taels of silver.

Although Dai Ru's family was not well off, with the help of relatives and friends, the funeral was held in a grand and lively manner and was finally completed successfully.

Inside the Lin Mansion, in an exquisitely appointed room, Wang Xifeng, dressed in a gorgeous brocade dress, lazily reclined on a soft couch. Her eyes were slightly closed, but her thoughts surged like a tidal wave as she recalled a life filled with mixed joys and sorrows, a life filled with countless emotions.

Since her rebirth, Wang Xifeng has often been lost in thought. She knows full well that Jia Rui's rudeness and disrespect towards her stems from her husband, Jia Lian's indifference and lack of concern. And she, too, sees herself as the Jia family's housekeeper, busily managing household chores and diligently serving everyone, only to find herself little more than a servant. Whenever she thinks of this, Wang Xifeng feels a surge of sadness and resentment.

At the same time, she couldn't help but think of Qin Keqing, who had passed away young. Recalling the past, they had cared for each other and shared a deep friendship. Now that Keqing was gone, Wang Xifeng felt a surge of bitterness.

On this night in a previous life, all was silent, the house ablaze with light. Wang Xifeng and Ping'er sat beneath the lamp, hugging the warm stove, their needlework dancing softly as weariness gradually set in. Earlier, they had ordered the servants to fumigate their embroidered quilts with a rich fragrance, and now they were ready to rest and sleep. They lay down beside each other, counting on their fingers as they carefully calculated where their journey would take them. Before they knew it, night had deepened, and the sound of the third watch drum could be heard in the distance. Ping'er had already fallen into a sweet sleep, her breathing even and steady.

However, Wang Xifeng's eyes were just beginning to blur, and in a trance, she suddenly thought she saw a familiar figure slowly approaching from outside the door. She looked closely and saw it was the deceased Qin Keqing. She smiled and whispered, "Auntie, sleep well! I'm leaving today, and you didn't even come to see me off. It's because we've always been so close, and I couldn't bear to leave you, so I came to say goodbye. Also, I have a wish that I haven't fulfilled yet, and I have to tell you, because I'm afraid others won't be able to fulfill it."

Wang Xifeng lost all her sleepiness upon hearing this, and asked in a trance, "What is your wish? Just tell me, I will not refuse as long as I can help." Qin smiled slightly and said softly, "Aunt, you are a heroine in this team of women! Even those handsome men with jade belts and high crowns on their heads can hardly be compared with you in terms of intelligence and ability. I just didn't expect that a woman as smart as you would not know much about those two common sayings. As the saying goes, 'The full moon is full.' "When the moon is full, it begins to wane; when water is full, it overflows." There's also a saying, "The higher you climb, the harder you fall." The higher a person climbs, the harder the fall. Our family has enjoyed great fame, prosperity, and wealth for nearly a hundred years. However, things are unpredictable. If excessive joy ever leads to sorrow, and the saying, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter," truly comes true, then our family, renowned for its poetry, literature, and etiquette, will be nothing but a name for nothing!

Upon hearing this, Fengjie's mind suddenly became clear, and she couldn't help but feel a certain admiration for Qin. She quickly asked, "Sister-in-law, your words are truly profound and thoughtful! I wonder if there is any magic way to ensure that our family will always be safe and secure, free from worries?"

Qin lightly raised her jade hand, covered her red lips with a silk handkerchief, and raised the corners of her mouth slightly. A sneer appeared on her beautiful face like a winter plum blossom. As her beautiful eyes moved, her gaze seemed to sweep across the person in front of her, and then she spoke slowly: "Auntie, auntie, you are so innocent and infatuated that it makes people pity you! Think about it, everything in the world follows certain rules and runs endlessly. As the saying goes, things will turn around when they reach their extremes, and good times will come after bad times. Glory and shame are like the alternation of the sun and the moon. They have been cyclical and constantly changing since ancient times. How can the rules among them be maintained for a long time and never changed by human power alone? However, having said that, if we can take advantage of now, During this period of prosperity, it's a wise strategy to plan ahead for the livelihoods and other matters that will be needed in the event of decline. As things stand, most of our family affairs are well-organized, but two crucial matters remain. If these two matters can be handled as I've envisioned, then from now on, our family will rest easy and enjoy eternal peace.

When Fengjie heard this, she hurriedly asked, "What's going on?" Qin frowned slightly and said slowly, "Although there are sacrificial ceremonies at the ancestral tomb all year round, there is no fixed source of money and food! Every time we come to offer sacrifices, we always have to worry about this matter and make plans. Moreover, although we have set up a private school at home, there is no stable supply guarantee. In this way, neither the ancestor worship nor the children's studies can get long-term and stable support." After that, she couldn't help but sigh, her face full of worry.

In my opinion, since our family is currently prosperous, we naturally won't lack the supplies and money needed for the rituals. However, things are unpredictable, and who can guarantee this prosperity in the future? If the family ever declines, where will the funds for the rituals come from? So, it's better to follow my advice and take advantage of our current prosperity to quickly acquire more farmland, houses, and land near the ancestral tomb. This way, we can cover the annual expenses for the rituals. Furthermore, we can also establish a family school there. Then, gather all the elders and juniors of the clan together to discuss and establish rules and regulations. From now on, each family will take turns managing the cultivation and harvest of these fields, the collection and expenditure of grain, the arrangements for the rituals, and the supply of various materials. This cyclical system will avoid disputes and competition, and prevent the problems of pawning and selling off the land. Even if a family member were to commit a crime, other property might be confiscated by the government, but the property dedicated to the sacrificial offerings would remain beyond the reach of even the government. Even if the family were to fall, descendants could return home and continue their studies and farming, providing a safe retreat. Furthermore, the sacrificial offerings could continue forever. Simply dwelling on present prosperity and wealth, without considering the challenges that lie ahead, would ultimately be a futile endeavor. You will soon witness a truly extraordinary celebration, a scene as vibrant as simmering oil, as vibrant as blooming flowers adorning a rich tapestry. But remember, this seemingly endless splendor is ultimately fleeting, a fleeting joy. Never forget the old saying, "Every good feast must end!" If you don't plan for the future now, when things really happen, it will be too late to regret it!

Fengjie was still half asleep when she suddenly heard Qin Shi mention some happy news. She hurriedly asked, "What's the happy news? Tell me!" Qin Shi smiled faintly but said mysteriously, "This is a secret from heaven and cannot be easily revealed! However, since you and I are such good friends, I'll leave you with a few words before I leave. You must remember them well." As she spoke, she softly recited, "After the three springs, all flowers have faded, and each must find its own way."

Fengjie was completely bewildered. Just as she was about to ask a few more questions, there was a sudden, rapid knock on the door. It turned out to be the cloud board on the second door that was used to pass on information, knocking four times in a row! The sound was particularly abrupt in the quiet night, and it suddenly pulled Fengjie back to reality from her thoughts. Then someone came running to report: "Oh no! Grandma Rong in the East Mansion has passed away!"