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

Page 73

Baochai, Xichun, and the others, who were following closely behind, also saw the clothes in the maid's hands and hurriedly came to visit. As for Xiangling and the others, their eyes were already filled with tears as they carefully wiped the cold sweat from Gu Yu's forehead. In an instant, the room was crowded with people.

Gu Yu originally thought that only Daiyu was here, but she didn't expect that Xichun and Baochai were all there. Seeing their extremely distressed expressions, she felt both touched and embarrassed. She never expected that she would be hung up and beaten after finally putting on an act, and then be sent back on her stomach in front of so many people. It was really embarrassing!

"Don't cry, little sister. It's just a scrape, it doesn't hurt at all. If you cry, I'll have to bleed more to match your tears."

Daiyu hurriedly wiped her eyes and was about to lift the thin blanket to check her injuries when Gu Yu's face trembled and she quickly grabbed the corner of the blanket to stop her from looking.

What a joke! I'm an innocent person, how could I let someone of the opposite sex look at my private parts so casually?

But when Gu Yu looked up and saw Daiyu's tearful eyes, he sighed inwardly and then silently let go of her hand. So what if he lost face?

Sure enough, upon seeing the bloodstains that Gu Yu's silk cloth couldn't cover, the entire room seemed to be on the eve of a storm, about to explode at any moment. Seeing that the women were about to cry, Gu Yu quickly explained:

"Don't look at the blood. There's no real injury to the bones or tendons. It will be fully recovered in ten to fifteen days. Why are you making such a fuss? Sister Bao is very knowledgeable and should know that what I said is true, right?"

He was telling the truth. Those guards who specialized in flogging could even make old ministers in their sixties or seventies recover in a month or two after the flogging was done, let alone a strong young man like him.

Baochai blinked her reddened eyes and forced a smile, saying:

"How would I know these things? It's just that my brother often falls and gets injured. If he doesn't break any bones, he can get out of bed after only a few days."

Even so, Baochai kept her eyes fixed on Gu Yu, almost unable to suppress the urge to rush over and take care of him.

Seeing that he was still grinning even while lying in bed, Daiyu felt a little relieved, but she still couldn't suppress her panic. She could only hold his hand and choke out:

“You shouldn’t do it in the future…”

Before she could finish speaking, Daiyu remembered that this was an order from the Emperor, and how could Gu Yu refuse? She opened her mouth, but then kept quiet and silently shed tears.

Although she was raised as a boy from a young age and studied the Four Books and Five Classics, she was happy that Gu Yu learned his skills to restore the family's honor. The two were like Liang Hong and Meng Guang, always having something in common.

But seeing Gu Yu's miserable state today, Daiyu suddenly felt that fame and fortune were nothing compared to a peaceful life. She thought that although Bao Erge in the mansion hated studying, at least he wouldn't be in such danger. Why couldn't Gu Yu be a dissolute young man?

After realizing that Gu Yu's injuries were not serious, the atmosphere in the room finally eased. Baochai couldn't help but ask what had happened. How could Gu Yu possibly admit that his cleverness had backfired? He just stammered that he was not good at his studies and brushed it off.

Daiyu was both angry and helpless. These days, her sisters had been pestering him, and she estimated that Gu Yu spent less than two hours a day reading. Although Buddhist scriptures were not part of his usual reading, he deserved it!

Seeing that Gu Yu was not in good spirits, Daiyu wanted to stay a little longer, but seeing that Xichun and Baochai were all watching him so intently, which would inevitably affect his rest, she could only suppress her reluctance and deliberately tapped his arm, saying:

"You've been neglecting your studies all day, but now that you've been lying in bed for a few days, you can catch up. We won't disturb you; just stay home and read your classic texts."

Gu Yu was alarmed when he heard this. He wanted to enjoy their care for a few days, so what was the point of making him study alone behind closed doors?

With so many sisters around, he felt awkward being too direct, so he could only chuckle awkwardly. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he quickly said:

"That would be the best course of action, but I am currently unable to move around easily and need someone to accompany me in my studies. Sister Bao, Sister Lin, Sister Xichun, you are all learned and talented people, who would be willing to help me with this task?"

