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

Page 150

After resting her chin on her hand and lost in thought for a while, Xiangyun suddenly woke up, looked out the window, and still couldn't see the person she longed for. She couldn't help but pout.

Looking at Baochai across from her, who seemed to be engrossed in her book, Xiangyun opened her mouth but then hesitated to speak, and could only sullenly lower her head to read again.

"Where were you looking just now?... "

Just as they were feeling bored, they heard Ying'er's laughter faintly coming from outside. The two of them tightened their grip on their books slightly. Baochai pursed her lips and looked towards the door, while Xiangyun had already gotten up and was holding her breath, waiting for something.

The next moment, the curtain was lifted, and Gu Yu entered with a smile. He looked up and saw two young women at the table staring at him intently. He paused for a moment before smiling broadly:

"What's going on here? Could it be that Lin Chong has mistakenly entered the White Tiger Hall, and Sister Bao and Sister Xiangyun are here to interrogate me?"

Baochai put down the book in her hand, but did not answer. She just looked at him with her gentle and calm almond eyes, which seemed to hold a pool of misty hot springs, making him look at her with pity.

Gu Yu felt a pang in his heart. He then noticed Xiangyun's embarrassed and averted gaze as she looked at him with a flushed face. He strode over and embraced Baochai, pulling Xiangyun over as well.

"Hey, wait—"

"It's alright, Ying'er is watching over us..."

Seeing Baochai looking towards the door, Gu Yu quickly stopped her from speaking, so that she could enjoy this belated tenderness without worry.

Adhering to the principle of first come, first served, Gu Yu first stamped Baochai's seal, then kissed Xiangyun's pretty face, before pulling the two of them by the hand and sitting directly on the bed.

The two girls blushed and hesitated for a while, then looked at each other. Unable to suppress their longing, they took the initiative to wrap their arms around Gu Yu's waist and lean on his shoulder.

But having to spare some attention to listen to the sounds outside, and being too embarrassed to be the first to ask for intimacy, the room became strangely quiet for a moment.

Gu Yu stroked the two women's hair, one on each side, without giving it much thought. She quietly turned her head to brush Baochai's forehead, giving her a silent kiss, before turning back to Xiangyun with a smile:

"Sister Yun has improved today, she is so self-aware."

Previously, she had been a haughty and spoiled little devil, but after not seeing her for several months, she actually took the initiative to blush and lean on him, which really surprised Gu Yu.

Xiangyun snuggled against him, reluctant to leave his warm shoulder, and gave a couple of whimpers before letting him do as he pleased. However, she quickly thought of a retort:

"Why are you only arriving now? I don't believe Sister Lin has been with you for so long... Could it be that you were the last to arrive?"

Upon hearing this, even Baochai on the other side perked up her ears, waiting for Gu Yu's reply.

After all, even though the sisters are very close, isn't this order of precedence, to some extent, a subtle reflection of their respective social status?

Gu Yu rolled her eyes, secretly reached out her An Lushan-like claw and smacked the troublemaking brat, but her face remained impassive, and her words were perfectly tactful.

"Of course—if we go to other places first, then we'll have more time to spend with Bao-jie."

Seeing that he deliberately left her behind, Xiangyun pouted and looked up to glare at him, but Gu Yu, who had anticipated this, kissed her on the forehead in an instant, and her little temper disappeared.

With a flushed face, Xiangyun cautiously glanced at Baochai, who was not looking over. She felt a little happy and stopped caring about him deliberately provoking her. She tightened her grip on his little hands and hugged him even more tightly.

After chatting with the two for a long time, the topic gradually shifted to the newly arrived group of relatives. Baochai pursed her lips, glanced at Gu Yu's expression, and said somewhat shyly:

"Did Lin Daiyu... mention that matter to you?"

"what's up?"

Seeing Baochai's ashamed expression, Gu Yu pretended to stare at her blankly, intending to tease her into confessing her plan to offer her sister as a gift. Unfortunately, she was seen through on the spot.

She gave this person with a playful glare, but for the sake of her future plans, Baochai suppressed her shyness and pressed on:

"how do you feel?"

Gu Yu sighed deeply:

"Although Sister Baoqin is graceful and beautiful, with a face that could topple kingdoms, as the poem says: 'Her fingers are like slender scallions, her lips like vermilion, her delicate steps are exquisite and unparalleled in the world.' She is truly a first-rate beauty, not inferior to any of you sisters. Unfortunately, my heart is filled with thoughts of you all, Sister Baoqin, and I'm afraid..."

Baochai felt a mix of disappointment and strange joy. After a moment, she came to her senses and gave Gu Yu a odd look. Why did this scoundrel seem to have suddenly changed? Her cousin was incredibly beautiful; she couldn't possibly be acting like this…

Before the thought had even faded from his mind, he saw Gu Yu sigh with a sorrowful expression, as if sacrificing himself for others:

"But since Sister Bao has given the order, how dare I disobey? I can only sacrifice my seven-foot body and offer myself to the tiger."

Even Baochai, with her composed nature, couldn't help but pinch his waist. If he had feelings for her, he should have just said so. Why was she blaming him?

