Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 37 Wang Xifeng, a man of her own choosing, stirs Daiyu's heartstrings!
On the fifth day of the third month of the seventh year of the Yongping reign, in a small courtyard at the northernmost end of the Rongguo Mansion.

It is adjacent to the backyard of Rongqing Hall on the west side and faces Rongxi Hall across the wall on the east side. There are three houses with green bricks and tiles in the courtyard, with a front porch and a back room. Under the eaves hang golden couplets such as "Green bamboo leans against the courtyard and phoenixes gather". The ancient trees planted in front of the house are decorated with colorful phoenixes, which is quite rich and luxurious.

"Is everything arranged?"

Wang Xifeng, lying on the couch, was only wearing a silk undergarment, its snow-white fabric barely concealing her figure. She asked languidly.

Wearing a pale white jacket with a high collar and an ivory long skirt, Ping'er replied gently, "Grandma Liu has already taken her grandson back home."

"As Grandma instructed, I rewarded her with 20 taels of silver."

"It's because the old lady likes it. It's better to accept this marriage."

Wang Xifeng's red lips parted slightly, revealing a satisfied expression on her beautiful face.

Granny Liu had no relation to the Jia family. It was only because her son-in-law Wang Gou'er's ancestors were related to the Wang family that she managed to curry favor with Madam Wang's father. Madam Wang outwardly appeared to be a kind-hearted person, but inwardly she was as cold as ice and naturally didn't care about such a person.

However, Grandmother Jia liked Granny Liu very much, so she did a little extra work. It was just a little silver, nothing much.

"grandmother."

Ping'er then revealed another piece of news: "Zhou Rui found a country doctor who treats external injuries from somewhere, and with the help of his folk remedies, Zhou Rui's wife is said to have recovered. Recently, the household has been short of carriages and other supplies, and both Fourth Miss and Miss Lin have been refused entry to the East Mansion."

"She's lucky to be alive."

Wang Xifeng became interested and sneered, "Taking advantage of managing the ladies' travels, she's resorting to underhanded tactics."

"Her husband must have been busy too, right?"

"Grandma is right."

Ping'er added, "I heard that Zhou Rui has sought out Lai Er, intending to make a fuss about the second wife's daily expenses."

"However, in the East Mansion, the accounts of the second branch and the first branch were separated long ago, and they each went their own way and had no connection."

"The four first-class maids around Master Yan were all women from poor families. Even Madam You couldn't control the backyard of the East Mansion."

The words fell.

Wang Xifeng, who was on the couch, couldn't help but sit up straight. It was not surprising that Lai Er would give Zhou Rui face, since Zhou Rui was in charge of the income and expenditure of the Ningguo Mansion's land rent and estate. However, the fact that the main and second branches of the Ningguo Mansion were separated was quite intriguing.

"Fourth Sister, have you not yet distributed your monthly allowance to Sister Lin?"

"Replying to Grandma."

Ping'er said calmly, "The monthly allowance in the manor has indeed not been issued, but I heard that the second branch of the East Mansion has given a portion to all the maids."

"Even Xueyan, Zijuan, and Granny Wang in Miss Lin's courtyard have received it. Most of the food sent over from the kitchen these days is leftovers."

Since Jia Yan went to war, the servants in Rongguo Mansion, relying on Lady Wang's support, have treated Xichun and Lin Daiyu with utter disrespect, and the supplies for the two courtyards have been reduced again and again.

"It seems the second branch of the East Mansion has its own income."

Wang Xifeng, with her almond-shaped eyes slanted upwards and her willow-leaf eyebrows pointing diagonally, said in a crisp voice, "You go there yourself and deliver the monthly allowance to Fourth Sister and Lin Sister's courtyard. Don't worry about the kitchen for now. I suppose Fourth Sister has already started cooking in her courtyard, so there's no need to cook in the main house."

“My aunt leaves no room for maneuver in her dealings. Doesn’t she ever think about what would happen if the Second Master of the East Mansion came back alive?”

"grandmother."

This was the first time Ping'er had seen Wang Xifeng like this, and she was quite surprised.

"You little rascal, you must be thinking about someone else I've ever valued so much."

Wang Xifeng pointed at Ping'er with her slender, nail-painted fingers, feigning anger.

"grandmother."

Ping'er had spent so much time with Wang Xifeng, how could she not know that she was joking? She simply responded with a sound of agreement, showing no fear on her face.

