Chapter 4 Chapter Four

The boys salvaged for almost the whole night, but only a few charred pieces, the wreckage of the bamboo raft, and four thin silver bracelets were brought up.The lake in the Grand View Garden is running water, connected to the river outside. Qingwen's charred body must have gone somewhere along with the current.In the Grand View Garden, everyone was rumoring that Qingwen committed suicide. According to Qingwen’s elder brother and sister-in-law, yesterday was the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. His brother was drinking with people outside and didn’t come home all night. As soon as I got home, I found that Qingwen was no longer on the kang, and I was wondering, when I heard people yelling that something happened to Qingwen.

Her sister-in-law said to everyone: "My girl, ah! That's the temper of a young lady, the life of a maidservant! You are so proud that even my sister-in-law doesn't look down on me at all! I didn't even think about it. I lost my wife and was kicked out. According to her temper, how could she bear that tone willingly? Just like Jin Chuan'er the year before last, she couldn't think about it for a while, so she committed suicide! My wife is really a good wife, and she even rewarded me five times. Twelve taels of silver to burn and bury!" Then she burst into tears, "I said girl, even if you want to die, you should leave a whole body at least! She's done it all, and she's gone clean, only pity me and her brother, Even if she was burned and buried with good intentions, there is not even half of the bones to be found!" As for those who listened, thinking of Qingwen who was such a delicate and sharp person in ordinary times, she was gone like this, and she couldn't help but feel sad. Sigh and weep once.

Baoyu sat in front of the book case, holding the four silver bracelets in his hands, and tears fell again in his eyes.Yesterday evening, when he quietly went to visit Qingwen, she was still wearing those four thin silver bracelets on her skinny wrists, but now——things are really dead! "There is a long canopy for thousands of miles, and there is no banquet that never ends. Who can stay with whom forever? If you must leave, it's better to leave earlier!" In Baoyu's ear, the words Qingwen said on the sick bed rang again. a few words.Qingwen's resentful and resentful expression was still in front of her eyes.

"Qingwen! Qingwen! Who would have thought that when you said these words, you were already determined to die! I just hate that I couldn't protect you when you were wronged and humiliated, and caused you to ruin your life for nothing!" Baoyu sighed for a long time, and then Spread out a picture of Qingwen's favorite Bingjiao on the desk, and wrote a few words "Fu Rong's daughter's book" with a brush, and then wrote an essay on the Bingjiao . "The Yuan of peace and peace is not easy, the moon of Ronggui Jingfang, the day of helplessness, the turbid jade of Yihongyuan, I would like to use the pistil of the group of flowers, the scorpion of the ice shark, the spring of Qinfang, and the tea of ​​maple dew. Although the four are small, talk With sincerity to affirm the letter, it is a sacrifice to Fusi Qiuyan Furong's daughter in the White Emperor's Palace..."

The sun is shining brightly. The sky at dusk glowed with a blood-red, gorgeous light, like an ancient battlefield full of corpses. The picture of ice crocodile full of verses is hanging on the hibiscus branch by the lake, and it is dyed into a coquettish vermilion by the sun's rays. Every word is like the sad eyes full of blood and tears. Baoyu stood in front of the hibiscus branch on which the eulogy was hung, and said with tears: "how is the sky so blue? How can you ride a jade qiu to swim in the vault? Siyu qiu ride a pheasant. How is the earth so vast?" , Driving the Yao elephant to descend to the spring soil?... The birds scatter and fly away, and the fish chatter. The mourning is prayer, and the ceremony is auspicious. Alas, it is a feast!"

After reading it, he set fire to the text again, and bowed respectfully towards the center of the lake for a few times before reluctantly preparing to leave.Just turning around, he suddenly heard the sound of whimpering and sighing faintly behind the rocks. When Baoyu looked back in surprise, it happened that a gust of wind blew by, and the large piece of hibiscus seemed to be alive, swaying with the wind, but a figure was walking out from the flowers.Baoyu couldn't help the cold hands and feet, his legs seemed to be nailed to the ground, and he couldn't take half a step: "No, there is a ghost! Could it be that Qingwen really came to manifest her soul?"

