Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Fengjie's Courtyard.

As the sun rises, the yard is swept spotlessly clean, the roses are in full bloom, and the sycamore trees are green, making it look extremely vibrant.

The maids serving tea and water on the corridor shuttled back and forth, entering and leaving the main house in the courtyard.

Two old women were sitting under the shade of a tree in the yard, gossiping in low voices, as if they were afraid of disturbing the people in the house.

In the inner room of the main house, Wang Xifeng was leaning on the couch, smiling sweetly and teasing her infant daughter. The shrewdness and competence on her face seemed to have faded, and her eyes were full of kindness and love.

Ping'er entered the room carrying a red lacquer tray, on which was a pink-glazed silver-gilt bowl filled with steaming bird's nest and lotus seed soup.

Wang Xifeng picked up the bowl and ate a few mouthfuls, then asked, "It's already this late, why is there no sign of Wu'er?"

Ping'er said, "Just now the maid from the Third Master's courtyard came to tell me that Wu'er was not feeling well today and needed to rest for a day, so she would not come today."

Wang Xifeng put down the colored bowl in her hand and said, "She seemed very energetic yesterday, but she suddenly felt unwell and couldn't even come over. It sounds like something is not well.

At her age, although she has plenty of energy, she still needs to be careful to maintain her health. If she develops a disease, it will last a lifetime. You should go and take a look at her too."

Ping Erh collected the bowls and trays and said, "I'll go check it out later. Maybe it's her period. It's nothing serious."

Wang Xifeng asked again, "Xiren came to see me yesterday, and I vaguely heard her and Wu'er whispering to each other, as if they were discussing something?"

Ping Er smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. Xiren said that Master Bao is not feeling well and has been sleeping restlessly at night recently.

I heard that Doctor Zhang Youpeng is a miracle doctor, so I want to ask him to treat Master Bao."

Wang Xifeng looked a little disdainful and said, "You are making a fuss about nothing. Baoyu can't sleep well at night. Go to the pharmacy and buy some plasters. Just apply them on your temples and it will be fine.

There is no need to invite a miracle doctor to see the disease. How can a young boy, who is so lively and energetic, be more precious than the old lady? This is too much of a ostentation.

Although Zhang Youpeng is not as famous as his brother, it is said that he was the one who taught Zhang Youshi all his medical skills, which shows how deep his foundation is.

Lin Daiyu's deficiency had never been cured no matter how many precious medicinal herbs she had taken since she was a child. But after he treated her for half a year, the root cause of her illness was cured.

This is a real master, much more capable than those show-offs in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Letting such a great doctor come to cure Baoyu's restless sleep, isn't that a disgrace to the great doctor? It makes us think that Rongguo Mansion is arrogant and rude."

Ping'er smiled and said, "What grandma said makes sense. Later, Wu'er said that Dr. Zhang is not in the capital recently. When he returns to the capital, you can ask the third master to help invite him.

When Xiren heard this, she said there was no need to bother asking for help, and asked me for the addresses of Zhang Youshi and Doctor Hu.

Wang Xifeng asked, "Xiren only asked for the addresses of the two doctors, but didn't ask us to come and invite the doctors?"

Ping Er shook her head and replied, "They didn't ask us to come and invite you. They just said they would discuss it with the Second Madam when they get back."

Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up and she said, "This doesn't sound right. Xiren came to ask the doctor for information in a strange way. It seems that she was assigned by the second wife.

In the past, when someone in the mansion fell ill, the government would invite a doctor, and all medical expenses and medicine costs would be paid by the government and would not be included in the individual's monthly allowance.

The Second Wife doesn't lack this money, but I know what she is thinking best. She doesn't say it out loud, but in her heart she still thinks that Rongguo Mansion belongs to their second wife.

Therefore, she would not miss the honor of inviting a doctor from the palace. Last time, Baoyu broke his head, and it was the doctor we invited from the palace.

They are hiding like this now. Xiren didn't let us call the doctor ourselves, but only asked for the doctor's address. Could it be that they came to call him themselves?

Baoyu just has a problem of restless sleep, there is no need to hide it like this."

Ping Er said, "I haven't thought too deeply about this matter, but after hearing what grandma said, it does make sense. I wonder what disease Master Bao has?"

Wang Xifeng's pair of watery eyes flickered and were full of inquiry.

She called Feng'er, who was busy outside the house, and said, "Put aside what you are doing, walk around in the garden, and find out what's wrong with Baoyu."

……

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong Courtyard.

Ping'er talked to Wang Xifeng, then went out to explain things to Lin Zhixiao's wife, and then went to the East Palace to visit Wu'er.

