Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Mrs. Zhou Rui and the little maid stood in front of Mrs. Wang. Both of them looked uneasy, especially the little maid, who lowered her head so low that she almost buried it in her chest.

"Madam, look..." Zhou Ruijia asked cautiously, "Do you want to eat first or take a bath first?"

Mrs. Wang sat on the edge of the bed, her chin resting on her right hand, her eyes slightly narrowed, and she looked at the two trembling servants in front of her with a half-smile. She did not answer immediately, but was silent for a while, then slowly said, "I'm tired, let's take a bath first."

After all, she had just returned from a trip, still dusty from the journey, and looked thoroughly exhausted. Right now, she just wanted to take a good bath and completely relax her body and mind. Besides, according to common sense, Jia Zheng should come to visit her tonight. Thinking of this, Mrs. Wang couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

However, she also understood that what happened between her and Jia Yucun must not be discovered by anyone, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous. Therefore, she had to cleanse the traces on her body as soon as possible to avoid being noticed. So, she decided to take a bath in advance, so that even if Jia Zheng came, she could deal with it calmly.

Madam Wang stood up, and the maids immediately came forward to support her. They went into the bathroom, prepared hot water and toiletries, and then followed Zhou Ruijia out. Madam Wang slowly immersed herself in the bathtub, feeling the warmth of the water envelop her body and soothe her fatigue. The warm water was like a pair of gentle hands, gently caressing every inch of her skin, making her lose herself in it and forget all her fatigue.

While bathing, Mrs. Wang's thoughts gradually drifted away. She recalled the love affair with Jia Yucun, and it was full of aftertaste.

After her bath, Mrs. Wang emerged refreshed. She changed into clean clothes and sat at her dressing table, carefully combing her hair. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her face had aged, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes distinct, as if the years had left a deep mark on her face. Her eyes were filled with ruthlessness, like a hungry wolf, ready to pounce on its prey.

Her thoughts drifted away, and she recalled her past. Over the years, she had spent countless efforts for the entire Second House, and her hands were stained with blood. However, everything she did did not get the rewards she deserved. Her husband, Jia Zheng, that selfish, face-saving, and enjoyable hypocrite, made her extremely disappointed. And her eldest son, Jia Zhu, was forced to study hard day and night because he did not want to disappoint his father's expectations of him passing the imperial examination and becoming an official. In the end, he was exhausted and passed away at a young age. Now, only her daughter Yuanchun is still struggling in the palace. As a palace maid, she doesn't know when she will have a chance to make a name for herself, and she sees her youth slipping away. And her youngest son, Jia Baoyu, has been taken to the old lady to be raised since he was born. He has no business doing anything all day long, and only knows how to hang out with those bad friends.

Mrs. Wang was filled with resentment and resentment. She felt she had given so much to the family, yet received no due respect or reward. She decided to take action to change all this. She wanted to revitalize her life in her own way. So, she began to meticulously plan, hoping to control everyone's fate through her own tactics and scheming.

The more Mrs. Wang thought about it, the more she felt resentful. She felt that she had suffered so much injustice and hardship over the years, all because of Jia Zheng and that old man! On the surface, she was the mistress of the house, but in reality, the entire Jia family was controlled by the old lady, and she had no say at all. But even so, she had to find a way to make more money for herself.

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from outside: "The master is here!"

Mrs. Wang quickly composed herself, a smile on her face, and went to greet him. She knew that although Jia Zheng had no real power in the mansion, he was the head of the family after all, and she still had to serve him well.

After Jia Zheng entered the room, he sat down and asked, "Madam, have you had a smooth journey?" Madam Wang stood gracefully beside him, like a dignified and noble woman, and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, Master. My journey was quite smooth. I made a special trip to Daxiangguo Temple and lit a perpetual lamp for you. The perpetual lamp was like a brilliant star in the night sky, illuminating the entire temple and also illuminating my deepest blessings for you, Master. I pray to the Buddha to bless you with a prosperous career and a smooth official career."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's heart was filled with joy, and a beaming smile spread across his face. He quickly reached out and took Mrs. Wang's hand, saying cheerfully, "Madam, you truly understand my feelings!" Mrs. Wang, hearing this, secretly despised him. She thought, Jia Zheng is such a hypocrite, all he does is flatter and flatter, with no opinions of his own. He's a complete bookworm. With such a naive mind, so utterly devoted to servitude, and so content with his daily duties, how could he dream of rising to power and wealth? It's simply wishful thinking! Mrs. Wang forced a smile, gently withdrawing her hand. "Master," she said in a sweet voice, "I've had the kitchen prepare a pot of your favorite old duck soup for you. Please try it." Jia Zheng nodded slightly in agreement, then said, "Very well, I'm a little hungry." With that, they both moved to the dining table and sat down.

The table was laden with delicious dishes, but the two men remained silent, the atmosphere unusually heavy. Like two cold statues, they ate in silence, without a single word exchanged. Mrs. Wang would occasionally observe Jia Zheng's expression and movements, while Jia Zheng, absorbed in his food, seemed oblivious to his surroundings. Thus, the two men finished their awkward dinner in silence, neither of them speaking a word.