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

Page 35

The young one had just upset the old man not long ago, and now the old one is causing him trouble again. She has never seen a family like this before!

It's a pity that the master is good in every way, except that he is too good to this Lin sister. He serves her wholeheartedly and doesn't care about such grievances, which makes those who are not related to him feel bad!

After the Lantern Festival, the weather got warmer day by day, and everyone wore one or two fewer layers of clothing than before.

Qingwen's already slender waist, without the slightly bulky winter clothes to conceal it, looked even more like a water snake, so delicate it could be grasped in one hand.

Gu Yu was digesting her food after dinner when she saw Qingwen packing her things with her back to her. Remembering the smoothness of Qingwen's slender waist in the bedroom the night before, she felt a sudden urge to warm up.

Qingwen was caught off guard when her waist was embraced. She was startled, but quickly recovered and turned to glare at Gu Yu, her voice tinged with shyness.

"Is Master still drunk? It's not even dark yet..."

Gu Yu was taken aback, and her movements slowed down as she pondered deeply.

Why do I feel like I'm becoming more and more promiscuous? Before, I only dared to indulge in sensual pleasures, but now I'm daring to 'eat people.' Before, I only secretly enjoyed myself with Yingchun, but now I'm almost thinking about indulging in debauchery in broad daylight. I used to think about keeping to my own little corner of the world, but now I dare to flirt with Qin Keqing, whom I've only just met.

I always feel that the more I drink, the bolder I become. Could it be that I have a hidden talent for being a player that is awakening?

Gu Yu began to seriously reflect on his actions. Although he had more than twenty virtual wives in his previous life, he had never even held a girl's hand in real life.

Although he's slept with more than one woman, it was all consensual and based on feelings. How can he be called an irresponsible scumbag? After all, he could marry them all and guarantee their happiness for life.

Seeing Gu Yu suddenly freeze in place, Qingwen's heart tightened. Thinking she had said something wrong, she turned around in a panic and pressed herself against Gu Yu, taking his hand and placing it on her waist as a gesture of begging for forgiveness.

Distracted by this, Gu Yu's original self-analysis was completely replaced by the warmth in her hands, so she simply stopped thinking about these pointless questions.

Anyway, if you're unsure what to do, just marry her and she'll solve the problem at its root, right?

That night, the sheets in the left room were changed several times, and the whispers in the right room didn't stop until late at night.

In the small courtyard, all five people found it difficult to fall asleep.

……

Lin Hai had only been gone a few days when Jiang Ming, having received the news, summoned him to the palace again. As soon as Lin Hai entered the Wenyuan Pavilion, Jiang Ming's loud laughter echoed throughout the entire hall.

After laughing for a while, Jiang Ming finally stopped, still feeling unsatisfied, and joked:

"I've heard that you've been inquiring these past few days about which families in the capital have daughters who are still unmarried. Could it be that Gu Yu doesn't fancy your daughter? Hahahaha, cough cough..."

Seeing Lin Hai's lips twitch, Jiang Ming decided to stop while he was ahead. After all, the two had known each other for many years, and he was very easygoing in private. He was actually a little afraid of provoking this good-natured man to lose his temper.

He deduced that it must be because Lin Ruhai's daughter didn't like Gu Yu.

He found it somewhat unbelievable when he came to this conclusion, after all, he had seen Gu Yu's portrait and the people he sent out had described how handsome and dashing Gu Yu was.

Moreover, he was academically accomplished at a young age and possessed many ingenious skills. He had so many novel tricks to curry favor with the Lin family's daughter. Even if he used them to please the concubines in the palace, they would be very effective. How much more so for a little girl?

Furthermore, Gu Yu comes from a top-tier family and has no clan members to hinder him. Judging from his performance, there is absolutely no need to worry about his family's decline. He is truly a top-tier blue-chip stock.

If it weren't for certain reasons, he would have wanted to be chosen as the prince consort directly.

Seeing that Lin Hai wasn't in a good mood, Jiang Ming thought for a moment and then said:

"My dear minister, you have not returned to the capital for a long time. It would be presumptuous to inquire about this matter so rashly. Since your daughter's birthday coincides with the Flower Festival, why don't the Empress hold a Flower Goddess Gathering and invite ladies from all families to bring their youngest daughters to the gathering?"

