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

Page 23

Gu Yu had a good impression of Ping'er, a kind-hearted person, and they chatted and laughed along the way, quickly becoming familiar with each other.

When they entered, Jia Zheng and the others arrived right on time. Grandmother Jia was sitting at the head of the table talking with Lady Wang and the others, while Wang Xifeng stood by and served them.

After everyone had gone around to pay their respects, Baoyu finally arrived late.

When Jia Zheng saw Gu Yu still standing in the hall with his natural air of a spoiled young master, and then looked at the somewhat impetuous Bao Yu beside him, who seemed even more unbearable after being glared at, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

But it's not a good day to lose one's temper, especially since Grandmother Jia is present. How could she just sit by and watch him punish Baoyu?

Gu Yu is now a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, and his reputation for being a master of both poetry and calligraphy has spread throughout the capital. Meanwhile, this wretched child still only knows how to wallow in the company of women and is completely ignorant of classical literature.

Thinking of this, Jia Zheng couldn't help but feel somewhat disheartened.

Grandmother Jia looked at the two children below with a smile, and a thought struck her. In front of everyone, she spoke:

"Yu-ge'er is now settled down, so he can stay here with me from now on. Feng-ya, remember what I said: everyone in the manor should treat Yu-ge'er as Bao-yu's own brother, and we must not neglect him. Just tell the sisters and relatives not to be shy and to be close to him."

After returning home yesterday, Wang Xifeng learned that Gu Yu came from an extraordinary family, and her heart pounded even harder upon hearing this.

Being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Baoyu is no joke. Baoyu is Jia Mu's most beloved grandson, yet Gu Yu is repeatedly mentioned in Jia Mu's presence as being on par with Baoyu.

She had learned from Daiyu that Gu Yu's parents had both passed away, and thinking about it this way, she felt even more that the Gu family was not simple.

Wang Xifeng's mind raced with thoughts, but she showed no sign of it on her face and responded sweetly.

“What you’re saying, Ancestor? I was just taking my sisters out to play the other day, how come we’re not getting closer?”

Gu Yu's expression was strange. He naturally knew what Grandmother Jia was planning, but he didn't expect her to be so ruthless, trying to completely bind him to her.

However, it would be a grave mistake to think that this would be enough to control him. Once all those who needed to be lured away have been taken, the rest can be recruited as needed. To expect him to fight and risk his life for the Jia family is a misconception!

However, this statement was far more beneficial than harmful to him at the moment. At least he wouldn't be gossiped about if he went to see Sanchun and the others, so he agreed and thanked them without hesitation.

Grandmother Jia smiled with satisfaction. Her family's daughters were outstanding enough to rank among the best in the world, so she wasn't worried that Gu Yu wouldn't take the bait.

Moreover, attracting his attention would allow Baoyu to get closer to Daiyu. If things go smoothly, not only could the Gu family become a pillar of the Jia family, but the Lin family could also be completely taken over.

She knew very well the capabilities of Lin Hai, the son-in-law personally chosen by Jia Daishan. It was a pity that Min'er only gave birth to one daughter, Daiyu, and it just so happened that Lin Hai seemed to prefer Gu Jia.

Fortunately, Gu Yu has been away for several years. As long as Bao Yu and Dai Yu, who are childhood sweethearts, win each other's hearts, Lin Hai probably won't make things difficult for them.

And Baoyu has indeed done a good job over the years, taking great care of Daiyu.

With a lot on her mind, Grandmother Jia became increasingly listless and gave up her idea of ​​going to Ningguo Mansion for fun.

"I ate most of a peach yesterday, and I'm feeling tired today, so I won't go. Just bring over the few delicious things that are rotten."

Jia She, Jia Zheng, and the others then took their leave in unison. Grandmother Jia specifically instructed Baoyu to be closer to Gu Yu. Jia Zheng was delighted and, after leaving, took the opportunity to ask Gu Yu to teach Baoyu more knowledge on a regular basis.

Although Baoyu felt a little uncomfortable, he admired Gu Yu even more for his handsome face and the way he could act so freely in front of his father.

In addition, he was amazed by the poems written by Gu Yu and took the initiative to get closer to Gu Yu.

Gu Yu didn't feel any aversion towards Bao Yu, but she felt sorry for him because he wanted to protect all the beauties but was powerless to do so.

After thinking about it, he agreed. When it came to Yingchun and Tanchun practicing chess and calligraphy, he said that since they were herding one sheep or a flock of sheep, they might as well let them practice together on weekdays.