When Ping'er passed through the small gate between the two mansions, she was far from being bullied as Xiren. When the gatekeeper of the East Mansion saw her, she smiled warmly and spoke to her attentively.

Because everyone in the East Palace knew that Miss Ping had a legitimate relationship with the Lord, and that she would be his future wife, and now she was managing the West Palace's family business for him.

Ping'er entered Jia Cong's courtyard. Normally, every time she came here, she would always greet Jia Cong first, but at this time she thought he had already gone to the yamen.

She went straight to the room where Wu'er lived, but just as she reached the door, she saw Qingwen coming out of the next room.

Seeing Ping'er's actions, she pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "Sister Ping'er, are you here to look for Wu'er? She is not in her room today."

Ping Er was surprised: "Someone told me this morning that she was not feeling well, so I came to see her. Why is she not resting in the room but running around everywhere?"

Qingwen looked strange and blushed. She said, "She is resting in a room, but not in her own room. She is in the Third Master's room. Go and see her."

Ping'er felt strange after hearing this, but she didn't think much about it. Wu'er was the Third Master's personal maid, so it wasn't strange for her to be in his room. The Third Master was not at home now.

She turned around and went to the main room, but she didn't notice that Qingwen's face was flushed and she was laughing mischievously behind her...

Ping'er walked to the main room door, pushed it open, and said, "Wu'er, I heard you were not feeling well, so I came to see if you had your period."

Before she could finish her words, she saw the situation in the room and was stunned.

Wu'er was seen wearing an inner garment, sitting on Jia Cong's bed, with smooth and fair skin, and a bright look, three times more beautiful than usual.

Jia Cong was holding a tray with a few side dishes on it and was sitting by the bed talking to Wu'er.

Wu'er was still holding the bowl of porridge in her hand. She took two bites herself and then smiled as she fed Jia Cong a mouthful. The two of them were extremely intimate and ambiguous.

Ping'er's pretty face suddenly turned red. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in. She cursed in her heart, "Qingwen, this damn girl, is playing a trick on me."

I really made a fool of myself, talking about menstruation in front of the Third Master. I was so embarrassed.

She stammered, "Third Master, don't you have to attend court every morning?"

When Jia Cong saw Ping'er suddenly barge in, he looked a little surprised and embarrassed. Wu'er's face turned red and she subconsciously pulled the thin quilt up.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Today is a day off, so it's just right to go to the yamen later."

Because last night was Wu'er's virgin night, he stayed at home for a few more hours to accompany her, but he didn't expect Ping'er to suddenly barge in.

Wu Er blushed and said, "Third Master has been at home for quite some time. It is more important for him to go to the government office first. I will just talk to Ping Er."

Jia Cong said, "That's fine. You can rest and let Sister Ping'er talk to you."

Ping'er heaved a sigh of relief only after Jia Cong left the room, and the strange and awkward atmosphere in the room slowly faded away.

When Ping'er saw Wu'er like this, she suddenly remembered Wang Xifeng's teasing words that day, and her pretty face flushed.

I immediately understood why Wu'er was feeling unwell and needed to rest in bed. The bed she was lying on was actually Third Master's.

I couldn't help but joked, "Wu'er, did you listen to Second Mistress and act like a spoiled child with Third Master last night..."

Wu'er's face turned red, and she came up to pull Ping'er's mouth. The two rolled into a ball on the bed, laughing and making noises.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Baoyu Courtyard.

The door of the main house in the courtyard was closed. Xiren was sitting at the door doing needlework. Just then she saw Qiu Wen coming over with a graceful waist, holding a tea tray in her hands.

Said: "Xiren, the Madam is in the room, I will serve her a cup of new tea."

Xiren did not stop her needlework and said, "I have already served tea. Madam is talking to the second master in private and does not want anyone to disturb them."

Qiu Wen froze when she heard this. She glanced at the closed door and walked away with the tea tray...

The light in the room was a little dim, most of the windows were closed tightly, and there was a hint of stuffiness in the air.

Mrs. Wang was speaking earnestly, and Baoyu's face turned purple, with a look of grievance and anger in his eyes.

He said, "Madam, don't listen to their nonsense. Our son is in good health. There is nothing wrong with him. There is no need to see a doctor."

Baoyu's heart was filled with grief and indignation. This foolish Xiren, whom he valued so much, actually leaked the secret in front of the lady.

How could a pure and suave man like me have such an unspeakable illness? Those days were just a period of fatigue...

I was born with a jade in my mouth, which means I was born extraordinary and favored by the gods. How could the heavens fool me like this? This is absolutely impossible.

What would we do if this kind of unfounded thing got out and everyone started talking about it?

