Chapter 599 Daiyu: Passionate but annoyed by ruthlessness
Night falls, covering the earth, and a bright moon hangs in the sky. The cold moonlight falls on the walls of Ningrong and Rongfu with red eaves and green walls, shining like water, cold white and bright.
All the courtyards of the Jia Mansion were lit up with bright candles. If you looked down from high altitude at this moment, you would see the entire Ning and Rong Mansion as if they were immersed in a sea of lights.
In the afternoon, after the imperial edict that Jin Jiaheng was promoted to the third-class Yongning Earl came to the palace, the entire Rongning and Ning mansions, from the housekeepers to the slaves, fell into an atmosphere of joy.
Qin Keqing asked Aunt Cai to allocate some copper coins to reward the maids and servants in each room, and held a dinner for all the old relatives of the Jia family who came to congratulate them.
Baoling Hou Shi Nai's wife led several of her daughters-in-law, Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding himself came with his wife and his young daughter-in-law to congratulate him. Even Wang Ziteng's daughter-in-law led Wang Zi to the Jia Mansion to congratulate.
Jia Zheng took leave from the General Affairs Department and entertained a group of male guests who came to congratulate him, while the female family members were entertained by Jia's mother and Qin Keqing.
And in one afternoon, the palace's imperial edict to confer Jia Heng with the title of Yong Ning Bo had already spread throughout the sacred city, and Jia Shi Wang Xue's family naturally got the news.
In addition to the Shi family, core in-laws such as the Wang family, such as Jia Heng's relatives, Cai Quan's daughter-in-law, and Dong Qian's daughter-in-law also prepared gifts and came to celebrate Qin Keqing.
As for Princess Nan'an and Princess Luo of Nan'an, they did not stay for the banquet. In other words, Princess Nan'an really couldn't bear the lively atmosphere, so she found an excuse early and left Ningguo Mansion with Luo.
The maids and maids in each room were still immersed in the noisy atmosphere, while the sound of gongs, drums, and operas kept coming out of the Tianxiang Tower in Huifangyuan, passing through the vast night, and resounding in both Rongning and Ningfus.
In the Daiyu courtyard, the lights in the west wing, where a clump of green bamboos were planted, were on, projecting a small and delicate figure on the window.
"Today is the day when the uncle is knighted. Why don't you stay with the girls in Dongfu for a while?" Zicuckoo was wearing a light red coat and a plain long skirt. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and there was a pimple on her forehead.
With bangs in the air and cheeks white and rosy, she was holding a pile of clean clothes in her hands. She walked lightly to the dressing table and looked at Daiyu, who was facing the bronze mirror and fixing hairpins in her hair.
.
The candlestick lit on the high table beside it swayed gently, creating circles of red and yellow light. On one side was a rouge powder box, a girl with dowry and jewelry, a long coat with a moon-white collar and orchid embroidery, and a lake blue outer cover.
Wearing a printed silk shawl, his figure is like a weak willow supporting the wind, with shoulders as if cut into pieces. Under his black eyebrows in the hazy and misty mountains in the distance, there is an undetectable sense of desolation.
At this time, Daiyu stretched out her slender jade hand, slowly took off the jade talisman hanging from her neck, and put it in her hand. The jade talisman was white and flawless, soft and delicate, and the lamb on it was petite and cute.
Hearing what Zicuckoo said behind her, Daiyu said softly, "I don't really like liveliness either."
Zijuan: "..."
After all, she was a little girl known as the wise cuckoo. As soon as her eyes turned, she immediately guessed Daiyu's heart knot. She put down her folded clothes on a chair nearby and said softly: "Girl, uncle, he is now
In Henan, I am busy with the military affairs of the province, so I may not have time to write letters. I don’t know when I will come back. Speaking of which, the whole family is congratulating me on being promoted to earl, but it is not easy for me to get this day."
Hearing this, Daiyu's face fell into a trance, she held the sheep talisman and said softly: "When Brother Heng lived in Liutiao'er Hutong, before he got married to Sister-in-law Qin... At that time, in Rongqing Hall, he saw extraordinary people.
My magnanimity led me step by step to where I am today."
When he mentioned "getting married to Sister-in-law Qin", there was a subtle strangeness hidden in his voice, and there was a complex color on his beautiful face.
At the beginning, the young man standing with his sword in the Rongqing Hall, his voice was like gold and stone, and his words were as strong as yesterday.
