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

Page 29

Daiyu's eyes darted around, her tone carrying a hint of urging.

"It's almost time, why are you dawdling like this? Qingwen, take me there, I'll pick out a couple of things for Brother Yu."

Gu Yu's heart stirred, and she subtly glanced at Daiyu. Seeing that Daiyu's expression was normal, she gestured with a hint of disappointment to Qingwen to take Daiyu over.

Was he just experiencing one of the three great illusions of life again? Someone helping him pick out a few clothes made him overthink things. Doesn't that mean he's disrespecting the Mu Shi Qian Meng alliance?

Gu Yu secretly reminded herself that before actually tasting the food, she must guard against arrogance and impatience, and maintain a humble and enterprising spirit...

A short while later, Qingwen gestured for Gu Yu to go inside and change her clothes, where Xiangling was already waiting.

Daiyu sat quietly on a chair in the warm hall, with Qingwen and Zijuan beside her. However, her small hands, hidden beneath her clothes, were gently twisting her handkerchief, clearly indicating that her heart was not entirely at peace.

When Gu Yu came out, Daiyu turned her head to look at him and was immediately stunned. She couldn't take her eyes off him and stared at him intently.

If Baoyu's appearance could be rated 80 points, he would easily surpass 90 points after donning those rich young master costumes. Gu Yu, on the other hand, usually only had his hair tied up with a hairpin and dressed extremely plainly; purely based on his looks, he would score 95 points.

Now, adorned with the masterpieces of Gu family's top-notch embroiderers, Gu Yu's air of wealth and nobility makes her seem to defy all expectations.

Looking at Gu Yu, who seemed to be from another world, only one word flashed through Daiyu's mind.

"Exiled Immortal!"

The last person to be called a banished immortal was the poet immortal. Now, Gu Yu, regardless of anything else, can deserve this title just for his looks.

Seeing that Qingwen and Daiyu were just looking at her without saying a word, and their expressions were a little strange, Gu Yu couldn't help but look down at herself.

He thought the clothes were quite nice, so why were they all so strange?

Gu Yu was about to turn around and go in to let Xiang Ling change her clothes when Daiyu finally came to her senses and blushed. She didn't expect that she would be so infatuated. It was really too rude of her!

Just then, Xiangling came out, staring at Gu Yu with admiration in her eyes, which finally comforted him.

However, in broad daylight, and in front of Daiyu, he couldn't be too unrestrained. After coughing twice, he asked for everyone's opinion.

Seeing that everyone was praising her, Gu Yu stopped bothering with the formalities and went straight to the banquet.

Since they weren't from the Jia family, Gu Yu and the others couldn't make too much of a fuss. After thinking it over, Gu Yu asked Qingwen and Zijuan to accompany them.

He comforted Xiangling and the others, telling them to prepare a table of food and wine, as he was saving room to come back for another meal.

Chapter 50 Interrupting Spellcasting

When Gu Yu and the others finished their fuss and went out, they ran into Aunt Xue and Baochai, who were also coming out.

The group gathered together, and Aunt Xue pulled Daiyu aside to talk, while the two of them fell silent, which was unusual for them.

Baochai is not usually fond of dressing up, but today, wearing festive clothes, she exudes an air of elegance and nobility.

Gu Yu glanced at Daiyu, then at Baochai, feeling like she couldn't take it all in. Before she knew it, her eyes met Baochai's, and the two quickly looked away.

As previously reported, Grandmother Jia and the others have returned from their visit to the palace to offer congratulations and are currently at the ancestral hall of the Ningguo Mansion to express their gratitude to the Emperor. They are probably on their way back to the Rongguo Mansion by now.

The group slowly walked towards Rongxi Hall. Before they even got close, they could hear a lively commotion inside. Wang Shanbao's wife and Zhou Rui's wife were outside directing the maids and servants to do their work.

Upon seeing Aunt Xue and her group arrive, the two women quickly went to greet them. Zhou Rui's wife's eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Yu and the others standing together, making Gu Yu feel quite uncomfortable.

This old man loves looking at pretty girls, and since he's a woman himself, no one can say anything about it.

