Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Baoyu Courtyard.

As the Si hour was coming to an end, the sun tore through the haze, and the gloomy courtyard lost its chill and gave rise to a hint of warmth.

The remaining snow that had lingered on the eaves last night soon disappeared, and the servants no longer cowered in fear when walking through the courtyard.

Caixia hid in her own room to rest, Caiyun cleaned Baoyu's room listlessly, and Bihen walked around the corridor from time to time, looking a little absent-minded.

Xiren went to Sheyue's room and found that everything in the room was tidy, with two suitcases piled on the floor.

Yesterday, the Madam wanted to kick Musk Moon out, so she must have been unable to sleep the whole night and even packed up the things in her room overnight. It seemed that she was definitely going to leave.

Xiren couldn't help but sigh. None of the troublesome people in the yard left, but the least troublesome one was driven out. She felt very upset.

Madam wants to marry Musk Moon to that rotten man Qin Yong. Such a good girl will be ruined.

Unfortunately, good people never get good rewards. Bi Hen, this dishonest guy, just pleaded a few words, but the lady let him go easily. How can she seek justice?

……

Xiren was just coming out of Musk Moon's room and saw Baoyu listlessly walking into the yard. He glanced at Musk Moon's door with a somewhat evasive look.

In the morning, Mrs. Wang wanted to promise Musk Moon to Qin Yong. Baoyu couldn't save face in front of Musk Moon, so he said he would go to Rongqing Hall to ask the old lady for mercy.

In fact, he never had such courage. Before he left, Mrs. Wang had just gone to Rongqing Hall. Could he really run into trouble in the hall?

If Baoyu were capable of doing such a tough thing, he would not be Baoyu anymore. Even though he now had sisters like Daiyu in the hall, he would have to bear the pain and not go.

He wandered around the mansion, always staying away from Rongqing Hall. His sisters all moved to the East Mansion, and the rest of the second branch moved to the East Courtyard.

If he went to Fengjie's Courtyard, he was worried that she would peel his skin and tear his bones apart again. If he went to Lixiang Courtyard, he was worried that Aunt Xue would say something about the way of having children. Moreover, he was really a father now...

He had nowhere to go in the huge West Palace. When Baoyu thought of this situation, he felt very sad and even shed tears as if he was in despair.

Although he passed by Rongqing Hall several times and tried to muster up the courage to go in, he eventually fled away, with several fierce battles in his heart.

After wandering around for a while, he thought that his wife was about to bring Musk Moon back to the East Courtyard, and he should go back to see her for the last time, to live up to their past friendship.

……

He saw Xiren coming out of Sheyue's room with a rather gloomy look on her face, and asked, "Xiren, is Sheyue in the room?"

Xiren said, "Just now Feng'er came over and told me to take Sheyue to Rongqing Hall, saying that the old lady and the second wife wanted to ask something?"

Baoyu was a little surprised when he heard this. Didn't the lady just go to Rongqing Hall? Why did Sister Feng and the old lady go to Musk Moon to question her?

Baoyu felt somewhat dissatisfied and felt that something was wrong. He hadn't even asked the old lady for mercy yet, so how could they talk to Sheyue first...

Xiren originally wanted to ask Baoyu whether he had gone to Rongqingtang to ask the old lady for help, but when she saw him asking about where Musk Moon was, she realized that he had not been to Rongqingtang at all.

She sighed in her heart and swallowed back the words that were about to come to her lips.

The two were thinking about their own things when they suddenly heard hurried footsteps at the gate of the courtyard and a large group of people came in.

Leading the group was Musk Moon, followed by Wang Xifeng's maid Feng'er, two old women and two servant girls.

……

Baoyu and Xiren were surprised and puzzled to see so many people coming in. Caiyun and Bihen, who were in the room, heard the noise and came out to see what was going on.

Feng Er said, "Sister Sheyue, tell these maids how to move your luggage to the Second Madam's courtyard.

When Sister Xiu Ju arranges a place for you to stay, let them help you move over."

Musk Moon said, "I couldn't sleep last night, so I packed everything overnight. There are only two boxes and one package. You can take them and go."

Feng'er waved to the maids and servants who came with her, and the four of them rushed into the room. After a while, they took their boxes and bags and went out. Only Feng'er waited on the side.

These actions puzzled Xiren and the others, and different thoughts arose in their minds.

Baoyu asked, "Mushuyue, I heard that you went to Rongqing Hall. Does the old lady have anything to say? I wanted to wait until there were fewer people in the hall so that I could speak for you."

She Yue's face showed joy, and she said, "There is no need to trouble Second Master now, Second Madam has already asked questions in Rong Qing Hall just now.