Daiyu felt her face burning. This scoundrel spoke so earnestly, but his intentions were obvious to everyone. How could he hide them from them? She quickly suppressed her embarrassment, stood up, and invited everyone to leave so that Gu Yu could rest and calm down. However, she did not respond to whether she agreed or not.

After the women left the room, they exchanged knowing glances. Just as Xichun was about to express her willingness to volunteer, Baochai coughed lightly and said:

"I'm free these days anyway, and Hengwu Garden is close to here, so why don't I entertain Brother Yu?"

Xi Chun's face showed anxiety. She had made appointments all day, but this delay had ruined them all. Did that mean she wouldn't get any for the next few days either?

"Didn't Sister Bao just say that Brother Xue is having his birthday? I suppose he won't be very free these next few days? Besides, it's not convenient for Sister Yun to be here. Sister Lin is in poor health, and it's not good for her to visit every day in this hot weather, so why don't I take care of Brother Yu for a few days?"

"..."

The women were mostly aware of what was going on, and they spoke rather frankly. After a quiet discussion in the pavilion, no one knew what agreement they had reached, but they all left satisfied with their respective maids.

In the evening, Wang Xifeng led Li Wan and Baoyu to visit again, conveying the greetings of Grandmother Jia and others. They brought many tonics and medicines, but after sitting for a while, they were called away by a servant and had to leave.

When Baoyu arrived, he was still somewhat drunk. After asking him a few questions, Gu Yu learned that it was Xue Pan's birthday. She was surprised that Baochai had come without saying a word. She could only instruct Qingwen to have the servants prepare a gift to send over.

Baoyu arrived in a hurry and only heard that Gu Yu had been flogged in the palace. He sighed for a long time and felt even more that economics and official careers were harmful. He also felt particularly sorry for Gu Yu who had been harmed by them. He wondered if Gu Yu would be able to realize his mistakes after this lesson.

Oh right, and there's also Lin Daiyu, who's become vulgar too. I wonder if she'll ever change for the better? Since that day when we had our argument, he hasn't said a single word to her. But today, after being provoked by Gu Yu, he suddenly misses her again.

When the night was deep and quiet, Gu Yu persuaded Xiangling and Qingwen, who were serving him, to go to sleep, but he could only endure the stinging pain and sleeplessness, speechless and choked with sobs.

"I regret it now, I regret it so much!..."

It's fun to show off for a while, and it's even more fun to keep doing it!

Chapter 85 is so strange…

These past few days, Gu Yu has been feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath. During the day, his sisters would come to visit him in groups, but they would all leave afterward. No matter how much he hinted, no one would stay to keep him company.

Even Xichun, who usually clung to him the most, seemed to be thinking the same thing as Daiyu and the others, leaving Gu Yu, who had hoped for some small perks, quite disappointed.

But as the injury on her buttocks gradually healed, one afternoon, Gu Yu finally couldn't resist pulling Daiyu, who had just visited for a while and was about to leave, and said with a shameless smile:

"I asked my younger sister to come and keep me company while I study a few days ago, but she hasn't replied yet. I wonder what she's thought about it?"

His movement startled Daiyu, who quickly stepped forward and pressed down on his shoulder to stop him from moving.

"Look, the wound has reopened!"

As she was about to call Xiangling again, Gu Yu quickly explained:

"I'm fine now. I slept on my side last night and was fine. After a few more days of rest, I'll be able to get out of bed and move around."

Hearing this, Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, then skillfully lifted the thin blanket to check. Seeing that there was indeed no blood seeping out, she finally believed Gu Yu's words.

"Even so, you should still be careful, not only to avoid suffering yourself, but also for the sake of us sisters. We're all worried about you..."

Gu Yu chuckled and took the opportunity to grab Daiyu's small hand, preventing her from running away:

"In that case, how about my little sister comes to keep me company while I study tomorrow? These past few days you've all just come over for a bit and then left, it's been so boring!"

Daiyu seemed to be thinking of something, a blush crossed her face, she lowered her head and remained silent for a moment before responding softly.

Seeing that she had finally agreed, Gu Yu was overjoyed and then became even more demanding:

"I think it will be a very hot day tomorrow. Why don't you wear that green gauze dress, little sister? I think it suits you very well—oh my!"

