Daiyu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 75 The Arrival of Xifeng
Wang Xifeng's southward trip was beyond everyone's expectation, not even Jia Lian.Naturally, Xing'er and Qing'er went to Jinling for nothing.Immediately, the two of them broke out in a cold sweat, where are they going to find someone now?

The two had to return along the canal, intercepting Wang Xifeng's boat on the way.When Wang Xifeng heard that Jia Lian could not be found, she felt relieved.Thinking of the Jiangnan border, there are not many places Jia Lian can go.Wang Xifeng quickly made a decision to order Xing'er to go to Yangzhou to report the letter, while she took Qing'er and others to continue southward to Gusu.

When Daiyu heard that Hongxiu had arrived, she was very surprised and called someone over quickly.When Hongxiu saw Daiyu, without waiting for Daiyu to inquire, she saluted and said, "Hongxiu has seen the girl, and our grandma has gone outside the city. Let the slaves come and report to the girl."

Hearing that Wang Xifeng was just outside the city surprised Daiyu even more than seeing Hongxiu, but she was not allowed to think about it at this time.Daiyu hastily called Qiluo over and asked her to go outside the city to pick up Wang Xifeng and his party into the mansion.

After arranging Qiluo to pick up Wang Xifeng, Daiyu asked Hongxiu, "Why are you here at this time?" Seeing that Daiyu didn't know about Jia Lian's illness, Hongxiu didn't hide it, and replied softly, "Back to the girl, When Grandma heard that Grandpa was ill, she was very worried, so she brought her servants and others over."

When Daiyu heard that Jia Lian was ill, she interrupted Hongxiu, and asked anxiously, "What did you say? When did it happen? I don't even know that I am in the south of the Yangtze River. Who reported it in the capital? But Don't be fooled by others."

Hongxiu explained with a smile: "Xing'er went back to Beijing to report the good news that the master passed the exam, and then quietly reported to the master that the master was ill, and the girl also knew about Master Zhu. The master, wife and grandma were very worried. Grandma thought We went to Jinling to meet up with you, but I didn't expect you to go one step ahead, and at this time, I couldn't find anyone."

Having said that, Daiyu understood the whole story, thinking that the master was with Jia Lian.If something really happened, he would never hide it from himself. There is no news at this time, so it seems to be all right.Daiyu felt relieved after thinking about it, and called Zhi'er to come again.

Zhi'er is now in charge of the needlework, fabrics and other things in the mansion as one of the housekeepers, and apart from reporting matters every month, she seldom goes to Daiyu's room. At this time, Daiyu called her to come, and she was also inexplicably surprised. .

Seeing Zhi'er, Daiyu just smiled and ordered softly: "Let Zhang Xin go to Yangzhou father's place quickly. If you see brother, tell brother and sister-in-law that she is here. If you don't see him, don't say anything else, just go The reason is that I miss my father. I made a dress for my father and asked him to send it."

After speaking, Daiyu turned to Jin'er and said, "Go and take out the jacket I prepared for my father and hand it to Zhi'er." After a while, Jin'er took out a small bag and handed it to Zhi'er. He also ordered: "This matter is very urgent, let Zhang Xin hurry up!" Zhi'er smiled and said to Daiyu: "Don't worry, girl, I will let him go fast on horseback, and he will arrive in the day after tomorrow if there is no accident."

Daiyu nodded and Zhi'er withdrew.As soon as Zhi'er left, Qinghe reported outside the door: "Girl, Grandma Lian has entered the mansion." Daiyu glanced at Hongxiu and said, "Why don't you come with me to meet your grandma?" Get up and go to Yimen.

But Wang Xifeng sent Hongxiu to report to Daiyu. After his party arrived, Wang Xifeng took them ashore.As soon as Qi Luo arrived, Mammy Zhao found her, she hurriedly greeted her and said with a smile, "Why are you here?" Mammy Zhao really didn't know what to call her.