Seeing the old man constantly looking at Daiyu, Baochai, and even herself, Gu Yu suspected that she had been taken advantage of, but she had no evidence.

Because there were other young men from the Ningguo Mansion who were coming to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia, Wang Shanbao's wife and the others led everyone to the side and directly into the women's quarters at the back.

Because of the Lunar New Year, Rongxi Hall, which was already grand and luxurious, was decorated again. Even the back was adorned with brocade and embroidered screens, looking brand new. Pine and cypress incense and lily grass were burning in the brazier in the room.

Grandmother Jia was receiving greetings from the Jia family members in the main hall, and even from the back hall, one could faintly hear the congratulatory voices coming from the front. Hearing this lively scene, Daiyu suddenly thought of her father who was far away in Yangzhou.

Although she was alone in the Jia family, she still had Grandmother Jia and her sisters, the three spring sisters, while Lin Hai was all alone in Yangzhou, loyal to the king.

Even during the New Year, it's estimated that only the servants in the entire Salt Commissioner's Office would offer a few words of congratulations, and perhaps they would even skip that if they were too busy.

Thinking of this, Daiyu's face showed a few strands of sadness, but unlike the previous two years, Gu Yu was by her side this year.

Daiyu turned her head and looked over. She suddenly remembered that Gu Yu was in an even worse situation. Just as she was thinking that the two of them could comfort each other, she unexpectedly saw Gu Yu enjoying the pastries and feeding Qingwen who was serving her. The smile on her face never stopped.

Upon seeing this, Daiyu's breath hitched, and her earlier girlish melancholy suddenly lost its meaning. She could only glare at Gu Yu.

Feeling a murderous intent coming from the side, Gu Yu looked over in confusion and saw Daiyu glaring at him, which puzzled him.

"What's wrong with me eating a piece of cake???"

Just then, the three sisters who had already stepped down came in. They all gaped when they saw Gu Yu's appearance. It was Xi Chun who, being the youngest, was the first to run up to Gu Yu and greet her.

"Brother Yu, you look so beautiful in this outfit!"

Gu Yu's smile froze; he still couldn't quite accept this compliment. He reached out and patted Xi Chun's head, then leaned close to her face and asked:

"Xichun looks beautiful today, did you wear it for me?"

Xi Chun blushed with embarrassment after being bombarded by the beauty filter. She suddenly remembered Zhi Neng'er, who often played with her. Some time ago, Zhi Neng'er had unusually borrowed rouge from her, which made her a little curious.

Before Gu Yu returned, she had fantasized about cutting her hair and becoming a nun with Zhi Neng'er, but Gu Yu's kindness towards her later dispelled her thoughts.

I've been going to Gu Yu's place a lot lately, and I haven't been playing with Zhi Neng'er and the others as much. I don't know why Zhi Neng'er suddenly started using rouge.

Although she felt it was a bit strange for a nun to use rouge, the naive Xichun still lent it to her friend and promised not to tell anyone else.

However, looking into Gu Yu's eyes, Xi Chun remembered Gu Yu's reputation and had an idea.

“Brother Yu is so smart, and he’s not an outsider. Ask him later, he’ll definitely know what’s going on.”

After teasing Xichun for a while, Grandmother Jia and the others finally arrived. Madam Xing and Madam Wang led Li Wan, Wang Xifeng, and the others in an orderly fashion, filing in one after another.

Because of Grandmother Jia's special care, Baoyu could help her back to the inner hall after leaving the stage, so his eyes lit up when he first saw Gu Yu dressed up in her finest attire.

"...This unique and otherworldly person is even more pure and virtuous than a woman!"

The thought that such a person could be so attached to worldly things filled Baoyu with regret. If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion and his father's banquet outside, he might have lost his temper on the spot and smashed that damned jade again.

Just as Grandmother Jia was about to speak with Aunt Xue, who had stood up, she noticed something was wrong with Baoyu's expression. Her heart tightened, fearing something was amiss, and she quickly shook him, calling out:

"Baoyu... Baoyu!"

Baoyu's thoughts were interrupted by Grandmother Jia, and he finally came back to his senses, but the sisters had also seen his appearance just now.

