Three Wives and Four Concubines in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Page 99

Chapter Twenty: Warm Fragrance Pavilion

The next morning, Gu Yu got up listlessly, much later than usual, so Lin Meimei and the others arrived just as she finished washing up.

Today was the first time Gu Yu had ever been so unenthusiastic that she couldn't even greet her sisters. After sitting for a while, looking at Xi Chun sitting there timidly, Gu Yu suddenly felt a surge of anger and wanted to vent her frustration.

After making an excuse to rest for a while, Gu Yu stood in front of Xi Chun with a forced smile and said:

"Fourth sister, how about we go and paint for a while?"

Xi Chun turned her body, a blush rising on her face, but she dared not refuse, and could only slowly follow Gu Yu to the desk next to her.

Facing the laughing and chatting sisters in the room, Gu Yu stood beside Xi Chun with a normal expression, while one hand deftly unbuttoned the buttons hidden behind her back, and then reached in without any hindrance to knead her small, fragrant buttocks.

Xi Chun instinctively tensed her toes, her face flushed red, and she tried to cover her mouth to stifle the moan that was about to escape her lips. Gu Yu smiled and leaned closer, whispering:

"Little sister, you'd better act naturally, or it'll be bad if the other sisters find out... Aren't you going to start writing?"

As he spoke, Gu Yu's fingers slipped deeper into the narrow crevice of her buttocks, gently tracing back and forth. Xi Chun could almost hear the squelching sound of his fingers rubbing against her moist flesh as they slid to her private parts. She couldn't help but squeeze her legs together and whispered a plea for mercy:

"Brother Yu~ No~ Wait until the sisters are gone, then... Daddy..."

Gu Yu ignored her completely and continued to train the little girl beside him. Looking at her flushed cheeks, the sense of conquest in his heart finally put him at ease.

To avoid embarrassing the little girl, Gu Yu thoughtfully moved even closer, partly to help her bear some of the weight so she wouldn't collapse, and partly to give her an excuse for the undisguised blush on her face.

The sisters in the room would occasionally glance over, and although they were a little jealous of the intimate behavior between the two, they never expected that the little actions behind their backs would be so bold.

After playing with her for an unknown amount of time, when Xichun finally couldn't help but prop herself up on the table, Gu Yu slowly and quietly took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped her clean. After restoring her to her original state, he patted his bottom and let her go for the time being.

"My sister's painting... is so beautiful."

When it came to calligraphy, Gu Yu deliberately spoke vaguely, then smiled meaningfully at the little girl who was struggling to stay upright, and felt much better.

However, he spent all his rest time teasing Xichun, which made another little jealous person jealous. Gu Yu immediately wanted to come over and coax her, but Daiyu glared at him in shame and indignation, not allowing him to be too presumptuous in front of his sisters.

Gu Yu pursed her lips speechlessly. This little girl would proudly feed him watermelon in front of him when she was happy, but when she was unhappy, she wouldn't allow him to speak even when they were alone. How spoiled! Should she find another opportunity to teach her a lesson? ...

As if sensing the danger signal in Gu Yu's eyes, Daiyu, who had just been pouting, softened her face and quickly put on a smile, chatting and laughing with her sisters. Occasionally, she would turn her head and give a pure and pitiful look like a fawn, which made Gu Yu's heart melt and soften her heart considerably.

"Fine, since that's how it is, I'll be gentler next time..."

Having accepted Xue Pan's invitation to his birthday party, Gu Yu had no choice but to leave them to finish their meal and go home alone, while he reluctantly went out to attend the banquet. Fortunately, Baochai's moved and admiring gaze comforted him considerably.

Today marks only a few days since Baoyu was confined to his quarters, and Xue the Fool dared not defy the rules and go to invite Baoyu. He only asked Lady Wang a token question, and then, with everyone's tacit understanding, they ignored the once bustling Yihong Courtyard.

After exiting through the side gate, Gu Yu deliberately detoured to the agreed-upon location at the side gate of the Rongguo Mansion. Jia Lian and Xue Pan were exchanging knowing glances and laughing as they talked. Upon seeing Gu Yu approach, Xue Pan waved enthusiastically with a radiant smile.

"Yu-ge'er has finally arrived! I thought my sister was just trying to coax me! I've prepared a great place for you today, so you'd better listen to me."

Of course, Gu Yu couldn't refuse her brother-in-law's request, so she smiled and agreed. After all, she was just going to listen to some music and relax.

Jia Lian sensed something was up and couldn't help but look at the lucky fool Xue with envy. He didn't have to do anything; he could hook up with a girl just because his family had one. What incredible luck!

