Chapter 54: Daiyu Suffers a Setback in Her Love Affair (Please Collect)

  Baoyu saw Daiyu walk up to him, excitedly calling out her name: "Lin sister" As soon as he said these three words, his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and the many words in his belly didn't know where to start. Baoyu just stared at Daiyu without blinking.

  Daiyu sighed inwardly and said: "Baoyu, the old ancestor's place is probably already set for dinner, you'd better go back quickly, lest everyone can't find you and get anxious."

  She said this and glanced at Xiren with a hint of meaning.

  Qingwen was just a maid, but Lin Daiyu's glance made her feel flustered and anxious, worrying that Miss Lin might have found out something.

  "Lin sister, are you driving me away? Do you know that I...?" Bao Yu hadn't finished speaking when Xiangyun hastily pulled his sleeve, fearing that this young ancestor would say something irretrievable. "Second Master, don't talk nonsense anymore, just listen to Lin's advice, if Old Madame can't see you, won't she come looking for you? If Old Madame gets anxious again, what will happen when Master finds out?"

  Qingwen was indeed the worm in Jia Baoyu's stomach, and with a few words of persuasion and intimidation, she immediately brought the dazed Baoyu back to his senses.

  To say, Baoyu was most afraid of his father Jia Zheng. This name is just like the tight golden hoop on Sun Wukong's head - as soon as he thinks about it, he gets a severe headache. Baoyu looked at Daiyu in a daze, then helplessly glanced at Xiangyun.

  Daiyu felt a surge of frustration, how did she end up liking Bao Yu in the first place? He was still just an immature child, with such a temperament, even a maid could manipulate him, how would he manage the household in the future? Daiyu turned to head back to her room when she heard Baoyu loudly say: "Lin sister, I'm asking you today, why did you completely change after returning from Suzhou? Did Lin's older cousin say something to you? Don't worry, this is your home, everything will be taken care of by old Madame, Lin sister, just speak out the sorrows in your heart."

  "Second Master" was dragged by Bao Yu's hand, but was shaken off. After hearing this young ancestor's reckless words, his heart became extremely anxious. "Second Master, this is Lin's courtyard, others are still watching, if Madame and Master find out about your behavior, who knows what will happen? Even if you don't care about yourself, you should consider us servants."

  Qingwen looked at Daiyu with a pleading expression, "Good girl, you persuade our second master, he can't go on like this."

  Jia Baoyu saw Daiyu ignoring him, and in a fit of anger, he flung away the hand that was holding his. "You don't have to beg her on my behalf either," he said. "I know it - Lin sister must be looking down on our family, that's why she called for this old woman to block me. Lin sister doesn't want to see me, just say so." Baoyu's eyes reddened and his voice choked with sobs. "I thought all my efforts before were in vain. Now I realize I'm a fool."

  Mrs. Lian listened to the second master of the Jia mansion, and what he said was really not like a word, making everyone in the courtyard look at him. The Lin family is better off, they won't make it public, but who knows if that servant girl Bao Yu will go around talking nonsense.

  She coughed softly and was about to speak when Daiyu said sternly, "Second brother, what you said doesn't make sense. When did I ever look down on you? You come here and start a big fuss in my courtyard, what kind of behavior is that? Those who know will say we siblings are at odds with each other, those who don't know will say the Lin family is ungrateful. Our grandmother took us in, and yet we're so picky, what will others think? Second brother, aren't you driving us out the door?"

  Jia Baoyu listened and couldn't help but shake his head repeatedly, "Lin sister, I didn't mean to, I didn't have that intention."

  Daiyu took a few deep breaths, and her voice gradually calmed down. "Second Brother, this is my nurse, who is also my elder. How can I not be anxious when you treat Nurse Jing like that? We're both grown up now, and we should maintain the distinction between men and women. As Zhiyan is busy studying every day, I'll take care of our younger siblings, and please forgive me if I neglect you in any way."

  Baoyu looked at Daiyu as if he had seen a stranger, staring blankly. When did "Baoyu" become "Second Brother"? When did they become so estranged? What's going on? They actually used such words between them?

  Qingwen again tried to pull Bao Yu's sleeve, "Second Master, Second Master?"

  "Let's go, Zijuan," said Jia Baoyu, lowering his head so that his expression couldn't be seen, and speaking in a weak and listless tone. "When we get to Grandma's place, don't say anything, got it?"

  Xiangyun looked at Baoyu and then at Daiyu, unsure of what to say. She made up her mind to go to Baochai's place later.

  Daiyu felt a bit uncomfortable, but then she heard Baoyu, even at the last moment, still maintaining his composure and watching as he and Xiren left together.

  "Miss, go back inside, it's hot in the courtyard, be careful not to get exhausted."

  Yuan's nurse helped Daiyu back to her room, and Yanzhu was also frightened by the young lady's appearance. How could she have lost her soul? She couldn't help but ask Yuan's nurse: "Nurse, what's going on? Will the young lady be okay? Should we go get a doctor to take a look?"

