Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen's heart burst into joy. He quickly turned to the servant beside him and shouted, "Hurry! Tell the people in the study to respectfully write my resume and present it to me!" The servant dared not delay for a moment and rushed to the study. Soon, he came back panting, carefully holding a piece of bright red paper in his hands, which he respectfully handed to Jia Zhen. Jia Zhen took it eagerly and looked at it, then hurriedly handed it to Dai Quan with both hands.

Dai Quan took the red paper and examined it carefully. It read, neatly inscribed: "Jia Rong, a student of Jiangning County, Jiangning Prefecture, Jiangnan, age twenty. His great-grandfather was Jia Daihua, the former governor of the Beijing Camp and hereditary first-class Divine Power General; his grandfather was Jia Jing, a Jinshi (Jinshi) from the Yimao year; and his father was Jia Zhen, the hereditary third-rank magistrate and powerful general."

After carefully reading it, Dai Quan handed it to a helpful servant beside him and instructed, "When you return later, give this to Lao Zhao, the official in the Ministry of Revenue. Tell him I send my regards and ask for a receipt for a fifth-rank Dragon Guard, along with a copy of the relevant license. Remember to complete this resume. I'll personally bring the money to him tomorrow." The servant nodded in agreement, promising to do so. Dai Quan then prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Jia Zhen tried desperately to persuade Dai Quan to stay, but he was unable to do so. Finally, he had no choice but to respectfully escort him out of the mansion. Just as Dai Quan was about to board his sedan chair, Jia Zhen suddenly asked, "Regarding the silver, should I go to the Ministry of Revenue to exchange it, or would it be better to simply send it to your home?" Dai Quan smiled slightly, waved his hand, and replied, "If I ask you to go to the Ministry of Revenue to exchange it, you'll be at a disadvantage! It would be better to prepare 1,200 taels of silver according to the average standard and send it to my home." Jia Zhen was overwhelmed with gratitude after hearing this, and he thanked him repeatedly, saying that after the mourning period was over, he would personally bring his son to visit him to express his deep gratitude. After this, the two said goodbye.

Then, a resounding command was heard, and everyone turned to look. A richly decorated carriage slowly approached. It turned out that the mourner was the wife of Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding. Lady Wang, Lady Xing, and Wang Xifeng hurried forward to greet her and usher her into the upper chamber. Just as Lady Shi Ding was being settled, another servant hurried in to report that the memorial gifts sent by the Marquis of Jinxiang, the Marquis of Chuanning, and the Earl of Shoushan had been neatly placed before the coffin.

Soon, the three sedan chairs slowly landed on the ground, and then the curtains were lifted, and three people stepped out one after another. Jia Zheng and others hurried forward to welcome them into the spacious and bright hall.

At this time, relatives and friends came in an endless stream. The number of people coming and going was so large that it was almost impossible to count them. This went on day after day, and in the blink of an eye, forty-nine days passed.

During these forty-nine days, the streets of Ningguo Mansion were covered in white all day long, with people coming and going shoulder to shoulder. Flowers bloomed on both sides of the road, surrounding the officials who came and went.

Jia Zhen specifically instructed Jia Rong to change into his official uniform the next day and return to collect the relevant credentials. The various offerings and items used in the mourning hall were strictly regulated by the standards of a fifth-rank official. The inscription on the spirit tablet and the memorial read, "The spirit tablet of the consecrated lady Qin of the Jia family, granted by the Imperial Court."

The main entrance to Huifang Garden was flung wide open, and halls dedicated to drum and music were erected on either side. The yangban musicians, dressed in blue, punctually played funeral music at the appointed time. The melodies were mournful and poignant, moving the audience. Meanwhile, teams of deacons lined up in neat rows, their knives and axes neatly arranged, gleaming with a chilling gleam, a majestic presence.