However, thinking about the generous rewards he had received for taking sides, Jia Lian felt much happier. He quickly smiled and echoed Xue Pan, saying that today's program would definitely satisfy Gu Yu.

The group mounted their horses and, led by Xue Pan, headed straight for the west of the city. Along the way, Xue Pan paid no attention to the stares of the people around him, sitting casually on his horse and excitedly sharing his experiences with Gu Yu.

"There are so many brothels in the capital, but only two have the resources to operate in the west of the city. We're going to one of them now: Nuanxiang Pavilion."

At this point, Xue Pan deliberately kept him in suspense, intending for Gu Yu to ask who the other family was. Unexpectedly, Gu Yu nodded and then fell silent. Feeling uneasy, Xue Pan quickly cleared his throat and said:

"The girls at Warm Fragrance Pavilion are absolutely gorgeous! They're all skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and they only entertain distinguished guests. My second brother Lian and I have some connections, so we can book a private room on the second floor. You'll see how much fun it is then!"

"Then we'll have to thank Brother Xue."

Gu Yu chuckled, already bored and thinking about what to do when he got back. The only thing that interested him about this brothel was that he could listen to music. He was being polite by not giving the vulgar women there a hard time!

Xue Pan and the others had also drunk with Gu Yu a few times and roughly knew his temperament. Seeing this, the two couldn't help but exchange a glance, their faces full of pride. This Nuanxiang Pavilion was not on the same level as the ones they had taken him to before. They would show Yu-ge'er what it meant to be happy!

When the three of them arrived at the place with their entourage, Xue Pan took the lead and went in without hesitation. As soon as they reached the door, the sharp-eyed pimp inside greeted them warmly with a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum.

"Hey! Isn't this Uncle Xue? It's been a while since you've been here. Same as usual?"

Xue Pan grinned smugly and turned around to show Gu Yu how useful his influence was, then waved his hand arrogantly and said:

"Same place as always. Forget about those two from before. Bring me the best of the best!"

"Your Excellency is truly magnanimous! It just so happens that Meiniang and the others are available. I have heard of their reputation, and I will not be stingy with you in the slightest. These are... the three of you?"

Xue Pan's eyes lit up, and he eagerly gestured for Gu Yu to follow. He nodded hastily and headed upstairs. The pimp glanced at Jia Lian and Gu Yu behind him, smiled, bent down to let them pass, and then went to the back hall to call for help.

"Spring Breeze Pavilion on the second floor, three people!..."

Chapter Twenty-One: Big Brother, stop touching me, let's take a break, okay?

Without keeping Gu Yu and the others waiting long, as soon as they sat down, a servant brought over fruit platters and tea. Xue Pan waved his hand and ordered the best wine and dishes in the restaurant to be served, without the slightest sign of financial distress.

Gu Yu looked around curiously, then asked:

Why didn't Brother Xue call anyone else?

Xue Pan chuckled awkwardly, forcing a smile as he said:

"They are all rough men, how could they be worthy to sit with Brother Yu? It's a pity that Baoyu can't come out, and Qi Guan has been out of contact recently, otherwise we could have made it even more lively."

Just as Jia Lian was about to reply, the door was suddenly pushed open again, and a group of people filed in. The one in the lead was dressed rather provocatively, with half of her snow-white breasts exposed under her green gauze dress. She had a curvaceous figure and a pair of alluring foxy eyes.

Gu Yu looked up, then immediately looked away in disgust. The strong scent of cosmetics could even reach him several steps away. If it weren't for Xue Pan and Jia Lian's lecherous expressions, he would have chased them away: In this day and age, people can even marinate cosmetics in their skin. They are truly amazing!

"Meiniang greets the three gentlemen."

The slightly affected, coquettish greeting made Xue Pan beam with joy, and he quickly waved for her to get up. Mei Niang looked around and saw that the three people on the field were all handsome, but the two closest to her had sly looks on their faces, and they were obviously experienced.

Just by looking at the seats, she knew that the most handsome and composed person was just a guest, and the real patron was this lecherous fool in front of her. So she quickly put on a smile and sat down with him.

The other courtesans who came along were delighted and quickened their pace, eager to be the first to accompany the handsome young man. After some open and subtle competition, two beautiful women sat down on either side of him, while the remaining two went to accompany Jia Lian, who had not yet made his choice.

Although the four courtesans were all pretty much the same, Jia Lian, being a seasoned womanizer, naturally noticed their picky behavior. Seeing that he was the one left over, he spat inwardly and lost all patience for leisurely flirting. He stretched out his hands and pulled her to drink.

Not far away, a musician was playing an unknown erotic tune. Xue Pan sighed that the money was well spent. This Mei Niang was one of the top three he had ever been with. Although he was still reserved and only touched her hand to let her feed him wine, he couldn't help but want to take it a step further.

