Three Wives and Four Concubines in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Page 154

"Oh dear~ giggle~"

After the two laughed and joked for a while, Baochai finally regained her energy. After pressing down on the hard, uncomfortable object, she didn't want Gu Yu to continue focusing on his family affairs, so she took the initiative to bring up his progress in his pursuit of her.

"How have things been going with Baoqin and the others these past few days? Everything is difficult at the beginning. Why don't we invite them out more often, and then you can take advantage of the situation?"

The hardest part about establishing a romantic relationship with these young ladies is figuring out how to meet them. If you can't even meet them, there's no point in talking about anything else.

As for the idea that a rich young lady might fall in love with a poem that just happened to appear in the garden, Gu Yu could only chuckle. If they would go to such lengths to search even a single handkerchief in such a large garden, what kind of backyard would allow a man's poem to "accidentally" slip in?

Gu Yu shifted her body, but before she could make a move, Baochai bit her lip and slapped her. She smiled awkwardly, but quickly moved again, finding a comfortable pressure point for herself, and then comfortably closed her eyes.

"With such deep sisterly affection from Sister Bao, how could I not do my utmost? I am willing to accept this pledge and will definitely complete Sister Bao's grand plan!"

"Tch! Never serious..."

Baochai gave a charming spit, both amused and annoyed by the lazy woman in front of her. She could only give a soft hum and awkwardly avoid the topic that was also difficult for her, and then brought up the sisters in the garden.

"After you left, putting everything else aside, with you protecting Lin Meimei and Lord Lin treating you well... she can naturally feel at ease. But I heard privately..."

After hesitating for a moment, Baochai leaned close to Gu Yu's ear and quietly told her the information she had found out.

"Although the old lady was keeping things in check, it seems that my eldest uncle made a scene twice more, and even mentioned it to the old lady, saying that my second daughter is all grown up and it's time to find someone to marry her. The implication was..."

As Gu Yu listened to her recount the secrets of the manor, her eyes, which had been smiling, gradually sharpened, even taking on a coldness she had never shown before. However, she quickly recovered and suppressed her anger.

This is not Suzhou.

"...Other matters are fine, but even after the old lady scolded them at the Ningguo Mansion, they haven't mentioned taking Xichun back much. They only care about Erya, after all, she's their eldest uncle's daughter..."

"It's alright. Now that I'm back, I should naturally visit my elders. How about Sister Bao goes to Zilingzhou for me tomorrow? I'll go to the East Road Courtyard tomorrow."

Gu Yu lowered his head and pondered for a moment. When he raised his head again, his face was full of smiles, and he looked confident that he had won. After teasing the usually dignified and composed girl for a while, he finally let her go back. Then, he turned around and his face fell.

“Jia She…”

Everyone says that when you borrow money, the borrower is treated like a grandson. Isn't that exactly what happened to Gu Yu? Yingchun is under Jia She's name, so naturally Gu Yu is anxious. What can he do in the short term?

Could it be that they're going to release the evidence they have now, including cases of corruption, embezzlement, and murder, to bring down the Jia family and then get people out of trouble?

Leaving aside the deep affection the sisters held for the Jia family and their matriarch, the mere fact that they were daughters of a disgraced official would likely break their hearts. Even with their own efforts to arrange the interrogation and confiscation of their property, these young women, who rarely left their homes, still lost their innocence. Not to mention that if the matter were to be revealed later, it would probably only plant a thorn in their hearts, one that would only grow deeper and deeper.

If you want to take action against the Jia family, you can only do so after you've married them all.

"Coercion and bribery, coercion and bribery... if coercion doesn't work, then bribery is the only option..."

Gu Yu was well aware of Jia She's weaknesses: he was licentious, muddle-headed, short-sighted, and shameless—a prime example of someone who was utterly hopeless.

Although he has grown up rapidly in Suzhou and has a deeper understanding of his actions of selling his daughter for five thousand taels of silver, it still does not change the fact that he is despicable.

Such people usually share a certain characteristic…

Gu Yu stood in the middle of the field and pondered quietly for a while, finally making a mental plan for tomorrow's confrontation before flicking his collar and walking into his study.

