Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 107: Pushing the limits
After living in the mansion for more than ten days, Qin Keqing had become accustomed to the work and liked living in the mansion more and more.

Different from the life of a maid she had imagined earlier, here she didn't have to do any heavy work, nor would she be asked to do anything she didn't want to do, and she wasn't even restricted. In her free time, she could do whatever she wanted, just like when she was in the Qin family.

However, Qin Keqing still liked to accompany Lin Daiyu in the room to read the books the most.

Because Zijuan and Xueyan both had limited literacy, and Lin Daiyu was a talented woman with a photographic memory, they naturally could not communicate with each other in their studies. Only Qin Keqing, who was kind and gentle, could communicate with Lin Daiyu and sat in the position that Yue Ling once accompanied her.

Lin Daiyu also liked Qin Keqing very much, because she had a calm temperament and handled things gently and delicately, and the two of them became closer and closer.

However, Qin Keqing still has a concern, which is the situation of Ruizhu and Baozhu.

"Sister Ke'er, leave the rest of the cleaning to us. When General Yue comes back, someone will need to help him change clothes and wash up."

In the east wing, Zijuan took the broom from Qin Keqing and gave her some advice.

Qin Keqing nodded. "Okay, I'll trouble you, sister. Next time, I'll do more to make up for it."

Zijuan shook her head and said, "Sister, you don't have to be so polite. You've been in the mansion for a long time. It's strange to speak so politely."

Qin Keqing smiled and nodded, then signaled to Cuilu and went out.

When I arrived at the courtyard, I saw Ni Ni running under the porch, as if chasing fallen leaves.

Seeing the lively appearance of the little girl, Qin Keqing said with a smile: "The master and his family are in the room, and you are having fun outside. Won't you be lectured?"

Ni Ni stuck out her tongue and said, "The master is not in the room. Someone came from Ningguo Mansion and was making a noise outside. The master went to chase the bad guys away."

"Ningguo Mansion?"

After hearing these three words, Qin Keqing's mind was in a trance. After she came to her senses, she hurriedly turned around and went to the outer room.

Arriving at the back door of the front hall, Qin Keqing tiptoed to the warm room behind the screen and listened to the conversation inside with bated breath.

"Are you kidding us?"

"I'm not kidding you. I do have something to say to you."

Jia Zhen said in a perfunctory tone, "What are you talking about?"

Yue Ling took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I heard that Qin Keqing had two maids with her when she was in the Qin family. You have to send them to me."

Hearing this, Qin Keqing behind the screen shed tears of surprise and covered her mouth tightly with her hands to prevent herself from making any sound and avoid being discovered by others in the classroom.

She had never mentioned this matter to Yue Ling, for fear of causing Yue Ling's dissatisfaction. However, she did not expect that Yue Ling already knew about it and was asking Jia Zhen for it at this moment.

In the hall, Jia Zhen's face turned red as he angrily said, "You, what did you say? Yue Ling, don't push your luck!"

Yue Ling slammed the teacup on the table, shattering the porcelain pieces with one slap, and the tea splashed all over Jia Zhen, startling everyone in the room.

Yue Ling frowned, and said in a colder tone, "Jia Zhen, I'm going to talk to you in a good way, don't be ungrateful. What is there to be arrogant about in your Ningguo Mansion? You don't have a title, and such a big mansion is barely surviving. Your family will not be allowed to enter the government within three generations."

"Why? Do you want to get married as soon as possible so that Jia Rong can have children? Even if you give birth to a whole bunch of children in your Ningguo Mansion, they will all be drunkards and spoiled brats."

Seeing Jia Zhen's chest heaving and breathing heavily, Yue Ling did not avoid him. He looked directly at Jia Zhen and said, "What? I can't say anything to you? You are so used to acting like a big shot in the Jia family, and you come to my house to act crazy?"

Grabbing Jia Zhen's collar, Yue Ling said viciously: "Don't mention you, I've already said it to Jia Daihua, so what? Besides, you've seen the old general in prison, you unworthy descendant, even I've seen him!"

Jia Zhen was stunned by Yue Ling's words, and said with trembling lips: "Your Highness... Your Highness, will you allow us to go and see?"

"Is it allowed? Have you asked?"

Pushing Jia Zhen away, Yue Ling continued, "The old general protected you and took all the blame. What did you do? You cut off your relationship with the old general and lived a luxurious life in your house. Because you received a reward from His Royal Highness, you were complacent and happily held a wedding banquet? Do you think you can hide the dirty things in your house from His Royal Highness?"

Yue Ling pointed his finger at Jia Zhen's forehead and said, "Do you think you can hide the dirty things in your mind from His Highness?"

Jia Zhen was so shocked by Yue Ling's words that cold sweat broke out on his back. His clothes stuck to his body and were wet when he touched them.

Swallowing his saliva, Jia Zhen asked, "Then can the master still be saved?"

"Whether it can be saved or not is up to His Highness to decide. With your condition, Ningguo Mansion is naturally hopeless! Think carefully about who put the old general in this situation, and think carefully about what to do in the future!"

Jia Zhen seemed to have just woken up from a dream. His legs softened and he slid down from the chair, kneeling on the ground. "I am an unworthy descendant and I am sorry to the old master."

Yue Ling returned to his original position, took out a new teacup, filled it with tea, and said, "Think it through, then go back."

Yue Ling turned his head, and Jia Rong seemed to have received an order. He woke up from his numbness and quickly got up to support Jia Zhen.

