The Red Mansion Big Liar

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 374 It's Not That Hard to Accept

"Be...be a concubine?"

After hearing what the two aunts said, Shi Xiangyun's body softened and she slumped in the chair.

Ever since Yuanchun returned home, she realized that her hope was slim.

However, I never expected that I would end up becoming a concubine.

"What's wrong with being a concubine?" Madam Shi Nai said confidently, "You know the situation at home. Both your parents are dead, and it's not easy to raise you. We didn't want you to be a concubine from the beginning, but we had no choice. Who would have thought that he would rise so fast?"

"That's right!" Mrs. Shi Ding also echoed, "The old lady said that the emperor promised to make him a duke, and how old is he now? If you settle the matter now, you can still take the lead. If he can make further progress, he may have a chance to be crowned a king. Who will laugh at you then?"

When the country was founded, it was still possible for a person of a different surname to be crowned king, but now it is basically impossible.

But that didn't stop her from promising Shi Xiangyun anything.

"Yes! It's not that we don't consider you at all. You know Yi'er's situation better than us. Even if you become his concubine, it's better than most families. And with the eldest girl taking care of you, you will definitely not be wronged."

They had done their homework, but their original intention was not for Xiangyun, but because they were worried about drawing water with a bamboo basket.

"Think about us, we can't let our family sell everything and live on coarse food just for you, right? Even if you can find a family of equal status, you won't be bullied if you don't bring enough dowry. It's better for you to be Yi Ge'er's concubine, where you can live more freely."

"That's right! What kind of family are Xiangling and the You family? He loves them like the devil. How can you feel wronged if you go there?"

"Let's put aside other things. How long have you been in this mansion? You've always been living together with the girl from the Xue family. Now that we've just had some news, the old lady has arranged something for you. Did she just happen to remember it?"

The two of them sang in unison, appealed to the people's emotions, and explained the benefits to them, which can be said to be sincere and earnest.

Nowadays, it is not uncommon for people to sell their children. Her parents are both dead, so her uncle and aunt can make the decision completely.

If he didn't still hope Xiangyun could persuade him and help the family in the future, there would be no need to be so persistent.

Xiangyun also knew that they were not asking for her opinion.

Although she is not as self-abased as Yingchun, nor as sensitive as Lin Daiyu, she can more or less understand the warmth and coldness of human nature.

Even though she couldn't completely agree with what the two said, the change in their attitude made her feel real and deeply touched.

In addition, Bao Sister, whom she has always admired, is still very careful with her former maid, Xiangling.

Thinking about it this way, it doesn't seem so hard to accept.

"Please go back, aunts!" Xiangyun paused, then continued, "I am a member of the family, and my uncle and aunt have raised me. I should also do my part for the family and will not act recklessly."

Although she had accepted her fate, she couldn't say that she agreed to be a concubine, so she could only express it implicitly.

"Oh! We know you are the most sensible one. Don't worry, even though you are a servant, we will make you live a glorious life. Even if we have to sell everything we have, we will still give you some money. We will never let you be treated like those small families."

He had just said that he would not sell everything he had for her, but now that he heard that she had agreed to be his concubine, he changed his tone.

Xiangyun couldn't help but sigh again, being a wife is really not as good as being a concubine.

"Yes, yes, yes! When we get back, we'll hurry up and embroider some new patterns to sell, so we can buy you some more clothes."

After hearing this, Xiangyun felt a sudden lump in her throat.

It is true that she needs to rely on needlework to supplement the family income, but weren't these two aunts and the sisters of the Shi family just like her before they got married, getting up early and going to bed late?

Thinking of this, she pursed her lips and said, "Aunts, don't bother. I have enough clothes to wear, and Brother Yi won't care about these things."

"How can that be possible? Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. It never hurts to look better."

"By the way, you should stop sewing, lest you prick your hands or go blind. I heard from the old lady that Yi Ge'er asked your elder sister to help prepare the program for the birthday festival. Go to your elder sister more often and give her a hand."

Xiangyun felt a little guilty for no reason and whispered, "I...I know. I'll go to big sister later."

Realizing that there is no hope for marriage, he has been not as attentive to the rehearsal program recently as he was at the beginning. He doesn't know if Zhang Yunyi would have any thoughts if he knew about it.

As she was talking, she heard Cuilu's voice from outside: "The eldest lady ordered Sister Baoqin to bring something to the young lady."

Then, Baoqin came in holding a big red gorilla felt cloak.