At this time, Zicuckoo picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea. She cast her eyes on the jade talisman in Daiyu's hand and said, "The uncle is not much older than the girl. I don't know how much hardship he has endured to get to where he is today. Okay."
Now he is granted the title of earl. When they met the attackers earlier, they said that with such momentum, the uncle would not be able to be granted the title of marquis or duke in the future. Speaking of which, the girl's family used to be a fifth generation of marquises, and later it was passed down to the master's generation.
I took the imperial examination route."
The girl said and handed over the teacup.
Daiyu was startled for a moment, in a trance, and said: "That is all our ancestors' business."
Zicuckoo smiled and said, "But the girl is the daughter of a prince and a scholar, so when it comes to her background, she is very noble."
The girl Huaichun, most of the girls in her family have some thoughts that she doesn't understand. Alas, it would be great if Uncle Heng didn't get married. With a girl like this, she can't be a concubine.
Daiyu looked at the empty room and said softly: "A gentleman has been beheaded for five generations, but now he is just a person who doesn't care."
Although Daiyu likes quietness, it does not mean that she likes a life where no one cares about her.
Hearing this, Zicuckoo pursed her lips, her eyes flashed, and she said softly: "Girl, don't worry too much. Last time, when the uncle wrote a letter home, didn't he mention the girl? He also asked the girl to take care of herself, I'll see.
The girl's body and bones are getting better and better after spring. She also needs to practice the medicinal diet and dietary supplements."
Daiyu said "Hmm", and her face became slightly absent-minded.
She was mentioned in the last letter from home: "The weather in spring is changeable. Please be sure to ask Sister Lin to take care of yourself and not to get cold..."
But in addition to her, I also entrusted my third sister, fourth sister, and sister Bao... Everyone has a saying.
Daiyu suppressed her thoughts, stretched out her hand to remove the earrings from her earlobes, and said softly: "Sister Zijuan, do you think Brother Heng... when will he come back?"
Zicuckoo chuckled and said, "Girl, this is hard to say. Didn't the third girl say that the uncle is in Henan to deal with the aftermath, and it will take two or three months for the matter to be completely resolved that day?"
Daiyu frowned, her starry eyes filled with worry, and she was silent for a moment.
For two or three months, he and the Princess of Xianning had been getting along day and night. How could Sister-in-law Heng... be so calm? She should take care of him...
Zicuckoo thought for a moment and suggested, "If something happens to you, girl, why don't you write a letter to me?"
Daiyu was thinking wildly, her cheeks were as red as a blush. Although Zijuan said "something happened", what could happen to her?
"It's too earth-shaking, and it's inconvenient to send it," the girl said with a slightly trembling voice.
How can an unmarried girl from Yunying send it to a married man alone? I'm afraid it will be gossiped about.
"That girl, there is no need to send it out. When the girl thinks of it, she writes a letter, and then she writes more. In the end, if she feels that she doesn't want it, she just burns it." Zicuckoo thought about it seriously, and suddenly felt blessed in her heart, and spoke.
said.
However, it was as if a word awakened Daiyu, or in other words, this method struck a chord in Daiyu's sentimental heart.
A letter that will never be sent will be burned after it is written, without God knowing or ghost noticing.
"What...is this like?" Daiyu's beautiful eyebrows were condensed, she said in a trembling voice, and then she said: "But there is something...I went on a trip to take advantage of my pleasure, and returned home exhausted, so why should I see Dai's intention.
"
At this moment, it seems to fit the original work, because the poem manuscript Daiyu usually wrote was finally burned to end her infatuation.
Zicuckoo suddenly remembered something and said hesitantly: "Girl, forget about that. It would be too unlucky to burn it like this."
When Daiyu heard this, she also reacted. She bit her lip with her teeth, and the bright starry eyes under her smoky eyebrows seemed to be reflecting light. Her lips twitched and whispered: "Then... just don't have a fever."
.”
She felt that there were many words hidden in her heart, but she could not say a word in front of that person.
I always wanted to ask him why he was so nice to her, just because of... her father?
But he has never met his father. According to his temperament, if he has never met his father, those words of admiration will probably be polite.
Or... love the house and the bird?
Thinking of this, my heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, I was facing the light, my cheeks were hidden in the gentle moonlight, and I couldn't see that my cheeks were already as hot as fire.