"My lord, you must drink this cup first. After you finish, I will make a fool of myself, how about that?"

"Okay, okay, I'll drink it, I'll drink it!"

Xue Pan chuckled and readily agreed, showing a sense of loyalty and not forgetting his good brother-in-law, and quickly greeted him:

"Yu-ge'er, you'll drink too. Don't worry, I won't tell my sister when we get back, hehe~ You two better serve this master well, you'll be well rewarded!"

The two courtesans beside her had bright eyes. With this guy's looks, they could even pay for some fun themselves, let alone make a profit. They quickly used all their charms to get closer, and Gu Yu was afraid that their pelvises would tilt forward.

"Let me have a drink!"

After all, this was Xue Pan's place, and he wasn't some pretentious gentleman. He naturally accepted the wine cups offered by the two men and drank them down. As for the two men boldly pressing against his arm, he simply took it as a massage.

But then, her gaze shifted again, and over there, Jia Lian had started playing the fancy trick of drinking from mouth to mouth. Seeing that the courtesans on her side wanted to imitate him, Gu Yu quickly raised her hand to stop them. Looking at the aloofness between the handsome young man's brows, the courtesans could only give up with regret.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere became lively. Just as Jia Lian started telling a dirty joke, a servant came to serve the dishes, followed by a middle-aged madam who walked in with a smile.

"Are you gentlemen satisfied? If the girls serving you are not up to par, just go and change them. There are always girls in our Warm Fragrance Pavilion who will satisfy you!"

Xue Pan chuckled, slightly tipsy, and said with a smile:

"Oh? Then you might be able to send Miss Qianqian over?"

The madam's face stiffened. Qianqian was a top courtesan who had just graduated and was used to entertaining grown men. Why would she accompany a spoiled brat like you?

"That's unfortunate. The Minister of Justice is just passing by and specifically asked Miss Qianqian to come and play the zither to relieve her boredom. I'll have to suggest we do it another time."

"Pfft, cough cough~"

Caught off guard, Gu Yu coughed a few times in shock at the bombshell news. The Minister of Justice, wasn't that Zhou...?

"Who is this……?"

The old woman looked over when she heard the sound, paused for a moment, then her expression suddenly changed. She quickly recovered and smiled as she deliberately complained about the two maids serving Gu Yu.

"Look at these two clueless hussies, aren't they going to help our distinguished guest wipe himself?"

The two courtesans were also aggrieved. This master didn't want them to serve him, so how could they be considered ungrateful? The madam didn't say much and quickly left, making an excuse that she was busy.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mei Niang quickly brushed away the groping hand that was about to lift her collar, and forced a smile as she said she was going to perform a folk art piece.

As she stood up, Meiniang felt a surge of resentment. Why couldn't she serve such an elegant guest as Gu Yu? Although her usual guests eventually ended up in the alley, she had never dealt with anyone like this before—touching him five times in less than a quarter of an hour!

"How shameless..."

The more she looked at Gu Yu's elegant demeanor, the angrier she became. She quickly came over and used playing the pipa as an excuse to stall for time, otherwise she would be eaten before she even finished her meal!

Perhaps because it was too early, no singing troupe had come out of Nuanxiang Pavilion yet. There was only a small stage for playing seductive tunes as public music. Now that a high-ranking professional was performing, Gu Yu naturally sat up a little straighter, ready to enjoy the performance.

After Mei Niang sat down, she toned down her seductive aura somewhat. With a light touch of her fingertips, a series of clear and melodious pipa notes flowed out like a gentle stream. Gu Yu listened and nodded to himself, impressed by her professional skills.

With gentle touches and delicate movements, Mei Niang's fingers danced nimbly, creating a melody that rose and fell, flowing continuously, beautiful and melodious; the tone was serene, yet dynamic within the stillness. Gu Yu couldn't help but tap his hand to the rhythm, momentarily forgetting even his wine, but…

Why do wild geese fall onto the sandy plain?

This piece is quite long...

However, Gu Yu was too lazy to think about it anymore and simply focused on being a listener. Although Mei Niang's pipa playing was all skill and no emotion, it was still a pleasure to listen to. He couldn't play the pipa either, so there was nothing to criticize.

Mei Niang played the entire piece "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandy Shore" with all her might. Seeing that Xue Pan was getting impatient, she quickly smiled and apologized to him. After all, it had taken so long, so she accepted it!

Jia Lian had already made the two courtesans panting heavily, while the two accompanying Gu Yu had strange expressions and sat obediently, only adding wine. This was the first time they had encountered such a guest.

If it were any other time, they would probably be overjoyed, but today, with such a handsome young man, they feel as if they have been taken advantage of. Life is truly unpredictable.