Although she didn't know why Baoyu was acting like he was about to have a fit of madness again, it was good that Grandmother Jia had suppressed it. Baochai stared calmly at the ground, but her eyes involuntarily drifted to someone, her thoughts wandering far away.

"Greetings, Madam! You've certainly gained immense prestige at the palace today!"

"Haha, I'm at peace, Concubine. I'm just an old woman, what's the point of being respectable or not? It's just that His Majesty is showing me kindness and grace."

As Grandmother Jia and Aunt Xue were talking, everyone came to the table and sat down. When they saw Gu Yu, Grandmother Jia's eyes lit up and she praised him repeatedly.

Taking advantage of a spare moment, Wang Xifeng also caught a glimpse of the commotion and jokingly remarked:

"Grandmother was just being modest, but now she's revealed her true colors! No matter what kind of granddaughter or great-granddaughter they are, all of them who are related to her in some way are so beautiful. Isn't that all thanks to Grandmother's blessings?"

These words made Grandmother Jia laugh heartily, filling the room with a joyful atmosphere.

Although it was just a farewell banquet for the women, Grandmother Jia did not arrange for Baoyu to sit next to her as usual, so she asked him to sit with Gu Yu to show their closeness.

Gu Yu sat with Bao Yu on his left and Ying Chun on his right. Dai Yu and Bao Chai sat opposite them, while Qing Wen and Zi Juan stood beside them to serve.

The New Year's Eve banquet was just a quick gathering after the ancestral worship ceremony, where everyone would chat and stay up late to welcome the new year. The main event was the New Year's Eve banquet the following day, so it wasn't a big affair.

After finishing the so-called casual meal, Grandmother Jia sat at the head of the table, with her left arm around Baoyu and her right arm around Daiyu, enjoying the bliss of family life.

Gu Yu remained seated next to Yingchun. Seeing that Wang Xifeng and the others were all focused on Grandmother Jia, she deliberately teased Yingchun for a while.

"Second sister, what do you think of my outfit today? Is it presentable?"

...

Chapter Fifty-One: Feigning Illness

Yingchun stiffened, and subconsciously glanced at Tanchun and the others on the other side. Seeing that there was no reaction, she breathed a sigh of relief, but her face turned red unnaturally.

When she entered, she saw Gu Yu, who seemed like an immortal descending to earth, radiating light. Thinking of this scoundrel's frivolous behavior in private, she felt weak in the knees, and had a persistent, unsettling feeling that she was the one taking advantage of Gu Yu.

When we were eating together earlier, she didn't even dare to turn around and say hello, and quietly finished her meal amidst the hustle and bustle.

Unexpectedly, even after the banquet, Gu Yu still tried to flirt with her. Remembering Gu Yu's usual domineering nature, she didn't dare delay, and could only blush and lean towards Gu Yu, whispering:

"nice…"

Gu Yu raised an eyebrow and secretly placed his right hand on Yingchun's waist, applying gentle pressure. Although there were several layers of clothing between them, being taken advantage of by Gu Yu in front of almost all the ladies of the mansion still made Yingchun's breathing become disordered.

Yingchun quickly looked at Gu Yu pleadingly, afraid of losing her composure in front of others. Gu Yu leaned closer and whispered with a smile, "After the banquet tomorrow night, we'll be welcoming guests all the way until the Lantern Festival. Second sister, since you have nothing to do anyway, why don't you come to my room to play more often?"

Hearing that Gu Yu was taking advantage of the situation, Yingchun breathed a sigh of relief. Habits can become second nature, and as she gradually got used to Gu Yu embracing her and kissing her cheek, she no longer felt it was such a bold thing.

Seeing that Yingchun had taken the bait, Gu Yu released his hand with satisfaction. In fact, even if Yingchun had stubbornly refused, he would have let go anyway, otherwise, if Yingchun's face had turned redder, it would have aroused suspicion.

After staring at Yingchun's cherry lips for a couple of seconds, Gu Yu's smile deepened. He wasn't satisfied with just a taste; since Yingchun had agreed to come see him, he had to try her rouge.

As everyone in the room was talking, they heard Zhou Rui's wife come in, saying happily, "Grandma, the servants have delivered a batch of top-quality fireworks, and there are even some new designs this year."

