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

Page 157

With a serious expression, Gu Yu held the girl's soft hand and ran all the way, not giving her a chance to speak again, until they had left Yihong Courtyard behind and then slowly stopped.

Xing Xiuyan breathed softly, a fine layer of sweat on her forehead. She had heard the commotion from inside the brothel, which put her suspicions about Gu Yu deliberately taking advantage of her down. She tentatively tried to pull her hand away, and managed to withdraw it easily.

Before she could even catch her breath, Gu Yu naturally pulled out a handkerchief, stood in front of her, and gently bent down to wipe her sweat.

"You have to be careful if you sweat in this cold weather, or you'll catch a cold right away."

Before she could react, Gu Yu withdrew his attack, leaving her in a dilemma—neither retreating nor staying—feeling extremely uncomfortable.

For some reason, even though she could still faintly hear some noises from the Yihong Courtyard behind her, Xing Xiuyan felt that it was quieter now than when the two of them had just come out of the Longcui Nunnery.

After walking alongside Gu Yu for a while, Xing Xiuyan hesitated several times before finally breaking the unsettling silence with her words.

"Young Master Yu..."

"Ok?"

"We weren't that close before, were we? We're not even related, so why are you..."

She was still a little embarrassed to say what she was about to say. Although she didn't seem to be that averse to this kind of behavior of repeatedly testing the boundaries, she at least had to show her attitude!

"Once a stranger, twice a friend... cough cough! What I mean is, the more you interact with Sister Xing, the more familiar you'll become, right?"

"Or... does Sister Xing look down on me?"

Xing Xiuyan panicked and was about to look up to explain that she didn't mean it that way, but seeing the teasing look on Gu Yu's face, she quickly realized that it was just a joke and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You...!"

It was rare to see the girl so lively, and Gu Yu found her coquettish expression quite alluring, giving him an urge to continue teasing her.

"Then why did you suddenly address me like that...?"

After this commotion, Xing Xiuyan relaxed a lot and unknowingly got closer to Gu Yu. Hiding behind him, she felt much warmer.

Gu Yu carefully shifted her body slightly to block more of the wind for her, and upon hearing this, smiled and asked in return:

"What's this address? Could it be that Sister Xing isn't older than me? Is there something wrong with that?"

What a joke! Does "Miss Xing" sound as intimate as "Sister Xing"?

Gu Yu, who is dedicated to quickly eliminating the sense of boundaries in young girls, would naturally not make a mistake in such details.

Xing Xiuyan looked up at the tall figure in front of her, then lowered her head with a strange expression, unsure of what to say.

If Gu Yu hadn't brought it up, she would have almost forgotten that this guy was two or three years younger than her...

Although Master Bao seems to be a bit older than this one, he still looks like a child at first glance, while this one's behavior is... lecherous!

Chapter 40 Crane or Silly Goose?

For the rest of the journey, Gu Yu accompanied her, chatting all the way. Their relationship developed rapidly, and Xing Xiuyan became more and more open. She felt as if they had known each other for more than ten years and were the most intimate confidants.

When they arrived at the edge of Zilingzhou, Gu Yu stopped. Xing Xiuyan, who was smiling, almost bumped into him. She quickly braced herself against his back before realizing they had arrived.

"...I'm back now. Put your cloak on, or you'll catch a cold."

Touching the cloak that had been keeping her warm, Xing Xiuyan felt a strange sense of reluctance. She had an urge to keep it forever, even if it meant exchanging it for another one.

Unfortunately, she was too poor to afford a replacement.

Suppressing her reluctance, Xing Xiuyan was about to untie the jade and return it to its owner when suddenly her shoulder felt heavy. Gu Yu had put his arm around her and turned her around, continuing to push her forward.

"We haven't even gone in yet, Sister Xing, what's the rush? Just take it over to me tomorrow when it's warmer during the day to change into a cotton coat."

"How can that be? I—"

"It seems that Sister Xing thinks my hands are warmer than a cotton coat?"

Gu Yu tilted his head and deliberately interrupted the girl with a joke, but saw her hurriedly look away, her face still flushed suspiciously, and his heart skipped a beat.

It seems to be working quite well?

For a moment, Gu Yu forgot to put his hand down and walked forward with his arm around the girl's slender shoulder. Xing Erxiuyan felt a pair of warm, large hands surrounding her, as if even the wind had disappeared. She felt so comfortable that she wanted to snuggle into his arms.

After a long while, Xing Xiuyan finally realized what had happened. Her heart was pounding, but she dared not make any unnecessary movements.

What have I been doing all this time?!

