"You're a concubine's daughter after all, so petty and ignorant …" Seeing that not only did Tanchun not reflect on herself, but she even felt wronged, Mother Jia's gaze became even more unfriendly. "You've contracted out the garden's output to the servants, so how much can you earn in a year?
At most, it's only a thousand taels of silver.
What can you do with a thousand taels of silver?
You've spent it on a banquet!
For such a small amount of silver, you've made everyone's stay unhappy.
You're clearly living in your own home, but you're living under someone else's roof.
What's the point of living like this?
Think about it yourself, during the time we were gone, how many conflicts have arisen in the garden because of the matter of plucking flowers and plucking willows?
If this goes on, the conflicts between everyone will intensify, and it may even reach a point of no return!
For a thousand taels of silver, you've caused chaos in the family. Is this what you want to see? "
After Mother Jia finished speaking, Tanchun's face was already covered in tears. She got up and knelt down. "It's all granddaughter's fault for not thinking things through and making Old Ancestor worry …"
Looking at Tanchun, who was weeping bitterly in front of her, who had lost her composure, Mother Jia sighed softly. Her voice softened. "I know you have good intentions and are thinking of this family.
But after all, you're young and inexperienced. It's understandable that you didn't think things through.
Forget it, let's just forget about this matter. "
Upon hearing this, Tanchun was shocked. Mother Jia's intention was to overturn all the rules she had previously set. In this way, what prestige would she have in front of all the servants in the residence?
She was about to open her mouth to plead when she suddenly met Mother Jia's gaze. It was cold and without a trace of emotion.
She felt a chill in her heart, knowing that there was no turning back. She could only reply, "Old Ancestor's consideration is thorough. Granddaughter admires you …" Although her face was full of respect, in her heart, a strong unwillingness and resentment arose uncontrollably …
After Tanchun left, Mother Jia looked at Lady Wang again and said coldly, "I know what you're thinking. Let me tell you, it's better to give up on it!
Xue Baoqin can only be treated well and must not be offended. Do you understand? "
Lady Wang's knees went soft and she knelt down. She looked at Lady Jia and said, "Old Ancestor, your daughter-in-law's painstaking efforts are all for our family's Empress!
Even if Little Qin is my relative, I don't care. Is that wrong?
Lin Mengya's daughter-in-law was just thinking that if she lost her reputation, His Majesty might dislike her and not let her enter the palace.
In this way, wouldn't we be eliminating a great enemy for our Imperial Concubine? "
Mother Jia looked at her muddle-headed daughter-in-law and said resentfully, "You, you're really blinded by fat.
When His Majesty really cared about someone, it didn't matter if that person's reputation was ruined, not to mention that it didn't cover up the ugly reputation of the jade.
She would still enter the palace and be favored by the emperor.
Rather than creating an enemy for our Imperial Concubine, it's better to be on good terms with her. This is what a smart person should do! "
Although Lady Wang was still unconvinced, Mother Jia was her mother-in-law after all. Filial piety was the most important thing. She didn't dare to openly go against her wishes and could only reluctantly agree.
However, in the depths of her heart, she already hated Xue Baoqin to the core.
Xue Baoqin didn't take this small setback to heart and continued to live her life as usual.
Every day, she just read books and embroider with Baochai or discussed poetry and painting with Daiyu. It was a leisurely and carefree life.
As for Jia Tanchun, although she specially came to Hengwu Court to apologize, Xue Baoqin didn't plan to pay attention to her anymore.
This was a vicious venomous snake. It was hard to say when it would jump out and bite you.
If she continued to be friends with her, wouldn't there be something wrong with her?
Baochai was originally worried that Baoqin wouldn't be in a good mood or feel sorry for herself because she couldn't enter the palace for a while.
However, seeing that this cousin of hers lived a very carefree life every day and didn't seem to be anxious at all, she was relieved.
Deep in her heart, she also admired Baoqin.
She knew that if she were in Baoqin's position, she wouldn't be able to be as calm as Baoqin.
She had a deeper understanding of this cousin of hers.
She also had more confidence in the future of the Xue family.
With Baoqin's beauty and temperament, she felt that it wouldn't be difficult for her to fly to a branch and occupy it for a long time.
As a result, she and Aunt Xue worked even harder to discipline Xue Pan.
After all, to support a family, they couldn't do it without a man.
One day, Baoqin went to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion to visit Daiyu. However, he saw her with tears on her face and staring blankly at the parrot in the corridor.
Baoqin walked over and asked, "What's wrong?
Why are you crying again?
Depression hurts the liver. Why won't she listen to you?
