Night fell, covering the earth, and a bright moon hung in the sky. The cold moonlight fell on the vermillion-eaves and green walls of Ningrong and Rongfu, shining like water, cold white and bright.
All the courtyards of the Jia Mansion were lit up with bright candles. If you looked down from a high altitude at this moment, you would see the entire Ning and Rong Mansion as if they were immersed in a sea of lights.
In the afternoon, after the imperial edict that Jin Jiaheng was promoted to the third-class Yongning Earl came to the palace, the entire Rongning and Ning mansions, from the housekeepers to the slaves, fell into an atmosphere of joy.
Qin Keqing asked Aunt Cai to allocate some copper coins, rewarded the maids and servants in each room, and held a dinner for all the old relatives of the Jia family who came to congratulate them.
Baoling Hou Shi Nai's wife led several daughters-in-law, Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding himself brought his wife, and led his young daughter-in-law to congratulate him. Even Wang Ziteng's daughter-in-law led Wang Zi to the Jia Mansion to congratulate.
Jia Zheng took leave from the General Affairs Department and entertained a group of male guests who came to congratulate him, while the female family members were entertained by Jia's mother and Qin Keqing.
And in one afternoon, the palace's imperial edict to confer Jia Heng with the title of Yongning Bo had already spread throughout the sacred city, and Jia Shi Wang Xue's family naturally got the news.
In addition to the core in-laws such as the Shi family and the Wang family, Jia Heng's relatives, such as Cai Quan's daughter-in-law and Dong Qian's daughter-in-law, also prepared gifts and came to celebrate Qin Keqing.
As for Princess Nan'an and Princess Luo of Nan'an, they did not stay for the banquet. In other words, Princess Nan'an really couldn't bear the lively atmosphere, so she found an excuse early and left Ningguo Mansion with Luo.
The maids and maids in each room were still immersed in the noisy atmosphere, while the sound of gongs, drums, and operas continued to come out of the Tianxiang Tower in Huifangyuan, through the vast night, and resounded in Rongning and Ningfus.
In the Daiyu courtyard, the lights in the west wing with a clump of green bamboos were on, projecting a small and delicate figure on the window.
"Today is the day when the uncle is knighted. Why don't you stay with the girls in the East Mansion for a while?" Zicuckoo was wearing a light red coat and a plain long skirt. Her hair was in a bun, and there was a She has bangs in the air and her cheeks are white and rosy. She is holding a pile of clean clothes in her hands. She walks lightly to the dressing table and looks at Daiyu, who is facing the bronze mirror and removing hairpins from her hair. .
The candlestick lit on the high table beside it swayed gently, creating circles of red and yellow light. On one side was a rouge powder box and a girl with dowry and jewelry. She wore a long coat with a moon-white collar and orchid embroidery, and was covered in lake blue. Wearing a printed silk shawl, his figure is like a weak willow supporting the wind, with shoulders as if cut into pieces. Under the dark eyebrows of the distant mountains in the hazy mist and rain, there is a faint sense of desolation.
At this time, Daiyu stretched out her slender jade hand, slowly took off the jade talisman hanging from her neck, and put it in her hand. The jade talisman was white and flawless, soft and delicate, and the lamb on it was petite and cute.
Hearing what Zicuckoo said behind her, Daiyu said softly, "I don't really like the excitement."
Zijuan: "..."
After all, it was a little girl who was known as the wise cuckoo. As soon as her eyes turned, she could guess Daiyu's heart knot. She put down her folded clothes on a chair nearby and said softly: "Girl, uncle, he is now In Henan, I am busy with the military affairs of the province, so I may not have time to write letters. I don’t know when I will come back. Speaking of which, the whole family is congratulating me on being promoted to earl, but it is not easy for me to have this day."
Hearing this, Daiyu's face fell into a trance, she held the sheep talisman and said softly: "When Brother Heng lived in Liutiao'er Hutong, before he got married to Sister-in-law Qin... At that time in Rongqing Hall, he saw extraordinary people. With magnanimity, I got to where I am today step by step.”
When he mentioned "getting married to Sister-in-law Qin", there was a subtle strangeness hidden in his voice, and there was a complex color on his beautiful face.
At the beginning, the young man standing with his sword in the Rongqing Hall, his voice was like gold and stone, and his words were as strong as yesterday.