The girl, desperately trying to recall whether she had actually snuggled into someone's arms, naturally overlooked the strange thing about why the journey, which usually took only a short while, was taking so long today. She simply followed Gu Yu's steps mechanically.

Gu Yu kept a close eye on her condition and naturally noticed her suddenly disordered breathing and gait. He pretended not to understand and lingered for a while before finally letting go.

"Go inside. Come visit me whenever you have time, okay?"

The gentle voice was lowered to a whisper, reaching deep into the girl's heart. Xing Xiuyan lowered her head and remained silent, her face already flushed.

She wondered if her brain had been frozen, because everything seemed a little off today.

Maybe Young Master Yu just genuinely sees me as an older sister... or maybe he takes pity on me and takes care of me a little? Or is this how he always treats his sisters, so he's just used to dealing with me this way?

Why do I always assume that way about people?

But if she were to actually ask... she didn't have the guts. Besides, what was their status, and what was hers? That would be giving herself too much credit.

Xing Xiuyan wisely dismissed any ambiguous thoughts in her mind and could only accept this domineering kindness with resignation.

"Thank you... I will return the ransom to you in a while."

"?"

Gu Yu frowned slightly. Could it be that she had just imagined it? Why did it feel like the two of them had become distant and polite again?

Only a few lanterns dotted the road, and Gu Yu had to get closer to see the girl's pretty face. So he bent down and stared intently at Xing Xiuyan's fair face.

"Is Sister Xing really going to pay the ransom?"

"…Um."

Xing Xiuyan tilted her head back uncomfortably, her heart racing slightly, unable to bear Gu Yu's gaze.

Gu Yu frowned even more, watching the girl's evasive posture. His mind raced, and after a long while, he suddenly moved closer, not giving her any more room to dodge.

"If it really needs to be repaid, it would be five hundred taels of silver. When will Sister Xing be able to repay it?"

"What?! I only pawned it for two taels of silver!"

Xing Xiuyan's eyes widened suddenly as she stared blankly at the shameless man. She still had the pawn ticket in her hands, how could he try to extort her like this? Did he think she wouldn't be able to hold out for a few more days before redeeming it?

Gu Yu, vaguely sensing the problem, decisively changed her approach and chuckled upon hearing this:

“I always like to plan things out before I act. It just so happens that the shop that Sister Xing went to is one of our own, so I took it back first to keep it safe for Sister Xing.”

"Then why do you still need so much...?"

Xing Xiuyan gave him a resentful look. "There are no honest merchants out there. I thought I had met a good person, but he ripped me off so badly. I can just get through this winter and make another one!"

"Hey, Sister Xing, you've misunderstood. Since we're talking about repaying the money, it's all business, isn't that right?"

The girl nodded upon hearing this. It is said that even close brothers should keep clear accounts, so it is only natural to clarify things when discussing accounts.

"After I brought the cotton coat back, I thought I'd fix it up for my sister. So I sent a few young maids to bathe and burn incense, and then I used the sandalwood bestowed by the palace to fumigate it. Later, it will be mended with thousands of gold threads. No matter how you look at it, it will cost..."

Seeing that he was talking more and more outrageous, Xing Xiuyan couldn't help but gently punch him with her small fist, and then quickly withdrew it.

"Stop talking nonsense! ...It's getting late, you should go home now."

At least the matter of repaying the money was not mentioned again, so Gu Yu shut up. However, he suddenly reached out, took her hand, squeezed it, and then quickly let go and ran away.

"This is five taels."

"Ugh!"

The girl was caught off guard by the sudden attack and didn't react until Gu Yu had already walked several steps away. Then her face suddenly flushed, her heart pounded, and she couldn't help but stomp her foot.

"What the hell is this..."

If shaking hands counts as five taels... does that mean you have to shake hands a hundred times?

Now that the cotton-padded coats are in someone else's hands, and I was previously torn between the two options, wouldn't it be like losing both my wife and my army if I looked at it this way?

Her hands still seemed to retain some warmth. Xing Xiuyan pulled them into her bosom, tugged at her cloak, and looked back at the figure that was gradually disappearing around the corner. A blush rose uncontrollably on her face.

Could it be… no, no, with so many other women around, why would they want me? …But… oh dear!

It wasn't until she was awakened by the group of old women coming to keep watch at night that Xing Xiuyan stretched her stiff body, quickly entered Zilingzhou, lifted the curtain, and went into her room.

There was still only one oil lamp burning in the room, and the lazy maids, as always, did not bring hot tea in time. However, Xing Xiuyan did not care. She poured herself a cup of tea that was not yet completely cold, and then clutched the corner of her cloak and stared blankly.

