Chapter 695: Qixi Reveals Privacy

15th Year of Emperor Jia Zhao, 7th Day of the 7th Month, Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Early morning, the morning sun slanted, the heat had not yet arrived, and the calm water surface of the Taiping vat reflected the bright and clear sky.

In the water room on the right side of the courtyard, the fragrance of cypress leaves and peach branches drifted out, faintly permeating the courtyard, smelling refreshing and pleasant.

On the veranda of the courtyard, Qingwen, Zhen Ying Lian, and Lingguan all had their damp hair draped, sitting at the vent to dry their hair and chat.

Because Wu'er washed the earliest, she had already dried her hair and entered the room to dress.

Under the eaves of the veranda, Jia Cong was using the pulp boiled with cypress leaves, peach branches, and soap locust to clean Zhi Shao's hair, then rinsing it clean with warm water.

He used his hands to wring out the moisture from the large mass of hair, and then used a large piece of cotton cloth to gently wipe it for her.

Dou Guan was gnawing on her fingers, looking a bit envious on the side.

When Jia Cong stopped his hands, she said eagerly: "Third master, you have washed theirs, it's time to wash mine, right?"

Zhen Ying Lian and the others couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.

Qingwen teased: "Dou Guan, you are small but have big ideas; wait until you grow to half the height of the veranda pillar, then ask the third master to wash your hair."

Dou Guan was quite unconvinced and ran to the veranda pillar to compare her height, only to find in frustration that it was indeed not half.

She looked up at the towering veranda pillar, hesitating with a sigh, and her funny expression made Qingwen and the others laugh.

Lingguan smiled and stepped forward to pull her, saying: "Today is the Daughter's Festival, the third master still has to go to the young ladies' side; I'll wash it for you."

Jia Cong smiled and touched Dou Guan's head, went inside to change his clothes, and then went out to Yingchun's courtyard.

Not long after he went out, a maid ran into the courtyard in a hurry.

Zhi Shao and the others looked at her appearance; she was not a maid from the East Mansion, so she should be from the West Mansion.

As soon as the maid entered the door, she asked: "Is Miss Liu at home?"

Wu'er, who was combing her hair in the room, heard the voice and hurriedly came out to see what was happening.

Seeing Wu'er, the maid ran up to her and whispered in her ear; hearing the words, Wu'er's face changed slightly.

She hurriedly tidied her hair bun and followed the maid out the door...

Rongguo Mansion, Yingchun's Courtyard.

In the courtyard, Shi Xiangyun and Xichun were chasing each other with laughter; they had also just washed their hair, and their slightly damp hair was tied with hair ropes, and they were hanging objects on the tree.

Washing hair with pulp boiled from cypress wood and peach branches, and hanging colorful small objects on the tree.

These were all customs of the Daughter's Festival since ancient times, all with the meaning of praying for blessings and smooth marriage.

The two were busy for a while, hanging exquisite small objects like silk velvet flowers, carved combs, yellow paper talismans, peach wood ruyi, and colorful paper skirts on the branches.

The dazzling array added a lot of joy and celebration to the courtyard.

The two were playing vigorously when they heard a knock at the courtyard gate.

Yingchun's courtyard gate was usually wide open, but today was the Daughter's Festival, and girls had the custom of washing their hair in the morning.

Because it was unseemly to be seen with disheveled hair, even though the daylight was bright, the courtyard gate was still tightly closed.

Hearing the knock, Xichun ran to open the door.

Shi Xiangyun shouted from behind: "Fourth sister, don't open the door; it's ugly to be seen with disheveled hair."

Xichun peeked through the door crack and smiled: "Why be shy? It's the third brother."

Before she finished speaking, she opened the big gate with a bang; Xiangyun screamed and hid back in the room with disheveled hair.

Seeing the gate wide open, Xichun had her hair draped, her little face as delicate as jade, shining with a young and crystal-clear luster, and she gave him a sweet smile.

"Third brother, you came so early today; why don't you have to go to the office?"

Jia Cong smiled: "Today happens to be a day off, and it's the Daughter's Festival, so naturally I came to stroll around. Fourth sister, you just washed your hair, don't run around until it's dry, be careful not to catch a cold."