At this time, Zicuckoo picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea. She cast her eyes on the jade talisman in Daiyu's hand and said, "The uncle is not much older than the girl. I don't know how much hardship he has endured to get to where he is today. Okay." Now he has been granted the title of earl. When they met the attackers earlier, they said that with such momentum, the uncle would not be able to be granted the title of marquis or duke in the future. It is said that the girl’s family used to have five generations of marquises, and later it was passed down to the master’s generation. I took the imperial examination route."
The girl said and handed over the teacup.
Daiyu was startled for a moment, in a daze, and said: "That is all the ancestors' business."
Zicuckoo smiled and said, "But the girl is the daughter of a prince and a scholar, so when it comes to her background, she is very noble."
The girl Huaichun, most of the girls in her family have some thoughts that they don't understand. Alas, it would be great if Uncle Heng didn't get married. The girl with such a background cannot be a concubine.
Daiyu looked at the empty room and said softly: "A gentleman has been killed for five generations, but now he is just a person who doesn't care."
Although Daiyu likes quietness, it does not mean that she likes a life where no one cares about her.
Hearing this, Zicuckoo pursed her lips, her eyes flashed, and she said softly: "Girl, don't worry too much. Last time, when the uncle wrote a letter home, didn't he mention the girl? He also asked the girl to take care of herself. I'll watch. The girl's body and bones are getting better and better now, so she needs to practice her medicinal diet and dietary supplements."
Daiyu said "Hmm", and Yurong became slightly absent-minded.
She was mentioned in the last letter from home: "The weather in spring is changeable. Please be sure to ask Sister Lin to take care of yourself and not to get cold..."
But in addition to her, she also entrusted her to the third sister, the fourth sister, and sister Bao... Everyone has a saying.
Daiyu suppressed her thoughts, stretched out her hand to remove the earrings from her earlobes, and said softly: "Sister Zijuan, what did you say about Brother Heng... when will he come back?"
Zicuckoo chuckled and said: "Girl, this is hard to say. Didn't the third girl say that the uncle is in Henan to deal with the aftermath, and it will take two or three months for the matter to be completely resolved that day?"
Daiyu frowned, her starry eyes filled with worry, and she was silent for a moment.
For two or three months, he and Princess Xianning got along day and night. How could Sister-in-law Heng be so... so calm? You should take care of him...
Zicuckoo thought for a moment and suggested, "If something happens to you, girl, why don't you write a letter to me?"
Daiyu was thinking wildly, her jade cheeks were as red as a blush. Although Zijuan said "something happened", what could happen to her?
"It's too shocking, and it's inconvenient to send it." The girl said with a slightly trembling voice.
How can an unmarried girl from Yunying be sent alone to a married husband? I'm just afraid that someone will gossip about me.
"That girl, there is no need to send it out. The girl will write a letter when she thinks of it, and then write more. If she finally feels that she doesn't want it, she can just burn it." Zicuckoo thought about it seriously, and suddenly felt blessed in her heart, and spoke said.
However, it was as if a word awakened Daiyu, or in other words, this method struck a chord in Daiyu's sentimental heart.
A letter that will never be sent will be burned after it is finished, without God knowing or ghost noticing.
"What...is this like?" Daiyu's beautiful eyebrows were condensed, she said in a trembling voice, and then she added: "But there is something...I went on a trip to take advantage of my pleasure, and returned with all my pleasure, so why should I see Dai's intention. "
At this moment, it seems to fit the original work, because the poem manuscript Daiyu usually wrote was finally burned to end her infatuation.
Zicuckoo suddenly remembered something and said hesitantly, "Girl, forget about that. It would be too unlucky to burn it like this."
When Daiyu heard this, she also reacted. She bit her lip with her teeth, and the bright starry eyes under her smoky eyebrows seemed to be reflecting light. Her lips twitched and she whispered: "Then... just don't have a fever." .”
She felt that there were many words hidden in her heart, but she could not say a word in front of that person.
I always wanted to ask him why he was so nice to her, just because of... her father?
But he has never met his father. According to his temperament, if he has never met his father, those words of admiration will probably be polite.
Or... love the house and the bird?
Thinking of this, my heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, I was facing the light, my cheeks were hidden in the gentle moonlight, and I couldn't tell that my cheeks were already as hot as fire.