"Gu... Yu... it really is a nice name... its flaws don't detract from its overall beauty... pfft~"

Suddenly remembering something, the girl smiled foolishly, blushed, and curled her fingers. Then, she suddenly looked up alertly and, seeing that the room was still quiet, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Tomorrow... or maybe the day after? No, no... what if they come up with another way to raise interest rates..."

Although she hadn't had much contact with him, the girl seemed to have a magical premonition of his bad temper.

Chapter 41 More Money Required

The next day was a rare sunny day. After the women went to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia as usual, Xing Xiuyan looked at the group of beautiful women and felt inexplicably guilty, so she casually made an excuse to go back first.

Last night, she had neatly folded Gu Yu's trench coat and placed it by the bed. Now that she was back, she couldn't help but unfold it halfway, her delicate, slender fingers gently stroking the understated and elegant pattern on it. She sat there lost in thought.

Since Yingchun left, the maids and servants in the courtyard have been listlessly hiding back in their rooms, and they didn't even know she had returned.

Sitting there in the room, Xing Xiuyan quickly shivered and finally came to her senses. However, the charcoal brazier from last night had long since gone out, and after fiddling with it for a while, she found no residual heat, so she put down the pliers.

Logically speaking, even if she wasn't a proper relative of the Jia family, since she was staying in the garden, she should have at least maintained proper appearances.

Not to mention that there must be enough coal, even for a young lady like Yingchun who is not favored, they must replenish it in time if she asks, while Xing Xiuyan only gets one basin delivered at night.

It's no use complaining that it's not enough. If the fire gets too big, who will bring you more in the middle of the night?

As for the daytime, if I don't say anything, I'll assume you don't need it; if I do say something...

Thinking of the impatient faces of those old women, who were deliberately complaining in "whispers," and then considering her own purse, Xing Xiuyan would rather endure the cold than ask them for charcoal.

"How about we send it back at noon..."

Xing Xiuyan, rubbing her hands together and pacing back and forth in the room to ward off the cold, breathed out warm air, her gaze involuntarily lingering on the thick cloak spread out on the bed.

Or... should I wear it again?

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the girl seemed to feel the warmth that the cloak brought her, and the heavy sense of security was like the embrace of its owner... Ugh!

Blushing, she put on the cloak and couldn't help but rub her ear against the soft fur at the collar. The girl's slightly stiff body finally relaxed, and she simply climbed onto the bed and shrunk her whole body inside.

That's the perfect size.

As she nuzzled against it, Xing Xiuyan's little head unknowingly buried itself in the leather incense, her nose filled with the rich yet not pungent scent of leather incense, which was refreshing and invigorating. It was obvious that it was made with high-quality spices.

"Such an air of a scion of a noble family... Does he wear it once and then throw it away?"

Xing Xiuyan had a good eye and could tell that this cloak was being worn for the first time. Thinking back to Gu Yu's thin attire when she returned, she suddenly felt a flush on her face and a bold guess formed in her mind.

Could it be... that Young Master Yu deliberately traveled here...?

Bah! Xing Xiuyan, you're shameless!

The girl had never heard of the word "Puxin" before, but she was undoubtedly filled with shame at that moment.

You're so easily pleased! Young Master Yu has only been kind to you a little, and you, a mere peasant woman, are always having such wild thoughts!

With her eyes closed, she lay on the bed, forcing herself not to think too much. Soon, the girl drifted off to sleep in the warmth that enveloped her.

It wasn't until the afternoon, when Xing Xiuyan, who had just hastily filled her stomach, heard Yingchun return and guessed that the pear blossom spring rain had ended, that she went out with her package.

To her surprise, when she arrived at Pear Blossom Spring Rain, she actually saw that some people had not left.

With a half-smile, Daiyu watched as the uncomfortable Xing Xiuyan followed Xiangling into the house. She glanced at Gu Yu with her beautiful, graceful eyes and sneered:

"That's incredibly fast! It's only been a few days, and Master Yu has already captivated her so much that she's practically throwing herself at his doorstep?"

Gu Yu waved her hand dismissively, then grabbed Daiyu's small hand, rubbed it, and smiled as she brought it close to her mouth:

"There wasn't much vinegar in the dish just now, so why does it taste so sour? Besides... it can't compare to Lin Daiyu's speed; not only did she come to me willingly, but she also—"

"Tch! You shameless bastard...!"

Daiyu quickly stopped him from speaking further. She glanced at Xing Xiuyan again before reluctantly withdrawing her hand to straighten his collar, whispering:

"It's a promise, there won't be another one like this..."

"That depends on whether my sister is willing to put in some effort—cough cough! Don't worry, sister..."