Needless to say, the wedding banquet just given to Princess Boping was sumptuous, and because Jia Mu saw that Zhuyu loved to be lively, she asked all the female relatives in the family to be present to accompany her.
Juyu has been separated from her parents since she was a child. Although she can enter the palace from time to time, the royal rules are complicated after all. Even if relatives are relative, it is really difficult to compare with the lively joy of three generations of the Jia family talking and laughing in front of her.
Cornel is a very low-key person, but she was in a good mood at this time and was very happy to have fun with everyone, so she was particularly happy to eat this meal.
But Baochai was very upset after eating this meal.
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Who is she Baochai?
She is known everywhere as the most considerate, know-how, outstanding in talent and beauty, gentle and virtuous, a well-rounded and considerate "perfect girl". Her popularity in the Jia family is so good that even her mother, Jia,
Down to the old lady who empties the toilet, everyone will laugh and praise her when they see her.
But it happened that Princess Boping was blind. She was familiar with Daiyu, and during the conversation she discovered that Tanchun was refreshing and smart, so she desperately wanted to bring the two of them into the chief position;
Baochai, who is as close to her as he is, didn't surprise anyone in heaven!
What's even more embarrassing is that Baochai has always been known as "waiting for selection in Beijing". They say that if it weren't for Xue's father's early death and Xue Pan's trouble, Sister Baochai would definitely be selected to be the princess and the princess's companion.
But now, the real princess is right in front of her, but she doesn't even look at Baochai, the "selected companion", let alone say a word. How embarrassing is this for Baochai?
Baochai was secretly holding back her anger, and finally suffered through the meal until the end of the meal. The princess ordered everyone to disperse, and Baochai had no choice but to follow Aunt Xue out.
However, Baochai is a person who can let go immediately. Since there is no benefit from the princess, he immediately continues to target Baoyu.
She has been busy helping her brother Xue Pan for the past two days, and she is determined to use her birthday as an excuse to find ways to improve her relationship with the Jia family.
Coincidentally, Jia Zheng's Qing Dynasty guest Cheng Rixing was an antique dealer. He took a fancy to the Xue family's former status as an imperial merchant and wanted to curry favor with Xue Pan to do more antique business. So he spent a lot of effort and in the late spring got the summer-only antique.
Watermelon and fresh lotus root, which are only available in autumn, are paired with fresh large sturgeon and smoked pig from Siam as a tribute.
Xue Pan took it home and was about to eat it with his mother and sister. However, Baochai quickly stopped Xue Pan and immediately asked him to send someone to Jia Mu, Mrs. Wang and Jia Zheng to send them in, and asked him to keep the rest for the treat.
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Xue Pan stamped his feet and said:
"These fish and pigs are rare because they are expensive. How did he grow these lotus roots and watermelons? If we don't eat such rare things while they are fresh, wouldn't we be in trouble?"
Baochai gave Xue Pan a white look:
"Brother is confused!
We live in the Jia family, and the idea is to "have our back against the big tree to enjoy the shade." Without the Jia family behind us, how can my brother have the freedom he has today in Beijing?
It’s just that my brother is not up to par. After such a long time, not only can’t he climb up to the circle of the eldest master, master, uncle Zhen, and second master Lian, but he can’t even win over a few of Baoyu’s friends.
Wasn't the opportunity wasted in vain?
And with my uncle, what kind of face did my brother earn?
Why don't you give these things to the old lady and the master of the Jia family, and let the Jia family know clearly that it's my brother's birthday. I think they have to express it, and can't they just pretend not to know like last year?"
While talking, Baochai sighed towards Aunt Xue again:
"Mom, the same goes for my uncle. Every year for Baoyu's birthday, my uncle would give me a set of clothes, a pair of shoes and socks, a hundred longevity peaches, and a hundred bunches of noodles with silver wire. Why was it that last year on my brother's birthday, my uncle's side didn't have anything?
No movement? Could it be the same this year?"
Why doesn’t Aunt Xue understand what her brother Wang Ziteng is like?
