Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 222: The Haunted Government Office
This little incident at the dinner table made the atmosphere in the room even more awkward.

The girls, who were not familiar with each other to begin with, were too shy to speak. Only Yue Ling was left to adjust the atmosphere, starting a conversation from time to time, which made the hall with seven people sitting there seem less lonely.

After dinner, the sky darkened and the half moon rose. It was already curfew time.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Daiyu should have gone to chat with her elder brother Yue at this time, but today, with Xue Baochai here, she couldn't go.

However, Lin Daiyu had already planned to let them stay overnight.

Although Xue Baochai seemed to be competing with her for Brother Yue, after two contacts, she felt that Xue Baochai was a good person and treated her well. Lin Daiyu also liked Xue Baochai's personal maid Ying'er very much, so naturally she had many questions to ask.

"Let Sister Xue live with me, Xiangling and Ying'er stay in the side room over there, and Xueyan go live with Sister Zijuan, so that there will be room for everyone to sleep in the room."

As more people came into the room, Lin Daiyu naturally took on the responsibilities of housekeeper, and no one felt it was awkward.

Yue Ling would not refute Lin Daiyu's words, and asked Xue Baochai, "What do you think, Miss Xue? The government office is not short of courtyards. If you are not used to living in this room, it is not a problem to go down and clean up a new one."

Xue Baochai looked at Lin Daiyu and said with a smile, "Don't bother. The guest should follow the host's wishes. Sister Lin and I have met each other too late, and I have a lot to talk about. My Lord has worked hard all day, and it is really hard. It is better for him to rest early and don't worry about us."

Seeing Lin Daiyu nod, Yue Ling breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Well, I won't disturb you sisters from chatting. Remember to rest early and don't get so excited that you forget the time."

Lin Daiyu took Xue Baochai's hand, and together they greeted Yue Ling before returning to their room.

They are one taller than the other, but both are extremely beautiful, just like two sisters.

After watching them leave, Yue Ling returned to his room.

It's not that they wanted to rest, but they were exhausted from fighting during the day. However, the enemy was too small and the situation was resolved more quickly than expected.

You have to know that Yue Ling chased the Northern Barbarians for ten miles, engaged in battle and killed the generals and seized the flag. At that moment, he felt a sense of strength that he had nowhere to vent and it just stayed in his heart, which made him feel uncomfortable.

Yue Ling simply tidied up and went to bed without turning off the lamp. When the night got deeper, the virtuous Zijuan in the ear room would know what he meant.

……

Lin Daiyu had entertained Shi Xiangyun before and slept with her, so she was very relaxed when entertaining Xue Baochai. On the contrary, Xue Baochai was much more reserved, fearing that she would cause dissatisfaction.

After entering Lin Daiyu's boudoir and coming to the Xiangfei-colored bed curtains, Xue Baochai sat on the edge of the bed with Lin Daiyu.

Soon, Zijuan and Xueyan brought a deeper wooden barrel and two pots of hot water, which were obviously for foot soaking.

"This is the Marquis's instruction. Miss, you should soak some moxa leaves to dispel cold and dampness. Miss Xue should soak some mint leaves, which have the effect of clearing heat and cooling blood. It may be effective for Miss Xue to sleep."

Xue Baochai's almond-shaped eyes flickered slightly, and there seemed to be a tenderness spreading in them.

Lin Daiyu did not notice the change in Xue Baochai's expression. She lifted up her trouser legs and started soaking her feet as usual.

"Sister Xue, you should give it a try too. I'm not bragging. Brother Yue told me to soak my feet every day. At first, I thought it was too much trouble and was reluctant to do it. I just wanted to wash my feet. But later, after I got used to it, I really felt that my body was much more relaxed."

"Sister Xue is busy with the shop every day. You can try more after you go back."

Xue Baochai smiled and looked at Lin Daiyu with envy, saying, "No wonder your illness has been cured. The Marquis can even consider such trivial matters, so how can it not be cured? Today I am also benefiting from Sister Lin's help. I am really enviable."

Lin Daiyu felt sweet in her heart and comforted her, saying, "You envy me? I envy Sister Xue. If you think about it carefully, my mother died early, I have no sisters or brothers, and I was almost sent to Rongguo Mansion by my father because I lost my mother."

Speaking of this, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.

Xue Baochai smiled bitterly, "I do have a brother, but he is like that. Although he has a mother like Sister Lin, he also lost his father and had to go north. Sister Lin didn't go to the Jia family. I really want to go, but I don't have a marquis to take care of me. How can I not envy you?"

"Sister Lin has no sisters or brothers, but she has a marquis."

After all this talk, Xue Baochai couldn't help thinking secretly, "Besides, if the Marquis became your brother, it wouldn't be what you want."

Lin Daiyu was startled when she heard this, "Sister Xue is going to Rongguo Mansion?"

Xue Baochai nodded, "I will go sooner or later. Mother allowed me to work in Cangzhou because I promised to go to the capital with her."

Thinking of the situation in Rongguo Mansion, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but worry about her, "This, is it necessary not to go?"

