Daiyu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 21

But it is said that Jia Lian over there led Hongjin and Mo Xuan, the prince of Wujun, to his study.Before he could sit down, Prince Wu asked, "I heard that cousin Ling worshiped Mr. Huang Jiyun as a teacher, and held a ceremony according to ancient rituals? Is this true?"

Obviously this is a topic that the prince is very concerned about. Jia Lian smiled and said: "It is true to worship Mr. Huang as a teacher, but I only heard about the ceremony of worshiping a teacher. I was still in Beijing at the time." With bright eyes, he said: "Mr. Huang is in the mansion now? Why don't you see Mr. come out today?"

Jia Lian said with a smile: "Mr. is less than in the mansion. He can come to the mansion for half a month a year. He usually comes to teach his cousin once every three to five months. I am fortunate to have my husband's guidance for several months. If not, with my qualifications Even if I study for another eight or nine months, it is impossible to pass the Tongsheng exam." Speaking of this, Jia Lian is still very proud.

Although Tong Shengshizi didn't take it seriously, it was still very rare to pass the exam after only eight or nine months of studying.Can't help sighing: "It's a pity that I don't have the chance to meet you. I really don't know what kind of person my cousin is, but she is favored by my husband and accepted as the only disciple. It's a shame!"

Jia Lian understood what the son said earlier, even he was jealous of his cousin's good luck, but he didn't know what the son was regretting.When I thought of it in my heart, I asked it out of my mouth.The prince said: "It must be a good thing for my cousin to be taught by Mr., but it's a pity that my daughter can't serve the country, isn't it a pity?" Jia Lian smiled relieved when he heard it.

Here, the eldest son and Jia Lian were talking in full swing, but Mo Xuan casually picked up a copy of Jia Lian's book case and flipped through it. He didn't want to turn a few pages before seeing a small bookmark in front of him. The palm-sized leaf only had meridians. Between the meridians, a landscape map is embroidered with very small silk threads, and two lines of small characters are embroidered next to it: there are roads in the mountains of books, and diligence is the path, learning the sea is boundless and working hard.Obviously, it is to motivate Jia Lian to study and improve.It is very chic and exquisite.So I held it in my hand and admired it.

It so happened that Jia Lian saw that he hadn't spoken for a long time, so he was afraid of being left out, so he turned around to talk to him, but he saw him holding a bookmark for fun.For a moment, I didn't know how to react. It was a gift from Daiyu when he was admitted to Tongsheng. At that time, Daiyu was only six years old and there were not so many male and female defenses. But now Daiyu is about to be seven years old, but what should I do? it is good?
Jia Lian was secretly anxious, so he heard Mo Xuan ask: "It's such a delicate bookmark, where can brother Lian get it?" Daiyu prepared a set of bamboo leaf sticks. The words on it were begged for a long time by Mr. Huang, and Mr. Huang wrote it as a reward for being admitted to Tongsheng.

Although Jia Lian's heart ached, it was better than letting Daiyu's things go out.So he pretended to be relaxed and said: "It's not a good thing, who remembers where I got it. If Brother Xuan likes bookmarks, I have better ones, you can use them." After finishing speaking, he hurriedly turned around To find.

Who knows that Mo Xuan didn't appreciate it and said: "A gentleman doesn't take what others like, but it's just a bookmark. Brother Lian keeps it for his own use, so I can give this to me." up.

Seeing that Jia Lian's face suddenly turned ugly, Hong Jin took the bookmark out of Mo Xuan's hand, and Mo Xuan quickly let go of it when his cousin came to pick it up, fearing that it might break it.When Hongjin took it in his hand and looked at it, he knew that it was made by a woman.Although the things are not big, but the needlework is fine, especially the color matching, the distant mountains and near the water are vivid, which well reflects the artistic conception of the splashed ink landscape.Xin Dao is really exquisite!
Hong Jin glanced at Jia Lian, and saw that Jia Lian was frowning deeply and his face was ugly.Glancing at Mo Xuan again, he saw that he was staring at the bookmark in his hand without turning his eyes, and his head suddenly became dizzy.Fortunately, how much I practiced with Prince Wu was able to stabilize my mind and said to Mo Xuan: "You don't have enough bookmarks? I will find a good set for you when I go back. If you don't have to go to someone's house as a guest, you still have to please him." Something!" After speaking, he handed the bookmark to Jia Lian, regardless of Mo Xuan's expression.

Although Jia Lian saw that ink was dripping from Mo Xuan's face, he didn't dare to hesitate at all.He took it immediately and put it in the drawer next to the desk.He casually took out the set of birthday present prepared for Daiyu and handed it to Mo Xuan.