"Girl, the hot water is ready." At this moment, Xueyan walked around a bamboo screen with paintings of ladies and called to Daiyu.
Zijuan gently held Daiyu's shoulder and said, "Girl, let's go."
Daiyu said "Hmm" and followed Zicuckoo towards the inner room. Zicuckoo ordered Xueyan to lock the courtyard door and then bolt the door to the room.
Slowly lowering the light yellow curtain on the golden hook, turned around, looked at Daiyu, and said softly: "Girl, I will serve you to bathe."
Daiyu's cheeks were slightly red and she said softly: "Sister Zijuan, I... I can just do it myself."
Zicuckoo chuckled, walked closer and said, "I have been serving the girl since I was a child. What is the girl ashamed of?"
Daiyu said "Hmm" as loudly as a mosquito. At this time, she took off her clothes and skirt. After a while, she took off her outer jacket and skirt, leaving only a small coat on.
Daiyu showed her lotus-rooted arms and said softly: "Sister Zijuan, I can do it myself."
"The girl is still shy. It's not good to wear small clothes in the bathtub." Zicuckoo said softly.
Daiyu quickly moved away and whispered: "I, I can come alone."
Seeing this, Zicuckoo felt somewhat helpless and said softly: "Then I'll get another towel for the girl. Slow down, girl. Call me if you have anything. Don't fall down like last time."
With that said, he opened the curtain and left.
Seeing Zicuckoo leaving, Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, her starry eyes flashed, she stretched out her hand to remove a blue dress embroidered with plum blossoms, and shone it with the light of a candlestick on the small table. The shoulders are as round as jade, and the snow-covered back looks like jade or condensed fat.
Daiyu stretched her hands through her green silk hair at the back of her neck, untied the bow, and took it aside.
The left hand protects, the right hand covers, but the velvet feeling coming from the palm of the right hand makes a face as beautiful as snow blush as bright as clouds.
When I lowered my head, I felt that it was a little greener. I couldn't help but feel shy and anxious, so I didn't dare to look at it. The tender feet were stepping on the wooden bench, and accompanied by the sound of water, the petite and exquisite figure , covered into shadows by the steaming heat carrying petals.
Daiyu pursed her lips and looked at the candlelight not far away, lost in thought for a moment.
She didn't know when it started, it seemed like last year or this spring...it was really annoying.
I want to take the scissors, but Sister Zijuan won’t let me...
"Is the girl okay?" Zijuan asked outside the curtain.
Daiyu quickly suppressed the shame in her heart, her voice returned to its usual calmness, and she called out: "Okay."
Zicuckoo came in, holding a wooden basin and two white towels in her hands, and said softly: "I will help the girl wash it."
Daiyu no longer felt shy at this moment. She gently picked up the hot water with her slender hands and lifted it on her jade-white arm. The warm water fell along her skin as smooth as gelatin, leaving only the petals falling.
"Girl, I heard Qingwen say yesterday that Miss Bao often goes to Grandma Heng." Zicuckoo said softly as she waited on Daiyu to take a bath.
At this moment, the door was closed and there were no outsiders. The master and the servant said some personal words, just as the original book said: "I didn't expect that a Xue Baochai suddenly came here now. Although he is not old, he has good character and beautiful appearance. Everyone It is said that Daiyu is not as good as... If you don't love Daiyu, she is aloof and has no eyes for the world, so she has won the hearts of others. Even the little girls are often close to Baochai."
In other words, since Baochai entered the mansion, the servants in the mansion all praised Baochai for his good qualities, and instead let Daiyu compete with him.
Daiyu was initially saddened by these gossips, but gradually she accepted them as normal.
But Zijuan felt a little sorry for her own girl, and some didn't like Baochai, especially Baochai's maid Ying'er, who felt that the girl was too narrow-minded.
It can be said that the entire Ningrong and Rongfus, especially the Rongguo Mansion, did not become harmonious because of Jia Heng's rise in the East Mansion. The maids and servants were all harmonious, and there was not a lot of awkwardness in private.
The excitement inside cannot be described in just a few words.
"In the past few days, Sister-in-law Heng has invited her to come over as a guest, and she has invited me to come over a few times." Daiyu stretched out her hand to wipe Xiu's neck and gently scrubbed the lamb.