Before she could finish speaking, Daiyu finally couldn't help but feel shy. She pinched her handkerchief and gently flicked Gu Yu's bottom, making him feel a slight sting, thus interrupting Gu Yu's outrageous words.

"Tch! All you do is spout nonsense. If you keep this up, I'm not coming tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yu was furious. Forget about protecting her poor bottom, she immediately begged for mercy, but Daiyu had already stood up and walked out.

"Hey, hey, hey—little sister, you absolutely must remember to come tomorrow!"

"That depends on whether I'm happy or not."

Daiyu turned around and blinked, leaving behind only a charming and quirky smile before retreating. She found Gu Yu's exaggerated and fussy behavior particularly amusing.

As she walked, Daiyu couldn't help but recall the discussion the three sisters had made that day. Now that Gu Yu's injuries were gradually improving, it was time to spend some quality time with him, and these few days would be perfect for her.

These past few days, it wasn't just Gu Yu who was bored and upset; they were too. But in order to let Gu Yu recover from his injuries, they had to suppress their longing and let him rest for a few days.

……

Inside the camp, Gu Yu was tied to a pillar by soldiers, feeling the familiar stinging pain as the military sticks behind him pounded against his buttocks.

The soldiers and generals watching were all in tears. Although they felt that this scene seemed somewhat familiar, Gu Yu still gritted his teeth and endured it with a strange sense of self-reliance, mainly because the pain did not seem to be very intense.

"When did I become so strong?" Gu Yu was distracted while being tortured, and before he knew it, it was dark, but the beatings never stopped.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Before he could even raise his head, he was pulled into an embrace, and a familiar voice rang out.

"Thank you for your hard work... Such a scheme was not my intention!"

Feeling the texture in front of him, Gu Yu reacted immediately, and involuntarily said:

"Grand Commander... for the sake of the Eastern Wu's foundation, what is there to fear even if it means losing this life?!"

The newcomer trembled and finally couldn't help but release his head, allowing him to see the newcomer's face for the first time. Two arched eyebrows, seemingly frowning yet not frowning, and a pair of eyes, seemingly happy yet not happy, filled with affection. A strong sense of déjà vu rushed over him.

The two gazed at each other for a long time, then couldn't help but hug each other tightly. The wonderful touch made Gu Yu shiver, and even the stinging pain behind him couldn't dampen his impulse.

"Gongjin, whip me!!"

……

With a series of dull shudders, Gu Yu suddenly came to her senses and felt a chill between her groin. Only then did she realize that she seemed to have had a wet dream.

In just a short while, Gu Yu couldn't remember anything at all. He only remembered that it seemed a bit far-fetched, and that he had apparently called out "Gongjin". Could it be that he dreamed of the two Qiao sisters?

Seeing that the sky outside the window was already beginning to lighten, Gu Yu coughed twice and gently called out to Qingwen.

"Qingwen~?"

Soon, some movement came from the cot outside. A moment later, Qingwen tiptoed in, carrying a towel. She carefully examined Gu Yu's expression before asking:

"What's wrong, sir? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

"I haven't had any meat these past few days, and my essence is overflowing..." Gu Yu coughed twice, leaned over and said a few words. Qingwen blushed and went out to fetch a basin of water and clothes to change him.

"Go and tell Li Mama to send over more ice later, and also cut up a couple more melons to chill on the ice. Tell the kitchen to prepare a dish of Longjing shrimp. Don't forget."

"Could it be that Miss Lin is coming?"

Daiyu often stayed for meals here, and Qingwen and the others had long since figured out Daiyu's tastes. In this season, she especially liked a dish of Longjing shrimp, which would greatly improve her appetite.

Gu Yu nodded with a smile. After Qingwen's small hands wiped him clean, the touch made him unable to resist grabbing Qingwen's waist and pulling her onto the bed.

Afraid that moving around would aggravate Gu Yu's wound, Qingwen blushed and shrank into his arms, gently covering Gu Yu's hand to prevent it from being hurt.

"Why is Master so angry? His injuries haven't even healed yet, and already..."

Gu Yu turned sideways and gently stroked her slender waist. Hearing this, she couldn't help but smile, then leaned in to inhale the fragrance from her neck, teasingly saying:

"I've been lying here motionless for days, and even if I wasn't angry, I'd still feel irritable. Now that I'm feeling better, I have to make up for it properly, right?"