She bowed to the three people and said, "The young lady said that she had not seen Miss Shi wearing a cloak since she came back. I guess she left hers at home and didn't bring it here. So she asked me to bring this new one to her."

Of course it was false to leave it at home, it was just to save the historian's face.

Xiangyun was stunned for a moment. The two ladies of the Shi family looked at each other and immediately smiled and continued, "Thank you very much, young lady!"

After saying that, the two of them poked Xiangyun's arms from the left and right.

She just reacted and said quickly: "Thank you for your concern, big sister!"

She had seen this bright red gorilla felt cloak in Lady Jia's room the year before last. When she came here last year and saw it on Yingchun, she was quite disappointed.

Unexpectedly, Yuanchun actually sent one.

This certainly couldn't be a coincidence, otherwise why would it be sent earlier or later, but at this time?

When Xiangyun came to live in the mansion, she mostly lived with Lady Jia. How could she not see that she was quite jealous of the cloak given to Yingchun?

At that time, Grandmother Jia was very well off and had planned to take precautions to avoid any possible disaster with Jia She and Yingchun. However, when she heard the news of Yuanchun's divorce, she changed her mind.

It came in handy right now, so he gave it to Yuanchun as a favor.

Looking at the brand new cloak held in front of her, Xiangyun felt a surge of joy as if she had recovered something she had lost. She quickly reached out to take it, and her sorrow of being a concubine was also diluted.

"The old lady just said that someone has been arranged to clean up Tuobi Villa, and the girl will be able to move in soon."

After Baoqin finished speaking, Yingying bowed and said, "If there is nothing else, I will go back first."

"Huh!" Xiangyun hesitated for a moment and said, "Please tell big sister that I will go over and thank her in person after I finish packing."

When Baoqin left, the two wives of the Shi family smiled happily and said, "Look at this! This is not the dignity of a concubine. Just wait and enjoy your life!"

Seeing that they had convinced Xiangyun, the two did not stay any longer. They only told her to go back, pack her luggage as soon as possible, and move to Tuobi Villa so that they could go to Yuanchun earlier.

Xiangyun agreed to everything. After the two of them left, she hesitated for a moment before handing the bright red orangutan felt to Cuilu.

Take her back to Hengwu Garden.

……

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 375 Unavoidable

When the master and servant returned to Hengwu Garden, Xiangyun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when she saw that Baochai was not in the courtyard.

After returning to the house and packing his luggage, he called over a few older women without caring whether the luggage at Tuobi Villa had been packed or not.

"Please help me carry my luggage, and then tell Sister Bao that the old lady asked me to move to Tuobi Villa."

Although she didn't have much luggage, she had lived in Rong Mansion for quite a while after all, and she had clothes for four seasons plus some miscellaneous things, which added up to quite a few bags, big and small.

Hearing that it was Grandmother Jia's arrangement, the maids said no more and prepared to go out with Cuilu, carrying their bags.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at the gate of Hengwuyuan, he bumped into Baochai.

Seeing the people behind Xiangyun with their bags, Baochai immediately stepped forward and took her arm, complaining with a smile: "I just heard that my sister was moving to Tuobi Villa, so I hurried back to see her off. Why didn't you wait for me?"

"Don't blame me, Sister Bao. I..." Xiangyun pursed her lips and lowered her head, "I thought we were all in the garden..."

Although I have accepted the fact of being a concubine, I don't know how to face my former sisters.

So I planned to sneak away.

"It may not be ready so quickly. I think you should not rush there. You may as well send someone to check it out. It won't be too late to go there after it's ready. Otherwise, you will go too early and have nowhere to stay."

After saying this, Baochai nodded to Ying'er, who immediately turned and left.

Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Xiangyun had no choice but to nod and follow Baochai back into the house.

"If it weren't for the old lady's order, I would have liked to keep my sister as a companion!"

Baochai pulled Xiangyun to sit on the kang and said with a smile, "However, we are all in the garden and not far away. Sister, remember to come and visit us often. You can't leave without saying goodbye like you did today!"

"Sister Bao! I..." Xiangyun lowered her head unconsciously, "Thank you for your appreciation, Sister Bao. I will come here often to keep you company from now on."

She couldn't help feeling resentful in her heart. If Baochai knew that she had become a concubine, she wondered if she would still be willing to treat her as a sister.

Little did she know, the opposite was actually happening.

It was because Baochai knew the truth that she rushed back in a hurry.

She had been intending to place bets on multiple parties and was particularly sensitive to such matters.

