Three Wives and Four Concubines in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Page 66

Even though she was angry at Baoyu for his lack of understanding of romance, Daiyu still couldn't help but offer him some advice. After all, they had been brothers and sisters for so many years, how could she not lend him a hand and just watch him go astray?

Although she had never handled the Jia family's finances, she had been exposed to them and knew how much the family spent. Moreover, Gu Yu had shown her the Gu family's harvest, so with a better understanding of the situation, she could tell from observing that the Jia family's circumstances were gradually deteriorating.

Baoyu is so favored by his maternal grandmother, he should show the responsibility he deserves in the future. If he just stays among the maids eating rouge and accomplishes nothing, how can he live up to the importance that the Jia family attaches to him?

After all, compared to Jia Lian and Jia Lan, Bao Yu was closer to the sisters. Naturally, they hoped that Bao Yu could become the leader in the future. But that required ability. If they didn't learn something now, how would they be able to steer the ship in the future?

Upon hearing this, Baoyu felt as if struck by lightning. He never imagined that this pure and refined Lin Daiyu, beautiful as a celestial being, could utter such vulgar and absurd words as those concerning economics and officialdom. He was so angry that his lips trembled, and he abruptly stood up, angrily saying:

"In that case, I won't sully your Wenhua Tianbao's Wenqu land, and I won't bother you again in the future!"

As he said this, Baoyu suddenly felt a pain in his heart. He was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly tried to untie the cloth from his chest and throw it to the ground.

"What nonsense! You're talking about being able to communicate with spirits?! I'll smash this up and be done with it!"

Seeing the heated atmosphere between the two, Xiren had already been on guard. Sure enough, she quickly came up with Bihen and the others to stop them.

"My little ancestor, why do this! Miss Lin is only doing this for your own good. Why do you want to smash this treasure? If the old master finds out, even Miss Lin will be in trouble!"

Zijuan and the others stood outside, raising their hands as they watched Xiren and the others persuade Baoyu to stop smashing the jade. They were quite dissatisfied.

Who doesn't know that Baoyu is the lifeblood of this mansion? If they really smashed up Xiaoxiang Pavilion, who knows how much trouble it would cause!

Besides, what her daughter said was kind. If it were Jia Lan or Jia Huan, they wouldn't even give her a kind look. They can't even tell the difference between good and bad. They're really blinded by greed!

As soon as they started arguing, Daiyu couldn't help but peek through the curtain in the room. Sure enough, she saw Gu Yu frowning as he was about to come out and sort things out. She quickly begged him to go back and not make things worse, because if this incident happened, Xiaoxiang Pavilion would probably explode!

Seeing that Xiren seemed to have been prepared and stepped forward, Gu Yu knew that things wouldn't escalate, so he breathed a sigh of relief. However, looking at Daiyu's helpless and anxious pleading eyes, he found it quite amusing. He deliberately hesitated for a moment before stepping back, which earned him a cute little expression of relief from Daiyu.

After making a fuss for a while, Baoyu didn't want to stay any longer and led his group out of the courtyard. Behind him, Xiren had to apologize to Zijuan and the others on his behalf, which made Gu Yu, who was in the inner room, shake his head and sigh.

"What a virtuous lady she is!"

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Unexpected Situations

After the farce at Xiaoxiang Pavilion subsided, Daiyu frowned and went into her room, still feeling angry at the undeserved misfortune. She wondered what had gotten into Baoyu this time.

Speaking of this, she recalled the strange things Xiangyun had said to her a few days ago, wishing they could be tied together forever and that she would never bother her again!

As soon as she turned around, Daiyu looked at Gu Yu sitting silently on her bed and felt a pang of unease; something seemed amiss. Before she could figure it out, Gu Yu glanced at her indifferently and said:

What happened just now?

Daiyu glanced at him suspiciously, then took off the extra gauze robe and put it in the closet, saying:

"I don't know what went wrong with Bao Er Ge. He came over, made a scene, and then ran away. He was just like a little kid. He even dragged Xi Ren into it."

Gu Yu sneered, deliberately speaking in a low voice:

"I wondered what was going on. Luckily, I was talking to Baoyu and forgot about myself for a moment, otherwise I would have flown here long ago."

Daiyu's hand froze, her face turning bright red. She finally realized what was wrong. Such a strong sense of déjà vu—who else could it be but her imitation? She turned around and was about to pounce on Gu Yu and pull her mouth open.

"You cunning devil—! I'll tear your mouth off... Ah~!"