After saying this, Baoyu and he followed Wang Xifeng to the group of women at the back. However, he did not want to provoke either Madam Xing or Madam Wang; he just wanted to maintain appearances.

The Rongguo Mansion and Ningguo Mansion were located on the East and West Second Streets, and one had to take a sedan chair to get out, which took almost 45 minutes before they could get off.

Gu Yu glanced around casually and saw that Ningguo Mansion was even more luxurious than Rongguo Mansion, and could only sigh at Jia Zhen's shrewdness.

Because Gu Yu was given instructions by Grandmother Jia and was younger than Bao Yu, Wang Xifeng personally took him to the back hall instead of the front hall like Jia Lian and the others.

While they exchanged pleasantries, Gu Yu took a few glances and had to admit that the Jia family members did indeed have a certain appeal.

Regardless of Jia Zhen's personality, judging by his appearance alone, he could definitely be called a handsome middle-aged man, with a rather refined and elegant demeanor.

Although Lady You came from a humble family and felt somewhat awkward in front of Madam Wang and the others, she was still quite beautiful, and her middle-aged appearance had its own charm.

But that petty, narrow-minded attitude was really unworthy of someone of the Ningguo Mansion's mistress, no wonder Grandmother Jia didn't like her.

Upon hearing that Jia Zheng and the others had arrived, Jia Zhen said a few words and then left.

Wang Xifeng had seen Qin Keqing a couple of days ago and learned that she was ill. The women chatted for a while, and just then, a fair-skinned young man barged in. It was Jia Rong.

After the ceremony, he mentioned that he had been ordered to go to Jia Jing's place and was now back to announce the start of the banquet.

Wang Xifeng inquired about Qin Keqing's illness again, but Jia Rong simply chuckled indifferently, while Gu Yu secretly watched him with amusement.

Jia Rong was a pitiful man. As the young master of Ningguo Mansion, even his servants could spit in his face, and he couldn't fight back.

Even when her own father had his eye on her, she remained meek and submissive, only daring to give Qin Keqing a cold shoulder.

However, he and his father shared similar interests, and the two of them often played around with women together. He even had designs on his concubine and mingled with Jia Qiang and Jia Lian.

This complicated relationship is truly baffling; no wonder Jiao Da is always cursing the mansion.

Even outsiders knew that "only the two stone lions outside the gate were clean," yet they were content with it, and their eventual downfall was entirely their own doing.

In Gu Yu's eyes, only Xi Chun in the entire Ningguo Mansion was worth his attention. Although Qin Keqing was a beauty of unparalleled grace, she was already married and was about to die, so she was not worth anything.

After Jia Rong left, dinner was served shortly afterward, and Gu Yu was somewhat looking forward to it.

He had learned a great deal in his previous life, and later, it seemed that due to a computer malfunction, everything he had searched for was imprinted in his mind. This is how the eight major cuisines of Yingkexuan came about.

However, there are some things that cannot be found online, which he naturally does not understand. For example, some exclusive recipes in imperial cuisine or other family dishes. As a top-tier wealthy family, Ningguo Mansion must have a couple of dishes that he has never tasted.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Qin Keqing's Sorrow

After finishing his meal, Gu Yu put down his chopsticks with little interest. Although the food was indeed delicious, it did not meet his expectations.

No matter how many procedures were involved in the preparation of ancient delicacies, they relied more on the deliciousness of the ingredients themselves.

Gu Yu not only had access to wild game everywhere, but also had seasonings and cooking techniques that were ahead of their time. After getting used to them, few delicacies could surprise him.

After finishing their meal and washing their hands, Madam Wang and the others prepared to go to the garden to watch a play. Wang Xifeng then took Baoyu and Gu Yu to see Qin Keqing first.

Although Gu Yu was quite interested in Huifang Garden, Qin Keqing was also very attractive, so he went along with her.

Upon entering the room, Gu Yu was immediately drawn to the figure leaning against the couch. Although she looked sickly, her beauty was still undeniable.

Her face was bright and charming, her half-hidden body was graceful and elegant, and her delicate and sorrowful expression instantly aroused a strong desire to protect her.

She is now in the prime of her life, like a flower bud about to bloom. Although Daiyu and Baochai are also beautiful, they are not yet old enough to have fully blossomed and are still somewhat immature.

She married into the Ningguo Mansion before she was thirteen, and is now not even sixteen, which is slightly different from Gu Yu's estimate. When he heard Wang Xifeng mention it, he thought he had misheard.

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful she is, she's someone else's wife. He doesn't want to pick up a used shoe; he just wants to take a closer look.