Zijuan said softly: "Miss Bao goes there more often than the girl. I heard that Grandma Heng often keeps Miss Bao for meals. Seeing that Miss Bao is dressed elegantly, she even gave her some jewelry."
Daiyu sighed quietly and said, "Sister Bao has an older brother who doesn't worry too much. He also goes to Dongfu frequently."
After thinking for a while, he pursed his lips and said, "As for the jewelry, the palace rewarded me with a few pieces last time, but they were still left there without wearing them."
Zijuan said "hmm" and then said, "Girl, Miss Bao is supposed to be fifteen years old this year. Do you think Auntie is not worried?"
"Huh?" Daiyu paused slightly as she was scrubbing her hands, a little confused, and a trace of suspicion appeared in her starry eyes.
Zicuckoo lowered her voice and said softly: "At the age of fifteen, she should have settled down, but because of her brother's matter, it was delayed."
Daiyu frowned and said angrily: "Auntie has to worry about these things. We can't talk about these things behind her back in the future."
"You're not talking behind your back." Zicuckoo paused for a moment and said softly: "Girl, I'm just surprised that she got close to the uncle last year. She often went to see the uncle because of matters related to the young master of the Xue family, and stayed away whenever she went. long time."
Daiyu's heart tightened when she heard this, her starry eyes flashed under Yanyan's eyebrows, and she solemnly said: "Sister Zijuan, this is related to the honor of my daughter's family, and Brother Heng, it's hard to talk about it anymore."
After Sister Zijuan said it, she seemed to remember that when she came back last year, she saw Brother Heng and Sister Bao walking in the corridor... And during the recent period of observation, some of Sister Bao's behaviors were indeed a little abnormal.
Hmm...probably not.
Zicuckoo nodded and said: "Girl, I'm just wondering. Even if I keep these words in my stomach, it's hard to tell others. The girl has a clear mind, so just ask the girl. Speaking of which, Uncle Heng is such a good person. , that is, getting married.”
After all, there are many Taoists behind the scenes, and there are some things that are hard to say, so Zijuan will stop at that.
Daiyu said "Hmm", her starry eyes were blank, and she sighed deeply in her heart.
That is to say, they are married...
"Girl, if you have free time, you can go over and chat with Grandma Heng. Previously, the uncle was worried about the girl's health. Now that the uncle is not at home, it is also polite for the girl to go and sit with Grandma Heng more often." Zi Zi Juan said softly: "I see, Grandma Heng also likes the girl's character, but she doesn't seem to be close to Grandma Heng."
Daiyu thought for a while, bit her lower lip, and said softly: "After the New Year, I have been there many times. Besides, Sister-in-law Heng's place has been busy recently. I go there too often. Luo In the eyes of outsiders, it’s not good either.”
It's not that she doesn't want to go there, it's just that it's not good for her to play there every day and be seen by outsiders.
"Young lady, you are always looking forward and backward." Hearing this, Zicuckoo's face looked a little helpless, her lips moved, and she sighed softly: "It would be nice if Uncle Heng was at home."
She could feel her girl's loneliness. On weekdays, no one came over to talk to her.
When Daiyu heard this, her jade cheeks turned crimson, and she said angrily: "When Brother Heng was here, I didn't go there either. He was very busy in the past, and now he has been granted the title of uncle. He doesn't know how busy he will be in the future. After I come back, I won’t be able to come often.”
At the end, there was some unspeakable resentment deep in my heart.
That person is either a princess or a princess. Even if he comes back, he will not sit with her... even for a short while.
He didn't come back once for ten and a half months. He was now in charge of state affairs. She knew she was busy with official duties, but... it wouldn't take long to come and sit here for half an hour.
If I had known this, why did I do it in the first place?
Zijuan suddenly said: "Second Master Bao went to school. Although he is a little annoyed at home, the girl's place is still lively."
Daiyu: "..."
After thinking for a while, he said softly: "Sisters are now older. Even Brother Bao is not as carefree and playful as the children in the past when he is at home. He also needs to study and go to school, and he will have to take the scientific examination in the future. When he gets married and starts a career, his uncle has high expectations for him."
Besides, she is older now, no longer a child, and she needs to know some differences between men and women, and she no longer avoids them.
In fact, since Baoyu was urged to go to school by Jia Zheng as if to "guard against thieves", it can be said that there is no one in Daiyu who noisily shouts "Sister Lin".