"At that time, I will invite the Duke of Yansheng and the others to discuss this under some pretext. You can also bring Gu Yu along. Firstly, so that I can have a good look at him, and secondly, to see if he has taken a fancy to any young lady at the banquet. Wouldn't that be better than you, my dear minister, trying to describe something like an elephant by feeling the whole thing?"

Lin Hai was very grateful after hearing Jiang Ming's explanation. Jiang Ming's use of the Empress's name to invite the young ladies was far better than Lin Hai, a grown man, rashly asking the heads of the households!

"If Min'er were still here..."

Thinking of his deceased wife, Lin Hai's eyes glazed over. If Yu'er really couldn't marry Yu'er, she would surely have been sullen at first, but then she would have meticulously arranged their marriage.

After discussing for a while, Lin Hai thought about what would happen to Yu'er's marriage if he really didn't like Bao Yu.

However, thinking that the Empress would definitely know about this news, and that she, who was always known for her virtue and gentleness, would naturally take this into consideration, Lin Hai silently added another debt to the list of the most powerful couple in the world.

……

"...What?! Someone from the palace has come to invite the ladies to the Flower Festival?! Lin Daiyu is going too?!"

Baoyu, carrying a cage, stopped the maid who was delivering the message, incredulous.

He had gone to great lengths to acquire a genuine Linqing lion cat, hoping to win Lin Daiyu's favor at her birthday banquet, but who knew that Lin Daiyu would actually be going to the palace this year!

Even if Grandmother Jia doted on him, she couldn't allow Lady Wang and the others to bring the three young ladies into the palace while simultaneously bringing him, a male, into the palace. Baoyu was struck dumb and wanted to smash the cage in his hand to vent his frustration.

But he had put in a lot of effort to get her into the manor, and he could send her over again when Lin Daiyu returned. Thinking of this, Baoyu held back, but his joy was suddenly stolen away.

Chapter Sixty-Three: He really is my biological father

On the twelfth day of the second month, Baoyu stared blankly as everyone boarded the carriage, feeling a sense of disorientation.

While I don't want to judge girls so casually, why was Baochai allowed to enter the palace? If her biological father hadn't died, there might have been a slight chance, but why did the Empress specifically send palace maids to the Jia family to take away all of her sisters?!

If that's the case, then so be it. But why were the Yu brothers also allowed to enter the palace?!

I heard that it was Lin Hai who asked him to enter the palace. It's really disheartening that his own nephew hasn't even surpassed his cousin!

Baoyu wasn't upset because he wasn't as close to Gu Yu and Lin Hai. If he hadn't heard that almost all the young ladies in the city had gone to the palace this time, he wouldn't have gone even if begged.

When Baoyu returned to his room, Xiren saw him looking lost and dejected, so she quickly came up to gently and attentively serve him to sit down.

Baoyu was burning with desire, and since there was almost no one left in the house, he looked at Xiren's shapely figure and, on a whim, embraced her and begged for sex.

"Dear sister...please help me, I feel unwell..."

"Oh dear... my little ancestor, it's still daytime... wait a minute, let me send Musk Moon and the others away first."

With a flushed face, Xiren coaxed Baoyu half-heartedly, sending the maids away. It had been a while since she and Baoyu had consummated their relationship, but she was too embarrassed to bring it up herself.

Now that Baoyu is asking her for sex early in the morning, although it is somewhat against the rules, she can't bear to refuse and can only try her best to smooth things over.

While a heated fight broke out on one side, some people on the carriage that had just left were restless.

Gu Yu felt quite uncomfortable adjusting the brightly colored, somewhat flamboyant brocade robe he was wearing, but since Lin Hai had specially brought an old nanny to choose it for him, he couldn't refuse.

Although he wasn't used to dressing so flamboyantly, he could tell from the shining eyes of his girlfriends that the effect was actually quite good, so Gu Yu tolerated it.

As they drew closer to the palace, Gu Yu was still pondering why he, too, had to enter.

"Wasn't it supposed to be an invitation to daughters of wealthy families? Why am I being dragged into this too?"

He had been wanting to seek advice from Kong Chengli and Li Wensong, but he hadn't had the chance. He even went out once but didn't run into them.