Even more striking were the two vermilion signboards inlaid with gold characters, standing opposite each other outside the gate. Prominently inscribed upon them were the words: "Protecting the Imperial Court, Forbidden Road, Imperial Guard, Dragon Guard." Farther away, directly opposite the gate, stood a high altar for religious ceremonies. Monks and Taoists stood on either side of the altar, displaying notices. In bold, powerful handwriting, the notice read: "Funeral of the Respected Lady Qin of the Jia Family, Grandmother of the Hereditary Duke of Ningguo, and Imperial Guard, Dragon Guard, Protecting the Imperial Court." The entire scene was solemn and awe-inspiring, inspiring awe. This place, the center of the four continents, a peaceful nation blessed by Heaven's will, was home to countless talented individuals and those who cherished rites and rituals.

Among them, Master Wanxu, head of the Monk Registrar's Office of the Void and Silence Sect, and Master Yesheng, head of the Daoist Registrar's Office of the Yuanshi Trinity Sect, along with other prominent figures, were all devout, respectfully observing the fast and bowing to the Buddha with fervent devotion. There were countless expressions such as, "We respectfully invite the Bodhisattvas of the Temple, the Venerable Jieti, the Immortals of Gongcao, and other deities to descend. Thanks to the Holy Saint's widespread grace and divine might, we are holding a forty-nine-day water and land ceremony to dispel disasters, cleanse sins, and pray for peace and prosperity." I won't go into detail here.

Yet, despite Jia Zhen's profound satisfaction and relief, a troubling matter loomed within the mansion. His wife, Youshi, had suffered a relapse of her old illness, remaining bedridden and unable to attend to household duties or social gatherings. Jia Zhen feared that his poor hospitality would lead to disrespect and ridicule when the distinguished ladies of high rank visited him. This worry hung over him, a constant gloom that he could not let go.

Just as Jia Zhen was consumed with worry, Jia Baoyu happened to be right beside him. Curious, Baoyu asked, "Everything is so neatly arranged now, why are you still so worried?" Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen honestly explained the lack of a leader in the mansion. Baoyu smiled and confidently replied, "What's the problem? I'd like to recommend someone to you, brother, to oversee all matters, big and small, for the next month. I guarantee she'll handle everything perfectly!"

Jia Zhen anxiously asked, "Who is it?" Baoyu looked around and saw that many relatives and friends were present. He felt it was not convenient to speak directly at this moment. So he quietly moved to Jia Zhen's side and whispered a few words in his ear.

After hearing this, Jia Zhen's face immediately lit up with irrepressible joy, his excitement beyond words. He quickly stood up and replied with a smile: "If it is really so appropriate! Then let's go there quickly." After saying this, he took Baoyu's hand, said goodbye to everyone present, and the two of them hurriedly walked towards the upper room.

As luck would have it, today wasn't a formal occasion, so relatively few relatives and friends had come to visit. Only a handful of close female relatives were inside, chatting and entertaining themselves. These included Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, and a few other members of the same clan. Just then, someone outside suddenly announced, "Master, come in!"

This sudden cry startled the women present, who cried out in alarm like frightened birds. They hurriedly dove for cover, desperate to escape the attack. However, Wang Xifeng stood out from the crowd. She stood up slowly and gracefully.

Jia Zhen was not in good health at the time. On the one hand, he had some illnesses that had not yet healed. On the other hand, he was under great grief and pressure because of the many misfortunes that had happened in his family recently. Therefore, he had to walk into the house with a cane and a staggering gait.

Seeing Jia Zhen like this, Mrs. Xing and the others couldn't help but say with concern, "Look at yourself. You're not feeling well to begin with, and you've been so exhausted these days. You should rest and recuperate. Why are you here again now?" Jia Zhen supported himself with his crutches, struggling to squat down and greet everyone. Mrs. Xing and the others saw this and hurriedly ordered Baoyu to support Jia Zhen and told the servants to quickly bring a chair for him to sit down and rest.

