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

Page 6

"Uncle Sun, I don't know what's wrong with my wife..."

Lin Hai maintained a composed demeanor, but the sudden tightening of his grip on Daiyu revealed his inner turmoil.

"Alas... the disease has reached the point of no return, and medicine cannot cure it."

Sun Gongfeng shook his head helplessly, "If it had been treated when the illness first appeared, although it would have greatly damaged my vital energy, at least my life wouldn't have been in danger. But now..."

"If this continues, I'm afraid it won't last more than three to five days..."

"Uncle Lingxu! Your medical skills are unparalleled. Is there really no other way? Although my Lin family is no longer among the ranks of dukes and marquises, we are still quite wealthy. Now that I am the Imperial Censor of Yangzhou, I am willing to exhaust my family fortune if there is a way!"

Lin Hai put down Daiyu from his arms, came to Sun Gongfeng and bowed deeply, his words choked with emotion.

Gu Yu then realized that Sun Lingxu and Lin Hai were old acquaintances.

Come to think of it, Sun Lingxu had lived in his family for almost twenty years, while Lin Hai had lived in the Gu family since childhood. If you calculate Lin Hai's life trajectory, there were several years of overlap with the Gu family.

"Why must you do this, Hai-ge'er? If I had a prescription, would I hide it from you? It's really...sigh!"

Sun Yuan quickly helped him up, but his hand quietly rested on Lin Hai's wrist before letting go.

Upon hearing this, Lin Hai looked at his beloved wife on the bed with a bitter expression. After a moment of silence, he ordered the two remaining maids in the room to leave, called Gu Zhong to guard the door, and then closed the door behind him.

After doing all this, Lin Hai turned to look at Sun Lingxu, his face full of doubt and disbelief.

He couldn't believe the vague guess in his heart, but Sun Lingxu's expression clearly told him the answer.

Chapter Ten: Treating Illness

……

……

"I think you still haven't figured things out after all these years? Do you still think you have some leisurely position like the Imperial Physician? Did you throw all the knowledge that Master Gu taught you back then to the dogs?!"

"... "

"If I hadn't come to Yangzhou, I think this whole family would have had to go down to keep Old Master Gu company in a few years!"

"... "

Gu Yu watched as Sun Lingxu, who had just exuded the air of a hermit healer, now berated the dignified Salt Inspector.

Lin Hai's face was flushed and pale, but he didn't dare to utter a word in rebuttal. He actually endured it, which surprised him quite a bit.

Although Daiyu was grateful to Sun Lingxu for making a special trip to Yangzhou for her illness and for treating her mother, she was still upset when she saw her father being scolded and looking disheveled.

He sneered and stepped forward, about to speak, but Gu Yu, who was prepared, grabbed him and gestured for him to be quiet.

Daiyu glared at Gu Yu angrily, her fierce eyes clearly saying, "Brother Yu isn't a good person either!"

As Lin Hai was being scolded, he began to reminisce about his time at the Gu family mansion.

Besides teaching them academic subjects, their uncle also taught them various experiences of navigating the ups and downs of officialdom. He often used Sun Lingxu as a typical example to amuse them, so Sun Lingxu often looked at them with a fierce expression.

However, Brother Gu was there to stand by him and get scolded too, and the two of them even exchanged glances.

Now, the Gu family is left with only one son, and his wife is bedridden and unconscious. He will soon be all alone. How can the vicissitudes of life be fully described?

But as he listened to the end, Lin Hai felt a tightness in his heart. He was no fool, and he immediately grasped the meaning behind Sun Lingxu's words, subconsciously looking at Gu Yu and Daiyu.

"Hmph! Now that I'm here, what are you afraid of?! Aside from your wife being truly helpless, leave the other two to me."

"However, as the Salt Commissioner, even if you had just taken on this important task after leaving the capital, let alone being re-elected, you wouldn't be so careless. How could you have been poisoned?"

