The Cloud Feather of the Red Chamber: A Marriage Arranged with Gong Yuanzheng at the Start

"No!" Surprisingly, it was Jia Baoyu who first objected.

He strode to Jia Tanchun's side, grabbed her sleeve tightly, and his eyes showed obvious nervousness.

In recent years, my second sister, fourth sister, and Yun sister have rarely come to Rongxi Hall.

Lin Daiyu and Lin Jiejie never came even once.

Only Baochai and the third sister are still with him. If the third sister leaves too, his life will be boring.

“Master, it’s fine if you want to take Second Sister away, but Third Sister’s parents and relatives are all here. How can she go to sea with you?”

Jia She slightly curled the corners of his mouth, ignoring the flustered Jia Baoyu.

His deep gaze was fixed on Jia Tanchun. "Whether you go or not, it's your decision."

Jia Tanchun instantly clutched the handkerchief in her hand, staring at Jia She with suspicion and uncertainty, her heart pounding like a drum.

She knew this was her only chance to leave the Jia family; if she didn't seize it this time, she would be trapped in this courtyard forever.

Jia Xichun looked at Jia Tanchun with encouraging eyes and said softly, "Third sister, this is the only chance to change your fate."

A resolute glint flashed in Jia Tanchun's eyes, making Jia Baoyu even more anxious.

"What nonsense is Fourth Sister spouting? What chance to change her fate? Isn't the Jia family good enough? Why go outside?"

"Didn't you hear what the master just said? The outside world is so dangerous, how can it compare to the Jia family?"

Jia Xichun stared intently at Jia Baoyu, "Second Brother, the Jia family is naturally the best for you."

“To us girls, the Jia family…” Jia Xichun sneered.

"The Jia family now is like a den of tigers and wolves!"

Jia Baoyu was speechless. Thinking of Jia Lian who had stormed out of the door just now, he could only say:

"Fourth sister is being unreasonable; how can she generalize about everything?"

But instead of arguing with Jia Xichun, he hurriedly grabbed Jia Tanchun's arm.

"Third sister, you can't do something foolish! Grandmother, fourth sister, Yun sister, and Bao sister, we're all here. Are you really willing to leave us?"

Hearing Jia Baoyu murmur the name, Jia Tanchun's heart clenched painfully.

Baoyu even thought of Xue Baochai, but he never thought of Huan-ge'er.

As Jia She observed the change in Jia Tanchun's expression, a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

He spoke slowly, "Third girl, Huan-ge'er is eight years old now, isn't he?"

“I heard that he is still living in a private school and has never received a proper education.”

"I do know a famous teacher who I can introduce to Brother Huan."

Jia Tanchun trembled, and her eyes, as she looked at Jia She, held a mixture of surprise and fear.

She immediately understood what Jia She meant.

She would go to sea with the master, and the master would hire a famous teacher for Huan-ge'er.

This is Huan-ge'er's only chance. If he stays at the Jia family's private school, he will never have a chance to rise in the world.

The master certainly wouldn't refuse such a good deal.

But how could the old lady and Sister-in-law Zhu just stand by and watch Huan-ge'er have a famous teacher?

They will definitely try to stop her, and Aunt Zhao will certainly fight them for Huan-ge'er's sake.

This is the master's true purpose.

But she still knelt down without hesitation and kowtowed heavily to Jia She.

"I'm willing to go to sea with Master and Second Sister!"

"Third Sister!" Jia Baoyu was struck dumb.

His eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked at Jia Tanchun. He couldn't understand why his younger sister, with whom he had grown up, would abandon her family and travel far away without hesitation.

Jia She smiled with satisfaction. He had seen all the younger generation of the Jia family, and only these girls had any ambition and ability.

Wouldn't it be a waste to keep such a capable person in the Jia family?

"Go back and pack your things first. Have a good time with your aunt and brother. We'll set off in half a month."

Once he leaves, no one knows when he'll return.

Unlike Jia Baoyu's heartbreak, everyone else in the room was happy for Jia Tanchun.

Gong Zishang toyed with the wine cup in his hand, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "No wonder he was once the Crown Prince's study companion, this General Jia's methods are indeed extraordinary."

Judging from the painting, Huan-ge'er should be the third young lady's brother, and he is not favored in the Jia family.

Jia She directly hired a famous teacher to train him, with a clear purpose: to compete with Jia Baoyu.

That's another blow to Grandmother Jia's lungs.

Grandmother Jia would certainly not be happy about the progress of her grandson whom she looked down upon, and she would definitely take action against Huan-ge'er.

Huan Ge'er's mother was probably no pushover either.

The Jia family is about to have another lively time.

Her words successfully attracted Xue Gongzi's attention. He lowered his head and began to recall Jia She's words and actions.

The current Young Master Xue is no longer the clueless boy he was when he first saw the painting.

He has now also learned to guess the deeper meaning behind Jia She's actions based on the cause and effect.

Hua Gongzi looked at Gong Yuanzheng with a bewildered expression, then at Gong Zishang, and finally at Xue Chongzi.

He leaned closer to Yukishige and whispered, "Dayuki, do you understand?"

Xue Chongzi calmly put down her chopsticks. "You can ask Xiaoxue. She'll give you the answer."

Young Master Hua immediately looked longingly at Young Master Xue.

After pondering for a moment, Young Master Xue looked at Gong Zishang and carefully spoke.

“Zhi Ren, General Jia deliberately wanted to take the Third Miss away; he wanted to cause chaos within the second branch of the Jia family.”

Gong Zishang nodded approvingly, "Not bad, Xiaoxue, you've really grown up now, you actually thought of coming here."

Gong Zishang couldn't help but sigh again.

"If General Jia had used these cunning tactics earlier, his wife and eldest son would not have died such a tragic death."

Yukishige looked at the wine glass in front of her and said calmly, "Intrigues and schemes are always used against outsiders. Who would use them on their closest friends and family?"

His words caused a moment of silence at the table, then Gong Zishang suddenly laughed.

"Da Xue, you are so young, yet you can say such philosophical things. It seems that you have not wasted your time looking at this painting."

Xue Zhongzi smiled faintly, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes as she looked at Gong Zishang. "I'm over thirty now, so it might be alright for you to call me uncle."

Gong Zishang: "..."

Gong Yuanzheng burst out laughing. "I've finished eating, so I'll head back to Zheng Palace now."

The scroll had now been closed, and the meal was almost finished.

Gong Yuanzheng had no intention of listening to their idle chatter. He greeted everyone and turned back to Zheng Palace.

Gong Zishang also stood up and stretched.

"A hundred steps after a meal, and you'll live to ninety-nine. You two can chat anytime."

"I'm going to take a stroll first."

After saying this, he walked out of the hall.

Soon, only Xue Chongzi, Xue Gongzi, and Hua Gongzi remained at the table.

Young Master Hua was completely dumbfounded, and he asked Young Master Xue in a weak voice.

"General Jia took the Third Miss out, wasn't it so that she could broaden her horizons?"

"From what you're saying, he has ulterior motives?"

Young Master Xue sighed inwardly. He always looked at the painting together with Zhi Ren.

Each time I practiced the blade, I would patiently analyze the techniques for him, and after a few times, he learned a lot.

Xiao Hua had been following Elder Hua around, but she probably just watched and didn't really learn the essence of those teachings.

If someone like him were to arrive in the capital, he would likely be sold out and even help count the money.