Seeing that Jia Lian had already put away his things, Mo Xuan was just thinking about it, but Jia Lian actually took out a red lacquered nanmu inlaid precious carved box and handed it to Mo Xuan, saying: "This is a good thing! I have been begging Mr. Huang for a long time. I just got it. Just look at it first, if you like it, take it, it’s my apology to you. It’s not that I’m stingy, to tell you the truth, it’s what my cousin did when she was young, there’s absolutely no reason to let it out.”

After hearing Jia Lian's words, Hong Jin and Mo Xuanju's eyes lit up, but the former was because of Mr. Huang, while the latter was because it matched what they had guessed.

Before Mo Xuan could react, Hong Jin had already taken the box and opened it. A set of twelve bookmarks, each with only one word: Zi Chou Yin Mao Chen has not applied for You Xu Hai at noon. There are very few such characters. Literati prefer Liu style, while official documents use Yan style.I also saw that the edges of the bamboo leaves are also sealed with golden juice, and the plum blossoms are dotted, which is very elegant.Can't help looking up at Jia Lian, with doubts and reluctance in his eyes, he pushed the box in front of Jia Lian and asked, "Brother Lian didn't ask for this set of bookmarks for himself, did he?"

This made Jia Lian stunned for a second, so embarrassed, he quickly realized, "Anyway, it's just a gift, who is it not? I've ruined brother Xuan's interest today, so I have the right to make an apology." After speaking, he picked up the box Passed both hands in front of Mo Xuan.

Mo Xuan laughed instead: "It was the little brother who was rude just now, how could there be any reason for brother Lian to make an apology? Brother Lian is about to embarrass me." He said and stuffed the box into Jia Lian's arms.Seeing that he had finished talking, Jin Hong remembered the matter of letting Mo Xuan and Miss Lin meet, so he said to Jia Lian: "If Brother Lian really feels that he has spoiled Brother Xuan's interest, why don't you invite us to visit the mansion. How's the upper yard?"

It's good for Jia Lian to hear it, she can't stay in her study anymore, Daiyu gave her a lot of things in the past, and she has to sort them out and put them away.So he smiled and said: "I don't dare to ask for my wish." Then he made a gesture of please, which caught Lin Ruhai on camera.

The three of them went out of the side courtyard where Jia Lian was located and did not enter the vertical flower gate. They only went up the outer corridor from the side, and then turned into the garden from the corridor.At this time, many trees in the garden are new species, not very luxuriant, even the original weeping willows have just sprouted now, but the Four Seasons Rose is very bright in color with its flower buds.There is a Taihu Lake stone mountain in the garden, which is not high, but there is a hut built on the top of the mountain. Jia Lian saw that Hongjin and Mo Xuan were both very interested in that place, so he led them there.

Go up the trail made of crushed stones between the stone crevices, and three huts stand proudly on it. Standing in front of the huts, you can have a panoramic view of the whole garden.The two thatched huts on the left and right have windows open, leaving only a door opening in the middle with a plaque of Qingfengju hanging on it, and the three huts are only separated by half walls inside.

There is a bamboo table in the middle, on which there is a burnt wood board with a small red mud stove on it.Several bamboo chairs surround it in the middle.Behind the half walls on the left and right sides, a bamboo couch more than one foot high was built. On the couch, there were straw mats and a small bamboo table.No frills.Even where the windows are, there are only window openings without sashes, and snow-white gauze curtains are hung, which are uncomfortable when they are blown up and down by the wind.

Hong Jin and Mo Xuan went around inside and out, and the three found the bamboo couch on the left and sat down.Hong Jin came here intending to see where Wan Yu was, but now he sighed, "It's such a relaxed and wanton place! It must be the place that Mr. Huang likes." He had already forgotten about Wan Yu .

Mo Xuan was moved in his heart and said: "It is more elegant than the pavilion. It can be seen that he is a real elegant person, so he is willing to spend so much time." After finishing speaking, he looked at Jia Lian.In fact, the two of them didn't know that Jia Lian came to the garden for the first time today.

Seeing this, Jia Lian smiled wryly and said, "Before, I was so busy that I didn't know how to separate myself. How could I have any free time? Today, I just learned about this wonderful place through the light of my two brothers." Concerned about his decency, he lay directly on the couch with his arms propped up.Seeing Jia Lian like this, Hong Jin and Mo Xuan looked at each other with a smile, and followed Jia Lian's example and lay down with arms propped up.

When Daiyu and Wanyu arrived, neither of them found the three lying behind half the wall.The treatment even made Shinan light a charcoal fire and burn the spring water from Daming Temple on it, and let Zhixuan go back to fetch the tea set.I am preparing to listen to the wind to make tea.

