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

Page 33

Xiangling then realized that a man's body could be harmed if he endured it for too long. That's why, when Qingwen lost her strength, she was willing to bury her head in her hands and let Gu Yu vent his anger even in broad daylight.

Qingwen was naturally too embarrassed to admit that she knew, and was about to lower herself after a moment of hesitation, but you beat her to it.

She could only grunt twice to indicate that she understood, and then Qingwen went to urge the food preparation for lunch, while telling Xiangling to rinse her mouth.

"Hey? Xiangling, you don't need to eat that much later, right? Then I'll have to divide it into two more portions. I was exhausted last night."

Qingwen chuckled to herself, and before Xiangling could react, she hurriedly ran away.

Xiangling was taken aback. After realizing what she meant, her face flushed red, but her hand unconsciously covered her stomach.

After all, Gu Yu is very young and has a fiery temper...

……

After the evening banquet, Gu Yu was no longer a concern. Those who were qualified to visit the Jia family mansion for the New Year and knew about Gu Yu's situation naturally wouldn't rashly go to meet him, so Gu Yu had a more comfortable life than Bao Yu these days.

Gu Yu was puzzled as to why Baochai suddenly blushed and ignored him when he greeted her at the banquet.

The next day, the sisters still came to play, and even Jia Huan and Jia Lan didn't have time to come over. Only Gu Yu accompanied the girls, making him so happy that he didn't want to leave.

Daiyu's mood has been somewhat inexplicable these past two days; she can't say whether she's become closer to Gu Yu or more distant.

Logically speaking, she should be happy that she and Xichun were able to take a nap on Gu Yu's bed, but Gu Yu's deliberately brotherly attitude towards her still made her feel stifled.

They don't want you to be a considerate older brother! It would have been better if we had studied together for the past two months!

Although Daiyu really wanted to shout those words out, she couldn't muster the courage and could only keep them to herself.

Gu Yu felt somewhat uncomfortable about deliberately keeping his distance, but since Daiyu only regarded him as a brother, he couldn't taint her feelings.

Fortunately, Yingchun and the others were able to fill the void in his life and draw his attention away from his face.

In the afternoon, after the sisters had finished their gathering, Yingchun stayed a little longer than usual, playing chess with Gu Yu in the study.

However, Daiyu, back in her room, naturally didn't see the blush that hadn't yet faded from Yingchun's face when Gu Yu personally escorted her out.

Seeing that no one was around, Gu Yu kissed Yingchun's cheek again before watching her go back led by Xiangling.

Recalling what had just happened in the study, Gu Yu couldn't help but reveal a mischievous smile.

He was no gentleman; he wouldn't pass up a delicious treat that was offered to him. He didn't stop until he had eaten all of Yingchun's rouge.

He even stripped Yingchun of her clothes, leaving only a thin undergarment and her most intimate undergarment, to communicate with the little rabbit that Yingchun had raised for fourteen years through the fabric.

As for taking it a step further, that's not something that can be done right now. Even with two layers of clothing between them, it was only after Gu Yu half-pushed and half-coaxed Yingchun into a state of delirium that they were kissed.

Only when Yingchun and the others could no longer see their backs did Gu Yu stop smiling, turn around and leave through the northwest corner gate, then turn and wander to a secluded little shop.

The shop was small, with a few fans on the wall indicating its business. There was only a counter and a few chairs, and behind the counter sat a sleepy-looking man in his forties, lost in thought.

Gu Yu's entrance immediately startled the boss. A glint of light appeared in the man's eyes. He glanced outside a few times, but didn't make any gestures. He just smiled and leaned closer to Gu Yu, whispering his report.

"...The medicine has already been sent over, there's no way it will cause any problems... Jia Zhen has taken two doses of Qingxin Powder and hasn't had time to pay attention to Miss Qin's situation; he's currently secretly looking for a doctor..."

"Make sure to handle the aftermath properly. Once it's almost done, send a doctor to proceed according to plan. The medicine absolutely cannot have any problems; it must be able to heal within half a month, understand?"

"Don't worry, young master! We sent over a dozen men in this time. I'd stake my life on Miss Qin's safety. The medicine has also been tested several times by Master Sun. I guarantee there won't be any problems!"