The old lady rejected the Qin family's marriage proposal, but the second wife and the second young lady showed me mercy because I left the second master's house and allowed me to go to the East Palace to be the second young lady's butler and maid. "

After hearing this, Baoyu was stunned and his mouth was wide open.

Xiren was also shocked and asked, "Is this true? How did it suddenly become like this?"

Musk Moon said: "In short, there is always a way out. If I were forced to marry Qin Yong, I would have died. Fortunately, thanks to the grace of my master, it's all over now."

Only then did Xiren believe it. She had never expected that Musk Moon was so lucky, even though the West Palace was a Duke's Palace and the East Palace was an Earl's Palace.

But even a fool in the mansion knows that the gold in the East Mansion is a hundred times more valuable than that in the West Mansion. For the servants in the West Mansion, the threshold of the East Mansion is also out of reach.

Since the establishment of the East Palace, except for the personal maids of Master Cong and the girls, all other servants were bought from Jiangnan.

Except for the senior maids like Yuanyang and Ping'er in the West Mansion, ordinary maids could not even enter the door of the East Mansion. Even Master Bao could not step over the threshold of the East Mansion.

Xiren had been to the East Palace twice, either because she held some position in the West Palace or because she was invited or because she was delivering a message for Baoyu.

I have seen that the East Palace is elegant and magnificent everywhere, and it is full of vitality. It is far from the lifeless West Palace.

Xiren didn't expect that Musk Moon could turn a disaster into a blessing. Even though she had already decided to be with Baoyu in this life, she still felt envious and longing for her.

……

Bi Hen, who was standing by, heard what happened to She Yue and became extremely jealous and felt sour.

Although she wanted to be Baoyu's concubine, she would rather exchange it for being a steward and maid in the East Palace.

The appearance of the Third Master Cong of the East Palace is enough to make your legs go weak at a glance...

Bi Hen was angry. Both She Yue and himself were people that the lady wanted to drive away. How was he inferior to She Yue?

Why does she have such good luck? Why isn't that person herself?

Bi Hen suddenly thought that anyone who was driven out of the yard seemed to have gained a great advantage.

Before and after there was Xiaohong, and now there is Sheyue in front of us. Moreover, her good ending seems to be related to Master Cong Sanye. It is really weird.

Bi Hen suddenly felt a little regretful. Why did he beg his wife yesterday? If he was as strong as She Yue, would he have the same good fortune today?

Xiren was only surprised at first and felt a strange sense of envy in her heart, but she soon calmed down.

Said: "Luckily you got such a good result, you don't have to get married blindly, we are together, I feel relieved that you can do this.

It’s just that we can’t be together anymore, and I feel a little sad.”

Seeing Xiren's eyes were red, Sheyue said, "Sister Xiren, you don't have to be like this. It's just the East Mansion and the West Mansion. We can meet each other as usual."

……

The two were just about to say goodbye when they suddenly heard Baoyu going crazy and shouting, "How can this be? Musk Moon, you must not go to the East Palace.

It is a filthy place full of corrupt officials. It has already harmed the sisters in the family, and now it has even deceived you.

I absolutely won't allow you to do that. I'm going to beg the old lady right now to let you stay in my yard."

Baoyu was extremely sad to know that Musk Moon was going to be driven out by Lady Wang to marry someone else, but he really had no other choice and could not muster up the courage to object.

It was just another story about his daughter's misery. The world was like this, and it was useless for him to be sad.

But he never dreamed that what seemed to be an impossible task to him as difficult as moving mountains could be easily solved by Musk Moon after just one trip to Rongqingtang.

This made him feel very embarrassed. It would have been fine if Musk Yue didn't suffer, but there were so many places in the mansion, why did he let her go to the East Palace?

That Jia Cong spent all day tinkering with official career and economics in the East Palace, which was extremely smelly and disgusting, but he gathered all the pretty girls together and followed him to sink into depravity.

Baoyu was extremely sad. Now even his own maid was abducted to the East Palace. He really could not tolerate it anymore.

……

When Xiren heard Baoyu's words, she secretly thought that something was wrong. The Second Master was going to do something stupid again.

Musk Moon's eyebrows raised slightly, and her originally happy and peaceful mood became extremely bad, with a hint of anger rising in her chest.

After hearing what Baoyu said, Bihen, who was standing by, felt all her jealousy fade away. She couldn't suppress her joy and secretly praised the Second Master for his courage.

What should be done about this matter? We are all the Second Master's maids, so we should be tied together. Why should only Musk Moon be able to enjoy the glory of going out?

Baoyu took Sheyue aside and said, "Sheyue, I know that you had no choice but to go to the East Palace because your mistress chased you out and asked you to get married.

