Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

After returning to the backyard, Jia Zheng hurriedly ordered the servants around him to quickly pass a message to Jia Baoyu, asking him to quickly take off the heavy mourning clothes, and then personally led him quickly to the front hall.

As for Jia Baoyu, despite his youth, he'd often heard stories about Shui Rong from his father, brothers, relatives, and friends during their leisurely conversations. They all said Shui Rong was not only a man of exceptional virtue and talent, humble and courteous, and adept at making friends with the wise, but more importantly, he possessed a handsome and exceptional appearance, as well as astonishing talent. The graceful demeanor he displayed in his every move, and the elegant temperament he exuded from within, were enough to garner endless praise.

Yet, what commanded the most admiration was Shui Rong's open-minded and carefree disposition. He was unconstrained by the formalities of officialdom, the constraints of worldly customs, and the strictures of national law and etiquette. Like an eagle soaring freely through the heavens, he truly was a true gentleman! It was precisely for this reason that, despite never having the opportunity to meet the legendary Prince Shui Rong in person, Jia Baoyu already held a deep admiration for him. Countless times, he secretly pondered how wonderful it would be if he could one day meet him, get to know him, and have a conversation with him.

However, his father Jia Zheng was very strict with him, so he had never been able to fulfill his wish. So when he suddenly learned that Prince Shui Rong had actually taken the initiative to summon him, Jia Baoyu was so excited that he could hardly contain himself, and his heart seemed to be about to jump out of his throat.

Jia Baoyu's face was filled with unconcealable joy, and he ran forward with brisk and eager steps. His heart was filled with anticipation and curiosity, as if an invisible force was pulling him forward.

As he walked, Jia Baoyu suddenly spotted a magnificently decorated sedan chair parked quietly not far ahead. Encircled by exquisite silk curtains embroidered with vibrant patterns, it stood out. Jia Baoyu thought, "Surely the person sitting in this sedan chair must be the renowned and universally praised Prince Shui Rong?"

Although the distance was still far, and only the vague outline of the figure in the sedan could be seen, just this glimpse from afar was enough to inspire longing. Through the hazy curtains, one could vaguely sense Prince Shui Rong's otherworldly demeanor and unique and extraordinary style. Jia Baoyu couldn't help but think to himself, "I wonder what kind of awe-inspiring sight I'll see when I get closer and get a closer look at this prince?"

Just then, Jia Baoyu finally approached the sedan chair. He looked up and saw Prince Beijing Shirong sitting upright inside, wearing a pristine white cap with silver wings and a tasseled tassel. The cap was inlaid with dazzling gems, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. He wore a white python robe embroidered with five-clawed dragons, resembling river teeth and seawater. The dragons, embroidered with gold thread, were so lifelike they seemed ready to soar into the air at any moment. A red sash of jasper tied around his waist accentuated his tall and slender figure.

Looking at his face again, it was as delicate and smooth as a piece of flawless jade, his fair skin emitting a faint luster; his eyes were as bright as stars, deep and full of spirit, and a single glance could make one fall in love with them. With such a handsome and elegant appearance, he was truly a man of rare beauty.

Seeing this, Baoyu hurried forward and respectfully bowed to Shirong. Shirong, smiling, calmly reached out from the sedan chair and gently supported Baoyu. The moment their eyes met, a sense of warmth and friendship emanated from both of them.

Baoyu raised his head and took a closer look at Shirong. He wore a silver crown, also adorned with several glittering pearls, which made him look even more heroic. A headband adorned his forehead, depicting two golden dragons circling the sea, their fangs bared and claws bared, a majestic aura. He wore a coat of pure white, python-like sleeves, the cuffs trimmed with a fine silver thread, a delicate and gorgeous sight. A silver belt, adorned with round, plump pearls, shimmered softly with silver light, encircled his waist.

Baoyu's face is as delicate and charming as a flower in full bloom in spring, and his rosy cheeks reveal a hint of youthful vigor; his eyes are like black ink jade, deep and bright, and his radiant gaze seems to contain endless spiritual energy.