"Girl, the hot water is ready." At this moment, Xueyan walked around a bamboo screen with paintings of ladies and called to Daiyu.
Zijuan gently held Daiyu's shoulder and said, "Girl, let's go."
Daiyu said "Hmm" and followed Zicuckoo towards the inner room. Zicuckoo ordered Xueyan to lock the courtyard door and then bolt the door to the room.
Slowly lowering the light yellow curtain on the golden hook, turned around, looked at Daiyu, and said softly: "Girl, I will serve you to bathe."
Daiyu's cheeks were slightly red and she said softly: "Sister Zijuan, I... I can just do it myself."
Zicuckoo chuckled, walked closer, and said, "I have been serving the girl since I was a child. What is the girl ashamed of?"
Daiyu said "Hmm" as loudly as a mosquito. At this time, she took off her clothes and skirt. After a while, she took off her outer jacket and skirt, leaving only a small coat on.
Daiyu showed her lotus-rooted arms and said softly: "Sister Zijuan, I can do it myself next time."
"Girl is still shy. It's not good to enter the bathtub wearing small clothes." Zicuckoo said softly.
Daiyu quickly moved away and whispered: "I, I can come alone."
Seeing this, Zicuckoo felt somewhat helpless and said softly: "Then I will bring another towel for the girl. Please slow down, girl, and call me if you have anything to do. Don't fall down like last time."
With that said, he opened the curtain and left.
Seeing Zicuckoo leaving, Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, her starry eyes flashed, she stretched out her hand to remove a blue dress embroidered with plum blossoms, and shone it with the light of a candlestick on the small table.
The shoulders are as round as jade, and the snowy back is like jade, and it is like condensed fat.
Daiyu stretched out her hand through her green silk hair at the back of her neck, untied the bow, and took it aside.
The left hand protects, the right hand covers, but the velvet feeling coming from the palm of the right hand makes a face as beautiful as snow blush as brightly as clouds.
When I lowered my head, I felt that it was a little greener. I couldn't help but feel shy and anxious, so I didn't dare to look at it. The tender feet were stepping on the wooden bench. Accompanied by the sound of water, the petite and exquisite figure
, covered into shadows by the steaming heat carrying petals.
Daiyu pursed her lips and looked at the candlelight not far away, lost in thought for a moment.
She didn't know when it happened, it seemed like last year or this spring...it was really annoying.
I want to take the scissors, but Sister Zijuan won’t let me...
"Is the girl okay?" Zicuckoo asked outside the curtain.
Daiyu quickly suppressed the shame in her heart, her voice returned to its usual calmness, and she called out: "Okay."
Zicuckoo came in, holding a wooden basin and two white towels in her hands, and said softly: "I will help the girl wash it."
Daiyu no longer felt shy at this moment. She gently picked up the hot water with her slender hands and lifted it on her jade-white arm. The warm water fell along her skin as smooth as gelatin, leaving only the petals falling.
"Girl, I heard Qingwen say yesterday that Miss Bao often goes to Grandma Heng's house." Zicuckoo said softly as she served Daiyu to bathe.
At this moment, the door was closed and there were no outsiders. The master and the servant said some personal words, just as the original book said: "I didn't expect that a Xue Baochai suddenly came here now. Although he is not old, he has good character and beautiful appearance.
It is said that Daiyu is not as good as... If you don't love Daiyu, she is aloof and has no eyes for the world, so she has won the hearts of the servants. Even the little girls are often close to Baochai."
In other words, since Baochai entered the mansion, all the servants in the mansion praised Baochai for being so good, and instead let Daiyu compete with him.
Daiyu was initially saddened by these gossips, but gradually she accepted them as normal.
But Zicuckoo was a little aggrieved for her own girl, and some didn't like Baochai, especially Baochai's maid Ying'er, who felt that the girl was too narrow-minded.
It can be said that the entire Ningrong and Rongfus, especially the Rongguo Mansion, did not become harmonious because of Jia Heng's rise in the East Mansion. The maids and servants were all harmonious, and there were not a lot of awkwardnesses in private.
The wonderful things inside cannot be described in just a few words.
"In the past few days, Sister-in-law Heng has invited her to come over as a guest, and she has invited me to come over a few times." Daiyu stretched out her hand to wipe her neck and gently scrubbed the lamb.
