Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

In the Earl's Mansion, Yingchun Courtyard, waterside pavilions and pavilions, the wine is flowing, the flowers are blooming, and the moon is shining brightly.

Xiangyun was laughing and talking happily. Everyone saw that Xing Xiuyan's face turned red, as if she was counted by the dice, and she looked a little nervous.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister Xiuyan, there is no need to be nervous. It's just a joke. Hurry up and shake a lot and take a look."

Xing Xiuyan smiled sweetly, took the bucket of lots and shook it, making a rustling sound, and soon threw out a lot.

The head of the fortune stick is engraved with a swaying flower branch covered with light purple buds that are about to bloom, elegant and handsome.

Xiangyun smiled and said, "This is magnolia, also known as purple magnolia. There is one planted in my third brother's yard."

Under the magnolia branch were inscribed four characters: 'Purple calyx, deep spring', and on the back were engraved two lines of poetry: Never so bright and pretty as to compete for spring, yet only to give its fragrance to the blue sky.

Annotation below: Whoever gets this lot should drink one cup.

Xiangyun spoke quickly and fluently, and she recited the two lines of poetry aloud, and everyone felt that they were elegant and appropriate.

Baochai smiled and said, "Sister Xiuyan is just right for the magnolia flower. No one else is worthy of these two lines of poetry except her."

Xing Xiuyan drank a cup by herself, then rolled the dice, and this time she rolled Xichun.

Xichun shouted happily, "Finally it's my turn to draw the lot. I've been waiting for a long time."

Yingchun took the bucket of fortune sticks with a smile and said, "Children are not yet grown up, so it's not auspicious to tell fortunes. Wait until you are a few years older before playing again. Be obedient."

Daiyu and the others were not surprised to hear this, as this was indeed a common saying in families.

Xichun felt depressed and disappointed after hearing this, but she had lived in Yingchun Courtyard for a whole year, and the two sisters were very close, sitting, sleeping and getting up together, and spending every day and night together.

Yingchun is a little older than Xichun and loves her fourth sister very much. Xichun has become dependent on her and is always willing to listen to Yingchun.

Although he felt lost and unhappy without this fun thing, he did not make a fuss.

Jia Cong coaxed, "Fourth sister, you can't take the flower name lottery, but you can roll the dice to count the people.

Whoever you point to will have a flower sign drawn for you to see, which is just as interesting. "

Xichun was about to cry, but upon hearing this, she immediately burst into laughter, took the dice box and shook it vigorously, and a nine came out.

Xichun counted for a while and finally landed on Jia Cong.

He laughed happily: "I just shook the number by chance, I was just wanting to see what the third brother drew."

Jia Cong looked a little embarrassed, Daiyu smiled and said: "Fourth sister, flower name cards are for girls to play with. Third brother is a man, how can you describe yourself as a famous flower?"

Everyone laughed when they heard this. Xichun was not annoyed and said with a smile, "This is even better. My third brother and I can't draw the flower lot, so we can keep each other company."

……

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Fourth sister, this time it doesn't count, just roll the dice again."

This time Xichun threw eighteen points, and after counting for a while, she just picked Daiyu, and everyone laughed again.

Daiyu took the bucket of lots with a smile, shook it in her hand, and soon threw out a lot.

The head of the inscription is engraved with a beautiful hibiscus flower, and the four characters "凝露露香" are inscribed below.

Two lines of poetry are engraved on the back of the signature: Wind and rain, green trees share the east wind, yet all flowers wither in spring.

Annotation below: Those who get this lot should drink a cup together.

This time the table suddenly became lively. Xiangyun smiled and said, "I thought I was lucky and got a good lottery ticket, but I didn't expect Sister Lin to be even more impressive."

Yingchun smiled and said, "No sister in the family is more suitable to be Furong than her. Let's drink a cup together to celebrate."

Daiyu can't drink much. In the past, due to her frail health, she was very restrained in drinking.

Now, with the careful treatment of Zhang Youpeng and taking Sansheng Yanghun Pills every day to strengthen his body, he is in much better shape than before.

But she still retained her habit of restrained drinking. She had already had a few drinks with her sisters, and her pretty face was slightly flushed.

She had just drawn a good fortune, and the sisters were toasting to celebrate, so she naturally couldn't be left behind, so Xiangyun poured her another full glass.

After drinking this cup, she felt hot all over and a little dizzy. Seeing that she was a little drunk, Jia Cong quickly asked Xiu Ju to bring her some sobering tea.

……

Daiyu took the dice box and shook out the number. This time she counted to Yingchun, so she asked Yingchun to shake the dice again. Yingchun shook the dice and she got Tanchun.

Everyone couldn't help laughing and looked at Baochai, because she was the only one at the table who had not yet chosen the flower lot.

Baochai laughed and said, "I really failed today. No matter how hard it is, I can't get the first place."