  "No need, the girl is just temporarily confused and will be fine after a while. This heart problem isn't something that can be easily solved, it can only be slowly healed by herself. You go tell the little maids and wives in the courtyard that no one is allowed to spread the word about what happened today. If I hear even a rumor, I'll have Master chase that person out."

  Yan Rong hastily nodded. Strictly speaking, she thought for a moment and said: "When the master returns, I will personally tell him about this matter. However, when Bao Er Ye returned, he seemed somewhat out of sorts, even more frightening than our young lady. You should go to Old Madame Jia's place and briefly inform her about today's events, lest something happens to that precious gem of the Jia family and they blame it on our young lady."

  Yan Rong's silver teeth bit her lower lip tightly, after hearing what Nurse Strict said, she turned around and went to Grandmother Jia's upstairs chamber.

  Lin Daiyu fell onto the bed, her back facing outwards, her eyes staring blankly at the embroidered patterns on the canopy.

  "Miss, I know you're not feeling well today, but it's better to get this over with. I believe you understand your feelings for Master Bao now. I can see that he treats you well, but the truth is, he's not someone who can be trusted with your life. You two don't have a future together. There are some things I didn't want to say, but it's come to this point and I must speak up. You know how the second mistress of the Jia household feels about you, Miss. The girl who came today is the one she wants as her daughter-in-law. Master Bao being nice to you will only make the second mistress dislike you more. Old Madame is kind, but she can't protect you forever. As for Master Bao's older brother, he may have a good heart and want to protect you, but in the end, you'll still be marrying into another family."

  "Mother, don't say any more. Daiyu already knows. I want to be quiet for a while." Daiyu's voice was weak and listless.

  Yuan's wife got up, "Girl, don't think too much, although we rejected Bao Er Ye's good intentions today, in the future we will still be cousins, just don't let people say anything." She turned around and left the room, leaving Daiyu alone to ponder.

  Xueyan waited outside the door for a long time and saw Yan Laolao come out, so she hurriedly went up to her, "Laolao, is Miss still okay?"

  "Miss is tired, take a rest. Xueyan, come with me." Yan Laolao called Xueyan and herself to the west wing room, leaving Chunlei here to serve.

  Snow Goose followed Old Mother to the west wing with a nervous heart. At that time, everyone was told that the first room in the east wing would be left for Mrs. Yan to live in, but for some reason, she resolutely disagreed and only chose to live in this one on the west side. The furnishings in the house were extremely elegant and did not look like an old man's house at all, with a faint scent of incense.

  Yan sat upright in her chair, raising an eyebrow and asking: "Xueyan, how many years have you been following the young mistress?"

  "Reporting back to you, madam, I have been following young mistress for four years now."

  Yan nodded slightly, "Well, in that case, you're the one who's been with the young lady for the longest. So I'll ask you, who does she trust the most?"

  Xueyan paused for a moment, lowered her head and said: "It's Zi Juan sister."

  "Alas, silly girl, do you know why the young lady trusts Zi Juan so much?"

  Xueyan seemed to be thinking of something, but ultimately shook her head. Strictly speaking, she sighed: "It's not that you don't know, it's just that you don't want to admit it. Zijuan is more meticulous and considerate than you are, and don't think that being a maid in the Jia household gives her an advantage over you. You don't even think about how Zijuan was originally just a second-rate maid by the old lady's side, and if she hadn't relied on her own efforts, would she be where she is today? Xueyan, to put it bluntly, you are the proper maid of the Lin household, and whether or not Master and Miss will let Zijuan follow them in the future is still uncertain."

  Xueyan suddenly lifted her head, opened her eyes wide and stared at Yan Niangniang, as if she didn't dare to believe what she said.

  "You don't have to disbelieve, Ziqing is what kind of person, you little girls can't see that it's too normal, how big can you be, where do you know the secrets inside? Today, Mother only told you, from now on, think more about Miss, your future is what kind of career, isn't it up to Master and Miss to decide? Always muddle through life like this, are you willing to be content with that yourself? In the past, there were only you and Ziqing by Miss's side, at most adding a Chunxian. But now take a look again, Yanrong, Bidi, even Xiangshan, Xianghui also worked hard to show off in front of Miss, Xueyan, think for yourself."

  As soon as Madam Yan's words fell, Xueyan thudded to the ground and kowtowed three times in a row, her voice crisp and trembling. Madam Yan didn't help her up, but Xueyan's face was calm and collected as she said: "Xueyan thanks Madam Yan for her kindness, please don't despise Xueyan's foolishness, from now on, Xueyan will follow Madam to learn well."

  The strict aunt nodded in satisfaction, her eyes becoming even more profound.

  PS: I only wrote over a thousand words yesterday, and the rest was rushed out this morning. Lately, I haven't been resting well, so it takes a lot of time to write things. It's been a long time since I've read other people's works. This Saturday and Sunday, Jinghe will stock up on several chapters, refueling! Thanks to Deaths Blade ldxiii, [Ji Mo Ru Xue], Zi Teng Nian Nian, Chieh-g, Zhu Yi Wu Chen, Da Qin Jian Shi, Ling Ran Shui Qi, and long080530 for the rewards o(^-^)o~