When Qin Keqing saw Wang Xifeng coming to visit her, she tried to get up, but Wang Xifeng quickly took two steps to press her down.

Jia Rong originally accompanied the delivery, but left without even entering the door, which shows how distant their relationship was.

After exchanging a few words, Qin Keqing managed to get out of bed, indicating that her illness was not yet very serious.

Wang Xifeng then introduced Gu Yu to her, and Qin Keqing looked him over and her eyes lit up.

She had overheard the servants chatting these past few days and learned that there was such a person in the Rongguo Mansion. Although she had never seen his calligraphy, she knew from his poems that he was not just a name without substance.

Now, seeing him in person, his incredibly handsome face was enhanced by a pair of warm and deep eyes, which completely eliminated any hint of coquetry.

His tall, slender frame, half a head taller than Baoyu, didn't appear frail; one wonders if he was actually well-endowed...

Thinking of this, Qin Keqing blushed, coughed lightly to cover it up, and greeted Gu Yu softly.

As they got closer, Gu Yu could almost smell her fragrant breath and hear her plaintive voice, which made him shudder and almost shake his Dao heart, the God of Pure Love.

Qin Keqing found his reaction somewhat amusing, and her eyes widened involuntarily as she glanced at him.

What is this? ...Could it be...? How come it's so big?

Gu Yu followed her gaze, quickly crossed her legs and sat down, feeling a little embarrassed but secretly pleased.

"Sigh, being too well-developed isn't good either; it attracts so much attention, it's really annoying. It's a pity I can't wear a waistband..."

Wang Xifeng and Baoyu, standing behind Qin Keqing, didn't notice her. Seeing that Qin Keqing's face was slightly flushed, Wang Xifeng naturally knew that she was amazed by Gu Yu's beauty and chuckled inwardly.

However, Qin Keqing was still ill, so she gave her a few more careful words of advice. Qin Keqing put aside the matter from earlier and talked to Wang Xifeng, feeling a little bitter.

Even if Wang Xifeng and she were very close, she couldn't interfere in the affairs of the Ningguo Mansion, and who could alleviate her anxiety? Besides, such things could only be kept to herself; how could she possibly speak of them?

Because of a past relationship between the Qin family and the Jia family, she was betrothed to the Jia family when she grew up. She married into the family before she was thirteen years old, but the marriage was completely different from what she had imagined.

Although her father-in-law was kind, her husband was unusually cold to her, ignoring her completely. On their wedding night, he didn't even lift her veil, and she was nowhere to be seen.

When she served tea the next day, she clearly saw the burning passion in Jia Rong's eyes, but she was still alone in her room that night.

Her father-in-law was quite kind to her. Although he reprimanded Jia Rong in public, it had no effect. So he specially assigned her a room to live in, which was extremely luxurious. Apart from Jia Zhen's room, which was the head of the Ningguo Mansion, no other room could compare.

Although she didn't know why her mother-in-law was somewhat cold towards her, she believed that a married woman should adhere to the three obediences and four virtues.

Even if she wept bitterly at night, unsure of how she had offended her future husband, Qin Keqing remained the shrewd and capable Madam Rong of the Ningguo Mansion during the day.

But in the past two years, after spending a long time in the Ningguo Mansion, she keenly discovered that her originally kind father-in-law was not as perfect as he seemed.

Even the entire Ningguo Mansion was somewhat disgusting, and Jia Zhen's gaze towards her was becoming increasingly inappropriate.

Some time ago, Jia Zhen even asked her to deliver almond porridge at night, and the intense look in his eyes immediately made her realize Jia Zhen's true intentions.

For a moment, recalling her father-in-law's caring concern over the past few years, and on one hand, Jia Rong's dislike that had left her waiting in vain, she couldn't help but feel torn between two conflicting emotions.

Of all the men she had met, Jia Zhen was undoubtedly the most outstanding. Whether in terms of wealth, power, status, or appearance, he was far superior to the Qin family father and son, as well as Jia Rong and Jia Qiang.

Moreover, Jia Zhen did not force her. He did not change his attitude when she did not go that night, and he still showed her great care.

Seeing Jia Zhen manipulate things at will within the Ningguo Mansion while simultaneously showering her with tenderness, she suffered greatly and fell ill as a result.

If she were to comply, not to mention how the traditional virtues of obedience and submission would allow her to overcome this mental hurdle, she only ever respected him as her father-in-law; how could she possibly accept it? If she were to refuse, not only would she find it difficult to establish herself in the Ningguo Mansion, but her father and younger brother would likely be implicated, and her family would be destroyed in an instant.