It was Tanchun's turn to shake the dice again. This time she got seventeen, which was unexpectedly Baochai's turn.

Everyone cheered, and Baochai said with a smile, "I wonder what they will catch this time."

She shook the bucket of lots for a while, and soon a lot was thrown out and fell on the table with a thud.

The head of the inscription is engraved with a rich and gorgeous peony, and below it are engraved the four characters "Danxia Liuyun".

There are two lines of poetry engraved on the back of the sign: Time passes by and the dew on the steps is thick, the bright sunset still brings spring.

Annotation below: Whoever gets this lot should drink one cup.

Everyone said that the peony was a perfect match for Baochai, and the verses on the fortune slip were rich, elegant and noble, and also looked very remarkable.

It’s just that the poem contains words like “coming late”, which seems to imply that all things will happen later, and no one is willing to reveal it.

After all the sisters had drawn their lots, they had something interesting to talk about and were very happy.

……

After several rounds of drinking, the vegetarian food on the table was a bit messy, and it was already the hour of Hai. Xichun, the youngest, was already yawning.

A bright moon rises high outside the window, and the bright silver moonlight is reflected in the clear waves of the river, breaking into countless silver pieces, shining brightly.

Seeing that it was getting late, Miaoyu stood up and said goodbye. Zhishao also stood up to see her off. The other sisters all stood up and left, and the party had a great time.

Jia Cong sent Daiyu, Tanchun and Baochai back home. Together with their maids, there were six or seven people traveling together, which was quite lively.

After seeing Baochai off through the small door leading to the corridor between the two mansions, Jia Cong turned around and saw Daiyu and Tanchun back to the courtyard.

Daiyu seemed to be in a good mood, talking and laughing along the way, but Tanchun didn't say a word and seemed a little unhappy.

Although Jia Cong didn't know the reasons, he could guess some of them.

Ever since the news of Caixia's pregnancy came out last time, Jia Cong was able to see through the mystery. Although Tanchun was not as insightful as him, she also felt that something was wrong.

But she never dared to point this out, and she didn't even dare to ask her aunt and brothers. She only mentioned this to Jia Cong.

Today, news came from the West Mansion that Mrs. Wang asked the doctor to see Caixia for the second time and confirmed that she was pregnant. Grandmother Jia was very happy.

When Tanchun heard the news, her worries grew even heavier.

But there was another reason why Tanchun was in a depressed mood today. Only she knew it in her heart, and even Jia Cong would not tell it.

After sending Tanchun back to the courtyard, Jia Cong saw that her back was a little desolate and she looked like she was worried. Jia Cong felt pity for her and wanted to find a time to talk to her and give her some advice and help her resolve her problems.

He had just stepped into the yard with Daiyu when she stumbled on the stone steps. Jia Cong quickly caught her and Zijuan also hurried forward to support her.

Daiyu smiled and said, "I don't drink much to begin with. I drank the last glass too quickly. Even though I drank the hangover soup, I still feel a little nervous now."

She added, "Zijuan, go get me some hot water to wash up. I'll sit in the yard with my third brother and get some fresh air."

……

Zijuan hurried into the room to prepare and took out a bright red feather gauze crane cloak.

Jia Cong helped Daiyu put it on, wrapping her slender body tightly, and helped her button her collar.

Seeing Jia Cong's intimate actions, Zijuan, who was already a little tipsy, just let the Third Master take care of things. Although the two of them didn't speak, they smiled at each other and looked quite a close couple.

Zijuan blushed slightly and quickly went back into the room. Xueyan came in with a small basin of hot water and was about to go out to call Daiyu, but Zijuan covered her mouth and pulled her back into the room.

The two of them sat down on a wooden bench in the front yard. Daiyu felt a little dizzy and seemed unable to sit still. Even in the darkness, the blush on her pretty face could still be seen.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister seems to be in a particularly good mood today."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Because I drew a good lot today."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "What a silly girl! How can you be so happy about a good fortune?"

Daiyu said seriously: "Third brother, you don't understand what I mean. I am happy not only because I drew a good lot.

I can't explain it clearly myself, I just feel that I am much better now than before. I never say this to others, but I know it must be true.

I entered the palace when I was seven years old. Although my grandmother loved me very much and I had sisters to keep me company, I missed my parents every day and cried every day.

I couldn't sleep well at night. It was already very good if I could get through one shift every night.

My father taught me how to keep in good health since I was young, which was nothing more than eating and sleeping well. But I always felt sorry for myself, thinking I couldn't control myself, so how could I be in good health?

Since my third brother came to Xifu when he was ten years old, things have somehow gotten better, and I feel more at ease, and I don’t dwell on unhappy things all the time.”

……

Daiyu drank a few more cups today, and she talked a lot. She was a little drunk and covered her chest with her hands.

Seeing that she was speaking anxiously and was a little shaky while sitting, Jia Cong couldn't help but put his arm around her shoulders and let her lean on his shoulder.

