The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The hazy morning light has already shone in through the doors and windows.

The door curtain was lifted, and Zijuan, with her hair loose and her clothes buttoned as she walked, walked into Lin Daiyu's bedroom, lifted the gauze curtain and closed it, came to the outside of the bed, closed the curtain, walked lightly to the outside of the bed, and listened quietly with her ear tilted.

Two breathing sounds were faintly heard from inside.

Zijuan called softly, "Girl, girl."

After a while, a hand wearing a gold ring inlaid with oriental pearls lifted the curtain.

Lin Daiyu yawned lazily and looked at Zijuan with sleepy eyes: "What's the matter?"

Zijuan saw Shi Xiangyun sleeping behind Lin Daiyu, facing inwards, and walked to the bedside, saying softly, "The Yuqing Palace sent someone to pass on a message saying that the court had signed a contract with the Jurchens, and the land on the northern foot of the Yinshan Mountains became the territory of Dashun."

"The fighting has ceased!" Lin Daiyu finally woke up, sat up on the bed, and asked anxiously, "Did they say when the troops will be withdrawn?"

Seeing that Lin Daiyu was only wearing an undershirt, Zijuan hurriedly took the large-collared warm coat that Lin Daiyu wore at night from the clothes rack and put it on her, while nagging: "Although it is already spring, it is still very cold in the morning and at night."

Lin Daiyu heard this and sneered, "I'm not like you. I'm not that delicate."

Zijuan burst out laughing, moved a large pillow for Lin Daiyu to lean on, and covered her with a quilt, saying with a smile: "Young lady, you only boast now. When I first met you, you were so weak that you seemed to be blown down by a gust of wind.

The first time I helped a girl take a bath, she was so thin that I felt sorry for her. Now she is better. Not only has she grown taller, but she has also gained a lot of weight, where she should gain weight.”

Lin Daiyu was a little embarrassed and annoyed: "Bah! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Zijuan smiled and said, "Madame Wang asked for the young lady, and the people in Yuqing Palace said that once the imperial court has formulated a strategy and sent people to take over the affairs over there, our Second Master will be able to return home."

A smile appeared on Lin Daiyu's lips.

At this time, the sound of a self-ringing bell came from the warm room.

Zijuan: "It's getting late, girl, get up."

Lin Daiyu said "hmm", stretched out her hand and pinched Shi Xiangyun's cheek, "Get up quickly, the sun is shining on your butt."

"Well, let me sleep a little longer."

Shi Xiangyun still closed her eyes, pouted her lips, twisted her body and spoke coquettishly.

Lin Daiyu smiled and shook her head, and said to Zijuan, "Let her sleep a little longer." Then she lifted the quilt and got out of bed.

Zijuan smiled and nodded, but sighed in her heart. Sisters Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin had left the day before, and Shi Xiangyun was going home after dinner, leaving the girl alone again. When would the second master come back?

Seeing Zijuan in a daze, Lin Daiyu asked with a smile, "Do you miss your Second Master?"

Zijuan's face suddenly turned red, and she said angrily: "Master, are you still so frivolous? I am thinking about you, but you are making fun of me."

Lin Daiyu smiled evilly: "What you meant is that you have thought about it!"

Zijuan knew that she couldn't argue with Lin Daiyu, so she pretended not to hear and helped Lin Daiyu put on her clothes.

After a while, Cuilu and Xueyan came in to help her wash and dress.

Seeing that her girl was still wrapped in the quilt and sleeping soundly with her eyes closed, Cuilu smiled bitterly and went forward to wake up Shi Xiangyun.

Shi Xiangyun then got up, dressed and washed herself, somewhat unhappily.

When Lin Daiyu took Shi Xiangyun into the small dining room, a delicious breakfast was already served on the table.

Shi Xiangyun sighed: "It would be nice if I could live here forever." Then she hugged Lin Daiyu's arm and said coquettishly, "Good sister, I really don't want to go back."

Lin Daiyu: "Well, it will be the third girl's birthday in a while, you can stay at the old lady's for a few days."

Shi Xiangyun's eyes lit up: "March is the third sister, April is Xichun, the fourth girl. Oh, if there were twelve months in a year, it would be great if there were people celebrating their birthdays every month!"

What a silly girl! Lin Daiyu shook her head, picked up a bun and handed it to her, "Okay, let's eat."

