Xiaoxiang Water Cloud in the Red Chamber

An uninvited guest came to Tanchun's room today—her biological mother, Aunt Zhao.When she heard about Tanchun's engagement, she hurried over. Seeing Tanchun sitting on a chair and weeping, Aunt Zhao felt sad for a while. How many mothers would really hate their daughters.

When Tanchun saw Aunt Zhao coming in, she thought she was here to see his jokes, and said coldly: "What did Auntie come to see my jokes? Now it's your heart, and I'll be strong for the rest of my life." It's not like you ended up in the same fate."

Aunt Zhao's lungs ached from being choked by these words, and she felt distressed seeing her daughter's stubborn face with a cold face, and sighed: "Miss, do you still look at Aunt like this now? How many mothers in this world are indifferent to their daughter's suffering. I also know that I have never studied, and I am always afraid that others will forget me. The girl looks down on me very much if I make trouble every day, but if I don’t, no one will take care of your brother if he really starves to death. Why not I want to live a peaceful life like Aunt Zhou." She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and continued: "The girl always thinks that she will end up like this because she is a concubine, but why doesn't the girl think about it, so what if you are a concubine? It wasn't for the benefit of the family that she was sold into the palace. Now that she has fallen out of favor, you see, the old lady and the others are still trying to find a way to enter the palace. She has become an abandoned child. Good boy, can't you see through our family?"

Tanchun looked at Aunt Zhao's enchanting but vulgar face in surprise, and was speechless. Is this his aunt? How could he say such clear words.

Aunt Zhao saw deep remorse appearing on Tanchun's shocked face, and said with a wry smile: "I have lived in this deep house all my life, no matter how confused I am, I still understand. Thinking infatuatedly, thinking about being a concubine who once got favored and would call the wind and rain and wear gold and silver in the gate of the mansion, the concubine doesn't have the ambition like you, it's just a mundane wish, but it turns out that I am ridiculous when I finally get my wish. Girl, you I also saw what kind of life my aunt is living. My aunt will never go back in this life, but I don't want my daughter to go my old way again, let alone that son who is now suffering from a serious disease and is despised by the Buddha. No matter what, I have to find a way to return to that relative."

Tanchun bowed her head in silence, Aunt Zhao couldn't help feeling uneasy, she had always been afraid of this daughter, she was too dazzling, too smart, and made herself so vulgar, like dust on the ground, so she didn't know what Tanchun was thinking, she As soon as I heard about the whole thing, a strong emotion surged in my heart, and I ran here as soon as my head became hot.But now I'm thinking, maybe Tanchun is willing, just because I don't want to leave home when I just shed tears. Thinking of this, Aunt Zhao's sweat dripped down immediately, and she stammered: "I, I am talking nonsense, if the girl doesn't If you’re happy, just act like your aunt is farting. Ah, bah, bah, I don’t care about such a noble girl, and I dirty her ears, don’t take offense, girl, I’m leaving right now.”

"Auntie." Seeing Aunt Zhao getting up in a panic and about to retreat, Tanchun hurriedly called out.Aunt Zhao looked at Tanchun's sad and joyful appearance, she couldn't help but stop, and watched Tanchun step by step step forward to hug her thin shoulders, the movements were very light, a little trembling, a little strange.This kind of contact between the two of them was only when it was so long that Tanchun had no memory at all.Aunt Zhao was at a loss, raised her hands to cover Tanchun's back, like a cat trying to touch the water, then put them down quickly as if frightened, and called out timidly: "Miss."

Tanchun felt sour, this is her mother, even if she treats her like that, she still loves herself, this is maternal love, there is no calculation, only deep concern, after all, it is too late for me to understand, The opportunity for compensation has been lost.She cried bitterly, calling over and over again: "Mother, I'm sorry." It seemed that she wanted to express her life's regrets once and for all.

Aunt Zhao was stunned by that motherly call, and it took a long time to realize that her daughter called herself again, not a cold "Auntie", but a mother, she felt that her life was worth it, so she hugged her daughter firmly for a long time Then he let go and said: "Girl, why don't you ask the old lady, the old lady likes you very much."

Tan Chun sighed: "Mother is stupid too. If the old lady disagrees with my father's filial piety, she will definitely stop it. It can be seen that the old lady and my father also agreed. The old lady even plots against sister Lin who is a direct blood, let alone me."

