Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 38 Clash in the Inner Courtyard: Jia Baoyu is so frightened he loses control of his bladder!
"Giggle!"

"Sister Lin, come and catch me!"

In the secluded courtyard, Xiao Xichun and Lin Daiyu were playing hide-and-seek, their silvery laughter echoing all around.

"Sister Lin."

Just as the two children were playing happily, several figures suddenly barged in. When Jia Baoyu saw Lin Daiyu, his face was full of joy.

"Sister Lin/Sister Lin, Fourth Sister."

Yingchun and Tanchun, each accompanied by their maids, entered the courtyard together.

"Second sister, third sister."

"You've arrived."

When Xiao Xichun saw them, a genuine smile appeared on her chubby little face.

"Second elder sister, third younger sister."

"Brother Bao Er".

Lin Daiyu was slightly closer to Yingchun and Tanchun, but she kept Jia Baoyu at arm's length.

"Sister Lin."

"How did you end up here? I couldn't find you anywhere."

"How about we do as our ancestors said, you stay in the green gauze room, so we can play and have fun together?"

Jia Baoyu seemed oblivious to Lin Daiyu's indifference, appearing instead warm and welcoming.

However, it was this one sentence that made Lin Daiyu's face suddenly turn cold and stern, her watery eyes staring intently at Jia Baoyu: "According to Brother Bao, I absolutely cannot stay here, I should be eagerly rushing to play with others."

"I"

Jia Baoyu was speechless.

"Miss Lin has misunderstood."

"Our second master came because he was thinking of the girl; sometimes he misses home and feels lonely."

"The old lady had mentioned several times that the young lady should live closer to Bishachu, so I spoke up, without any intention of offending her."

Xiren, who was standing in front of Jia Baoyu, spoke up to explain.

"Sister Lin."

"Second brother meant well."

Tan Chun seemed to want to mediate the conflict between the two and was about to continue speaking when she was interrupted by Lin Daiyu.

"What a convenient excuse, 'for me'!"

Lin Daiyu gave a cold laugh and said self-deprecatingly, "Now it's my fault. I can't appreciate Brother Bao's care and I've let down my grandmother's earnest care."

"You really are a good and loyal servant. Every word you say is about your master. You should call her sister-in-law someday."

"Miss Lin."

Xi Ren's pretty face changed. She could think these words, but she couldn't let anyone say them. Who was Madam Wang? She regarded Jia Baoyu as her lifeblood. Even Master Zhu back then had never shown her such affection. If Madam Wang knew about these words, she would surely sell her off.

"Good sister."

“What Xiren said is not wrong. You can come and stay with me at Bisha Pavilion.”

Jia Baoyu stared longingly at Lin Daiyu, much like a puppy wagging its tail.

"Is it appropriate for my third sister to think I live in the Bisha Pavilion?"

Unexpectedly, Lin Daiyu ignored Jia Baoyu and instead looked at Tan Chun.

"Sister Lin"

Tan Chun wanted to persuade Lin Daiyu, but Ying Chun tugged at her sleeve, leaving her standing there somewhat confused.

“My maternal grandmother let me live in Bishachu, and I can never repay her for her loving care.”

"Although the green gauze curtain is nice, men and women are different. My Lin family of Suzhou has been a noble family of scholars for four generations. We have never treated it so lightly."

"The Jia family is composed of two dukes, and Bao Erge is the legitimate son of the Rongguo Mansion. He should know the etiquette that men from outside the family cannot meet with women in private."

"I don't want Brother Bao to be labeled as 'improper and transgressing the rules.' If there's nothing wrong, Brother Bao, you shouldn't come looking for me."

Lin Daiyu glanced at Jia Baoyu, Tan Chun, and Xi Ren, her words laced with undisguised sarcasm.

'Thump!'

Tan Chun then understood why Ying Chun had stopped her from continuing. She and Lin Daiyu were about the same age, only a year apart, and she naturally knew how important a woman's reputation was. Unless Lin Daiyu wanted to marry Jia Baoyu, such an interaction was indeed inappropriate.

In the past, Jia Baoyu always mingled in the inner courtyard because the three sisters of the Spring Festival were his brothers and sisters, and he didn't have such concerns.

"Second Master."

"let's go."

Xiren gave Lin Daiyu a deep look. For the first time, she realized how sharp this young lady from Yangzhou was. She crushed Lin Daiyu's words of affection with the etiquette of the imperial court in just a few words, and even labeled Jia Baoyu as 'unruly'.

"No, I won't leave. Wherever Lin Daiyu is, I will be there."

