Chapter 53: The Lovely Spring Orchid is Timid and Apprehensive

  Baochai and others were in the West Cross House, where they tasted all the small dishes on the table before reluctantly leaving.

  Spring Bud was packing things up while pouting: "Miss, this Miss Xue is really 'thorough' in every way! After staying with us for a while, she actually 'appraised' all the valuable things in the house!"

  Daiyu burst out laughing, "You poor-mouthed girl, Baoyu is worldly-wise, how did it sound so vulgar when it came out of your mouth? The Xue family was born into a royal merchant family, and the tributes to the palace have always been their responsibility. The furs from the north, the silk embroidery from Jiangnan, which one has Baoyu not seen before? And yet you people are good at mocking others like this."

  Yan Rong brought in a new pot of tea from outside, "Miss, the young master and miss have woken up from their afternoon nap. I had Xiang Hui take them to play in the courtyard. Just now, when they left, I followed your instructions and gave each of the girls two taels of new tea leaves. As for Baoyu's place at Rongguo House, I sent Chun Feng and Xiang Shan there."

  Daiyu nodded, "You two have been working hard these past couple of days. Once things settle down, arrange a schedule with Xiangxian and the others to let the young maids and the older women take turns resting. This capital city is vastly different from our Suzhou, all sorts of rare treasures are gathered here. Take Xianglian and Xianghui out for a stroll as well, it's not a wasted trip to the capital this time." Daiyu had been relying more and more on Yanrong these past few days, naturally treating her as half a confidante, although still not comparable to Zijuan, but also letting the original followers of Lin Zhidian see hope.

  Yan Rong didn't seem to care about the news of being able to go out and play, but Chun Lian on the other side kept making eyes at Xue Yan. The two of them ran to Dai Yu's side, blinking their big eyes, "Good girl, can we really go out and play?"

  Daiyu playfully slapped Chunrui's hand and said with a pretended air of grievance: "When did I ever restrain you? Once things are settled at home, you can go wherever you please, as long as Nurse Strict doesn't blame you."

  "Miss!" Chun Lai pouted with her cherry-like small mouth, "Auntie Yan would be better off not saying anything to us at all, instead of making us happy for nothing."

  As soon as Chun Lian's words fell, a coughing sound came from the doorway, "You little girl, what are you talking about me?"

  Frightened, Chun Lian ran to the back of Dai Yu's body, not even daring to breathe loudly, and only looked down at the flower pattern on her shoes. Dai Yu saw Chun Lian's appearance and laughed in her heart. This little girl is very straightforward, and everyone else also gives face to her mother and brother, so naturally they all let her be. Since the arrival of Mrs. Xue, Chun Lian has been afraid of only this one person, and every day she doesn't dare to come forward, fearing being caught by Mrs. Xue. Today, this matter happened to be overheard by someone, and who knows how scared she is!

  Daiyu felt that her embroidered jacket had been tugged, and she turned to look at Chunlai, who was making a desperate face.

  "Quickly, sit down, Chun Lai. You go and serve the tea." After creating a diversion, Dai Yu ordered this maid to go outside and serve the tea, temporarily escaping the strict gaze of the nanny. Chun Lai looked like she had just been granted a great favor, and with several quick steps, she left the room, her speed astonishing everyone inside.

  The old lady's face flashed a hint of helplessness: "Young lady, you mustn't spoil them like this. If they scatter their hearts in the future, how will they get anything done?"

  "The old woman's teaching Daiyu a lesson, so she won't indulge them in the future. Has the old woman come to me with something on her mind?"

  The other party took out a gift list from his bosom and handed it to Lin Daiyu with great respect. "This is the gift list prepared by Princess Gong for Grand Princess, and the things are currently placed in the East Pinghou Mansion. I heard that it was taken care of by Xiao Tang's steward? The old slave wants to discuss with the young lady when to go to Grand Princess's place. After all, leaving things at our house is not convenient."

  Daiyu took the long gift list, scanned it briefly, and saw that it included not only Suzhou's famous specialties, but also Jiangxi's divine Lu Chi, Fujian's Wuyi rock tea, Persian carpets, Siam's precious stones, Western grape wine, fragrant rhinoceros horn from the Great Food Country, golden Buddha statues from Tianzhu, and red and green agate from Tuhuoluo. Some of these items Daiyu had seen before, while others she had never even heard of. However, all of these items shared one common characteristic: they were extremely expensive.

  She immediately understood what Nurse Li meant, that if these things were not sent to Princess Yong sooner or later, they would be coveted by others. "Don't worry, Nurse, my brother will return tonight and we'll discuss it, and go visit Princess Yong as soon as possible. But I don't know if Daiyu needs to go?"

  "It would be best if the young lady could go. The Eldest Princess is kind and gentle, and their family's Hui sister is about the same age as the young lady, so they will definitely get along well. However, there is one thing to remember, the Eldest Princess believes in Buddhism and likes to ask her relatives' daughters to help copy Buddhist scriptures. If His Highness mentions it to you, you must not..."

  It was Daiyu who, upon hearing Yuanyang's words, couldn't help but have her eyes redden, and she hastily lowered her head in a gesture of concealment: "Daiyu understands the intentions of Yuanyang. In the past, being young and inexperienced, I often unintentionally offended others without realizing it, causing them to see many laughable things." She let out a sigh, lifted up her head, and said, "From now on, Daiyu will definitely carefully heed Yuanyang's teachings."

