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

Page 153

They all seemed to be sitting properly in their seats, but the subtle smiles and teasing in their glances were irresistible to Daiyu, who could only blush and lower her head, pretending to be dead.

As for Gu Yu, he was naturally happy to watch the show, and simply picked up a book, which served as the best shield from the sidelines.

With Xiangling enthusiastically adding a pot of tea beside her, Gu Yu only needed to listen to the soft laughter of these girls, and life couldn't be more wonderful.

"It hasn't snowed much these past few days, and Merlin has lost some of its charm. Even our ancestor said we must wait for it to snow before coming to visit, otherwise it will lose some of its character."

"How about we go to Luxue Hermitage next door for a gathering to admire the plum blossoms after it snows? It's just across the water, which will only add to the picturesque scene."

Soon, Xiangyun, who loved lively conversation, joined the discussion:

"A gathering? We can just bring the stove over there, sit around it to admire the plum blossoms, eat meat and drink wine, wouldn't that be wonderful!"

"You, with your talk of eating meat and drinking alcohol, you sound like a warrior."

Baochai glared at her helplessly. How did your description of a beautiful scene of everyone gathering together to enjoy delicious food, drink some wine and appreciate plum blossoms turn into a gathering at Liangshan Marsh?

While it's true that in this weather, a barbecue is probably the only thing that would be fun for a get-together, how can you use such a vulgar term!

Xiangyun chuckled nonchalantly, and soon she and Xichun were discussing what to eat.

Although she also pursued elegance and enjoyed the refined manner of composing poems, she felt that spending so much time pondering a nice way to put such trivial matters was somewhat pedantic.

Seeing that Baochai's actions had attracted the attention of the other sisters, and no one was paying attention to her anymore, Daiyu finally breathed a sigh of relief and was willing to raise her head to observe the situation, cautiously listening to the lively scene.

Gu Yu was feeling lazy today and couldn't concentrate on reading. She was just pretending to read, and when she saw that Daiyu had also come back to life, she slowly chimed in.

"How can drinking and eating meat be considered the behavior of a warrior? In ancient times, there was the talented woman Zhuo Wenjun who sold wine at a counter, and her name has been passed down through the ages. There are countless literati and scholars who drink wine, and eating meat is even more common. How can such a leisurely and elegant pursuit be considered the behavior of a warrior?"

Daiyu wanted to blame most of the shame she felt from being teased by her sisters on this instigator, and seeing him still talking nonchalantly as if nothing had happened, she couldn't help but sneer and snort:

"Clever words corrupt morality; Brother Yu, you must worry that they will tarnish your reputation as a gentleman."

Gu Yu glanced at the girl, who was clearly venting her anger, chuckled inwardly, and retorted without hesitation:

"Zigong asked about the gentleman, and Confucius said, 'He acts before he speaks, and then he speaks.' I have always done so. Sister, have you ever seen me speak empty words?"

Daiyu puffed out her cheeks, about to glare fiercely at Gu Yu who was still arguing with her, but when she saw the strange smile on his face, she was taken aback. She wondered if there was some trap in his words and subconsciously pondered it for a moment.

"Practice what you preach and then follow it"... That makes sense, Brother Yu, wait a minute!

The girl suddenly realized what Gu Yu's smile meant, her face flushed red as she glared at him, then hurriedly turned her head away, refusing to fight anymore.

I never expected that he would dare to secretly drive in front of so many people. How can I deal with such a shameless and lazy bastard!

Although Baochai didn't understand the subtle exchange between the two, she could see through Gu Yu's smug expression and Daiyu's flushed face, looking like she had suffered a hidden loss. She quickly stepped forward to support her friend:

"There is also a saying that a gentleman does not act frivolously, and his actions are always righteous. Brother Yu's behavior is not in accordance with righteous conduct."

"Sister Bao is right, I was wrong."

Before Baochai and Daiyu, who had been listening intently, could react, Baoqin and Xing Xiuyan, who were watching the commotion from the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

This was the first time they'd ever seen someone like this. Who would be so smug one second and then instantly become so subservient the next?

