Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 417: Frustration

When she returned to the room, she saw that Hongchang had tactfully gone to bed early on the couch in the outer room. Only then did Daiyu breathe a sigh of relief and no longer forced herself to remain calm and composed.

He immediately spread out paper and ground ink, and quickly wrote down the letter he had just read.

He put the written letter into another envelope, even wrote on the cover exactly as it was, and then carefully put it away in his most secret box.

After everything was done, Daiyu sat on the bed and stared blankly out the window.

The cold moon at midnight on the ninth day of the first lunar month is just high in the sky, its light is chilly and bright, and carries a chilling sense of desolation.

It was just like that time in that life, in the Grand View Garden of the Jia Mansion, by the water of Aojingxi Pavilion.

The cold moon buries the flower soul.

Although she had Baoyu to cheer her up, her sisters to comfort her, she had no worries about food and clothing and was not concerned about worldly affairs. She had lived a happy life for several years.

But when I wake up in the middle of the night, I have never thought about the reasons for the death of my parents and the disappearance of my family property. Have I never thought that the "relatives" around me are actually greedy money wolves?

Thought about it.

How could I not have thought about it?

Otherwise, why would I write in such an obscure and tortuous way: Three hundred and sixty days in a year, with the wind, frost and sword pressing hard.

But at that time, I was too weak and too naive.

I actually believed the saying "Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs"!

She thought that with the old lady around, even if she was not prepared for what happened before, she would always preserve this bit of flesh and blood for her mother.

However, I forgot that even a tiger will not eat its own cubs, so between my dead mother and my living uncle, my grandmother will eventually prefer the living one.

Otherwise, how could she tolerate the Xue family entering her house and openly taking away Baoyu, her last lifeline, from her?

His face was wet and tense.

Daiyu raised her hand to wipe it.

"Girl..." Zijuan's gentle voice sounded beside her, and then a handkerchief was handed to her.

It was made of a square piece of plain fine cloth with two green bamboos embroidered on the corners.

Ever since I woke up in this life, I have never used the materials "given" by others, whether for making clothes or daily necessities.

Especially handkerchiefs.

At the beginning, they were all made of soft silk, in the Yangzhou style.

Later, Zijuan talked about it and tried it herself. She found that the fine cloth that ordinary people use is more comfortable and absorbs more water when used to wipe hands and face.

And because it is common and cheap, there is no need to feel overly sorry about it, and it has become a common practice in one's own house.

——Don’t worry about what others think, just be your own boss.

What’s interesting is that no one gossiped about this handkerchief.

No one would say that they are stingy, poor, harsh to the maids, and do not know how to behave like a human being because of this.

Daiyu was in a daze, unconsciously pulling at the handkerchief with her hands, wiping away the tears on her face one by one.

Zijuan took the handkerchief and handed her another one that had been soaked in hot water. She whispered to her, "Don't be sad, girl.

“We’ve known this since that year.

"Now there are just more things to do, but fundamentally, aren't they all the same?"

Daiyu knew she was talking about Jia Lian.

He forced a smile, hummed, took the hot handkerchief, covered his eyes with it, and handed it back to Zijuan.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked her in a low voice: "Baoyu is outside the palace..."

"The eunuch took him to Zhaoqing Palace a long time ago." Zijuan's voice was so soft that only Daiyu could hear it, "I just asked Xiaohong to take a sneak peek.

"When Master Bao entered Zhaoqing Palace, he asked where the quiet room was. The eunuch took him to the small Buddhist hall, and he knelt there copying scriptures..."

Daiyu was shocked: "Your Majesty wants to see him? What do you want to see him for?!"

Seeing that she had unknowingly lifted the quilt and was about to get out of bed, Zijuan quickly stuffed her back in and whispered to stop her:

"If Master Bao and Madam Lian can both stay in the palace tonight, the family will feel more at ease and won't act rashly!

“Even if the imperial guards come to arrest someone tomorrow, nothing serious will happen to our family. Instead, we will be safe.

"This is the last bit of goodwill that the eunuch has shown to the Jia family, after understanding the emperor's intentions. If you show up at this time, it will only ruin it..."

Daiyu stopped what she was doing, and after a while, she gave a bitter smile: "I am also concerned, but I am confused..."

Zijuan lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Will caring cause confusion?

Mr. Bao has almost lost contact with the girl in the past two years.

Whenever the girl mentioned Master Bao, she had an indifferent expression, as if she planned to never have any contact with him again.

It turns out that when it comes to a life-and-death situation, girls will still be "concerned" and "confused".

So what is the girl’s attitude towards the Second Master?

Zijuan had some thoughts running through her mind, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She just helped her lie down, tucked in the quilt, and then lowered the tent.

After looking around and seeing that there was nothing wrong in the inner room, he blew out the fire and came out. He saw that Xiaohong had already placed the fumigation cage and whispered:

"The princess is worried today, and I'm afraid she won't sleep well. If you hear her tossing and turning a lot, light some calming incense."

Xiao Hong agreed, and walked her two steps out of the door before whispering, "I'm afraid many people will not be able to sleep tonight.

"Leave the princess here to me. Sister has to serve the Queen Mother and take care of the county lady and the second wife—

"Oh, there's more. When I came here, Sister Yuanyang was still tossing and turning. I specifically asked the palace maid to listen to her.

"Sister and Sister Yuanyang have been together for a long time. If you have time, you should go and comfort them."

Zijuan thought for a moment and nodded, "That's right. The Queen Mother has kept Aunt Meng to talk privately today, so I don't need to serve her. I'll go and see Sister Yuanyang."

Xiaohong was relieved then and watched her go out and close the door.

Here, Zijuan found Yuanyang's whereabouts and saw her still sitting against the head of the bed with her knees hugged, the two of them chatting without mentioning anything.

Here, Wang Xifeng went to the side hall and saw that the two children were sleeping soundly. Tanchun was copying scriptures and ignored her.

Wang Xifeng leaned against her daughter and dozed off with her eyes closed.

When Tanchun finished copying the sutra, she looked back with mixed feelings. She quietly woke up Wang Xifeng, and together with her, she gently carried the two children back to the west side hall.

Both of them felt exhausted and upset, and neither of them could sleep.

After sitting there for a while, Wang Xifeng asked Tanchun quietly, "Do you have any wine?"

Tanchun looked up at her: "...Yes."

The Snow Crow and Snow Goose stood by, looking at each other.

Two bottles of wine, two plates of Jiangnan dim sum, a plate of braised beef, and a plate of braised lamb.

The two of them didn't say much. They lowered their heads and ate some snacks, two or three slices of meat, and then drank three glasses of wine. Only then did they let out a sigh of relief.

"Congratulations, county lady. You are no longer surnamed Jia and have escaped the fatal disaster." Wang Xifeng poured another glass and raised it to Tanchun with a smile.

Tanchun said without even raising her eyelids: "Congratulations! Second Madam sold all four families for a good price. At least she was able to redeem herself and her daughter's lives. It was worth it."

"More than that!" Wang Xifeng laughed, holding the wine glass and pointing at Jia Lan who was sleeping soundly on the couch, "I even redeemed your nephew for you!"