The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 531 Silly Xiangyun Drunk on Peony Quilt
As the saying goes, one feels refreshed when good things happen. Since the beginning of the year, bad things have happened one after another to the Jia family, and the family has been in turmoil and panic. Everyone's mood has been terrible, but now things have finally settled down. Grandmother Jia's illness has recovered, Jia Huan has recently won the top spot in the imperial examination, and his monthly allowance has been paid out again. So both the master and the servants are in a particularly good mood. Plus, it's spring, with pink peach blossoms and green willows, and the beautiful scenery is so beautiful that everyone lets go and plays to their heart's content.

The whole hall was filled with red and green dancing, jade and pearls swaying, wine glasses clinking, and birds singing and talking. It was so lively. Jia Huan was also a little drunk at this time. Looking at the joyful scene in front of him, he could understand why Da Lianbao liked to hang out in the inner room. These sisters were all talented and beautiful, and the maids were also youthful, innocent, and plump. They were really a pleasure to be in.

At this time, a little maid ran over with a smile to toast Jia Huan, but she clumsily knocked over the tea on the table, wetting Jia Huan's gown, shoes and socks. He was so scared that he apologized repeatedly.

When Qingwen saw that Jia Huan's new gown, which he had worn for the first time today, was soiled, she could not help but scold him: "What are you doing, little rascal? You are so flustered and irritated. What will you do when you become the head of the family? Will you still be so careless?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "It's okay. She didn't do it on purpose. Qingwen, why are you scolding her? Just let her have fun. It's rare for her to be happy these days."

The little maid blushed and stuck out her tongue, then she ran away like the wind. Qingwen said angrily, "It's moon-white, and it's hard to wash off the tea stains."

Lin Daiyu said, "Forget it, it's not hot tea. It's a small matter to dirty clothes, but it's a big deal to burn a person. Don't shiver. Take him back and change his clothes and shoes."

Xue Baochai nodded and said gently, "Go quickly. If you take it down and wash it now, maybe you can wash it off. It will be more difficult to deal with it later if it dries."

So Jia Huan could only excuse himself temporarily and leave. As he walked out of the Hongxiang Garden, he asked Qingwen, "Why don't I see Sister Ping'er?"

Qingwen was in a bad mood, and she said stiffly, "Ping'er can't hold her liquor, so she'll go back and rest. If you don't think I'm serving you well, I'll invite Ping'er over, or Mandalin will do, she's drinking and having fun inside."

Jia Huan laughed and said, "I don't dislike you at all. I was just asking, but you said a lot of sarcastic words to me."

"Third Master just found out. I couldn't serve anyone and couldn't speak, so I was kicked out. If Third Master doesn't like me, he should have kicked me out as soon as possible." Qingwen snorted coldly and walked away with a wave of her sleeves.

Jia Huan shook his head and smiled bitterly. It was hard not to offend everyone with Qingwen's hot-tempered temper. It seemed that he had to correct her.

At this moment, Qingwen suddenly stopped and looked back at Jia Huan. Seeing that he looked normal, she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "You're not angry?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Being angry is using other people's mistakes to punish yourself. Why should I be angry? Besides, I'm not that petty."

Qingwen was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, a trace of embarrassment flashed across her face, and she lowered her head and walked forward silently.

When the master and servant returned to Yueweiju, the gatekeeper hurriedly greeted them, exclaiming in surprise, "Third Master's new clothes are dirty. How could you be so careless? Did you get burned?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "No, I'm not burned. Is Sister Ping'er back?"

The old woman breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that she didn't get burned. Miss Ping has been back for half an hour. She drank a few more cups and felt a little dizzy. She is lying down to rest."

When Jia Huan entered the room, he saw Ping'er lying on the couch with her clothes on, her head resting on her jade arms. Her sweet face was flushed as if she was drunk. She must have drunk a lot of wine and was sleeping soundly at the moment.

Jia Huan picked up a thin quilt and gently covered Ping'er with it. At this time, Qingwen had already found a new set of clothes from the closet and was hesitant to speak.

"Let me change myself!" said Jia Huan, as he took the clothes from Qingwen and went into the inner room.

Usually, Ping'er and Mandalin helped Jia Huan to dress himself. Qingwen never did this kind of personal service. She probably learned her lesson in the Yihong Courtyard and didn't want to give others a chance to criticize her as a "fox spirit" who seduced her master.

Soon, Jia Huan changed his clothes and handed his dirty gown, shoes and socks to Qingwen, saying, "Miss Qing, please wash them for me."

Qingwen burst out laughing and snorted, "I don't deserve it. I think I'm so capable, but I even buttoned my gown wrong." As she spoke, she re-buttoned Jia Huan's gown and tied his belt again, making it look very nice.

Jia Huan smiled. Although this maid had a bad temper, she was indeed smart and clever, with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"Thank you. I'll go back and drink. Sister Qingwen, would you like to come again?" Jia Huan asked softly.

Qingwen's face was slightly hot. It was the first time that Jia Huan called her Sister Qingwen, and his tone was so intimate. She said with a chuckle, "Your servant... still has to wash the Third Master's clothes. Let's talk about it first!" After that, she left the room with the dirty clothes in her arms as if escaping.