Yet, looking at his overall demeanor, there wasn't a trace of that comical arrogance followed by obsequiousness; instead, he seemed inexplicably endearing. One could clearly sense his deference to his sisters without feeling that he was excessively shameless—it was truly remarkable.

Just as things were getting lively, a series of hurried footsteps were heard outside the main hall. Everyone looked up and saw that it was Ying'er, Baochai's maid.

Seeing the barely concealed embarrassment on Ying'er's face, Baochai frowned almost imperceptibly, then stood up and leaned closer, whispering:

"what happened?"

Ying'er looked distressed, glanced at Baochai's expression, and cautiously said:

"Madam...she said she's not feeling well and misses you, miss, and wants you to go see her right now..."

Baochai's expression instantly turned pale. The maids and servants in Hengwu Garden were of mixed backgrounds, some from the Jia family and some from the Xue family. But either side could potentially act as spies for Aunt Xue and the others. They must have seen that she had come several times in the past few days and had rushed to inform her.

What Baochai found hard to accept was that she had come all this way with her sisters, so what outrageous thing could she possibly do with so many people around?

Even so, Aunt Xue was unwilling to let her come here to join in the fun, and her intentions were self-evident.

Baochai's sudden silence caused the sisters to gradually quiet down, all looking at her with confusion and uncertainty as she stood motionless.

"What's wrong with Sister Bao?"

Tan Chun reacted the fastest, quickly getting up and taking Bao Chai's arm, smiling as she pulled her towards her seat.

Baochai realized that she had spoiled their mood, so she quickly put on a smile and looked around apologetically.

"My mother called me urgently right now, so I can't delay our discussion of important matters. Fortunately, the matter has already been settled. Sister Yun, Third Sister, you can continue to discuss the details. I'll go now."

When they saw that it was Aunt Xue looking for her daughter, Baoqin and the others breathed a sigh of relief, as long as it wasn't anything bad.

Those who knew the truth, like Daiyu, looked at Baochai's dejected figure with pity, unsure of what to say.

How can outsiders like them interfere in this struggle between mother and daughter?

The only one who isn't an outsider is...

Gu Yu frowned and put down the book in her hand. She narrowed her eyes as she watched Baochai's back as she followed Ying'er out, but she did not make any rash moves. After feeling the gazes cast by Daiyu and the others, she signaled them to calm down and then quietly gave an order to the maids below.

"When Miss Bao returns to the garden later, please invite her over and tell her that I have something to discuss with her."

"Hey."

Unaware of what was going on, Baoqin and the others continued to discuss their plans for viewing plum blossoms after the snowfall with great enthusiasm. They stayed until lunchtime, and Gu Yu persuaded them to stay for a meal together, which finally brought the gathering to a temporary close.

The afternoon was supposed to be the time for Daiyu and the others to decide whether or not to come over for the overtime match, but after they all learned about Baochai's situation, they all considerately gave the time to Baochai, who had gone to Aunt Xue's place.

Chapter Thirty-Two: I'm Actually Falling for This

"Madam, how could you use that as an excuse? Isn't that deliberately ruining the young lady's mood..."

After waiting outside the garden until the afternoon, Ying'er, who had been holding back all day, entered the garden. She saw Baochai walking with her head down, not saying a word, her plump and well-proportioned back looking somewhat as thin as Miss Lin. She felt a pang of heartache and finally couldn't help but stand up for her.

I don't know which old hag came up with the stupid idea, but she actually made the lady pretend to be sick to trick the young lady into going back to visit her, and then she was caught and scolded for a long time.

Unfortunately, even though she knew it was fake, Ying'er had no choice but to accompany Baochai. She watched helplessly as the young lady sat next to the madam with a blank face for almost two hours. Even she, an outsider, couldn't bear to watch anymore.

Baochai, who was walking ahead, paused slightly, but ultimately said nothing and continued walking silently toward Hengwu Garden.

