Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 229 Raising a Money-Losing Girl

Xue Baochai's face flushed with red after hearing what Lin Daiyu said, "Originally there weren't that many stories, but after Sister Lin explained it, it's a little hard to explain."

"Sister Lin is good in every way except her mouth. She is really unforgiving."

Lin Daiyu sneered and said, "It turns out that there is not so much profound meaning. I was wrong. It's my turn to write now."

While teasing Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu had already prepared a plan in mind.

However, she is not good at writing grand poems, but she is good at expressing emotions in subtle ways.

But the blessing I just said was not clever enough, so I wanted to give this poem to Yue Ling, and express my thoughts to him as well.

"The devil of poetry invades at dawn and dusk, and the sound of poetry sinks into the rocks around the fence. The tip of the brush is full of beauty and writes in the frost, and the mouth is full of fragrance and chants to the moon. The whole paper is filled with self-pity and plain complaints, but who can understand the autumn heart with a few words? Since Tao Ling became the Prime Minister, his noble character has been talked about for thousands of years."

Xue Baochai came behind Lin Daiyu and when she saw the poem, she was fascinated by it.

"Sister Lin's poems are very delicate, and the ingenuity is here. The idea is novel, she uses herself to sing about chrysanthemums, and also brings out the chrysanthemum's 'high character and integrity'. 'Who can understand the autumn heart with a few words?' It shows her detachment from the world, which is not understood by the world, and it is the background for the Marquis to change the law now."

"Since the founding of Dachang, the tax system has not changed except for the addition of some miscellaneous taxes. The Marquis is wholeheartedly trying to do good things, but even many people do not understand the benefits, so there is nowhere to complain."

"If we really talk about the court, there are very few people like you who can do practical things. You have to rely on you to be a man of high moral character for all eternity."

In Lin Daiyu's eyes, Yue Ling is different from others. Even though he is in the complicated officialdom, he never loses his original heart and is dedicated to the stability of the world and the well-being of the people.

Such a tenacious heart is what she values ​​and likes most.

Lin Daiyu smiled, her face also tinged with pink, and said to Xue Baochai in a tone of anger and resentment: "Sister Bao, you said I was making up an excuse, but you are a bit better. I clearly wrote about myself."

Xue Baochai laughed behind her and said, "Sister Lin doesn't look like she has nowhere to complain. The Marquis is here, so what can't you say?"

Lin Daiyu's thoughts were exposed by Xue Baochai. She was so ashamed and angry that she raised her fist and pretended to hit her. The two pretty girls made a scene together, and everyone else burst into laughter.

Such a harmonious scene made Yue Ling very relaxed. Watching the lovely little maids playing and fighting all day long was indeed much more comfortable than running all over the mountains and fields.

When Yue Ling picked up the pen that Lin Daiyu had just used and spread out a piece of rice paper in front of him, the little girls all quieted down. Even Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai stopped making noises, stopped what they were doing and just looked at Yue Ling.

"My Lord, do you want to write a poem?"

"Brother Yue, do you want to write a poem?"

The two girls looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.

Lin Daiyu and Yue Ling have been together for the longest time, but she has never seen Yue Ling write poetry. Lin Daiyu even thinks that Yue Ling doesn't understand it, and she deliberately suppresses her little hobby and rarely mentions it when she is with Yue Ling.

This is why she waited for Xue Baochai. She felt that she had met her too late and expressed all her talent and feelings out loud.

If Yue Ling had a basic understanding of poetry, even if his works were not that good, she would still be very happy.

At that moment, Lin Daiyu felt a warmth beside her ear. It was Xue Baochai whispering in her ear, "Can the Marquis write poetry?"

Lin Daiyu shrank her neck unconsciously and shook her head, saying, "Brother Yue's handwriting is quite good. He has never written poetry before. Now Sister Bao is lucky enough to see it."

They both smiled and looked at Yue Ling together.

Yue Ling was seen writing with great spirit, splashing ink on the white paper and writing a seven-character quatrain.

"The frosty wind blows and all flowers wither, but the chrysanthemums stand on the branches and become more red. No matter how cold the tide is, I still smile proudly towards the clouds."

Lin Daiyu happily took the rice paper, read it through, and commented: "Although it is not full of flowery words, it is still a good work. I like the last sentence, 'Let the cold tides rise a thousand feet, I will still smile proudly to the clouds'. This is the lack of grandeur in my poems."

Xue Baochai also nodded repeatedly, "This is a poem that fits the Marquis' temperament."

Yue Ling smiled and said, "It's just a clumsy work. I was moved by watching you guys reciting poems, so I wrote one to make you two talented ladies laugh. Come on, let's eat some more, it's time to go back to the room."

Lin Daiyu blinked, and there was an extra layer of mist in her eyes when she looked at Yue Ling.

……

"It's Double Ninth Festival, and this girl doesn't even know how to send a letter back."

Similar to the situation in Cangzhou government office, in Yangzhou Salt Inspectorate's office, Lin Ruhai was also having a banquet in the hall, with two concubines serving him on his left and right.

The two aunts smiled at each other and said in a comforting voice: "We also sent a letter during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's only been less than a month."

Lin Ruhai took a sip of wine and said, "That's true, but it always makes people uncomfortable. This girl has been with Yue Ling for a long time, but she has forgotten about me as her father. Who can be at peace with this?"