At that time, my whole life of integrity and honor would be ruined, and my sisters at home would be extremely heartbroken. How could I bear that?

Mrs. Wang saw that Baoyu had a strange expression on his face, his eyes were full of grief and anger, and he looked like he was about to have a seizure. She couldn't help but frown slightly.

If Xiren, Caiyun and others saw Baoyu in this state, they would probably be frightened out of their wits.

But Mrs. Wang was a little different after all. She could not delay the treatment of Baoyu, even if her son was going to make a fuss. She said, "Baoyu, I am your biological mother, and you are my flesh and blood. You and I have nothing to be ashamed of.

You don't have to make excuses. There are many people suffering from this disease, and it is not a rare thing. Don't feel embarrassed to talk about it.

If we are sick, we go to the doctor and get cured as soon as possible."

Baoyu looked sad and angry, and said, "Madam, I know my own health very well. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me. It is Xiren who is making up stories. It is really absurd."

Mrs. Wang's face darkened slightly, and she said, "Xiren is talking nonsense. Could it be that Caiyun is also talking nonsense? This cannot be faked. You can't fool me as your mother."

After hearing what Mrs. Wang said, Baoyu felt even more ashamed. Not only Xiren was gossiping, but Caiyun also followed suit.

The people in this yard are lawless. How can I face people in the future when they mock and humiliate me like this?

As he thought of this, his eyes became more aggrieved and dull. He rolled his eyes subconsciously and his whole body trembled slightly with anger.

Mrs. Wang said, "You must be obedient this time. The doctor must see you. If you make a fuss again, I will tell the master and he will take care of you."

Baoyu was about to lose his temper, but when he heard the word "master", his mind suddenly became clear and he was not bothered by anything. He rolled his eyes halfway, then rolled them back again.

Mrs. Wang advised again: "Baoyu, you must know the seriousness of the matter. You will marry Miss Xia at the end of the year.

If I don’t see a doctor quickly, how can I keep it a secret after I get married? If the Xia family makes a fuss, it will be disastrous…”

When Baoyu heard this, his face turned pale, and when he thought of Miss Xia's outstanding beauty and graceful demeanor, he couldn't help feeling warm in his stomach.

Although he kept saying that he did not want to get married, he spoke out against the idea of ​​marriage and showed disdain for it.

But in his heart, he still admired Miss Xia, such a charming and outstanding daughter.

He really wanted to be close to such a girl and have sex with her in bed...

If after we get married, Miss Xia finds out that I am not capable of this, it would be such a disgrace to her.

The outstanding character of her daughter who worships Baoyu makes her family look down on her, but it is better to die than to have such a big event happen!

……

Mrs. Wang saw Baoyu's expression changing constantly. She knew her son well and realized that what she said hit the nail on the head, so she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

She said, “Let Xiren and Caiyun help you pack your things and go back to the East Courtyard with you to live for a few days, so that you can see a doctor for treatment.

Let Sheyue and Qiu Wen take care of and clean the yard here."

When Baoyu heard this, his face changed. It was a heavy burden for him to live under the same roof with his father Jia Zheng.

He said quickly, "Madam, I want to see a doctor. I can go to the West Mansion. Why bother moving to the East Courtyard?

Besides, the old lady always needs to be filial to her, and the sisters also..."

He didn't want to leave Xi Mansion, so he blurted out the words. At the end he realized that it was inappropriate, so he swallowed it back, looking a little embarrassed.

Mrs. Wang sighed and said, "Baoyu, you should be more alert. Since you are engaged, you should know some taboos.

What about Sister Bao and Sister Lin? They are all nonsense. Stop wasting your time on them in the future.

If you go to see a doctor in the West Mansion, there are so many people here and they are gossipy. It is impossible to hide anything. As long as the doctor comes in and out, gossip will spread."

Baoyu's face immediately turned ugly when he heard this. He was not really ignorant of everything. Now the West Mansion was the head of the eldest house.

Jia Cong also specially sent his trusted maid Wu'er to be the housekeeper. As long as there was any movement, the news would be passed to the East Palace.

Sisters must know how they will be viewed by others and how they will live as innocent people.

He thought this through and no longer dared to say any more nonsense...

After instructing Xiren, Mrs. Wang went to Rongqing Hall to talk to Lady Jia, naturally to help Baoyu find a reason to get a crown.

When Baoyu saw Xiren and Caiyun starting to pack up their things, he couldn't help but feel filled with grief and anger again.

I am a person of the moon and breeze, with a heart full of beautiful things, but God wants to play such an embarrassing trick on me. How unfair is this world...