After playing with the two for a while, seeing that it was getting dark outside, Baochai urged Gu Yu to go back before he could speak.

Xiangyun saw them to the door, but when she returned, she was still a little confused, so she humbly asked Baochai for advice:

"Sister Bao, you missed him so much before, but it's not even dark yet, why are you sending him away?"

Baochai glanced at her and pointed:

"Can you calculate when we left?"

"what?"

Xiangyun was a little stunned, not knowing what the connection was. Seeing her blank expression, Baochai couldn't help but smile and say:

"It's okay if you don't understand. Just remember, don't think that you'll be satisfied just because you have one person by your side."

Xiangyun understood these words perfectly. She looked at the respected Baochai with admiration, never expecting her to have such profound teachings. She felt that Baochai's gentle and dignified image had become even more imposing, and that she had a bit of Guanyin's temperament.

When Gu Yu returned to Pear Blossom Spring Rain, it was already three quarters past 5 PM. The food in the kitchen was already prepared and ready to be served. When Xiang Ling, who had volunteered to stand guard outside, saw him return, her eyes lit up and she rushed over.

"Master is back!"

Gu Yu took two steps forward and hugged Xiang Ling tightly. He laughed and carried her into the house without putting her down.

With his back turned, Gu Yu pushed aside the curtain and turned around with a smile. He happened to see Daiyu, who had already gotten up, sitting in a chair staring straight at him. Her three maids, Zijuan, Xueyan, and Qingwen, were also with her and were looking over at him as well.

"Why didn't this silly girl say they were all here..."

Gu Yu's lips twitched, his laughter caught in his throat, and he awkwardly put Xiang Ling down from his arms, his hands practically at a loss for what to do.

"What's this all about, Brother Yu? Is this young master forcibly taking a woman from the common people?"

"Ahem...this..."

Gu Yu chuckled and took two steps forward. Suddenly, he sped up, scooped Daiyu up from the chair, and sat down in her lap. Only then did he take a smug breath of her fragrance.

"It's a feint attack!"

Chapter Twenty-Six: Special Treatment for You at the Silver Party

Seeing that Zijuan and the others were laughing and chuckling, Daiyu blushed with embarrassment. But after all, they were all family, and it wasn't the first time. Besides, she couldn't bear to part with them, so she said a few coquettish words and then went along with it, staying in his arms without moving.

"Why are you back so early? I thought I would have to wait a while longer."

Gu Yu winked at Zijuan and the others without answering, and suddenly put Daiyu down. Before the girl could react, she was standing on the ground, but her hands were still wrapped around Gu Yu's neck.

Zijuan and the others couldn't help but chuckle. Although they all knew that Daiyu was just trying to save face and deliberately acted aggrieved and passive, they didn't expect that the master would be so unreliable and immediately see through her act.

"Isn't your sister unhappy? I've already let go, why aren't you letting go?"

Daiyu finally came to her senses, covering her face in shame and indignation, clenching her fists as if to protest, but Gu Yu easily caught her.

"Alright, alright, the food's been served outside. Little sister, come over and have a simple meal with me, okay?"

As he spoke, he patted Zijuan's bottom, who was watching the commotion, and then rubbed it.

"Your daughter was bullied, and you didn't even stand up for her? You just hid here and watched the show. You should be punished!"

Zijuan blushed and covered her pert buttocks, involuntarily squeezing her legs together. How could a sensitive young girl resist such a move? Having only just tasted the sweetness of it, they hadn't seen each other for several months, and this pat and rub almost made her cry out.

"Ugh...Master...Master is bullying the young lady, how dare we interrupt? Who knows how we'll be scolded then..."

Seeing Zijuan's charming expression, Gu Yu chuckled, knowing that this girl had also fallen in love. However, he was not in a hurry to take advantage of her. After all, a spring needs to be compressed to have power, right?

Holding Daiyu's small hand, he led her out to sit down. They ate dinner together, their conversation flowing smoothly. He casually mentioned his trip to Jiangnan, and looking at the girl's charming face, Gu Yu's heart skipped a beat. A mischievous urge struck him, and he deliberately teased her, saying:

"During this trip to Jiangnan, Uncle Lin mentioned something."

"what's up?"

"My sister will be fourteen in a few months; it'll be time for her to start thinking about marriage then..."

Daiyu's face flushed red, her eyes, which seemed to hold both joy and sorrow, were misty and breathtakingly beautiful, leaving Gu Yu speechless and causing him to swallow twice unconsciously.

"Father...Father...What did he say..."

He swallowed the "ah" that almost slipped out. He had originally wanted to tease her a little with a mysterious air, but at this moment, Gu Yu had no interest in that. He just wanted to see the girl's shy appearance again.

"I didn't ask any further questions, I just asked Uncle Lin what the usual punishment is for embezzlement by someone in charge of security..."

"Oh dear! What happened to you...!"

Isn't this just a case of confessing and getting lenient treatment?

Daiyu didn't believe that her own father couldn't understand this. Although he had made things pretty clear during their last trip to the capital, she was still a little overwhelmed when it came to this moment.

