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

Page 158

She gave that lewd fellow, whom she couldn't help but hate or love, a coquettish glance, but Daiyu felt quite comforted and was deeply moved by Gu Yu's virtuous attitude.

After all, Yu-gege is so outstanding. He only has a dozen or so sisters now, and he is still willing to express his commitment to her. Where else in the world can you find such a good man?

As for the fact that his father only had three or five concubines over the years... Putting aside the facts, let's just talk about the matter at hand. How can Brother Yu's situation be compared to his father's?

"You... I'll come over after dinner, don't be late..."

Blushing, Daiyu gave Gu Yu a persistent look, a small reward for him. She quickly turned away, clutching her handkerchief, not daring to let his burning gaze linger any longer.

When Xing Xiuyan hesitantly came out of the room, she saw Gu Yu sitting outside pouring tea for herself. She subconsciously looked around and realized that Daiyu had left sometime earlier. She subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

"Young Master Yu... thank you for redeeming me, I..."

Clutching the cuffs of the cotton coat she had just put on, which was clearly thicker, fit better, and was warmer than the cloak she wore over it, Xing Xiuyan inexplicably missed the comfort of curling up inside it, and for a moment she was lost in thought.

Gu Yu sat in the chair and looked up at the slightly awkward girl. Her slender figure did not look bulky at all after wearing the cotton coat. Instead, she had a full figure and looked refreshing.

"It's alright, the prices are clearly marked... It's a small business, no credit, Sister Xing, okay?"

Seeing Gu Yu stand up with a wicked grin, the girl took a half step back in fright. However, her only thought was not to refuse, but to nervously look back, afraid that Xiang Ling and the others in his room would see her.

When she turned her head again, Gu Yu was already standing in front of her. His height, which was more than a head taller than hers, made her have to look up to see the boy's face, and she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of oppression.

It felt like being enveloped by that oversized cloak.

A strange thought suddenly popped into Xing Xiuyan's mind, and her face turned bright red. She instinctively wanted to turn around and run away.

Gu Yu swiftly grabbed her, pulled her close, and then subtly moved away.

"Is Sister Xing trying to evade her debts?"

"I...I'm not...I..."

Seeing that the girl was stammering and unable to speak, Gu Yu took her soft hand and gently kneaded it.

"They say that knowingly breaking the law is a more serious offense, so shouldn't there be extra interest for refusing to pay debts in person?"

Chapter 42: More Than Just Love at First Sight

"..."

Xing Xiuyan stood frozen in place, as if she had returned to the secluded waterside yesterday, staring blankly at Gu Yu's beautiful, well-defined hands holding her own and playing with them carefully.

Gu Yu wasn't simply trying to take advantage of her. After all, she had learned a few tricks from Sun Lingxu. She rubbed Xing Xiuyan's body a few times to warm her up, and only stopped when she saw that Xing Xiuyan's expression relaxed.

After all, with Yingchun as the mole, it would be easy for them to learn more about her daily life. Moreover, even Yingchun, a proper mistress, often suffers mistreatment, so it's easy to imagine how difficult the young girl's situation must be.

Still holding her hand, he led the girl to a warmer chair, poured her a cup of tea, and then regretfully let go.

It wasn't until the tea was pushed in front of her that Xing Xiuyan belatedly realized what was happening. But by then, her hand had already been touched, and Gu Yu was happily drinking her tea. Would it be inappropriate for her to make a fuss again?

Xing Xiuyan always felt that something was wrong. Why was she always like this, stuck in a rut, unable to let go, and as a result, she always ended up as a punching bag, being manipulated by others...

"Young Master Yu... I didn't mean to evade my debt... it's just..."

After a moment of silence, Xing Xiuyan broke the silence between them, but in her confused state, she didn't even know what she wanted to say.

Gu Yu tilted his head and looked at the girl's furrowed brows, which were furrowed with worry. He couldn't help but chuckle. When the girl glanced at him with a look of embarrassment and annoyance, he calmly took another sip of tea.

"Sister Xing, are you trying to say that, no matter what, men and women should not touch each other, and there is no other way to use this to settle accounts?"

"Yes, yes! -- Ah no, Young Master Yu, please don't misunderstand, what I meant was... it was..."

Seeing Gu Yu's dim gaze, Xing Xiuyan assumed that her nod just now had made him think that she disliked him, so she quickly changed her words. However, she didn't know how to make amends, and for a moment she was so anxious that her face turned red.

After quietly appreciating the beautiful scenery before him, Gu Yu decided to change his opinion of her from "naive goose" to "silly roe deer" in his mind. Wouldn't it be against all reason not to take such an innocent girl home?

"Alas! Sister Xing, you don't know, I have my own reasons for this, and I didn't do this rashly on purpose."

After thinking it over, Gu Yu decided to make up an excuse so that she could accept his advances without feeling guilty. As for whether others believed it or not, that was enough for her to believe it herself!

"Sister Xing should be able to tell, right? My body temperature is slightly different from that of ordinary people, and I don't usually wear many clothes. Actually, I have a lot of internal heat in winter."