How could Jia Zhen be willing to sit down? He smiled and said with a flattering look, "My nephew has come here rashly today because I really have something to ask of you, my two aunts and my eldest sister!" Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xing and the others hurriedly asked in unison, "What is it?" Jia Zhen hurriedly explained with a smile, "Aunt, you must know it very well. Now that my grandson's wife has suddenly passed away, it happens that my nephew's wife is ill in bed. The whole house is in chaos and there are no rules or regulations at all. So, I would like to ask my eldest sister to be a little bit humbled and help take care of it for about a month. In this way, I can feel more at ease." Mrs. Xing smiled slightly after hearing this and responded, "Oh, so that's the reason. However, your eldest sister is now living in the house of your second aunt. You can discuss this matter directly with your second aunt. "At this time, Mrs. Wang on the side hurriedly interrupted and said, "Oh, she is just a little child. How could she have experienced such complicated things? If she is really asked to take care of this matter, what if she handles it improperly and makes a mess, won't she be ridiculed? It would be better to trouble someone else. "When Jia Zhen heard this, the smile on his face became even brighter, and he quickly responded, "Aunt, your concerns are already guessed by your nephew. You must be worried that my eldest sister will be too tired. But please rest assured, although my eldest sister is still young, with her intelligence and cleverness, if she is in charge of these affairs, even if there are occasional omissions, others will think it is acceptable. "Since she was a child, my eldest sister has been decisive and ruthless when she was playing. Now that she is married and working in the mansion, she has become more experienced and mature. I have thought about it these days, and there is no one else except my eldest sister. Auntie doesn't care about the relationship between nephew and nephew's wife, she only cares about the relationship between the dead and the deceased!" As she said this, tears rolled down her face.

Sister Feng had always loved taking on all the responsibilities and showing off her talents. Although she usually managed the household perfectly, she had never handled such important matters as weddings and funerals, and she was inevitably worried that others would not accept her. Therefore, she had always hoped for such an opportunity to show her talents. When she saw Jia Zhen coming in person to ask for help, she was already overjoyed.

At first, Wang Xifeng felt a little anxious when she saw that Lady Wang had refused to agree. However, when she heard Jia Zhen's earnest plea, she keenly sensed that Lady Wang's attitude had softened. She quickly struck while the iron was hot and said to Lady Wang, "Brother, since you are so sincere, please agree to it, Madam."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang quietly inquired, "This matter is of no small importance. Are you truly capable of handling it?" Sister Feng replied without hesitation, "It's not difficult at all! All the important matters outside have been arranged by my elder brother. What remains are only some trivial matters inside that need to be taken care of. If there's anything I'm not sure about, I can always ask Madam."

Mrs. Wang listened to her logical analysis and felt that what she said made sense, so she stopped objecting. Seeing that Fengjie nodded in agreement, Jia Zhen's face immediately spread with a smile, and he said carefully: "The situation is urgent now, and I really can't care about so many red tape. In any case, I would like to ask my elder sister to take the trouble to help me. Here, I will first pay my respects to you on behalf of my family. When the whole thing is successfully concluded, I will definitely go to your house to express my gratitude in person." After saying this, Jia Zhen bowed deeply, and Wang Xifeng hurriedly returned the greeting.

Jia Zhen quickly reached into his sleeve and pulled out a Ningguo Mansion plaque. Smiling, he handed it to Jia Baoyu and instructed, "Brother Bao, quickly deliver this plaque to Feng! Also, tell her to manage the place however she wants. Just take this plaque and get whatever she wants, without asking for my opinion first. However, I have only two small requests. First, don't be so obsessed with saving me money; everything should be aesthetically pleasing. Second, treat your servants to the same standards as we do here. Don't lower your standards for fear of complaints. Aside from these two points, I have no other concerns."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng didn't immediately reach out to take the paired card. Instead, she turned to look at Mrs. Wang, who was sitting nearby. Mrs. Wang nodded slightly and said, "Since your brother has said so, then, Miss Feng, you can help keep an eye on things. But there's one thing you must remember: when doing things, never make decisions on your own. If you encounter any trouble, remember to send someone back to ask your brother or sister-in-law for their opinion to avoid mistakes."

Seeing this, Jia Baoyu eagerly snatched the matching card from Jia Zhen's hand and, without further ado, thrust it into Wang Xifeng's. Then, curiously, he asked, "Sister, are you planning to live here? Or are you coming here every day to handle your affairs? It would be too tiring to travel back and forth every day. Why don't you just hurry up and build a separate little courtyard here for me, so you can stay here for a few days and have some peace and quiet." Fengjie smiled and said, "No need. I can't live without you there either. It's better to come here every day." Hearing this, Jia Zhen gave up. After some more small talk, he left.