She already knew what the situation was when she heard the news from Ying'er, but she still felt a vague sense of relief.

While it may seem like a good way to show filial piety, what if the mother is genuinely unwell?

However, even though she could have made up for not visiting for several days and said something like it was only right to take this opportunity to go back, Baochai, who was usually very shrewd, suddenly became indifferent and didn't want to say anything more.

The two, mistress and servant, hurried on their way amidst Ying'er's quiet murmurs. But as soon as they crossed the bridge, they were spotted by a maid who had been waiting there and quickly invited them to go to Pear Blossom Spring Rain.

"You want to see me if you have something to do?"

Baochai's wooden-carved face finally softened a little, and in an instant she understood what was going on. A warm feeling flashed through her heart, her eyes welled up, and she quickly turned her head away and blinked.

"I'm coming right now..."

Gu Yu was practicing calligraphy in his study when he heard light footsteps outside. The footsteps stopped at the door and then fell silent. Without even looking up, he could tell who had arrived. He quickly put down his brush, abandoned the calligraphy, and went to greet Baochai.

Seeing the girl standing by the curtain with a rare display of timidity, Gu Yu stepped forward without a word and gently embraced her. Ying'er and the others behind her also tactfully withdrew, leaving the two of them alone.

After a long while, Gu Yu finally loosened his grip on the delicate body in his arms, gently stroking her soft cheek with the back of his hand, and whispered:

I'll go there tomorrow.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, Baochai already understood the meaning behind his words. Her slightly reddened eyes welled up with tears, and her heart was filled with emotion. But she quickly took his hand and said:

"No!...You...The most important thing right now is the big exam next year. You absolutely mustn't let me distract you...It's really nothing, just a few words of advice. After all, she's my mother, how could she bear to say anything harsh? Don't overthink it..."

Seeing that Gu Yu was still frowning, with a hint of displeasure on his face, Baochai felt strangely amused and exasperated. She grabbed his hand and tightened her grip, intending to comfort him instead.

"Just listen to me... okay?"

"Even so, Sister Bao is being treated too unfairly."

Gu Yu's tone finally softened a bit. When it came to matters between men and women, he was never one to hesitate or hold back. If he were to let his woman suffer because of his pride or anything like that, that would be a huge joke.

So what if Aunt Xue is kind and compassionate? I'm marrying your daughter, not you!

Seeing Baochai caught in the middle, struggling to look on both sides, Gu Yu didn't want to add to her worries. She could only sigh, temporarily setting aside her calculations, and tenderly stroke her delicate hair.

But thinking about it still makes me so angry!

Gu Yu hummed twice, and finally couldn't help but half-jokingly encourage him:

"Aunt is an elder, and I shouldn't be disrespectful, but I have to stand up for my wife. How about this: if anyone bullies Aunt's daughter in the future, I'll go and settle the score with her son?"

"You!"

Baochai blushed deeply when he called her "my wife," and upon hearing the suggestive remark that followed, she gave him a coquettish glare, looking utterly speechless.

Since the death of the pillar of the Xue family, Xue Pan, as the only son of the Xue family, has been the lifeblood of Aunt Xue. The whole process of her marriage has been going on until now, all for the sake of Xue Pan taking over the Xue family in the future.

Not to mention that he is your own older brother, and you've been on good terms with him lately. If you turn against him like this, what will you do when it's exposed later?

Seeing Baochai's speechless expression, Gu Yu gave a guilty laugh. Wasn't he just being too concerned and making a few careless remarks to vent his anger?

However, if you do it cleanly, it might actually work...

Although they weren't truly one, Baochai and he were already intimately intertwined. Seeing him still lost in thought, her heart skipped a beat. Biting her lip, she turned and hugged Gu Yu's arm, almost pleadingly saying:

"Brother Yu, I'm really fine... so don't worry about me, okay?"

After a pause, Baochai blushed and gently touched the corner of Gu Yu's lips with her tiptoe, trying to distract him with her beauty.

Looking up slightly at the handsome face of the young man so close to her, Baochai suddenly lost her composure and stared blankly at him for a while after releasing the kiss.