"Using cold water or ice to cool down directly is too harmful to the body. Wouldn't it be better to help me out of this urgent situation like Sister Xing did? Wouldn't that be more convenient for both of us?"

Xing Xiuyan kept her head down and didn't say anything.

She figured it out. Although Gu Yu seemed to be talking nonsense, upon closer inspection, it seemed to make some sense. After all, he was indeed wearing very little clothing, and his large hands were indeed warm. But if she stepped back and thought about it more carefully, she realized that this person was just spouting nonsense.

She's not stupid! Even though she seemed as naive as Xiangling because Gu Yu's advances were too direct, she was actually very clear-headed.

The gap between them was simply too vast, so she had never dared to think in that direction. Now that Gu Yu could fabricate such lies to deceive her, his wolfish ambitions were blatantly obvious; how could she not understand?

"You!... Only one hundred times... It's only for the sake of healing, don't overthink it..."

Get it!

Gu Yu couldn't help but grin. Seeing the complicated look in the girl's eyes, he knew he had been exposed, but he didn't care.

After all, a handsome guy in my past life once said that falling in love is as simple as drinking water. You just need to walk up to her and ask if you can date her, and you'll find a relationship.

I don't seem to be doing badly now, do I? Besides, I'm sincere and caring, so I don't believe I can't win over these young ladies who have never met outsiders.

Humans are always tolerant of beautiful things, so what we need to do is constantly test where the limits of tolerance are.

Having figured this out, Gu Yu felt at ease continuing to hold and knead Xing Xiuyan's fair little hand. He then deliberately pushed apart her fingers, which were clasped together in shyness, and inserted them one by one, interlacing his fingers and shaking them in front of her.

Xing Xiuyan didn't know why, but ever since she said that word of tacit consent, she felt her body suddenly get much hotter. Seeing Gu Yu's big hand interlocking with her own, she couldn't help but breathe softly, her face burning hot.

What's wrong with me...?

Even though the two were still just holding hands and there was no further contact, Xing Xiuyan felt her heart pounding wildly, and she felt like she was going to collapse, almost without the strength to support herself.

Gu Yu kept observing the girl's expression, and seeing this, he became even more interested, carefully playing with the girl's soft hands with great interest.

Regardless of their size or plumpness, all the girls in this group had perfectly shaped hands. Some had hands as soft and boneless as Baochai's, while others had hands with distinct knuckles like Daiyu's. Each of them was so exquisite that adding or subtracting even a little would make them look too plump or too thin.

Moreover, Gu Yu has always been enthusiastic about giving them all kinds of pampering. People like Xiangling and Qingwen are never allowed to do heavy work and are treated like young ladies of high birth.

Although Xing Xiuyan did not have such conditions, and could even be described as poor, not only did she have to do needlework herself, but she also had to supplement the family income. However, with her natural beauty, her small hands were still delicate and flawless.

Gu Yu compared it with her sisters, and after thinking for a long time, she still felt that it was most similar to Tan Chun. However, she didn't know why, and then she thought that one was quick-witted and the other was reserved, yet they were strangely similar in this respect. She couldn't help but chuckle.

The soft laugh interrupted Xing Xiuyan's increasingly hazy thoughts. She snapped back to reality, quickly propped herself up, and then secretly glanced at Gu Yu, who was still admiring her with her head down. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, I didn't see how embarrassing I looked just now...

"Cough cough...Young Master Yu, are you... done treating him?"

If you keep touching it, my hand will get hotter than yours.

These words, of course, could only be kept to oneself.

She didn't find Gu Yu's actions that crossed the line particularly unacceptable. Her impoverished life as a dependent since childhood had shown her too much; whether it was the powerful and wealthy gentry who came to offer incense or the poor families, the family affairs hidden in the gossip of the crowd were never new.

The countless stories and anecdotes she had to tell were like a book, leaving her "numb."

Who can say for sure whether her easygoing attitude stems from a sense of helplessness in the face of life's challenges?

She didn't care who would take a liking to her, who would marry her, or what her life would be like after that.

If your parents arrange for you to marry into another family, you'll either live a simple life with plain food and simple meals, or you'll have a better life and live out your life in an ordinary way—that's pretty much it, nothing will be different.

The only unexpected thing was probably the boy's unique sense of style.

Chapter 43 Stop reading such inappropriate content!

She had heard stories of ambitious scholars abandoning their wives, and she had also heard tales of landlords' concubines vying for their affections.

But whether they are high-ranking officials or ordinary people struggling to make a living, their attitudes toward their women are basically the same.

For some, they're treated like playful cats and dogs, pampered and cared for, making them fuss endlessly. For others, they're just life partners, without the mutual affection described in books, only the numbness of deciding what to eat tonight.

Even the most vibrant and handsome young men, the closest to the so-called gentlemen in the books, privately only joked about which girl on the pleasure boat they could win over and have a kiss with, or openly discussed how marrying into a powerful family would lead to a meteoric rise in their careers.

His words were nothing more than treating those women as stepping stones to advancement or as precious treats to satisfy his lust.

Xing Xiuyan formed a bond with Miaoyu at Zizai Panxiang Temple and began learning to read and write under her tutelage. However, the more she read, the more she found the contents of the books to be ridiculously false.

