Jia Baoyu (before battle)

Entering <ruby=Grand Flower Hall>Dahuating</ruby>(大花廳) now!

It wasn't long before our arrival to a new place within Daguanyuan was made known by the palanquin bearer's sonorous announcement.

More buildings...? What's Dahuating mean, anyway?

Mmm~ Grand Flower Hall, so I think you could call it a place for banquets?

Huh... So you host banquets in this... village-sized 'venue'...?

I-is that a lake over there?

Nope, it's a pond~

A p-pond...? Daaamn...

Once we arrive, we will find ourselves a welcoming party for Xichun and me.

Aha! Rodya, you should be able to stuff yourself to your heart's content this time. It's been a while, hasn't it~?

I don't think I've been this excited in a long time…

Whoa... Is that a ship over there? You have a ship?

Aha, yep~ We'd sometimes go out boating.

Oh, and Xichun's building is right across that pond!

<You each get a building of your own?>

Yes, we do. So when I first departed from Hongyuan, I found the concept of an entire family living under the same roof so fascinating.

Alas… 'twould be quite the challenge for thy family to see one another.

And that's exactly why we each get a building.

... Are we even talking about the same thing here?

Alack for woe! We could have merrily enjoyed our vacaciones at young Hong Lu's residence all along?!

That wouldn't have worked, Don Quixote. When I left home, grandmother and the elders really impressed upon me that...

... "The footsteps shall eventually bring you home when the time is right; thus, witness, and only witness, as much of the world as you may before you make your return."

... I was wondering when that would be… but time really slipped through our fingers, and just like that... it brought me here.

Most Sinners did not welcome their turn. Some of them were even terrified of it.

Sometimes, they had to confront what they'd been avoiding all their lives.

And for some, important things that were once forgotten or lost were waiting for their return.

But their reluctance is really not surprising at all.

I don't think I'd welcome an opportunity to get my memories back with open arms if it was thrust upon me out of nowhere, especially if I was getting dragged there against my will.

But despite the fact that it couldn't be more obvious that his turn had arrived, Hong Lu was as tranquil as he always was.

He's always been able to remain aloof no matter what happens. Maybe it won't be different this time, either.

But even so... can I judge that so hastily?

Young Master Baoyu of the Jia family has returned!

Again, with the palanquin bearer's deep, full-throated pronouncement of our arrival, the door opened.

Here we are. You must all be so tired! Come in, come in~

Leaving behind the Sinners, who were still reeling from the astronomical level of opulence at display, Hong Lu bounced lightly off the palanquin and moseyed into the building.

Quite the…

... lightfooted steps he take, unhindered by excitement nor trepidation…

Right...?

Rich boy's got nothin' to fear 'cos he's used to this kind of poshness, that's all this is.

Verily, this may be a subtle expression of that teensy part of him that longeth to see his family again!

Once we all left the palanquin...

I find myself beset by overwhelming vastitudes and objects of great magnitude...

Just how many servants do they have…?

Ah, grandmother will visit us once Xu hour(戌時) arrives.

The banquet will start then, I think.

<'Xu hour'...?>

The 'Xu hour' refers to the time between 19:00 and 21:00. This is a unique time system used in certain regions of the east.

In addition...

... it would be best to remember that Hong Lu's grandmother, Jia Mu, is the Hierarch of Daguanyuan. It would not be an incorrect assessment to see her as the ruler of Hongyuan.

Your relative is... the head of a Wing, I see.

Yes. Though she'll be handing that over to the next heir pretty soon.

Why now? What does she seek to achieve by abdicating at this precise time?

Outis, as she probably saw an ulterior motive behind every move, inquired.

She's been saying that her time would eventually come, that she's carried this responsibility for too long.

I bet she'd be pretty shocked to hear that you'll be taking part in the Family Hierarch war.

Hehe, I don't know about that. Maybe she'll take it well.

There's never been a reason for me to bother participating, but... there wasn't a reason for me to not, either.

<…….>

Huh? Hey, there's Xichun and Wei over there. Looks like they both arrived safely.

Jia Xichun, who arrived before us, shot us the briefest glance… before looking away with exaggerated disinterest.

X-Xichun just turned her back on us…

Well, didn't take long for things to become super awkward…

Oo, we must capture this opportunity to seat ourselves adjacent to young Xichun!

