Alternative Telling of Dream of Red Mansions: Cherishing Spring

Chapter 28
In the twinkling of an eye, it was already midsummer, and the three courtyards in the Yushan Lane were full of flowers and trees, and the cicadas were singing. The painting instructed the maidservant to come in and out to clean the place. Seeing her coming out, Ruhua hurriedly left the servant girl behind and came up to her, saying: "Why is Mom coming out? Look at the hot sun, why don't you stay indoors for a while." Lai Yi'er's mother looked at her He smiled and said: "Older people, I can't compare to you, just squinting for a while is enough." Ruhua turned to look at his family on the tree and said: "I think it's the cicadas that are bothering you, it's calling people Get out, you're up!" Ever since the old lady found out that Lai Yi'er became the housekeeper of Jia's mansion, the old lady has been ill day by day. Years of old illnesses get better and better in a few months.Now I see that the painting is well done, she is more eloquent, and her movements are more convenient, and she is more elegant than Xiaojiabiyu, who was cute and naive in her early years, so she really likes it.Seeing that Ruhua was diligent and proper, he held her hand and said with a smile: "You have this heart, even if I don't sleep, I am still happy. You have worked hard these days, young daughters should know how to cherish themselves." The old lady said As soon as he said it, the two women behind him rushed to make fun of him: "Why not? Our young mistress was forged in the mansion of the prince and general, and her vision is even higher than that of ordinary women on the street. How much." Ruhua smiled slightly, and let them flatter her, she has been in Jia's house for many years, and she is used to how those women and daughters-in-law invite pets to make fun of them, among other things, Zhou Rui's is the first one, and these new slaves in her family Human beings haven't been beaten to perfection yet, even if you praise others, you won't be able to praise acupuncture points.What's the use of spring breeze passing by?
Just as he was talking, Lai Yi'er came in from the front yard, and the family members bowed their hands and bowed sideways to salute.Seeing that his old lady was also in the yard, Lai Yier hurriedly smiled and went up to greet him.The old lady said: "Hey, you came back early today, but what's the matter?"

Lai Yi'er smiled gracefully and said, "It's nothing important, so I'll go back first. When we talked about getting married in the mansion today, Mr. Jia took off his membership, and Mr. Feng gave him a name on the spur of the moment, saying that he had already taken off his marriage." Don't use such a flamboyant name like Yi'er for Ji, and I said that I have forgotten the name my father gave me, I only know that the surname is Zhang, and there is a word "Yi" in the name, Master Feng said it was Zhang Yuanyi."

Ruhua hurriedly asked, "Master Feng is here?" Lai Yi'er nodded, glanced at Ruhua, and Ruhua understood without further words.When the old lady saw that she had lost her registration, she gave her a new name. She was overjoyed as she chanted the new name. She leaned back and was supported by two people behind her. Seeing that her complexion was not right, everyone was taken aback. Panic.Ruhua was busy asking people to make ginseng tea, Lai Yier told his family not to disturb the old lady, after a while, he really came back.

After seeing Lai Yi'er, she put her heart down, saw the old lady woke up, and invited An to take Ru Hua to leave.All the way into the room, Lai Yi'er took off the gauze hat, tied her hands and let the waiter take off her coat, frowned and said: "I see that the old lady's complexion is not right, let's get things done sooner."

Ru Hua stretched out his hands in the basin and twisted a towel to wipe Lai Yier's sweat, looked at the reflection in the copper basin and smiled slightly: "The reason why you do so many things is not to be able to be together. Since you say so, let's set a date."

Lai Yi'er turned around and hugged her, and kissed her vigorously: "Ruhua, you marry me, and I will treat you well for the rest of my life. Now this house is just the beginning, and in the future I want you to be rich and noble."

"Sometimes life must be there, I'm not greedy. You can do your own thing with peace of mind." Ru Hua leaned on his chest and said, she could hear the man's heartbeat and knew he was restless.Suddenly remembered something, raised his head and said, "Master Feng is here, did he say anything?"