Aunt Zhao panicked for a moment and then gritted her teeth and said, "Girl, can you run away?"

Tanchun almost screamed out, his eyes widened and he said, "What, run away!"

Aunt Zhao nodded affirmatively and said: "Now there is only one way, isn't there often girls from rich families who escape from marriage in plays and Gu'er Ci? Where can't I have a meal."

Tanchun shook his head and said: "Those are all evil books. The old lady said that good people's daughters should not be touched. How could Tan'er do this, and how can he behave in the future."

Aunt Zhao said anxiously: "Good girl, you don't care about this, the old lady and the others are not polite. Look at the faces of each of them. Don't tell me they are good people."

Tanchun was heartbroken by this sentence, Pianiang told the truth, and sighed: "Tan'er has never been out of this deep house, how can he escape through so many doors."

Aunt Zhao thought for a long time and said: "I still have some friendship with those maids and women who don't appear on the stage. When the time comes, you will dress up as Huan'er and go out of the back corner door in the dark. If others want to ask me, I will say that you are sick and afraid of contagion." I'm going to my uncle's house to hide, I'm in a hurry, anyway, no one pays attention to our mother and son, so it should be easy to get out."

Tanchun bowed his head in silence for a long time, always feeling uneasy in his heart, but he couldn't think of any better way, because he said: "What should I do if I leave, Auntie?"

Aunt Zhao's heart warmed up, it was the first time she had heard such caring words in all these years, she pretended to be relaxed and said with a smile: "At that time, I'll just beg those women and boys to let them not tell me that I'm going, even if Tell me, I'm Huan'er's mother anyway, so I'll be fined a few bucks, what else can I do. Good girl, as long as you don't be afraid of wolves and tigers, you'll be fine when you go outside and hide at your uncle's house for a while. Alas, if only you, Miss Lin, hadn't broken up with us, she never looked down on our mother and son, and even gave your brother the same things as Baoyu, so you can see that she is a very good person, you really have nowhere to go, please beg her."

Tanchun finally nodded, and Aunt Zhao said happily: "Then I'll prepare clothes for you, and the girl will also pack up. You can't hide the waiter's letter. It doesn't matter if you tell her when the girl is down, and see if she wants to be with you." You go, and you will have a companion by then."

Baochai was startled when she heard it outside, but she didn't expect that after only two days, Tanchun had already settled down, so she let her listen to this astonishing plan.She hurriedly withdrew and walked out of the garden silently, secretly planning what she should do, whether to tell Mrs. Wang or not.Think about Tanchun being nice to me after all, but if I tell Mrs. Wang about it, will she be grateful that I treat my family better.

Tonight is a cloudy day, and the wind in April is still chilling to the bones, which makes people feel uncomfortable from the heart.It was nearly three o'clock in the morning, and the backyard was pitch black. Three figures quietly avoided the people who had spent the night and came to the back corner door.Two servants at the corner gate were yawning and chatting.One of them raised his head and saw three figures and hurriedly said: "Who?" After walking in, he saw Aunt Zhao by the light, and there were two people standing beside him, their heads were lowered under their covers, and their heads were tucked into their cloaks.One person said: "Isn't this my aunt? What are you doing at night? Who are those two people?"

Aunt Zhao took out a tael of silver with a smile and handed it over: "You two brothers have worked hard. This young master Buhuan got a cold today, but it happened to be contagious, and he passed on his little servant Fugui in just one day. I see It’s not good, I want to send them out overnight, so as not to infect everyone in the family. Please find a convenience for the little brother.”

The young man frowned and took a lamp to shine on the two servants of Tanchun. After all, it was dark and he didn't see any flaws, so he said: "Well, really, I won't send it out early."

Aunt Zhao laughed and said: "Yes, I thought I could survive it, but it turned out to be contagious. Thank you little brother."

Tanchun saw his mother nodding and bowing in a humble way, his nose sore, if he used to feel that his aunt was too disrespectful, now he just feels sad.

Just as the boy was about to open the door, suddenly the light was brightly lit in the corridor far away, and a cold voice said: "Who is there?"

Aunt Zhao and the others hurriedly turned their heads when they heard the voice, but they were almost blinded by the light.When they got used to the light, they had already walked in front of them. The three of them were frightened out of their wits. Behind them were a few women holding lights, and in front of them stood three people with sinking faces. They were Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Wang with angry faces. Some of Zhou Rui's family and Lai everyone's were gloating.

