Xiaoxiang Water Cloud in the Red Chamber

The sea rises and the moon rises, and the end of the world shares this moment.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a day for reunion. Concubine Bei Jing sent people to clean up the Qingyin Pavilion in Yiyuan Garden early on, because the pavilion is open and built on the water, and the bright moon reflecting the clear waves is the most pleasing to the eye.

That night, the gate of Yiyuan Garden was wide open, and on the platform in front of Yuxintang, there were burning incense sticks, holding wind candles, and offering melon cakes and various fruits.It's really moonlight lanterns, popular cigarettes, brilliant and glamorous, not shapeable.The ground is covered with worship blankets and brocade mattresses.Concubine Beijing put incense on her hands and worshiped, and Daiyu and others also paid homage.The concubine said with a smile: "Yu'er is so beautiful that I don't need to beg for obeisance. If I save Chang'e from embarrassing that month, then we won't be able to enjoy the full moon today." Daiyu's face flew a blush, After all, she was used to being teased by the concubine, and she only smiled with her small mouth, which made the concubine sigh and say that Yu'er is not funny.Daiyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but Xueyan and other maids were laughing in their hearts, what's not to be funny, Toffee, you old man should be teasing a cat.

After the moon worship, the concubine took Daiyu on her arm and led a group of maidservants to Qingyin Pavilion, where Prince Beijing Shui Yue and Shui Rong were already there.Seeing them arrive, they hurriedly gave up their seats with a smile.The whole family sat together.

The clear light is shining brightly, sprinkled all over the world, only to see a bright moon in the sky, a water moon in the lake, competing for brilliance from top to bottom.As soon as the breeze passes, the surface of the sparkling pool is wrinkled and green, which is really refreshing.The whole world seems to have turned into a huge crystal, clear and transparent, crystal clear.The shadows of a few osmanthus trees near the water are dancing, and the flowers on the trees are like stars. The faint fragrance spreads with the breeze, and is more fragrant and fresh by the dense water vapor.

The family chatted and laughed, but they were just homely words, but there was warmth everywhere.The concubine was happy, and called two girls who could play musical instruments.Playing the flute and playing the zither far away under the osmanthus tree, with the sound of water, the sound becomes more and more lingering, taking advantage of the bright moon and clear wind, the sky and the earth are clean, it is really disturbing, and all worries are eliminated, which makes Beijing Prince Shui Yue laugh: "The madam is enjoying herself more and more. It's hard to think about it." The concubine rolled his eyes at him, smiled triumphantly, and was full of energy.

The concubine also proposed to write poems in couplets. All four of them are talented people, regardless of their status, it's very lively to compete with each other.In the end, Daiyu came out on top with quick wit and wit.The concubine happily poured a glass of wine for Daiyu herself and said, "You are truly worthy of being a scholarly family, the daughter of Tanhualang, your talent will surely surpass your father's in a few years."

The quarrel lasted until about three o'clock, and Shui Yue was afraid that his wife would be tired, so he coaxed and lied to take his own wife back to the room.Ask Shui Rong Daiyu not to get tired from playing too late.

The sound of the piano gradually stopped, and the world was quiet and peaceful.Daiyu walked out of Qingyin Pavilion slowly, and stood on the bamboo bridge, leaning on the bamboo railing in a daze.Ripples lingered on the water surface, and the breeze hit, crushing a pool of moon shadows and scattering them into stars.Maybe it was too quiet, but my heart fluctuated a little bit, and I couldn't help but think of the scene of last year's Mid-Autumn Festival.At that time, my mother was still there, and the family was also in the pavilion above the small lake. At that time, I wrote a poem. I was so happy that my mother hugged and caressed me for a long time, and my father also had a proud smile on his face.Now, in just one year, things have changed. Not only has he lost his mother, but he has also gone far away. On this day of reunion, he is alone, like a lone goose wandering in a foreign land. The world is unpredictable and unpredictable.Thinking of this, tears have already filled my eyes.

Water dissolves on Daiyu's body with the most care, and she has already noticed her meaning.The heart is also hurt.He smiled at Daiyu and said, "Dai'er, brother Rong has prepared a big gift for you."

Daiyu couldn't get interested, so she hummed lightly, still staring at the lake in a daze.Suddenly, Shui Rong's hand stretched out in front of her eyes, holding a plain letterhead in his hand.Suspiciously, Daiyu took the letter paper dangling in front of her eyes, and opened it.Under the shadow of the moonlight, what caught my eyes was a handsome and elegant handwriting, but it was the handwriting of my father Lin Ruhai.Daiyu raised her head in surprise, and saw that Shui Rong was staring at herself with a smile as warm as moonlight.Daiyu couldn't wait to read: "Yu'er is like meeting you. She has been away from home for several months... the word father."