Without confidence, he could only continue to be polite to Daiyu, but seeing that the girl seemed to be in a good mood, there shouldn't be any major problems.

In another carriage not far away, Daiyu's beautiful face also showed a hint of nervousness. After all, there were too many female relatives, and Zijuan and Xueyan could not be brought in.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, but everyone else followed the matriarch into the palace, while he, having lost his mother, was to follow the Empress!

Daiyu was born intelligent and naturally knew that this was a favor from the imperial family. Therefore, although she felt uncomfortable, she tried her best to adjust her mindset so as not to embarrass her father later.

As the group entered the Vermilion Bird Gate, many carriages were already parked in the area.

After getting off the carriage, Madam Wang and Madam Xing's demeanor remained impeccably composed, even with their heavy headdresses, demonstrating their well-trained manners.

The three sisters, Baochai and Daiyu, followed behind Lady Wang and her companion, but unconsciously surrounded Gu Yu, their faces showing slight nervousness, after all, it was their first time entering the palace.

Because of the large number of people and the fact that it was called the Flower Festival, the gathering was simply arranged in the Imperial Garden.

Seeing such a large family enter, many ladies and young women looked over with curiosity and began to whisper among themselves.

"...Are these the daughters of the Jia family? They certainly live up to their reputation; I've heard that each of their daughters is more beautiful than the last..."

"Absolutely... Look at the one in the very middle, my goodness, how can it be so beautiful..."

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Yu happened to glance over, causing the noblewoman to pause involuntarily.

Despite her stunningly beautiful face and dazzling eyes, the woman couldn't quite place the gender of the person in the middle.

A woman's appearance, dressed as a man—what kind of woman is this? Mulan?

The Empress, seated at the head of the table, had already seen them. She smiled and waved to them. Daiyu hesitated for a moment, but under the gaze of almost everyone present, she broke away from the group of Jia family daughters and gracefully came to the Empress's side to pay her respects. Then she obediently sat down and chatted with the Empress.

As a virtuous empress, Empress Zhou's prestige rivaled that of Empress Zhangsun of the former Tang Dynasty. Her persuasive skills were naturally extraordinary. With just a few words, she made Daiyu relax and treat her like a family member or elder.

Gu Yu was now at a loss as to where to sit. All she could see were beautiful women, and further away, there were only the wooden-like eunuchs standing there. She didn't know what to do.

Seeing that Gu Yu was not moving, Xi Chun beckoned him over. Gu Yu could only smile wryly, feeling somewhat speechless.

Lin Ruhai only let me into the palace, but didn't make any arrangements? There are so many ladies and young misses in the family, and he just casually offended one of them. The news will spread throughout the entire capital the next day.

Seeing that unfamiliar young girls were sitting down on both sides of the Jia family, Gu Yu felt too embarrassed to squeeze in and was about to apologize and leave.

Empress Zhou, seated at the head of the table, looked with amusement at Daiyu's teeth, which she was biting lightly in her anxiety. She chuckled twice, stopped teasing her, and ordered her attendants to invite Gu Yu up.

Gu Yu bowed deeply before Empress Zhou, glanced at her briefly, and then lowered his gaze.

Although Empress Zhou was not considered to be exceptionally beautiful, her gentle and noble temperament, which seemed to encompass all things, was undeniable, and she could easily become the focus of attention.

After letting Gu Yu stand on the field for a while and be fully observed, Empress Zhou sent him to a small pavilion not far away, which was covered by a gauze curtain. After all, she couldn't let him know what was going to happen too soon.

"...I imagine some families have already been approached by Lord Lin. That child is from the Gu family, and is the nephew of both the Empress and the Emperor. That's why I've specially invited him out today so that you ladies can weigh him."

Those who could hold official positions in the capital and be invited to the banquet naturally knew something about the Gu family's background, and the atmosphere immediately became lively upon hearing this.

Many of the noble ladies' eyes lit up, and they immediately understood the Empress's meaning. So many young ladies gathered together, it seemed that they were ostensibly admiring flowers, but in reality, they were admiring people!

Many young ladies had never met Gu Yu's gaze before and assumed she was some kind of young lady from a wealthy family, yet she was so beautiful.

Now, after being subtly hinted at by their mothers, they realized what was happening and blushed.