"Xiangling—have your maidservant deliver this letter to the side gate right now, and then wait for it to be returned with a reply, understand?"

"Oh."

Xiangling quietly walked up from the side. She had watched Gu Yu's thoughtful expression from beginning to end. After turning her eyes around, she stepped back without calling the maid. Instead, she tightened her collar and quickened her pace to run out.

After seeing Miss Bao off, Master was in a daze for so long. This thing must be very important, so I have to keep an eye on it myself!

It wasn't until dinner time that Gu Yu realized Xiang Ling wasn't there. Just as she was frowning and about to ask someone to call her back, she heard Xiang Ling's breathless voice coming in.

"Master! I'm back. Everything you asked for is here."

Chapter Thirty-Four: Vampire Drinking and Anti-Vampire Drinking

Gu Yu was still thinking of disciplining this disobedient girl, but seeing Xiang Ling's nose red from the cold and her panting, he could only sigh, step forward to take the small package from her arms, and gently pat her little head.

"Go change your clothes quickly, don't catch a cold."

"Okay, sir~"

Xiangling took it as encouragement, and with a smile, she squinted her eyes and went out to get hot water for a bath.

Qingwen, standing to the side, wrinkled her little nose in dissatisfaction. Seeing that Xiangling had actually accomplished something important, she quickly took advantage of the moment when Xiangling was not around to serve her attentively.

"Master, hurry up and eat, or the food will get cold."

She had been busy making clothes for Gu Yu all day and hadn't noticed these things at all, so she could only try her best to make up for it.

Gu Yu didn't stand on ceremony with her. After finishing her dinner in a whirlwind, she went straight into the study, opened a hidden compartment in an inconspicuous corner of the bookshelf, and took out several account books.

If Wu Xindeng, Dai Liang, and others were present, they would probably be able to recognize whose family these account books belong to.

With several error-ridden ledgers spread out on the table, Gu Yu could roughly calculate the income level of the manor at a glance. Then she pondered how much she would have to bleed to satisfy that old bastard Jia She's appetite.

Although I'm destined to be a victim of injustice, there are big and small victims, right? What if being too generous makes this old bastard even more demanding?

Gu Yu thought that she was just spending money to buy the reputation of Yingchun and her sisters, not to help the Jia family and leech off their wealth, so naturally she was going to be very calculating.

"That's all... No, that's not enough. He ransacked the place recently and got a bunch of loot.

Putting down the silver note, Gu Yu glanced at the land deed she had prepared, sighed, and then picked it up again.

"I thought I could save that money."

This is real fatty meat, but unfortunately, that old bastard has already filled his stomach, and he probably won't be able to digest it for a while. He definitely won't be satisfied without bringing out this.

"You old fool, you'll make me pay back double for what I gave you!"

Although according to his own calculations, controlling the profits over the next few years would be more cost-effective than directly paying out five thousand taels of silver, Gu Yu was still very unhappy.

What kind of person is Jia She? Instead of obediently waiting to die, he tries to take advantage of him.

Putting aside her wild thoughts, Gu Yu gathered up the remaining valuables on the table and handed them to Xiangling and the others. That night, she simply cuddled the two girls and went to sleep, conserving her energy for the next day.

The next morning, Gu Yu spent half the day with the sisters who came to study in the morning, as usual. She also had Qingwen and Xiangling pass on a message in private. After seeing off the group of sisters, she followed the servants sent by Sister Feng out of the garden and took a carriage to the East Courtyard.

When they arrived at a large, black-lacquered gate, the old woman eagerly went up to greet the people there, and then quickly came out to help Gu Yu get out of the car and go inside.

"Yu-ge'er, you've come at the perfect time! The master is digesting his lunch right now, and you have some free time!"

Gu Yu glanced at the sky, sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face. He simply smiled and nodded in agreement, then handed them half a string of coins to buy wine to warm themselves before continuing to walk in with the old women who came out of the East Courtyard.

Passing through the hanging flower hall and the long corridor, Gu Yu looked around at the scenery of the old Rong Mansion garden. Seeing that there was another ceremonial gate at the far left, she knew that it was another road leading into the mansion.