……

By the time Xiren and Caiyun had almost packed up their things, Mrs. Wang had returned from a conversation at Rongqing Hall.

Seeing Baoyu was a little listless, she said, "I have already told the old lady to let you return to the East Courtyard and stay with me for a few days.

Your master will also teach you your lessons, and then invite a doctor to see you, so that the matter can be kept quiet and there will be no gossip.

I have already said what I want to say. I heard from Xiren that you haven't received the monthly allowance of study paper and pens allocated by the government this month.

Ask someone to go get it from Feng Yatou and tell her to take it to the East Courtyard for study.

Keep it in place both inside and outside, so that if you suddenly return to live in the East Courtyard, others won’t get suspicious.”

After hearing this, Xiren, who was standing by, was about to go to Wang Xifeng's courtyard to get it, but was stopped by Baoyu.

He said, "Madam, I'll go get these papers and pens myself. Sister Feng was very happy about her birth yesterday, and I didn't go to see her yet."

In fact, Baoyu had the whole day yesterday, so how could he not have had time to visit Wang Xifeng? It was just an excuse.

It was just the topic of Aunt Xue giving birth that day that still left him with lingering fears.

Wang Xifeng's baby was born yesterday. The old lady, Aunt Xue, and the sisters in the family must have gone to visit.

Baoyu thought that if he went over there, he would be stepping into a fire eye.

Aunt Xue saw that she was probably going to take advantage of the opportunity brought by Sister Feng's childbirth and start to get involved again.

In front of her sisters, she kept saying things like Miss Xia would have easy fertility and that she would give birth to a son soon. I felt so sick of it. How could she live her life in the future?

If Lin Daiyu heard such words, I don’t know what she would think of herself...

So, Baoyu stayed in the yard all day yesterday and didn't go out, so as to avoid being seen by others, but also to avoid looking bad in front of Sister Feng.

But today, when Mrs. Wang mentioned the matter of getting paper and pen, Baoyu had other thoughts.

After yesterday, there wouldn't be many people going to Sister Feng's courtyard, at least Aunt Xue probably wouldn't go there every day.

After hearing what Baoyu said, Mrs. Wang didn't think much about it and asked her son to get paper and pen himself, which would make it easier to conceal the secret in front of outsiders.

But Xiren knew Baoyu's background very well, and also knew the reason why he often went to Fengjie's courtyard, so she couldn't help but smile bitterly in her heart.

The Second Master was about to go back to the East Courtyard to see a doctor, and it would probably be some time before he left the West Palace, so he started to get the urge to go for a walk in the Second Mistress's courtyard.

After all, there were two pretty girls there, but they were both from the Third Master's room. The Second Master always did these shady things that could not be seen in public.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Fengjie's Courtyard.

Before the sun rose higher, Ping'er returned from the East Palace.

When Wang Xifeng saw her, she asked, "Is Wu'er okay?"

Ping Erh couldn't help blushing and said, "It's not a big deal. Just take a day off."

Wang Xifeng frowned and said, "You are such a weird girl. If it doesn't matter to her, then it doesn't matter. Why should you be blushing?"

Wang Xifeng's eyes suddenly lit up, and she couldn't help laughing: "Something's wrong, Wu'er is sick, is there any need for you to be so embarrassed?

I also guessed it. Maybe Wu Er was on duty for Third Brother last night and did something bad. He can't even straighten his back to come to the West Mansion Directors today."

Ping'er's face became even hotter when she heard Wang Xifeng's blunt words. She said, "I didn't say anything. You can guess it yourself, ma'am."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "It seems that my words are still useful. The little girl finally got it."

At this time, Baoyu's voice came from outside: "Sister Feng, are you okay? I came to see you."

Wang Xifeng was slightly stunned. Baoyu had not come to visit for some time. He did not even come to visit her yesterday when she gave birth, but he suddenly came today.

He said, "It's Brother Bao. Come in and sit down. Ping'er will make some tea."

Baoyu entered the room and saw Wang Xifeng leaning on the bed. A baby was sleeping soundly in the cradle beside her.

He thought of Aunt Xue's talk of giving birth to a son soon, and felt a little uncomfortable. He only glanced at the child and didn't want to look at him a second time.

Fortunately, when the maid who was accompanying the guest saw the guest coming, she took the baby into the inner room, which made Baoyu secretly relieved.

He said, "Today my wife and I returned to the East Road Courtyard to stay for two days. I knew Sister Feng was very happy, so I came to see you before leaving."

When he saw Ping'er standing beside Wang Xifeng, who was pretty, dignified and graceful, he felt immediately pleased.

After a slight hesitation, he asked, "Why don't I see Sister Wu'er?" (End of this chapter)