Aunt Zhao felt that her calf was starting to twist, shivering like a dead leaf in the cold wind, and Tanchun was like falling into an ice cellar. The posture of the wife was obviously prepared. Who revealed her whereabouts? She and When my aunt spoke, she drove all the girls out of the yard!

"Why are you here, madam?" Aunt Zhao turned her head to look at the third girl, gritted her teeth and said.

Mrs. Wang said calmly, "Hey, isn't this Aunt Zhao? What are Taoists doing in a remote place so late? Could it be that they are here to do something unruly?"

Aunt Zhao was so frightened that she fell to her knees and said: "Madam Mingjian, it is true that Huan'er has an infectious disease, and the slave and servant are afraid that they will be infected with the master in the house, so they send him out overnight."

Mrs. Wang scolded coldly: "Huan'er is the master. If he is sick, he should go to the doctor. What right do you have to drive him out? It's too bold. Zhou Rui's family, don't send Huan'er back!"

Aunt Zhao was so frightened that she hurriedly stood in front of Tanchun and tremblingly said, "I don't dare to bother sister Zhou, his disease is contagious, I'll just send him back by myself."

Zhou Rui's family waved Aunt Zhao to stagger, grabbed Tanchun's lantern to shine a light on it, and shouted intentionally: "Hey, why is it the third girl? What is this talking about?"

Mrs. Wang's complexion changed drastically, and she said coldly: "What's going on here!?" The doorman was frightened when he heard it, God, he almost let the master and girl out by himself, and quickly fell to his knees.

Mrs. Wang snorted coldly and said: "Go back to me. It's not proper to come here one by one in public. Zhou Rui's family, I will leave the rest to you."

Back at Mrs. Wang's room, Mrs. Wang was sitting on the kang with her face sinking like water. Several bright candles made her shadow deformed, making her look extremely hideous.Aunt Zhao and Tanchun Shishu knelt on the ground trembling like chaff, Mrs. Wang sneered and said, "What a daughter, you are really talented. You really crawled out of the intestines of a slave. You can't get on the stage anyway. Tell me about it." What is it for?"

Aunt Zhao kowtowed again and again: "Ma'am, don't blame the third girl. I was deceived by lard and urged the third girl to leave home. The third girl was also forced by me. My wife pity the third girl. She has been obeying my wife all these years." .”

It was only at this time that Tanchun realized how terrifying the wife he was flattering was. Those cold, snake-like eyes wanted to nail her to the ground. Why did he abandon his mother for so many years for such a person.She silently watched her mother kowtow and her head was covered with blood in an instant, and suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Aunt Zhao and cried, "Auntie, don't do this. Madam, don't blame Auntie, it's because I don't want to marry Lu Shizi My aunt tried to send me away. My aunt is a slave, how dare she listen to her master, as long as my wife doesn't care about it, Tanchun will definitely listen to my wife's words, and I won't dare to go against my wife's wishes."

Mrs. Wang laughed back angrily, and said with a smile all over her face: "It seems that the third girl has really grown up, and she even knows how to choose a man for herself."

Tanchun's face flushed with embarrassment, reflecting the candlelight like bright red roses.Mrs. Wang's heart skipped a beat when she saw it, these three girls look so pretty.Thinking of having to rely on Tanchun to climb up to Lu Shizi, I can't go too far, and it's no longer a moment to settle accounts.She put away her sneer, her face returned to kindness and said: "Forget it, it's my fault that I can't explain clearly. Although Lu Shizi is not in good health now, what is the ability to be loyal to the palace? The doctor can't find it. You all panic when you hear the wind is the rain." I don't blame you for being like a chicken, but you have violated the etiquette and law after all. If you don't punish, you will not be able to convince the public. Aunt Zhao will kneel in the Buddhist hall behind for a month every three months. Well, you can’t do it like this. I’ll ask four more nuns to teach you the rules. Don’t lose your manners when you go to the prince’s house. The servant has already said that Ping’er should visit the girl, so let’s learn etiquette together. I’m tired too. , all go down."

Aunt Zhao and Tanchun couldn't believe that Mrs. Wang let them go like this.Seeing Mrs. Wang's phantom-like face melting in the candlelight in disbelief, she forgot to react for a while.

Mrs. Wang snorted and said, "Why, is such a punishment too heavy?"

