Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 210 Xiangling Stays Overnight
All the guests in the hall were having a great time. Although there was no music or dancers, they were chatting animatedly, at least on the surface.

Yue Ling smiled as he sent Shi Ding away, and then said to Hou Yao and Li Dehua, "You two should take a good rest today, and we will discuss the real business tomorrow."

Yue Ling's steps seemed to be unsteady, and Jia Yun was still supporting him. Yue Ling turned back reluctantly and said to the two of them, "I don't like women, so I won't entertain guests like others and use maids as companions..."

Hou Yao hurriedly said, "My Lord, you are too serious. This is the government office. How can you do such a vulgar thing?"

Yue Ling waved his hands and said, "How can it be called vulgar? It should be called romantic. Isn't it said that officials visiting prostitutes and officials staying with prostitutes has become a trend? I thought that the master was also a person who pretended to be elegant."

"However, this Dehui brother seemed a little unwilling, and he didn't seem to smile during the meal."

Hou Yao used his elbow to nudge Li Dehui, who was still distracted, and tried to smooth things over with Yue Ling, saying, "He is really a rustic country boy. How can he understand what the Marquis is talking about when he talks about family and national affairs?"

Li Dehui took a deep breath, and then he bowed his hands and said to Yue Ling, "I am a rude person, and I have disturbed your pleasure. I hope you will forgive me."

"Okay, okay, since there's nothing else to do, I'll go back and rest. See you tomorrow, both of you."

Having said this, Yue Ling ignored the two of them and, supported by Jia Yun, walked through the hall and went straight to the east courtyard.

Just after passing the corridor, a person came out from the back door of the hall.

She was wearing a lotus-colored silk jacket, a green satin vest, and an aqua green long skirt, and she bowed to Yue Ling.

Yue Ling immediately stood up and let go of Jia Yun's hand. The smell of alcohol on his face was gone. He asked the visitor, "Did you see clearly? Is it the one at the table?"

Xiangling nodded and said, "Yes, it's him. I've seen him before, I won't make a mistake."

Yue Ling thought for a moment, then raised the corner of his mouth slightly and smiled: "It's really interesting, things have changed again."

Yue Ling and Jia Yun said, "Release the sentries in the west courtyard tonight and don't interfere with their work. I want to see what they will do."

Jia Yun nodded and said, "Yes."

Afterwards, Yue Ling continued walking towards the inner house, and Xiangling followed closely.

Yue Ling was thinking about what happened between Hou Yao and the other man just now, and forgot about her for a moment.

He walked straight to the corridor at the back of the house, looked back, and saw Xiangling still standing there in a daze.

Yue Ling raised his eyes to the sky, which was as dark as ink. The waning moon was hiding in the clouds, and not even a trace of light could be seen.

Cangzhou City was still in a period of turmoil, and the curfew was strictly enforced at night. Even Shi Ding stayed overnight in the courtyard outside the government office. Looking at Xiangling again, Yue Ling said, "It's late at night. You should stay here today and go back early tomorrow morning."

Xiangling just nodded dumbly.

Pushing open the door, in the brightly lit hall, Lin Daiyu was wearing a small dress, waiting by the tea table.

But what was placed on the tea table was not tea, but a bowl of sobering soup.

Yue Ling's heart warmed up, and he walked into the door with a smile, came to Lin Daiyu's side, and asked with concern: "Is Sister Lin feeling better?"

Thinking of the blunder she had caused during the day, Lin Daiyu felt embarrassed again and turned away, saying, "It's okay, it's okay. Brother Yue, drink the soup while it's hot. Why are you craving for wine and setting up a banquet at the government office?"

Yue Ling took a sip; it tasted sour, sweet and refreshing, just like the fragrance of Lin Daiyu.

With Lin Daiyu's angry look, the taste becomes even better.

Xiangling was sitting near the door, looking a little dazed, as if she was watching an old couple getting along.

At the same time, Lin Daiyu also noticed that there was another person in the room. She looked over in confusion and asked Yue Ling, "Brother Yue, who is she?"

Yue Ling replied, "She is Miss Xue's maid. She was originally here to deliver a message, but some sudden news delayed her, and she couldn't get away until the banquet was over. It's night time now, so let her stay in the room."

Lin Daiyu's eyes turned and she nodded slightly, "My side room is empty right now, why don't you just stay there?"

Yue Ling thought about it and said, "This is the best."

Then, Xueyan was called out. She also looked up and down at the unfamiliar little girl and asked, "Is this the new maid that the master has found? She is so pretty and looks a bit like Sister Keqing. Oh, I wonder what Sister Keqing and the others are doing at home. They must be very bored now that General Yue is not here."

When I got closer, I found that she was smaller than Xiangling and slightly older.

Xueyan measured Xiangling's eyebrows and asked, "Is this red spot painted on, or is it originally there?"

Xiangling replied timidly, "I was born with it."

Xueyan couldn't help but nodded, "It looks good."

One was dumb, the other was stupid. Yue Ling found it funny. "How come she is the maid I found?"

Xueyan shook her head and said, "First of all, it's because this sister is pretty, and secondly, it's because of the strange things that happened in the room recently."

Yue Ling and Lin Daiyu both looked at Xueyan, wondering what was going on in her little head.

