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

Seeing the Jia family members still reluctantly parting, Xue Baochai felt a mix of regret and envy.

Xue Pan's crimes completely destroyed the respectability that the Xue family had worked so hard to maintain.

Most of the few shops and estates that were already there were seized, and the few that remained were what my uncle had tried his best to keep.

Grandmother Jia immediately wanted to kick her and her mother out of the Jia family.

She was terrified that the Xue family's reputation would tarnish Jia Baoyu's life.

If it weren't for her uncle putting pressure on her, and her decisive act of offering half of the Xue family's fortune, she probably wouldn't have been able to stay in the Jia family.

When her uncle went away to take up his post, her aunt did not want her and her daughter to go with him, so they could only rely on the Jia family now.

If they were to leave the Jia family, the people the Xue family had offended in the past, and those who wanted to curry favor with the palace, would be able to take advantage of the mother and daughter.

Her chances of winning the election were completely hopeless.

Jia Baoyu is the best person she can marry.

Xue Baochai closed her eyes unwillingly and lowered the carriage curtain in her hand.

The good wind carries me to the blue clouds with its power.

If she had befriended the Lin sisters back then, and taken advantage of the palace's influence, she could have risen to such heights.

Unfortunately, this path to success was abruptly severed by the brother and sister.

Looking back, all I can do is smile bitterly.

The boat sailed further and further away and soon disappeared from sight.

Jia Baoyu's sadness gradually dissipated, but he regretted that he had arrived too late and had not been able to see Lin Daiyu.

If I could say a few more words to Lin Daiyu before leaving, that would be the best thing.

His gaze fell on the group of people on the shore.

Upon seeing Gong Yuanzheng and Lin Qingyue, his eyes brightened slightly, and he was about to step forward to exchange a few pleasantries.

Then Gong Yuanzheng swept Lin Qingyue up in his arms, and with a light touch of his toes, he was already gone.

His words drifted through the air, "Brother, sister, Yue'er and I have some matters to attend to, so we'll head back to the manor first."

Jia Baoyu felt even more regretful, "Why did Young Master Zheng leave in such a hurry? I didn't even get to say a few words to him and Sister Lin."

Gong Zishang's lips twitched, and a hint of pity appeared in her eyes as she looked at Jia Baoyu.

Didn't he realize that Yuanzheng was completely scared away by him?

Only Jia Baoyu could have driven his younger brother, Yuanzheng, to this point.

Jia Xichun's voice was indifferent, "Do you really not know why Brother-in-law Lin left so quickly?"

Jia Baoyu looked at her, bewildered.

Jia Xichun lost her temper. From Jia Baoyu's expression, one could tell that he truly didn't understand, and wasn't pretending not to.

That's what's truly deadly.

Even Gong Shangjiao couldn't help but look at Jia Baoyu.

He had been keeping an eye on this young master who was born with jade in his mouth.

How could the royal family possibly ignore such an unusual person?

It's understandable that Yuanzheng's younger brother turned and ran away when he saw Jia Baoyu.

If it were someone like Xue Pan, Yuanzheng's younger brother would have already taken action.

Jia Baoyu had those thoughts, but he was also a man of propriety and his behavior never overstepped the bounds.

You can't hit them or poison them.

The only option is to avoid it altogether.

Wang Xifeng saw this and was about to step forward and say a few words.

Unexpectedly, Jia Baoyu met Gong Shangjiao's eyes. He stepped forward, his eyes shining, "This must be Young Master Jiao?"

The young man before me was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with a cool and handsome appearance, and his eyes and brows were filled with an arrogant indifference and beauty.

His gaze was cold and aloof, like the coldest snow in winter, making people feel cold, yet inspiring endless longing.

This mysterious aura made Jia Baoyu want to get closer to her.

Miyazaki: "..."

He finally understood his brother's feelings about going on the expedition.

Gong Shangjiao would never be wronged. He immediately mounted his horse and looked at Gong Zishang and Wang Xifeng.

“Miss Feng, I’ll leave Sister Zishang in your care. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll head back to the government office now.”

Having said that, he immediately rode away without waiting for the two to react.

Gong Zishang couldn't help but sigh, "Shang Jiao has always been very particular about etiquette; this is the first time he's ever fled in such a sorry state..."

Wang Xifeng tried her best to suppress her laughter. She had been living in the Gongmen Villa for half a month, and this was the first time she had met this young master.

They originally planned to get to know each other better and discuss palace affairs after seeing the palace members off at sea.

After all, from now on, it will be Wang Xifeng and Gong Shangjiao working together.

Unexpectedly, Jia Baoyu's words disrupted their plans.

Jia Baoyu was even more disappointed. "Sister Feng, are there really so many things to do at the palace?"

Wang Xifeng straightened her expression and said, "Of course, I'm extremely busy these days. I only managed to squeeze in time to see you off today."

Jia Baoyu nodded thoughtfully, then smiled and said, "Sister Feng, now that I have some free time, may I visit the manor at the palace gate?"

Wang Xifeng's lips twitched. Don't think she didn't know what the purpose of his visit was!

“No!” Wang Xifeng refused decisively. “Brother Bao, I am currently staying at the palace gate, and it is really inconvenient for me to entertain you.”

Seeing that Jia Baoyu was still persistent, Wang Xifeng smiled slightly and asked, "Brother Bao, have you seen any of Miss Xue's friends come to visit?"

Jia Baoyu was speechless for a moment. Indeed, Xue Baochai and Aunt Xue were staying at the Jia family's residence.

In the past, apart from the managers of the estate and shops coming every month, no one else ever came to visit.

Jia Baoyu was quite disappointed, "This is the first time I have ever met a person with such an imposing presence as Young Master Jiao. I really want to befriend him."

Jia Xichun retorted sarcastically without any politeness, "Don't you usually look down on officials the most? Why are you so interested in befriending that young master?"

Jia Baoyu hurriedly explained, "I certainly look down on those traitors and greedy officials who chase fame and fortune!"

"That young master is so refined and upright, he's definitely not that kind of person! Isn't it perfectly normal for me to want to befriend him?"

Jia Xichun gave an extremely inelegant smirk, secretly thinking, "It's nothing but lust at first sight, yet they make it sound so high-sounding!"

Seeing her expression, Jia Baoyu was also a little annoyed. "Forget it, I can't reason with you! I'm going back to the carriage!"

After saying that, she got into the carriage, which was Xue Baochai's carriage.

Xue Baochai smiled broadly as she saw him get into her carriage.

"Why are you so angry? Did Fourth Sister upset you?"

Xue Baochai, who was in the carriage, did not hear their conversation clearly.

Jia Baoyu was still angry. "I only wanted to befriend the young master from the palace gate, and she humiliated me like this!"

Upon hearing the words "palace gate," Xue Baochai's smile faded slightly.

The deaths of her father and brother were inextricably linked to the palace, and she had no good impression of the palace at all.

"The palace gates have now submitted to the imperial court, but they are still just outlaws of the martial world. Brother Bao, it's best for people like us to have less contact with them."

Jia Baoyu sighed, "It's a pity you didn't come down, Sister Bao. If you had seen that young master, you definitely wouldn't have said those things."

Xue Baochai remained silent. Although she did not get off the carriage, she saw the young man through the carriage window.

That extraordinary aura made it hard to ignore.

If you didn't know his identity, you might believe he was a member of the royal family.