Chapter 744: Night Banquet and Drawing Flower Lots (Part 2)

Count's Prefecture, Yingchun's Courtyard, Water Pavilion, the wine is mellow, the flowers are bright, and the moon is clear.

Xiangyun was laughing and chatting. Everyone saw Xing Xiuyan's small face flush red, as if the dice had landed on her, and her expression was a bit nervous.

Jia Cong smiled, "Sister Xiuyan, there is no need to be nervous. It's just for fun, hurry up and shake out a lot to see."

Xing Xiuyan gave a sweet smile, took the lot bucket and shook it with a clatter, and soon threw out a lot.

A swaying flower branch was carved on the head of the lot, full of light purple flower buds, about to bloom, elegant and handsome.

Xiangyun smiled, "This is a magnolia flower, also called purple jade orchid. Third Brother has one planted in his courtyard."

Under the magnolia branch were the four characters "Purple Calyx in Deep Spring," and two lines of poetry were carved on the back: "Not yet blooming to compete for spring, only entrusting the fragrant heart to the blue sky."

Note at the bottom: The person who gets this lot drinks one cup.

Xiangyun read the two lines of poetry aloud, and everyone felt it was elegant and appropriate.

Baochai smiled, "Sister Xiuyan matches the magnolia flower perfectly. Apart from her, no one else can bear these two lines of poetry."

Xing Xiuyan drank a cup herself, then threw the dice, and this time it landed on Xichun.

Xichun cheered, "Finally it's my turn to draw a lot, I've been waiting for a long time."

Yingchun, however, smiled and took the lot bucket, saying, "You are a child and haven't grown up yet. Divining lots is not auspicious. Wait until you are a few years older to play, be good."

Daiyu and the others were not surprised when they heard this, as there was indeed such a saying in the household.

Xichun felt frustrated and disappointed when she heard this, but she had lived in Yingchun's courtyard for the past year, and the sisters were close, sitting and sleeping together, living together day and night.

Yingchun was a few years older than Xichun and loved this fourth younger sister very much. Xichun had already developed a reliance on her and was always willing to listen to Yingchun.

Although she felt lost and unhappy because she missed out on this fun thing, she didn't make a fuss.

Jia Cong coaxed, "Fourth Sister, you don't have to divine a flower lot, but you can shake the dice to count the people."

"Whoever you point to, they will divine a flower lot for you to see. It's just as interesting."

Xichun was originally on the verge of tears, but hearing this, she immediately broke into a smile, took the dice box and shook it fiercely, rolling a nine.

Xichun counted, and finally it actually landed on Jia Cong.

She laughed happily: "I rolled this point so cleverly, I just wanted to see what lot Third Brother would draw."

Jia Cong's face was a bit embarrassed. Daiyu smiled, "Fourth Sister, flower name lots are for girls to play with. Third Brother is a man, how can he compare himself to a famous flower?"

Everyone laughed when they heard this. Xichun didn't get angry and smiled, "That's even better, Third Brother and I can't draw flower name lots, so we can just keep each other company."

Jia Cong smiled, "Fourth Sister, this time doesn't count, just throw the dice one more time."

This time Xichun threw eighteen points, and after a bead-like count, it landed on Daiyu. Everyone laughed again.

Daiyu smiled and took the lot bucket, shook it in her hand, and soon threw out a lot.

A hibiscus flower dripping with dew was carved on the head of the lot, with the four characters "Fragrance of Heaven Condensing Dew" inscribed below.

Two lines of poetry were carved on the back: "Wind and rain, green trees share the east wind, yet thanking the hundred flowers for blooming alone in spring."

Note at the bottom: The person who gets this lot drinks a cup with everyone present.

This time the table became lively. Xiangyun smiled, "I thought I had good luck and grabbed a good lot, but I didn't expect Sister Lin's scene to be even bigger."

Yingchun smiled, "There is no sister in the family more suitable to be a hibiscus than her. Let's drink a cup together to congratulate her."

Daiyu had a very low tolerance for alcohol and, because of her frail health, had always been very restrained in drinking.

Now that she had received Zhang Youpeng's careful treatment and took the Three Lives Soul-Nourishing Pill every day to cultivate her roots and stabilize her essence, her body was much better than before.

However, the habit of restraining her drinking remained. She had already drunk a few cups with her sisters, and her pretty face was already slightly flushed.

Just now she had grabbed a good lot, and the sisters raised their cups to congratulate her, so she naturally couldn't be left out. Xiangyun filled her cup to the brim again.

After drinking this cup, she felt her whole body heating up and felt slightly dizzy. Seeing her slightly drunk, Jia Cong hurriedly asked Xiu Ju to get some hangover tea.

Daiyu took the dice box and rolled the points. This time it counted to Yingchun, so she had to let Yingchun roll again, but Yingchun rolled to Seeing Tan Chun.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, and their eyes turned to Baochai, as she was the only one left at the table who hadn't divined a flower lot.

Baochai smiled, "I've really fallen behind today, why hasn't it landed on me?"

It was Seeing Tan Chun's turn to roll the points, and this time she rolled seventeen points, which happened to land on Baochai.