Xueyan said slowly and calmly, "Sister Zijuan slept with General Yue a few days ago, and couldn't get up the next day, so she stayed in the room all day. Yesterday, the young lady also slept with General Yue, and the next day she was also sick, so she slept on the couch for half a day." "Then I was the only one left in the room, but I couldn't sleep with General Yue, that's not appropriate. So, this sister is the new one, sharing Sister Zijuan's work."

Yue Ling was stunned and looked speechless.

Looking at Xiangling again, her face was flushed with shame and she unconsciously tightened her clothes.

Yue Ling held his forehead and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Take her to wash up, and then let her stay in your side room."

At the right time, Zijuan came in with a red face, and pulled Xueyan out.

Looking at Lin Daiyu again, she was also embarrassed by Xueyan's words and lowered her head in shame. Yue Ling couldn't help but think of the imperial physician's instructions.

"Well, there are outsiders staying overnight tonight, so Sister Lin should just rest in the room. When you are well, come back here to find me."

Lin Daiyu had the same idea, but because Xiangling was present, she couldn't say it out loud.

After what happened in the morning, she seemed to be more clear about her feelings, because when she found out that she was not pregnant, she seemed to have a little regret in her heart.

This is really terrible. Every time Lin Daiyu thought of this, she couldn't help but become nervous.

Lin Daiyu stroked her chest gently and nodded slightly, saying, "Okay, Brother Yue has drunk a lot of wine, so it's time to take a good rest."

Feeling her heart beating faster, Lin Daiyu took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, and turned to ask about Xiangling.

"Brother Yue, is there anything special about that girl? Even if she wants to stay overnight, does she have to stay in our room?"

Lin Daiyu was a kind-hearted woman with a gentle and graceful manner. When Yue Ling brought her into the family, she was able to guess what Yue Ling was thinking, so she would not offend him.

Yue Ling nodded slightly and replied, "There is a reason. Her life story is too pitiful. Her hometown is Gusu, the same place as Lin Daiyu. Her real name is Zhen Yinglian, and she comes from a gentry family. When she was three years old, she was separated from her family while watching lanterns on the Lantern Festival and was abducted by a kidnapper."

"Growing up in the hands of kidnappers, I didn't mention the hardships I had endured until I met Xue Pan. Two families were sold by the kidnappers. After Xue Pan beat another family to death, I was involved in a murder case."

"She was originally the most innocent. All the sufferings were caused by no cause or effect, and only happened to her."

"Xue Pan is not a good person either, so I let her stay in my room for one night as a way of protecting her."

How could the Xue family dare to force a maid who had slept in the Marquis's room for one night to be his concubine?

Lin Daiyu was a person who sympathized with the poor and the weak, so she could not bear to hear such things. When Yue Ling finished speaking, tears welled up in her eyes.

After thinking for a while, Lin Daiyu replied, "It's not that there is no cause and effect. After she encountered so many hardships, she was able to meet Brother Yue who took care of her. This is her good fate."

Yue Ling smiled and said, "Maybe so."

Not long after, Zijuan returned with Xueyan and Xiangling.

Lin Daiyu then stood up and called out, "Xiangling, come over here."

Xueyan took Xiangling's hand and enthusiastically pulled her into the room.

After a simple wash, Xueyan liked this sister very much, and there were many reasons why she liked her.

For example, she looks stupid, but may not be smarter than herself; she has an outstanding appearance and is naive; according to Xueyan's understanding, this sister does not eat much, so she is definitely not her enemy.

After entering Lin Daiyu's room, he did not arrange Xiangling to go to the ear room first, but stayed by the tea table first.

Lin Daiyu looked at this silly girl, folded her hands in front of her, and looked uneasy.

In Lin Daiyu's eyes, most of what Yue Ling was thinking was beyond her ability to think deeply. However, knowing more about the matter would only add to her troubles, so Lin Daiyu did not intend to expose it.

She asked Xueyan to make tea, and the two of them sat at the opposite ends of the tea table. Lin Daiyu comforted her, "Since Brother Yue has allowed you to stay overnight in his room, no one will make things difficult for you. Since you have been with Brother Yue, you should be able to see that he is warm and friendly to others. Why should you be so reserved?"

"Take a good rest today. If you need anything, just let me know."

Xiangling shook her head and said, "Miss Xie Lin's kindness really doesn't lack anything."

To be honest, Xiangling was a little flattered.

Lin Daiyu spoke again, "I heard what Brother Yue said about you. You were born in Gusu, and I am also from Gusu. Brother Yue said that you will have a chance to meet your parents again in the future, so he will not lie to you. After all, Brother Yue never speaks nonsense."

Xiangling's heart trembled slightly, she pursed her lips and nodded gently.

Seeing that the atmosphere was good, Lin Daiyu's eyes flashed, and she opened her cherry lips and asked in a low voice: "What are you doing here in the government office today?"

Lin Daiyu spoke softly and was kind to others. Xiangling had no defenses at all. "First, I came to report the whereabouts of a suspicious person. The Marquis asked me to identify him at the banquet just now. Second, I want to present a letter to the Marquis. It's about what my girl did recently. I just remembered it..."

Lin Daiyu's face was full of smiles. "Why not give it to me first? I will pass it to Brother Yue on your behalf tomorrow. After all, whether it is given to me or to Brother Yue, it is the same..."

　I watched the League of Legends game last night. TES played so poorly that I was angry for a long time. I missed a few words and will add the second chapter soon.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)