Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 511 Baoqin: I'm going to be a big sister!
They were doing serious business when Lin Daiyu suddenly rushed in, shouting something, which made the two girls feel inexplicably guilty, as if they had been caught in adultery.

Xichun quickly withdrew her hand, stood on tiptoe and asked, "Sister Lin, we're drawing, why don't you join us?"

Xue Baoqin also came to her senses and immediately came out from behind the desk, walked to Lin Daiyu and helped her up. "That's right, Sister Lin's painting skills are also superb. I should have asked Sister Lin to help. How could I have forgotten about this?"

Seeing how understanding her two younger sisters were, Lin Daiyu felt even more ashamed.

These days are no longer the days of her youth. As the first wife, she should give her sisters the opportunity to spend time with Yue Ling. She couldn't bear to let all her sisters watch her and Yue Ling being all lovey-dovey every day; it would only make them feel like widows.

Her father's meddling caused her to lose her composure again, as her Dao heart was not yet fully solidified.

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and decided to mend her ways. She shouldn't have suspected her sisters of malice, nor should she have been so controlling.

With a smile on her face, Lin Daiyu breathed softly and said, "I originally wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help. If it's just painting, then let me take a look."

Yue Ling had no reason to refuse, but he was puzzled as to why Lin Daiyu had such a strong reaction when she first entered the room.

“Alright, more people means more help. Baoqin, bring the part of the needle you just used to the madam so she can cut it open and see how she paints.”

"No problem, Your Excellency."

Baoqin quickly pulled out a book from the stack and began explaining to Lin Daiyu, “Now we are drawing the internal structure of a musket, which the Marquis has named a flintlock musket. Unlike a matchlock musket, it does not require a tinderbox to light the fuse, and the ammunition is loaded at the breech, making it more convenient to use and capable of firing in rapid succession.”

"But to achieve this effect, the activation device is of paramount importance, and we are currently overcoming the difficulties in this area. A perfectly proportioned structure must be drawn up so that the craftsmen can begin to build it."

Lin Daiyu nodded repeatedly. Matters involving military equipment were of utmost importance, and she dared not be careless in the slightest.

But in her mind, she couldn't help but grumble, "Father is always busy with important matters, what is he thinking about? They are working so diligently in the room, yet they are spreading rumors and causing trouble. I think Father is deliberately trying to drive a wedge between me and my husband. This is never going to end!"

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips, took a deep breath, rolled up her sleeves, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and began to carefully sketch and add her own touches to the design.

Several hours later, with everyone working together, they finally completed a first draft, ready to begin work.

Xue Baoqin then took her leave with Tan Chun, satisfied, leaving the study to the young couple who seemed to have something to say to each other.

"Husband, did Father come today?"

Seeing that everyone had left, Lin Daiyu was finally able to ask what was on her mind. Leaning back in her chair, she asked the question while breathing softly.

"Hmm?" Yue Ling, who was tidying up the clutter on the table, turned his head and seemed to realize something. "Could it be that your father-in-law said something to you, which is why you came out of the inner courtyard to look for me?"

Lin Daiyu remained noncommittal. "Father is talking nonsense again, saying that you were engaging in lewd acts in the study. Father is confused. Everyone in the manor is so busy these days that they don't even have time to rest. Even if you are lustful, you wouldn't do it at this time, much less in the study."

"Father still has too many prejudices."

Yue Ling approached with a smile, took Lin Daiyu's hand and said, "Madam, please don't be angry. Father-in-law has never been a gossip. There was a reason for what happened today, and I can understand."

"Hmm? Is there anything else I don't know?"

Lin Daiyu raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Thinking of this, Yue Ling burst into laughter and recounted to Lin Daiyu in detail how Jia Daishan had admonished Lin Ruhai, which made Lin Daiyu laugh until she cried.

After wiping her eyes, Lin Daiyu covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. "So Father has such a story. No wonder he sees you as black. His heart is black."

With her worries gone, Lin Daiyu stood up, supporting herself on the chair. "Alright, then I'll head back now. It's almost time for dinner, so I'll go check on Xueyan to see if she's awake yet."

"it is good."

Yue Ling accompanied him all the way to the Yimen Gate, where the two parted ways.

After returning to his study, Yue Ling recalled his analysis with Lin Ruhai earlier that day and sketched it out on paper.

First, two circles were drawn, symbolizing the two major forces within the imperial court.

The civil official group led by Chai Pu, also known as the Qingliu faction based on Shanxi merchants, was one faction, while the other faction was the lineage of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes centered around the Prince of Beijing's mansion.

The two factions appeared to be mutually restraining, especially the complex relationship between the Prince of Beijing's mansion and the Huizhou merchants, while the Shanxi merchants and the Huizhou merchants were mortal enemies.