As he spoke, he walked to the veranda and stood at the door of the main room, asking: "Is the second sister up?"

Yingchun's voice came from inside: "I'm up, third brother, come in and talk."

Only then did Jia Cong push open the door and see a large copper basin on the basin stand in the room, filled with hot soup smelling of cypress leaves.

Xiuju was helping Yingchun comb her hair, and the early morning sun shone in from the window lattice, making the room bright and dazzling.

The sunlight shone on Yingchun's tall and graceful body and her hair that reached her waist, which was as bright as a mirror, making her look soul-stirring.

Although Jia Cong and Yingchun were close as siblings, it was the first time he had seen her dressing up, and it looked like she was planning to wash her hair to celebrate the festival.

Jia Cong smiled: "Second sister, are you planning to wash your hair? Do you want me to help you wash it?"

Yingchun's pretty face flushed slightly, and she smiled: "Talking nonsense early in the morning; how can I let you wash my hair? It would be a joke if people heard."

"I think you should go to Sister Xiuyan's room and take a look; helping her wash her hair is the proper thing."

"Grandmother and the mistress have already set the status; Sister Xiuyan will be your person sooner or later, so don't neglect her on the Daughter's Festival."

Jia Cong chatted with Yingchun for a few more words, and seeing Xiuju about to wash Yingchun's hair, he left Yingchun's room.

Thinking of Yingchun's words just now, he turned and walked along the veranda to the second room on the right.

Just as he reached the door, he heard the sound of water inside, and the maid Zhuan'er came out carrying a basin.

Seeing Jia Cong, she hurriedly saluted and said: "Third master is here; our young lady is in the room, she just washed half her hair, and I'm just about to fetch water."

Jia Cong said: "Then you go ahead, I'll wait."

Zhuan'er seemed to realize something, stuck out her tongue slightly, and walked away carrying the basin.

Hearing Jia Cong's voice, Xing Xiuyan asked timidly: "Is it cousin outside? The sun is out, come in and talk."

Hearing this, Jia Cong pushed the door and entered the room, which was filled with the fragrance of cypress leaves and peach branches.

He saw Xing Xiuyan's pretty face pink, getting up from a recliner, her hair dripping wet, and she was wiping it with a cotton towel.

Jia Cong smiled: "Today is the Daughter's Festival, I came to see you, but it was bad timing, I disturbed you washing your hair."

Xing Xiuyan said: "This is nothing; I originally wanted to wash my hair and then go find cousin to talk. I remembered the date, cousin is off today."

As she spoke, she suddenly thought of the allusion of the Qixi Festival that Daiyu mentioned a few days ago, and her heart stirred slightly.

She wanted to ask something, but was a bit shy; just then, the maid Zhuan'er brought in a large basin of hot water.

The little maid looked at Jia Cong, then at her own young lady, feeling a bit dazed for a moment, and Xing Xiuyan's little face became redder and redder.

Jia Cong realized something; Xing Xiuyan's family was tricked to the Divine Capital by Lady Xing, and Lady Xing originally had ulterior motives.

Unexpectedly, Grandmother Jia saw through her intentions early on, and with a magical operation, Grandmother Jia set the status of a concubine for Xing Xiuyan.

Making this plain-clothed, clear-hearted girl destined to be entangled with him for a lifetime.

It was just that Xing Xiuyan was still in her early teens, her age was still young, and she was raised by Yingchun like a child bride.

Her parents were both mediocre people, usually only knowing how to be satisfied with food and clothing, and they didn't ask much about putting their daughter in the East Mansion.

Fortunately, Xing Xiuyan had a detached nature, quiet and peaceful, indifferent and introverted, and she was very popular among the sisters in the East Mansion.

But even so, such a family background and the helplessness of her early teens could not be avoided.

Yingchun and Xing Xiuyan lived in the same courtyard; she was kind and considerate, so she could naturally perceive the other's thoughts clearly.

Jia Cong suddenly understood the meaning of the words the second sister said to him...

