In Dream Of The Red Chamber, Jia She Acquires A Plant-Based Superpower. - Chapter 14

Jia She took a great interest in this hot spring manor, as he always lacked spiritual energy for cultivation in the winter. With it, he could plant various herbs, ensuring he would not lack spiritual energy and could even enjoy fresh vegetables during the winter months.

Situ Ruo mimicked Jia She, reclining on a rocking chair to soak up the winter sun. Seeing Jia She look drowsy, he asked curiously, “Brother Jia, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?” He had become acquainted with Jia She, and since he could not save his life, fulfilling his wishes would be a way to honor their friendship.

Jia She lazily opened his eyes and looked at Situ Ruo, thinking very seriously about the question. What were his wishes? Back in the modern world, he had wanted unlimited savings and a handsome, like-minded boyfriend. He had wanted a villa in a place with beautiful scenery and fresh air, where he could keep cats and dogs and grow flowers and vegetables. After arriving in this world, he seemed to have no wishes other than to survive.

Seeing that Situ Ruo’s expression was serious, as if his answer was important, he curled his lips slightly. “I want to live well.”

Situ Ruo’s expression dimmed. The physician had said that Jia She’s body was on the verge of exhaustion, and every extra day he lived was essentially stolen from the King of Hell. He could not fulfill this wish. Seeing Situ Ruo’s sadness, Jia She did not understand why he was so sentimental, or what he had said to cause such gloom, so he quickly changed the subject. “Prince, why not send me a cat? I have never kept one before.”

Situ Ruo’s eyes lit up, and he sprang to his feet. “My Imperial Brother keeps many cats in the palace. What color do you like? I will go catch one for you.”

Jia She sighed softly. “Stealing the Emperor’s cats hardly seems appropriate.”

Situ Ruo corrected him seriously, “How can it be stealing? I am merely helping my Imperial Brother relieve his burdens. Keeping cats is a waste of money and manpower. If I take one, he will have one less to feed.”

Jia She could not smile. If he were Situ Xuan, he would have properly disciplined this brother who knew nothing but how to squander.

Situ Ruo was incredibly proactive. After clarifying that Jia She had no color preference, he decided to personally go to the palace to pick out a beautiful cat. By evening, Jia She received a long-haired, silver-white cat delivered by Hu Bing. It looked like a modern Ragdoll, but its constitution was not as delicate; it was hardy and would eat anything.

Hu Bing urged him, “The Prince asked me to tell you that the Emperor’s cats are all quite ferocious, though this one has a milder temperament. He suggests you keep it in a cage first and feed it until you have built a bond before releasing it.”

Jia She knelt happily before the cage. The kitten looked at him with curiosity, showing no signs of a fierce temperament. Jia She reached his hand into the cage and stroked its head. The soft, fluffy sensation conquered his heart, and he thought happily that he finally had a cat.

Hu Bing, seeing Jia She reach out, had words of warning on the tip of his tongue, but when he saw the kitten nuzzling its head affectionately against Jia She’s palm, he swallowed them. His Prince had been scratched several times on the face trying to catch this cat and had been too embarrassed to even come to the Jia Mansion.

Jia She felt the kitten was well-behaved and opened the cage to let it out. The cat jumped out and leaped directly onto Jia She. He quickly caught it firmly in his arms and, while stroking its furry head, thought, “We are fated. You are round and chubby, so why don’t I call you Yuanyuan?”

When Jia She called “Yuanyuan,” the cat chirped in response. Hu Bing was stunned by that delicate, coquettish meow. He had personally heard this cat growling and hissing at anyone who came within a meter. Watching the kitten sleeping docilely in Jia She’s arms, he sighed that it truly lived up to being raised by the Emperor—it, too, was a creature that judged by appearance.

Hu Bing went back and recounted how the cat had taken to Jia She. Situ Ruo, feeling extremely pained, examined the scratches on his face in a mirror and sighed softly, “Small animals are the best at discerning human nature. My mind is too complicated, and I have killed many along the way; my underlying malevolence is concealed, so it is no wonder small animals do not like me.”

“Jia She hid his talents from a young age; he did not vie for power or gain, and his heart is frighteningly pure. That is why small animals like him.”

After sighing, Situ Ruo continued examining his face, sighing again. “I did not expect to be honorably wounded on the first day of the New Year; these scratches will probably take several days to heal.”

Hu Bing was not worried about the scratches on Situ Ruo’s face; he was more worried about the Emperor’s anger. Situ Ruo had sneaked into the palace and stolen the cat without the Emperor knowing.

When Situ Xuan heard from a eunuch that Situ Ruo had snatched away his favorite cat, Little Silver, his hand trembled with fury. “Send word immediately for Situ Ruo to come to the palace. He refuses to let me have peace even on New Year’s Day; he dares to steal my cat!”

When Situ Ruo arrived late that night, Situ Xuan’s anger subsided slightly upon seeing the scratches on his brother’s face. “Where is my Little Silver? Where have you taken her?” Little Silver was unusually intelligent and was one of the few cats in the palace who did not fear him. Other kittens would tremble in fear if he came within three meters; only Little Silver was bold enough to eat from his hand and let him pet her when she was in a good mood. Thinking of his favorite cat being snatched away made his heart ache.