  Spring bud slowly came in with the tea, carefully looking at Mrs. Yu's face and said respectfully: "Nanny, have some tea."

  Yan's mother-in-law handed her a cup of tea and said to Chun Lai with a hint of annoyance, "I know you're all envious of the prosperity of this capital city. Since Miss has agreed, you can find a day to go out and have some fun!"

  Chun Lui's eyes widened in disbelief at what Nanny Yan had just said, her little mouth agape with shock.

  "You can go out, but there are two conditions: first, you must not cause trouble for our Lin family or be naughty; second, you must not have a wandering mind and serve the young lady properly. If you violate either of these, see how I'll deal with you!" Madame Wang took on the same stern demeanor she had when teaching the young palace maids in the palace, which naturally scared Chun Lai into a flurry."

  A blue butterfly flew in from outside, "Miss." She saw that Madam Yan was also in the house and felt a sense of relief as if she had seen a lifesaver. "Miss, Bao Er Ye said he wants to see you."

  Precious Jade

  He didn't go out with Zheng's cousin? How come he'll be back so soon?

  Daiyu habitually wanted to say "please", and saw Shi Xiangyun stand up, saying: "After all, Baoyu is an outsider, and the young lady is already old enough. Next year will be her hair-pinning ceremony, and she can't casually meet a man. Bixiao, I'll go with you to see this Mr. Bao of the Jia family." Shi Xiangyun gently pressed down on Daiyu's shoulder, "Just sit here calmly, young lady. If Baoyu really has something important, I'll naturally respond for him."

  Yuan's wife went out, leaving Daiyu alone in a daze.

  "Miss, miss, what's wrong with you?" Chun Lai hurriedly shook Dai Yu.

  Daiyu was startled, and only then did she regain her composure. "Nothing, Chunlai," she said. "I'm tired. If Shengyu has anything to say later, just tell her I'll rest for a while and come back in the evening." She got up and went into the inner room.

  The main house has only three rooms, but it is extremely spacious. Daiyu and Xueqi each occupy one room, leaving a place for guests.

  The bedroom was half for rest and half set up with a desk, pen and ink, making a small study. On the left side of the desk there was a large window, which when opened could clearly see the scenery in the courtyard. Daiyu walked to the desk, picked up a miscellaneous book, moved it to the bed, and secretly looked around.

  A young gentleman in the courtyard was wearing a large red dark patterned qilin robe, holding a sandalwood fan in his hand, and was saying something to Nurse Shen with a very excited expression.

  Daiyu leaned over to listen, and vaguely heard Bao Yu saying something like "Lin sister", "relying on old age to sell old age", "heart of iron and stone", "chased out". Bao Yu seemed to want to force his way in, using his hand to push aside Nurse Li, but it's unclear what clever trick Nurse Li used, as Bao Yu stumbled and almost fell over.

  "Second Master!"

  A shrill cry came from the entrance, and Daiyu this time clearly heard it was not someone else, but Baoyu's maid, Xiren. She saw Xiren rush into the courtyard to support Baoyu, staring angrily at Granny Liu.

  Qingwen had just seen Chunxiang come to deliver tea leaves, and she pulled her over to chat with her for a bit. If it were in the past, Qingwen would never have paid any attention to Chunxiang, who was dull and stupid, and annoyingly so. But today, when she saw her, Qingwen hastily grabbed her hand and asked her all sorts of questions. Although Chunxiang was dull, she wasn't foolish, and after being instructed by Zhen Shiyin in Suzhou for days on end, she naturally understood some of the ins and outs of intrigue and plotting. Seeing how Qingwen kept asking about her young mistress, Chunxiang pretended to be even more stupid and clueless.

  Qingwen was in a state of anxiety, unable to ask anything, when Bao Yu's servant, Mingyan, called out from the outer courtyard and told a servant woman that Master Bao had returned, but had thrown off all his attendants and gone to the west wing.

  She couldn't sit still after hearing the news, and quickly put down her needlework to hurry to the back. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Baoyu almost falling to the ground, and without caring about anything else, he shouted loudly with a sharp, ear-piercing voice.

  "You old mother, you don't understand the rules. Do you know who this is? Is it someone like you can touch? If our Second Master were to get hurt in any way, I'll be careful with your head!" Zijuan then, in front of everyone in the courtyard, carefully felt all over Jia Baoyu to see if he was injured.

  Baoyu saw the maids standing in the corridor of Lin's house, gazing at him with ambiguous eyes as he touched Zhenbao. His face turned bright red with shame. Although he and Zhenbao had become husband and wife in reality, he had never dared to let others know. Now, Zhenbao was so careless as to touch him in front of outsiders, which made Baoyu feel somewhat embarrassed, not to mention that this was Lin Daiyu's courtyard.

  Baoyu thought of this and couldn't help but take another peek inside.

  Qingwen saw Baoyu hadn't made a sound for half the day and thought he was still frightened by that old woman, so she quickly raised her head to ask him something. But all she saw was Second Master staring blankly at the house in front of them. Qingwen turned her head to look

  Lin Daiyu floated in.

  ps: I've been stuck lately, but suddenly had an epiphany just now, o(n_no haha~ Hope to maintain the good performance this week. Thanks to Lian Ran Shui Qi, Shun Shun 666, Feng Yan Kuang Yu JDM, Book friend 091012211222158, Hu Hu 0601, Xuan Ji Yao Er, Chieh-G, Man Tian Pao Pao Er for your votes and rewards! So happy