Dai Meng of the Red Chamber

In the blink of an eye, it has been more than ten days since Shui Rong left. On a lazy afternoon, Daiyu was lying on the bed, squinting her eyes, and the autumn eyes slanted in, and the room was filled with a faint warmth.

Suddenly hearing the hurried footsteps of Xueyan, she said cheerfully: "Princess, the second young master is back, and the concubine is letting me go." Daiyu got up slowly, and said in surprise: "Is that so, the lord was still there when he left. Said, the second brother probably won't come back until Zhongqiu, I didn't expect it to be so soon."

Sighing softly, Daiyu said sadly: "I don't know when the prince will come back." Zijuan took the long coat and handed it to Daiyu, saying: "Princess, don't worry, maybe the prince will come back soon too. Well." Afraid that Daiyu would think about it again, Zijuan said: "Princess, go and see, what kind of stuff does the young master bring back from Suzhou?"

Thinking of this, Daiyu Qingli's face became relaxed, and she said, "Yes, I've been thinking about the sour candied fruit of 'Gucaju' for the past few days."

Xueyan said: "After Wangfei got pregnant, she couldn't put down these sour things. Mother Qing said that Wangfei must be pregnant with a son."

Daiyu said angrily in a low voice: "What do you know, you little hoof, don't talk nonsense." Xueyan said: "They said that Madam Qing was right." Zijuan said: "Yes, I heard about it too, Princess Wang If you really give birth to a son, I don't know what the prince will succeed in."

Thinking of Daiyu's actions when they knew Daiyu was happy, Zijuan and Xueyan couldn't help covering their mouths and snickering.

Daiyu deliberately lowered her face, and said: "You two are really lawless, you dare to tease the prince behind your back, see if I don't deal with you in the future, okay, come with me to the back hall to have a look."

As soon as I entered the door, I heard Shui Yao's charming laughter first, followed by Shui Ning's usual indifferent tone: "These belong to Mrs. Wang. Suzhou is Mrs. Wang's hometown. When she was leaving, Mrs. Wang specially instructed I, of course, have more than Fourth Sister."

Shui Yao said: "Second brother is also biased." Only a soft voice said: "How can the second brother be biased? Since the fourth sister likes it, just take it yourself." Said Daiyu helped Zijuan gently into the room.

The pair faced each other, Shui Ning in front of her was wearing a blue shirt, her elegant face was a bit haggard, but her slender phoenix eyes were still as bright as before, she gave a light salute, and Shui Ning said: "I have seen Mrs. Wang."

Daiyu hurriedly said: "Second brother has worked hard." Shui Qiong said: "Sister-in-law Wang, come and see, the second brother has brought you back a lot of things from my hometown." This is much better than Qing'er."

She turned her head and said: "Wangfei should also pay attention to her body, be careful in everything." Daiyu said softly: "My concubine knows."

Handing over a small clay sculpture, Shui Qiong said: "Sister-in-law Wang, look, these figures are from the south." Looking at the lifelike clay sculpture, Daiyu couldn't help being a little dazed, but she listened to the water and said: "Sister-in-law Wang asked the younger brother The candied fruit I brought is all here, and I don’t know what flavor Mrs. Wang likes, so I bought a little of each.”

Daiyu said: "Please trouble my second brother, Mrs. Wang thanked you." Shui Yao smiled and said, "Let me taste it too." Daiyu smiled softly: "Fourth sister likes to take some home .”

Since Shui Rong said it last time, Shui Yao's attitude towards Daiyu has gradually changed. Although she is not as affectionate as Shui Qiong, she is not as contemptuous and alienated as before.

Picking up a plate, Daiyu asked Zicuckoo to pass it to the concubine, chatting and laughing, tasting sour or sweet candied fruit, and the back hall was filled with joy.

Shui Qiong picked up the candied fruit in front of Daiyu with a smile and said, "Sister-in-law Wang, let me taste this flavor." Daiyu said, "You're welcome, third sister." So sour."

Daiyu said softly: "No, Mrs. Wang thinks it's very good." The Northern Concubine came here, she turned her eyes and said, "Wangfei likes to eat these sour foods."

Daiyu said: "Yes, my concubine also likes this taste." Bei Taifei smiled and shook her head, and said: "It's good if you like it, maybe my concubine is going to have a big fat grandson." After speaking, she was satisfied smiled.

Seeing that Shui Ning was in a daze, Shui Yao couldn't help but smiled and said: "Second Brother, you don't know yet, the Beifu is about to add people, Wang's sister-in-law is happy, don't you see that the mother and concubine are happy from ear to ear all day long."

Shui Ning glanced at Daiyu, who was shy and silent beside her, and felt a deep sadness in her heart. She knew that the dream of Gusu would always be out of reach, and she would always be the wife she respected, but when she heard At these times, instead of the expected joy in my heart, there is only a dull aching loneliness.

Putting away the bitterness in her heart, Shui Ning forced a smile and said, "Little brother congratulates Mrs. Wang." Daiyu said, "It's all from my own family. Second brother is polite. Mrs. Wang also wants to thank second brother for bringing back the things. .”

Concubine Bei smiled and said: "We are all a family, don't say such out-of-the-ordinary words, Qiong'er, tell the kitchen to clean up Ning'er tonight, and hope that Wang'er will come back as soon as possible."

Seeing Daiyu's gloomy expression, the concubine said: "Princess, don't think too much. Now that you are a healthy person, you should think about everything." She responded softly, and Daiyu's clear and beautiful face remained the same. There is an unmistakable gloom.

