The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 766 A Perfect Union (Part 2)

Now, Jia Huan left Baochai's residence and hurried to the main courtyard, only to find the gate tightly closed and the old woman responsible for keeping watch at night nowhere to be seen. So he went up and knocked on the door, but after a long time no one answered. How strange!

Jia Huan knocked on the door again, calling out the names of Qingwen, Xueyan, Zijuan, and even Chunxian, the maids who did rough work, but there was still no response. The courtyard was quiet, but the lights inside the house were still on!

Lord Jia's heart skipped a beat. Oh no! Could it be that because he went to the side courtyard first, Lin Daiyu's jealousy had gotten the better of her again? Was she telling them not to open the door for him?
This is incredibly embarrassing! The dignified Governor-General, the Marquis of Dingyuan, being locked out of the courtyard by his bride on his wedding night—wouldn't that be a laughingstock? Yes, this absolutely cannot happen!
The wise and decisive governor made up his mind. He first looked around suspiciously to make sure no one was around, then took a few steps back, took a running start, and leaped up the courtyard wall.

Although our Lord Jia has a pretty face, he is not a weak scholar who can't even kill a chicken. He exercises every morning and is quite strong. Although he certainly can't beat Lu Dali, who is also a scholar, it is easy for him to climb over a two-meter-high courtyard wall.

At this moment, a bright moon hangs high in the sky, and a cold wind blows. The Marquis of Dingyuan, dressed in a bright red scholar's robe, crouches on the wall. He doesn't look like a groom preparing to enter the bridal chamber at all. Instead, he looks like a flower thief who has climbed over the wall to steal fragrance and jade. Tsk tsk, how exciting!

Well, the most exciting part was yet to come. Just as Jia Huan leaped from the wall into the courtyard, a group of young maids, still with their hair in topknots, suddenly rushed out from the shadows, each holding a stick made of rolled-up paper or cloth. They started hitting Jia Huan with a flurry of blows, laughing and shouting, "Where did this thief come from? Beat him! Beat him!"

Jia Huan was immediately beaten and ran away with his head in his hands. Qingwen and Xueyan, the two maids, stood at the door watching the commotion, laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the governor had already been hit hundreds of times. Qingwen and Xueyan didn't stop them, they just clapped and laughed. Luckily, Zijuan came out to stop them and gave each of them a handful of copper coins and candy. Only then did the maids happily run away.

"Sister Zijuan is so kind. You two heartless little hussies, I'll settle the score with you later." Jia Huan said through gritted teeth as he awkwardly straightened his clothes.

Xueyan pouted her little mouth to express her dissatisfaction, then turned around and ran back into the house.

Qingwen giggled and said, "That courtyard gate was only ajar, it opened with a push. Who told you to climb over the wall, Third Master? Tell me, what good person would climb over a wall? You deserved to be beaten, it's a good thing you didn't fall off the wall."

Jia Huan broke out in a cold sweat, annoyed, and said, "I made a mistake. It seems I was too bound by the rules. Why knock on the door when I'm going home? I should have just pushed it open and gone inside."

Even Zijuan couldn't help but chuckle. Qingwen stepped forward to straighten Jia Huan's clothes, then leaned close to his ear and whispered gloatingly, "Third Master, good luck!"

Jia Huan immediately understood. It seemed that the vinegar bottle had really been spilled. Sure enough, he had just entered the courtyard and had already received a beating!

The weather was still quite cold, but two large charcoal stoves were burning brightly in the room, making it warm and cozy. Zijuan helped Jia Huan take off his outer garments and wash his hands before giving a hesitant wink to the inner room.

Jia Huan nodded slightly, lifted the beaded curtain, and tiptoed into the inner room. He saw dragon and phoenix candles burning brightly, and the room filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Lin Daiyu had already changed out of her heavy phoenix coronet and wedding robes and into a casual dress. She was lazily reclining on the bed reading a book, her left hand supporting her fair and rosy cheek. Her long, black hair was casually tied into a bun behind her head, giving her an indescribable sense of ancient elegance.

Seeing this, Jia Huan secretly thought that things were not going well. Now that she had taken off her red veil herself, how could she be easily coaxed?

"Cough!" Jia Huan walked to the bedside and deliberately coughed lightly.

Lin Daiyu glanced at the man with a look that seemed both angry and reproachful, then turned slightly to the side to continue reading, leaving him with only a graceful and beautiful back view.

Lord Jia had no choice but to sit down on the edge of the bed, and shamelessly leaned close to Daiyu's pretty face, feigning curiosity as he asked, "What book are you reading, dear sister?"

Lin Daiyu, without even looking up, said, "It's just 'The Rhapsody of Deng Tu Zi's Lust' written by a Song Dynasty author. Hasn't Huan Di read it? If you haven't, it wouldn't hurt to lend it to you!"