After confirming the progress at Ningguo Mansion, Gu Yu nodded in satisfaction and decided to go back to rest for a while, unaware of the hesitant expression on the boss's face behind her.

Seeing Gu Yu return from her leisurely stroll, the shopkeeper sighed softly and said:

"Enough, enough. It's best not to get involved in their power struggle between father-in-law and son-in-law. Since the young master has the advantage, it's only right that he suffers some grievances first."

Back at the counter, he pulled out a letter and saw the words "Do not reveal this to Gu Yu" specially marked at the end. The shopkeeper smiled bitterly, threw it into the stove to burn it clean, and then closed his eyes to continue dozing off.

Old people like them are shrewd and know what kind of messages can be sent and what kind cannot.

They were well aware of the relationship between Lin Hai and the Gu family, and moreover, Lin Hai's daughter was likely to marry into the Gu family, making the two families even closer. Naturally, they were happy to agree to such a harmless request.

Not to mention that they had been under Lin Hai's command for the past few years, do you think they would be okay if they just passed on this news to Gu Yu out of their own good?

If Lin Hai gives them a hard time, Gu Yu might even fawn over him and say he was right to scold them. Anyway, it's a family matter, so just keep it to yourself and pretend you know nothing. You can even drink a few more glasses of wedding wine that way.

……

On the Grand Canal, an official boat sped towards the capital starting from the third day of the lunar month, rushing towards the capital day and night except for occasional stops for resupply.

Seeing the official flag flying at the bow of the boat, no one dared to stop them along the way, and they quickly made way for them from 800 miles away.

Watching the official boats come and go in a hurry, some people along the way couldn't help but have all sorts of wild thoughts, and for a time, carrier pigeons and fast horses were constantly in operation.

"Something seems to have happened in Yangzhou. Lin Hai, rush to the capital! It's extremely urgent! Investigate immediately!"

……

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Lin Hai Enters Beijing

On the morning of the 26th day of the first lunar month, as the festive atmosphere gradually dissipated and the temperature rose, an official sedan chair disembarked from a large ship that had docked at the shore and headed towards the palace.

Jiang Ming had finished court early and was sitting in the Wenyuan Pavilion reviewing memorials when Chief Eunuch Dai came in and whispered something in his ear, which immediately made his eyes light up.

"Hurry up!"

Before long, a thin scholar strode in. Looking at Lin Hai, who was completely different from the one before he left the capital, Jiang Ming was filled with mixed emotions. Seeing that he was about to bow and pay his respects, he quickly called for Chief Steward Dai to help him up.

"His Majesty…"

Lin Hai had been away from Beijing for several years, and looking at Jiang Ming, whose temples were now streaked with white, his eyes were filled with longing.

Back then, he served as a scholar-official in the Imperial Library, a leisurely official position. He was also a third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations and was known for his refined and noble character. Jiang Ming was still a junior follower of the Crown Prince, who had a slight reputation for virtue.

The two, disregarding their social status, became close friends. Unexpectedly, not long after, the former crown prince ran into trouble. In the end, the retired emperor actually appointed Jiang Ming, the sixth prince, which caused many people to lose everything.

Therefore, to some extent, Lin Hai was one of the few former officials of the Eastern Palace under Jiang Ming, which is why the important task of the Jianghuai Salt Administration fell to Lin Hai.

Looking at the once spirited and handsome scholar who had passed the imperial examination, now so thin he was almost unrecognizable, Jiang Ming would hardly have recognized his former best friend if it weren't for the familiar upright and refined air still on his face.

To fulfill his royal duties, Lin Hai first lost his son, then his wife, leaving only his orphaned daughter living with her maternal grandmother a thousand miles away. Lin Hai was caught in a whirlpool all alone. Jiang Ming, unusually, felt a little embarrassed for his narrow-minded provocation that Lin Hai wanted to marry his daughter to Gu Yu, whom he favored.

"You've worked hard, my dear minister!"

Suppressing his turbulent emotions, Jiang Ming asked Dai Da to bring a brocade stool for Lin Hai.