"Daddy!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu was instantly terrified. Her eyes, which had been half-crying and half-shedding tears, were now truly on the verge of tears. She rushed to Lin Hai's knees, but then she sensed that Lin Hai had suddenly become fragile, and dared not rush to him again.

Lin Hai affectionately patted Daiyu's head, but said, "These past few years I have been loyal to the king's affairs, and I have only felt that my health has gradually deteriorated, and my appetite has also decreased a lot, but it is poisoning..."

Lin Hai stopped mid-sentence, looking at Sun Lingxu's regretful eyes, and realized what was going on. He smiled bitterly and said, "So it was a plan to add fuel to the fire. I've played the role of a fake Zhuge Liang!"

Come to think of it, with the boldness and meticulousness of those salt merchants, how could they have left such an obvious loophole?

That poison probably wasn't even a real poison, but it was tailor-made to deal with him.

But Jia Min didn't work as hard as I did, so how could this be...?

Before he could even ask a question, Sun Lingxu knew what he was going to ask and couldn't help but sneer:

"The private quarters of the Salt Commissioner are like sieves that have slipped through the net. I think it would be better for me to take these two only sons back to Suzhou to avoid being implicated by you. You just focus on your duties to the emperor, and someone will take care of your corpse when the time comes."

After saying that, he ignored Lin Hai's expression and went straight over to pull Daiyu to sit down on a chair to take her pulse.

Although Daiyu was sulking, she knew that the old man in front of her had a deep affection for her father, and she also knew the seriousness of the matter. She snorted softly and sat down reluctantly.

Standing alone to the side, Gu Yu seemed to have already foreseen what was about to happen. She didn't dare to breathe and tried to minimize her presence.

Sure enough, not long after Sun Lingxu put Daiyu down, he started chuckling sarcastically again, then chuckled twice and began to 'praise' Lin Hai.

"Truly worthy of being the third-ranked scholar! Back then, everyone praised him, his fame almost overshadowing that of the top scholar, and even leading Duke Jia to marry his beloved daughter to him. I wonder if Duke Jia is alright in the afterlife..."

Halfway through his sentence, Sun Lingxu, seeing Lin Hai's pained expression, decided it was pointless and waved his hand to continue:

"I met your wife when you got married, and she was in good health. However, your Lin family has had only one son for generations, so we didn't suspect anything because we didn't have any children. But now, after a careful diagnosis, it seems the problem lies with your house!"

"Hmph! In ordinary wealthy families, which young lady doesn't have some ailments? It's just that your Lin family's daughter was unlucky to be born into your family. She inherited more than ten percent of her ailments from the womb, and that so-called ginseng nourishing pill she had earlier was a quack doctor's creation!"

"If we don't strengthen their foundation and cultivate their vitality at such a young age, but instead focus on superficial supplementation, after several years of this kind of neglect, they'll probably be pretty much dead by the time they reach marriageable age."

Lin Hai looked remorseful. He thought he had put his best intentions into his family, but he never expected that he had done something wrong with good intentions!

"Uncle Lingxu..."

"What's the rush?! Didn't you hear me say I'd take care of these two? Just listen to me."

Sun Lingxu glared fiercely at Lin Hai, who was trying to stand up, stroked his beard, and then beckoned Gu Yu over.

Although he had already learned the details from Gu Zhong, Sun Lingxu was still moved by Gu Yu's well-behaved and sensible appearance, and his expression softened and became kind.

While examining him, she chatted idly about trivial matters at the Lin residence, acting completely differently from when she was facing Lin Hai earlier.

It turns out that Sun Lingxu, disheartened after arriving at the Gu family, had no intention of having children. When she was old and childless, Gu Yu was born, and she doted on him as if he were her own grandson, making the real members of the Gu family pale in comparison.

Gu Yu had an innocent and naive look, yet she also showed a bit of a mature demeanor. She calmly answered Sun Lingxu's questions one by one, which made the old man feel very gratified.