The three inside were originally just lying down, but unexpectedly they heard someone coming in. At this time, they were getting up, let alone lying down.When I was in a dilemma, I saw a girl in an olive blouse, orange cotton trousers, and a flowery skirt tied with a willow sweat scarf, walking in with a crimson short fleece blanket woven with golden autumn water patterns.

As soon as Jia Lian saw her smiling, she immediately sat up.On the contrary, Hanxiao was taken aback, and he woke up when he called out the sound, and quickly saluted: "I have seen Master Biao, I have seen Master Shizi, I have seen Master Mo." This is all right, the three had to sit up together but His face flushed with shame.

Daiyu didn't pay attention to the smiling voice at first, but when she turned her head, she saw Jia Lian and the other two young masters sitting up from behind the half wall.Daiyu was not only startled, but also anxious, she stood up frowning.

Daiyu didn't think about herself, she was just worried about ruining Wanyu's reputation. After all, Wanyu was more than two years older than herself, and Jia Lian was a [-]-year-old cousin. At a time when she didn't know what to do, Wanyu But he walked over: "Why are elder brother and cousin here?" Even though he said so, his eyes kept winking at Hong Jin, Hong Jin just remembered the previous plan, so it was a coincidence.

Wan Yu didn't wait for Hong Jin and others to answer, she said to Dai Yu: "Sister Yu'er probably doesn't know, but this is my compatriot's elder brother, and that one, you have met before, so I don't need to introduce it again."

At this time, Daiyu also reacted, stepped forward two steps forward and said deeply, "I have seen the prince." At this time, Hongjin was overwhelmed by Daiyu's appearance, and for a moment he didn't know what to say, so he just said: " Hurry up, you don't need to be so polite."

Wan Yu smiled and said: "That's right, where do you have to be so polite? Since Yu'er is my younger sister, there is no need to be so polite to my brother." Daiyu didn't answer, just smiled and said to Mo Xuan: " Brother Mo, long time no see."

Mo Xuan's face was already flushed with embarrassment, but now he suffocated and reddened even more, hesitating for a while before saying: "I don't know if Sister Lin has recovered from her injuries back then? I have been in Beijing and have no chance to visit you." I still feel guilty about what happened back then.

After hearing this, Daiyu said softly, "Brother Mo doesn't need to be like this. Why mention it in the past today? Besides, I'm already well." Hearing what Daiyu said, Mo Xuan seemed to be relieved.

When Daiyu finished speaking, she saw Jia Lian standing aside with an awkward expression on her face, so she said to Wanyu, "This is Lian's cousin from my uncle's family." Then she said to Jia Lian, "This is my new sister, a sister from the same family. " Without mentioning Wanyu's boudoir name, Wanyu was very grateful when she saw this, "Since we met, and we are not outsiders, why don't we sit down and wait for my sister's good tea?" Then she pulled Daiyu Go to the bamboo table.

It was only at this time that Hongjin came back to his senses, feeling very embarrassed, so he sat silently next to Wanyu and said nothing, Mo Xuan also sat down next to him, leaving Jia Lian's seat on his right, and Jia Lian also sat down. If you don't refuse, you can't let the cousin sit next to your cousin.In fact, he forgot that he is also considered a foreigner, but after getting along for more than a year, he feels like his own sister.

Several people sat down and chatted about this unique thatched hut. They praised each other, but Daiyu just smiled and waited quietly for the water to boil.By the time they found out, the fragrance of tea was already overflowing. Since the house only has doors and windows on one side, the fragrance of tea wafts in the house when the wind blows in, mixed with the smell of thatch.Several people feel more relaxed and happy.

At this time, Daiyu said: "This place was specially built for the master to drink tea." Daiyu said that Hongjin's face has shown color here, and she is very satisfied that she guessed right.Then I heard Daiyu continue: "The grass used in this house is half-dried straw, which also has the aroma of straw. When you brew tea here, the aroma of the tea will definitely mix with the aroma of the straw. The taste master likes it very much. Too thick but not good, so these three houses are built facing west and east, and they are most facing the wind. That's why they are named Qingfengju. I think the master will like it when he comes back."

Everyone drank tea for a while and saw Jin Er hurried in. When they saw three men and two women in the room, although it would be unseemly to have maids waiting on the side, they knew that all the guests who came today were distinguished guests, so they calmed down and said: "Miss, madam The table has been set up, let the girl lead the county master there." After speaking, he said to Jia Lian, "The table in the front has also been set up, why don't Master Biao lead the two masters to the table?" After finishing speaking, he looked down and looked at the table. ground.

