Chapter 6

Hearing the words of the maidservant Xiao Jixiang, Jia Huan's mouth twitched speechlessly.

"Damn, so I really am a nobody..."

"As long as I don't get in the way, I can do whatever I want. But that's not bad."

"Xiao Jixiang, tell me, why is Second Master Baoyu so favored? What about Jia Lan?"

This was a question that had puzzled Jia Huan for a long time.

Jia Lan was the first grandson of the fourth generation of the Rongguo Mansion, and in the branch of Jia Zheng, he was the legitimate eldest grandson.

Moreover, he lost his father at a young age, which was pitiful...

So, logically, Jia Lan should be the one who is more favored.

"Eh? Third Master, didn't you forget everything? How can you still remember Lan Ge?"

Xiao Jixiang's big, round eyes widened with suspicion, her caterpillar-like eyebrows twitching as if she were interrogating an enemy spy.

Jia Huan playfully pinched her little nose and said, "As you were talking, some old memories popped into my head. What, are you unhappy about it?"

Xiao Jixiang, unafraid of being scolded, wrinkled her little nose and said, "You don't remember Old Lady and Master, but you remember Lan Ge. However, in the Jia family, you are indeed the closest to Lan Ge. As for Second Master Baoyu... Third Master, you shouldn't compare yourself to him. Second Master Baoyu was born with a jade in his mouth, the greatest auspicious sign in the Jia family. Old Lady and Madam are very devout, so how could they not treat him as their treasure? Who in the Jia family can compare to him? Third Master, don't make yourself unhappy."

Xiao Jixiang, with her mature mind, shook her head and sighed.

As Jia Huan entered the room, he laughed and said, "If I don't compare, I won't compare. What's the big deal? Besides, Third Master has good relationships too. Lan Ge always likes to play with me."

Xiao Jixiang disagreed, "It's not that Lan Ge likes to play with you, it's that you always go to play with Lan Ge. In the mansion, among boys of the same age, it's only you and Lan Ge. Lan Ge doesn't have many other choices..."

A few black lines appeared on Jia Huan's forehead, and he plopped down on a small stool in front of the dressing table, shouting, "Shut up quickly and comb my hair!"

However, his attention soon shifted to the small mirror in front of him. It wasn't the legendary bronze mirror but a glass one, set in a finely carved copper frame.

These were minor details, the key was...

"Xiao Jixiang, why am I so handsome?"

Jia Huan said in a nearly intoxicated tone.

Xiao Jixiang was utterly shocked and said, "Third Master, how can you be so unlucky?"

Jia Huan was almost in tears. In this era, was 'handsome' just a military name, not an adjective?

Jia Huan said weakly, "I mean, why am I so handsome and outstanding, so uniquely handsome..."

"Ha!"

Before Jia Huan could finish, a burst of laughter came from behind the door curtain.

When Jia Huan and Xiao Jixiang turned to look, they saw a young woman with a beautiful face enter, a smile of good-natured mockery on her lips, her eyes soft and curved, nodding gently at Jia Huan.

"Ping'er Sister! Third Master, this is Lady Wang's attendant, Ping'er Sister! She's the best sister to us!"

Xiao Jixiang, seeing the newcomer, jumped up with her legs, her round face beaming with joy. She ran a few steps toward Ping'er, then turned back, pulling Jia Huan's arm to introduce her.

Her actions warmed Jia Huan's heart, and Ping'er also smiled.

"Ring-er, don't you recognize me?"

Ping'er's voice was different from Lady Wang's. Lady Wang's voice was full of strength and decisiveness, while Ping'er's, though not coquettish, was soft and warm, comforting to the heart.

Jia Huan liked it, and in his memory, Ping'er in "Dream of the Red Chamber" was always a very kind character.

"Ping'er Sister, I recognize you now."

Jia Huan looked at Ping'er with clear eyes, speaking earnestly.

Just this one look, and Ping'er believed that this Jia Huan was indeed different.

In the past, Jia Huan wouldn't dare to look at anyone with such eyes.

A six or seven-year-old child, his eyes darting around, his gaze not steady.

Even if he looked good, the sneaky feeling made him seem despicable, and his hands and feet were not clean... It was hard for people to like him.

Now, it was different. Such a clear and dignified demeanor was what a good child should have.

Clear eyes paired with a handsome face, truly likable.

Ping'er walked over, placed a small paper package on a nearby cabinet, then reached out to pat Jia Huan's head, smiling, "The other day, Old Lady wanted to come see you, but after the Daoist Master from Qingxu Temple visited and told her that you needed to rest quietly and not be disturbed by cold winds, everyone decided not to come.

Fortunately, you got better in just a few days, and we all feel relieved. Even if you don't remember the past, it's not a big deal. You're so young, there's not much to remember. Just take it slowly.