Prince Beijing's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile. He exclaimed in admiration, "I've heard of your great reputation for a long time, and seeing you today, it truly lives up to its reputation! Look at your appearance, you truly are a rare treasure, just like a warm and beautiful jade." As he spoke, his eyes fell on Baoyu, and he asked curiously, "I heard that the object in your mouth is a rare treasure. I wonder where it is now?"

When Baoyu heard Prince Beijing's question, he quickly reached into his clothes and groped around. Then, he carefully took out the treasure and handed it to Prince Beijing respectfully. After receiving the treasure, Prince Beijing first examined it carefully, then quietly read the words engraved on it. After a moment, he looked up at Jia Zheng and Baoyu and asked with interest, "It is said that this treasure is quite spiritual. I wonder if it is really so effective?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng quickly bowed and responded, "Although there have been many rumors about this treasure, I have not personally verified it, so it is difficult to say for sure what it is."

After hearing this, Prince Beijing nodded in praise while gently adjusting the multicolored ribbon that bound the treasure. He then put it on Baoyu himself, took Baoyu's hand, and asked him about his age and what book he was currently studying. Baoyu did not dare to neglect his answer and answered each question clearly and distinctly.

Prince Beijing was impressed by Baoyu's clear and coherent speech, and his smile widened. He turned to Jia Zheng and said, "Your son is so outstanding, truly a dragon colt and phoenix chick! Forgive me for speaking frankly in front of you, but in my opinion, given time, when this young phoenix grows up, its song will surpass that of the old one, and its future is undoubtedly limitless!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng quickly put on a smile and said humbly, "My talent is mediocre, and I cannot possibly deserve such high praise from Your Highness. I rely entirely on your kindness and grace towards me. If I can achieve what you have promised, it will be a blessing for us younger generations."

Prince Beijing nodded slightly and said slowly, "There is one more thing I must mention. Your son is so talented, I'm sure the old lady will dote on him. However, we, the younger generation, really shouldn't be overly pampered, otherwise we will inevitably neglect our studies. I, the prince, once fell into this doting trap, and I think your son may be the same. If your son has trouble concentrating on his studies at home, why not come to my humble abode often? Although my talent is mediocre, I am grateful that many famous scholars from all over the country treat me with special care whenever they come to the capital. Therefore, my mansion is often filled with great scholars and literati. If your son comes here often to chat, exchange ideas, and learn from each other, his knowledge will surely improve day by day!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Highness is absolutely right." Prince Beijing gracefully lifted his wrist and gently removed a string of prayer beads. Smiling, he handed it to Baoyu and said, "Today is our first meeting, and time is short, so I haven't been able to prepare a suitable gift. This string of prayer beads, the Wagyu-flavored rosary given by His Majesty, will serve as a small gift to express my congratulations."

Seeing this, Baoyu hurriedly reached out to take the rosary, then turned around and respectfully presented it to Jia Zheng. Jia Zheng took the rosary with both hands and bowed deeply to Prince Beijing again to express his gratitude.

At this moment, Jia She, Jia Zhen and others came forward together, kowtowed respectfully and requested Beijing King to return. Beijing King said solemnly: "The deceased has ascended to the fairyland and become an extraordinary person. He no longer belongs to us ordinary mortals. Although I am blessed by heaven and have the honor to inherit the throne of the prince, how can I go past the immortal's coffin?" Seeing that Beijing King was determined and refused to agree, Jia She and others had no choice but to thank him again and turn back. They hurriedly ordered their men to stop playing music, suspend the sound of mourning music, and quickly move the funeral procession forward until the entire funeral ceremony was over, and then allowed Beijing King to pass through here. Let's put these things aside for now.