When Daiyu visited her two uncles, she didn't accompany them, so she must have taken the same route to Jia She's place.

Before even stepping inside, Gu Yu's ears twitched slightly. She could vaguely hear the clinking of cups and even Madam Xing's voice coming from inside. She was slightly taken aback, wondering what was going on.

No matter how incompetent and useless Jia She was, he was still a scion of a prominent family. It was impossible that he couldn't even guess the purpose of my visit. If that was the case, why was Madam Xing present?

Before Gu Yu could figure it out, the old woman had already gone in to announce his arrival. She then lifted the curtain to greet him, and he could only step in one step, waiting for the right moment to act.

"Good wine...good wine! Hiccup~ Is that Yu-ge'er?"

Looking up, Gu Yu could see Jia She sitting at the head of the table, having just put down his wine cup. Then he saw Madam Xing on the side, personally holding the cup and offering it to him. When she saw him looking over, she just gave an awkward smile. Gu Yu was a little confused.

Could this be a performance put on for her? Although it is a well-known fact that Madam Xing's status is not high, is it really necessary for her to make such a gesture in front of guests?

When Jia She saw a handsome young man enter the hall, with a face like jade and a slender figure, he was like a gentle breeze to behold, or like a beautiful orchid tree in the courtyard, exceptionally eye-catching. He stared at him for a moment, then subconsciously swallowed. His slightly drunken brain took a moment to realize who this person was, and he quickly chuckled and raised his hand to acknowledge him.

"Yu-ge'er, what brings you here—oh! Madam, go fetch me a pot of wine?"

Madam Xing, who had just been drinking with him, was dismissed by Jia She without any hesitation. She could only awkwardly greet Gu Yu before leaving with her head down.

Although it was a bit of a pity at the moment, when he thought of Gu Yu's purpose for coming, Jia She's originally disappointed heart was once again burning with excitement, as if he could already smell the faint scent of copper, and his pair of thieving eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"Hey you, why aren't you helping my nephew sit down? You have no manners at all!"

He eagerly gestured to the maid beside him to help Gu Yu take a seat. Jia She loosened his collar, which was a little hot from drinking. The wine stains on his expensive fur coat reflected the light faintly, making him look somewhat presentable.

“Nephew, it’s been a long time since you’ve visited my humble abode. You must come and have a good drink with me today.”

"How could I refuse such a gift from an elder? I have been studying diligently in the garden for a long time and have had little contact with you, Uncle. I hope you will forgive me."

"Haha, how about I punish myself with three drinks?"

"please."

Gu Yu seized the opportunity and readily acknowledged the title of nephew, then offered Jia She a few cups of wine, taking the chance to secretly observe him.

After all, most of his understanding of Jia She came from the original novel, but now that he was a living, breathing person, he naturally had to be careful not to make a mistake.

While deliberately trying to build rapport and elicit information, he also subtly flattered Gu Yu. Before two rounds had even passed, Jia She had completely let loose, which also gave Gu Yu a sense of confidence.

What a useless piece of trash!

"Hahaha~ Good nephew, cough cough... You don't know, my life is so hard! The old lady—I can only... drown my sorrows in alcohol every day, I... I'm actually suffering terribly inside!"

Seeing Jia She clear his throat, Gu Yu was mentally adding the comment that he couldn't keep a secret, but she didn't expect that he would stop talking as soon as he heard the words "old lady". She couldn't help but feel contemptuous of him even more.

You neither hide nor reveal anything; you deserve to be relegated to the East Wing!

With that in mind, Gu Yu reached out and poured him a glass of wine, continuing the conversation from his point of view.

“Every family has its own troubles. Uncle is a first-class general, and he is busy with countless affairs every day. Naturally, he has more worries than ordinary people. It is only thanks to someone like Uncle that he can endure it. After hearing what Uncle said, I was too embarrassed to speak of my own troubles.”

Chapter Thirty-Five: I knew you weren't a good person.

Good lad, you're definitely on the right track!

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Jia She's eyes as he looked at the unassuming Yu Ge'er beside him with admiration.

He could tell just now that this kid wasn't as gentlemanly as the rumors suggested; he was clearly quite adept at eating, drinking, and having fun!