Jia Huan shrugged his shoulders, turned around and walked to the small couch. Seeing Ping'er sleeping soundly, he quietly left Yueweiju and went to Hongxiangpu alone.

In this sunny March, flowers are in full bloom, petals are falling all the way, birds are singing and flowers are fragrant. The scenery in this garden is really intoxicating. Jia Huan simply climbed up the hillside to get rid of the smell of alcohol.

Jia Huan walked and looked along the way, and unknowingly walked to the bottom of the slope. Not far ahead was the Hongxiang Garden. From afar, he could hear the gurgling sound of the Qinfang Gate. The surrounding area was full of peonies, and the fragrance was fragrant. The fallen petals were flying all over the ground. "Hey!" Jia Huan suddenly exclaimed softly, and saw a person lying on a stone bench among the peonies. He hurriedly walked closer to take a look and almost laughed out loud.

It turned out that the person lying on the stone bench was none other than Shi Xiangyun. She was probably drunk and had fallen asleep there in a daze.

Shi Xiangyun was seen wearing a red silk fairy dress and a girlish bun. Her pretty face was rosy. She was lying on a stone bench on her side, soundly dreaming. Peony flowers were flying all around her, and her head, face and clothes were all covered with the red fragrance. The fan in her hand had fallen to the ground and was half buried by the fallen petals. A group of bees and butterflies were flying around her. She was using a handkerchief as a pillow for a bag of peony petals. She looked indescribably cute and adorable.

Jia Huan was so mesmerized by such a beautiful scene that he didn't have the heart to wake her up. But he was also worried that the stone bench was too cold and it would be bad if she caught a cold and got sick.

Jia Huan hesitated for a moment, then took off his long gown and gently covered Shi Xiangyun with it. Shi Xiangyun was probably still playing drinking games in her dream, mumbling, "The spring is fragrant and the wine is mellow. The jade bowl is filled with amber light. Let's drink until the moon is above the plum trees. I'll go home drunk and meet my relatives and friends."

Jia Huan couldn't help but laugh secretly. Although Xiangyun had a difficult life, lost her parents at a young age and lived in poverty, she developed an optimistic, open-minded and generous character, which was truly rare.

Jia Huan stood by for about an incense stick of time, hesitating whether to wake her up or not, but Shi Xiangyun woke up on her own, sat up and yawned, her pretty face flushed, and she rubbed her sleepy eyes, adding a bit of delicate and charming charm to her naive look.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Sister Yun is awake?"

Shi Xiangyun was startled, looked around, and asked in confusion: "Brother Huan, why am I here?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "You'll have to ask yourself. When I came down the hillside, I saw you lying here sleeping, and there was no maid with you."

Shi Xiangyun smiled embarrassedly and said, "I remembered. I had drunk too much, so I came out for a walk. I saw the peony flowers were in full bloom, so I sat down on a stone bench to rest. Unexpectedly, I was too drunk and fell asleep without realizing it."

"The weather is not too hot now. Sister Yun, be careful not to catch a cold. Let's go back." Jia Huan said with a smile.

Shi Xiangyun nodded, returned the long gown covering her body to Jia Huan, and said in a low voice a little embarrassedly: "Thank you, Huan'er. Don't tell them about this later, or they will laugh at me again, especially Sister Lin, who has a sharp tongue."

Jia Huan nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, I got it." He bent down and picked up the fan on the ground.

Shi Xiangyun shook off the peony petals wrapped in her handkerchief, and Jia Huan recognized at a glance that it was the one he had picked up last time. It seemed that Baochai had returned it to her.

"I'll go back first. Huan'er, you can come back later. Remember that!" Shi Xiangyun said with a blushing face, then left in a hurry.

Jia Huan sweated secretly, shook the fan in his hand and said, "Sister Yun, you forgot to take your fan."

Shi Xiangyun hurriedly turned back and said in a low voice, "Why are you shouting so loudly? Be careful that others may hear you."

Jia Huan was originally quite calm, but Shi Xiangyun's nervous look made him a little nervous, as if the two of them were having a secret meeting and were afraid of being caught.

Shi Xiangyun took the fan and left in a hurry. Jia Huan stayed there for a long time before slowly walking towards Hongxiangpu.

At this time, everyone in Hongxiangpu was having fun and were sitting there chatting or taking a walk outside to digest their food. Only Xiangyun and Baoyu were still playing finger-guessing games.

"Why did Brother Huan take so long?" Tanchun asked.

Baoqin laughed and said, "He is deliberately avoiding drinking. Brother Huan is always so cunning. He must be punished."

"Brother Huan, you don't have to go through the peony garden to change clothes when you go home, so how did you get covered in this?" Lin Daiyu reached out and brushed off a few peony petals from Jia Huan's clothes. Her slightly puzzled look made Jia Huan's heart beat fast.

"I've been enjoying the scenery along the way. The peonies in the peony garden on the other side of the hill are in full bloom." Jia Huan coughed lightly, feeling inexplicably guilty.

Lin Daiyu said "oh" but didn't say anything else. Xue Baochai glanced at Jia Huan, then looked at Xiangyun who was playing finger-guessing games with Jia Baoyu. She seemed to be thinking about something, lowered her head, silently picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Since everyone was no longer interested, they sat for a while and then dispersed and went back to their homes.

(End of this chapter)