Chapter 33: The Nameless Guest Wishes for Qin and Jin to be on Good Terms (Middle)

  Daiyu saw that Aunt Xue's words were hinting at something and asked: "Aunt Xue, what are you getting at?"

  The white lady had to force herself to say: "It's just that I didn't expect those two wives not only wouldn't leave, but also asked someone to pass on a message saying that their family's aunt is a good sister of mine and Qian Niang's. Originally, they didn't know that we two followed Young Master to Suzhou, and when we left, they didn't even send us off properly. Today, they specially sent these two wives to pay their respects to me and Qian Niang."

  Daiyu said: "Since you say so, it's good for the two aunts to meet each other too. It can't be denied that they are indeed old acquaintances."

  "Money Aunt took over the conversation and said: "White Aunt and I also thought so, if it's really our Lin family's old people from before, not seeing them would make people feel cold-hearted. If someone with ulterior motives were to spread rumors, it would be a troublesome thing. So we sent someone to inform Luo Guan Jia in the front courtyard, and later it was Luo Da Niang herself who brought those two women over. Those two women were dressed normally, not like they were from any wealthy or noble family, and when speaking, they were timid and reserved. I and White Aunt asked them for half a day before they finally said..." Money Aunt gazed at Dai Yu with her eyes narrowed, "that it was Jiang Aunt who sent them to pay respects to the young lady. They were afraid that the young lady wouldn't want to see them, so they came to find me and White Aunt first."

  Daiyu heard the three words "Jiang Yiniang" and immediately felt displeased, her pretty face fell, and she no longer spoke.

  Bai Niang knew that Dai Yu disliked Jiang Niang, and if it weren't for today's conversation, she might not have wanted to think about these three words her whole life.

  Jiang Yiniang was a concubine given to their family's old master by the former governor of Yangzhou. She had some charm, but she was jealous and loved to cause trouble. The mistress disliked her very much, but since she was sent by the governor of Yangzhou, it wasn't easy to get rid of her. Fortunately, Lin Ruhai pitied Jia Min and rarely went to Jiang Yiniang's place, which made Jiang Yiniang so angry that she became ill. After Jia Min passed away, Lin Ruhai's health also deteriorated, and he took the opportunity to dismiss all four or five of his concubines from the house. Jiang Yiniang was one of them. She was still young, only in her early twenties, with a beautiful appearance. She left home with the deed of sale and 1,000 taels of silver given by Lin Ruhai.

  Daiyu did not know what this hateful Jiang Yiniang had sent someone to Suzhou to find her for.

  The white aunt said: "Those two old women said that Jiang's wife had returned to her mother's house and the family's livelihood had also improved. She has a younger brother who followed the young master of the former Yangzhou government office to study since childhood. Now, after the governor left, her younger brother is studying at home by himself and will participate in the autumn examination this year. Jiang's wife somehow heard that our young master was the top scholar from Suzhou and wanted to ask him for guidance, saying

  Daiyu had already been burning with anger upon hearing this, but her family's teachings cautioned her that she absolutely must not lose her temper.

  She coldly snorted: "This Ginger Aunt has a big face! What else did she say?"

  White Auntie used to see Daiyu always being sad and sorrowful, still a young girl who hadn't grown up. Now, suddenly seeing the young lady's angry face, she was so frightened that she didn't know what to say. Qian Auntie even squeezed deeper into her chair, not daring to speak loudly.

  "The two aunts should be aware of everything and speak without reserve for the sake of Daiyu and her brother."

  The white aunt adjusted her breath and said, "Aunt Jiang also said that we are relatives after all. Although she remarried, the two families can still visit each other frequently."

  As soon as White Aunt's words fell, Daiyu suddenly fainted, and was indeed infuriated.

  "Miss! Miss!" cried White Aunt and Qiang Aunt in fright, but Daiyu had already fainted and fallen to the ground.

  When Daiyu opened her eyes, the room had already darkened, and a floor lamp with eight-sided crystal glass shade was lit on the bedside table, casting a faint light on the surrounding area.

  "Zi Juan" Dai Yu felt her voice was a bit hoarse and wanted some water to drink.

  Zijuan, who was sewing in the inner room, heard Daiyu's voice and quickly put down her needlework, rushing to Daiyu's bedside: "Bodhisattva bless you, Miss, you've finally woken up. Bodhisattva bless you!"

  Yinglian and others outside heard Zi Juan's voice and hurried in, surrounding Daiyu's bed: "Miss, you've finally woken up."

  Daiyu took a sip of warm water and said: "What's wrong with me?"

  Several senior maids looked at each other, and didn't know how to answer Daiyu's words.

  Just then a voice came from behind the crowd: "Sister has fainted. Is she better now?"

  It was Lin Zhiyuan who came, and the dim light of the lamp set off the white brocade cloud-patterned robe on his body, making him look even more spirited and cold.

  "Go down all of you, I have something to say to the girl."

  The crowd quietly dispersed, leaving only Daiyu and Zhiyuan in the house.

  Daiyu said with embarrassment: "I made brother worry, this body is really beyond one's control, and I fainted as soon as I felt dizzy."

  Zhiyan stepped forward, took the child from Daiyu and held her tight, pulled over a nearby embroidered pillow with lotus patterns and sat down in front of the bed. "Sister must have been frightened into a faint! The doctor had told sister not to get angry, yet today she still made a mistake."

  Daiyu saw that Zhiyuan was already aware of the situation and feared he would blame the two aunts, so she asked: "Brother, what about the two aunts?"

  "Don't worry, I've already sent two aunts back to Ci Yun Tang. They're still worried about you, though. Now take care of yourself first, your health is important. What's the point of getting angry for those unreasonable people and harming yourself?" Zhiyuan said with a tone of annoyance, but actually with a hint of concern.

