Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 326: Gossip between wives and concubines
The turmoil in the court did not affect the people in the Grand View Garden and the boudoir.

But compared to the carefree Xiangyun Tanchun and others, there are mixed feelings in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

As Xing Xiuyan's delivery date approaches, Mr. and Mrs. Lai no longer allow her to move around, and Lai Shangrong has not been here for more than a month.

Compared with Lin Daiyu's worries, Xue Baoqin was a little more sour.

Having seen Lai Shangrong's tenderness toward Lin Daiyu and Xing Xiuyan, he couldn't help but feel sorry for himself.

She didn't know that Lai Shangrong had been coveting him for a long time. Instead, she misunderstood because of the words of Mrs. Wang and Aunt Xue.

She thinks that Lai Shangrong is not sincere and wants to take her as a concubine. Otherwise, why would he repeatedly avoid suspicion?

It was only because it was difficult to disobey the sacred order that I reluctantly agreed.

After all, from her point of view, taking concubines was just the wishful thinking of Aunt Xue and Mrs. Wang.

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baoqin were sitting around the table, each having their own concerns. The maid Xue Yan could not help but worry about Lin Daiyu.

"Miss! Why hasn't uncle come here for so long?"

After a pause, he suggested: "Why don't we talk to the old lady and go over to see Aunt Xing?"

"This..." Lin Daiyu was quite moved by this idea, but it was one thing to invite Lai Shangrong, but it was another thing to take the initiative to come to the door. Who said Xing Xiuyan had a reason, but she was still a little shy, especially when Xue Baoqin was still nearby.

"Brother Lai didn't come, I'm afraid it was to avoid suspicion." Xue Baoqin said calmly.

With the decree of the emperor and the imperial concubine, it was certain that she would enter the Lai family. Lai Shangrong had no interest in her. If Lin Daiyu, the mistress, also alienated herself, it would be difficult for her to move forward in the Lai family, let alone help the family.

"To avoid suspicion?" Xue Yan asked doubtfully, "Is it just because Miss Qin lives here?"

She asked what Lin Daiyu wanted to ask but didn't have the nerve to ask. She recalled that Lai Shangrong sent her back on her birthday, and when she saw Xue Baoqin didn't enter the house, she regretted agreeing to live with her.

Xue Baoqin looked shy and said: "Then the Mei family didn't give up even after breaking off the engagement. They made up a lot of gossip, slandered people's reputations, and even involved Brother Lai... I'm afraid Brother Lai is worried about his sister's misunderstanding, right?"

Just as she said to Xue Yan, she had always wanted to find an opportunity to confess in front of Lin Daiyu, so as not to let Lin Daiyu know about it later and doubt her purpose of moving into Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Today Xue Yan took the initiative to bring it up, which just gave her a reason to follow the trend.

"This Mei family is really hateful. It seems that my uncle has not taught him enough!"

Because Xue Baoqin didn't finish what he said, Xue Yan didn't know the key and said angrily.

Lin Daiyu was thoughtful. Although Xue Baoqin had unfinished words, she could understand the meaning. Since it was a slander of a person's reputation and it involved Lai Shangrong, it was probably a fabrication of gossip between the two.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but regret my mistake. If I hadn't agreed to Xue Baoqin's stay in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, I wouldn't have wronged Lai Shangrong to avoid suspicion.

However, this kind of avoidance of suspicion is in sharp contrast with Jia Baoyu's desire to go to Shu, and is quite suitable for her.

"It's not my sister's fault, there's no need for me to blame myself!"

Then he looked happy and said angrily: "Brother Lai, it's true. Am I the suspicious and jealous person?"

Xue Baoqin originally planned to take it step by step and slowly clarify the concubine's affairs, but Lin Daiyu's words made her change her mind.

He hesitated to speak: "There is something that my sister doesn't know how to say..."

Lin Daiyu felt strange that she was hesitant to speak, and quickly asked: "Is there something else hidden?"