When I looked carefully again, I saw that although the person's eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Qingwen's, the charm was different, with two curved eyebrows that seemed to be frowning but not frowning, and a pair of eyes that seemed to be weeping but not weeping, and when he was quiet, he was like a beautiful flower shining in the water. , The action is like a weak willow supporting the wind.It was Lin Daiyu who was carrying a flower hoe on her shoulder, with a flower pouch hanging on the hoe, and holding a flower broom in her hand, and she walked out from the flowers with tears on her face.

Only then did Baoyu heave a sigh of relief: "Sister Lin, is it you? Make me jump!" Daiyu sighed: "What a novel essay! I just heard you read the whole article, and every word is full of tears! Your sincerity, if Qingwen knows it, she will be able to understand it, and it will not be in vain. She will serve you as a child!" Baoyu wept and said, "I never just thought of her as a maid!" Daiyu nodded and said, "I understand, you are here to pay homage to your friend!" Baoyu wiped away her tears: "It's windy by the water, what is my sister doing here? It's autumn, and my sister's cough has not recovered. If there is another layer of cold, how can I get better?"

Daiyu said: "Last night, I saw the dead flowers here all over the ground. It was so desolate. I thought I would sweep them up today, put them in this silk bag, and bury them with the soil. After a long time, they will melt with the soil, so it's not a waste." Let it be colorful!" After hearing this, Baoyu sighed again and again: "If the soul knows this flower, I don't know how to appreciate my sister's love!" While talking, the two of them started to sweep the remaining flowers all over the ground together, packed them in silk bags, and buried them in the mound.Daiyu was timid, and soon she was sweating profusely, her complexion was flushed, and she was a little more charming than usual.Baoyu just looked at her directly, and couldn't help being crazy.Seeing him like this, Daiyu felt a little embarrassed, so she picked up the flower hoe again, and with a flower broom in her hand, she turned around and was about to leave, but because she was sweating just now, the cold wind blew her body and caught cold. , Inevitably brought back the old disease, coughing.

Baoyu panicked: "My dear sister, what's the matter with you?" Daiyu coughed for a while, and then stopped a little.On her pale cheeks, a bright red like peach petals floated: "It doesn't matter, just cough for a while and you'll be fine." Baoyu hurriedly said: "Although the few imperial doctors here are all good, it's just that you can't take their medicines. Why don't you invite another wise person to have a look. Wouldn't it be cured?" Daiyu shook her head lightly: "It's useless. I know I'm sick like this and I can't get better. Let's not talk about illness, just talk about how I look when I'm good." Has coughed two or three times.