The funeral procession at the Ningguo Mansion was a scene of extraordinary activity, with drums and music blaring. As the procession arrived at the city gate, Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen's colleagues and subordinates erected tents to greet and pay their respects. Jia Zhen, accompanied by Jia Rong, expressed their gratitude to each of the deceased before exiting the city walls and galloping towards the avenue leading to Tiekan Temple. Meanwhile, Jia Zhen was leading Jia Rong before the elders, inviting them to ride in sedan chairs or on horseback. Those of Jia She's generation boarded their own prepared carriages, while those of Jia Zhen's generation were about to mount their horses. However, Wang Xifeng was concerned about Jia Baoyu, fearing he would become unruly and disobey his family's advice in the suburbs. Jia Zheng was currently too busy to attend to him, and any mishap would be disastrous. With this in mind, Wang Xifeng hurriedly dispatched a servant to summon Baoyu. When Baoyu heard the call, he had to walk quickly to the front of the carriage she was riding in.

Fengjie said with a smile on her face: "Oh, my good brother! You are a man of incomparable nobility, and your character is just like those delicate girls. But don't follow their example and lie on your horse like a monkey! Come down quickly, and let us two sisters ride together in this carriage, so we can chat and laugh all the way. Isn't it a wonderful thing?" Baoyu was amused by this and dismounted obediently, his movements as light as a feather falling to the ground. Then, using his hands and feet, he nimbly climbed into Fengjie's carriage.

Soon, two fine horses were seen galloping like arrows from a bow, straight towards Fengjie's carriage. As they approached, they quickly dismounted, respectfully held onto the carriage, and leaned over to say, "We've got a suitable resting place here. Madam, would you like to rest for a while and change your clothes?" Fengjie nodded slightly and ordered a servant to consult Madams Xing and Wang. A short while later, the two returned with the news, "The ladies say there's no need to stop. It's up to you, Madam, to decide." After a moment's reflection, Fengjie ordered a brief rest before continuing on.

Immediately afterwards, several clever servants quickly led the sedan chair and horses, skillfully diverting the road through the throng and heading north. Meanwhile, Baoyu, sitting in the carriage, suddenly remembered that his friend Qin Zhong was still lagging behind, and quickly sent for him to join them for a short break (a short rest and meal along the way). Qin Zhong, riding a tall horse, was following closely beside his father's sedan chair. Suddenly, he saw Baoyu's horse from afar, its saddle and cage exquisitely decorated, leisurely following Fengjie's carriage towards the north. Qin Zhong immediately understood that Baoyu and Fengjie were riding in the same carriage. Without hesitation, he squeezed his legs hard against the horse's belly, urging his mount to speed up and catch up. Soon, he and Baoyu and the others entered the magnificent gate of a manor.

The farmhouses were few and far between, and the women in them had no place to hide. When these simple village girls and unworldly women first saw Fengjie, Baoyu, and Qin Zhong, they were so struck by their remarkable looks and gorgeous clothes that they almost suspected they were immortals descended from the sky.

After entering the humble thatched cottage, Fengjie first told Baoyu and the others to go out and play for a while. Baoyu understood the message, and he, Qin Zhong, and a group of servants began to wander around. All the objects used by farmers in daily life were new and novel to Baoyu, who grew up in a wealthy family. He was filled with amazement when he saw these things, having no idea what they were called or what they were used for. Fortunately, some of the servants who accompanied him knew the names of these items and their uses. After listening to them, Baoyu could not help but nod his head repeatedly and said, "No wonder poets throughout the ages have written such lines: 'Who knows that every grain of rice on the plate is the product of hard work!' It turns out that this is exactly the reason." As they spoke, the group entered another room.

At this moment, Baoyu suddenly spotted a spinning wheel on the kang, which he found particularly curious. The servants hurriedly explained, "It's used for spinning and weaving." Hearing this, Baoyu excitedly climbed onto the kang to spin the spinning wheel. Just then, a maid, about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in simple village clothes, hurried over and scolded, "Don't break it!" Before she could finish her words, the servants rushed forward and shouted at her.