They usually only get together with their sisters, or if they have many brothers or sisters in the clan, they might see a few more men. Where would they ever see such a handsome man?

A hint of envy and jealousy flashed across Lady Wang's smiling face. How she wished that her Baoyu could have such a scene today!

With the Empress as guarantor and a wide circle of renowned ladies from the capital invited, this grand matchmaking event, comparable to the Emperor's selection of concubines, is none other than the protagonist—her own precious Baoyu!

Lady Wang below was almost secretly crumpling her handkerchief to pieces, while Daiyu above was stunned by the news.

My own father is arranging a marriage for my beloved Yu-gege? And he's even invited so many rich young ladies to choose from? What am I supposed to do? Does even my own father think I'm not good enough for Yu-gege?

Empress Zhou inadvertently noticed Daiyu standing there blankly, looking lost and disoriented. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she felt a little puzzled.

"Didn't Your Majesty say that Yu'er didn't want to get close to Gu Yu? That's why you asked me to orchestrate this whole thing. Why do you have this expression again?"

Chapter Sixty-Four: People tend to dream more when they're drunk.

While Daiyu was still questioning the meaning of life, Gu Yu arrived at the pavilion and, turning around the gauze curtain, saw four people sitting inside.

Even though there were unfamiliar faces among them, Gu Yu had anticipated this and respectfully bowed to each of them.

"Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Duke Yansheng; greetings, Left Chancellor; greetings, Uncle."

After he finished his greetings, everyone in the pavilion except Lin Hai burst out laughing.

"Lin Ruhai, you've made a mistake. I've won the bet. Hahaha."

Although the Duke Yansheng was already sixty years old and his hair and beard were all white, he was lively and cheerful by nature. When he traveled around the world, he often debated with ordinary children and never looked down on others.

Seeing him beaming with joy, his mustache practically standing on end, while Lin Hai seemed to have lost something but was still looking at him with some satisfaction, Gu Yu was completely baffled and could only remain calm and wait for the situation to unfold.

Jiang Ming was dressed in casual clothes, but the distinctive bright yellow color still revealed his identity.

Although the Qianlong Emperor revered the element of fire, aside from major occasions such as grand court assemblies and ancestral temple sacrifices where a red dragon robe was required for formal attire, emperors throughout history generally wore only bright yellow, the color typically associated with the imperial family, to appear approachable.

Of the four men on the field, the one who seemed to have the least presence at first glance was Li Wensong's father, Li Zhixian, the current Left Chancellor. He appeared to be a kind, smiling man, but anyone who underestimated him would be betrayed and still have to help count the money!

From the moment he became the Left Chancellor, it signified an irreversible transfer of power from the retired emperor to the current emperor.

Although the retired emperor was willing to relinquish power, a new emperor brings a new court. Once Jiang Ming ascends the throne, he will undoubtedly appoint his own favored people. What will happen to those who were originally ousted? This naturally creates conflict.

When he first ascended the throne, Jiang Ming was like a puppet emperor. The retired emperor did not speak, and most of the officials and generals below him obeyed orders but not proclamations.

But after Jiang Ming promoted Li Zhixian to the position of Left Chancellor and sent Lin Ruhai to serve as his moneybag, the situation in the court gradually reversed.

Those who realized what was happening launched wave after wave of attacks, but Li Zhixian, the main target, remained steadfast and even launched a counterattack, gaining more important positions for the people Jiang Ming had brought along.

The fact that the three of them were invited to participate in such a private party speaks volumes about their standing in Jiang Ming's eyes.

After carefully examining Gu Yu for a while, Jiang Ming nodded in satisfaction.

Even disregarding Gu Yu's family background, he would be an ideal son-in-law. However, considering his precious daughter's situation, Jiang Ming could only regretfully abandon the idea and feel sorry for Lin Ruhai's daughter.

"If you can't even appreciate such a good kid, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

The four of them were chatting and laughing, and Gu Yu stood aside consciously, taking the wine pot handed over by Steward Dai and pouring wine for them.

After he finished offering his toasts, Jiang Ming suddenly remembered something and looked at Gu Yu with some interest, saying:

"I heard that Minister Lin specially brought medicinal wine from Suzhou to cure your bad habit of getting drunk easily. Is it cured now?"