If Miaoyu can remain an outsider as a nun, what can she do?

She thought she would just drift along with the tide of this false world and kept quiet, letting the clouds drift by. Who would have thought that coming to the capital to visit relatives would lead to such an extraordinary encounter?

Upon first meeting, the description of that radiant appearance in books suddenly became vivid, and a corresponding image instantly appeared in my mind. The person seemed to glow, effortlessly drawing attention from those around them.

On second glance, his awkward behavior towards Miss Lin made onlookers chuckle involuntarily.

"He seems somewhat better than that Young Master Bao..."

Throughout the mansion, one could hear voices praising that young master Bao, and the importance that Grandmother Jia placed on him was obvious to the naked eye; he could be described as the jewel of the entire Jia family.

It's a bit better than those fancy-looking products I've seen before, but it's still just so-so.

Seeing the seemingly kind and considerate Master Bao's indifference towards the plain-looking maids, Xing Xiuyan quickly made a judgment in her mind.

They say they're surrounded by women and extremely tolerant of girls... but aren't they still prioritizing sex? They're no different from those pretentious scholars on the pleasure boats outside Suzhou.

Presumably, this young master Yu is the same way?

Xing Xiuyan silently hid in a corner, coldly observing the Yu brother that her sisters had been thinking about for so long. She was bored and just wanted to see what was different about him compared to that Bao Erye who was so highly praised, but then nothing came of it.

If his meticulous and courteous manners are merely the natural grace of a scion of a prominent family, and his ability to effortlessly compose poems and essays is simply a matter of some talent, without reflecting his character, then a closer look at his interactions with his sisters reveals the true difference.

Watching him and Miss Lin engage in a fierce verbal battle, neither willing to back down, yet quickly becoming sarcastic and playful, Xing Xiuyan found it quite unique, even though it seemed somewhat comical—a mix of arrogance and obsequiousness, and not even as tolerant as the usual magnanimity of Master Bao.

It seems... they truly treated Miss Lin and the others as real "people." There was no casualness like one would show to playthings, nor any flirtatious but indifferent disdain. Perhaps this is how Wenjun and Sima were described in the book?

Seeing how openly he helped her face her predicament, and how he never pretended to be reserved or polite, Xing Xiuyan couldn't help but look and think more about the details of how Young Master Yu treated people.

Do such virtuous people truly exist in this world? If so… are they like this?

Now she finally knows the answer.

Although I sensed that this gentleman was a bit too eager... well, as the sages have said, no one is perfect, so I can't ask for too much.

Seeing that she was getting restless from being pinched, Gu Yu stroked her fingers a few more times, feeling an urge to lower his head and kiss her, to put those slender fingers in his mouth and savor them.

Now that we've already talked it out... it doesn't seem like there's any big problem with me saying it?

As Gu Yu slowly raised his hand, seemingly eager to bring the two closer, the girl quickly and hastily withdrew her hand, as if she had seen through his plan.

"Enough, enough! It's getting late, I need to go home too..."

Xing Xiuyan stood up with a flushed face, her hands instinctively hidden behind her back, clenched tightly, and she tried to run away with her head down.

In a good mood, Gu Yu didn't want to provoke her further, so he sat still with a smile, only raising his voice to call out:

"Sister Xing, remember to come early tomorrow, and come with Second Sister and the others."

The girl stumbled, nearly tripping on the threshold, then ran off without looking back.

"Hahaha."

"What's making you so happy, sir?"

Seeing Xing Xiuyan leave, Xiangling walked into the house on her own. Before she even entered, she heard Gu Yu's smug laughter and asked a question.

Gu Yu stood up, stretched her arms, then pulled Xiang Ling over, kissed her cheek, and smiled:

"I'll find you a few more girlfriends soon, aren't you happy?"

"..."

How can you ask yourself if you're happy about something like this?

Even Xiangling, who was usually very obedient, couldn't help but secretly roll her eyes. However, after seeing Gu Yu's strange look, she belatedly rubbed her bottom and nodded sincerely.

"Happy! Has Master and Miss Xing already talked things out?"

She was also aware of Baochai's plan, and seeing how happy Gu Yu was after Xing Xiuyan left, she quickly guessed the truth.

Ruffling the girl's hair, Gu Yu instructed:

"Miss Xing is easily embarrassed, so don't let it slip. Just pretend you don't know anything. Besides, there are still a few others we haven't dealt with yet, so don't ruin things."

"How could I dare to ruin Master's plans? Even if Master told Qingwen, I doubt she would dare."

Xiangling opened her big eyes and snuggled against Gu Yu in a coquettish manner, indicating that she had been wronged, while secretly hinting at Qingwen's strange nature. Gu Yu was laughing so hard he almost burst out laughing.

"You've been reading those storybooks again, and now you're bored because Qingwen isn't teasing you?"

Seeing that she had been exposed in an instant, Xiangling blinked shyly, smiled foolishly, and remained silent.

Isn't it because the novels the author writes are too good? Things like "Your Majesty's concubine is going to accuse so-and-so of adultery" are so captivating, making it impossible to put down and leaving readers exclaiming how wonderful they are.