And if you pay attention to the original work of Red Mansions, you will find that Bao Dai spends most of his time in a cycle of playing, awkward, crying, and coaxing.
Zijuan chuckled and said: If the girl is not always a quiet person, she can play mahjong with Grandma Heng and Second Grandma Lian. I heard from the girl Suyun that Grandma Zhu often goes there too. "
Daiyu sighed softly and said, "It's okay to play occasionally. How can a young girl play every day?"
Although Daiyu knew that Qin Keqing's place was lively, whether it was Second Sister You, Third Sister You, or Sister Feng, if they got together occasionally to talk and laugh, it would be okay, but let Daiyu sit with them, play mahjong, and laugh. Wuzhou, that pair of Daiyu was simply a kind of mental torture.
Daiyu likes quietness, otherwise she would not live in the Xiaoxiang Bamboo Forest in the Grand View Garden, but quietness does not mean that she rejects the excitement, but that she has more spiritual freedom to choose.
"Third Miss and Miss Yun are also running to Dongfu." Zicuckoo sighed.
Daiyu sighed softly and said, "Let them go, I usually just read at home."
Tanchun usually goes to the study room of Ningguo Mansion to help sort out the documents from the Beijing Camp and the Five Cities Military and Horse Division, so that he can check them when Jia Heng comes back. The rest of the time is spent either practicing calligraphy, reading, or just being in a daze.
Xiangyun belongs to anyone and everyone can play together.
I was having fun with children of several years old just now. Sometimes when I was with Daiyu, I didn’t care much about Daiyu’s trivial emotions. I might suddenly start laughing at some of Daiyu’s sentimentality. , repeated several times, making Daiyu dumbfounded.
As a result, Daiyu seemed to become a "lonely person" in both Rongning and Ningfus.
Zijuan said softly: "Girl, alas, Uncle Heng loves the girl very much. If there had not been a rebellion in Henan, he even said he would take the girl for an outing outside the city to enjoy the flowers. Now I don't know when he will be able to come back."
At the end of the sentence, he sighed.
She didn't know how to persuade her girl. She even vaguely guessed some of the girl's thoughts that she was not aware of, and it was because of Uncle Heng.
After all, Uncle Heng is not like Second Master Bao who hangs around the girl every day, and he also has a family, but back then... what did he do to provoke the girl? Now the girl is worried.
Daiyu said faintly: "He is in Henan now. I heard from my third sister that he led troops to suppress the rebellion, and even took action with others to capture the bandit leader alive."
Even if he comes back to the capital and doesn't come to see her, it's... as he should. The third sister and the others are his clan sisters and can still help him, and she...
Zijuan could see that Daiyu was feeling depressed and couldn't say anything.
When Daiyu finished bathing and changing clothes, she came to the bookshelf. Remembering what Zicuckoo had just said, she took out a piece of letter paper and began to write attentively. But after a while, when she looked at the words on the letter paper, her cheeks turned as red as clouds.
This is all...what did she write?
I saw it read: "The flowers have faded and are red and green, and the apricots are small. When the swallows are flying, the green water is surrounded by people, and there are few willows on the branches... The laughter gradually disappears and the sound becomes quieter, and the passionate people are annoyed by the ruthlessness."
Daiyu was upset for a moment, so she picked up the paper and tried to crumple it into a ball, but after a while, she felt reluctant to let it go for some reason.
This poem by Su Zizhan expresses a long-hidden inner voice at this moment.
Putting down the brush with her slender hand, she stared at the hazy moonlight outside the window in trance. The starry eyes under Daiyu's smoky eyebrows flickered. When the shyness gradually disappeared, an indescribable loneliness and despair hit her heart.
In particular, despite the faint noises coming from far away and the sounds of Dongfu opera, the house was surprisingly quiet. It seemed that even the sound of the late spring breeze blowing the bamboo leaves and gently blowing through the windows could be clearly heard. .
Suddenly, an indescribable loneliness and desolation hit the girl's heart.
Daiyu stared at the paper for a long time, then lowered her eyes to the paper on the desk, picked up an envelope, put it in carefully, pressed the corner of the paper, picked up a pen, wrote a line of small words on the envelope paper, and then hid it in In ancient books.
Immediately, he sat down slumped, holding the sheep talisman in one hand, and holding his jade cheek in his slender jade hand, in a daze.
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