Seeing Daiyu stamp her foot and about to get up and leave, Gu Yu chuckled twice and didn't stop her anymore. She gestured for Xueyan to follow first, but instead pulled Zijuan back.

"Zijuan, tomorrow remember to tell the old women in the courtyard to keep quiet and let Xueyan stay; she shouldn't leave tonight..."

After kissing Zijuan's lips, Gu Yu let the shy girl go, stretched, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

I'm such a time management master!

"Xiangling, you can go to sleep after you've eaten. I'm going back to the manor tonight and will be back tomorrow morning."

"Ah?...Master..."

Seeing the reluctant expression on Xiangling's face, Gu Yu pinched her nose and smiled:

"What are you afraid of? You can hold me and sleep every day. Who has seen me as much as the two of you? Now that I'm back, why should I care about one or two more nights? I owe Keqing and the others too much. I can't let them suffer any more grievances."

With the words spoken so bluntly, Xiangling could only nod, no matter how reluctant she was. Qingwen wrinkled her nose, then came forward to straighten his collar and handed him a cup of hangover soup.

"I've just had some wine, and I don't have a high alcohol tolerance to begin with. I'd better have some soup before I leave. Otherwise, if I get stubborn, Miss Keqing and the others might suffer."

The thought that the first time the master returned to sleep with her wouldn't be with her and Xiangling, his two personal maids, made Qingwen feel uneasy. But then she remembered what Gu Yu had said and realized that Keqing and the You sisters outside the garden were indeed in a miserable state. Torn between these thoughts, she could only bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.

"You slut! Do you think all I know is how to use low-class things?"

Gu Yu rolled her eyes, raised her hand to give Qingwen a good rub on the head as a lesson, but Qingwen quickly covered her head and took a step back, scoffing:

"Who doesn't know my temper? Several months have passed since this trip to Jiangnan... Could it be that I've found someone there?"

You can't say that!

Gu Yu was jolted awake. Before the two women could change color, he "burst into a rage," rushed forward, and pulled Qingwen into his arms, slapping her buttocks several times until they rippled.

"You damned scoundrel, you're getting jealous again! Tomorrow I'll show you whether my temper from the past few months is still there or not!"

After a pause, Gu Yu announced the second personal family rule of the current head of the Gu family with a cold smile:

"Next time we have a silver party, you'll get special treatment!"

Qingwen's delicate body trembled suddenly. These girls, who had experienced such things, naturally knew what a so-called "silver party" was, and if they focused their attention on taking care of her alone...

"Sir! I was wrong!"

With a flushed face, Qingwen struggled to get up and hugged Gu Yu's waist. She looked up at his face pitifully and snuggled against him in a flattering manner.

If you get special attention at a silver party, you'll definitely be teased and humiliated!

Unfortunately, Gu Yu remained unmoved. If he were to soften his heart and forgive you, and everyone were as fickle as you, how would the country carry out its work? — Bah! Wouldn't I, Gu Yu, be breaking my word?

He swiftly rejected Qingwen's pleas for mercy, and with great difficulty moved the soft, alluring body off him. Gu Yu rested for a while, holding his spear, before finally leaving through the side gate and heading towards the Gu residence.

He spoke those words from the bottom of his heart, knowing that he felt most sorry for the three of them, which is why he didn't stop Daiyu and the others, thinking that he should at least ensure the most basic fair treatment.

Although they only glanced at each other when leaving the palace, they parted hastily without exchanging more than a few words. Gu Yu felt quite embarrassed, so she decided to spend more time with them that evening.

Having received the news in advance, Gu Zhong personally stood guard at the door to greet them. Gu Yu quickly helped his increasingly frail body and they entered through the side door together.

Looking at the tightly closed gates of the Gu family mansion, Gu Zhong, though old in body, was still vigorous in spirit. He held Gu Yu's hand tightly and sighed:

"It won't be long...it won't be long before the main gate is open!"

Gu Yu smiled and agreed, knowing his feelings for the Gu family, so there was no need for him to pretend to be modest.

"Don't worry, Uncle Zhong."

"Young Master is exceptionally talented; he will certainly not tarnish the Gu family's reputation. Even when he was born, he was extraordinary..."

Gu Yu listened absentmindedly to the old man's ramblings, thinking that her own life when she was born was a completely different one, and what did it have to do with her? She simply pretended to listen politely.

Before Gu Zhong could say much, they arrived at the second gate. Gu Zhong instructed the maids to escort Gu Yu inside, while Gu Zhong shook his head and walked back.

"Back then, the young master was unconventional; some of his oddly written characters are still there. He's a born prodigy..."

Isn't that strange? Back then, before the master even named the young master, the young master could already write. And he even wrote the two characters "Gu Yu". Babies who are only a few months old have difficulty holding a pen, yet he could do this. Isn't that innate knowledge?

Unfortunately, when he was a year or two old, he could no longer write those strange characters with missing strokes. It wasn't until after he drowned that Gu Zhongfang woke up as if from a dream, as if he could see the same peculiar look in the young master's eyes when he was a child.