Jia Baoyu wouldn't listen to advice and was determined to stick close to Lin Daiyu, so he started acting like a rogue.

"Just now, Master Bao came straight to the young lady's courtyard."

Standing next to Xiao Xichun, Xiao Xue's sudden remark caused Lin Daiyu's eyebrows to furrow, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in her clear, watery eyes. As intelligent as she was, how could she not realize that it was someone close to her who was tipping off Jia Baoyu?

Lin Daiyu's courtyard had only three maids and servants: Xueyan, Zijuan, and Granny Wang. Xueyan and Granny Wang were brought from the Lin family and were extremely loyal. The only one who might cause trouble was Zijuan. Zijuan's original name was Yingge, and she was a second-class maid in Grandmother Jia's room. When Grandmother Jia saw that Lin Daiyu had only brought two people with her, she feared that they would not be enough, so she gave Yingge to Daiyu and renamed her Zijuan.

“I cannot tolerate a person who is fickle here. Since you think he is good, go to him.”

Lin Daiyu's gaze fell on Zijuan, her soft and delicate Wu dialect revealing an undeniable coldness.

"girl."

Zijuan's face turned deathly pale, and she knelt down on both knees.

"Take her with you."

Lin Daiyu didn't even glance at Zijuan, and went straight to Xiren.

“Zijuan was assigned to Miss Lin’s courtyard by the old lady, we dare not take her away.”

"Please ask Miss Lin to speak to the old lady herself."

Xi Ren gave a firm but not overly forceful rebuttal.

"you"

Even Xueyan, who was standing next to Lin Daiyu, was angered, and her face turned red.

"People say that those in high-ranking families are heartless, and today I have witnessed it firsthand. It is indeed a tradition passed down through generations."

Lin Daiyu made a sarcastic remark to Xiren, then turned to Xiaoxue, her tone becoming more respectful: "Please, elder sister, step in and don't let some people disturb my and Fourth Sister's fun."

"it is good."

Xiao Xue nodded slightly in agreement, then said coldly, "I don't care about any Master Bao, this is our young lady's courtyard."

"All unauthorized personnel must leave immediately."

"Shameless filthy thing! Acting like a master here? Take a look in the mirror and see if you're worthy!"

Jia Baoyu's other head maid, Qiuwen, was bossy and didn't take Xiaoxue seriously at all.

"Autumn Pattern".

Xiren knew that Xiaoxue had a special identity and quickly tried to stop Qiuwen, but unfortunately, it was too late.

"Noisy."

Xiaoxue appeared before Qiuwen like a whirlwind, her hand rising and falling.

"Snapped!!!"

Qiuwen was slapped so hard she was sent flying. Her right cheek was swollen and bruised, and blood was spilling from the corner of her mouth. She looked at Xiaoxue in horror.

‘Wow! ’

Xiaoxue gently slashed her right hand from her waist, and a long rainbow, as clear as autumn water, flashed past in everyone's eyes. A soft sword was placed against Jia Baoyu's neck, and the cold blade and sharp edge made Jia Baoyu feel a stinging pain on his skin.

"Second Master!"

"Second brother!"

Both Xiren and Tanchun were terrified.

"Second Master Bao."

"Would you like to test the sharpness of my sword?"

Xiaoxue looked at Jia Baoyu with indifferent eyes, as if he were a dead man.

"Drip, drip, drip!"

Jia Baoyu was so frightened that he stood frozen in place. A foul, fishy smell filled the air; he had wet his pants.

"Someone, help the Second Master up, let's go."

Fearing that Xiaoxue might draw her sword again, Xiren quickly waved to the maids who had followed her and helped Jia Baoyu leave Xichun's courtyard.

"Sister Lin, Fourth Sister."

"My third sister and I will visit again another day."

Yingchun, who was usually known as "Second Blockhead," was the first to come to her senses. She took Tanchun's hand and left together.

"Thank you sister."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu solemnly thanked Xiaoxue, thinking that after this incident, Jia Baoyu would no longer bother her.

"Miss Lin, there's no need for such formalities."

Xiaoxue said gently, "My master personally instructed that Lord Lin bears a heavy responsibility for the country, so we cannot let him have any worries."

"Yes."

Lin Daiyu was surprised that Jia Yan had specifically instructed his subordinates for her, and her watery eyes rippled with emotion.

"Sister Lin."

"Let's keep playing."

Seeing that everyone had left, Xiao Xichun called out to Lin Daiyu again.

"Ah."

Lin Daiyu suppressed her reverie and continued playing with little Xichun; the two, one big and one small, were exceptionally harmonious.

(End of this chapter)