"Back then, she seemed a little shorter than me... Now she's so tall..."

Who would have thought that what was originally just a distant relative, barely even in name, could now be so intimately close?

Having been ambushed, Gu Yu naturally responded to the girl's initiative. Seeing the hazy look in Baochai's starry eyes as she stared at him, his slightly intense movements subconsciously slowed down. He then lifted his leg, pushed aside the curtain, and went inside.

"Mmm..."

Although the study wasn't as warm and cozy as the bedroom, it was still a bit stuffy. At least Baochai, wearing a cotton coat, was panting heavily shortly after being carried in and interacted with by Gu Yu.

Seeing the faint trace of sweat on the girl's rosy cheeks, Gu Yu skillfully helped her cool off. With just one hand, he lifted and wiped, and the thick cotton coat was undone.

"Ugh... Yu—"

"Dear sister, it's been months since we've had a proper get-together..."

Baochai, who had been hesitant to refuse, suddenly stopped. Hearing his soft tone, she went limp, blushed, and turned her head away, finally letting him do as he pleased.

"You...you shouldn't go too far~~~"

It seems they haven't neglected the food.

Gu Yu loosened his grip, holding Baochai in his arms and gently kissing her sweet lips. His large hands kneaded the girl's full breasts, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, and occasionally, through the layers of not-too-thick clothing, he teased the beauty in his arms, causing her to moan softly.

However, she didn't go too far. After a while, Baochai finally came to her senses from the excitement of separation and reunion. She gently pressed down on Gu Yu's mischievous hand, her almond-shaped eyes overflowing with spring water and sticking to his face. She opened her mouth several times but couldn't say anything. She could only bury herself in his arms again and hum softly.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Disgusting Old Man

However, at the moment she lowered her head, she didn't notice the fleeting wicked smile on Gu Yu's face.

They were all old acquaintances, how could he not notice Baochai's unusual behavior? After accurately sensing the slight increase in temperature of the delicate body in his arms, he deliberately mischievously controlled the pace, but he didn't expect Baochai to be so patient, refusing to ask him for help even after all this.

However, since Sister Bao refused, and the atmosphere wasn't quite right, Gu Yu calmed down a bit, allowing the girl's trembling heart to settle down peacefully, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Having not had such an in-depth conversation with Baochai in a long time, Gu Yu took a few deep breaths of the fragrance emanating from her body. He felt his mouth water and couldn't help but swallow. His eyes were fixed intently on Baochai's fragrant neck as he seriously considered whether to plant a flower on it.

Baochai had just opened her eyes and looked up when she saw Gu Yu's staring gaze. Her pretty face flushed again, and she gently patted his chest, finally bringing him back to his senses.

"Cough... Dear sister, you're so warm..."

Gu Yu gently stroked Baochai's soft, black, silky hair, then hugged her tightly and curled up in the chair. The two silently counted each other's heartbeats, all the emotions they had before entering the room dissipating, and they emptied their minds to enjoy this rare time alone.

After an unknown amount of time, Baochai finally opened her eyes and was surprised to find that she had fallen asleep in Gu Yu's arms. She quickly and embarrassedly raised her head and tried to get up.

"Why is Sister Bao running away? Is she afraid of crushing me?"

Before she could make any further moves, Gu Yu chuckled and pulled her into his arms again, kissing the girl's pretty cheek and encouraging her:

"Sister Bao needs to eat more; I think she's lost a bit of weight?"

Like Yingchun, Baochai was plump but not overly round. Holding her in one's arms felt like holding a warm ball of cotton. Every part of her was so tender that it seemed like you could squeeze water out of it, making you want to hold her tighter.

"It's winter now, and you're wearing such a thick coat, how can you tell if you've lost weight or gained weight..."

Baochai blushed and her eyes sparkled as she suppressed her embarrassment and exposed his little lie, only to be met with fierce retaliation.

"Sister Bao is right. Let me see if she's lost or gained weight during this time—"