Seeing Situ Xuan’s serious face, Situ Ruo smiled. “Imperial Brother, do not be like this. It is just a cat.”

Situ Xuan glared at him. “That is my Little Silver, whom I raised like a son. Where did you take her?”

Jia She was dying; it was not his fault, so why should he have to give up his cat? He had already been lenient enough with Jia She; if he were to be petty about the memorials impeaching him, Jia She would have died several times over. He could not be lenient everywhere just because Jia She was dying; being soft-hearted was a taboo for an Emperor. Seeing that Situ Xuan was serious, Situ Ruo began to play the rogue. “I have already given the cat to Jia She; I cannot bring myself to ask for it back.”

Situ Xuan nearly laughed in fury. “You used my cat as a gift and have the audacity to be so righteous about it. Situ Ruo, you are becoming increasingly arrogant. I give you two choices: either bring the cat back, or go to Yangzhou to investigate the salt merchants.”

“Lin Ruhai submitted a secret memorial, claiming he has been poisoned and does not have many years left. Go and see if this is true.” Lin Ruhai was far too important; if he sided with those salt merchants, the national treasury would be affected.

Situ Ruo finally understood. Even if he brought the cat back, he would still have to investigate Lin Ruhai’s situation. “Imperial Brother, I will set off for Yangzhou as soon as the New Year festivities are over. Let the cat stay with Jia She as I promised.”

Situ Xuan told Situ Ruo to get out. If he really tried to reclaim the cat, Situ Ruo would lose face, but he, as Emperor, would lose even more. On his way out of the palace, Situ Ruo wondered: if the trip to Yangzhou went well, he might return in a few months; if not, he might well leave his life there. Those salt merchants were all ruthless. Jia She’s life expectancy was unknown; when he returned from Yangzhou, would Jia She still be there?

Situ Ruo had left for Yangzhou under secret orders and had not told Jia She he was leaving. Jia She stayed in his courtyard cultivating throughout the New Year. He did not even look at the embezzled money Lin Zhixiao had recovered from the hot spring manor, simply having it delivered to Liu Hongyun’s residence.

In the second month, Jia She received a farewell letter from Situ Ruo, informing him that he had left the capital. He did not say where he was going, only that if things went well, he would return in the second half of the year; if not, he would return by next year at the latest. At the same time, Mother Jia received a letter from Lin Ruhai. She wept bitterly and sent maids to summon both Jia She and Jia Zheng.

When Jia She arrived, Jia Zheng and Jia Lian were already there. Jia Baoyu was leaning against Mother Jia, whispering to amuse her. Seeing Jia She, Mother Jia’s eyes were red and swollen, and her expression was filled with sorrow. “Lin Ruhai wrote saying Min’er’s health is worsening to the point where medicine is of no use.”

Before she was married, Jia Min had been closest to Jia Zheng. Hearing the news, Jia Zheng’s brows knitted together. “Mother, how can this be? Sister Min’er’s health was only slightly frail. How could it reach the point where medicine is ineffective? Has Lin Ruhai been causing her distress?”

Mother Jia grew sorrowful again, and Jia Baoyu comforted her with a pained expression. “Old Ancestor, please take care of yourself. If Aunt knew you were so heartbroken for her, she would surely be in pain.”

Mother Jia wailed once more with Jia Baoyu in her arms until she eventually calmed down. Looking toward Jia Zheng, she said, “Your sister is critically ill. You should go to Yangzhou to see her and see if you can be of any help.”

Jia Zheng was stunned and refused without a second thought. “I still have business to attend to at the Ministry of Works and cannot request a long leave. I hope Mother will forgive me.”

Hearing this, Jia She laughed coldly, not leaving Jia Zheng any dignity. “What business could you possibly have at the Ministry of Works, other than sipping tea and chatting all day? If you do not want to exert yourself, just say so; do not hide behind the excuse of ‘busy official business’—you will only make yourself a laughingstock.”

The mask Jia Zheng wore was ripped away by Jia She; his complexion turned from red to green. Mother Jia’s expression was dark. She had thought Jia Zheng valued sibling ties and would be willing to visit, yet he only paid lip service. She felt a momentary daze—what was the point of favoring him so much?

Seeing Mother Jia’s disappointment, Jia Zheng tightened his chest and knelt before her. “Mother, my health has been poor lately, and I have been coughing since before the New Year. It is not that I do not want to visit my sister; I am simply physically unable to.”

Lady Wang interjected, “Lian’er is in good health, and Sister Min’er has mentioned Lian’er in her letters several times. Why not send Lian’er?”

Jia Lian was anxious; he could not even remember what his aunt looked like, so why should he go to Yangzhou? Liu Hongyun had hinted before the New Year that there was much to do in the Ministry of Revenue and that he should perform well to ensure his end-of-year review led to a promotion. He did not want to stagnate in the same position for over a decade like Jia Zheng.

The room was filled with elders; despite his urgency, Jia Lian dared not interject. Wang Xifeng, seeing Mother Jia was tempted, immediately spoke up: “Old Ancestor, that is truly unfortunate. I have just conceived, and since the Master is busy at the Ministry of Revenue, he cannot be spared to go to Yangzhou.”

Jia Lian turned to look at Wang Xifeng in surprise and delight. “You are pregnant? When did this happen? Why did you not tell me sooner?”