And Zi Juan, why isn't he by your side? "
When Daiyu saw Baoqin, she couldn't help but cry again. She was speechless.
Baoqin was at his wit's end when he saw Xue Yan coming over with a tea tray. He asked, "What's wrong?
Your Miss only cares about being sad and doesn't say anything. Why don't you tell me? "
Xue Yan put down the tray with a porcelain teacup with flowers and birds, two small white porcelain plates with bright red cherries, and an osmanthus sugar cake.
She still looked angry and said, "It's all Zi Juan's fault. He told Baoyu that our daughter is going back to Yangzhou next year and said some unpleasant things.
Now Baoyu is dumbfounded. He's in a daze, as if he's lost his mind.
Old Madam and the two madams are waiting inside. Zi Juan is also over there … "
When Baoqin heard this, he couldn't help but frown, "What is she doing?
Does she think that your daughter is living too well? "
When Daiyu heard such heart-wrenching words, her tears flowed even faster, "I think Zi Juan is doing this for my own good.
After all these years of delay, there hasn't been a single accurate sentence.
Zi Juan was also forced into a corner, so he did this … "
Baoqin sighed, "Even if that's the case, he shouldn't have done this!
You should know that Second Madam already sees you as a thorn in her side. Now that you've done this, I'm afraid she hates you to death in her heart.
If Madam wants to torture someone, she doesn't have to do it herself.
Even if it's just some servants who want to curry favor with her, it's enough to make you suffer. "
When Daiyu heard this, she was so sad that she couldn't help but lean on Baoqin's shoulder and cry bitterly.
Baoqin patted her thin shoulder and silently accompanied her.
After a long time, Daiyu gradually stopped crying. She wiped her tears with a smoky purple satin handkerchief and forced a smile, "To let you see me like this, it's really …"
Baoqin said, "You really treat me as a friend. You didn't treat me as an outsider just now. I can only feel grateful in my heart. Why would I laugh at you?"
After the two of them chatted for a while, Daiyu said, "I have to go over there and take a look. After all, this happened because of me."
Baoqin stood up when he heard this and said, "I'll go with you. I can also help you."
The two of them left the Xiaoxiang Restaurant and walked over there.
Just as they reached the door of Baoyu's room, they heard Madam Jia say from inside, "The Lin family is all dead. You don't have to worry …"
Unexpectedly hearing this sentence, Daiyu couldn't help but be stunned at the door. Her body swayed a few times and was on the verge of collapsing.
Baoqin immediately felt extremely dissatisfied with Madam Jia. He knew that she was trying to comfort her precious darling, but did she have to curse the Lin family like this?
Look at your granddaughter. She's so sad that she can't even stand properly, okay?
Baoqin reached out to support Daiyu and asked in a low voice, "Can you still hold on?"
Daiyu leaned on Baoqin's arm for a long time before she stood up straight and shook her head, "I'm fine …" Then she paused and said, "I don't want to go in. Let's go out for a walk."
These words were exactly what Baoqin wanted. Now that Jia Baoyu's room was in a mess, there were people everywhere and the air was not good. She really didn't want to go in, so she nodded and said, "Okay, the peach blossoms over at Qinfang Gate are blooming very well. Let's go and take a look."
So Daiyu and Baoqin arrived, but they didn't enter the room. They turned and went to Qinfang Gate.
There, the peach blossoms were blooming beautifully, as gorgeous as the clouds in the sky.
A gust of wind blew, and the petals fluttered in the air. Some of them were blown into the stream and flowed out of the Grand View Garden with the clear water. No one knew where they would flow to.
Daiyu stared at it for a long time before she said softly, "People like us are not as free as these petals.
They can still wander around, but we can only be locked up in a big room for the rest of our lives, without freedom … "
Baoqin said, "I have other ideas. Although I can't go anywhere as freely as a man, as long as my heart is free, I am free."
Daiyu murmured and repeated Baoqin's words, "If my heart is free, I am free …" After a long time, she said, "Now, not only is my body imprisoned, but my heart is also imprisoned …"
Baoqin said, "You don't have a choice, do you?"
Daiyu said, "How do you know?
Although Baoyu and I didn't have a matchmaker, our ancestors and my father had already set it for us in a letter.
Otherwise, how could my father dare to entrust me and my Lin family's two to three million yuan of property to the Jia family?
Now, almost all the money has been spent on the construction of Grand View Garden.
Even if I want to get away, I can't … Who would marry an orphan with no property and both parents dead? "She didn't cry again, but the expression on her face was more sad than if she had cried.