Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 346 The Second Confrontation between Father and Daughter
West of Lin Mansion,

Several courtyards near the main courtyard are the temporary residences of Xue Baochai, Qin Keqing and other young girls.

There are gardens in front and behind here, and through the moon-shaped gate, it is in stark contrast to the solemn and dignified style of the main courtyard.

There are meandering streams everywhere. If it were not winter and the flowers and trees were still in bloom, the scenery here would certainly be very elegant.

But now, apart from a few branches of plum blossoms against the wall, which can be regarded as a scene in the courtyard, there is no other place to find them.

The little girls didn't come out, but just played in the room, doing needlework, playing chess or playing music, in groups of three or five.

Ying'er, who is particularly skilled in craftsmanship, is the most popular among them, like a leader among the children, simply because she is very good at making knitting. And as it is approaching the New Year, everyone wants to make some festive decorations for their own belongings.

Xue Baochai and Qin Keqing sat opposite each other at the chessboard, one with a frown on her face and the other with vague thoughts.

After a while, Qin Keqing didn't put down the chess piece she was holding. She pushed the chessboard aside and said in distress, "I can't beat you. I won't play anymore."

Xue Baochai came back to her senses and asked, "What else can I do if I don't play?"

The two people seemed to be forgotten, staring at each other, and both could see the helplessness in each other's hearts.

Before coming to the Lin Mansion, they could at least have meals with Yue Ling every day. But now that they have come to the Lin Mansion, they have not been able to see Yue Ling for several days.

How can they, with Yue Ling as their backbone, survive?

Qin Keqing had not updated her articles for a long time because her creative ideas had dried up, and as a result she received many urgings from the Suzhou Feng brand.

Xue Baochai sighed softly, stroked Qin Keqing who was leaning weakly on the desk, and said, "The New Year's Day will be here in seven days. It will be fun for everyone to sit together and have some fun."

Qin Keqing raised her eyes and asked inquiringly, "I wonder how the master and the Lin family's master are discussing. Have they finalized the marriage between Miss Lin and the master?"

Xue Baochai thought for a moment and said, "It's not about success or failure, it's only about time. However, according to rumors, there is a big case involving salt merchants recently. Lord Lin and the Marquis should be busy with this matter."

Xue Baochai, who has always considered herself a helpful person, is now a little worried and doesn't know what she can do to help Yue Ling.

Qin Keqing frowned and thought for a while, then sighed, "I really want to go back to the capital as soon as possible. Xiangling is such a lucky girl. She must have been eating too much these days and doesn't come here anymore."

Xue Baochai's cheeks flushed, and she spat softly, "Sister, you are too outspoken. What does it mean?"

"What does it look like?"

Qin Keqing curled her lips indifferently, "Ever since you tricked me into writing an article and let them all know about it, how can I still have face in the room?"

Xue Baochai covered her mouth and chuckled, "Then they won't be disrespectful to my sister when they meet."

Qin Keqing rolled her eyes. "I don't know how they gossip about me behind my back. And those two annoying maids, Ruizhu and Zhuzhu, look for my booklets all day long and even compete with me openly and secretly. It's really hard to guard against them."

Just as I was complaining, a girl pushed the door open and walked in.

Qin Keqing took a closer look and immediately became alert. She quickly stepped forward and pulled her over. "Well, you still remember to come over. You are living a good life and have left your sisters aside?"

Qin Keqing called out loudly, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the room. Ying'er, Ruizhu, Baozhu and a dozen girls from the troupe all came over and looked at Xiangling with burning eyes.

At this moment, Xiangling's cheeks had become the same color as the rouge mole on her eyebrow.

Holding the hem of her skirt in embarrassment, Xiangling stammered, "How could this be possible... Sister Keqing, you have wronged me. Miss, Miss Lin, goes to the Marquis's place every day."

This is no secret among the little girls.

Hearing this, Qin Keqing couldn't help but pat Xiangling's shoulder sympathetically and sighed, "I understand your situation."

Xiangling looked at Xue Baochai again, her face flushed, and she handed over a piece of paper and said, "Miss, this is a letter from Yangzhou Fengzihao, sent by someone from outside."

As a career-strong woman, Xue Baochai had been immersed in a simple life these days. When she heard that there was some business matter outside that required her attention, she immediately perked up, sat up straight and took the letter.

When she tore it open, her brows twitched and she fell silent.

"What's the matter?"

Ying'er came to Xue Baochai's side with a worried look on her face.

Xue Baochai exhaled slowly and shook her head, "No, the shopkeeper in Yangzhou wrote to me, saying that the chief salt merchant in Yangzhou might have to be re-elected in the near future, and only one family has a chance, so he asked me if the Xue family wants to participate."

"I need to find an opportunity to ask the Marquis about this matter. Blindly engaging in these sensitive businesses may cause trouble for the Marquis."