However, given the current situation, Yue Ling has no choice but to be cautious about any possibility.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since I am the enemy of both sides, will they unite and eliminate me first?
Now that three princes are involved in court affairs, the most profound and far-reaching issue, and the one most likely to cause turmoil in the court, is the struggle for the throne.

The civil service group adhered to the traditional principle of primogeniture, prioritizing the eldest son over merit, and the eldest prince, Liu An, was their natural ally.

The Second Prince Liu Yi once came to seek help, which shows that he has great ambitions. Now he has been recommended by Prince Zhongshun and Prince Nan'an, and on the surface he has gained the support of the four princes, eight dukes and relatives.

Yue Ling was not surprised that the four princes and eight dukes had placed their bets, but Prince Zhongshun was Emperor Longyou's younger brother and a close relative. His trust in him was probably second only to Yue Ling's. Could he also be involved in this mess?

To put it another way, did Emperor Longyou take a liking to the second prince?

However, at the court assembly a few days ago, Emperor Longyou did indeed have the eldest prince replace him.

This attitude of treating everyone equally was truly baffling to the court officials, and even Yue Ling was completely confused.

As for the Third Prince Liu Yun, he doesn't seem particularly strange or unusual now, but perhaps he simply hasn't come to understand him...

"Whether it's Chai Pu or Shui Rong, they've been navigating the court for decades, and their schemes are certainly not as simple as I imagine. Could it be that they outwardly support the First Prince and the Second Prince respectively, stirring up conflict, but in the end, they actually support the Third Prince?"

"The Third Prince is taciturn. Even when I was teaching the three of them to read, I couldn't see through this child. Perhaps it's not that he's naturally aloof, but rather that he has little cunning."

"We should find an opportunity to test him; perhaps we'll get some unexpected results..."

Yue Ling was lost in thought and failed to notice the wind chimes hanging in front of the door, which were ringing softly. A gust of wind blew into the study, and a figure floated in and lay down under Yue Ling's desk.

By the time Yue Ling regained consciousness, the person had already slipped under his robes, placed his hands on Yue Ling's thighs, and looked up at him with a smile.

"Miss Baoqin? What's going on?"

Xue Baoqin blinked mischievously, put her finger to her lips, and whispered, "My lord, please don't make a fuss. This is the outer chamber. If the servants are summoned, it might be difficult to explain."

Yue Ling twitched his lips, wondering why this little girl had suddenly changed her nature and was no longer pretending to be an innocent little white flower.

No, that's not right. The day she arrived in Beijing, I had already fondled and caressed her to my heart's content.

"what are you up to?"

Xue Baoqin slowly crawled out from under the table, sat back on Yue Ling's lap, crossed her legs, swung her feet, and laughed, "So, everything in Sister Keqing's novels is true. Even someone like the Marquis would be surprised to see her crawl out from under the table."

Yue Ling covered his face helplessly, thinking to himself, "Can't this little girl watch something more wholesome?"

"My lord, are we preparing to go to war?" Changing the subject to business gradually quelled the nameless anger rising in Yue Ling's chest.

Shaking his head, Yue Ling said, "Everything is still unknown, but I need to build a well-trained personal guard in case of emergency."

Xue Baoqin nodded slightly and said, "Since there is something that the Marquis is wary of, then it's probably true."

"Before that, could you reward me, Lord Marquis? After all, I've done so much. Without the talent I recruited before, this gun manufacturing would not have been completed even in a year or two, let alone with the current one-month deadline."

Yue Ling was fully aware of this.

Xue Baoqin's contributions have now surpassed those of Xue Baochai in some respects. However, Xue Baochai had always worked quietly and never asked Yue Ling for anything, which led Yue Ling to completely overlook the fact that rewards and punishments should be clearly distinguished.

Thinking of this, Yue Ling couldn't help but smile wryly, silently thinking, "It really is true that only the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

Faced with Xue Baoqin's request, Yue Ling naturally wouldn't refuse. He nodded slightly and said, "Alright, then tell me, what do you want?"

Xue Baoqin suddenly turned around, knelt on Yue Ling, tilted her head up, and aimed precisely at Yue Ling's lips.

Her tender, lotus-root-like arms wrapped tightly around Yue Ling's neck, and the fragrance wafting from her hair wafted through the breeze, filling Yue Ling's nostrils. For a moment, he felt weak in the knees and forgot to push the girl away.

As Yue Ling's pupils gradually focused, he came back to his senses. When he looked at Xue Baoqin again, her infatuated appearance made it seem as if a pair of devil horns had grown on her head and a long, thin tail with a heart on it had grown behind her. She looked exactly like a little devil!