"The gentlemen outside are worried that the old lady will be bored, so they came to ask if it's time to start?"

Upon hearing that there would be fireworks, Baoyu became interested and urged them on. Grandmother Jia affectionately embraced Baoyu and agreed.

"Go and tell the men to begin; we'll go out and see."

"Ai."

Grandmother Jia stood up, taking one jade pendant in each hand. Daiyu secretly glanced at Gu Yu, only to see Xichun running up to him, begging Gu Yu to look at the jade pendants with her, which made her feel a little annoyed.

The whole family rushed out to help Grandmother Jia out. Seeing that she had fallen behind, Gu Yu grabbed Xi Chun's hand and secretly squeezed Ying Chun's hand before letting go.

After all, Yingchun is not as young as Xichun, so she cannot do anything too outrageous for others to see.

Many fireworks have already been set up in the courtyard. Because they are in the capital, many large fireworks cannot be set off casually, especially for a family of the Jia family's stature.

Only after midnight when the palace sets off fireworks can other households follow suit; for now, they can only play small games for a while.

Listening to the people around her describe how the fireworks were like fireworks and how the harvest was plentiful, Gu Yu didn't seem to care much, but the others were quite excited.

"Great! Great! There are definitely more new styles this year, much more interesting than in previous years!"

Grandmother Jia praised her repeatedly, but before she could speak, Wang Xifeng loudly announced that the steward who purchased the fireworks would receive two extra months' wages, and the person who brought the fireworks would also receive two coins of silver, winning a chorus of gratitude from the surrounding servants.

Daiyu was also very interested in this, especially since she could see Gu Yu's profile, which looked even more dreamlike under the glow of the fireworks, just by tilting her head slightly, which made her feel even more satisfied.

But then she noticed a hint of boredom on Gu Yu's face and assumed he was thinking of going back to have drinks with Xiang Ling and the others, which dampened her spirits considerably.

After watching for a while, seeing that the fireworks display was almost over, Daiyu coughed, attracting the attention of Grandmother Jia and the others.

"Yu'er, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just that it's late at night and I feel a little uncomfortable, and this heat is a bit pungent."

Seeing this, Grandmother Jia quickly invited her inside to rest. It was Wang Xifeng, who was observing from the side, who noticed something amiss.

Miss Lin was still recovering from illness the first year and didn't stay up all night to celebrate the New Year. Although her health was weaker later on, she still participated with her sisters.

Now that Gu Yu has returned, she's sick again? Wang Xifeng clearly saw Daiyu looking at someone just now.

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng said, "Sister Lin, you really need to go back and rest quickly. You are already weak, so you should be careful during the New Year."

Even imperial physicians are hard to find during the New Year, and falling ill at this time is considered unlucky. Although reluctant, Grandmother Jia still told Daiyu to go back and rest.

Gu Yu then took the opportunity to say goodbye. Although Xi Chun seemed the most reluctant to leave, Ying Chun and Tan Chun were also somewhat disappointed. Bao Chai lowered her head slightly, and it was hard to tell what her expression was. But there was still Xiang Ling waiting foolishly at home, and he couldn't forget her.

After leaving Rongxi Hall, seeing Daiyu walking as usual, Gu Yu finally realized what was happening and felt a strange feeling in her heart.

Unlike later generations where you can swear on anything, faking illness during the Lunar New Year isn't something you can do casually.

Even when it came to giving clothes to the deceased Jin Chuan, Lady Wang was hesitant, and in the end, it was Baochai who took out her own clothes to resolve the situation.

As Zijuan and Qingwen were talking, Gu Yu, a few steps behind, looked at Daiyu, who was gazing at the moon beside her, and finally couldn't help but ask:

"Lin Daiyu...why...?"

Daiyu blinked, still not looking at him, and replied calmly:

"Didn't Brother Yu want to go back to find Xiangling?"

"..."

Gu Yu's breathing became light, and she couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.

Daiyu's words were like a feather tickling his heart, causing it to twitch involuntarily, and he wanted to blurt out a certain sentence that was on his mind.

But the next moment, Gu Yu came to her senses again. According to the ideas of some outstanding people, a confession should be a victory horn, not a charge.