Gu Yu easily caught the petite body that lunged at him, turned around and pinned her down. Finally unable to keep up the act any longer, he buried his face in her neck, took a deep breath, and then looked up and smiled:

"What's wrong with my sister? Does she feel guilty for neglecting me and want to repay the debt with her body?"

Daiyu couldn't stand such lewd talk. Her face flushed red, and she bit her lip, trying to break free. Gu Yu couldn't help but press her body down to stop her from moving.

“…Good sister, how about…”

Daiyu felt flustered and her mind went blank when he nudged her, so she quickly made an excuse:

"No! It's still broad daylight..."

Gu Yu chuckled to himself. He had been waiting for Daiyu to refuse; with this calculated push-and-pull, how could she not give in? He deliberately lingered a few more times, and seeing that Daiyu was about to give in, Gu Yu gently blew a breath into her ear and said with a mischievous smile:

"My sister's words are just to fool people; didn't she do the same thing last time..."

"Stop talking!"

Daiyu kept her eyes tightly closed, her face flushed, and she haphazardly covered herself with her hands. Gu Yu grabbed her and kissed her, and she finally couldn't bear it any longer and opened her eyes to beg.

"Brother Yu..."

Knowing when to stop, Gu Yu deliberately sighed and whispered a few words in her ear. Daiyu suddenly widened her eyes and bit Gu Yu lightly in embarrassment and annoyance.

"I knew you had ulterior motives..."

"How could that be? My sister saw that booklet before, didn't she? What we did was just an intimate gesture..."

Daiyu glared at him, annoyed. She knew perfectly well that he was lying, but she was feeling weak under his pressure and decided to let it go for now, so she tacitly agreed.

"Then you're not allowed...you're not allowed to be with anyone else~"

Last time, the two of them were alone on the boat. If Gu Yu asked her to bend down like that in front of Qingwen and Xiangling... Daiyu didn't even dare to think about it anymore and quickly dismissed the possibility.

Seeing that she was willing to agree, Gu Yu naturally agreed with everything she wanted, and happily rolled around on the bed with her. After all, Xiaoxiang Pavilion wasn't in a remote place, and seeing that it was almost dinner time, Daiyu cuddled with him for a while before urging him to go back, lest some ill-informed old woman gossip about it.

Pushed out the door by Daiyu, Gu Yu turned around and stuffed a small token into her hand, then pointed to her mouth with a grin, indicating that Daiyu should not forget. In return, she received a charming eye roll. Afterward, she followed Zijuan out the door.

Zijuan's farewell took almost half an incense stick's time. When she returned, Daiyu saw that her face was flushed and the rouge on her lips had been eaten away, but her lips were even more rosy and vibrant. Daiyu couldn't help but hum twice and tease her a couple of times.

"Why don't you come along and spend the night? I have Xueyan with me anyway, wouldn't that be convenient for both of us?"

At this moment, Zijuan was not afraid of Daiyu's teasing. She deliberately put on a wronged look and suppressed a laugh as she said:

"But the young lady was pinned down for so long, it looked like her back was about to break. How can Xueyan take care of her all by herself?"

"You little hussy, you're peeking again—!"

Daiyu blushed and laughed and joked with her, but after pinching Zijuan's ample breasts a couple of times, she quietly asked about private matters.

Zijuan replied with a mix of amusement and shyness, then smiled helplessly:

"The young lady isn't even married yet, and she's already been completely taken advantage of by Young Master Yu. Why didn't she remember those rules back then? Yet she still expects us to follow the rules every day, and she can't even speak much to Master Bao in the manor. Where can we find justice for this?"

Daiyu smiled dreamily. She had already decided in her heart that she would be with Gu Yu for life, so why would she care about those formalities? What difference would it make if it was sooner or later?

What's more, now that they've tasted the sweetness, even a light kiss can completely release the excitement in their hearts. Isn't that much more interesting than a purely spiritual relationship?

"You little brat, you've been... Now you have no way back, do you still think you can run away?"

Zijuan blushed and spat at her increasingly unreserved young lady, only to feel her body go numb again, just like before. She quickly stopped thinking about it and went to call Xueyan to prepare dinner.

Watching Zijuan's graceful figure disappear into the distance, Daiyu smiled, but there were still a few words she didn't say.

Although Gu Yu appeared to be very eager, Daiyu still sensed some of his hidden intentions and understood that he was deliberately trying to provoke her. Although she didn't know why, Daiyu didn't ask him.