Jia Huan broke out in a cold sweat. This was clearly a sarcastic remark about his earlier act of climbing over the wall and breaking into the house. Sure enough, when a talented woman makes a sarcastic remark, you can't understand the joke without a bit of culture. He could only laugh awkwardly and say, "No need for that. Huan'er is not very learned and I'm afraid I won't be able to understand such profound books."

Lin Daiyu chuckled, her smile instantly brightening like spring blossoms, charming and beautiful. However, she quickly straightened her face, as if she had returned to the depths of winter, her expression sharp and cold. She spat lightly, "You shameless scoundrel! I wonder if you climbed over the wall to get to Sister Bao's place?"

Oh no! This is more than just knocking over a bottle of vinegar; it looks like they've overturned the entire large vinegar vat used for brewing vinegar!

There was no other way but to use our trump card.

Our Lord Jia deliberately made a face and said, "Good sister, don't mention climbing over the wall. I bumped my knee when I jumped down just now, and it's still burning. I guess I scraped it. I'll have Sister Ziju put some medicine on it later. Ouch, the more I talk about it, the more it hurts!"

Sure enough, Lin Daiyu's heart tightened immediately upon hearing this, and she quickly put down her book and said, "Where did you bump into something? Let me see quickly, make sure you're bleeding. It's freezing cold, this is no joke. Let's see if you dare to climb the wall again!"

Taking the opportunity, Jia Huan took off his boots, quickly got into bed, covered himself with the quilt, and said with a smile, "It's so cold, let me warm up first."

As Jia Huan spoke, he pressed himself closer, wrapping his arms around Daiyu's slender waist and resting his head on her soft, warm chest.

Lin Daiyu immediately realized she had been tricked. She was both amused and annoyed. She raised her hand to give him a powerful flick on the head, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to use force. She only tapped him lightly, gritting her teeth and saying hatefully, "You scoundrel!"

"Yes, I am a scoundrel, but who told you, sister, to marry such a scoundrel!" Jia Huan said shamelessly, while snuggling in Daiyu's arms.

Lin Daiyu felt hot all over from being teased, feeling both ashamed and angry, and also amused. She rolled up her book and hit him a few times, saying in a embarrassed and annoyed tone, "Huan-di, if you keep bothering me, I'll really get angry."

"Alright, let's stop arguing and just lie down and talk properly," Jia Huan said with a smile, grabbing one of Daiyu's jade-like wrists and bringing the sleeve to his nose to inhale the natural fragrance emanating from Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu pulled her hand back and sneered, "Where did I cause trouble? It was clearly you who caused trouble. Since you went to Sister Bao's place, you should have stayed there tonight. Why did you have to come back and bother me? Climbing over the wall and onto the roof, it's good that you didn't fall. But if you had bumped into something and broken your leg, you would have made people cry, and then everyone would blame me!"

After Lin Daiyu finished speaking, her eyes reddened slightly, and she turned her face away, ignoring Jia Huan.

In ancient times, it was perfectly normal for men to have three wives and four concubines. Most women accepted this concept and took it for granted. However, Lin Daiyu was an exception. Just like in her chrysanthemum poem, she wrote, "Solitary and proud, with whom shall I hide?"
Lin Daiyu was undoubtedly a spiritual aristocrat, and her pursuit of love could not tolerate the slightest flaw. If she had not shared hardships and life and death with Baochai and had a sisterly bond with her, she would never have been willing to share love with her.

However, although Lin Daiyu accepted sharing a husband with Baochai, love is inherently selfish. Tonight is their wedding night, one of the most important days in life. Who wouldn't want their other half by their side? But Huandi went to Baochai's place first. How could she not feel wronged and jealous?

Seeing Daiyu turn away and cry, Jia Huan felt both heartache and shame. He gently hugged her from behind, comforting her with countless "good sister" calls, and explained why he had gone to Baochai's place first. Only then did Daiyu slowly turn around and ask shyly, "Brother Huan and Sister Baochai have already..." Jia Huan nodded and said, "At that time, Sister Baochai's illness could not be delayed any longer, so that night..."

Lin Daiyu blushed and covered Jia Huan's mouth to stop him from saying anything more. After a moment of silence, she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Brother Huan, am I being too petty? If it were Sister Bao, she certainly wouldn't mind."

Jia Huan shook his head apologetically and said, "No, it's all my fault for being too greedy. Sister Lin and Sister Bao are both extraordinary women of unparalleled beauty. Jia Huan is just a lowly illegitimate son. Being able to marry one of the two sisters is already a stroke of good luck. How fortunate I am to have been favored by both of them. I guess I've used up all my luck from eight lifetimes. I'll have to suffer a lot of bad luck in the next few lifetimes to pay it back."

Lin Daiyu quickly covered Jia Huan's mouth again and scolded him, "Don't talk nonsense. No one is as good as you say. Even your sister Bao is not. Don't talk about legitimate or illegitimate children anymore. Anyway, I like you, Huan-di, as a person, not as a governor or marquis. If I don't like a man, no matter how noble he is, I won't even bother with him."