You must not be fooled. The East Palace is such a pedantic and boring place, it is not a place for a pretty girl like you to stay.

I will really go to the old lady this time and ask you to stay in my courtyard safely. Even if the lady wants to drive you out, I will definitely not allow it. I will go and tell her right away." Baoyu said this and walked out with his head held high, with the generosity of a warrior who will never come back. The tragic feeling in his heart made him a little intoxicated.

……

But before he even moved to the door, he suddenly heard She Yue's clear voice, saying, "It has come to this, Second Master, why are you still saying this?

The madam is extremely fed up with me. I can't stay in the Second Master's courtyard, nor do I want to stay there anymore. I am happy to go to the East Palace to serve the Second Young Lady.

Even if Second Master goes to talk to the old lady, it will be useless. If I stay here any longer and suffer from all kinds of troubles in the future, I would rather die now!
I advise you not to cause trouble again. Considering that I have served you, let's part ways amicably. This is the only way for both of us to be clean."

Feng'er, who was standing by, was really impressed by Musk Moon's tough and smart words.

She glanced at Baoyu, who looked pale and ashamed, and said, "Sister Sheyue, let's go back to Second Madam's courtyard first.

Sister Xiu Ju has always been very efficient in her work. She said that she had to settle everything in the East Palace. I am afraid she has asked someone to call you over."

Musk Moon nodded, and said to Xiren, "Sister Xiren, take care of yourself. I'm leaving now."

When Xiren saw Musk Moon leave the courtyard, she hurried back to her room. After a while, she came out with a package and caught up with Musk Moon.

He said, "Muyue, we have been together for so many years, and now you have a good place to go, I have nothing to give you.

Here is a new dress that I made last month and haven’t worn yet, and some jewelry that the old lady gave me as a gift in previous years.

If you don't mind, keep it. It's a memory for the sisters who have been together for many years. "

Sheyue was moved, and quickly took the bundle and said, "I will remember your kindness, but I have one thing to remind you.

I'm afraid there will be a lot of gossip in the second master's room in the future. I only advise you to stay out of the spotlight when you encounter setbacks, and just be optimistic about everything."

……

Xiren returned to the yard alone. Along the way, she thought about Musk Moon's parting words, which seemed profound and difficult to understand.

But every word seemed to touch her heart. She thought that she had been in the room for a long time, but there was no movement.

Caixia became pregnant only one month after entering the house, but the second master still took medicine on a daily basis, and his wife still did not let him stop.

All the tedious and troublesome things suddenly came to mind, and when I thought of Musk Moon's parting words, I suddenly felt a chill in my back...

She walked into the yard and saw Baoyu still standing there in a daze, his face pale and looking up at the sky, like a clay sculpture. She couldn't help feeling a little scared.

He said, "Second Master, don't stand in the wind. I'll help you go back to the house and rest."

When Baoyu saw Xiren, he seemed to vent all his anger and burst into tears, "Xiren, why has Musk Moon become like this?

She actually said that she would rather die than stay, and she was determined to go to the East Palace to mess around. First, Xiaohong appeared, and now there is Sheyue.

They were all beautiful and good girls, how could they become like this? It really makes people sad and angry. "

……

After hearing what Baoyu said, Xiren couldn't help but feel a headache. Second Master was going crazy again.

The lady wanted to kick Musk Yue out of the house and marry her to the trash Qin Yong. Naturally, Musk Yue wanted to escape. How could she stay and wait to die?

Not to mention that there is a high branch in the East Palace to live in. Even if I were Musk Moon, I would be eager to leave as soon as possible.

Such a simple truth can be understood by a girl like me. Second Master is not a stupid man, so why can't he figure it out in a roundabout way?

She said, "Madam let Musk Moon go out, she needs a place to stay, and the Second Miss specifically asked for her, how could she not go.

Just go, there are naturally people to serve you, Second Master, you should not think about it, I will help you go back to your room to rest first."

When Baoyu thought of what Musk Moon had just said, he felt more ashamed than ever before. He was so uneasy that he couldn't calm down.

Suddenly he said, "Xiren, after thinking about it, the facts in our courtyard are really too strange.

Xiaohong was also driven out by the lady at the beginning, but just a few days after she was out, she immediately became Jia Cong's head maid and was in charge of the entire Rong Xi Tang.

Moreover, whenever Xiaohong talked about Jia Cong, she would say that he was very good at studying and being an official, and his eyes would light up, which sounded very disgusting and disgusting.

Musk Moon is in the same situation now. The mistress wanted to kick her out yesterday, but today she became the steward and head maid of the East Palace.