Daiyu's heart was fluctuating, and she read the letter over and over again. The earnest exhortations made her almost feel that her father was standing in front of her, looking at her with concern and worry, and calling her name with a smile on his lips. "Daddy." She murmured softly, and the crystal tears slowly rolled down.

Seeing Daiyu weeping, Shui Rong immediately became anxious, and shouted helplessly, "What's wrong with Dai'er."

Daiyu smiled at him, with tears lining her pearly and jade-like cheeks, like pear blossoms blooming under the moon, beautiful and elegant: "Brother Rong, thank you, I'm so happy."

Shui Rong heaved a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "Dai'er scared me to death, I said I would give you a surprise, but when you cried, I was only left with shock, and the joy was gone."

Daiyu smiled sweetly: "It's really a surprise. Stupid brother, I don't even know that I'm crying with joy."

Shui Rong drew back his sword eyebrows, and sighed softly: "Silly Dai'er, my heart is in a mess when you cry, so I don't know what joy and sorrow are."

Daiyu's small body shook slightly, savoring the meaning of the words carefully, like a thunderbolt, she couldn't help raising her beautiful little face to look at the watery eyes, those clear eyes were full of reflections. own shadow.

Shui Rong sees Daiyu looking at him, with a blurred expression on his face, seemingly moved or sighed.Knowing that she is still young, her mind is ignorant, and she can't be impatient, so she just smiled and said no more.

The night dew is getting thicker, but Daiyu still doesn't feel sleepy at all.Afraid that Daiyu would be cold, Shui Rong ordered Chunxian to fetch a light blue cloak embroidered with folded branches, put it on Daiyu herself, and said with a smile, "It's cold in the water, let's go for a stroll in the garden."

Daiyu nodded.The two of them crossed the bamboo bridge, turned a corner and walked towards the garden.Jianlan is planted on both sides of the road. Under the bright and bright moon, the shadows of the flowers are faint, and the fragrance is far and long, which is very pleasant.Both Shui Rong and Daiyu felt that this tranquility was rare and warm, and even their hearts calmed down in this tranquility, reveling in the soft fragrance of moon shadow flowers.Therefore, the two of them did not speak, just holding hands and walking quietly on the gravel road, feeling the tranquility and serenity, thinking that if they could walk like this for a lifetime, they would have no regrets.

Although the love has not arisen, the heart has been intoxicated.

What Beijing Palace gave Daiyu was full of happiness and warmth, it was like another home for Daiyu who was alone in a foreign land.It's just a pity that it's not her own home after all, and she has to go back.After staying for a month and a half, Daiyu finally returned to the Lin Mansion with the concubine and Shui Rong full of reluctance.The concubine was afraid that she would be wronged by being alone at home, so she gave away a bunch of things, and gave Daiyu a big girl named Hong Yan, who was originally given to Bei Jing by the queen of the palace. The concubine was a third-rank female official in the palace, and no one dared to underestimate her.The empress is the concubine's cousin, so the person who sent her to her was very clever, seeing that Concubine Beijing valued Daiyu, and that Daiyu was intelligent and elegant, she loved her from the bottom of her heart, so she was very dedicated.

Daiyu went back to the mansion. Dao Qianxue was bought back by Lin Feng, the shopkeeper of Yiyuehuo two days ago, and according to the girl's order, she was temporarily placed in the mansion to do some sundries.Daiyu hurriedly called Qianxue, and when Qianxue saw Daiyu knelt down, she kowtowed to thank Daiyu for saving her life.

Daiyu looked carefully and found that Qianxue had lost a lot of weight. She couldn't help but sighed: "You can bear it. I guessed that you would come out in a few days. I didn't know it took so long. Why bother to suffer this."

Qianxue blushed slightly, and said after a long while: "After all, I still have such an infatuation, so I have endured those crimes. Who would have thought that a few days ago, Second Master Bao took advantage of the old lady's pleasure to beg Qingwen to make up for me. I’m missing, I’ve already forgotten about me, so I’m discouraged. To be honest, I thought the girl had forgotten me for so long, but shopkeeper Lin sent someone to guard outside Jia’s house every day. When I came out, I went straight Bought me back. Speaking of it, the girl is sincere. The girl Bao said something for me, and the servant girl was also grateful, but after calming down and thinking about it, she felt a little strange. The second master of Ribao seemed to have regretted it that day. Well, if she didn't say that, maybe the servant would not have been demoted, but the servant is still grateful."

Daiyu lamented that girls in this world are infatuated after all, and asked curiously, "Why do you miss Sister Bao so much?"