Lai Yi'er stared out of the window, the tenderness at this moment made him also look sad. "He already knew about Jia Zhen's forced marriage to Xichun. Just now, when I withdrew, he chased me out and asked me if I could try to meet the fourth girl. The affection is so deep, which is rare for a person of his status. "

Ruhua curled her lips and said: "It's not unusual. If our girl hadn't been trapped by her life experience, she would have become a concubine because of her talent and appearance, so why would she become someone else's concubine?" I want to go with her, but fortunately Xichun understood her difficulties and let her go, so for Xichun, I am always grateful.

"That's true!" Lai Yi'er nodded, but she was surprised when she entered the painting. She knew that Lai Yi'er had no choice but to be submissive, and the truth was that she was naturally mean.Seeing that he agrees with the statement, it is very strange.

"I've met some of the girls from Jia's family. I don't know the third girl named Rose, whom people praise among you. Only the fourth girl, I've met her a few times, and I'm a little confused about her. Thinking about it... ..." He sighed, "If she pursues it seriously, she won't be able to hide anything we do."

Hearing this, Ru Hua shuddered all over, a coldness came over him, he looked at Lai Yi'er and said, "Then what should we do?"

"It's okay!" Lai Yi'er's mouth curled up, showing a stern smile, lowering her eyelids to look at the startled Ruhua, "You are too surprised, don't think about her status now, how can she get out of the deep house, just come out Come on, there must be someone who is willing to work hard to help her find out. Now that you are away from her, who is willing to work hard for her? Besides, with your girl's cold temperament, all kinds of riches and honors are not in your eyes, and you can't compare with us ordinary people , Seeing a copper coin, her eyes were bloodshot. Even if she knew, she might not be willing to investigate."

Ru Hua was full of worries, and he laughed when he said it. Then he remembered that Xi Chun lived alone in the Hou's mansion. My brother wished that she would die early, but she was really alone. Thinking about it, she wanted to cry again.

Lai Yi'er handed over the handkerchief and persuaded: "You love to cry again. I just went to two crying children." Entering the painting, he knew that one of them was Daiyu who died, and the other was Baoyu who insisted on becoming a monk.Yin asked, "Second Master Bao left just like that?"

Lai Yi'er nodded and said: "Isn't it? There are also Zijuan and Xueyan. Zijuan is determined to become a monk, and Xueyan followed her man to the south to look at the house over there for the mansion. Bao Er The master is determined to become a monk, but the wife has no choice. The family, France, legalism, filial piety, and national filial piety have been exhausted, and even the deceased old lady has moved out. The servant girl knelt on the ground. He still has to leave. "

Seeing that Ru Hua was listening intently, Lai Yi'er's eyes flickered with interest, and he said, "How do you know Master Feng knows about the Fourth Miss?" Seeing Ru Hua shaking his head in a daze, he continued, "It's still that good second master who is leaving. Speaking of which, Master Feng couldn't sit still on the horse at that time, if I hadn't been quick to hold on to him, he would have fallen off the horse. The look of such a lost soul, not to mention a woman, made my heart ache. "

When she entered the painting, she suddenly remembered the old things, Xichun's pale face when she got married, no amount of makeup could conceal her depression.She trembled in her heart, lowered her head, and said secretly: "In this case, will you allow his request to help him meet the girl?"

"You stupid!" Lai Yi'er scolded her, "Who is that one now? Although I don't read much, I also know the truth of 'Once Hou Men enters the depths of the sea, Xiao Lang is a passerby from then on'. What do you mean? Besides, if we help in this matter, it will be of no benefit, and if something happens, what kind of crime will it be?" Seeing that Ru Hua lowered his head and said nothing, he regretted speaking seriously, and then said with a sigh of relief, "According to me Said, let's just take the opportunity of getting married and pass on the news, it's up to the girl to decide whether to see her or not, we neither encourage nor help. What do you think?"

Ruhua sighed faintly, slowly stretched out his arms to hug Lai Yier, and sighed: "Do everything as you say, I will listen to you."