Baoyu knew very well that this disease was her chronic illness, and she felt very sorry for her, but she couldn't exert herself, and couldn't help being anxious and in pain, wishing she could get this disease for her.Suddenly came up with an idea: "My good sister! Although your disease is difficult to cure, I heard people say that the medical skills of Western countries are different from those of this dynasty. For example, if you go to Western countries for treatment, you may not It will be fine in half a year!" Daiyu said: "Although this is reasonable, but because of my poor health, I have this disease every year, and there is nothing important to do. Please ask the doctor, boil medicine, ginseng and cinnamon, and the world has turned upside down. Old lady, The wife has nothing to say, those women and girls down there don't think I'm too much trouble! Look at these people here, because they see the old lady hurting you too much, they are still staring at you, talking behind their backs, let alone Yu What's more, I'm not your serious master here. I came here with no one to rely on, and they already dislike me. Now that I've created a new article to go to Western countries to see a doctor, why bother telling them to curse? Me?" Then she shed tears again. Baoyu quickly comforted her and said, "I told the old lady that it was all my idea! It was I who forced my sister to go to Xiyang Country for medical treatment. Let's see who dares to say more!" Daiyu said: "You are talking nonsense again! Don't say that people like us are girls from small families. Have you ever seen anyone who went to Western countries for medical treatment? Even if the old lady loves me, she must not take risks." The world is in disgrace!" He coughed again after speaking. After hearing this, Baoyu bowed his head and was speechless. Daiyu coughed for a while, and gradually calmed down, but then sighed: "'Death and life are fate, wealth and honor are in the sky', and it is not something human can be strong. I am not worth anything when I die, but I just left some money. What about red musk beads?" As soon as Baoyu heard it, he knew it was for the rewards of the Mid-Autumn Festival yesterday. He couldn't help being anxious, blushing and argued: "What do you mean by this? I don't care what other people think. If I have such a heart, I will be destroyed!" Seeing him like this, Daiyu regretted that she had said something wrong again, and quickly smiled and said, "Don't worry, I was wrong. What's the matter, my muscles are all bulging, and my face is sweating anxiously." While saying, On the one hand, he couldn't help but put down the broom, and reached out to wipe the sweat off his face. Baoyu looked at her for a long time before murmuring, "Don't worry." Daiyu was also stunned for a long time when she heard this, and Fang said, "Why should I worry about it? I don't understand this. Why don't you worry about it?" Baoyu sighed and asked, "You really don't understand this? Could it be that I have used my heart for you wrong? If you don't even care about what you mean, it's no wonder that you are angry with me every day." Daiyu said: "Sure enough, I don't understand what to say if you don't feel at ease." Baoyu nodded and sighed: "Good sister, don't coax me. You really don't understand this, not only is my usual intention useless, but even your usual intention to treat me is also disappointing. You are always wrong. It's because of my peace of mind that I got sick all over. But if you are relieved, this disease will not get worse day by day." Hearing this, Daiyu was like a thunderbolt, and when she thought about it carefully, she felt more earnest than what she took out of her heart. There were thousands of words, and she wanted to say it wholeheartedly, but she couldn't utter a word, but she was stunned. looking at him.At this time, Baoyu also had ten thousand words in his heart, but he didn't know where to start, but he also looked at Daiyu in a daze.The two of them were stunned for a long time, Daiyu just coughed, tears rolled down her eyes, she turned around and wanted to leave.Baoyu hurriedly stepped forward to stop him: "My dear sister, stop for a while, and I will leave after I say a word." Daiyu said: "What can I say? I already knew what you said!" Then she walked along the bluestone flower path without looking back. Baoyu stood still, just in a daze.I don't know how long it took before a girl walked over in a daze, "I've been looking for you for a long time, but you are here!" Baoyu was in a daze, and didn't see who was coming, so he grabbed her and said, "My good sister, I never dared to say what's on my mind. Today I speak out boldly, and I'm willing to die for it! You also have a whole body of illness here, and you dare not tell anyone, so you have to cover it up. Only when your illness is cured, I am afraid that mine will be cured. I will never forget you in my sleep and dreams!" Hearing this, the young girl in front of her was so frightened that she lost her wits, she just shouted: "Bodhisattva God, you've screwed me to death!" Then she pushed him and said, "Where is that? Are you bewitched? Hurry up and follow me!" Go back?" Baoyu woke up for a moment, opened his eyes and saw that Xiren saw that he had been out for a long time, and was worried, so he searched for him all the way, and suddenly his face turned purple with shame, and