Xue Baochai didn't know why Lin Daiyu hated Rongguo Mansion so much, but she had heard some rumors about Rongguo Mansion and Ningguo Mansion. She sighed and then smiled, saying, "It's not all bad. The Marquis's business will be expanded to the capital sooner or later, and the Xue family's focus will also be moved to the capital. Let's go. After all, people in Rongguo Mansion can't be cannibalistic, right?"

Xue Baochai was joking and Lin Daiyu laughed along.

The two sisters linked their arms again. Lin Daiyu said, "We won't eat people, but with the two old masters here, things won't be too bad. We are a pair of pitiful people, suffering from the same disease. But now I have elder brother Yue to treat me, and I hope that sister Xue can find someone who can treat me, so that her life will be a little smoother in the future."

Listening to Lin Daiyu's words, Xue Baochai looked at the wooden barrel at her feet, her eyes sparkling...

……

"Sister Zijuan?"

"what happened?"

Zijuan and Xueyan were lying side by side. Xueyan tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep, which was really unbearable for Zijuan.

He then spoke again, which made Zijuan, who was always very patient, speak a little more seriously.

Xueyan asked tentatively, "Sister Zijuan, do you have anything to eat in your room? I'm so hungry that I can't sleep."

Zijuan didn't have the habit of eating at night, and she felt helpless and said, "It's only been more than an hour since dinner, and you're hungry again?"

Xueyan said cautiously, "I always have cakes in my room. I will eat some before going to sleep. I'm used to it... Sister Zijuan, do you have any?" "I don't have any. The master has some in his room. I'll go get it for you."

Xueyan smiled and said, "Sister Zijuan, you are the best."

Zijuan was very upset, but in order to coax Xueyan to sleep, she had to go anyway.

As soon as he opened the door and walked to the tea table, he saw the curtain on the bed lifted up. Yue Ling looked at Zijuan with a dim gaze.

Zijuan's face turned red instantly. She shook her head, took the snacks, and ran away in a panic.

Back in the room, Zijuan stroked her chest gently, still feeling her heart beating violently.

"It's delicious, Sister Zijuan, don't you want to eat it?"

Zijuan shook her head and took a deep breath, "Eat, and we should rest now. Master, they are all asleep over there."

Xueyan nodded obediently, "Okay."

Half a while later, it was almost three o'clock in the morning, and Xueyan struggled to sit up again.

"what happened again?"

"Sister Zijuan, I ate a little too much just now, and I'm a little thirsty now."

Zijuan held her breath again, went downstairs to get the teapot, and said, "Drink it, and go to sleep!"

After being scolded by Zijuan, Xueyan had no choice but to pout. After drinking a few sips of water, she lay down again.

"Sister Zijuan, why are you in such a hurry to go to bed? It's not that late now. It seems to be less than three o'clock in the morning, right?"

Zijuan rolled her eyes and whispered, "You are asleep, but if you don't leave at midnight, I won't be able to sleep all night!"

"Sister Zijuan, what did you say?"

Zijuan kept silent and replied casually: "Nothing, don't bother the little ancestor, go to sleep."

Zijuan closed her eyes tightly, but she was still alert in her heart. She just waited for Xueyan to fall asleep and then went to Yue Ling.

Seeing Yue Ling's murderous look just now, if she didn't go, her life would be difficult in the future.

It may be taken out from time to time and whipped.

After waiting for a long time, Xueyan's breathing finally became heavier, and her restless body stopped moving.

Zijuan tried to call out softly, "Xueyan?"

As she expected, there was no response.

Zijuan felt relieved, picked up the small clothes from the bedside, put them on, and tiptoed out of the door.

"You still remember to come?"

At midnight, everything is quiet, even the summer insects have stopped chirping, and people are naturally tired.

But Yue Ling had been suppressing his anger, and it was very uncomfortable.

In the past, when there was no little girl, Yue Ling would sweat on the martial arts field of the Qin Palace, using up his last bit of strength. Even then, he could beat a dozen sparring partners until they collapsed on the ground due to exhaustion.

And now, it seems that there is a better sparring partner.

Zijuan blew out the lamp, took off her undergarment, shyly crawled into Yue Ling's bed, and leaned on Yue Ling's shoulder, looking like she was ready to be picked.

"I also want to accompany you, Master, but Xueyan...well, Master, don't worry..."

"It doesn't matter what time it is, aren't you in a hurry?"

……

In the side room next to Lin Daiyu's, Xiangling was getting dressed noisily and lighting the lamp.

Ying'er was inevitably woken up, looked at Xiangling in confusion and asked, "What are you doing?"

Xiangling blushed and said, "I want to wash my hands..."

Ying Er said helplessly, "Why didn't you take care of it before going to bed? Why are you up again now? Regardless of anything else, do you know which chamber pot is?"

Xiangling shook her head dumbly.

"Then just go out the side door and find a tree pit to solve the problem."

There was no other way at the moment, so Xiangling followed Ying'er's advice and went out the side door to the backyard.

But not long after, Xiangling came back.

Ying'er was also surprised and asked, "So fast?"

Xiang Ling stroked her chest and shook her head, "I didn't dare go. It seemed like there was a ghost outside!"

(End of this chapter)