The wedding was then scheduled for next month, and I had no family members, so I went to the Marquis of Wuqing to pay a visit to Xichun.Xichun was favored, and Madam knew that Ruhua was someone Xichun had brought with her since she was a child, and she loved her like sisters, so she simply let them meet each other generously.

The back garden of Hou's Mansion was originally used by Lord Hou to study and rest. He cherishes spring and loves tranquility.This may not be a big deal in other families, but it is something that makes everyone speechless when Wu Qinghou, who has always been a resolute soldier and horse all his life, came here.So, first in the mansion, and then outside the mansion, it gradually spread - there was a forbidden garden flower in Wuqinghou's mansion, and the Lord Hou loved it like a pearl and a treasure.Everyone is guessing what kind of enchantress Jia Xichun is, the stunning Begonia from another courtyard.Even a towering and tough guy like Marquis Wuqing can make steel so soft?

However, Xichun ignored these rumors, as usual, she would pay her respects to his wife every day, and fulfill her duties as a concubine when it was her turn.that is it.

When I saw Xichun in Jingxiang Garden, I was dressed in a suit that was not extravagant or frugal. Even though I knew her well, I was still shocked by her calm beauty. I thought that if Jia Zhen saw Xichun like this, I don’t know how angry she would be!Xichun is like that kind of plant that looks delicate and charming, but she can survive safely wherever you put her.The mountains are high and the water is urgent outside, but she just can't be happy, angry, contend, complain, or startled.

It is so quiet and self-contained that no one can help but admire it.

"You sit." Xichun walked out from the curtained door on the side of the hall, and said with a smile when she saw Ruhua.

"Girl." After seeing the ceremony in the painting, he turned around and sat down with a blushing smile, "You must have known about Lai Yier and I, and the wedding date with him is set for next month." She said looking at Xi Chun, seeing Xi Chun nodding, He hesitated and smiled, "I want to invite the girl, my parents died early, and there are no other relatives at home." Ruhua was good at pulling up his belt, hesitant to speak. "One more thing..."

Xichun, who had been listening quietly, suddenly turned to Xiuhen who was standing beside her and said, "I see, Xiuhen, go get a copy of the imperial calendar, and I'll help you look it up for sister Ruhua."

Ruhua was startled, quickly nodded with a smile, and said to Xiuhen: "Yes, please trouble my sister to go." Ruhua understood what Xichun meant, but she was just shocked. After a few months, her young lady's mind has become so shrewd...

After Xiuhen left, Xichun raised her eyes to look at her, and said with a serious face: "There are no outsiders now, so you can talk about things."

"Girl." Ruhua knew that the opportunity would never come again, and the embroidered marks could get the imperial calendar very quickly, so he hurriedly said, "Feng...he wants to see you."

Xichun's heart seemed to suffocate for a few seconds when she heard that word, she heard the word "Feng" clearly, and her muscles shook her bones.She took a sip of the tea, but couldn't distinguish the taste of the tea, she bit her lip secretly, her teeth were sore, and she tried hard to suppress the sore feeling in her heart.

Xichun didn't speak, just looked at the calligraphy and painting hanging in the middle hall of the house, her eyes were gray and dark, as if she wanted to see through the landscape in the painting, she and him, like this painting - the sky is far away, the soul flies away, the dream It is difficult for the soul to reach Guanshan.The heart that woke up did not even startle, and the ripples caused by the stone thrown into the painting just now had disappeared.

Meeting at this moment is just to add sorrow and hate in vain, so why bother to meet?

She didn't express her opinion, and it was not easy to speak first when she was in the painting, so she had to drink tea as well, and the two faced each other silently in the hall.Hearing the footsteps of the embroidery marks approaching, entering the painting feels like being rescued.Taking a peek at Xichun, she also changed her face, and took the imperial calendar handed over by the embroidered marks to help her check the date, as if nothing happened.