The three hurriedly kowtowed to thank each other, supported each other and slowly retreated.

Mrs. Wang leaned on the kang and stared coldly at the staggering backs of the three, her nails almost digging into their flesh.It seemed that Aunt Zhao couldn't stay anymore, for daring to do such a bold thing, it was a great insult to her majesty, it was like slapping herself hard.

Tanchun helped Aunt Zhao to go back, and the mother and daughter burst into tears.Aunt Zhao sighed: "Third girl, it's my aunt's fault that made you fall out of favor in front of my aunt. What should you do if you get married and feel wronged?"

Tanchun never imagined that this is what Auntie is concerned about now, so she knelt down and said, "Mother, after all, my daughter is still useful, and nothing will happen, but mother, my daughter will leave in less than a month, and I'm afraid she won't be able to do it after today." There will be a chance to see my mother. My mother must be careful of my wife. My daughter always feels uneasy. How could my wife let us go so easily in this matter today. My aunt also told Huan'er that she must be more careful these days , don’t bump into Auntie.”

It only took more than ten days for Yingchun to get married, Mrs. Wang was afraid that things would change for a long time, so she hurriedly carried Tanchun to Zhongshun Palace in a small sedan chair. After all, she was a side concubine and didn't even have any ceremony.For a while, Jiamu only saved Xiangyun and Xichun, and Jiamu felt more and more desolate and desolate in the house.

Not to mention that Tanchun was so ashamed to see Lu Jingyuan in the palace, and Daiyu was much more lively with Xinyue's company.Na Xinyue especially admired Daiyu's piano skills, so she pestered Daiyu to discuss and ask for advice.When I am free, I will dance the sword once or twice.Yifei and Shui Rong occasionally spend time with Daiyu.Gradually, Daiyu noticed that Xinyue's gaze towards her brother changed at some point, a little bit shy and a little bit probing.Sensitive as she is, she seems to smell something unusual, so she can't help but observe it secretly.

In a blink of an eye, it was almost the Dragon Boat Festival, and Xin Yuejing was very anxious, so she discussed with Daiyu: "Sister Lin, let's go out to play at the Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow, and I haven't really visited the capital in the few years since I've been in the capital."

Daiyu frowned lightly and said, "I don't care, but you see my brother and brother Rong are getting busier these days, and I'm afraid they are planning some big move. If we go out like this, if something happens, won't we cause trouble for them?"

Xinyue smiled and said: "No, no, not to mention that Sister Hongyan and the others are first-class masters, even I am pretty good at it, it is enough to protect my sister."

Daiyu slapped Xinyue lightly and said, "It's obvious that I'm weak, so I don't know how to wield swords, and I'm not a young lady who can't walk. But I still have to ask my brother and them about this."

Xinyue shook Daiyu's arm and said, "My good sister, if you tell them they won't let you go, there must be a lot of reasons waiting, especially with that big jealousy of my cousin, how could I let my sister go out. But they have to follow We can't have fun, and it also delays their serious business, and you also said that they are very busy now."

Daiyu looked at Hongyan Chunxian and the others, Hongyan smiled and said: "It's not impossible for the girl to go out, but I still have to tell the young master."

Xinyue pursed her petal-like lips, unwilling to sit on the bed.Hongyan shook her head and went out to ask Yifei for instructions, Yifei thought for a while and said: "Forget it, it's not good for the two of them to be bored at home every day, especially Yu'er is getting lazy now, thanks to Princess Xinyue making a fuss Her. I'll send some hidden guards to protect them. By the way, let them both change into men's clothes and dress more ordinary."

Hongyan nodded, and came back to talk to Xinyue, Xinyue cheered and gave Hongyan a big hug, and said with a smile: "Sister Hongyan is so kind. I have long wanted to change into men's clothes and walk outside. I can fight against injustices and live a hero's addiction to anything."

Xinyue's girl is used to holding swords, Xueyan is quite right when she hears it, but Chunxian Hongyan shakes her head repeatedly, feeling a little uneasy in her heart, can they play in peace with such a lively and active girl.

The next day, Daiyu and Xinyue changed into men's clothes, Chunxian Xueyan disguised as servants, Yuehua, Luqing and Fengjian were still dressed as maids.The six of them deliberately dressed in plain clothes, but how could Daiyu and Xinyue Ren pretend to be ugly, how could they hide the noble temperament of Tsinghua University in their bones.