The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion

Chapter 417: The More One Gets, The More One Wants

| Rongguo Mansion, Daguan Garden, Lotus Champs |

Qingwen was absent-minded and placed several river lanterns on the bamboo bridge. Seeing that one of the wick was slightly skewed, she inserted a three-foot-long red nail and carefully straightened the wick.

Then she stared at the wick, dumbfounded and stunned.

Later, when Qiuwen and Biyue met, she knew that she had been feeling unhappy recently so she didn’t dare to come forward to provoke her. She only led a few small maids and silently placed hundreds of river lanterns on both sides of the main bridge.

“It’s finally done.”

After about half an hour, Qiuwen couldn't help but shout and moan, pounding her back, half genuine and half fake. "This is really the master using his mouth and the servant ran, and broke her leg.”

Due to Jia Baoyu's desire to entertain Sun Shaozong in the Peach Blossom Forest at night and feeling that the scenery was lacking, he suddenly had a whim. He ordered someone to prepare a batch of river lanterns on the upstream bamboo bridge. They would be set off one after another at the dinner party, and then let them flow down the river, which could be considered as a small charm.

It was just his sudden whim, and it cost ten taels of white silver, and the maids had been busy for a long time.

Qiuwen was complaining, but heard Qingwen's faint sigh and said, "As maidservants, what are we afraid of when we run off our legs? We're afraid of after running off our legs, but we'll still have to bear the complaints of the Masters.”

Qiuwen turned her back to her and spat out her tongue, but she didn’t dare to speak at all.

Half a month ago, Jia Baoyu received that scolding. Madam Wang felt heartbroken and didn't want to argue with Jia Zheng. She then spread all her evil anger on several big maids in the Yihong Courtyard, accusing them of neglecting guidance and causing Jia Baoyu to develop many disorderly habits.

It was common for the Master's family to vent their anger towards the maidservants in the big house. Originally, it was not much, it was just that Madam Wang was not pleased to see Qingwen, so most of the words with guns and sticks were aimed at her.

Although Qingwen was a servant girl, she was full of pride and was fiercely mocked. Although she didn’t dare to speak up to refute, she refused to say more.

What was Madam Wang's identity?

How could a petty servant girl be resentful in front of her?!

If it hadn't been for Yuanyang, who happened to come over to visit and said a few good words for Qingwen, she would have been kicked out immediately!

Due to this matter, Qingwen's temper has been getting hotter lately. If it weren't for Baoyu, how would anyone else provoke her recklessly?

When Qingwen saw that the autumn patterns were wilting, she didn't know how to respond. She then drilled into the tip of an ox's horn and thought to herself that the three of them, Xiren, Qiuyen, and Biyue, had a romantic relationship with Baoyu before. She was only mixed up inside and was considered an unknown outsider.

Thinking like this made her feel uncomfortable in her heart.

So she straightened her clothes and gave a faint order, "You guys stay here. When the Second Master sends someone to deliver the message, we will follow the instructions and start lowering the river lanterns.”

After a few little maids obediently responded, Qingwen didn't greet Qiuwen or Biyue, so she went straight downstream.

“Sister Qingwen really is...”

When she left on her own, Biyue couldn't help but complain, "It's not our fault that the Madam criticized her. Who is she showing her face all day?”

Qiuwen hurriedly pushed her and glanced at the few little maids. Biyue then closed her mouth in disbelief and rushed up with Qingwen.

When the three of them rushed back and forth to the Peach Blossom Forest, they saw Jia Baoyu wandering around in the pavilion like an ant on a hot pot, while Jia Yun was kneeling in front of him, looking helpless.

Which one was causing trouble again?

Qingwen hurriedly approached Xiren to inquire about the truth.

After asking, she realized that there was something fishy going on in the kitchen. The wine and vegetables that were initially arranged for were completely cut off by someone.

The more wealthy a family's banquets were, the more meticulously crafted they were about the temperature. In a hurry, it was already difficult to rearrange them—not to mention that besides the wine and dishes, even a few chefs from other courtyards have been seconded out!