The two of them could only chat and talk about their private affairs before they got married, which was nothing more than the experience of their daughter's family.Ruhua knows that Xichun is not like being a young lady at this time, so he seizes the time and thinks about when to leave.When it was almost noon, Xichun looked up at the sun and said with a smile: "I don't want to keep you here, I have to go to eat with my wife, tell me what you like, and I will help you. The woman's side I am your family, and I will never wrong you."

"Thank you girl."

"You have left Jia's house, call me sister." Xichun stood up and smiled lightly.Turning around, he said to Xiuhen, "Send my sister out."

Before entering the painting, I didn't have time to say anything, and I saw Xichun's blue skirt passing behind the curtain, like a ripple on the water surface, and quickly disappeared.

On the day she got married, Xichun sent someone to send a gift.He said he was unwell, so he couldn't come to congratulate him in person.Ruhua watched Feng Ziying pass through the crowd of He Xi and leave in a bleak manner.

When she woke up at night, Xichun suddenly found that her heart was so turbulent that she couldn't bear it, like a hurricane sweeping through the wilderness, flying sand and rocks, but other than that, there was nothing else.

The wind howls outside the window, and I don't know if it's the cold wind or the cold heart.At this time, she was staying overnight in an abandoned temple. The statue was so dilapidated that it was impossible to tell who it was, and its face was covered with dust and spiders.The oil lamp lit by her on the incense table was about to go out, and there was a tiny light.This may be the last bit of warmth left by the last person who passed by.

Xichun stood up, since she couldn't fall asleep anyway, she picked up the scattered logs in the temple, lit a fire with a torch, and leaned on the incense table, staring at the fire in a daze.

It was also such a small temple, facing such a statue. Obviously, the only difference was that the statue was brand new that time, and there were incense flowers and water candles on the table. She looked at him through a row of incense candles, her eyes were watery.

That was ten years ago, the scenery of water and mountains was just right, and it couldn't compare to the coldness in black clothes now.The waist of the folded skirt is clear and rippling, even if you walk in the Buddhist temple without Fendai, it is as fragrant as clear water orchids.

Wu Qinghou, who had been ill for a long time, was recovering, and his wife and her family went to pay homage to the gods.Walking through the long stone steps, looking at the lush trees on both sides of the mountain temple, the sun shone down on the wall, and shimmering light shone on the treetops. She felt like a hibernating animal, and she would be dizzy seeing such a new world.Somehow, I thought that the days in Xuanzhen Temple were far away.She suddenly remembered that she had been married into Chen's house for two years and hadn't come out.

The abbot led a group of monks and stood at the gate to meet them. His wife went up to greet them, and she followed behind to go in.When he lifted his foot to enter the mountain gate, a little novice ran over to announce that someone had arrived from General Feng's mansion.He paused in his thoughts, retracted his feet, and stood still, but his eyes only looked at his wife.

I saw my wife smiled and said, "What a coincidence?" Then she said to the embarrassed abbot, "It's not your fault, I told you not to clean up people. The door of Buddhism should be wide open."

"Madam Huidu, the blessings are endless."

Madam nodded slightly and asked, who is here?He replied that it was General Feng who accompanied the old lady to offer incense, and Mrs. Feng's young lady also came with her.When the wife heard about it, she ordered her family to avoid it, and because she was a family friend, she stood there and waited.Xichun waited for her to finish the assignment and came forward and said: "Madam, I'll take my leave first." Madam remembered, looked at her with a smile, raised her hand and said, "Alright, I'll wait here for Old Madam Feng. Just go in and look around, Rest if you are tired." Xichun took the order and went with her embroidery marks.The madam smiled slightly as she watched her figure disappear behind the Buddha statue in the main hall.She tolerated Xichun precisely because Xichun was acquainted, and she always remembered to respect her as a wife.He never competed to show his face, nor was he jealous.Thinking about it this way, Huanxi really did not choose the wrong person.