If the two hadn't been inseparable since childhood and knew his true feelings, how could Daiyu have let him torment her? If Gu Yu had met her two years later, even if they liked each other, Daiyu would have simply confided in him honestly, instead of being so frank with him.

Thinking of this, Daiyu couldn't help but take out the piece of dark wood and gently stroke it. Although Gu Yu didn't say a word, she understood Gu Yu's feelings just by looking at the character "Gu" engraved on it.

……

The next morning, before Gu Yu could even practice two pieces of calligraphy, someone came looking for her. It turned out to be an acquaintance, none other than Commander Zuo, with whom she had been dealing for a long time.

Seeing that his face was somewhat serious, Gu Yu also became more serious. After the two exchanged greetings, Zuo Qianhu was in a bad mood and didn't bother with further pleasantries, so he got straight to the point.

"At today's court assembly, several foreign monks from Tianshan arrived, seemingly vying for the position of National Preceptor or Buddha Head. The monks from Baima Temple were unable to refute them, and the foreign monks made a three-day challenge to see if anyone could stump them. By then, regardless of whether the court acknowledges it or not, the world will have its own judgment."

"His Majesty still supports the White Horse Temple. He has just decided to order a wide gathering of talented individuals to debate with that monk, so that he will know his place! That's why he sent me here so that you may know."

Gu Yu opened her mouth, wanting to ask if she could skip it, but seeing Zuo Qianhu's furrowed brows, clearly dissatisfied with those Tantric monks, she was afraid she would be beaten if she asked, so she could only suppress her urge to complain.

"Foreign monks from the Tianshan Mountains?...Could they be from the Tantric sect?"

Gu Yu pondered for a moment, unsure of what had happened, and could only wait and see. Commander Zuo arrived and left in a hurry; after telling him the story, he didn't even have a sip of water before rushing off, seemingly without a trace.

Gu Yu glanced at the rising sun outside and couldn't help but sigh. What's the point of standing in the court all day on such a beautiful day instead of cuddling with his beautiful maid and taking a nap? He might as well go back and take a nap!

Chapter Seventy Visiting Xichun

Seeing that it was still early, Gu Yu wasn't in a hurry to go back, so she simply strolled along the long street.

As the sun rises, the streets are already bustling with pedestrians, and the morning tea stalls on both sides are endless. There are also early risers who have come to the city to sell their freshly picked vegetables from their fields.

However, Gu Yu was dressed in silk robes and had a handsome appearance, so ordinary people dared not greet him. Only a few breakfast stalls tried to win him over with smiles.

"Young master, why don't you try my spicy soup? Everyone who's tried it raves about it!"

"Fresh meat steamed buns—ten coins each, generous portion, one is enough to fill you up—"

"Young lady, you can buy it or not, but I've already weighed it for you and now you want me to throw in an eggplant? Isn't that bullying?"

"Old man, how much are your cucumbers?"

"Hey, these are freshly picked from the field, so juicy! If you want them, three coins a pound."

……

The various sounds on the street mingled together, creating a strong sense of everyday life. Gu Yu wandered around for a long time before finally finding a stall selling tofu pudding. She bought a bowl of tofu pudding, sat down to fill her stomach, and observed the various scenes around her while eating.

Although he was quite happy to stay in the garden with his wives, he was also satisfied to occasionally come out and see the excitement. Gu Yu sat at one of the only two tables, which was on the outer side. The other table was crowded with four people, none of whom dared to get close.

Among the four was an older woman with her daughter, who would occasionally glance at Gu Yu, chuckle softly, and then lower her head, seemingly talking about something.

Gu Yu was watching a young woman squatting by the roadside, picking vegetables with a basket on her back. Although she was plain-looking, her mature curves could not be hidden by her simple clothes. The vegetable vendor exchanged a few flirtatious words with her and even gave her some scallions, which made Gu Yu chuckle.

Just then, Gu Yu suddenly felt a gaze pierce her. She met the eyes of a farm girl at the next table. Seeing the girl's innocent face, she couldn't help but chuckle softly and give her a smile. The girl blushed and immediately turned her head away, her heart pounding.

She rarely came to the city with her parents. In the past, the gentlemen she had seen were always in carriages and boats, making it difficult to even see their faces. The spoiled young men were also fierce and menacing. How could anyone compare to this young master who was so handsome?

Before she could muster the courage to look back, she saw the old man selling tofu pudding approaching her. Gu Yu felt in her pocket and realized she only had some loose silver. Without even taking out a copper coin, she took out a single coin and placed it directly in the old man's hand.

"Could you please make me two more bowls? No need to add sugar."