Too late... We are forever banned from ever getting anywhere near her...

Yet wherefore...?

We are no longer Jia Xichun's faction.

Her hostility is to be expected.

Things have changed.

Us versus them. In-group versus out-group.

Deception and treachery are natural parts of war.

An ally of today may as well become an enemy tomorrow…

And that's a funny way to say "I don't have any friends"...

What did you just -

Ah, there are my parents.

H-hold on, we're just walkin' right up to 'em? Blimey, at least tell us their names!

Aha. Father's name is Zheng of the Jia family. And in Daguanyuan, they call my mother Lady Wang.

I greet you for the first time since my departure.

…….

Baoyu of the Jia family has returned home.

... You're early.

Bao… Dear Baoyu… it has been too many years…

To see you again after so long, I... it is so good to see your face.

Oh… I don't know what I should even say…

The father, Jia Zheng's eyes dart nervously between us and Hong Lu.

Meanwhile, his mother gingerly brings him in for a careful embrace as though she was in the presence of something so utterly, deeply moving. It was... more than the pure joy of reunion.

So they're Hong Lu's parents...

Thank you so much for your hospitality. You have certainly spared no expenses.

So… who are these people you've come here with…?

While there aren't too many of them, they are my friends I made out in the world.

... At least he's not introducing us as his 'lackeys' like a certain someone I know.

Oi, that's - ! Agh… ahem.

Hong Lu's mother slowly turns around to look at us.

I mean, it's a weird thing to say, but…

… somehow, it almost felt like she was looking down at each of us, one by one.

I am so glad to meet you all. Baoyu's always been such a stubborn child… I'm sure he was quite the handful to accompany you on your journeys. I hope you can still embrace him despite every -

Stubborn? Hong Lu?

Hmmmh...

…….

Whatever it was she said, they don't seem all too happy to hear that...

Dear Baoyu…

Why do you allow your friends to call you by that name? What of your noble, blessed name, bestowed upon you by the revered Xianren, our elders...?

What? What's goin' on with her…?

Hong Lu reached out and, gently yet indifferently, held his mother's violently trembling hands.

Of course I would, mother.

Because the name is too noble indeed.

Oh...! Ah, ah. Yes. It is not a name that any rabble should so heedlessly speak…

Of course, of course…

Oh, do you also have an old name and a new name?

Well, don'tcha remember~? Back in P Corp., Wei called Hong Lu 'young master Baoyu'.

Also, remember how he announced himself before that duel on the day we arrived at H Corp.? He introduced himself as 'Baoyu of the Jia family'. I thought it was a pseudonym back then though, given the circumstances.

Well... it ain't like us callin' your real name's gonna cheapen its 'nobility', or whatever... tsk.

Hehe, it's just a name, so you can say it as many times as you want and it won't depreciate in whatever value it has. Oh, but some people do actually believe that it does, I suppose.

It was… wise of you to refrain from using that name.

Right, right. To let your precious name be known among the plebeian populace is to encourage knives in the dark to strike. Even here, too...

It is as your mother says. Were your true name to be made known, any individual with a passing connection to H Corp. would have easily connected you to Hongyuan.

It is said that most names are repositories of their keepers' origins.

In the eastern region of the City, when the parents name their children, they imbue them with meaning; it carries their wish for their children's place and use in the world.

… You. What's your name mean?

My name… My name is a culmination of wishes, not only those of my parents, but those of many more.

It means that I was born with a precious jade.

Jia Baoyu…

Tsk, awful. Hong Lu's better.

At least try to whisper!

Eugh, I'll call the rich boy however I want to. If I'm ever forced to call 'im 'young master Baoyu~' or some servile shite like that, I'd rather take a punch or two from the guide.

I could feel the horrified gaze of the servants staring at us.

Hehe. I don't mind, so please continue to call me Hong Lu if you want.

Please seat yourselves, honored guests. The food will be served soon.

Oi... what's all this?

Do they actually expect us to eat all this?

<... I don't think I've ever been intimidated by food before.>

There was, quite literally, a mountain of dishes on the table - I was starting to wonder if the purpose of these dishes was more to flaunt their wealth than to feed us a reasonable amount of food.