He took the copper basin from Zhuan'er's hand and said: "How can one basin of water be enough? Go and fetch another one."

Zhuan'er was a bit dazed, seeing her young lady's face getting redder and redder, but she didn't say a word.

She suddenly understood, hurriedly agreed, and slipped out of the room in a flash.

When she fetched the water back, she didn't push the door to enter, but peeked through the door crack and saw a shy scene.

She saw her young lady lying on the recliner, and the third master was rolling up his sleeves, gently rubbing her hair, his movements looking quite skillful.

Her young lady's pretty face was flushed, looking much prettier than usual, and her pair of hands were placed on her chest, intertwined in a loss of what to do.

The third master was busy with his hands while saying something nice, making the young lady laugh from time to time.

Zhuan'er's little face turned red; she knew that her young lady and the third master already had a status, it was just that the young lady was still young and it wasn't time yet.

She just couldn't understand; although the young lady didn't speak much, she was very determined in her heart and was not an easy person to coax.

Just now the third master only took her hot water, what did he say later?

How did he trick the young lady into lying down obediently to let him wash her hair so quickly...

Rongguo Mansion, Baoyu's Courtyard.

Baoyu understood the ways of the Daughter's Festival better than Jia Cong and had started decorating the courtyard since yesterday.

He assigned maids to hang prayer objects all over the trees in the courtyard, posted the Goddess of Begging for Skills on every door, and set up an incense table in the courtyard.

He wrote sacrificial texts with great seriousness, recited prayers, worshipped the Magpie Bridge and the Weaver Girl, with a face of bright moon and wind, and a heart full of deep affection.

Although he was not a daughter, he was more enthusiastic about spending the Daughter's Festival on the 7th day of the 7th month than the maids in the courtyard.

Last night, he even took the maids to worship the moon and pray for blessings, wishing for marital harmony.

It made Xi Ren and the others feel strange; the second master had already set a marriage with Xia Gu Niang and was getting married at the end of the year, so why pray for such a thing...

Only bystanders like She Yue saw clearly and knew a bit about this master's thoughts; it must not be praying for a hundred years of harmony with Xia Gu Niang.

It was mostly wanting more and secretly casting spells toward the East Mansion...

The night before Qixi, Baoyu made a big fuss, and it wasn't until near midnight that the maids rested.

When they got up early in the morning, She Yue was still yawning, and she took two little maids to boil pulp, and then they all went to the backyard to wash their hair to celebrate the festival.

She had only washed half her hair when she saw Qiu Wen coming over with a mean expression, always peeking into Baoyu's room.

Seeing her expression, She Yue couldn't help but frown and said: "Early in the morning, what's with that face? It's like someone owes you five hundred taels of silver."

Qiu Wen said quite unconvinced: "Do you know who was on night duty for the second master last night?"

She Yue thought for a while and said: "It seems to be Caiyun; because she just entered the second master's room, she happened to meet the second master who injured his knee and had been recuperating for more than a month."

"Xi Ren was worried that she was new and clumsy, and the second master was injured and inconvenient, so she didn't know how to serve him; during this time, it was me and Xi Ren on night duty."

"Now the second master's injury is healed, last night should be Caiyun's first night duty; I remember correctly."

Qiu Wen curled her little mouth and said: "I'm not asking you this; last night, just before midnight, I went in to change the tea for the second master..."

She Yue said: "Earlier last night, I changed the night tea in the second master's room; you are truly doing something unnecessary."

Qiu Wen said: "Don't interrupt; I'm not talking about this either. When I entered the room, Caiyun wasn't sleeping on the side couch, but was being pressed on the bed by the second master..."

Hearing this, She Yue's face flushed red, and she said: "Pah, you have such a good mood in the middle of the night to watch such scenery, aren't you afraid of getting needles in your eyes?"

"Caiyun has served tea to Grandmother Jia, she is the second master's proper person in the room; you don't need to manage how they are."

At this time, Xi Ren also came over with a basin to wash her hair, saw She Yue and Qiu Wen, and asked casually: "Why haven't Caiyun and Bihun come yet?"

Qiu Wen said: "Bihun hasn't been feeling well these days, she won't get up so early; as for Caiyun, she is having a romantic time."