After breakfast, Shi Xiangyun accompanied Lin Daiyu to the conference room to watch her handle affairs in the mansion and listen to the responses from the wives in charge.

Shi Xiangyun was not interested in these things. After Lin Daiyu had finally dealt with those annoying trivial matters, she immediately took Lin Daiyu to the back garden.

Shi Xiangyun held Lin Daiyu's arm as they walked along the riverbank, whispering private words.

As they were talking, Nanny Wang came hurriedly over with a letter.

Nanny Wang: "Miss, this is a letter from Mr. Jia." Then she handed the letter to Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu took the letter, opened it and looked at it, then her face changed. Shi Xiangyun was impatient: "Sister Lin"

Lin Daiyu sighed and handed the letter to Shi Xiangyun.

Shi Xiangyun took it and looked at it. She was stunned at first, then she got angry: "Why is this man like this! Brother Lian is his brother-in-law!" At this point, she suddenly remembered, "What should Sister Lian do?"

Lin Daiyu smiled bitterly. This time, Wang Xifeng was really tricked by Wang Ren!

At this time, Wang Xifeng was looking at Ping'er's belly with envy.

Ping'er felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by her, so she pulled the thin quilt from the couch over and covered her stomach with it.

Wang Xifeng reached out and touched Ping'er's belly. "What a good place."

Ping Er blushed: "Grandma."

Wang Xifeng smiled, with a hint of bitterness in her eyes. Ping'er had been pregnant for nearly two months, and it was very likely a boy, so she finished the whole jar of pickles.

The door curtain was lifted, and Feng'er came in with a porcelain cup on a small tea tray, and said softly, "Grandma, the steamed red dates and eggs are ready."

"Sit down, don't get up." Seeing Ping'er was about to stand up, Wang Xifeng quickly stopped her.

Ping'er sat back on the couch and looked at Wang Xifeng with a wry smile.

Wang Xifeng personally handed the bowl of red dates and eggs to Ping'er.

Ping'er took it with both hands and looked at Wang Xifeng in a trance.

Wang Xifeng kept looking at Ping'er with a smile on her face.

Ping Er: "Grandma, I really can't take it on myself for you to take care of me like this."

Wang Xifeng: "You can bear it. With this child, the family can be saved, and I can also sit firmly in the position of Lian's second wife. Eat it, it is better than those ginseng and cinnamon."

Ping'er had nothing else to say, so she scooped a spoonful of soup from the bowl and put it into her mouth.

Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "Drink the soup, eat the eggs and red dates."

Ping'er hummed, scooped up a red date, put it into her mouth, and slowly began to eat it.

At this time, the maid's voice came from outside: "The Second Master is back."

Before he could finish his words, Jia Lian, dressed in official uniform, strode in.

Wang Xifeng hurried over and asked, "Why are you back at this time?" and reached out to help Jia Lian undress.

Jia Lian pushed Wang Xifeng's hand away and looked at her with strange eyes.

Wang Xifeng was startled at first, then smiled and asked, "What happened?"

Jia Lian: "I was reported by the censor. It was your good brother who reported me."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Xifeng's face turned pale and she looked at Jia Lian in panic.

Jia Lian stared at her: "Do you hate me so much?"

Wang Xifeng was startled again, then shook her head and said, "I don't know about this. If I knew, I would definitely break Wang Ren's legs!"

Jia Lian said coldly, "You'd better tell me the truth now, don't wait for me to find out for myself. Tell me, did you tell Wang Ren that I accepted bribes?"

"It's not me!" Tears flashed in Wang Xifeng's eyes, and there was grievance.

Jia Lian sneered, "Not you?! Then tell me, how did Wang Ren know those things, and how did he know how much money I deposited in Li's Bank?!"

Wang Xifeng was stunned. Her head was buzzing and she had no idea what was going on!

Ping'er at the side spoke up: "Second Master and Grandma are husband and wife, how could Grandma harm Second Master! Grandma has only one brother, Wang Ren, and she doesn't shy away from him. As for the matter of Li's bank, Wang Ren came to our house two days ago, and he must have taken a peek at the account book when Grandma wasn't paying attention."

Wang Xifeng: "It really wasn't me"

With a snort, Jia Lian said, "It'd better be true." After saying that, he flicked his sleeves, turned around and walked out.

Wang Xifeng stood there in a daze, tears streaming down her cheeks. (End of this chapter)