In the past, Mother Zhao called her Miss Qiluo, but now that Qiluo is dressed as a woman, it is difficult for Mother Zhao to call her a girl.Moreover, after Jia Min left, in Mother Zhao's heart, this Qi Luo should have followed Lin Ruhai, no matter whether she had passed the Ming Road or not, she was an aunt.But now Qi Luo came to pick him up and the others in person, which made Mother Zhao very puzzled.

Hearing Mother Zhao's voice, Wang Xifeng turned her head and looked over, and when she saw Qi Luo, she smiled and said, "Why are you here?" It was the same, but Wang Xifeng was full of surprise and joy.From the first time she saw her on the day when she put on her makeup, Wang Xifeng fell in love with this capable and hearty Qi Luoxin.Now when we meet again thousands of miles away, it feels like meeting old friends.

When Qi Luo saw Wang Xifeng, she smiled at Zhao Mama and said, "I'll go to meet Grandma Lian first, and I'll talk to Mama Lian when I get back to the mansion." After speaking, she walked towards Wang Xifeng, and performed a blessing very politely. After the ceremony, he said: "Our girl heard from Hongxiu that you are here. Didn't all the servants in the whole house see grandma? So they sent me to fetch grandma back to the house."

After speaking, he waved to the servants who followed behind him, and saw those people stepping forward in an orderly manner to help carry the luggage.Qi Luo thought for a while and explained to Wang Xifeng: "Grandma also knows that our girl is not easy to leave the house, so she sent her..."

Knowing that Qi Luo was explaining to Daiyu, Wang Xifeng interrupted with a stern face: "I'm the one who waits for impoliteness! I come here uninvited, and I have to blame the host's poor hospitality!" After speaking, Qi Luo was stunned. After a while, he laughed himself first.

Knowing that she didn't blame her, Qi Luo didn't bother her anymore, and then changed the subject and said: "Since grandma has arrived, why don't you go back with the maidservant first, the girl is waiting for grandma at home." After hearing this, Wang Xifeng didn't bother to salute, Then he nodded and got into a Lenny carriage with Qi Luo.

After Zhi'er left, Daiyu asked Hongxiu a few more words, and arranged for Wang Xifeng and his party to stay.Naturally, the servants lived in the small courtyard where Jia Lian used to live, but Wang Xifeng could not live in the outer courtyard, and now that Wang Xifeng was pregnant again, Daiyu had to think carefully.After choosing and choosing, Daiyu finally chose the Lvtao Pavilion closest to Yimen to settle Wang Xifeng.

As soon as the arrangements were made, Nanny Sun came to report that Wang Xifeng and his party had entered the mansion, and Daiyu naturally went to welcome her at the Daoyi Gate.Then he hurriedly took Jin'er Hanxiao Zhixuan, and Yang Nanny who was always by her side but rarely spoke, to Yimen.

Before Daiyu got close, she saw a woman wearing a red flowered jacket, a gold silk skirt, and a phoenix hairpin with pearls on her head, walking in surrounded by a group of people.Her crisp and hearty laughter was heard from a distance.

Seeing her coming, Daiyu hastened to meet her first: "Daiyu has met sister-in-law." Usually, the family members are called elder brothers, so naturally there is no reason to call her "cousin" or "sister-in-law" at this time.When Wang Xifeng heard her address like this, she was naturally happy and satisfied, she quickly helped Daiyu up and said with a smile, "That's so much courtesy? Don't let me down!"

After finishing speaking, Wang Xifeng took Daiyu's hand to look carefully, and couldn't help sighing: "There is such a beautiful person in the world, I just met today! No wonder the master always said that my sister is good, and now that I meet, it is true. Okay? I only pity my sister for being so miserable, why is my aunt just..."

After hearing this, Daiyu felt very familiar. She couldn't remember where she had heard it before, and she didn't bother with it, so she smiled and said: "Sister-in-law came all the way, I think she is tired. Let's talk in the room so they can clean up." Clean it up." Then he led Wang Xifeng to the flower hall.