Despite saying that, Gu Yu didn't do anything more. The two lingered for a while and then took a nap. It wasn't until they heard some faint noises outside that Qingwen reluctantly got up to help them wash up.

With nothing to do these past few days, Gu Yu told Xiangling and Qingwen some stories to amuse them, and also wrote several chapters of the Legend of the White Snake. Now the play script is finished, and all that's left is to adapt it into a novel.

Before she could even begin writing today, she heard voices coming from the courtyard. It turned out that Daiyu had arrived. Once she entered the house, Gu Yu, who had been waiting anxiously, was immediately struck by her appearance. She was wearing the green gauze dress.

Actually, all those clothes looked pretty much the same, but Lin Daiyu's figure was so slender that she looked good no matter what. However, this obedient and docile attitude undoubtedly made Gu Yu secretly very happy. She felt that Daiyu's face was glowing and she was incredibly beautiful.

Chapter 86 Xiu Gou's Happy Life

Feeling a little weak under his intense gaze, Daiyu pretended to tidy her hair, turned her head slightly away, and sat on the small stool by the bed.

"What would you like to read today, Brother Yu?"

Although they had already learned from Baoyu, who had almost been beaten again, that Gu Yu had made a name for himself, the clever women quickly deduced the reason for Gu Yu's beating in just a few words, and couldn't help but feel sorry for him and amused.

As for Gu Yu's excuse about their lack of skill, it naturally became a pretext, but now it could at least serve as a reason for their meeting, so everyone tacitly stopped mentioning it.

"Anything's fine, anything's fine, I love listening to my little sister read it!"

Gu Yu looked at Daiyu's exquisite and flawless profile and just kept smiling foolishly, then quickly gestured for her to sit closer.

"Pah! I think you're up to no good and are deliberately trying to make my life miserable."

Seeing Gu Yu pat the side of her bed a few times, Daiyu bit her lower lip, her watery eyes giving him a soft glare. This bad man never stops. It was the perfect time for the maids to serve him. What would it look like if she went up there?

"What are you saying, little sister? I've just been bored lying around for days and wanted to get closer to you and talk to you. I promise I won't hurt you, I'm a dog if I'm lying! I—"

"Then remember this: I didn't force you to say that."

Seeing that Gu Yu was about to make another vow, Daiyu laughed and hurriedly interrupted him. Her face flushed, she slowly walked to the head of the bed and sat down. The next second, Gu Yu pulled her onto the bed.

Daiyu was mentally prepared, but she was afraid that struggling would aggravate Gu Yu's injuries, so she was caught in his arms without any resistance.

"Pfft~ You just said lying is like being a puppy, you—"

"Wang Wang Wang!"

"..."

Without blushing or skipping a beat, Gu Yu fulfilled his promise, then shamelessly wrapped his arms around Daiyu's slender waist and laughed:

"If I were a puppy, and my sister were a little bitch, then it wouldn't be a loss."

"Bah! Shameless!"

Daiyu playfully protested, raising her hand to pinch him a few times. Gu Yu pretended to retaliate, which only made Daiyu's face turn even redder and her strength dissipate.

After playing around for a while, Daiyu finally remembered her excuse for coming here. Afraid that someone might come in and see her, she tidied her slightly disheveled hair, propped herself up against the headboard, and was about to pick up a book to keep Gu Yu entertained.

Daiyu picked up a copy of Mencius and began to recite it softly. Gu Yu leaned close to Daiyu's leg, his nose filled with the wonderful fragrance of Lin Daiyu, which made him feel extremely comfortable. The two of them would occasionally ask and answer questions, and for a while they were quite happy together.

When Xiangling and the others gently brought in fruit and tea, they saw Miss Lin nestled beside Gu Yu. They just smiled and quickly withdrew to avoid disturbing her any longer.

In the following days, Daiyu came over every day. Except for one occasion when Yingchun and Tanchun came to visit together, Daiyu refused to go to bed with Gu Yu. On other days, she did as Gu Yu wished.

Two days later, the person who came suddenly changed from Daiyu to Baochai. Gu Yu asked a few questions, but seeing that Baochai blushed and refused to tell him, and thinking about Xichun's unusual behavior before, he understood a bit, so he pretended to be confused and stopped asking.