“Who is so bold?”

Biyue said angrily, "Isn't it intentional to be a sore of the eye to our Second Master?”

Xiren gave a bitter smile and shook her head, saying, "It's not necessarily aimed at our Second Master.”

Before Biyue could understand the meaning of this, Qingwen suddenly realized. She reached out and pointed to the southeast, whispering, "Isn't it that Second Master Lian's jealousy came back?”

Xiren let out a bitter smile again, but there was a tacit agreement.

Since Jia Lian was playing tricks behind, no wonder Jia Baoyu was rushing around in the pavilion, making it difficult to grab the wine and vegetables back.

When everyone was at a loss, they saw another group of people coming from afar, led by Xue Baochai and Ying’er.

Xiren, Qingwen, and others rushed forward to salute. Jia Baoyu saw them in the pavilion and quickly welcomed them out, saying, "Why did you come, Sister Bao?”

Xue Baochai covered her mouth with a fan and smiled. "I heard that Brother Bao personally cooked a pot of sandwiched rice to entertain his savior. I'm very curious, so I came to take a look.”

Jia Baoyu blushed and smiled awkwardly. "I'm almost worried here. Why is Sister Bao still making fun of me?”

Ying’er chuckled and said in a crisp voice, "Second Master has misunderstood our Lady. Our Lady heard that you were in a bad situation, so she quickly asked someone to carry something to come and rescue you.”

“Don't talk nonsense; what kind of rescue is needed?”

Xue Baochai waved a fan behind her and pointed to some women who were carrying bamboo baskets, saying, "It's just a coincidence that your Brother Xue has just sent some baskets of shrimp crawlers over. I wanted to give them to Sisters, but now I can lend you a helping hand."

After a pause, she said again, "Although this thing is not expensive, it is not common in the Capital. Besides, I have heard my Brother say that Lord Sun loves seafood the most, and I think this thing should also be to his taste.”

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu hurriedly ran over and opened the bamboo basket to check. He saw that it was densely packed with flapping skin shrimp, nestled in ice cubes, and looked extremely fresh.

He was overjoyed immediately and turned around to grab Xue Baochai's gentle face. He blurted out, "Sister, you are a living Bodhisattva who saves lives. Today, I accept your kindness and I will repay you in the future. Thank you, Sister.”

Although she was a cousin, she was suddenly held by Jia Baoyu. Xue Baochai couldn't help but blush, so she stomped and spat, "Spit You don't have a gatekeeper in your mouth. You are speaking nonsense again.”

This shy spat immediately exuded a myriad of charms.

Jia Baoyu looked at her face as if it were a silver bowl, her eyes as if they were water apricots, her lips were not spotted but red, and her eyebrows were not painted but green. She had a different charm than Lin Daiyu. When he thought about the saying of the golden jade, he was stunned for a moment.

Xue Baochai was even more uninterested when he looked at her. She was about to pull out her hand, but she didn't move. Amid this dilemma, she suddenly heard Qingwen exclaim, "Ah! Lady Lin, when did you come?”

Jia Baoyu immediately felt as if he had been electrocuted and hurriedly threw away Xue Baochai’s hand.

Looking back, he saw Lin Daiyu standing not far away, with a joyful smile on her face. A few slender, jade fingers twisted her handkerchief into folds.

“Sister Lin… Lin, I just...”

“I didn't come at the right time.”

Jia Baoyu expected to explain clearly, but Lin Daiyu didn't even look at him; she only smiled and said to Baochai, "Otherwise, with Sister Bao shining like the Buddha's light, she would just be able to transform a foolish swallow.”

Xue Baochai shook her head and said with a smile, "He's talking nonsense. Why did my Sister even joke about Bodhisattva too?”

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and chuckled. "What is a Bodhisattva? If you give him a few more baskets of crabs, I'm afraid even the Tathagata Buddha will be possessed.”

The two of them were talking and laughing, with Jia Baoyu sandwiched in the middle, but feeling like he was on pins and needles.