His chin touched Daiyu's smooth and silky forehead, and he couldn't help but rub it gently twice, and his whole body was surrounded by the intoxicating sweet fragrance.

Daiyu would occasionally be hugged by Jia Cong, and she felt that such skin-to-skin contact was too intimate.

She twisted her shoulders subconsciously a few times, but her body felt soft and she seemed unable to exert any strength, so she just let Jia Cong be intimate with her.

Said: "Third brother, I think with you in the family, I will become better and better. Look, I can even win the lottery.

If it were still in the past, I’m afraid not everything would go smoothly. I can’t explain why, and I don’t know if Third Brother understands what I mean.”

Jia Cong naturally understood the reason for this. Daiyu's mind was particularly sharp, and being in the middle of it, she had some indescribable perceptions.

People like Tanchun, Baochai and others probably have unchanged destinies, but I'm afraid they don't have the same feeling as Daiyu.

……

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Although my sister didn't explain it clearly, I understand what she meant."

Daiyu raised her head from Jia Cong's arms, her beautiful eyes full of autumnal light, even in the night, still clear and bright, charming and moving.

He smiled and asked, "Third brother really understands what I mean."

Jia Cong's smile was so warm and gentle that Daiyu felt a little warm in her heart. She said, "Of course I understand what you mean, sister."

He knew the original story of the flower lot. The flower lot that Daiyu got had a poem on it that read: Don't blame the east wind, blame yourself.

The previous line of this poem: "Beauty is more beautiful than others, but she is often unlucky" has foreshadowed how bleak her fate is.

Although Jia Cong did not say how he knew it, Daiyu seemed to read the answer from his eyes.

I just felt that our minds were in sync, so I didn't ask any more questions and leaned back on his shoulder involuntarily.

Jia Cong continued, "In this world, there are small things, such as the joy or sorrow of one person, medium things, such as the fortune or misfortune of a family, and big things, such as the rise and fall of a country.

Nothing is static. As long as someone does the right thing at the right time, it is not difficult to change the old situation and turn the world upside down. "

After hearing what he said, Daiyu's bright eyes flickered slightly. Although she was a girl who never stepped out of the house, she did not have much experience in the outside world.

But he was a well-read man after all, and after just a moment's reflection he understood the meaning of Jia Cong's words and was slightly shocked.

There are hundreds of bamboos in the front yard, and their shadows are bright. There is a soft rustling sound in the night wind. A full moon shines brightly in the sky, illuminating every detail of the yard.

The two of them sat leaning against each other for a long time before Daiyu moved and said, "Third brother, it's getting late. Go back and have a rest first and come back tomorrow."

……

Earl's Mansion, Tanchun Courtyard,
Tanchun returned to the courtyard, washed herself briefly, took off her hair accessories, untied her bun, and let her long hair hang behind her waist, tied up with a simple hairband.

Although she had not yet reached the age of marriage, she was cheerful and lively, and more active than her other sisters. Her figure had grown into a graceful and charming one.

She has slender shoulders, a graceful figure, a thin waist, and long straight legs. She always moves with a sense of vigor and vitality.

The two maids, Shishu and Cuimo, walked back and forth in the room, arranging jewelry, making the bed, and checking the doors inside and outside.

Perhaps because they were influenced by Tanchun since childhood, the two maids were very efficient and organized in their work.

Tanchun let her long hair hang down, took off her jacket and put on pajamas made of soft material.

She wore a moon-white printed cross-collar jacket on the upper body, moon-white printed trousers on the lower body, and a pair of black velvet embroidered slippers on her feet, revealing half of her crystal-clear jade-like feet.

She walked around the room, the breeze blowing her light pajamas, outlining the girl's beautiful curves.

When she got on the bed, Cui Mo lowered the soft gauze curtains and blew out the candles in the inner room, leaving only the candles in the outer room lit.

The brocade quilt is soft, the gauze pillow is fragrant, and the hollow incense burner with auspicious clouds and green leaves in front of the couch emits a refreshing lily scent.

All of this would have made one fall into a deep sleep, but Tanchun tossed and turned and could not fall asleep.

She sat up irritably, hugged her legs and sat on the bed for a while, then opened the bed curtains and walked out to the outer room.

Cui Mo, who was sitting on the side couch, raised her body and asked, "Miss, why are you still standing up?"

Tanchun did not respond. She used the candlelight from the outer room to search for a while in the bamboo tube with the flower name tags on the table.

Finally, he found the stick he wanted and said, "It's just something to get. Just go to sleep."

She got back on the bed, holding the flower name card in her hand. With the candlelight from the outer room, she could see the beautiful apricot blossom on the card.

She gently stroked the two lines of poetry with her fingers, her heart filled with sorrow. She wanted to cut off the love, but how could she let go?

She held the flower name card in her hand for a long time, until her palms were sweating, then she stuffed the card under her pillow and fell into a deep sleep... (End of this chapter)