Prince Teng gave Baoyu gifts every year because of the Jia family's face; as for the fact that he forgot Xue Pan's birthday every year, it was because the Xue family had no face.
But Aunt Xue wanted to be tough and refused to say anything bad about her natal brother. She only explained:
"Your uncle is out of town on business, so how can he take care of all these little things like sesame seeds and mung beans?
Besides, the Jia family doesn’t look down upon us. Look at your fifteenth birthday, the old lady personally organized it. The banquet and the troupe are all the best."
Xue Pan saw that his mother and sister were all thinking about the Jia family, so he had no choice but to prepare things for Baoyu and Baoyu's friends.
Baochai deliberately did not go to Yihong Courtyard today, but secretly asked Ying'er to find Mingyan and help Xue Pan treat guests. Unfortunately, she just heard that Ying'er got the treasure jade from Mingyan at Xue Pan's banquet
After hearing the news of the drunkenness, the princess came to the house, and Jia Mu sent someone to invite Aunt Xue to share Baochai. Only then did Baochai finally have some free time and was anxious to find Baoyu.
Fu Qiufang was seven years older than Baochai, and she was much smarter than Baochai. As soon as she saw the direction Baochai was going, she followed him.
The moment Baochai stepped into the gate of Yihongyuan, Fu Qiufang from behind smiled and called to Baochai:
"Sister Bao, I just came here and I'm not familiar with any place, so I have to follow you."
With one sentence, Baochai stepped into Yihongyuan and could not take it back. He had to turn his head and smiled at Fu Qiufang:
"It turned out to be Sister Fu. I was thinking about Sister Lin because she often comes to Yihongyuan, so I came to Yihongyuan to see if she was here."
Fu Qiufang caught up and took Baochai's hand:
"That's just right. I also want to talk to Sister Lin."
The two of them were smiling broadly, each with their own thoughts in mind. As soon as they stepped into the gate of Yihongyuan, they almost stepped on the attacker's head.
"ah--"
The three of them screamed almost at the same time.
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Baochai came to his senses first, looked at the attacker lying on the broken mat on the ground, and asked:
"It's almost dark today, why are you lying in the courtyard?"
When Xiren saw Baochai, he immediately wiped away tears:
"This is all my fault, I broke Second Master Lian's rules.
I was not feeling well today, so I was lying on the kang. Qianxue saw me and she said some unpleasant things out of thin air. Master Bao explained to her, but she didn't even buy it.
It just so happened that Second Master Lian came again, so...he gave me this shameless..."
When Baochai heard that Xiren was punished here by Jia Lian, he immediately felt that it was better not to mess with him, so he comforted him casually, but the main point was to ask Baoyu how he was doing.
Xiren sobbed and said:
"Our man, after eating too much and drinking, came back and fell asleep for a while.
Just now the old lady asked someone to bring food, and She Yue woke him up, but just as he was waiting for him to eat, he ran to Xiaoxiang Pavilion again."
When Baochai heard that Baoyu had gone to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, he immediately felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy. His face turned cold and he said calmly:
"Sister Lin has always been in poor health. She is pitiful. I should go and see her."
While they were talking, they saw all the maids and women in Yihong Courtyard walking out in a queue, led by She Yue, and walked up to Xiren one by one, and asked awkwardly:
"Lie...have you had enough?"
Xiren had a grimace on his face and could only answer in a low voice:
"Enough lying down."
But I heard a housekeeper behind the team say sternly:
"Answer loudly! Who dares to disobey Second Master Lian?"
Baochai was so frightened that he turned around and ran towards Xiaoxiang Pavilion as if running away.
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Baochai heard the conversation between Baoyu and Zhuyu outside the door and thought to himself:
It's not enough for this Baoyu to stick to Daiyu. He loves every beautiful young girl he meets. He treats everyone as "sister or sister" to everyone he meets. Even when he meets the princess, he talks sweetly.
It’s so hard to guard against!
Feeling a little angry, he deliberately laughed loudly and said:
"Brother Bao, yesterday my brother specially invited me to eat those rare fresh things. I said that I was not lucky enough to eat them. As expected, the fresh things from our Xue family can only be eaten by you."