After releasing Gu Yu's wrist, Sun Lingxu hesitated, looking at Gu Yu before turning to Lin Hai and saying:

"Now, you are the only proper elder left for Yu-ge'er, so you have to make the decision on this matter."

Gu Yu felt a pang of panic, sensing something was wrong. He had just started to get to know and like this world, and had just made the decision to take Xiang Ling as his mistress... Could he really be so unlucky as to have his "one-day trip" ruined?

"Is something wrong, Yu-ge'er?"

"Gu Zhong said that Yu-ge'er soaked in the pond for almost half an hour on that cold day. When he was pulled out, he was barely breathing and looked like he was going to die. But somehow he gradually got better. Today I think he still has some lingering health problems!"

After saying that, he took out a needle from his sleeve and pricked Gu Yu a few times. Instantly, the chill that Gu Yu usually felt burst forth a thousand times stronger. He felt as if he had returned to the night he transmigrated, so cold that his consciousness became blurred.

Daiyu, standing to the side, watched with concern as Gu Yu trembled uncontrollably, barely able to stand. She quickly tugged at Sun Lingxu's sleeve, signaling him to stop.

Fortunately, Sun Lingxu quickly inserted a few more needles, and the intense chill dissipated like melting ice and snow. Gu Yu still couldn't help but shiver, her teeth chattering.

"Since there was no good doctor to treat it in time, the chill has now penetrated deep into the bone marrow. If we let it go, not only will Yu-ge'er become weak and die young, but it will also affect the continuation of the family line!"

Gu Yu's cold mind had just recovered a little when she heard these words and felt a chill in her crotch. She quickly looked to Sun Lingxu for help.

"Then do you have any good ideas?"

Lin Hai asked the question he wanted to ask, just as expected. Sun Lingxu pondered for a moment and said, "This is why I want you to make the decision."

"There are two methods now. The first is to proceed gradually, which should eliminate future troubles in about twenty years. However, twenty years is too long and there are too many variables. What if..."

"Moreover, during these twenty years, because of this cold air, Yu-ge'er will be unable to have sex as if he were castrated, and the Gu family has only had one son for generations. To delay this for twenty years is really..."

Lin Hai remained silent with a frown, while Daiyu stared blankly at Gu Yu with her mouth slightly open. Although she didn't know what castration meant, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Gu Yu when she heard that her brother needed twenty years to cure his illness.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yu felt as if he had been struck by lightning. What's more, Daiyu was looking at him with a strange expression, making him feel utterly disoriented. He quickly shouted, "Grandpa Sun, I choose the second one!!"

Lin Hai was also undecided for a moment, so he remained silent and let Sun Lingxu come up with a second idea.

Seeing Gu Yu scratching his head in frustration, Sun Lingxu chuckled and continued,

"The second method is for me to use a secret formula to force out the cold all at once. If you're not careful, you'll freeze to death. Even if it succeeds, there will be some aftereffects. Your body temperature will be slightly lower than normal, and your body temperature will change much more slowly between winter and summer. So, do you still want to choose the second method?"

"I choose the second one!"

Gu Yu did not hesitate at all. Any talk of being slightly careless was nonsense. Since Sun Lingxu dared to come up with this method, it meant that he was very confident. In addition, he was not an ordinary child, so it was basically a sure thing to succeed!

As for having a slightly lower body temperature and little variation between winter and summer, isn't that just the most enviable Japanese superpower—a human-shaped self-propelled air conditioner?!

On one hand, there's the option of enduring the cold and taking medicine from a young age, spending half a lifetime as a eunuch, missing out on the youthful years of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling; on the other hand, there's the option of healthy development and delivering a 'superpower'. Even a fool knows which to choose!

"This... Yu'er, don't be silly. Now that you are the only descendant of the Gu family, you must prioritize stability in everything you do. Your safety is the most important thing..."

“Uncle, although I am young, I know that it is better to suffer a short pain than a long one. Since Grandpa Sun has proposed such a method, he must be confident. I do not want to drag on with this hidden danger for twenty years!”