Gu Yu drank another cup of wine, intending to eat some food to calm down. He planned to go back soon after they were about to start firing their cannons... Just then, the door suddenly opened again, and the madam barged in with two maids, looking very enthusiastic.

"So it's Young Master Gu in person! I'm so old and my eyesight is failing me that I didn't recognize you! Young Master Gu's presence is an honor to our humble abode! Miss Yunle heard that Young Master Gu had arrived and specially invited you up for a chat!"

"??"

Before Gu Yu could react, Xue Pan wiped his mouth, stopped rubbing his chest, thought for a moment, and suddenly realized something. He excitedly whispered in secret:

"Yu-ge'er, this Miss Yunle is the new top courtesan of Nuanxiang Pavilion! I heard she's even better than Miss Qianqian, and she hasn't even had her hair done yet! If you go there, wouldn't you be able to get close to her and win her favor? Don't miss this opportunity!"

Chapter Twenty-Two: How Far Could You Smell the Stink in Your Crotch?

Gu Yu frowned slightly, a glimmer of clarity flashing in her slightly tipsy eyes. Just as she was about to refuse this inexplicable invitation, the madam suddenly started making a fuss:

"Young Master Gu once outshone all the heroes, winning first place with his snow poem. Not only that, but he also recently engaged in a verbal battle with a group of foreign monks, which made him quite a force to be reckoned with! Even the current emperor has specially summoned him. Our Miss Yunle has long admired him, so Young Master Gu should do her a favor and have a look at him."

The second floor was already much quieter, and the people coming and going were not ordinary people. The madam's loud noise with the door open quickly spread to other places.

"Could it be the young master of the Gu family who recently defeated the enemy and left those foreign monks speechless?"

"Where? Where is Young Master Gu?"

Seeing that the madam was about to speak again, Gu Yu stood up with a headache, signaling her to shut up. Xue Pan hadn't even reacted yet, and quickly leaned over with a grin, saying:

"Brother Yu, you really need to check on that Miss Yunle for me. I'll be prepared when she gets married, won't I? Go quickly!"

There was no point in staying on the second floor anymore. Gu Yu had been drinking a bit and was provoked by Xue Pan's words. He wanted to go see what kind of arrogant person dared to be so cocky. Did they think he couldn't see through the madam's tricks? He was going to give them a good humiliation once he got up there!

"Lead the way!"

Seeing the coldness in Gu Yu's eyes, the madam almost lost her smile. She chuckled awkwardly and dared not flirt with him anymore. She obediently led him upstairs to a door.

Looking at the exquisite carvings on the door, Gu Yu almost thought it was one of her own villas. She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and entering.

As soon as he entered, Gu Yu heard faint music coming from the depths. There was only one maid waiting inside. When she saw him enter, she quickly bowed and led Gu Yu through the main room to a more private inner room.

The further in she went, the clearer the music became. When she reached the door, the maid didn't go in. After Gu Yu stepped inside, she respectfully closed the door. Gu Yu turned her head and looked around the room. Its luxury was comparable to her own Pear Blossom Spring Rain. But then she suddenly noticed an inconspicuous object hanging on the wall. After staring at it for a moment, her heart sank, and she sobered up considerably.

"Looks like this is a trap..."

Since the banquet was not a pleasant affair, Gu Yu no longer stood on ceremony. She casually walked to the table and sat down, then went to get a cup and pour herself some tea. The slight noise immediately disrupted the harmonious atmosphere of the zither playing. The melodious zither music paused for a moment and then fell silent.

Through the beaded curtain, Gu Yu only saw a graceful figure stand up. Before she could even see the person, she heard a gentle, melancholic voice drift over:

"Could it be that Young Master Gu finds my skills lacking and does not wish for my music to offend your ears...?"

As she spoke, Yun Le lifted the beaded curtain and stepped out. With graceful, light steps, her snow-white neck and beautiful face were perfectly displayed to Gu Yu.

Gu Yu stared at her for a moment, then naturally turned her head away, her face immediately contorting with displeasure. To be fair, Yun Le was indeed quite beautiful; even at the Flower Goddess Gathering organized by the Empress, she could rank in the upper-middle range among so many young ladies.

Given her status as someone who could marry and have a romantic relationship with a man, it's no wonder she attracted so many admirers.

However, this was far from Gu Yu's expectations. She had thought that if this woman, who was praised to the skies, was really an unmarried courtesan, she might have taken pity on her and rescued her from her misery. Now, however, she thought, "Whatever!"

"Miss Yunle's zither playing is naturally beautiful, but unfortunately I am ignorant of music. It is a waste of her talent. I will not trouble you with your efforts."