At that time, Zijuan, Xueyan and Qingwen also came together. After the three of them entered the door and greeted everyone, they packed up Qingwen's bed and luggage, as if they were going to take everything away.

Everyone watched in confusion, and Zijuan found a short girl in the crowd.

Perhaps due to poor nutrition in the past, her cheeks were as thin as if cut by a knife, her limbs were slender, and her waist was very similar to Lin Daiyu's. With her sickly eyebrows and delicate appearance, it was even more difficult to distinguish her from Lin Daiyu from a distance.

Zijuan raised her hand to help her up, and said with a smile: "Lingguan, come this way, the girl is looking for you."

Lingguan was very surprised. She looked around at her sisters and pointed at herself, "Looking for me?"

Zijuan nodded repeatedly, bowed to Qin Keqing and Xue Baochai above, and said, "Qingwen will move to live with the young ladies in the future. Thank you for taking care of her these past two days."

Watching the group go away, Qin Keqing asked blankly without turning her head, "What does this mean? Qingwen was taken away before, and now Lingguan is taken away."

Xue Baochai bowed her head and thought for a moment, thinking of their appearances, and smiled again, "When the Marquis came to the Lin Mansion, he didn't prepare any betrothal gifts, did he?"

Qin Keqing didn't know why she asked such a question for no reason, so she shook her head and said, "That's not the case."

Xue Baochai nodded, "Xiangling, go and reply to the letter outside and ask them to wait a little longer. Also, take some exquisite treasures from the Fengzi store as a gift."

Qin Keqing was slightly startled and said, "It's not good for you to act on your own... isn't it?"

Xue Baochai smiled and shook her head, "This is just to be prepared. I think Sister Lin and the Marquis are progressing too fast. They must be honest before they leave. If Lord Lin deliberately holds back and gets stuck on the betrothal gift, wouldn't that ruin everything?"

……

After getting caught in the rain last night and writing memorials by lamplight, Lin Ruhai was not in a good mood early in the morning.

The two concubines stood by and had prepared ginseng soup early for Lin Ruhai to nourish his body.

Lin Ruhai held the memorial with his hand, frowning, looking quite helpless. "This year's taxes have been paid in full, but the salt storage leaked. How much official salt leaked out and became private salt, and how many salt storages were involved in this case, it's too late to find out now."

"I will report everything truthfully, and I hope Your Majesty can give me a few more days."

Lin Ruhai sighed and talked to himself, feeling a little worried.

As an old official of the Prince of Qin's Palace, Lin Ruhai certainly knew that Emperor Longyou was a benevolent monarch. As long as he did not hide anything, he would be sympathized with.

However, after guarding one side for many years, something went wrong just when he was about to return to the capital. Not only did he tarnish his reputation, but he also felt guilty about the trust of Emperor Longyou.

Seeing Lin Ruhai's serious expression, and the two concubines who were not very familiar with external affairs, they had to find an excuse to comfort him: "Master, don't worry. After all, there is Marquis Anjing in Yangzhou. With the master's ability and the help of Marquis Anjing, how can there be any problem that cannot be solved?"

Lin Ruhai waved his hand impatiently, "He is capable, but he can't stop causing trouble for others. How can there be such a person who makes people like and hate him?"

The two aunts looked at each other and didn't know what to say.

By chance, Nanny Wang had just returned from visiting Lin Daiyu and came in to pass on the message, looking very pleased, "Master, the young lady has agreed and has already asked the girl to move in."

Lin Ruhai took a deep breath, nodded and said, "Okay, she has been obedient for once. Mother Wang can go downstairs and have a rest."

Nanny Wang did not dare to be negligent and took over an errand for Lin Daiyu before leaving without stopping.

Not long after, Lin Daiyu came over.

She blinked, looked at her father's face, and greeted him respectfully, "Daughter greets father."

Lin Ruhai looked at Lin Daiyu, who was bowing in front of the hall, with a look of surprise, and always felt that something was wrong.

This girl hasn't been so well-behaved since she came back home. Why did she come to greet me this morning?
There is only one possibility. She must be up to no good reason.

Lin Ruhai frowned and said, "Dad has to go out for business. If you have anything to say, please say it as soon as possible."

Lin Daiyu smiled and walked to the front of the hall like a spoiled child. She came to Lin Ruhai and tapped his shoulder in a courteous manner, saying in a low voice, "Dad, the New Year is coming soon. I want to go out with Brother Yue to see the lanterns on the Lantern Festival after the New Year. Is that possible?"

Lin Ruhai said without hesitation: "No, it's not appropriate for an unmarried girl to go out to see the lanterns with a stranger."

According to the etiquette and customs at that time, young ladies did not have many opportunities to go out openly, and watching the lanterns during the Lantern Festival happened to be one of them.