Jia Zhen seemed to be getting tired of this cat-and-mouse game, and his words became increasingly proactive. If she weren't still ill, he might have issued an ultimatum in the next few days.

But seeing Gu Yu now made her feel a little more alive. Compared to Jia Zhen, Gu Yu was younger, prettier, and even more... Suddenly, she felt that Jia Zhen wasn't as amazing as she had imagined.

Hearing Aunt Feng mention that his family was making a fortune every day, that he was from a prominent family, and that he was also a talented and outstanding young man, immediately shattered the image of Jia Zhen that she had previously held of him as a god-like figure who dominated the entire Ningguo Mansion.

Thinking about it this way, the pressure Jia Zhen brought her seemed to lessen a bit. When Wang Xifeng saw that Qin Keqing's complexion had improved after seeing Gu Yu, the two of them couldn't help but whisper to each other, making Qin Keqing blush.

At this moment, Baoyu was staring intently at a painting of a lady. Gu Yu, having been agitated earlier, sat in his chair constantly reminding himself that Qin Keqing might have already been thoroughly slept with by Jia Rong and Jia Zhen, trying to calm his restless heart.

The four sat for a while, and then Wang Xifeng was about to leave. At this moment, Baoyu stared at the painting and shed tears, looking dejected.

Qin Keqing told Baoyu to rest there, but now that he was older, he couldn't be as carefree as he had been a few years ago. Moreover, Gu Yu was still there, which made Qin Keqing feel uneasy, so she told Baoyu to go and sleep on the kang outside for a while.

Seeing that Qin Keqing looked better after Gu Yu arrived, Wang Xifeng also wanted Gu Yu to get closer to her best friend, hoping that she might gain some benefits.

Furthermore, leaving Baoyu alone might lead to gossip, so it was better to keep both of them here.

As soon as Wang Xifeng left, the house immediately became quiet and deserted. A few days ago, she refused Jia Zhen's request to deliver porridge, and he sent away several maids from the house, only letting them come in to deliver food and medicine, trying to tame her like a hawk.

Baoyu also drifted off to sleep in the outer room, leaving only two slightly rapid breaths inside.

Although Gu Yu also wanted to go out, her feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, and she couldn't move. Her mind was filled with Qin Keqing's plaintive voice.

The atmosphere of a lone man and woman in the room made his heart beat faster.

Qin Keqing blushed and secretly sized him up, unable to believe that he was even younger than Baoyu. Baoyu still looked innocent and carefree, but she had personally witnessed Gu Yu's previous "maturity".

Gritting her teeth, Qin Keqing stood up and came to Gu Yu's side. She picked up the teapot on the table and poured Gu Yu a cup of hot tea, which Gu Yu quickly accepted.

Seeing his somewhat agitated appearance, Qin Keqing relaxed a bit and started a conversation.

"I heard that Uncle Yu was quite the celebrity some time ago. I've never heard of such a scene before. Would Uncle Yu be so kind as to tell me about it?"

Qin Keqing's address of "uncle" made Gu Yu's bones feel like they were melting, and even when he was sitting upside down, a noticeable bulge could be seen.

Meeting Qin Keqing's beautiful eyes again, Gu Yu subconsciously ignored Qin Keqing's status as a married woman and began to subtly and intentionally win her over...

Chapter 40 Changing Mindset

As he finished his tea, under Qin Keqing's increasingly admiring gaze, Gu Yu revealed almost 30% of his true self. Now, even Daiyu didn't understand Gu Yu as well as Qin Keqing did.

Just as they were getting into the conversation, Qin Keqing went up to refill his tea. Gu Yu, however, became bolder and took the opportunity to touch Qin Keqing's fingers. Both of them felt a shiver run down their spines.

Qin Keqing quickly withdrew her hand and turned her head away, her neck stained pink. Gu Yu also came to her senses, her forehead covered in sweat, looking at Qin Keqing with trepidation.

Seeing that she didn't shout, Gu Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If Qin Keqing were to shout and attract attention, he would be dead. Given his status, the consequences would be a thousand times more severe than death in later generations.

The two were speechless. Gu Yu then calmed down and secretly regretted that she had never lost her composure like this even when she was with Daiyu and the others every day. What had gotten into her today?

But recalling Qin Keqing's soft and charming voice, it seemed that such a loss of composure was the normal reaction, so he quickly recited the Heart-Cleansing Mantra to stabilize his Dao heart.