She was also a maid, and if Baoyu wanted to make someone pregnant, it should be her, so why did it fall to that wandering goods without a background?

The lot bucket was shaken by her for a while, and soon a lot was thrown out, falling onto the table with a *thud*.

A rich and beautiful peony was carved on the head of the lot, with the four characters "Red Clouds Flowing Clouds" inscribed below.

Two lines of poetry were carved on the back: "Time brushes the steps, the dew is thick, the bright clouds are still spring in the evening."

Note at the bottom: The person who gets this lot drinks one cup.

Everyone said that the peony matched Baochai perfectly, and the poem on the lot was rich, elegant, and noble, which was also very extraordinary.

It was just that the poem mentioned "evening," which seemed to imply that everything would happen late. Everyone didn't say it out loud.

After all the sisters had divined their flower lots, they had interesting topics to talk about, and they chatted and laughed happily.

After several rounds of wine, the vegetarian food on the table was a bit messy, and the time had reached the hour of *Hai* (9-11 PM). Xichun, the youngest, had already started yawning.

Outside the window, a bright moon rose high, and the silvery moonlight reflected in the clear waves of the river, shattering into countless pieces of silver, shining brilliantly.

Seeing that it was getting late, Miao Yu stood up to say goodbye, and Zhi Shao also stood up to see her off. The other sisters also stood up and left the banquet, dispersing in high spirits.

Jia Cong sent Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and Baochai back, and with the maids of each, six or seven people walked together, which was quite lively.

After sending Baochai through the small door of the corridor connecting the two prefectures, Jia Cong turned back to send Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun back to their courtyard.

Daiyu seemed to be in a very good mood, chatting and laughing all the way, but Seeing Tan Chun didn't speak, looking a bit unhappy.

Although Jia Cong didn't know the reason, he could guess a little.

Ever since the news that Seeing Cai Xia was pregnant spread last time, Jia Cong could see through the mystery. Although Seeing Tan Chun was not as thorough as him, she also felt that this matter was not good.

But she didn't dare to point it out, not even daring to ask her concubine mother or brother, and she had only mentioned this topic to Jia Cong.

Today, news came from the West Prefecture that Lady Wang had invited a doctor to examine Seeing Cai Xia a second time, confirming that she was pregnant, and the Grand Matriarch was very happy.

Learning the news, Seeing Tan Chun's worry deepened.

But there was another reason for Seeing Tan Chun's depressed mood today, which only she knew, and she wouldn't even tell Jia Cong.

After sending Seeing Tan Chun back to her courtyard, Jia Cong saw her back looking somewhat desolate, with a heavy heart. Jia Cong felt pity in his heart, thinking of finding a time to talk to her and enlighten this cousin.

He accompanied Daiyu into the courtyard, and Daiyu stumbled on the stone steps. Jia Cong was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing her, and Hearing Zi Juan also hurriedly stepped forward to support her.

Daiyu smiled, "My tolerance for alcohol is low, and I drank the last cup too quickly. Although I drank the hangover tea, my heart is still fluttering."

She added, "Hearing Zi Juan, go and prepare hot water for me to wash up. I will sit in the courtyard with Third Brother for a while to catch my breath."

Hearing Zi Juan hurriedly went into the room to prepare, taking out a bright red feather-yarn crane cloak.

Jia Cong helped Daiyu put it on, wrapping her slender body tightly, and helped her fasten the collar button.

Seeing Jia Cong's intimate movements, and that the young lady was already a bit drunk, Hearing Zi Juan just let the Third Master handle it. Although the two didn't speak, they looked at each other with smiles, looking quite a match and intimate.

Hearing Zi Juan blushed slightly and hurriedly retreated into the room. Xue Yan was carrying a small basin of hot water into the room and was about to go out to call Daiyu, but was covered by Hearing Zi Juan and pulled back into the room.

The two sat on the wooden stools in the front courtyard. Daiyu was a bit dizzy and seemed unable to sit steadily. Even in the night, the flush on her pretty face could still be seen.

Jia Cong smiled, "Sister seems to be in a particularly good mood today."

Daiyu smiled, "Because I drew a good lot today."

Jia Cong smiled, "Truly a silly girl, is a good lot worth being so happy about?"

Daiyu said seriously, "Third Brother doesn't understand what I mean. I am happy not just because I drew a good lot."

"I can't explain it clearly myself, I just feel that I am much better now than before. I never tell anyone this, but I know it must be right."

"I entered the prefecture when I was seven. Although the Grand Matriarch loved me very much and I had sisters to keep me company, I missed my parents every day and didn't go a day without crying."

"At night, I couldn't sleep well all night. If I could sleep for a watch every night, it was already considered very good."

"Since I was a child, my father taught me the method of nourishing life, but it was just about eating and sleeping peacefully. I often loved to suffer in my heart and couldn't control myself. How could my body be good?"

"Since Third Brother came to the West Prefecture when he was ten, I don't know why things started to get better. I have a place in my heart and don't always think about unhappy things."

Daiyu drank a few more cups today, her words were dense, and she said a lot. The alcohol surged up, and she clutched her chest.