"Xi Ren, you didn't let Caiyun be on night duty for a while, why are you willing to let her come to the table now?"

Hearing Qiu Wen's mean words, Xi Ren frowned and said: "You had better manage your own broken mouth, gossiping all day; one day you will cause trouble!"

At this time, the back door of Baoyu's room opened, and Caiyun, with a pink color, was tying the buttons with one hand and holding a basin with the other, entering the backyard to wash her hair.

Qiu Wen couldn't help but shout: "Oh, the concubine is up; was it satisfying last night!"

Xi Ren said to Caiyun: "Don't pay attention to Qiu Wen's broken mouth; since it was your happy event last night, go back to your room to rest after washing your hair, don't do anything."

Caiyun's face flushed red, her expression awkward, and she said: "No need to be so troublesome, I'm not tired, I should do whatever I should do."

Xi Ren smiled lightly: "Yo, that won't do; if I let you work today, people will say I'm mean."

Qiu Wen mocked on the side: "Caiyun, what do you mean by this? It's like saying the second master isn't capable, didn't toss you hard enough."

She Yue couldn't listen anymore and splashed a basin of water to Qiu Wen's feet.

She scolded: "Since you love to say these lewd words, get married off to a servant sooner; you will be even more satisfied then, and you can say enough."

Hearing Qiu Wen's unpleasant words, Xi Ren was just about to reprimand her, when she suddenly saw Caiyun's face turn ugly and strange after hearing Qiu Wen's words.

Her heart felt a bit cold, and seeing She Yue and Qiu Wen arguing, she hurriedly pulled Caiyun to a quiet place in the front courtyard.

She asked: "Caiyun, was the second master not right last night?"

Caiyun's face was flushed red, as if she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into, and she stammered, unable to speak.

Xi Ren frowned and said: "We are both people on the second master's bed; what is there that can't be said? This is a lifelong matter; tell me so I can have a count in my heart."

Caiyun's face was fiery red, and she asked with a trembling voice: "Xi Ren sister, you served the second master before, was he like this too?"

Hearing this, Xi Ren's face looked a bit ugly, and she asked: "What exactly is it like? You only say half of it; how would I know?"

Caiyun said indignantly: "Last night, as soon as we returned to the room, the second master closed the door and got excited, dragging me onto the bed and wanting to do that thing."

"It happened that Qiu Wen came in to change the tea and saw it; it was truly embarrassing..."

Hearing this, Xi Ren couldn't help but rub her temples; this dead girl was nagging for a long time without saying the point, truly a heartless girl.

Caiyun continued: "After Qiu Wen was scolded out by the second master, the second master was like he was on fire, tossing and turning."

"He tore off all my clothes and wanted to do me, but as soon as he touched my body, he just couldn't do it."

"Last night he tossed for half the night, I was almost asleep, and he was still there scratching his head and sighing, and finally hugged me and slept messily."

"I was like nothing happened, bearing the reputation for nothing; how could I rest..."

Hearing this, Xi Ren felt cold in her heart.

Ever since Caiyun entered Baoyu's room, she happened to meet Baoyu who injured his knee, so she found an excuse not to let Caiyun be on night duty, to avoid letting her get close to Baoyu.

At first, no one cared, but as time passed, not only did Qiu Wen gossip, but even She Yue became suspicious of her.

Others only thought she was jealous and didn't want other women to approach Baoyu, but in fact, Xi Ren had bitterness she couldn't speak of.

Ever since Baoyu held a dance banquet in the East Road Courtyard, he later broke his head for some reason and lived in the East Road Courtyard for a long time.

Others didn't know the truth, but Xi Ren was Baoyu's secret bedfellow; this matter could be hidden from others, but it was hard to hide from her.

In bed, she only used a little tenderness, and Baoyu mumbled and told her about the incident that day.

Although Xi Ren blamed Baoyu for being absurd, the matter had already happened, and complaining was useless.

Plus Baoyu was getting married to Xia Gu Niang, so this matter was covered up.

But Xi Ren never expected that Baoyu's absurd matter didn't end there...