Qianxue smiled sarcastically: "That day when the slave girl went to wash clothes by the pond, Xiren and Miss Bao were talking at the other end of the tree. Xiren said, 'Qixue's hooves are usually at odds with mine, and the most important thing is to pinch them sharply. I don't want to say demote, so I'll demote. Fortunately, she can bear the idleness of those old mothers. I feel sorry for her." But Miss Bao said, "It's just her life. Don't be sad, everyone has their own. To be honest, even I don't like her frivolous look at ordinary times, how can I know that her today's result is not her fault. I heard that Baoyu wanted Qingwen, but she has the same temper as that Qianxue, I'm afraid it will be worse It's more powerful and beautiful, but you have to be careful." Only then did I realize that Miss Bao had no sympathy for me at all. Later, when I thought about it carefully, what she said that day was a bit deliberate, although she There is nothing to calculate against me as a servant girl, this possibility is not great, but maybe it is the disgust of me that caused her to do this unintentionally. I was mistaken and thought she was a benefactor. "

Daiyu sighed for a while, and didn't make a judgment, but only asked Qianxue if she would like to stay or not. She was good at needlework, so she was recommended to an embroidery workshop of the Lin family.Since then, Qianxue stayed in the Lin family with all her heart.

Five or six days after Daiyu returned to the Lin Mansion, the Jia Mansion hurriedly sent someone to pick her up.Said that the ancestor and his wife missed the girl and wanted to pick her up for a few days.

Daiyu felt strange, the old ancestor thought she could understand why she hung up on the second aunt.Chun Xian sneered and said, "Why is the girl so confused? The ancestors really missed the girl a little bit, but it was not because they saw the girl who caught the attention of the Beijing Palace. The King of Beijing is a celebrity in front of the emperor. Trying to curry favor with the girl, so that the girl can say more good things in front of the Beijing Palace. Girl, don't forget that there is another person in their family who is always in the palace. As for the second wife who misses you, it must be forced by the ancestors Let the servants say so, so that the girl can feel that your second aunt has repented, and let the girl feel relieved. Huh, if you are sincere, why don't you think that the girl is alone here with no relatives during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and take the girl away .At that time, all they watched was their daughter's promotion."

Daiyu was a little bored, and sighed softly: "I didn't expect them to have so many thoughts. I just know the concubine, so it's possible that I can let the concubine take care of the emperor's family affairs. It's really funny."

Hongyan laughed beside her and said, "Miss, how do you know that our concubine is the cousin of the empress, and we have had the best relationship since we were young. The empress rules the harem. If I beg the concubine to speak to the empress, will Yuan Chang be there?" Worry no longer rises a few steps higher."

Daiyu was surprised that there was still such a relationship.

Xueyan said: "Girl, don't go, if you don't have anything, send it to your door and let people count."

Daiyu shook her head and said: "I'm afraid it's not good. Didn't Lin Zhixiao's family just say that my grandmother wanted to pick me up in vain? Now it's been more than a month, and the old ancestor thinks that I can't eat and sleep well, and he has already suffered from this disease." After a few days, if I don’t go again, it will be called unfilial to people, and it’s fine to say that I am, but it’s not good to insult the Lin family. My Lin family’s reputation is not allowed to be tarnished like this. Now that I know them I will definitely not let them figure it out. But maybe we are wrong, after all, I am still a child, and maybe my grandmother is too embarrassed to let me be a child to ask the concubine to take care of the emperor's wife and concubines."

Chunxian Xueyan shook her head in disbelief.Hongyan smiled and said: "Since that's the case, it's okay for the girl to go. This time, Mother Wang doesn't need to go. With me following, I want to see what they dare to say in front of me. Girl just stay at ease, these troublesome things Don't worry about it."

Chunxian hammered her head, and said with a smile: "I'm really stupid, why did I forget sister Hongyan, speaking of which, you are a third-rank just like that Wang Shu."

Daiyu didn't arrive at Jia's mansion until after noon, and Baoyu and all the sisters had already picked her up.Baoyu was happy to be next to Daiyu, but knowing that Daiyu hated touching her most, and was afraid of making mistakes if she wanted to move, she felt very tormented.

After entering the house, Daiyu sat beside Jiamu after seeing the ceremony.Jia Mu laughed and said, "Yu'er hasn't come here for so long, she looks much better than before, but she found a good doctor."

Daiyu smiled and said: "It's just a change of doctor, but the medicine prescribed is very suitable for the disease, but he is so weird that he doesn't even show the prescription, but only prepares the medicine and delivers it to me on time, saying that he is afraid that people will learn the prescription. go."

Jia Mu smiled and said: "Those high-ranking people have some eccentricities. It is good luck for Yu'er to meet him. By the way, I got some high-quality Siamese tribute tea a while ago. Let Yu'er brew it and taste it." A servant girl agreed to go.

Hongyan smiled behind Daiyu: "You can't do it, old lady, our girl has a weak spleen and stomach, the doctor told me not to drink tea."