The old man's hand trembled, and he quickly stuffed it into his pocket, afraid that someone would see it. This small piece of silver was enough for him to make a living from selling things all day!

"Oh! Oh! Don't worry, young master, my family's tofu pudding is one of the best on this street. I guarantee it will still be hot when you get home!"

He specially changed to two large bowls and filled them to the brim. Seeing that there was no one around Gu Yu, the old man thought that he should earn less and reluctantly take out the food box so that Gu Yu could take it with her. Gu Yu waved his hand and smiled, refusing his kindness. She just carried a bowl in one hand and was about to go back.

The older woman next to her, seeing her daughter staring at Gu Yu's retreating figure with a lovesick expression, couldn't help but laugh and scold:

"You little brat, are you still dreaming of a toad eating swan meat? I've only brought you to the city a few times and you're already losing your mind. What, you're abandoning your big brother Lin?"

The girl blushed and exchanged a few words with her mother, but her eyes kept watching Gu Yu disappear around the street corner, a trace of melancholy quietly passing through her heart.

……

When Gu Yu hurried back to the garden, she was surprised to find Xiangling and Qingwen directing the maids to tidy up the courtyard. When the two approached, Gu Yu looked bewildered and asked:

"Is there some happy occasion today? Why are you so busy so early in the morning? Here, these are some snacks I brought for you. Drink them while they're hot. There's some sugar in the house. Xiangling went to get it and made some for you."

As Qingwen helped Gu Yu get the tofu pudding, she explained:

"Tomorrow is the Grain in Ear solar term, and we're going to send off the Flower Goddess in the garden. Grandma Lian just came by and told us to join in the fun and decorate the garden beautifully so it will be more fun!"

"By the way, Xueyan came by earlier and said that her young lady and her daughters went to the old lady's place. If you have nothing to do, you can go and see Xichun. I heard that she is not completely recovered yet."

Gu Yu's heart skipped a beat. Counting the days, Xi Chun had been sick for several days and should be better by now, so why was she still staying at home?

"Alright, alright, I'll go check on you two ladies after I've finished serving you. Are you satisfied?"

Qingwen chuckled and ignored his nonsense. She called Xiangling over, and the two of them went inside to eat Gu Yu's 'love breakfast'.

Gu Yu stroked her chin. It was inconvenient for her to stay alone in the courtyard, so she simply headed straight for Lotus Fragrance Pavilion.

Sure enough, there were more maids on the road, each hanging paper flowers and colorful threads. When they saw Gu Yu coming, they quickly bowed and then secretly gathered around to look at and discuss him.

"...He seems much better looking than Master Bao..."

"If...hehe~I wonder if it's a..."

Gu Yu, who was walking ahead, paused for a moment before continuing on his way as usual. Having practiced martial arts since childhood to strengthen his body, he possessed exceptional hearing and could naturally hear the bold words spoken by the maids amidst their murmured laughter. Although the maids who served Bao Yu and the three sisters in the garden were all above average in appearance, the spoiled Gu Yu found them beneath his notice, thinking them merely too dissolute.

To be honest, he wasn't close to the Jia family, yet these maids dared to make fun of him so easily—it was truly a breach of etiquette. If he weren't so uninterested in arguing with them, he would have shown them whether he was truly all looks and no substance!

After muttering a few complaints to himself, Gu Yu arrived at the ground. Most of the servants at Ouxiang Pavilion were already busy in the garden, with only Ruhua and two maids serving Xichun inside.

When Gu Yu arrived, Xi Chun, though lying in bed, had a smile on her face. When she saw that Xi Chun was about to get up, Gu Yu quickly took two steps and pressed her down, then touched her forehead, feeling a little puzzled.

"Has my sister not taken her medicine on time? How come she hasn't gotten better after so long? It's making us all even more worried."

Xi Chun's delicate face turned slightly pale, but upon hearing his words, a blush rose to her cheeks. She didn't reply, but instead instructed Ru Hua to go out and rest, and asked Gu Yu to keep her company for a while.

Ru Hua looked around in a dilemma. As a senior maid, it was utterly unreasonable for her to leave her mistress alone with a man. But seeing Xi Chun's expression gradually turn cold, and Gu Yu giving her a smile, Ru Hua's heart skipped a beat. In the end, Ru Hua dared not disobey Xi Chun's orders, and left with a flushed face and her head down.

Seeing that only the two of them were left in the room, Xichun begged Gu Yu to sit closer. She pulled his arm over, leaned on his shoulder, and comfortably squinted her eyes, like a docile kitten.