Seeing her speaking in a hurry and swaying while sitting, Jia Cong couldn't help but put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lean on his shoulder.

His chin touched Daiyu's smooth and soft forehead, and he couldn't help but rub it gently, surrounded by the intoxicating sweet fragrance.

Daiyu would occasionally be hugged by Jia Cong, but skin-to-skin contact like this seemed too intimate.

She subconsciously twisted her shoulders a few times, but her body was soft and she seemed unable to exert any strength, so she let Jia Cong be intimate.

She said, "Third Brother, I feel that since you came to the family, I have become better and better. Look, I can even be proud of drawing lots."

"If it were like before, I'm afraid things wouldn't go smoothly. I can't explain the reason, I don't know if Third Brother understands what I mean."

Jia Cong naturally understood the reason. Daiyu's mind was particularly transparent, and she was in the midst of it, so she would have some indescribable perception.

Like Seeing Tan Chun, Baochai, and others, their destinies were generally unchanged, so I'm afraid they wouldn't have Daiyu's feeling.

Jia Cong smiled, "Although sister didn't explain it clearly herself, I understand what sister means."

Daiyu raised her head from Jia Cong's arms, her beautiful eyes rippling with autumn waves, even in the night, they were still clear, transparent, bright, and moving.

She smiled and asked, "Does Third Brother really understand what I mean?"

Jia Cong's smile was warm, making Daiyu's heart feel a bit hot, and he said, "I naturally understand what sister means."

He knew that in the original flower name lot incident, the lot Daiyu drew had a poem that said: "Do not complain about the east wind, you should sigh for yourself."

The line before this: "Beautiful women often have thin lives," already predicted how desolate her fate was.

Although Jia Cong didn't say how he understood it, Daiyu seemed to read the answer in his eyes.

Feeling their hearts were in harmony, she didn't ask any more questions and involuntarily leaned back on his shoulder.

Jia Cong continued, "In this world, from the joys and sorrows of one person, to the blessings and misfortunes of a family, to the rise and fall of a country."

"Nothing is immutable. As long as someone does the right thing at the right time, changing the old appearance, turning the world upside down, it is not a difficult task."

Hearing this, Daiyu's bright eyes flickered slightly. Although she was a daughter of a noble family who didn't go out, she didn't have much experience of the outside world.

But after all, she was a person who had read many poems and books. After just a little reflection, she understood what Jia Cong meant, and felt a slight shock in her heart.

In the front courtyard, there were a hundred bamboo poles, the bamboo shadows were flickering, and the night wind made a soft rustling sound. A full moon shone in the sky, reflecting the courtyard clearly.

The two leaned against each other for a long time before Daiyu moved her body and said, "Third Brother, it's getting late, you should go back and rest first, and come again tomorrow."

Count's Prefecture, Seeing Tan Chun's Courtyard.

Seeing Tan Chun returned to the courtyard, simply washed up, took off her hair accessories, untied her hair bun, and her long hair hung behind her waist, tied simply with a hair tie.

Although she hadn't reached the age of fifteen, because of her cheerful and straightforward personality, she was more active than the other sisters, and her figure had already grown graceful and moving.

Her shoulders were like cut, her spring mountains were tall, her waist was thin, and her legs were straight and long. When she walked, she always carried a hurried air.

The two maids, Shi Shu and Cui Mo, walked back and forth in the room, tidying up jewelry, making the bed, and checking the doors and windows.

Perhaps because they had been influenced by Seeing Tan Chun since childhood, the two maids were also very efficient and orderly.

Seeing Tan Chun hung her long hair, took off her jacket, and changed into light pajamas.

On her upper body was a moon-white printed cross-collar jacket, on her lower body were moon-white printed trousers, and on her feet were black velvet embroidered slippers, revealing half of her crystal-clear feet.

She walked in the room, the breeze blowing her thin pajamas, outlining the beautiful curves of the girl.

When she got on the bed, Cui Mo let down the soft gauze curtains and blew out the candles in the inner room, leaving only the candles in the outer room lit.

The quilt was soft, the gauze pillow was fragrant, and the hollow incense burner in front of the bed emitted a refreshing lily fragrance.

Originally, all this was the most conducive to a sound sleep, but Seeing Tan Chun tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She sat up irritably, hugged her legs and sat blankly on the bed for a while, then lifted the bed curtain and walked to the outer room.

Cui Mo on the side bed lifted her body and asked, "Young Lady, why are you still getting up?"

Seeing Tan Chun didn't answer, and by the candlelight in the outer room, she searched back and forth in the flower name lot bamboo tube on the table for a while.

Finally, she found the lot she wanted and said, "Just taking something, you can sleep with peace of mind."

She got back on the bed, holding the flower name lot in her hand, and by the candlelight of the outer room, she saw the delicate apricot flower on the flower name lot.

She gently stroked the two lines of poetry with her fingers, her heart filled with lingering affection. She wanted to cut off the love, but how could she let go?

The flower name lot was held in her hand for a long time, until her palms were sweating, and she stuffed the lot under the pillow and fell into a drowsy sleep... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 745 =====