The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 607 Ping'er's Sorrow
The snow was still falling outside the window, the chill was bone-chilling, but the room was warm. A pot of yellow wine was warming on the stove, the aroma of the wine was fragrant, and the flickering candlelight reflected the delicate faces of the three beautiful maids, Ping'er was sweet, Qingwen was charming, and Mandalin was full of exotic charm. Their every frown and smile was as if it was difficult to describe, and it was pleasing to the eye.

There were several plates of fructose, melon seeds and various cakes on the table. Everyone sat around the stove, brewing wine, eating melon seeds and chatting, while watching Qingwen mending the golden pheasant fur coat, waiting for the bell to ring for the ninth year of Qiansheng.

In previous years, Grandmother Jia brought the whole family to stay up together to celebrate the New Year. It was lively, but not as warm as it is now. After the New Year, Jia Huan will return to the Ningyuan front line, and it is unknown when he will be able to return home next time. Therefore, Ping'er is particularly reluctant to let him go. At this moment, she sits beside Jia Huan like a little bird, silently peeling the melon seeds that the latter likes to eat.

Mandaline was happily drinking her favorite wine, and she was in a good mood because after the New Year, Jia Huan would take her back to Ningyuan City, so there would naturally be no pain of separation and longing.

The reason why Jia Huan wanted to bring Mandalin with him was not because he needed someone to serve him, but because he needed Mandalin's craftsmanship. The court had approved that Jia Huan could make his own firearms in Ningyuan, and the first batch of funds would be available soon. He planned to make a thousand flintlock rifles first, and Mandalin would naturally be the "technical director".

Qingwen was indeed clever and deft, and her needlework skills were as good as her looks. She was the best among all the maids in the Jia family. She first untied the lining of the golden pheasant fur coat, nailed it to the back with a bamboo bow the size of a teacup, scraped the four sides of the tear with a gold knife, and then sewed two strips with a needle, dividing the warp and weft, just like the method of demarcation, first demarcating the ground, and then mending it back and forth according to the pattern of the original garment. She knitted two stitches, looked at it again, knitted two stitches, and looked very serious.

Seeing this, Jia Huan laughed and said, "It turns out that mending a hole the size of a finger is so troublesome? No wonder no one dares to take it!"

Qingwen said, "If it's just to sew up the hole, it's easy, but to sew it without any flaws so that others can't see it, that's not easy, otherwise everyone in the world would be a skilled craftsman."

"Yes, yes, Sister Qingwen, you have worked hard. Please have a drink!" Jia Huan poured a glass of hot wine and handed it to her in a flattering manner.

Qingwen was not polite and drank the whole cup in one gulp. She then said, "Not enough, another one."

Jia Huan poured her another cup. After Qingwen finished drinking, she asked for some oranges. Ping'er laughed and scolded her, "You little bitch, you are getting ahead of yourself. But I asked you to do some work, and you took advantage of me."

Qingwen said with a smile: "You don't know how to set boundaries. I'm the only one in this room who knows how to do it, and I won't allow others to be spoiled for once."

Jia Huan had already peeled the orange by now. He broke off a petal and put it to Qingwen's lips. The latter opened her mouth and took it in, glancing at Ping'er with pride.

Ping Erh said a little sourly, "Look at how proud that hoof is, Third Master."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "It's New Year's Day, let's be proud for once." He peeled another orange slice and put it into Ping'er's mouth, who couldn't help feeling sweet in her heart.

When Mandalin saw this, she opened her little mouth and came forward to ask Jia Huan to feed her oranges. After that, she gave Jia Huan a sweet kiss on the face.

"Slut!" Ping'er and Qingwen spat at the same time.

Mandalin giggled and pecked Jia Huan on the face several times as if to show off. Qingwen blushed and said, "How shameless, Aunt Ping, get this vixen out quickly, I'm afraid I'll get a needle in my eye."

At this time, the sound of a three-o'clock gong was heard from the street. It turned out that it was already midnight without anyone noticing.

Mandalin yawned, and Qingwen stood up and said, "You guys go to sleep first. I'll go back to the other room and finish these stitches."

Mandarin also stood up and said with a smile: "I will sleep with you tonight."

Qingwen laughed and said, "Damn it, I almost forgot. Tonight is Aunt Ping's wedding day. Let's go quickly and don't miss her wedding day." While putting away her needlework, she left with Mandarin and went to the next room.

Ping'er's pretty face flushed, and she spat softly, "I really should tear Qingwen's mouth apart."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Qingwen is right. We should not waste this beautiful scenery. My dear sister, let's go to rest." As he said this, he bent down, picked up Ping'er's legs, carried her like a princess, and strode to the bed.

"The Third Master hasn't washed his hands yet."

"No need, I'll wash my hands later!"

"嘤!" Although they had already had sex, Qiao Ping'er was still too shy to control herself at this moment. Her sweet face was flushed and she buried her head deep in Jia Huan's arms.

The quilt was new, the mattress was new, and the hibiscus curtains were new, emitting a pleasant fragrance. Jia Huan laid the pretty maid across the bed, covered her with the quilt, and then untied her with rustling movements.

"Oh, Third Master, good ancestor..." The snow was still falling outside the window. The night was very quiet. Ping'er leaned on Jia Huan's strong back and whispered softly.

The mandarin duck brocade tent was covered with red waves. After a heart-wrenching love affair, Ping'er curled up with Jia Huan like a kitten. The two of them listened quietly to the sound of snow falling outside the window, as if they were back in the grass hut on the outskirts of Jinling, supporting each other and never leaving each other.