They both couldn't help but laugh again.

"What are you laughing at?"

Aunt Zhou replied, "Not to mention the young lady, when Master Hou went to Cangzhou, he gave Master a letter, and Master was terrified after reading it. I wonder what happened to him afterwards."

Lin Ruhai sighed and said, "To be honest, it's all thanks to Yue Ling. The four hundred Japanese pirates had been lying dormant along the coast for a long time, just waiting for an opportunity to stir up trouble. The shipowner we have been cooperating with was their man, and they were all cleared out as soon as this happened. Otherwise, I'm afraid it would threaten my safety."

"It's true that Yue Ling is a good fighter. If I were in danger, I'm afraid it wouldn't be so easy to turn things around."

Thinking of the time when Lin Ruhai went out to crack down on smuggled salt, if he was surrounded by Japanese pirates, the two concubines could not help but feel scared. Concubine Bai asked, "Should we send some gifts to Marquis Anjing?"

Lin Ruhai frowned and said, "I have sent many talented people from Yangzhou to him to make salt. What else is there to send?"

After hearing what Lin Ruhai said, the two concubines stopped talking.

But in their opinion, the clever Lin Daiyu was most likely a money-losing girl. She was getting closer and closer to Yue Ling and had forgotten about her father.

I won’t give anything now, but I guess I’ll have to give a big gift in the future.

"Master, there is a letter."

A servant girl ran in quickly from outside and informed Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai's eyebrows lit up with joy, and he said to the two concubines on his left and right: "Blood is thicker than water, Yu'er still remembers her father."

Lin Ruhai extended his hand to the maid and said with a smile, "Bring it up."

The maid scratched her head and said hesitantly, "Master, it's a letter from the capital. A eunuch came in and is waiting in the front hall."

"What? From the capital?"

Lin Ruhai was startled and hurried out.

After Lin Ruhai walked out of the yard, the two concubines could no longer stop laughing.

Aunt Zhou imitated Lin Ruhai's tone and repeated: "I knew Yu'er still remembered me."

Aunt Bai's smile, which had just stopped, couldn't be closed again.

"Stop learning it now. If the master sees you, he will punish you."

Aunt Zhou put aside her dignity and asked, "Shouldn't we take care of the dowry left by the Madam from time to time? I think it will be useful soon."

"It's too early, right? It'll take at least three to five years, right?"

"Three to five years is not fast enough. It will happen in the blink of an eye. Maybe when the girl comes back, she will already have a son-in-law with her."

Aunt Bai's eyes turned and she smiled, "That's a good thing. Finding a son-in-law like Marquis Anjing will make the master's career smooth and make all the families in the capital envious."

Aunt Zhou asked again, "Why, don't you want to match the young lady with the second son of the Jia family?"

Aunt Bai curled her lips, "That's probably what the old ancestor of the Jia family meant. I haven't been back for many years, so why should I listen to her? Besides, what good person can the second wife of the mansion teach? How can she be worthy of our girl? Compared with Marquis Anjing, she is even more like a firefly compared to the bright moon."

The women in the back house were having a good time, but Lin Ruhai in the front hall was anxious.

There were usually no letters from the capital. If there were any secret letters, they were mostly just reminders for him to be prepared and do something.

But if it was a eunuch stationed in Jiangnan who came to deliver the letter, then it was an official correspondence, and perhaps something big had happened.

It was not until Lin Ruhai stepped into the front hall that he saw an old man sitting with his eyes closed and resting.

"Eunuch Wei, how are you? I wonder if His Majesty has any important business that requires you to come?"

The eunuch responded with a forced smile, took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Ruhai.

"It's nothing urgent, Censor Lin will know it at a glance. His Majesty has been very dissatisfied with the officialdom in Jiangnan recently. I'm busy right now, so I won't stay any longer."

Lin Ruhai stood up and said, "Goodbye, sir."

Lin Ruhai returned to the hall and unfolded the letter in confusion, "Why is there nothing urgent? What does Your Majesty want to say?"

When Lin Ruhai looked carefully, he saw that it was Emperor Longyou who commended his achievements and gave him some rewards.

But it was not ready-made gold and silver, but some farms, and head ornaments and jewelry given to Lin Daiyu by the Queen.

Finally, he added, "When do you plan to let Lin Daiyu get married? You can discuss this matter when you report to the capital next time."

Lin Ruhai's mind seemed to flash with thunder, "Get married? How old is Yu'er and she wants to get married? Is His Majesty going to grant her a marriage?"

"Who is the marriage to be arranged for? Which royal family? It can't be Yue Ling."

Lin Ruhai nodded slightly, spread out paper and dipped it in ink, and began to write a reply, saying that Lin Daiyu was still young and there was no rush for her to get married.

Wait until he has finished all his work and we get together to discuss the marriage arrangements.

Finally, he asked about Emperor Longyou's health before asking his servant to take the reply letter and send it to the capital.

Sighing softly, Lin Ruhai said silently: "Yu'er is so young, how can she understand love affairs. She is born with a weak body, and getting married early will be a burden to her. No matter where she marries, she can't shoulder the responsibility of managing a mansion. I am afraid that she will be wronged when she goes to her husband's house."

"The Japanese pirates have been eliminated, and Your Majesty has ascended the throne. How about bringing her back first?"

(End of this chapter)