After expressing his gratitude, Lin Hai sat down and breathed a slight sigh of relief. He then reported to the emperor in detail on the current state of salt administration in Jiangnan.

"...After a century of peace and prosperity in the Great Qian Dynasty, the salt certificate and salt quota systems have become chaotic and imperative to reform the salt system!"

"What you're saying, my dear minister, is all too clear to me. It's just that abolishing the salt certificate system has been incredibly difficult these past few years. If it weren't for your hard work, my dear minister, we'd still be struggling with this problem. How could we possibly improve the salt system?"

Rubbing his forehead with a headache, Jiang Ming passed the question back to Lin Hai, and the two fell silent for a moment.

The title of "Suzhou's Four Great Salt Merchants" is not just a name; these were the holders of the official titles of general salt merchants, and behind them stood countless powerful forces.

It may seem that new salt merchants rise to power every few years, but it's just a power struggle between forces behind the scenes. There will always be people who retire or get promoted, so who will tolerate whom?

If it weren't for Gu Yu's affair, which allowed Lin Hai to sweep the Jianghuai region clean, abolishing salt certificates would have been extremely difficult.

After a moment of silence, Lin Hai took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Dai Da, who was standing next to him.

"Your humble servant has been in charge of salt administration for several years, and I could not have taken on this heavy responsibility without Your Majesty's divine grace. Although I am dull-witted, I have come up with a few points that are open to discussion. While I am not capable of reforming the system, I can still increase the salt revenue by 20% to improve the national treasury."

Jiang Ming's eyes lit up, and he quickly took the memorial handed over by Dai Da and examined it carefully.

As he watched, Jiang Ming's brows furrowed slightly. Finally, he closed his eyes and carefully considered the feasibility of each step. Not a sound was uttered in the entire Wenyuan Pavilion.

"If we establish a hereditary system for the position of head merchant and implement a so-called rotational system, it would indeed be easier to collect taxes and for the government to maintain control. But would the others agree? My dear minister, being in Jiangnan, should know better than I how many people are behind those salt merchants. If you cut off their path to power and profit, I'm afraid that in the future..."

Lin Hai rose calmly, bowed, and said:

"It is merely fulfilling my duty of loyalty and integrity, the way of a subject. I have received the Emperor's favor for generations, and it is only right that I devote myself to the public good. Now I have only one orphaned daughter, and I am sure His Majesty will protect her. What do I have to worry about?"

Jiang Ming's lips twitched, he coughed twice, and changed the subject.

"My dear minister, you must be tired from your journey. You should go back and rest, and see your daughter."

How could he, the supreme ruler, possibly set aside his dignity to apologize to a mere subject?

After thinking for a moment, he spoke again:

"I heard that your daughter's birthday is on the Flower Goddess Festival. You should leave the capital after this, so you can have a good rest. After you are relieved of your duties in Jiangnan, I will still need you by my side."

Lin Hai's expression softened, and he solemnly bowed to bid farewell to the emperor before heading straight for Gu Yu's family home in the capital.

He arrived too quickly; he hadn't even finished tidying up his own property in Beijing, so he had to go to Gu Yu's place to wash up first.

Anyway, he knew the way like the back of his hand. He could have walked there with his eyes closed more than ten years ago. He was a regular visitor to the mansion even before Gu Yu was born.

...

Gu Yu got up early in the morning, feeling refreshed, leaving behind her two beautiful maids who were practically dehydrated from being squeezed dry. Because the two girls were so unbearable to be whipped, they could only go to the battlefield about once every three or four days.

Having tasted the sweetness, Gu Yu couldn't bear it for so long, so she had to teach them some new tricks.

Qingwen's little mouth also found a new purpose, and Xiangling offered up her delicate feet and full breasts, greatly satisfying Gu Yu's little desires.

As for walking on dry roads, Gu Yu found that disgusting and didn't want to become a troublemaker. Besides, given his current condition, it would probably be torture rather than fun.

Just as Gu Yu was about to finish practicing the last piece of calligraphy, she suddenly heard a commotion in the courtyard. Frowning, she was about to go out and ask what was going on when she heard someone shout:

"Master Lin has returned to the capital! He just entered the manor. Miss, please go with Young Master Yu!"