Xue Baoqin then cut out the redundant and simplified the matter of taking concubines and told Lin Daiyu about it.

Of course, his own conjecture was hidden in it, and he only said that Mrs. Wang and Aunt Xue asked Yuan Chun for help in order to stop the rumors about the Mei family.

After finishing speaking, Chu Chu pitifully said: "Brother Lai is probably forced by the emperor's order, but how about my sister? Although he is forced by the situation, my sister has not yet passed, so I have to let my brother delay in the name of father's filial piety."

It is impossible to say that Lin Daiyu has no grudges in her heart. There is also a distinction between concubines and concubines.

She doesn't care about people like Qingwen, Xiangling, or even Qin Keqing and Youshi. That's because their slave status determines that they can only be concubines.But good concubines like Xing Xiuyan, Second Sister You, and Third Sister You are different.

However, their friendship with Lai Shangrong was earlier than their own, so they could only let it go.

As for Xue Baoqin, a latecomer, it is a different matter.

However, the situation forced her to understand, and Lai Shangrong's attitude made her more understanding and calm.

Taking Xue Baoqin's hand, he said magnanimously: "Brother Lai, it's true. We are already a family, so why should we avoid any suspicion?"

He turned to Xue Yan and said, "Tell someone to ask Brother Lai if he is free during the Dragon Boat Festival!"

"Hey!" Xue Yan agreed and flew out.

…………

Imperial City, Fengzao Palace.

In the empty hall, only Queen Tian was sitting on the phoenix couch, while Jia Yuanchun was prostrate in the center of the hall.

Kowtowing like pounding garlic, he said: "Thank you, empress, for showing mercy! Thank you, empress, for showing mercy!"

Queen Tian said in a deep voice: "You have misbehaved. Not only have you suffered the consequences, you have also almost harmed the Emperor's ministers. If I had not known that you had made an unintentional mistake, I would never have interceded for you in front of the Emperor."

"Yes! That's what the Queen reprimanded! I will definitely remember the Queen's teachings from now on!"

"It's good that you know! If the emperor couldn't bear the sin of his loyal ministers because of you, I'm afraid even I would be helpless!"

After a pause, he added: "Ask your family to thank him!"

Queen Tian knew very well that Emperor Zhenglong had no regard for punishing a concubine. The main purpose of exempting Yuanchun was to send a signal to the courtiers and to appease Lai Shangrong.

Therefore, although Emperor Zhenglong did not express it clearly, she still understood it.

As long as this news reaches Lai Shangrong's ears, it will be like Liu Huangshu throwing his son. Why should he burst into tears of gratitude?

"Hey! I will obey the teachings of the empress!" Yuan Chun thought of the scene in Yuchun Garden that day and couldn't help but blush.

Queen Tian stretched out her hand and said, "Okay, please step aside! The Dragon Boat Festival will be here in a few days, and your family is probably going to be in trouble right now. Send the Dragon Boat Festival rewards in advance to reassure them!" "

"Thank you, Ma'am, for your understanding!"

Yuanchun kowtowed again, then slowly got up from the ground and was about to exit the hall.

But the queen stopped her and said, "Although you are exempted from punishment, it will damage the royal family's face after all. You should carefully consider what should be said and what should not be said!"

Queen Tian was familiar with the situation in the harem. From Jia Yuanchun's behavior, it is not difficult to see that there is no deep palace.

She was asked to tell her family to thank Lai Shangrong, but she was afraid that if she talked about her head instead of her buttocks, she would make mistakes and lose the emperor's face, so she gave him an unnecessary reminder.

"I don't dare!" Yuanchun shouted, not daring, and hurriedly knelt down.

Queen Tian's words reminded Yuan Chun of everything that happened that day, and now that she was kneeling on the ground, it reminded her even more of that shameful scene of shaking her head and tail.

However, she did not dare to disobey the queen's orders, and asked her family to thank her.

Could it be, thank him for reading...

Thinking of this, I can't hide my shame and anger.

…………

(End of this chapter)