Just as he was thinking, there was a burst of commotion underneath, and Mother Feng came.Feng Ziying and his wife supported Feng's mother one by one, walked up the steps, and when they saw Mrs. Wuqinghou, they both wanted to salute.The madam smiled and said, "Forget it, you are helping your wife. What are you doing with those vain courtesy?" While speaking, she gave Feng's mother a half-respect, and said, "Nephew, you rest, I'll help my sister." Feng Ziying looked at her mother, but she saw her nodding, she took a step back and said with a smile, "I'm tired of you!" When Feng's mother saw her old friend, she was naturally happy, she didn't feel tired, and walked all the way into the main hall to pay her respects.

After a complete set of etiquette, everyone went to the back room to rest.Feng's mother asked: "Why are you here alone? You should bring more talents." Madam smiled and said: "How can you not bring them? Because I was afraid of frightening your driver, I told them to avoid it. .”

Feng Ziying, who was following behind, felt a jump in her heart, and hurriedly restrained herself, and looked around as if nothing had happened. The Buddha statue above was a half-naked golden giant, sitting in the air.The main hall is filled with incense, the sound of the chime is long, and there are many statues, large and small, in the semi-darkness. At first glance, it makes people feel dazed, as if someone could come out of the corner at any time.There was someone looming past in the dark, and I could see clearly that there was no one except the monk with his bare head and calm expression.Laugh at yourself nervous.

I only heard my wife ask in turn: "This is from Nalan's family. I just saw the real person today. His appearance is really outstanding, and it's not bad to match Ziying." Feng Ziying took a look at his wife Yuchan when he heard this, Seeing her smiling and lowering her head, that side face mistakenly looks like Xichun.

Feeling bitter in his heart, he sometimes forgets that he is a married person, and feels as lonely as a person in his heart.When we reached the wing room, the outsiders retreated, so Feng's mother laughed: "It's all my family now, call the people you brought out to meet, let's talk and get to know each other, otherwise it's not a waste of time to make friends gone?"

The madam laughed and said, "It was because I was afraid of being ugly and scaring the old lady and my niece." There was no outsider at this time, and Yuchan was more lively, and said with a smile: "I heard that she is a beauty!" Feng's mother turned her head. Said: "You also know? Then ask her to come out and meet." Yuchan regretted that she had slipped her tongue, blushed, glanced at Feng Ziying, lowered her head and squeezed the handkerchief and stopped talking.Madam wanted to help Yuchan out of the siege, and smiled quickly: "Forget it, my sister is in a good mood, so let's ask that shady girl to come out and offer you a bowl of tea." Then she said to the maid beside her, "Go and invite Aunt Xi to come .”

Feng Ziying's heart choked up when she heard the words "Aunt Xi", feeling unspeakably uncomfortable.In order not to be seen as uncomfortable, he forced a smile and said, "Since that's the case, it's not convenient for me to be here. I beg my mother to spare me some time, so my son can go out for a stroll."

Mother Feng waved her hands and smiled and said, "Go, I'll tire you out even if I go out, so it's hard for you to stay with me for half a day like a wild monkey." Turning to his wife, she said, "You met him when you were young, and you don't know him. It's so wild that even his father can't control it."

The madam apologized and said with a smile: "What's the matter, I see that Da Lier is pretty good, boy... It's a pity that I don't have a child, and I don't even have to teach it if I want to." As she spoke, she suddenly realized that she was talking in front of the younger generation. Inappropriate, she quickly changed her mouth, "Now that I'm married and Yuchan is in charge, I don't think it's bothering me anymore." Yuchan blushed at what she said, and when she looked for Feng Ziying again, she had already stepped out of the door, and she couldn't help secretly lost.

Feng Ziying felt irritated, and as soon as she stepped out of the door, she got angry at the servant Mo Yu, don't follow me, find a place to cool off by herself.Mo Yu retreated in response, watching Feng Ziying's footsteps enter the moon cave.

Xichun was called to offer tea, and Mother Feng was shocked when she saw her.What a fresh and tender person this is, once he entered the room, everyone was dimly illuminated, and Yuchan's complexion was not bad at first, but when compared in front of Xichun, it was like her pink, white, dark green face was swept away by the fleeting water. It's unbearable to wash and fade.

(End of this chapter)