Wang Xifeng followed Daiyu to the flower hall, and saw that there were only a few beaded curtains hanging in the room, separating the left and right, and the windows were hung with azure and Qianyun gauze.A pair of Fenghua official kiln sunflower vases are placed on a pear wood landscape table with a raised head, and a bunch of blooming golden chrysanthemums are inserted in them.A sapphire and phoenix-patterned four-legged stove is placed in the middle.

In front of the table is a table of the Eight Immortals of the same pear wood, but it is not clear what flowers are carved on it. The table is covered with a piece of lotus root-colored fine cotton embroidered with green lotuses at the four corners.There are four pear wood armchairs on each side, also covered with lotus-colored fine cotton upholstery with the same four corners embroidered with blue lotus.On the tea table in the middle, there is a pot of unidentifiable green plants.

On the Duobao Pavilion behind the bead curtains on both sides, there are also many root carvings, wood carvings and strange stones.There are also large pots of kumquats in the four corners of the room. At this time, they are full of fruits and hanging on the branches. The orange fragrance in the room is very elegant and pleasant.Although Wang Xifeng felt that it was a bit plain, it was very pleasing to the eye.

Wang Xifeng thought in her heart, the scholarly family sounds nice, and now it looks very nice, but after all, the family background is a bit thin.Thinking of the 1 taels of silver note that Daiyu gave Jia Lian, I felt more and more that the Lin family treated Jia Lian sincerely.Therefore, Wang Xifeng became more friendly to Daiyu.

Daiyu naturally saw Wang Xifeng's scrutiny, but she didn't bother her either.He only ordered Zhixuan to serve melon and fruit refreshments.After Wang Xifeng sat down, Daiyu smiled and said, "I didn't know my sister-in-law was coming, so I was not prepared. Now there are only some candied melons and fruits in the house. I hope my sister-in-law will not dislike her."

Wang Xifeng looked at the white porcelain plate on the table, took a piece of candied fruit, put it in his mouth and said with a smile: "It can be seen that my sister is not willing to entertain me with good things. She only took some fruit and wanted to send me away." Listen. When Wang Xifeng said so, Daiyu couldn't help being stunned for a moment, and looked up, Wang Xifeng raised her willow-leaf eyebrows, with a smile on her lips.

Daiyu was puzzled for a moment, so she couldn't help but look at Jin'er who was standing beside her. Seeing that Daiyu had seen it, Jin'er shook her head slightly.Daiyu couldn't help but laughed and said, "I don't know what else is there. I'm so filial to my sister-in-law. If my sister-in-law wants to eat and drink, she can just ask for it. Even if there is none in the house, I will send someone to find it."

After finishing speaking, Daiyu tilted her head and looked at Wang Xifeng, blinked her eyes before saying, "Even if I owe it to my sister-in-law, I will definitely not lose it to my little nephew." Seeing that she looked funny, Wang Xifeng reached out and nodded. He tapped her forehead and said, "No wonder Grandpa always says you're a weirdo! Why don't you take out the good tea you made yourself and honor my sister-in-law?"

When Daiyu heard that it was her own scented tea, she said with a smile: "Sister-in-law is unlucky to come here. During the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, Sister Wan sent someone to pick it up. Now where is there any more?" He didn't care much about the tea, but instead asked, "Where did that girl Wan come from? How could she be treated like this by my sister?"

Daiyu didn't hide anything, she told about the visit of Prince Wu's family back then, but she didn't mention Hanshan Temple.When Wang Xifeng heard that it belonged to the Wang family of Wujun, he was taken aback. The Four Kings and Eight Dukes said it nicely, but they were just a family with foreign surnames, and they only relied on the emperor's kindness, but Wujun Wang was different, they were members of the royal family.

Wang Xifeng thought about it several times before he tried to say: "My sister is so friendly with the little princess of the Wang family of Wu County." Daiyu naturally knew what Wang Xifeng was thinking, so she didn't point it out: "Where is the little princess? Sister Wan also But a county head has been appointed." Wang Xifeng heard her reply, and secretly laughed in her heart, after all, the little girl was ignorant.