  Daiyu heard her brother say "not related to the four six people", and she understood that he knew everything. Ashamed, she said: "It's all because of the troubles at home that have implicated my brother, I didn't know yesterday that person was Jiang Yiniang's younger brother, if I had known, if I had known"

  "Silly girl, what's the point of saying these things? I already know about Aunt Jiang's affairs. It doesn't matter. If that person is ambitious, brother will be willing to associate with someone like that. But if he has ulterior motives, I'll take care of it myself. And you, don't scare everyone like this again."

  Two small heads poked out from outside the door, looking around inside, and it was Rong Ze and Xue Qi.

  Daiyu beckoned, and Rongzhe happily skipped in, pouncing on the side of Daiyu's bed, asking in a crisp voice: "Sister, are you feeling better?"

  "Alright, alright, nothing's wrong with sister! You two go to bed early, tomorrow Daiyu will take you to the garden to fly a kite, okay?"

  Rong Ze listened with a happy cheer, Xue Qi looked at her brother and sister with a seemingly understanding yet puzzled expression, and very sensibly led Rong Ze away. Zhi Yuan saw that Dai Yu was now fine, watched her finish a bowl of green rice porridge, and carefully instructed Zi Juan and the others before leaving.

  Daiyu lay alone in bed, tossing and turning, feeling that the two aunts must have had something more to say, and her brother seemed to be hiding something from her. Aunt Jiang's sudden decision to send her brother to Suzhou was unlikely to be just for the sake of asking her brother for advice. No, it couldn't be that simple. Daiyu didn't like Aunt Jiang at all; when her mother was alive, this woman had always been getting on her mother's nerves. When she returned from Beijing to Yangzhou and heard that Aunt Jiang had asked to leave, she felt a genuine sense of relief. Aunt Bai, Aunt Qian, and Aunt Jiang were not the same kind of people, and Daiyu definitely didn't want to live under the same roof as her again.

  Thinking of this, Daiyu turned over and was about to call Zi Juan, but then thought that Zi Juan didn't know anyone in the Lin family either. Although she trusted her, this little maid would inevitably not be able to find out anything useful. She carefully weighed the names of the maids by her side. If Xueyan went, it would be too obvious, and the two aunts might be afraid that she would get angry again and wouldn't dare tell the truth. Should she let Yanrong or Bidi go? No! Daiyu shook her head, letting them go was equivalent to directly telling her brother. What Daiyu least wanted to do right now was make Zhiyuan worry.

  After some thought, I'm afraid it's probably only a third-rate maid who can handle this task.

  Xiang Shan is very clever, but unfortunately her brother is a small servant by Zhi Yuan's side; Xiang Lian was brought from Yangzhou and is not up to the task. Only Xiang Xue and Xiang Wei are the two who entered the mansion in the past two years, among whom Xiang Wei is even more clever.

  Daiyu remembered that tonight was the night when Xueyan and Xiangyuan would keep watch, so she called out. Before long, Xueyan and Xiangyuan, wrapped in their clothes, entered the inner room with lanterns in hand.

  "Miss, are you thirsty?"

  Daiyu said: "Nothing, I just can't sleep. Have you all gone to bed?"

  Xue Yan smiled and said: "Not yet, Xiang Hui was just telling me about the interesting things that happened in their family during the New Year."

  "Alright then, I'll keep Xiang Hua company and chat with her for a bit. You go to sleep first, Xue Yan!"

  Daiyu's words stunned the two of them. In the middle of the night, why did the young lady suddenly think of talking to someone? Xueyan was a bit dull-witted and couldn't quite wrap her head around it. She listened to what the young lady said and instructed Xiangyun to keep Daiyu company before going back to sleep.

  Xiang Wei stood nervously in front of the bed, her hair scattered and casually combed. She wore a moon-white robe draped over her shoulders, which made her look a bit thin, and this night was indeed a bit chilly, wearing these clothes still made her shiver slightly.

  Daiyu feared she would catch cold and hastily said: "Quickly go get your quilt, be careful not to catch a chill."

  Xiang Hui got the order and ran to the outer room with her quilt, hugging it tightly. The new bedding exuded a warm feeling. Xiang Hui sat on the embroidered cushion with peony patterns that Young Master had just finished making, wrapped in her thick quilt.

  Daiyu asked her: "When you went back for New Year's, were all at home well?"

  Xiang Wei smiled happily: "Thank you, miss, for remembering us. Our family is doing very well. Zi Juan sister brought back a lot of food and the New Year's red envelope money was plentiful. We had a very prosperous year."

  "How many children do you have at home?"

  "Returning to the maiden, there were five brothers and sisters."

  Daiyu smiled and said: "You really are a spoiled child from a wealthy family. If you come to our house, won't your parents miss you?"

  Xiang Wei said: "Miss also said, our family is a big one, there are too many people. Under the servants, there are still three younger sisters. I came out to work and at home it can be more spacious. Miss and young master are kind to people, and I feel like I'm here to enjoy myself! Father and mother have nothing to worry about, they just instructed me to serve miss and young master with all my heart."

  Daiyu smiled and said: "Then I'll ask you, what is considered as doing one's best?"

  Xiang Wei hesitated for a moment, recalling what Xiang Lian had said. On the eve of the New Year's Eve, the young lady had stayed behind to talk to Xiang Shan for half a day, and her tone was not without a hint of resentment. At that time, Xiang Wei had also felt envious after hearing it, but she knew that Xiang Shan's brother was a trusted servant by the young master's side, so naturally the young lady would treat Xiang Shan better. These little maids were under the pressure of Zi Juan and Yan Rong sisters, making it difficult for them to stand out. But who wanted to be a third-rate maid all their lives?

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