Zijuan said softly: "Miss Bao goes there more often than the other girl. I heard that Grandma Heng often keeps Miss Bao for meals. Seeing that Miss Bao is dressed elegantly, she even gave her some jewelry."
Daiyu sighed faintly and said, "Sister Bao has an older brother who doesn't worry too much and goes to Dongfu frequently."
After thinking for a while, he pursed his lips and said, "As for giving away jewelry, the palace rewarded me with a few pieces last time and left them there without wearing them."
Zijuan said "hmm" and then said: "Girl, Miss Bao is supposed to be fifteen years old this year. Do you think Auntie is not worried?"
"Huh?" Daiyu paused slightly as she was scrubbing her hands, a little unclear as to what she meant, and there was a trace of suspicion in her starry eyes.
Zicuckoo lowered her voice and said softly: "At the age of fifteen, she should have settled down, but because of her brother's matter, it was delayed."
Daiyu frowned and said angrily: "Auntie has to worry about these things. We can't talk about these behind our backs in the future."
"You're not talking behind your back." Zicuckoo paused slightly and said softly: "Girl, I'm just surprised that she got close to the uncle last year. She often went to see the uncle because of matters related to the young master of the Xue family, and stayed away whenever she went.
long time."
Hearing this, Daiyu's heart tightened, her starry eyes flashed under Yanyan's eyebrows, and she solemnly said: "Sister Zijuan, this is related to the honor of my daughter's family, and Brother Heng, so it's hard to talk about it anymore."
After Sister Zijuan said it, she seemed to remember that when she came back last year, she saw Brother Heng and Sister Bao walking in the corridor... and during the recent period of observation, some of Sister Bao's behaviors were indeed a little abnormal.
Hmm...probably not.
Zijuan nodded and said: "Girl, I'm just wondering. Even if I keep this in my stomach, I can't tell others. My girl has a clear mind, so I'll ask her. Speaking of which, Uncle Heng is such a good person.
, that is, getting married.”
After all, there are many Taoists behind the scenes, and there are some things that are hard to say, so Zijuan will just stop there.
Daiyu said "Hmm", her starry eyes were blank, and she sighed deeply in her heart.
That is to say, they are married...
"Girl, if you have free time, you can go over and chat with Grandma Heng. Previously, the uncle was worried about the girl's health. Now that the uncle is not at home, it is also polite for the girl to go and sit with Grandma Heng more often." Zi.
Juan said softly: "I see, Grandma Heng also likes the girl's character, but she doesn't seem to be close to Grandma Heng."
Daiyu thought for a moment, bit her lower lip, and said softly: "After the new year, I have been there many times. Besides, Sister-in-law Heng's place has been busy recently. I go there too often. Luo
In the eyes of outsiders, it’s not good either.”
It's not that she doesn't want to go there, it's just that it's not good for her to play there every day and be seen by outsiders.
"Young lady, you are always looking forward and backward." Hearing this, Zicuckoo's face looked a little helpless, her lips moved, and she sighed softly: "It would be nice if Uncle Heng was at home."
She could feel her girl's loneliness. On weekdays, no one came over to talk to her.
When Daiyu heard this, her jade cheeks turned crimson, and she said angrily: "When Brother Heng was here, I didn't go there. He was very busy in the past, and now he has been granted the title of uncle. I don't know how busy he will be in the future. Even if
After I come back, I won’t be able to come often.”
At the end, there was some unspeakable resentment deep in my heart.
That person is either a princess or a princess. Even if he comes back, he will not sit with her... even for a short while.
He didn't come back once for ten days and a half. He was now in charge of state affairs. She knew she was busy with official duties, but... it wouldn't take long to come and sit here for half an hour.
If you had known this before, why did you do it in the first place?
Zijuan suddenly said: "Second Master Bao went to school. Although he is a little annoyed at home, the girl's place is still lively."
Daiyu: "..."
After thinking for a while, he said softly: "Sisters are now older. Even Brother Bao is not as carefree and playful as the children in the past when he is at home. He also needs to study and go to school, and he will have to take the scientific examination in the future.
When he gets married and starts a career, his uncle has high expectations for him."
Besides, she is older now than she was when she was a child. She also needs to know some differences between men and women and avoid them.
In fact, since Baoyu was urged to go to school by Jia Zheng as if to "guard against thieves", it can be said that there is no one in Daiyu who noisily shouts "Sister Lin".