Thinking of Daiyu's close relationship with Jia Lian, Daiyu's friendship with the Wang family of Wujun, and the Wang family of Wujun will not treat Jia Lian badly, so Wang Xifeng explained: "Don't think that he is just a county head now, but after all he is a real son. The royal family of the Eight Classics. When she gets married in the future, she may be the princess!" After speaking, Wang Xifeng did not forget to nod Daiyu's forehead.

Wang Xifeng thought for a while and said: "It will always be in your interest to make good friends with others!" Daiyu sighed in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face, she just interrupted the conversation: "Sister-in-law is talking about my little nephew. How old are they?"

Hearing Daiyu's question, Wang Xifeng was originally a little unhappy.But Daiyu said again: "When will I see my little nephew? My sister-in-law told me, so I should be prepared, right?"

Wang Xifeng was overjoyed, and said with a smile: "It's still early, I'm afraid we won't see each other until after the New Year." Daiyu chatted and laughed with Wang Xifeng for a while, and asked where to prepare lunch with a smile.Daiyu glanced at Wang Xifeng and said with a smile: "Let's not be too busy, let my sister-in-law wash up, and later we'll set meals in the garden. We can't get along with my sister-in-law."

After Daiyu finished speaking, she looked at Wang Xifeng and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you like it?" As the saying goes, guests do as they please, and Wang Xifeng still understands this truth.Furthermore, Wang Xifeng is now carrying her body and has been exhausted all the way here without any rest. Now that she has been talking for a long time, she naturally feels a little tired.

Wang Xifeng smiled without thinking too much: "Don't ask me. I can't listen to your arrangements when I get to your territory? Just arrange for me in that corner. Arrange for me to freshen up first." Daiyu personally Led Wang Xifeng to the Green Tape Pavilion.

This Green Tape Pavilion is a small two-story building.Built near the water, there is a lotus pond on the left, layers of weeping willows are planted in front of and behind the house, a few plantains are planted under a few large Taihu stones on the right, and nothing else.If you want to come to summer, if you stand upstairs and open the window, you will be able to see the pond of lotus flowers across the green ribbons.

On the lintel of the attic hangs three big gilt characters on a blue background, "Green Tapered Pavilion".There is a couplet hanging on the doorposts on both sides, "Rain frightens poems, dreams leave banana leaves, wind cuts books and sounds out lotus flowers." The doors and windows are carved with Ruyi patterns, and the window sash is made of glass, which is very translucent.

Wang Xifeng walked in, and there was a small hall downstairs, with a plum blossom table in the middle, surrounded by several round piers.There are three small armchairs on each side, which are the same color as the table.Except for a few gauze curtains and bead curtains, there are no other decorations.There was only a half-person-high plum vase on the stairs, but it was empty without any flowers inside.

Daiyu smiled and said: "The cleaning is in a hurry, and there is no time to arrange it. Don't mind my sister-in-law. Let the maids decorate it later." After speaking, Daiyu turned to Jin'er and said, "Bring my glass screen and put it on the table. In front of the stairs, put on the embroidered peony table and chair cover. And the crystal flower tree and put it on the table."

After speaking, Daiyu looked around and said: "Replace all these beaded and gauze curtains, and replace them with the brocade curtains with water red embroidered carp. Then I took the velvet blanket with the wishful pattern of Wanfu and spread it on the stairs. Come on. Take the plum vase away, put a flower stand there, and pick a pot of chrysanthemums of good color."

Daiyu spoke quickly, and the maids around her also moved quickly. Not long after Daiyu finished speaking, the whole attic changed drastically.Wang Xifeng looked again at this time, the inside of the attic looked warm and harmonious, bright but elegant.Daiyu looked again and said: "After all, I don't dare to incense my sister-in-law. Otherwise, it would be great to put my blue and white porcelain tripod in front of the screen."

(End of this chapter)