I think this illness is a blessing, not a curse. You look much fresher now. Just a bit too thin. Old Lady sent me with some good ginseng. I'll have Aunt Zhao instruct Xiao Que to make you some ginseng porridge to nourish you. Eat less snacks."

Jia Huan chuckled and nodded, "Thank you, Ping'er Sister, and thank Old Lady."

"Heh! Ring-er, you can't call her Old Lady. You should call her Second Sister-in-Law or Phoenix Sister. You are also a legitimate master in our mansion."

Ping'er said with a smile.

Jia Huan, looking at Ping'er's smiling face, felt a bit of regret. What a good girl, how could she have such semi-feudal, semi-slave thoughts? But, I like it...

"Ping'er Sister, can I ask you a question?"

Jia Huan shamelessly acted cute and innocent.

Ping'er was actually just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, but after accompanying Lady Wang to the Jia family, she had experienced many things and looked much more mature.

Her hand on Jia Huan's head didn't move, and after hearing Jia Huan's words, she rubbed his head and said, "Ask away."

Jia Huan said, "Ping'er Sister, although I don't remember much of the past, I vaguely remember some dynasties: Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming. Which dynasty are we in now?"

Ping'er, hearing this, looked at Jia Huan with surprise, her hand on his head pulling back, "Ring-er, why are you asking this?"

Jia Huan smiled brightly, "I just suddenly wanted to know."

Ping'er's gaze was still a bit strange, but she finally answered, "After Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming, it's naturally our current Great Qin."

...

"Really?"

In a small side room, a graceful woman leaned against the brocade bed, looking at the young woman standing beside her with surprise.

This young woman was Wang Xifeng, whom Jia Huan had met earlier, and the woman, of course, was one of the most influential women in the Jia family, Lady Wang.

Lady Wang was not particularly beautiful, at most an average-looking woman, but her expression was very kind, and she even held a string of jade prayer beads, looking like a benevolent and compassionate person.

However, in front of her, Wang Xifeng didn't dare to be disrespectful, answering seriously, "I think it's mostly true. He's completely changed, even daring to greet me!"

Lady Wang frowned, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Do you think he's better or worse?"

Wang Xifeng's face changed slightly, but she didn't dare to speak rashly. She knew the implications and shook her head, "It's hard to say, it's still unclear. But in my opinion, if he stays with Aunt Zhao, even a good person won't stay good. If you think the third son still has potential, you can teach him personally, which would be his good fortune."

Lady Wang's eyes swept over Wang Xifeng, her tone detached, "I didn't even keep Baoyu by my side, how could I have the heart to keep him? Leave him there... Let's go to Old Lady's side and see."

Without seeing it with her own eyes, she couldn't be at ease.

...

"What? Great Qin? Qin Shi Huang's Qin or the Qin of purity?"

Jia Huan almost jumped up, inwardly shouting that it was impossible. If it were "My Great Qing," he would have to keep his head and not his hair. But if it were Great Qin, it was even more impossible.

Characters from the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties were all mentioned in "Dream of the Red Chamber."

"It's Qin Shi Huang's Qin, but it's not much related to that Qin. There is some relation, as they say they are descendants of the First Emperor... Oh, Ring-er, why are you asking me these things? I can't explain clearly. You're better now, and in two days you can go to school. When you get there, ask the teacher, why make it hard for me?"

Ping'er, a bit embarrassed, lightly tapped Jia Huan's forehead, scolding him.

Xiao Jixiang giggled on the side.

Jia Huan patted his forehead, laughed, and then said to Xiao Jixiang, "Hurry up and get me ready, I need to pay respects to Old Lady and Madam."

Xiao Jixiang's hands were small, and she couldn't gather the hair properly. Ping'er found it amusing and came to help, taking over and asking, "Where is Aunt Zhao?"

Jia Huan said, "Xiao Jixiang said my mother went to pay her vows early this morning. Heh, Ma Daopo..."

Hearing Jia Huan's words, Ping'er's hand paused, and she said seriously, "Ring-er, in private, without outsiders, you can call Aunt Zhao 'Mother.' But in public, you must call her 'Aunt.' Especially in front of Old Lady and Madam, you can't make any mistakes."

Jia Huan was taken aback, surprised, "Call my birth mother... Aunt?!"

Ping'er looked at Jia Huan's eyes in the mirror and said, "Ring-er, she is your aunt, and can only be your aunt. This is the etiquette. According to the rules, your mother can only be Madam. In the future, when you excel in your studies and become a high official, you can only bestow honors on Madam. In our family, etiquette is more important than the sky, and cannot be violated. Knowing etiquette is even more important than being successful. Do you understand?"