"Let me ask you, you saw him that day, how did those people compare to him?"

"How many noble families in the capital could produce such a person? Do you think it was him who accepted the imperial edict?"

“I had Lian Er inquire, and apart from the Marquis of Baoling’s family, all the sons of the founding line who received the imperial edict were legitimate sons.”

“These people all have to obey their fathers, and their fathers are all in the Northern Expeditionary Army. Only he can do as he pleases.”

“Grandma, I may not know much about the court, but I know people’s hearts. His future is much brighter than that of the men in the two prefectures. A man like him is ruthless, resolute, and lucky. As long as he comes back alive, he will surely be promoted and ennobled.”

“My aunt is single-mindedly focused on having Baoyu take over the family business; she can’t possibly look favorably upon anyone else.” “Little does she know, in the eyes of outsiders, Baoyu is nothing but a pretty face, not even worth a single finger of hers.”

At this point, Wang Xifeng's face was full of mockery: "If I had someone like that in my family, and instead of trying to befriend them, I would be the one to play the villain, that would be truly foolish."

'Whoa!!!'

Ping'er's mouth opened slightly, and a blank look appeared on her pretty face. She only remembered that dashing young man, but she didn't know that the connection behind it was so deep.

"What the second branch of the East Mansion gave was what they gave, and what the rest of the mansion gave was what the mansion should give."

“I don’t think he’s heartless. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given one of his maids to my fourth sister. His maids are all first-class maids, personally arranged by Master Jing of the East Mansion.”

"Look, has anything dirty been said about Fourth Sister's courtyard? Which of those old women in the mansion doesn't always act all high and mighty? Baoyu never gets any good treatment."

"Grandma, what do you mean?"

Ping'er was quick-witted and immediately thought of the maid named 'Xiaoxue'.

"I'm only telling you that she can lift a knife."

"From now on, whatever is in the mansion, make a copy for Fourth Sister and Lin Sister's courtyard as well."

"Although my aunt has passed away, Uncle Lin is still alive. If Sister Lin suffers any injustice in the future, and the Lin family comes knocking on our door, will the Rongguo Mansion still have any face left?"

Wang Xifeng gave her careful instructions.

"Yes, Grandma, I'll take care of it right away."

Ping'er left the main room, busied herself preparing the monthly allowance, and personally delivered it to Xichun and Lin Daiyu's courtyard.

In Xichun Courtyard, Ping'er had just left when Lin Daiyu arrived.

"Sister Lin."

Little Xichun flapped her short legs and rushed towards Lin Daiyu. These days, Lin Daiyu had been looking for her to play every day, and the relationship between the two girls had progressed rapidly.

"Ouch."

Lin Daiyu stopped Xiao Xichun, gently pinched her nose, and said affectionately, "Little sister, you've gained weight these past few days. I can hardly carry you anymore."

"Have it?"

Little Xichun's bright, sparkling eyes met Lin Daiyu's gaze, displaying an innocent and adorable appearance.

"The diet in Xifu is monotonous, which is not conducive to the growth of girls."

"Master instructed that the young lady's diet is prepared by a special person, which is why she is growing faster."

Xiaoxue, dressed in an elegant dress, stood beside Lin Daiyu and answered her question.

'So that's how it is!'

Lin Daiyu thought of Jia Yan, and a shadow was unconsciously cast in her heart. Given his affection for Xiao Xichun, such meticulous arrangements were in line with his style. The usually lonely Lin Daiyu couldn't help but envy Xiao Xichun for having such a good brother.

"Miss Lin, is your visit here regarding the monthly allowance?"

"Uh"

Slightly taken aback, Lin Daiyu hadn't expected Xiaoxue to bring up this matter on her own initiative.

"The master said so."

Xiaoxue said meticulously, "If the West Mansion follows the rules, Miss Lin will accept it."

"As for daily meals, Miss Lin need not worry. It's no big deal to prepare an extra meal."

"Moreover, people's hearts are treacherous, and the food we eat must not be taken lightly."

"I understand."

Lin Daiyu was incredibly intelligent, so how could she not understand these words? It was simply that Lady Wang was jealous and would resort to some underhanded tactics.

Whether for her own sake or for her father Lin Ruhai, who was far away in Yangzhou, she could not afford to get into trouble. She could only keep this kindness in mind and repay it in the future.

(End of this chapter)