This kind of thing happens once, but it can't happen every time. Who would believe it if there is nothing fishy about it?

Jia Cong has always loved to pick on maids. Sister Wu'er and Sister Ping'er were both abused in this way, and now he even doesn't let the maid in my room go.

He must have provoked Musk Moon before, otherwise how could things turn out like this, as if the two of them had discussed it in advance. "

Xiren was shocked when she heard this and said, "Second Master, please don't think about it. How can you say such things casually?

Musk Moon is always around us, and she has never even spoken to the Third Master, so how could the two of them be involved?

The Third Master is an official who values ​​his reputation the most. If he hears this, I'm afraid he will get angry."

Baoyu said in grief and indignation: "My guess is absolutely correct. I will tell the old lady about this. Don't let him do such nonsense..."

After hearing this, Xiren's face turned pale, and the Second Master began to be confused again.

Even if Third Master Cong had hooked up with Xiaohong and Sheyue, he was the head of the East and West Mansions and not an ordinary man in the family.

Even if he got a few maids, they were willing and no one in the mansion would dare to interfere. Even if the lady knew about it, she would definitely not bother to pay attention.

If Third Master Cong did not do this at all, and Second Master started talking nonsense, it would embarrass Third Master Cong, and the First and Second Houses would turn against each other.

The Third Master Cong is a figure in officialdom, so how could he swallow his anger? If the Second Master wants to ruin his reputation, he must find something to hold against him.

As long as Third Master Cong uses some tricks, he can drive Second Master out of the West Mansion. By then, since Second Master is in the wrong, I'm afraid even the old lady won't be able to protect him.

Even if the Second Master said a lot of nonsense at that time, what use would it be? Would he say it behind closed doors in the East Courtyard?

The more Xiren thought about it, the more frightened she became, but Baoyu was still nagging.

Xiren looked around feeling somewhat guilty. If anyone else heard a word or two of Baoyu's complaints and gossip, it would bring trouble.

She no longer dared to let Baoyu stand outside like this, so she dragged him into the house...

……

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong Courtyard.

At sunset, Jia Cong returned home from work. He just sat in the main hall and drank the hot tea brought by Qingwen.

But then Daiyu brought Zijuan into the yard, with a smile on her pretty face, like a rare flower just blooming, very pleasing to the eye and beautiful.

But there was a hint of mischief in that smile, which made Jia Cong feel a little uneasy.

He smiled and said, "Sister, why are you here at this time? Then don't leave later. Let's eat and chat together."

Daiyu smiled and said, "I saw a great play in Rongqing Hall today, and I came here to tell my third brother about it so that you can also listen to it."

Jia Cong said with a smile: "What good play can Rongqing Hall have that my sister would find interesting? I want to hear it."

Jia Cong took Daiyu into the study and asked Qingwen to serve tea to Daiyu. Zijuan talked to Qingwen in the corridor again.

Daiyu smiled and told Jia Cong in detail what happened to Musk Moon in the hall this morning.

Jia Cong was also a little surprised when he heard this. Xiaohong came to report the news yesterday, saying only that Mrs. Wang wanted to drive away Sheyue, which seemed to have some bad intentions.

Even Xiaohong didn't know about the engagement at that time, and she didn't expect such a sudden change to happen in Xifu today.

Fortunately, I had passed the message to Wang Xifeng long ago, and took advantage of the situation to pull someone out of the fire pit, which can be considered a good deed.

Daiyu smiled and said, "Third brother, I was watching from the sidelines at Rongqing Hall today and saw clearly that Sister Feng spoke wittily and was well prepared, which was quite exciting.

Tell me honestly, did you instruct Sister Feng on this matter in advance? Otherwise, she wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it.

Sister Feng also hinted to the second sister in advance, and the second sister usually spoiled you in everything, so she believed it.

Third brother, you don't have to be embarrassed. Do you like this girl, Sheyue? Otherwise, Sister Feng would cheer for you like this."

Jia Cong laughed and scolded, "Nonsense, when did I fall in love with Sheyue? I have never even spoken to her."

Daiyu snorted and said, "Don't try to bluff me. Although I don't take care of household affairs, I still know something about the affairs of the West Mansion.

Sister Feng arranged a job for Musk Moon in the West Mansion, but it was an easy task, so why bother to tempt Second Sister with words?

It's because she saw through your thoughts and was determined to push this girl to the East Palace.

Second sister has always treated you as a treasure and spoiled you to the sky, any girl that third brother likes or who he likes.

The second elder sister would feel close to him and would try to keep him by her side, helping the third elder brother to collect things. Why don’t I have such a close elder sister…” (End of this chapter)