he hurriedly got away and ran away. Seeing him go, Xiren remembered that he happened to meet Daiyu on the road just now, and walked all the way with his head down, not even hearing her greeting. Looking at the path, it was clear that he was walking back from here again, and his heart was full. I understand eight or nine points.Thinking of the painstaking efforts of the empress to reward the red musk beads, and thinking of the rumors from Yuanyang that the empress will give the marriage in person after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and seeing the dazzled situation of Bao Dai just now, I am afraid that in the future Something will definitely happen, and I don't know how to end it when the time comes.Xiren couldn't help but let out a long sigh, planning to go back all the way. When she walked across the Qinfang Bridge, she stopped hesitantly.The sun had already dimmed, and dusk was rising, and the sky was half-bright and half-dark ice blue.Xiren stood leaning on the railing, silently looking into the distance.A thin ice-like full moon appeared dimly on the surface of the water, and white waterfowl flitted past lightly, flapping their wings. Xiren stood in the twilight for a long time, and the ice-like full moon had also turned into a round of brilliant white jade plate.Finally, she turned around, and as if she had made up her mind, she walked towards Hengwuyuan under the cold moonlight. Walking up the Yunbu stone ladder and entering the Hengwu Garden, a cool fragrance hits the nostrils.The strange grasses and fairy vines all around the yard become greener and greener as it gets colder, and they are all fruity, like coral beans, very tired and lovely. Baochai bent down under the moonlight, carefully planting a withered flower and tree.She was wearing a plain white dress, no makeup was applied on her face, her black and glossy black hair was loosely tied with a silver hairpin, and there was no jewelry on her body hair, it was only tied around her wrist. A string of red musk beads.From top to bottom, she seemed to emit a mist-like silver-white light. From a distance, she looked like the illusory shadow of moonlight streaming down, frozen by the cold of the night, and solidified on the earth. Xiren walked over to say hello first, and when he looked at the flower and tree carefully, he couldn't help being stunned: "Isn't this the hibiscus flower in our yard? It blooms well in previous years, and it's only in autumn this year. Most of it has already died, and now it is completely dead, why does the girl bother to cultivate it?" Baochai smiled faintly: "Do you know that there is a passage in "Zhuangzi·Qiwulun" that goes, 'Only one lives and one dies, and one one dies and one lives; , but it has not yet decayed, if you cook it carefully, how can you know that you can't die and come back to life?" Xiren: "I haven't read those many books, and I don't understand these words, but since the girl said so, she must have a reason!" Baochai: "The trunk, branches and leaves of this hibiscus flower seem to be dead, but the roots are still a little bit alive. I saw a method in the agricultural book the day before yesterday. As long as it is used properly, it can bloom again next autumn. It's full of leaves!" Xiren: "It's strange that I often hear people say that Miss Bao's 'knowledge without books, omnipotence', today, it really is not a lie!" She suddenly sighed, "Flowers and trees are dead, but they can still be resurrected. If it’s the same, then that’s great!” Baochai also sighed: "'Death and life are up to fate, wealth and honor are in the sky', how can a person's life be changed by human power?" She raised her eyes and looked at Xiren, "How is Qingwen's funeral? ?” The attacker said dejectedly: "There are no bones left of her, not even a tomb. We sisters can only prepare some flowers and fruits, and burn incense by the water to sacrifice to her!" Baochai nodded and said, "You guys should get acquainted with each other once!" But Xiren sighed again: "It's just that our master has lost his soul and looks like a madman, so people can't rest assured!" Baochai: "Brother Bao is an affectionate person, and Qingwen came to serve him since he was a child. Naturally, his affection is different from ordinary people. Now that he died suddenly, why not feel sad?" Xiren: "I remember Miss Bao once said that I'm afraid he's not just doing it for Qingwen!" When Baochai heard this, there seemed to be a flash of light in his eyes, and he straightened up: "Oh?" A gust of wind blew, and the green vines and green leaves on the walls and stone walls swayed unsteadily, whispering among the branches and leaves, and the brilliance of the full moon suddenly became hazy. The two stood facing each other, staring into each other's eyes.After pondering for a long time, Xiren seemed to hesitate to speak, and slowly lowered his eyes.At one o'clock, at two o'clock, it seemed that water droplets fell and hit the neck and the back of the hand. "It's raining!" Baochai took Xiren's hand, "Go! Go into the house!" Her fingertips felt cold, Xiren looked down, and her fingertips touched the string of red on Baochai's wrist. Musk beads.Xiren's whole body trembled, and his hands shrank back as if they were burning. "What?" Baochai turned to look at her. "Miss Bao!" Xiren collected himself and finally said, "I have something to tell you!"