I spent so much time talking to him, but where did all that deep feeling come from? Wasn't it just a prelude to selling Yingchun?

"Trying to take my daughter, Jia She's daughter, to use as a stepping stone for her son? Humph! Whether I sell her or not, she'll still end up in my own hands."

Besides…

Thinking about the Yingkexuan he had visited and the perfumes he had seen, Jia She's breathing gradually became heavy, and his face flushed red, showing that he was quite impatient.

“Yu-ge’er is so young, what troubles could he possibly have? Why don’t you tell me about them, and I’ll definitely help you resolve them.”

Gu Yu's face showed a hint of embarrassment. He deliberately turned his head to look at Jia She, then waved his hand sheepishly and said:

"These are just some foolish things about young lovers, how could you say them and offend your uncle's ears?"

"Hey, Yu-ge'er, that's not right. Back in the day, when I was thirteen, I already had a... cough cough, what's there to be embarrassed about? Hahaha."

Seeing that Gu Yu was still drinking and not speaking, Jia She became anxious, stroked his mustache, and finally stopped pretending.

"Don't say Yu-ge'er is worried, I'm worried too lately. When I was young, I was young and admired... uh... ah, now that I'm married and have a career, I have to think about my children. Now that Er-ya is so grown up, the old lady hasn't arranged a marriage for her. I'm so worried that I can't eat or sleep!"

"..."

Gu Yu paused slightly in her wine glass, glancing up at the small table in front of her that was clearly a reservation for her own Yingkexuan restaurant. She gained a new understanding of what it meant to be unable to eat or drink.

"What does Uncle mean?"

"Alas, the daughters of my Jia family are all stunning beauties! They are of noble birth and are personally educated by my matriarch, so their manners are impeccable! I am only thinking about finding a good match for my second daughter, so that she can be worthy of her status."

Jia She looked on with deep emotion, as if no one knows a daughter better than her father, and as if he knew Yingchun very well, whom he only saw a few times a year. His expression was full of fatherly love.

"It is said that a beautiful woman should be matched with a talented man. Naturally, I hope to find her a good match, a young and handsome man who is rich, talented, and whose character and appearance are compatible. He should also be kind-hearted and able to treat her well."

As he spoke, Jia She stared almost directly at Gu Yu, making it quite obvious. However, realizing he had gone too far, he coughed and added:

"Of course, although the second daughter is the most virtuous and beautiful, it is a pity that she is not the legitimate daughter. Even the most prestigious families would find it difficult to persuade her. If the intention is right, she can be made a concubine."

"I wonder how much sincerity is enough?"

Looking at Jia She's pretentious and obsequious manner, Gu Yu felt like vomiting, but she managed to hold it in and not show it. She decided to rescue Yingchun and the others first.

The more subtle the matter was before it was brought up, the more direct it becomes now that it's been laid bare.

Jia She glanced at Gu Yu, who was sitting upright and waiting for him to serve the dishes, and a sly smile appeared on his lips. He first took a sip of wine, his thin fingers rubbing the rim of the glass, as if he had already won.

"Second daughter can't be mistreated after she marries into the family. Otherwise, if she has to eat chaff and wild vegetables, I'll be the subject of gossip. At the very least, we need to prove that we have enough money to support her, right? How about eight thousand taels of silver as a bride price, my dear nephew?"

"hehe."

Gu Yu sneered, lowered her eyes, put down her wine glass, picked up a piece of food and ate it as if no one else was there, a stark contrast to her humble and polite demeanor just now.

Jia She was taken aback, but for some reason, Gu Yu's reaction seemed both unexpected and perfectly reasonable to him.

After all, he had just vaguely sensed that this Yu-ge'er didn't seem like a bookworm; on the contrary, he had a roguish nature like them.

"Does Brother Yu think this is inappropriate? Why don't you give me some advice and give Second Girl a proper solution? After all, a girl should get married when she comes of age, and time waits for no one."

Asking for an exorbitant price and then settling for less is a good idea. Since Gu Yu wouldn't agree to the asking price of eight thousand taels of silver, Jia She figured it wouldn't hurt to haggle a bit, since he hadn't planned on asking for that much in the past few months anyway.