Gu Yu was startled, and a new ink mark appeared on the calligraphy copybook in her hand. Without time to worry about it, she hurriedly went out to find out what was going on.

Daiyu was already outside the door. When she saw Gu Yu run out, she gave him a smile.

"Brother Yu, my father has come to the capital! Come with me to see him!"

Gu Yu was also overjoyed. Since arriving in the capital, they had been in contact only by letter. Even so, Sun Lingxu had helped him treat his health several times. In just a few words, one could vaguely see how dire the situation in Jiangnan was.

Now that Lin Hai had safely arrived in the capital, he missed him terribly, so he and Daiyu packed up and headed to Grandmother Jia's place.

As soon as they entered, they saw Grandmother Jia sitting at the head of the table, her eyes filled with tears, holding Lin Hai's hand and sighing.

"...You've suffered so much all these years. It's a pity that Min'er didn't have the blessing to give you a son. You should have let go of that."

Lin Hai smiled faintly and instead comforted Grandmother Jia, telling her not to get too excited and to take good care of herself.

Gu Yu looked at Lin Hai's thin profile, just like back then, and knew that this was all thanks to Sun Lingxu.

After all, with so many things to worry about and countless open and hidden attacks, it's already quite an achievement to ensure that one's physical condition doesn't deteriorate.

In the original story, it seems that Lin Hai's time to die from his serious illness is approaching, right? Looking at Lin Hai's relatively healthy complexion, Gu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and decided to send more good medicinal herbs over to ensure his safety.

"Daddy!"

Unable to contain her excitement, Daiyu rushed to Lin Hai's knees like a swallow throwing itself into his arms, her eyes red and speechless.

Lin Hai looked at his beloved daughter's face, which bore a striking resemblance to his deceased wife, and lovingly stroked Daiyu's temple, speaking gently:

"How old are you now, still so frivolous? When will you finally give me some peace of mind?"

Daiyu wiped away her tears shyly, stood up and greeted Grandmother Jia again. Gu Yu also came up to greet her at the right time, and then stood beside Lin Hai.

"Greetings, Uncle."

Lin Hai looked Gu Yu up and down and saw that he possessed the good looks of both his parents but did not appear effeminate. He was handsome and talented, and his presence was like a graceful orchid tree, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze. Lin Hai couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.

Just as he was about to speak, a servant came in to announce, "Master Bao has arrived!"

Grandmother Jia's eyes lit up, and she quickly introduced him to Lin Hai.

"This is your second brother Zheng's youngest son. He was born with a jade in his mouth and is exceptionally intelligent. We usually call him Baoyu. He is kind and approachable and takes good care of his sisters. Ruhai should take a good look at him."

Lin Hai smiled and agreed, looking at Bao Yu who had come in. He was indeed handsome, but now Gu Yu had also gradually changed into bright clothes under the coaxing of Qing Wen and the others, so the contrast between the two standing together was still quite obvious.

After greeting Lin Hai, Bao Yu stood there somewhat uneasy, not only because he often heard his elders talk about how dashing and debonair his uncle was in the past, but also because he found him to be extraordinary and completely different from those fools.

It was also because he was Lin Daiyu's biological father. Just thinking about this made Baoyu's mouth feel dry, and he didn't know why he was flustered.

Lin Hai had heard Jia Min comment on the jade-bearing baby in the past, but seeing it today, it seemed to contradict the rumors. He decided to see for himself and conduct a casual investigation.

Upon hearing the classical Chinese phrases, Baoyu felt dizzy, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Lin Hai then shut up and let it go, turning to Gu Yu and saying:

"It's been years since I last saw you. I wonder how much you've accomplished. I received a message from you saying you passed the imperial examination. Take me to your study this afternoon, and I'll give you a test."

"Ai."

...

Chapter Sixty: The Love of an Old Father

Lin Hai actually wanted to ask Gu Yu if she was ready for the imperial examination, but the occasion wasn't right, and Bao Yu's behavior made it difficult to say, so he left it at that, lest he displease Grandmother Jia.