After Xue Baoqin struggled to support Yue Ling's shoulders to prop him up, a clear, glistening line appeared between their lips.

Gently pursing her lips, Xue Baoqin said with a grin, "So this is what it tastes like. No wonder everyone is so obsessed with it."

Yue Ling smiled wryly, realizing he had been outmaneuvered by a young girl.

"Okay, you can get down now?"

Xue Baoqin shook her head.

"Didn't you already take your reward?"

Xue Baoqin's rosy cheeks were flushed, and she reached behind her back with her hands to grope for her waist.

Only then did Yue Ling notice that Xue Baoqin had changed into a dress when she came back.

The peach-pink veil shimmered in the sunset, its colors vibrant and varied. The butterfly pattern, outlined in gold thread, seemed to flutter its wings with her rising and falling breaths, so lifelike.

The inner strapless dress is made of water-like satin, a clear blue like lake water, which further accentuates her light figure, as if the water is rippling.

The begonia-colored embroidered shoes, encasing her delicate, jade-like feet, whetted Yue Ling's appetite, causing her to swallow hard.

But Yue Ling's rationality prevailed. "No, it's not the right time for Baoqin. I will not abandon you once things are settled."

"Didn't you want to revive your father's caravan? The ships are under construction, and the official documents are a piece of cake. I also trust your brother's character. You will have the opportunity to accomplish all of this yourself in the future."

Xue Baoqin's hand was grabbed by Yue Ling, and her skirt was only half off, revealing the lotus pond moonlight undergarment.

With her chest pressed against Yue Ling's body, Xue Baoqin whispered in his ear, "Your Excellency understands me so well, I couldn't be happier. But my relationship with you is not a transaction. When I first met you and went to shield you from an arrow without hesitation, I knew that love is irrational and doesn't consider advantages or disadvantages."

Biting her lip, the young girl suppressed her shyness and spoke the most touching words of love, "I want to be held in the arms of the Marquis, so that when I go to sea in the future, the Marquis will not forget me."

Yue Ling still refused, saying, "No, you are a respectable woman. How can you hand yourself over to me without a proper title or status? It would be detrimental to your reputation."

"I don't care. Does the Marquis think I'm as hopeless as my sister?"

Yue Ling was both amused and exasperated. "Once everything settles down, I'll give you a proper title. At that time..."

Xue Baoqin stared straight at Yue Ling, letting him see the unwavering determination in her eyes, without a trace of falsehood, and gradually her words became softer and softer.

"The Marquis often says that you never know which will come first, tomorrow or an accident. So I won't wait for later, I want today."

Yue Ling pulled again, saying, "You're still too young."

"I'm only one year younger than Sister Lin."

The long dress fell onto Yue Ling with a soft, cloud-like motion.

"What if Madam arrives?"

"Sister Lin was tricked into coming here once already, why would she come a second time?"

Only now did Yue Ling realize that this little girl's ability to see through people's hearts was in no way inferior to Xue Baochai's.

She is also more worthy of being a girl who has traveled all over the country since childhood and was not raised in a boudoir; she is much bolder than Xue Baochai.

Since the other party had entrusted himself to him wholeheartedly, Yue Ling would naturally not let them down. If he backed down now, the thought of "What kind of man am I?" would surely play in the background of his mind.

He embraced her with both hands, gently peeled off her embroidered shoes, and held a pair of jade bamboo shoots in his hands.

Yue Ling's large hand could be easily controlled with one hand.

After getting up and leaving his seat, the small bed set up in the study came in handy.

"I'm going to be a big sister!"

……

In the aunt's courtyard,

Lin Daiyu stood with her hands on her hips in the main hall, frowning at Lin Ruhai, and said, "It's one thing for outsiders to slander my husband, but even my father has lost his own opinion and just parrots what others say?"

Lin Ruhai also looked displeased, "What do you know, you little rascal? Look at him, how could he not be tempted to steal food?"

Lin Daiyu was even more indignant, "What are you saying, Father? I am the first wife and I have to manage the entire inner chambers. There are so many young maids in the mansion waiting for their husbands to dote on them. I have been waiting since I was six years old until now that I am fifteen, a full nine years. After we get married, I still want to monopolize them. It's too unfair to them, and people will say that I am jealous."

"Could we let them out? Or should we have them convert to Buddhism and purify their six senses?"

Think about the Buddhist temple in the mansion. Even the nuns are practicing with their hair tied up. They only add to Yue Ling's pleasure. Where is the purity of the six senses?

Waving his hand impatiently, Lin Ruhai said, "Fine, fine, I won't interfere in your affairs anymore. But his attention needs to be on you, and you need to get pregnant first!"

Lin Daiyu stuck out her tongue and said, "Shut up, mind your own business!"

(End of this chapter)