What a feast! I can ask for re... refills, right? Ehehe...

Huh? Um, yes...

<Anyway, what's up with those empty seats over there? Are we still killing time for some guests to arrive...?>

Mm…

I don't think so. They're probably seats for my older siblings somewhere in Daguanyuan. They probably just didn't want to attend.

This is a banquet to welcome me, after all. I'm sure they believe it's a waste of time to attend.

Man, they better be on some real busy schedule to miss this…

Jia Mu, venerated be her presence, graces us!

Jia Mu, venerated be her presence, graces us!

With the announcement, utter silence quickly devoured the busy hubbub of the banquet...

Those who were sitting quickly rose to their feet and bowed, while those who were standing knelt down on all fours, their backs bent so low that their foreheads were nearly touching the floor.

And the woman walking out from between them, the crowd itself parting down the middle from her sheer presence...

Oh, there's grandmother.

... was Hong Lu's grandmother, the Family Hierarch of H Corp., and its Chief Executive Director.

Jia Mu's presence was at once warm, gentle, yet immense and overwhelming, like a personification of an insurmountable mountain.

We are graced by your presence, venerable Jia Mu.

We are graced by your presence, venerable Jia Mu.

W-whuh? Should we bow, too?

I don't think you could bow any lower with your face halfway in the bowl, so you should be fine... probably...?

S-she's surrounded by Heishou too, I think.

<Guys, everything's gonna be fine as long as we don't do anything stupid…>

As everyone was bowing before Jia Mu, awed and humbled...

... only Hong Lu looked straight at Jia Mu without bowing.

Then, he got up from his seat and walked toward her.

It has been a while, grandmother.

Please ascend, young master Baoyu.

It seemed that a special permission was needed to even stand next to her, as Hong Lu was allowed to approach her only after the servant gave him the go ahead.

Little Baoyu.

You must have walked and toiled tirelessly on your journey home.

Not at all, grandmother. I was able to learn so many new things, thanks to everyone who treated me so nicely.

Had you sought to master the art of learning, no master, regardless of pursuit, would have been out of our reach; you could have learned much in the halls of erudition from them.

Yet the world taught from sheets of paper are simply that - words on paper.

We wished that you, dear Baoyu, would learn more of the secular world, to not let flow betwixt your fingers the time that is given to you.

I know this opportunity was more than what I deserved, grandmother.

I appreciate your return all the same, that you have deigned to return before me ere my abdication of the great responsibility.

Verily, it appeareth that young Hong Lew shigned onto Limbews Chompany ash a gran churismo of shorts! Mmhm.

Gran chewrismo? Whash' shaat?

… Can the two of you stop babbling with your mouths full?

Young masters of families moooooost eminent are oft sent out to the world on a grand tour - thus coined was this practice 'gran turismo', if thou wilt - afore they are to commence their public activities!

Mm. The purpose is to learn the varied experiences that cannot be gained from books, to grow familiar with the world outside.

I hear that you have met with Xichun in the world not long ago?

I have.

A bright child, she is. Well-prepared to take on the challenges of the Family Hierarch Evaluations, I presume.

I agree. I am sure Xichun will wisely overcome the trials.

Indeed.

Have you paid visit to the revered elders, then?

... I will, soon.

Lady Wang, ascend here as well.

With your mercy, Jia Mu, of course...

Hong Lu's mother hurried up to where Jia Mu stood.

It must cause your heart great distress to have your one and only son depart his home, to wander the world beyond the hedges.

O-of course not, Jia Mu…

Oh, I am simply so glad that my son, Baoyu...

… has returned as a man who can now more than carry his own weight... And unharmed, too...

Thus, dear Baoyu…

I don't mean to rush, but… when are you planning to depart again?

Nothing has been decided yet, mother.

I see… I-I am simply concerned that, were your stay here to be prolonged, perhaps you might fade before your duties are completed.

Complete your duties and return soon, so that the… agreement Jia Mu has so graciously made for us is fulfilled, hmm?

Indeed.

Lose not, forget not.

You are our family's one and only jade.

Dear Baoyu, our peerless treasure, tarry not overlong in this mundane world; leave when the time is right, and fulfill your worth.

…….

Okay, grandmother. Mother.