Daiyu thought for a while and said, "No wonder I'm a little hungry. Since that's the case, my sister and I will go to my mother's side first. Cousin Lian will lead his son and brother Mo to my father's side too?" Mo Xuan listened Liao immediately said: "Since you feel hungry, go there quickly. Auntie and Mrs. Lin are waiting impatiently."

Daiyu nodded and stood up. Wanyu also stood up with him, but she didn't want to but heard Hongjin say: "Why do you call your younger sister sister, and brother Xuan brother Mo brother? If Brother Lian doesn't say that's your cousin, you just call him brother Mo." I am the son of the world?"

Suddenly several people were stunned, but Daiyu smiled and said: "Brother Shizi is thinking too much, but it just doesn't sound good." After speaking, she covered her mouth and smiled, took Wanyu's hand and walked out.

At this time, Jia Lian came to his senses and smiled.Hong Jin didn't understand what he was laughing at, so he stared at him. Seeing this, Jia Lian explained: "When I first arrived in Gusu, I asked my cousin to call me Brother Lian, but my cousin said: 'If you don't know, you think it's me. I stuttered and couldn't explain clearly, always shouting 'two brothers' or I can't count?' I was the second child in the family, so I said that it should be Lian's second brother, but my cousin stared at me Said: "The two elder brothers can't tell clearly, and there are two second elder brothers! Who has two second elder brothers?" After speaking, he left angrily. My cousin probably thought of it today, "

Speaking of this, Jia Lian also grinned, at this moment Mo Xuan had fully understood, and said with a smile, "The brother on the persimmon tree, isn't he the brother of Persimmon?"

After dinner, Wanyu and Daiyu chatted with the concubine Jia Min for a while, and there was a message from the front that the prince called back.Wanyu bid farewell to Daiyu reluctantly, and just got into the carriage when she found a big brocade box. When she opened it, she saw a two-foot-square embroidered hanging screen.It was Daiyu who embroidered it in a realistic way of oil painting and put it in a glass frame. The colors are bright and colorful, the layers are clear and the three-dimensional effect is strong. Only one piece of Wanyu is already very happy.Princess Wujun was amazed when she saw it on the side.

Below are three boxes, two small and one large. Open the largest box and inside is a pink and blue embroidered white cloud pattern edge smoked gauze inlaid with rabbit fur gauze. I'm still young, but my hands are so dexterous, not only my hands but also my heart." Princess Wujun asked in amazement: "You mean these are all made by girls from the Lin family?"

Wan Yu smiled proudly: "Of course, otherwise I wouldn't care too much." After speaking, her face was full of unstoppable smiles.Pointing to the hairpin on her head, she said: "Look, concubine, this hairpin is the first one carved by my sister, although the jade is not very good, but my sister's ingenuity makes it taste better than flawless jade. "

Opening a small box, there was a set of twelve bookmarks like the ones Mo Xuan and the others had seen in Jia Lian's study, but these were embroidered with twelve kinds of flowers, which were also vivid.The other box contained a lifelike little puppet, wearing a wide-sleeved pomegranate skirt and a belt embroidered with lotus flowers on the waist. Hair made of black silk threads was tied high in a flying fairy bun on the top of the head. Even though Wanyu's immunity was already high, she couldn't help being stunned.

At the bottom of the brocade box was stuffed a goose-yellow boxy soft cushion. When I pulled it out, it turned out to be the big-eyed baby cushion that I had forgotten.Wan Yu pulled it out and hugged her in her arms, and said to Princess Wujun: "My sister gave me so many good things, I don't know what to return." .

Princess Wujun also had to lament that Zhenzhen had never seen a more intelligent girl than this.Thinking of her polite way of advancing and retreating in words and deeds, I feel even more joyful in my heart.Even with Jia Min, it was too late to meet each other, and they talked very happily.It's a pity that if it weren't for Lin Ruhai's delicate position now, he could have a good relationship with this family.

Wanyu doesn't know what Princess Wujun thinks about.At this moment, she suddenly remembered that tomorrow would be Daiyu's seventh birthday, and she was thinking about what kind of unique gift she would give.Thinking about whether to tell Mo Xuan?Thinking about it, Mo Xuan should give a gift to make up for what happened back then, whether it was to celebrate her birthday or apologize, even as her elder sister, she should ask Mo Xuan for her younger sister.Thinking about it, Mo Xuan shouldn't be too stingy to object.

Wan Yu couldn't help laughing when she thought about it.Princess Wujun took a look at Wanyu and just closed her eyes to rest, thinking that Wanyu was still happy with those exquisite gifts, but when she thought of the tube of scented tea she received, it seemed a bit tasteless and she felt that it was not worth mentioning.A smile could not help but appear on the corner of his mouth.

(End of this chapter)