And if you pay attention to the original work of Red Mansions, you will find that Baodai spends most of her time in a cycle of playing, awkward, crying, and being coaxed.
Zijuan chuckled and said: "If you don't always like a quiet girl, you can also play mahjong with Grandma Heng, Grandma Lian and the like. I heard from that girl Suyun that Grandma Zhu often goes there too."
Daiyu sighed softly and said: "It's okay to play occasionally, but how can a young girl play every day?"
Although Daiyu knew that Qin Keqing's place was lively, whether it was Second Sister You, Third Sister You, or Sister Feng, if they got together occasionally to talk and laugh, it would be fine. Daiyu could sit with them, play mahjong, and laugh.
Wuzhou, that was simply a kind of mental torture for Daiyu.
Daiyu likes quietness, otherwise she would not live in the Xiaoxiang Bamboo Forest in the Grand View Garden, but being quiet does not mean rejecting the excitement, it just means she has more freedom of spiritual choice.
"Third Miss and Miss Yun are also running to Dongfu." Zicuckoo sighed.
Daiyu sighed softly and said, "Let them go, I usually just read at home."
Tanchun usually goes to the study room of Ningguo Mansion to help sort out the documents from the Beijing Camp and the Five Cities Military and Horse Division, and waits for Jia Heng to come back for easy review. The remaining time is spent either practicing calligraphy, reading, or just being in a daze.
Xiangyun belongs to anyone and everyone can play together.
I just had a great time playing with children of several years old. Sometimes when I'm with Daiyu, I don't care much about some of Daiyu's trivial emotions. I might suddenly start laughing at some of Daiyu's sentimentality.
, repeated several times, making Daiyu dumbfounded.
As a result, Daiyu seemed to become a "lonely person" in both Rongning and Ningfus.
Zijuan said softly: "Girl, alas, Uncle Heng loves the girl very much. If there had not been a rebellion in Henan, he even said he would take the girl for an outing outside the city to enjoy the flowers. Now I don't know when he will be able to come back."
At the end of the sentence, I sighed.
She didn't know how to persuade her girl, and she even vaguely guessed some of the girl's thoughts that she was not aware of, and it was because of Uncle Heng.
After all, Uncle Heng is not like Second Master Bao who hangs around the girl every day, and he also has a family, but back then... what did he do to provoke the girl? Now the girl is worried.
Daiyu said faintly: "Now he is in Henan. I heard from my third sister that he led troops to suppress the rebellion, and even took action with others to capture the bandit leader alive."
Even if he comes back to the capital and doesn't come to see her, it's... it's right. The third sister and the others are his clan sisters and can still help him, and she...
Zijuan could see that Daiyu was feeling depressed and couldn't say anything.
When Daiyu finished bathing and changing clothes, she came to the bookshelf. Remembering what Zijuan had just said, she took out a piece of letter paper and began to write attentively. However, after a while, when she looked at the words on the letter paper, her cheeks turned as red as clouds.
All this...what did she write?
I saw it read: "The flowers have faded to red and green, and the apricots are small. When the swallows fly, the green water is surrounded by people, and there are few willows on the branches... The laughter gradually disappears and becomes quieter, and the sentimental is annoyed by the ruthlessness."
Daiyu was upset for a moment, so she picked up the paper and tried to crumple it into a ball, but after a while, she felt reluctant to leave it for some reason.
This poem by Su Zizhan expresses a long-hidden inner voice at this moment.
Putting down the brush with her slender hand, she looked at the hazy moonlight outside the window in trance. Her starry eyes twinkled under her smoky eyebrows. When the shyness gradually disappeared, an indescribable loneliness and desolation came over her heart.
Especially the noise that could be heard faintly in the distance, as well as the sounds of Dongfu opera, but the house was surprisingly quiet. It seemed that even the sound of the late spring breeze blowing the bamboo leaves and gently blowing through the windows could be clearly heard.
.
Suddenly, an indescribable loneliness and desolation struck the girl's heart.
Daiyu's eyes were fixed for a while, then she looked down at the paper on the desk, picked up an envelope, put it in carefully, pressed the corner of the paper, picked up a pen, wrote a line of small words on the envelope, and then hid it in
In ancient books.
Immediately, he sat down slumped, holding the sheep talisman in one hand, and holding his jade-like cheek in his slender jade hand, as he was lost in thought.