I don't know how long it took, Ping'er called softly, "Third Master!"

Jia Huan groaned in confusion, Ping Er hesitated to speak, and the former opened his eyes and asked, "My dear sister, what's the matter?"

"Nothing...nothing, Master...Master, go to bed quickly. You have to get up early tomorrow to attend the court ceremony." Ping'er said softly.

Ping'er changed her address to "Master" as a concubine, which made Jia Huan a little uncomfortable. He smiled and said, "Good sister, you should call me Third Master. Calling me "Master" makes me feel decades older." Ping'er chuckled and said, "Go to sleep. I can call you Little Ancestor."

Jia Huan kissed the pretty maid lightly on the forehead and soon fell into a deep sleep. Ping'er, however, could not sleep. She stroked her flat belly worriedly. She thought of the questions that Lady Jia had asked her that day, and she became even more worried.

It turns out that the reason why Grandmother Jia allowed Jia Huan to be crowned in advance and took a concubine was naturally to make him leave a descendant as soon as possible to avoid accidents. After all, the Ningyuan front was extremely dangerous. To put it in an unlucky way, if Jia Huan died for the country, there would at least be someone to inherit the family line in the future, right? Moreover, the number of Jia family members has been greatly reduced, so it is even more necessary to expand the family as soon as possible.

So Ping'er was worried. In fact, she and Jia Huan had been sleeping together for more than two years, and they had not taken any contraceptive measures. But until now, there was no movement in her belly. How could she not be worried?
The next day, when Jia Huan woke up, Ping'er was no longer around. Mandalin helped him dress, and Qingwen helped him wash and tie his hair.

"Where is Sister Ping'er?" Jia Huan asked.

Qingwen yawned and said, "The new bride will naturally kowtow to the old lady and the madam to express her gratitude."

Jia Huan secretly broke out in a cold sweat, he had forgotten about this. Sister Ping'er is now a concubine.

Qingwen combed Jia Huan's hair, put on a gauze crown, and dressed him in court robes. Then she took out the golden pheasant fur coat that she had mended all night long.

Jia Huan took the golden pheasant fur coat and looked at it. He found that the hole had indeed been mended. It was exactly the same as before. It was seamless without any flaws. He could not help but exclaimed, "Sister Qingwen has great craftsmanship."

Qingwen was a little proud, yawned and said, "Put it on quickly, we have to go out to pay respects to our ancestors later."

Jia Huan held Qingwen's hand and said softly, "My dear sister, you have worked hard. You must have gone to bed very late last night. Go back and catch up on your sleep."

Qingwen felt sweet in her heart. At this moment, she felt that staying up all night was worth it. She nodded and smiled sweetly, "Then I'll go back and sleep for a while." After that, she yawned again and left the room gracefully.

Jia Huan put on a golden pheasant fur coat and went to pay his respects to Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang first. Then he and Jia Zheng went to Fengtian Gate to pay their respects to Emperor Qiansheng. After that, they returned to the mansion to worship at the ancestral temple. By the time all the ceremonies were completed, it was almost noon.

……

Lixiang Garden. Aunt Xue, Baochai and Baoqin were drinking New Year tea when the maid Tongxi came in and said, "Master Huan is here, and Master Ke is waiting outside."

Aunt Xue was delighted and said hurriedly, "Please come in."

After a while, Xue Ke led Jia Huan in, and Baochai and Baoqin's beautiful eyes all fell on the latter.

Jia Huan had changed into a moon-white home suit, which made him look even more handsome, with red lips and white teeth, and as gentle as jade. Even Baoqin's cheeks turned slightly red when she saw him, and she secretly thought, "Brother Huan is getting more and more handsome."

"Huan'er wishes my aunt a happy new year. I wish you good health, peace and prosperity, eternal youth and beauty!" Jia Huan stepped forward and bowed.

Aunt Xue was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She quickly helped Jia Huan up and said with a smile, "My dear brother, you are now a fourth-rank official. I can't bear your kneeling. Besides, I am already in my forties and my hair is turning white. What youth do I have left?"

"No matter how high Huan'er's official position is, my aunt is still my aunt. And my aunt doesn't look old at all. When she stands with Baojie, people would think they are sisters!"

"Oh, child, you have such a sweet mouth!" Aunt Xue was even more delighted. She couldn't help but hug Jia Huan for a while, which made Jia Huan feel embarrassed.

Baochai and Baoqin both covered their mouths and laughed secretly.

Jia Huan greeted Baochai and Baoqin again, and the two girls bowed in return. Then they sat down to drink New Year's tea and chat about family matters.

At this time, Jia Huan took a sip of tea and said, "Madam is planning to go to Tanzhe Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings tomorrow. I wonder if my aunt would like to go with us?"

"This..." Aunt Xue hesitated. Tanzhe Temple was located in the mountains dozens of miles west of Beijing. The journey was quite long and it would take several days to go back and forth. Moreover, the weather was cold, so she didn't want to move.

Jia Huan quietly winked at Baochai, who was moved and said with a smile, "Mom, since Auntie is going to burn incense and pray for blessings, why don't we go together to get some blessings and relax at the same time."

Xue Baoqin also hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, Auntie, let's go together. I haven't been there yet!"

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "I was worried that you wouldn't be able to bear the long journey and the hardship. Since you all want to go, why don't you join us?"

Jia Huan said happily: "In that case, Huan'er will ask Lin Zhixiao to prepare the carriage and horses."

Aunt Xue nodded with a smile.

(End of this chapter)