Mrs. Wang said displeasedly: "Where is this rule? What are you talking about like a girl?" It's not your Jia family's servant, what kind of master does the second wife play here, even the lesson needs to be taught by our girl, if not, the second wife will do it for her."

"You!" Mrs. Wang was choked by Hong Yan's words, her face turned purple and then blue, pointing at Hong Yan, she trembled and was speechless.It was only then that everyone realized that Mother Wang was not behind Daiyu, but there was an extra girl, in her twenties, tall, with a pretty face, with a cool demeanor, and her clothes were different from other girls.

Mother Jia was shocked, she stood up quickly and said, "It's my old eyes that are dizzy. It turns out that Miss Hongyan is here, and her family is ignorant. I really neglected the girl. Please sit down quickly."

Everyone in the room became more and more suspicious, not knowing that a girl is worth the fuss of the ancestors, so terrified.

Hong Yan hurriedly smiled and said: "I don't dare to be a girl, how can I be on the stage as a girl, just serve our girl well."

Jia's mother refused, so Hongyan finally took the first seat under Daiyu.Jia's mother was depressed, she couldn't say anything with Hongyan here.He had to laugh and said, "Why did Miss Hongyan follow Yu'er?"

Hong Yan smiled and said: "This is my good fortune. The girl went to the Beijing Prince's Mansion, and the concubine liked it very much. Because she said that the girl was out at a young age, and she was afraid that the servants would be wronged by some incomprehension. So I was assigned to the girl. Alas, a person like the girl is considerate and quiet, really like a daughter of everyone, and I have benefited a lot."

Jia Mu laughed and said, "It's my luck, Yu'er, to have the girl's blue eyes."

Her words meant to compliment the Prince of Beijing Palace, but Hongyan was not happy, and said lightly: "Just now I also said that it is my good fortune to serve the girl. The girl has a noble status and is the most important guest of the concubine. Why is it that I'm a girl's blessing to serve you, and if it spreads out, I'll still be regarded as a servant of our Beijing Prince's Mansion, regardless of dignity."

Mother Jia's expression froze for a moment, and she immediately returned to normal, smiling and saying, "I've made a mistake."

It was only then that everyone knew that Hongyan was actually from the Beijing Prince's Mansion. Judging by Mother Jia's respectful appearance, she was not an ordinary maid.

Sister Feng smiled and said: "It can be seen that it is really the blood of the ancestors. Sister Lin's benefits are really unmatched. Alas, if I have the benefits of my sister, I will save people from saying that I am a poor and settled family every day. It’s like being laughed at like a chicken.”

There was a smile on Jia Mu's face, she pointed at Sister Feng and said with a smile: "Just you smart, I'm not feeling well these two days, and I'm afraid I'll disturb your sister if I boil the medicine and fire, so why don't you hurry up and kill my sister in my yard?" The room in the West Wing was cleared out for your sister to live in, so she grinds her teeth here."

Sister Feng smiled triumphantly and said: "This is what the ancestors said. Our mother and I want to go together. I packed it up yesterday. Everything is new. My sister promises to like it."

Mother Jia was even more joyful, and she relied more and more on Sister Feng's ability to handle affairs.

Daiyu hurriedly said: "When did the ancestor get sick, Yu'er would have come early if he knew about it, it's really rude."

Jia Mu smiled, and said lovingly: "You just came back from the Northern Prince's Mansion those few days, how can I tell you to trouble yourself. I just caught some wind and cold because of my bad weather. They made a fuss."

Daiyu said with a smile: "This is also the filial piety of being a junior."

Mrs. Wang looked at Jiamu and Daiyu Hongyan talking and laughing coldly, she hated her so much that she could hardly maintain her dull expression.I was scolded by a servant girl in front of my face, but the old lady still favored that girl, and ordered my wife's face where to put it.

At this time, Xichun smiled and said: "Ancestor, our sisters haven't seen Sister Lin for a long time, and I want to have a few private words with Sister Lin, please ask the ancestor to lend us Sister Lin for a while."

Jia Mu smiled and said, "You little sisters are being picky, and I'm too restrained. Go out and have fun. But your sister Lin is weak, so don't let her get tired."

Xichun nodded with a smile on her face, pulled Daiyu and ran out.Yingchun and so on also followed out.Baoyu got up when she saw it, but was stopped by Mrs. Wang and said, "Baoyu is back, and the sisters are whispering, what are you going to do with me?"

Seeing Mrs. Wang's displeasure, Baoyu had no choice but to stop and sat back sullenly.

But Jia Mu said: "What's the matter? Their children's house is so lively together. It's boring for Baoyu to accompany us adults."

Madam Wang frowned and sighed.Baoyu jumped up as if he had received an amnesty early, and chased him out.