Especially in the prosperous Yangzhou, the lights on both sides of the Slender West Lake are bright, and every house is brightly lit. It is extremely lively and is often the most anticipated festival for girls.

Lin Ruhai didn't want the two to travel together, as he was still concerned about the rumors circulating in Yangzhou Prefecture.

The most unpleasant rumor was that he sold his daughter for fame and fortune and to please Marquis Anjing. No one knew where this rumor came from.

Once the two of them went out on the street together, the rumor seemed to be confirmed.

Lin Daiyu was of course extremely dissatisfied. She was only staying in Yangzhou for this New Year holiday, but she was not allowed to go out and have fun with Brother Yue on such a festive occasion. How could she accept this? She argued: "Why not? Brother Yue, how can you be considered an outsider? Brother Yue and I eat together..."

Before she could utter the next word, Lin Daiyu heard the two concubines beside her coughing violently and was stunned.

Lin Ruhai frowned, his face filled with anger, and said angrily, "What do you mean by eating together?"

Lin Daiyu laughed awkwardly and said, "Eating together means eating together, living together means living together, and living together for such a long time, how can he be considered an outsider?"

Feeling guilty, Lin Daiyu pinched her waist unconsciously and kept a stern face to hide her true identity.

At this moment, the two concubines who had been acting as the lubricant between Lin Ruhai and Lin Daiyu stood up and said, "When the girl was still young, the master and the mistress also took the girl out to play. The girl must still remember it."

"During this festive occasion, the young lady must want to enjoy the beautiful scenery and reminisce about the past. How can the master refuse her request?"

Aunt Zhou also added: "Now that there are so many little girls in the room, it would be good to let them go out for a walk. Otherwise, how can the girl feel comfortable if she is locked up in the room alone during the festive season?"

Lin Ruhai looked worried. "Why didn't you want to go out in the old days? When you were a kid, didn't you stay in your room all day?"

Lin Daiyu curled her lips and did not answer. With the two concubines supporting her, there was no need for her to speak again, as she had the advantage.

Unexpectedly, Lin Ruhai remained unmoved and continued to refute: "If you had remembered the Lin family's family traditions and ancestral teachings, you would not have made such an unreasonable request. Go back and copy the Lin family ancestral teachings five times, and then copy the female ring five times as well!"

Lin Daiyu turned around, her face also showing dissatisfaction.

The temper of a lady of an official family that she had cultivated in the Anjing Marquis's mansion broke out again at this moment. She asked back without avoiding or retreating, "Ancestral precepts? Do you have ancestral precepts in your eyes, Dad?"

This one sentence shocked everyone in the room. Lin Ruhai took a sip of tea and almost spit it out.

Sensing that the atmosphere was taking a turn for the worse, the two concubines hurried forward, one wiped Lin Ruhai's mouth and rubbed his back, while the other pulled Lin Daiyu and tried to persuade her to leave.

Lin Ruhai coughed several times, pushed away Aunt Bai's hand, and laughed in anger: "Well, today I really turned against the Tian Gang. The little girl is lecturing me. I want to hear what you think I have done that violates the ancestral teachings!"

Lin Daiyu crossed her arms and said confidently, "The Lin family has been a single-line family for generations. By Daddy's generation, there is no one to continue the family line. Daddy has no intention of raising any more children. Isn't this against the Lin family's ancestral precepts?"

"And you two, as my concubines in the Lin family, you don't worry about the important matter of carrying on the family line, but always play and frolic with those little girls and listen to their singing? Isn't that what you should do?"

The two aunts stood there in a daze, their faces blank. In a flash, their cheeks flushed, they lowered their heads and whispered, "Miss...you are teaching me a lesson."

Lin Daiyu snorted coldly, looked at the speechless Lin Ruhai and said, "If you have the heart to think about it, you might as well worry more about the case and the important matters of my Lin Mansion. Why do you want to teach me?"

"This is for you. It is the clues to the case that Brother Yue wrote overnight. Dad, please think about it. There is no rush to solve the case."

Lin Daiyu took out a stack of papers from her sleeve, stuffed them into Lin Ruhai's arms, and walked away with big strides. However, when she was about to cross the threshold, she accidentally tripped and stumbled out.

At this moment, Lin Ruhai had not yet come to his senses. He looked stunned, even more shocked than the two concubines.

"She, she, she, what did she just say? Is that reasonable?"

After a long while, Lin Ruhai's cheeks turned red before he uttered this sentence.

Of course the two concubines wanted to have their own children. They liked those little girls, and precisely because they loved children, they loved them very much.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of being exposed by Lin Daiyu, Aunt Bai and Aunt Zhou blushed and came to Lin Ruhai's side, saying in a coquettish voice: "This time, the young lady is right. How about you listen to it too, Master?"

(End of this chapter)