Although she had noticed Lady Jia's attitude since Yuanchun came back, when the Shi family came today and the old lady sent Yuanyang to summon Xiangyun, she couldn't help but worry whether the Shi family had violated Lady Jia's taboo.

Therefore, after Xiangyun left, he hurried back to the small courtyard in the northeast corner and asked Aunt Xue to go and inquire with Mrs. Wang.

Unexpectedly, the Shi family actually intended to make Xiangyun a concubine, and then it was heard that Jia's grandmother arranged for her to move to Tuobi Villa.

Looking at Xiangyun, who felt a little ashamed of herself, Baochai laughed at herself.

She became friends with Xiangyun not just for the sake of betting.

Before Zhang Yun逸 appeared, the only man of similar age in the mansion was Jia Baoyu.

Although he is not as good as Zhang Yun逸, he is very rare compared with Jia Zhen, Jia Lian and Xue Pan.

However, although Jia Baoyu treated both of them as sisters, he was closer to Lin Daiyu.

Over time, the two people who were in a disadvantaged position inevitably began to huddle together for warmth.

Now, Lin Daiyu obviously intends to distance herself from Jia Baoyu, and the good sister who once helped each other has turned around and become Zhang Yunyi's concubine.

Logically, she should be happy that she had lost her strong rival, but instead of feeling happy, she felt disappointed.

If we had taken advantage of the imperial merchant review when Zhang Yun逸 had not yet gained power, we could have seized the opportunity.

Why has it come to this embarrassing situation now?

Although she had mixed feelings in her heart, she could only force a smile and said, "Sister, please stop saying these polite words. How can there be any respect or disrespect between us sisters?"

Seeing Baochai's sincerity, Xiangyun couldn't help but blush and said, "My sister is speaking out of turn, please don't blame me, Sister Bao!"

She felt relieved a lot, thinking to herself, Sister Bao is so thoughtful, how could she reveal anything?

Lin Daiyu, on the other hand, always loves to make fun of others. I'm afraid she won't be able to help making fun of herself now that she knows she is a junior.

Thinking of Baochai's character, they couldn't help but relax a lot, and the two sisters had some heart-to-heart talks.

Fang saw Ying'er come in and reported: "Miss Shi's place has been packed, and the eldest lady is waiting for the girl over there!"

Mrs. Wang handed the task of managing the Grand View Garden to Li Wan, so naturally she had to take care of the arrangements for Shi Xiangyun's move.

Hearing this, Xiangyun hurriedly stood up and said goodbye, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting for so long, sister-in-law. I'll go first and come back to see you another day."

Baochai took her hand, came to the dressing table, took out a pearl hairpin from the box and said, "Sister, you know that I never like to wear these pearls and jades. It would be a waste to leave them. If you don't mind that I used it, I will give it to you."

"This..." Looking at the pearl hairpin handed over by Baochai, Xiangyun quickly declined, "It's too valuable. I dare not accept it!"

Although the large red gorilla felt gifted by Yuanchun was much more expensive than this hairpin, she was the eldest lady after all, and there was a difference in the relationship between them, so there was nothing wrong with accepting it.

But Baochai was a little too polite to talk to her.

However, Baochai was determined. She forced the hairpin into her hand and said, "Sister, do you dislike the fact that I used it?"

Seeing her say this, Xiangyun could no longer refuse and had to grab it in her hand.

Baochai then took her arm and walked her out of Hengwu Garden.

When they arrived at Tuobi Villa, they saw Li Wan and the maids and old women in the courtyard coming to meet them from afar. While ordering the servants to take over the large and small bags, she pulled Xiangyun into the house and said, "Go in and see if there is anything you are not satisfied with."

If Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were living in Rongfu, then Shi Xiangyun was even lower.

Now that the gap between them has finally been narrowed, Xiangyun can't help but feel a little satisfied and excited.

However, before she could be happy, she heard Li Wan say with a smile: "Brother Yi hasn't heard the news yet. If he knew, he might buy some more for you!"

This……

I had thought I could keep it a secret for a while, but I never expected the news would spread so quickly.

When Xiangyun thought of the way her sisters looked at her after they learned the news, especially Lin Daiyu, she felt her head buzzing and her face unconsciously darkened.

Li Wan did not notice her ugly face, and excitedly pulled her away from the crowd, complaining in a low voice: "Everyone says that Feng girl is very considerate, but I think her ability is very limited. She made you squeeze with Bao girl for so long. I just took over the affairs of the garden a while ago. I thought that after the New Year and Bao girl's birthday, I would arrange a place for you to live. I didn't expect that the old lady got there first."

……

(End of this chapter)