As Baoyu's only bedfellow, she soon noticed that Baoyu was increasingly powerless in bed...

Later, she whispered at night and gradually found out from Baoyu that he was doing absurd things in the master's study that day and was caught by the master and Cong Sanye Cong halfway.

He was so ashamed and scared that he was instantly terrified and broke into a cold sweat.

At this critical moment, the cheap maid who was messed with by the second master was suddenly caught in an affair.

In extreme fear, she kicked the second master who was stuck to her away; at that time, the second master was only afraid of the master and didn't feel anything.

Only later did he realize that the cheap maid kicked him right; after that, the second master was in pain for many days and didn't have the face to tell others.

Later, the second master gradually stopped hurting, and the matter muddled through; later, Xi Ren discovered that he was gradually not capable...

Xi Ren was a virgin on the outside; where would she dare to ask others about such secret room matters? She persuaded Baoyu to find a doctor to see if there was any improvement.

Baoyu was terrified that the ugly matter would spread, and everyone in the two mansions would know, and all these fairy sisters at home would know.

How would he be an innocent person in the future, how would he be sentimental with the sisters, and how would he describe his romance in front of daughters? It would be better to die.

So he would rather die than see a doctor and strictly ordered Xi Ren to keep her mouth shut.

Xi Ren had only been with Baoyu, and this matter couldn't be told to others, so how much knowledge did she have about room matters?

She only saw Baoyu have his first powerlessness, and later it became more and more powerless...

But his excitement not only didn't decrease, but became even hotter than before, but every time he came up, he gave up halfway and couldn't get things done.

The two could only hide this matter tightly, neither daring to tell anyone.

Because if people knew about this, it would surely cause a big disaster.

Not only would Baoyu's ugly affair of messing with the Xue family's maid be exposed, but Xi Ren's early seduction of the young master would also be exposed; it was estimated that neither of them would have a good end...

Later, Caiyun entered the room, and Baoyu felt fresh about her and teased her many times.

Xi Ren tried many times at night and found that Baoyu was increasingly serious and completely incapable.

She was worried that if Caiyun got on the bed, Baoyu's matter would be exposed immediately.

Just then, Baoyu injured his knee, so she went with the flow and left Caiyun aside, hiding Baoyu's ugly matter for another long time.

During this time, every night Xi Ren used all her means, but couldn't make Baoyu capable again...

When Baoyu's knee healed, she had no other reason to cover up the matter.

Plus, at this time, Xi Ren became Baoyu's proper person in the room; even if Baoyu's matter was exposed, she had a reason to shirk.

She saw that Baoyu didn't do things with her, but was very interested in the new Caiyun.

Perhaps Caiyun would have improvement after one try; if she really fixed Baoyu, it would be a good thing for her.

But Xi Ren really didn't expect that the second master was still the same with this fresh product Caiyun; was the second master really incurable?

Seeing that she finished telling the privacy, Xi Ren's face turned pale and she didn't say a word, Caiyun couldn't help but worry.

"Xi Ren sister, I've told you the matter, give me a word; are you and the second master like that too?"

"It's all the same, how can this be?"

Hearing Xi Ren's words, Caiyun's face also turned ugly instantly; she originally thought the mistress valued her, and she was a magpie climbing a high branch, but she didn't expect it was a withered branch that wouldn't bloom...

She hurriedly said: "Xi Ren sister, this matter cannot be hidden, we must quietly tell the mistress; if the second master has a problem, it must be treated."

"The second master will get married to the Xia family's girl in less than half a year; if this illness still can't be cured, that will be a big disaster."

"The second master is the only legitimate son of the second branch's Yu generation; wouldn't that break the proper root? The mistress will be anxious to death..."

The two were talking about private matters, both feeling uneasy and terrified in their hearts.

Just then, a maid entered the courtyard gate, with exquisite clothes and beautiful features; it was the second branch's maid, Seeing Cai Xia.

Seeing her come, Xi Ren and Caiyun's faces changed; seeing Seeing Cai Xia in the West Mansion, the mistress must have come too; she really couldn't stand nagging... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 696 =====