In the early morning, Daiyu was awakened by chirping birds, opened her eyes, and saw that the sky was already bright, Daiyu called Zijuan in a low voice, and Zijuan came in with a smile, and said to Daiyu: "Princess, do you feel I don’t think today is any different than usual.”

Daiyu laughed and said, "What kind of mystery are you playing with your hoof?" Zijuan said triumphantly, "Didn't the princess hear that, Xueyan?" Only Xueyan outside answered, "I see."

After a while, a sharp voice with strong Suzhou dialect said: "Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the midnight bell rings to the passenger ship." Daiyu smiled softly, and said: "Where did the parrot come from? It’s quite similar, and it really has a touch of soft Suzhou dialect.”

Zijuan helped Daiyu to dress, and said: "This is an authentic Suzhou parrot. Of course it speaks Suzhou dialect. It was sent by the second son. He said that he bought it from Suzhou specially for the princess. A line of poetry is also taught by the young master."

Daiyu said softly: "It's rare for the second brother to remember, let Xueyan go to thank the second brother for my kindness." Sighing, Daiyu said: "Speaking of parrots, it reminds me of the parrot in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. , I don’t know whether it was dead or alive when the house was raided.”

Zijuan persuaded: "Princess, don't think about it so much. Now that you have a body, you should think more about happy things. The second son also sent it to relieve the boredom of the princess. If the princess sees the parrot sad, wouldn't it be Live up to his kindness."

Daiyu said: "You, Zicuckoo, are becoming more and more eloquent. I just said one sentence. Listen, how much you have been chanting at one go, it makes my ears callous."

Zijuan smiled and said: "Then let Zijuan show the princess, do you want to see the imperial doctor?" Daiyu said softly, "I'm getting more and more arrogant, it seems that I have to adjust the family rules." The autumn color gradually cooled It's been more than two months since Sui Rong left, and Daiyu's complexion gradually improved as she gradually adapted to the pregnancy.

Putting on her long clothes, Daiyu said to Zijuan, "Zijuan, accompany me to see the concubine." Xueyan said, "Princess, the concubine just sent someone to say that the wind is strong today and the concubine is heavy, so don't use it." It's over, the princess wants to eat whatever she wants to tell the kitchen."

Zijuan smiled and said: "The concubine is taking good care of the concubine now." Daiyu said in a low voice: "It's just like what the fourth sister said, it's just that the mother is more expensive than the child, and I don't know if he is a man or a woman."

Zijuan said: "Whether it's a man or a woman, the prince will definitely like it..." Before he finished speaking, Zijuan stopped talking, secretly blaming himself for not opening which pot and which pot he was carrying.

Seeing that Daiyu sighed lightly, looking outside in a daze, she said, "I don't know how the prince is doing, it's cold in the north, can Xiao Anzi remind him to pay attention to his body."

Zijuan said: "Princess, don't worry, Eunuch An has served the prince for so many years, and he has never neglected anything." There was no answer, Daiyu walked out of the room sadly, turned her head and said to Zijuan, "Come out for a walk with me. "

The autumn wind is already very cold, and a hoarfrost last night made the flowers and plants in the yard listless, bringing with it the bleakness of autumn.

Walking slowly, Daiyu said: "Zicuckoo, usually at this time, everyone enjoys chrysanthemums and recites poems together in the yard. I don't think it's just a year. Everyone goes their separate ways. I'm afraid it will be difficult to get together again."

Zijuan persuaded: "Princess, don't think about these troublesome things. Now that you have a child in your womb, Princess should think more about happy things." Looking up, Zijuan said: "Princess, I will serve the three princesses. The girl said that these three princesses have become more cheerful these days, and she even embroidered a wedding pillow by herself that day."

Daiyu smiled slightly, and said: "Really, the lord should be relieved to see Sanmei doing this. Before leaving, he also asked me to persuade Sanmei more."

Zijuan said with a smile: "That's because the prince was afraid that the princess would be bored all day long, and only the three princesses in the mansion could talk to the princess, so he said that. Even a stupid person like Zijuan understands that with the intelligence of the princess, how could she still be so smart?" I don't know."

Daiyu said angrily in a low voice, "You girl haven't learned anything, but this mouth has learned a lot from me." Zijuan said, "Compared to the princess, what is Zijuan? Even the prince has said it."

Deliberately imitating the water-soluble tone, Zijuan said: "Wangfei has this mouth, if you don't say it, no one can match it." Daiyu couldn't help laughing: "Forget it, Zijuan, you are becoming more and more lawless. , it seems that I really can't stay here, and I will marry you off as soon as the prince comes back."

The master and the servant talked and laughed, and walked to a veranda. Zijuan stepped forward to spread a soft blanket, and said to Daiyu: "Princess, you have walked all this way, let's rest for a while."

Nodding her head, Daiyu sat down slowly, the veranda blocked the cold wind behind her, and the warm sunlight shone obliquely, making one feel lazy.The surrounding area was quiet, and there were a few bird calls from time to time, which seemed extraordinarily crisp.

Footsteps came from the left, followed by a sharp voice: "Si'er, I saw Shuixi running in hastily just now, what's the matter?"

Another voice said: "I heard that the emperor's son Xuan entered the palace, he seems to be in a hurry, and" the voice lowered, but Daiyu and Zijuan still vaguely heard "Prince" and "Bianguan"