Jia Huan was deeply moved and hugged Daiyu tightly, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. Daiyu was clearly touched and buried her head in Jia Huan's arms. After a moment, she grabbed someone's hand and bit the back of it "hard," leaving two rows of shallow teeth marks.

"Doesn't it hurt?" Lin Daiyu asked, tilting her pretty face up.

Jia Huan shook his head and asked in return, "Sister Lin, haven't you had dinner yet?"

Lin Daiyu was slightly taken aback before she realized what was happening. Enraged, she opened her small mouth to give the man another hard bite, just to teach him a lesson.

Jia Huan laughed heartily, flipped over and pinned Lin Daiyu beneath him, then kissed her sweet little mouth.

Lin Daiyu was about to bite again, but Jia Huan held her shoulders down so she couldn't move. She said in embarrassment and anger, "You bastard, let go if you dare!"

"No way!" Jia Huan said, then lowered his head and kissed her twice, then breathed on her armpits. In no time, Lin Daiyu was so badly puffed up that her hairpins were askew, her eyes were alluring, and she kept giggling. She begged for mercy, saying, "Good brother, giggle, stop it, oh... I'm really done, good brother, please forgive me!"

“Call me Brother Huan and I’ll spare you,” Jia Huan said with a smile.

"No way...hehehe, I'll call out, I'll call out!"

Jia Huan then stopped and laughed, "Quickly call out!"

Lin Daiyu's pretty face was flushed, like a peach blossom in March. Her charming eyes seemed to be able to drip water. She called out "Brother Huan" with infinite shyness. Her captivating charm almost stole Lord Jia's soul. He couldn't help but lean down...

Lin Daiyu let out a soft moan, and was soon dazed from the kiss. Just as she thought someone was about to do something naughty, Jia Huan sat up, took her hand, and said, "Sister Lin, come with me."

Lin Daiyu got out of bed and curiously followed Jia Huan to the bookshelf. She saw the latter pull out an old book, which she immediately recognized as her father Lin Ruhai's reading notes.

Jia Huan respectfully placed Lin Ruhai's reading notes on the desk, then solemnly knelt down and bowed three times, saying, "Master Lin, today is the auspicious day of my wedding with Sister Lin. I borrow this book of his last words to communicate with his spirit and inform him of this joyous news. From now on, I will love her dearly, cherish her, and take care of her for the rest of my life, so as not to fail Master Lin's dying wish!"

"Sister Lin, come here, let's kowtow to Father together," Jia Huan said softly to Lin Daiyu as he turned around.

Lin Daiyu's nose tingled with emotion, and she knelt gracefully beside Jia Huan. The young couple solemnly kowtowed three times to Lin Ruhai's reading notes. Afterward, Lin Daiyu finally couldn't hold back her tears and burst into sobs, while Jia Huan's eyes also reddened.

When Jia Huan first arrived in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, he was just a nobody with no presence. He was suppressed and ostracized by Lady Wang and Wang Xifeng at every turn, and in the end, he had no choice but to exile himself to Jinling. Lin Ruhai not only took good care of him, but also shared his learning experience with him. It can be said that without Lin Ruhai's help, Jia Huan's path to the imperial examination would not have been so smooth.

Therefore, Lin Ruhai was both a teacher and a father to Jia Huan, so at this moment, it was just a genuine expression of his feelings.

Zijuan, Qingwen, and Xueyan had been eavesdropping in the outer room. They had been relieved to hear Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu playing around, but when they heard crying, they rushed in to check. When they saw the two kneeling and bowing to an old book on the desk, they quietly withdrew.

Qingwen asked curiously in a low voice, "Why are Third Master and Miss Lin worshipping that old book?"

Xueyan chuckled softly, "I do recognize it; it looks like the notes left behind by our master."

Qingwen then realized what was happening.

At this moment, Jia Huan had carefully put away Lin Ruhai's notes, comforted Lin Daiyu, and helped her back to the bedside to sit down. He said apologetically, "Tonight is supposed to be my wedding night with Sister Lin, but I have to ask Sister Lin to lift the red veil herself. It is really wrong of me. I just recently composed a new piece called 'A Night of Perfect Flowers and Full Moon.' How about I play it to apologize to Sister Lin?"

Lin Daiyu felt a sweet warmth in her heart and nodded in delight.

Jia Huan took the jade flute hanging on the wall and began to play it gently:
The spring breeze blows and blows into my heart.
My heart is pounding with longing for you, and I can't sleep.
Why can't you understand the fallen flowers' intention...?

The moon hangs high, its crescent shape like your eyebrows.
...

On this beautiful night with a full moon

Two hearts in love and mutual affection

On this beautiful night with a full moon

Lovers become a pair

I'm telling you, who else in this world is like you?

To be able to play in the water with you, like mandarin ducks, flying side by side...

(End of this chapter)