Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

When Li Wan and Tanchun entered the room, they happened to hear Wang Xifeng talking about Lin Ruhai's funeral:

"…The message to the Empress had already been delivered, but it was only released yesterday, asking the Second Master to go to the Ministry of Rites to get the regulations in seven days. They said that the palace was busy in the twelfth lunar month, otherwise, Supervisor Tao would have wanted to come out and preside over the sacrifice ceremony for you.

"Now that the Ministry of Rites has issued the rules, our family just needs to follow them strictly. So don't worry, sister. When I get the rules back, I will copy them for you to see."

When Lin Daiyu saw the two of them come in, she just nodded and asked them to sit down at the table as well. She then signaled Zijuan to serve them hot tea and snacks.

"I was talking to our wife yesterday, and she said that it won't be long before my sister is going into mourning, and it's time to change her clothes.

"It just so happens that a batch of good materials and styles have arrived from Jiangnan. They are all the most popular in winter and spring. If you don't mind, I'll ask my needlework to pick out some simple and elegant ones and make a few for you, okay?"

Wang Xifeng openly did favors for Daiyu in front of Li Wan and Tanchun.

Daiyu smiled and waved her hands: "I really despise her. Ever since Qingwen came to this courtyard, I have been spoiled. Yesterday, Zijuan complained to me that her needlework is no longer pleasing to my eyes.

"Sister Feng, please tell my aunt that I appreciate your kindness, but I don't need the clothes. Thank you for thinking of me, Sister Feng."

"In that case, I'll have them bring the fabric over tomorrow, and let Qingwen tire herself out slowly!" Wang Xifeng said, yawning with her handkerchief covering her mouth. "My dear sister, can I rest here for a while?

"As long as I go back, my yard won't have a moment of peace. I'm so tired today that I can't even open my eyes. I'll take a nap and leave when it's time for lunch!"

Li Wan and Tanchun couldn't help laughing along with Daiyu.

Li Wan poked Wang Xifeng with her finger and said, "Since you married into this family, this is the first time I've caught you being lazy! And now you've let it go!"

"That's good! My own health is less important than anything else." Lin Daiyu smiled and looked back at Aunt Meng. "It's just right, Aunt Meng, why don't you go and have a rest too?"

Aunt Meng had long been bored of what she heard, and nodded quickly, "Okay. You guys chat about your own things, and you don't need to call me even if it's time for lunch."

Stride out the door.

Everyone chuckled.

Wang Xifeng also followed him out with a smile.

When she got outside, Aunt Meng was waiting for her: "Come with me."

It was obvious that he was going to take her pulse and give her a prescription. Wang Xifeng was overjoyed: "Yes! Thank you, aunt!"

Li Wan looked at Wang Xifeng's back, her face full of jealousy and envy: "Our sister-in-law is so straightforward and straightforward, everyone loves her! Why can't I do the same?"

"Being able to talk has its advantages, and not being able to talk has its advantages. Do you think everyone loves the one who can talk? The last time I came back with Sister Feng, I was almost killed by her chattering! At that moment, I wanted to never have anything to do with her again!"

Lin Daiyu smiled and pushed another plate of chrysanthemum cakes towards Li Wan.

Li Wan also smiled, picked up a piece, took a bite, and was pleasantly surprised: "Oh! You really have a great place with talented people! Such crispy and sweet food is rare! My dear sister, pack a few pieces for me, and I will take them back for our brother Lan to taste!"

Daiyu smiled and told Zijuan to do it, and then asked, "Sister-in-law, what is the matter with you coming here today?"

Li Wan looked a little embarrassed, and forced a smile, "What's the matter? It's been a while since we last met. I only saw you briefly at the last auspicious ceremony, and I didn't have time to ask if you were safe and well. So when I heard Feng girl coming, I followed her to check on you."

"That's not necessary." Daiyu smiled faintly, "Sister-in-law will still have to rely on the second wife to make a living in the future. But the relationship between the second wife and me will probably not be any better in the future."

Li Wan gently clenched the handkerchief in her hand: "What are you talking about..."

"If your family is strong-willed and protective of your elder sister-in-law, it won't be difficult for you to leave this house with my help.

"But your father is a stickler for rules. The Li family has never had another wife. Lang'er is already sensible, so it's impossible for the eldest sister-in-law to give up this child.

“So you see, you are destined to stay in this family for the rest of your life, and you are destined to be the daughter-in-law of the second wife for the rest of your life.

"Then how can I help?" Daiyu smiled and propped up her cheeks with both hands, looking at Li Wan jokingly, "So, if you have the time, you might as well focus on Lang Ge'er. You really don't need to waste time trying to make friends with an outsider like me!"

Li Wan was struck by lightning when Daiyu mentioned her father. When she heard that she was destined to be the second wife for life, her face turned pale and she finally stood up staggeringly:

"That's it, farewell."

She even ignored Tanchun and staggered out in a daze. The people in the room only heard her maid Suyun outside exclaiming softly, "Grandma, what are you doing?"

"Let's go home." Li Wan's voice was lifeless.

"Sister Lin is very eloquent. She defeated my sister-in-law's fantasy and hope with just a few words," Tanchun said with a somewhat cold expression.

"People in this world have the most delusions. If we can get rid of some of them, we will be more sober. We must be sober to survive." Lin Daiyu looked up at Tanchun, "Why did Third Sister come to see me?"

"I went to see Baoyu just now, and Sheyue gave me this, saying that she had read it once last night and recorded it this morning." Tanchun handed over the paper with the words "Flowers fall and people die without knowing it" written on it. "I think this pattern is definitely not something that Second Brother can have. I'm afraid you did it?"

Daiyu held the piece of paper in her hand, her little finger trembling slightly.

This is the "Song of Burying Flowers" she wrote in her previous life.

But in this life, not only did she not write this poem, she even buried the act of burying the flowers deep in her soul.

In her previous life, she placed her hopes on the flowers and cried out in helplessness, despair and pain because she could not control her own destiny. But in this life, she will never experience that again.

She would step out little by little and take whatever she wanted.

But how did Baoyu know these words... Where did he know them from...

So, has he already understood his identity?

Suddenly I thought of the wish Wang Xifeng had just given me for Baoyu, "a bright future"...

Lin Daiyu's heart skipped a beat!

"Sister Lin?"

Lin Daiyu closed her eyes, then opened them again, revealing a gentle smile: "You came from Yihong Courtyard, how is Baoyu?"

"He was asleep, so we didn't see him. But according to Musk Moon, he seemed different from before," said Tanchun.

Daiyu was in a trance for a moment, then she lowered her eyes, gently and neatly folded the paper, tucked it into her sleeve, and whispered:

"In the early years, my teacher, Mr. Jia, who was the Jia Hua Jia Yucun that Baoyu hated the most, once said something. He said...

"When the world was created, the qi was divided into good and evil. This qi was given to people, and they were loyal, filial, treacherous and evil. Now the world is peaceful, and good qi is everywhere, and evil qi has nowhere to hide. When the two qi meet, they will fight. The qi that leaks out during the fight will be given to people. Those who are given the qi cannot become benevolent gentlemen, and those who are below cannot become evil and wicked.

"However, his intelligence and talent are superior to those of ten thousand people, while his eccentricity and perversity are inferior to those of ten thousand people. In the families of nobles and nobles, he is a love-sick man; in the families of scholars and scholars, he is a hermit and a noble man; in the families of the poor and the unfortunate, he is a rare and famous singer.

"He said that Baoyu was such a person."