"Master Yue, we are leaving."

"Go, bring the Ruizhu and Baozhu here quickly." "Yes, yes, yes."

After Jia Zhen and his son left, Yue Ling slowly exhaled, and when he stood up and turned to the back hall, he found someone kneeling behind the screen.

Qin Keqing, dressed in a royal blue dress, was kneeling on the ground, her skirt spread out like petals, her slender white legs crossed. She was kneeling on the ground, wiping her eyes and sobbing softly.

"Keqing? Why are you here?"

Qin Keqing threw herself on Yue Ling's legs and burst into tears, releasing all the suppressed emotions.

She had never known what it felt like to have someone to rely on. Facing a behemoth like the Ningguo Mansion, the bravest thing she could do was to escape. Now standing behind Yue Ling, she felt unprecedented security and a stability she had never enjoyed before.

Yue Ling crouched down and patted her back gently. "Okay, you've heard it all. It's over now. You don't have to worry anymore. Just focus on your work in the mansion, accompany Sister Lin to read, accompany Xueyan to do chores, and accompany Xueyan to wash fruits and vegetables. When Ruizhu and Baozhu come, you will be responsible for disciplining them. You must not do anything that is not allowed in the mansion."

"You come from a good family, and I don't really think of you as a maid. You are also very sensible, and you know how to read people's expressions and not put on airs. You should stay the same in the future. There will always be a place for you in the mansion."

……

"Brother Yue, why did I take so long? I was just waiting for you to have dinner. Look how hungry Xueyan is. She is lying on the table and can't get up."

Lin Daiyu said words to blame Yue Ling, but there was no blame in her tone. Instead, she mostly teased Xueyan.

Xueyan stood up and said, "That's impossible. I will wait for General Yue to come back."

Yue Ling rubbed Xueyan's head, came and sat down next to Lin Daiyu, and Qin Keqing also sat next to Yue Ling.

Noticing the tear stains on Qin Keqing's cheeks, Lin Daiyu asked with concern: "Sister Ke'er, what's wrong with you? Did you suffer any injustice? I haven't heard you talk about it before."

All the girls looked over, and Qin Keqing waved her hands and said, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm sorry to have made Miss Lin worried."

Yue Ling smiled and said, "Now that things have come to this point, there is nothing to hide from you."

So Yue Ling told the girls present the whole story of Qin Keqing. They listened as if they were listening to a story, and even Xueyan forgot to pick up her chopsticks and bowl.

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but tear up when she heard this. She said, "Sister Ke'er, it's really not easy for you. No matter what the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words are, there is no reason to send a daughter into a fire pit. But fortunately, you ran into Brother Yue. From now on, you can stay in the mansion with peace of mind. This is your home."

Shi Xiangyun couldn't help but sigh, "The atmosphere in Ningguo Mansion is indeed bad. Second Aunt and Third Aunt won't let me go there. I heard that the garden in his mansion is more beautiful than that in Rongguo Mansion. I was a little curious at first."

Zijuan and Cuilu, the maids from the Jia family, all nodded and looked at Qin Keqing with sympathy.

The girls all had strong empathy, which was an important factor in the harmonious relationship among the people in the mansion. Yue Ling looked around and said with a smile, "Okay, it's all over. When we welcome Ruizhu and Baozhu tomorrow, we will have a banquet together to welcome them."

Xueyan clapped her hands and said, "Great, another banquet is about to begin."

At night, in the east wing,

Shi Xiangyun lay on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She originally had some problems with being picky about her sitting position, and today, after listening to Qin Keqing's story, it became even more difficult for her to fall asleep.

Shi Xiangyun asked in a low voice: "Cuilu, do you think Sister Ke'er and I look alike?"

Cuilu, who was lying on the outside, turned around and said, "Girl, what are you thinking about?"

Shi Xiangyun said, "In fact, I understand what Second Aunt and Third Aunt are thinking. They want to raise me up, so that as the eldest daughter of the Shi family, I can marry into a wealthy family. But I have no father or mother, so I am even more helpless than Sister Ke'er. If that day comes, I may not even have the courage to run away. At that time, will someone like General Yue come out from nowhere to rescue me?"

Cuilu raised her eyebrows slightly, wondering why the girl suddenly became sentimental at night. At her age, it was still too early for her to get married.

Cuilu curled her lips and said, "If I ask you to marry here, will you still run away?"

Shi Xiangyun was startled, and then her cheeks turned red to her ears. She stared at Cuilu with wide eyes and said, "You, you, what are you talking about? What should I do with Sister Lin?"

Cuilu turned over and walked out again, "So, you are just thinking too much, go to bed quickly."

Shi Xiangyun opened her mouth, but couldn't find a word to refute. She turned around and lay down angrily.

……

Ningguo Mansion,
"These two unlucky guys, I know they will suffer if they go out."

Jiao Da was sitting under a tree inside the corner gate drinking a glass of wine when he saw Jia Rong carrying Jia Zhen into the gate.

Jia Rong asked those around him, "How are Ruizhu and Baozhu?"

"Everything is fine, except Ruizhu who refuses to eat and wants to starve herself to death."

Jia Rong said worriedly, "Oh, this little ancestor, he just whipped her a few times, why did he do this? Go and get them out quickly, take good care of them for two days to let them recuperate, and send them to Master Yue before the Mid-Autumn Festival."

(End of this chapter)