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

Daiyu smiled, now that she knew about the Burial of Snow Sutra, Qingyu no longer cared about Little Snow Brother and only clung to Big Snow Brother.

She smiled at Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun, "Second sister, third sister, let's get on the boat too."

Jia Yingchun smiled and nodded, then turned to Siqi, "Siqi, I'm leaving now."

Siqi looked at Jia Yingchun with some reluctance; she had originally planned to go to sea with Jia Yingchun.

However, after Jia Yingchun learned that she and her cousin were engaged, she kept her there, but instead sent Xiuju with her.

Now Siqi follows Ping'er and helps take care of Qiaojie and Xiaoge.

Wang Xifeng took away several of the capable and trouble-free maids from the main branch of the Jia family.

This was also Jia She's intention.

He was truly ruthless; in just half a month, he disposed of all the assets of the eldest son's family and handed them all over to Wang Xifeng to manage.

They left only two shops and one estate for Madam Xing and Jia Lian respectively.

He gave Madam Xing a choice: if she wanted a divorce, he would give her two more shops and a manor.

Madam Xing chose to stay in the Jia family; she was greedy, but she was not foolish.

She knew that if they divorced, she would lose the protection of the Jia family and wouldn't be able to hold onto any of her shops and estates.

But if they don't divorce, even if Jia She dies outside, as long as she is still Jia She's wife, and as long as she behaves herself and doesn't cause trouble.

They can still live a peaceful and comfortable life until old age.

If anyone tries to bully her, she will go to the Lin family or the palace gate to cry. For Jia She's sake, they will not turn a blind eye.

After Jia Lian stormed out that day, he never returned. Jia She only sent someone to deliver the deeds to the shop and the estate to him, and then ignored him.

"Girl, I'll go out to sea with you!"

Jia Yingchun laughed, her eyes welling up with tears. "You're talking nonsense again. What about your cousin?"

Siqi: "Then let him wait! If he can't wait, then the marriage is off, and he can go and marry another woman!"

Jia Yingchun glanced at Pan Youan, who was waiting not far away, and laughed, "Stop talking nonsense. Now that you're following Ping'er, you should learn from her. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to be a shopkeeper's wife in the future?"

"Miss..." Hearing this, Siqi almost burst into tears, not wanting to affect Jia Yingchun's mood.

She pulled Xiuju aside and reminded her again to take good care of the girl.

Jia Tanchun looked at Shishu standing beside her and said, "Shishu, do you really want to go to sea with me? The sea may be more dangerous than we imagine."

The presence of cannons on every deck of the ship clearly demonstrates the level of danger of the upcoming journey.

Shi Shu said resolutely, "Miss, I've thought it over. I want to go to sea with you!"

She was an orphan to begin with, and if she stayed in the Jia family, she would only be married to a servant.

The world outside is so vast, she wanted to go out and see it.

As for getting married? At worst, I'll just not get married. Look at Miss Gong, how carefree she is now.

She was just a maid, not as capable as Miss Gong. Now that she had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she naturally wouldn't miss it.

By broadening their horizons and learning more skills, they can secure a livelihood in the future.

Jia Tanchun naturally understood Shishu's thoughts, and the two exchanged a smile.

At this moment, Wang Xifeng walked up to Jia Tanchun with a package in her hand. "Third sister, this is some luggage I prepared for you."

"And there are parting gifts from Qiao Jie'er and Xiao Ge'er for you. I left early today, so I didn't bring them with me."

As parting gifts, naturally, gifts would be given to Jia Yingchun, Daiyu, and Qingyu; she had already just sent these out.

Jia Tanchun accepted the gift and felt its weight. She was startled and looked at Wang Xifeng with shock in her eyes.

Meeting Wang Xifeng's smiling phoenix eyes, her eyes reddened, and she almost shed tears.

"Sister Feng, I..."

Wang Xifeng stopped her and wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

"Third sister, there's no need to say more. Take good care of yourself while you're away from home. Once you're on the ship, the world is truly your oyster, and you can soar freely."

Jia Tanchun held back her tears, nodded heavily to Wang Xifeng, and silently hugged the package in her hands.

During this voyage, Grandmother Jia and Li Wan, out of consideration for Jia She and the palace, dared not forcefully detain her, but they still uttered every cold and sarcastic remark they could.

Jia Zheng was completely indifferent, only sending a servant yesterday to instruct him, "Don't bring shame to the second branch of the Jia family."

Jia Tanchun immediately sneered. Disgrace the second branch of the Jia family? The second branch of the Jia family had already lost all face long ago.

Let's not even talk about Aunt Zhao. These past few days, she's been outwitting Grandmother Jia and Li Wan, all in an effort to get Jia Huan into a renowned teacher.

Jia Huan didn't even show his face, and it's unclear what he was busy with.

But Wang Xifeng brought her what she needed most: silver.

Everyone had already boarded the ship one after another. Jia Tanchun followed at the back of the group and couldn't help but look back.

It was completely empty; there wasn't a soul in sight.

Xue Gongzi looked at her, thought for a moment, took a few steps forward, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"I am Gongmen Xue, young lady. Would you like me to help you with your package?"

Jia Tanchun was startled; how had this person walked up to her so quietly?

She met the other person's eyes with some wariness; they were clear and bright, without a trace of impurity.

Jia Tanchun felt relieved and was about to speak when she heard a call from behind her.

"Second sister! Third sister!"

Turning around, they saw two carriages parked not far away. Jia Baoyu and Xichun alighted from the carriages, followed by...

Jia Huan.

Not to mention Jia Tanchun, even Jia Yingchun was startled. She had already climbed halfway down the suspended stairs and hurriedly turned around to come down.

"Baoyu, Fourth Sister, Huan-ge'er, what brings you here?"

Jia Baoyu felt wronged; he was angry that Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun had abandoned him and his sisters and gone to sea.

But when it was time to part, all the anger turned into reluctance.

He handed the package to Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun.

"This is a parting gift that I, Fourth Sister, Yun Sister, and Bao Sister prepared for you."

"Take care of yourselves and come back soon."

Jia Yingchun took the package and was surprised by its weight. "This..."

Jia Xichun said, "As the saying goes, 'A poor family should travel with plenty of money.' You two sisters should keep this."

Now that the matter has been brought up, Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun had no reason to refuse.

Seeing Xue Gongzi standing to the side, Jia Baoyu guessed that he must also be a young master from the palace, and bowed to him.

"I'll trouble you to take good care of my older and younger sisters, young master."

Young Master Xue immediately returned the greeting. Over the years, he had stayed at the Lin family's residence quite often, so his manners were naturally impeccable.

"Young Master Jia, you flatter me."

Jia Huan approached Jia Tanchun somewhat nervously, took out a purse from his pocket, and handed it to her.

“I’ve sold everything I could in the house these past few days, so please accept it.”

Before Jia Tanchun could refuse, he placed the purse on the bundle she was holding, turned around, and ran back to the carriage.

Upon hearing the news that Jia Tanchun was going to sea and that he would soon have a famous teacher, Jia Huan seemed to understand many things instantly.

He knew that the reason he was able to receive instruction from such a renowned teacher must be because his third sister had gone to sea.

But he couldn't refuse; this was the only opportunity he had in all these years to surpass Jia Baoyu, or even outshine him.

He was unwilling and reluctant to let go.

All he could do was give all the money he had saved over the years to his third sister.