Before Lin Hai could finish his earnest lecture, Gu Yu bowed first, firmly expressing her attitude.

Looking at the resolute expression on Gu Yu's face, which embodied all the virtues of the Gu family, Lin Hai was momentarily dazed.

Looking at Daiyu beside him, and recalling his beloved wife's plans from a while ago, he pondered for a long time, then sighed softly and said:

"Since you have already made up your mind, then so be it! However, the Gu family always plans carefully before acting, leaving no room for error. As descendants of the Gu family, now that you have made your decision, you must ensure that there is no oversight!"

"When you get back later, write down everything you've thought of and hand it in. If there are any mistakes, you'd better just honestly endure the next twenty years!"

……

Updates will resume during winter break.

I'm getting ready to go home, and I'll be able to update again in a few days. I promise I will never abandon this project! I want to be a procrastinator with a 100% completion rate!

Update anchor

One of my books was deleted because it hadn't been updated in a long time. It's not a bad thing, but being forced to never abandon it seems okay... I can't stop slacking off, hahaha.

-

Haha, my six-tile hand with a mixed suit of four concealed triplets was blocked by someone who took all the ones and nines. In the next hand, someone else took all three and twelve of the same suit with a single four concealed triplets. Taking all the ones and nines is so much fun, hahaha!

Even hardcore gamers aren't playing; they're starting to update.

-

I'm feeling emo... I haven't updated in a while and can't connect anymore. I'm looking at other people's posts for inspiration, and I'm getting frustrated. Why is it that "The Scenery I Once Known" can be written so well...?

Chapter Eleven: Jia Min's Death

That very night, Jia Min was able to get out of bed, and her face regained a rosy glow. However, those with some knowledge knew that this was a final burst of energy before death.

It turned out that after Jia Min regained consciousness, she discussed with Lin Hai for a long time and had Sun Lingxu use the secret technique of acupuncture to rejuvenate her.

Unlike other times, Lin Hai did not leave early and return late during this period. Instead, he stayed by his wife's side, watching her work hard on household chores day after day for more than ten years.

From her first clumsy attempt at managing the household affairs as a young lady of the Jia family to her later composed and decisive leadership, she had gone through countless days and nights. Now, however, they were to be separated by life and death, and Lin Hai felt an unbearable heartache.

Although Daiyu was young, she had a vague feeling that something was wrong. Overwhelmed with mixed feelings of sadness and joy, she left the courtyard and did not return, clinging tightly to her mother's side and not leaving her side for a moment.

The family of three slept together again after Daiyu moved to Chunhua Courtyard. Daiyu called out to her mother again and again, and Jia Min patiently answered her one by one.

Before long, Daiyu, heartbroken, fell into a deep sleep holding Jia Min's hand. Jia Min gently pulled her hand away, turned over, and looked at Lin Hai in silence, her eyes filled with tears.

After a long silence, Jia Min spoke first, in a low voice:

"After I leave, my lord, please take good care of yourself. It's a pity I'm not blessed enough to leave you with an heir. But Yu'er is the apple of my eye. I'm afraid that if you remarry, you won't treat Yu'er well. I've already instructed my servants to make preparations... After this matter is over, let's have Zhu'er's wedding ceremony and make her a concubine..."

"I will not remarry!"

Lin Hai couldn't help but interrupt her, holding Jia Min's frail body tightly, his eyes reddening.

Jia Min quietly felt the strength in her husband's hands, a slight smile on her face, but she said:

“Master is talking nonsense again. Master is in the prime of his life and holds such a high position. In the future, countless families will be vying to send their daughters to him as his second wife! Even for the sake of the Lin family line, you cannot be so reckless.”

Lin Hai ignored his wife's insincere words and made up his mind that if the two concubines really couldn't give birth to a son, then it was just the fate of the Lin family!

If the child is born, it can be registered under Jia Min's name, and no one else can find fault with it.

Now that his first wife has a legitimate son, she probably won't go to great lengths to find him a second wife.