Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

When Baoyu heard that Jia Cong was leading an army on a campaign, he was again putting on airs and attracting praise and flattery from others.

I felt an indescribable grief, anger, and disgust in my heart, and I wished I could leave this filthy world as soon as possible.

Just as he was filled with sorrow and resentment, and about to burst into tears, he expressed his feelings directly.

The maid's words, "The young ladies have arrived," were like a beautiful melody, instantly extinguishing the rage in my heart.

Qiu Yue's round face was held high, her eyes sparkling as she looked straight toward the door.

Yingchun, Daiyu, Baochai, and other sisters, dressed in brocade skirts and adorned with precious hairpins, were all beautiful and charming. As they lifted the curtain and entered the hall, the room was instantly filled with brilliance.

Today he found the sisters to be exceptionally beautiful, and suddenly it dawned on him that he understood why the sisters' complexions were so different.

Originally, he thought that Jia Cong was a young man who went to war, a corrupt official, shameless, vulgar and ostentatious, and had no integrity or purity whatsoever. But now he thinks it wasn't such a bad thing after all.

It's good that this parasitic creature is going to war; it saves me from getting the sisters dirty at home. Now I can be closer to them, and there's no one to bother or disturb me anymore.

Since the sisters had not seen Jia Cong for a long time, I was around and interacted with them. This kept them away from the filth and corruption of the corrupt officials, allowing them to see my integrity and virtue.

……

Once Baoyu understood the situation, the grief and shame he felt because Jia Cong had gone to war as a general vanished instantly.

I was deeply moved and filled with joy. Heaven truly knew that I was born with a jade in my mouth, and that I was extraordinary.

Ultimately, it was out of pity and affection that this twist of fate led to this opportunity for me.

Baoyu thought about how he would have to go to the Imperial Academy to study after the Lantern Festival. Although he was very unwilling, he had no choice but to accept it.

But then she thought that the master's ten-day holiday had just ended, and he was going to the yamen early and returning late to do his errands.

The inconvenience of teaching and examinations is gone, but it has brought me a sense of relief.

Although going to the Imperial Academy was a reluctant decision, it was just a matter of getting by. He would leave school early every day and return home. Without Jia Cong loitering around the two mansions, he actually found it much more convenient.

He smiled and said, "Grandma, Brother Cong has gone on a long campaign, and the two mansions are not at home with him."

The sisters are bored in the East Mansion, they should spend more time with the old lady.

After I turned fifteen, I went to study at the Imperial Academy. Every day after school, I would come over to chat, and all the sisters would gather together. Wouldn't that make things even more lively for the old lady?

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "That would be the best, I love a lively atmosphere."

"Second Sister, you all come every day. Cong-ge'er is away, and it's no fun for you to just stay here."

……

Upon hearing Baoyu's words, Yingchun and the other sisters all looked displeased, and Tanchun even frowned.

In the past, she still cared about Baoyu, because the two were siblings from the same father. She also hoped that Baoyu would live up to expectations and get along well with his sisters so that they would not be criticized by others.

However, Baoyu's absurd behavior, his repeated trouble-making, and his self-satisfied and incoherent speech disappointed her greatly.

Coupled with Madam Wang's cold-heartedness, her whipping and abuse, and her complete lack of tenderness, her heart eventually turned cold.

Now, seeing Baoyu's affected words, she couldn't help but feel disgusted. Did her second brother think that the sisters were stupid?

Everyone could see the meaning behind his words: he was secretly resentful of his third brother and wished he would leave so that he could get closer to his sisters.

The second sister loves her brothers the most, and Sister Lin is even more devoted to the third brother. They can't even understand each other's feelings and don't know how to annoy him.

Baoyu is getting married in three months, and the woman in his room is pregnant again. He is already an adult male illegitimate child, yet he spends his days scheming and fooling around with his sisters. It's really...

If he truly understood human nature and possessed some of his third brother's intelligence, he should know to refrain from saying such things, lest he become too boastful and make matters worse.

……

Baoyu’s words were tinged with self-satisfaction and enthusiasm, and he felt that he had become more worldly-wise and his speech had become more eloquent.

Yingchun was displeased upon hearing this. Her brother Cong hadn't even gone to war yet, and Baoyu was eager for him to leave. Why was her brother Cong being treated like this? What kind of logic was this?

He smiled and said, "Brother Bao, that's not quite right either. Although Brother Cong is about to go on an expedition..."

Even when he wasn't home, my sisters and I maintained our usual routine. We would get up early every day to greet the old lady, and if she was in a good mood, she would invite us to stay for a meal.

The sisters enjoyed reading, drinking tea, playing chess, and doing needlework; each had their own pleasures within their secluded chambers.

It wouldn't be good to bother the old lady all day long and disturb her peaceful and healthy life.

Now that Brother Bao is in prison studying, I fear that coming and going will not be convenient for him; his studies are the most important thing.

Upon hearing this, Baoyu felt his spirits dampened, but he was still unwilling to give up.

She said, "What Second Sister said makes sense, but she has gone a bit astray."

I also studied at the tribal school for many years. Whenever there was a class, it was a five-day break. Although there were lessons every day, we would finish school before sunset.

When Grandpa Dairu read, he would let us study and ponder on our own. Although reading was hard work, it wasn't so strenuous that we couldn't catch our breath.

The Imperial Academy, being the school of the imperial court, was naturally a place where teaching was tailored to individual students and where tolerance and harmony prevailed.

There's no problem at all with what my second sister described; I can move around freely every day without any issues."

……

Baochai found Baoyu's words to be truly despicable.

He just wanted to seduce more of his sisters while his brothers were away on campaign. What a shameful married man!

She recalled her mother's secret reminder that Baoyu's sudden relocation from the West Mansion was because he had been doing dirty things with women from his maternal family in the inner courtyard.

Baochai felt disgusted at the thought of this. Her brother Cong's perfectly good mansion had been ruined by Baoyu.

She originally wanted to say something in rebuttal after hearing Baoyu's words, but when she thought of her mother's reminder, she felt disgusted and did not want to have any conversation with Baoyu.

Shi Xiangyun learned yesterday that Jia Cong was about to go on a campaign, and she was filled with worry and reluctance.

I didn't sleep well at all last night, and I didn't dare show it in front of others, lest I be too ashamed to death.

Hearing Baoyu's words, she thought he was being clever and dared to secretly belittle her third brother. Feeling uncomfortable, she immediately felt a surge of anger that burned fiercely in her heart.

Although Shi Xiangyun is forthright and capable, she grew up in a noble family and was educated from a young age, so she knows how to speak appropriately in different situations.

Today, Baoyu did not provoke her with any words, so she could not say anything to him for no reason. In addition, the elders such as the old lady and the second lady were present, so she could only swallow her anger.

However, since Baoyu dared to ostracize his third brother, Xiangyun could not let him off the hook.

I have no idea where the girl's anger came from.

Perhaps it was because of the feelings stirred up by Baoyu that day that she couldn't control her youthful passion and inexplicably developed feelings for Jia Cong, who was usually carefree and unrestrained.

Now, she can't speak loudly in front of her third brother, and she doesn't dare to look at him too much. Even with her best friend Xing Xiuyan, she doesn't dare to reveal a word.

Since she is the youngest wife of my third brother, and I confided in her, I actually fell for her husband. Isn't that ridiculous? How can I face anyone?

Moreover, Jia Cong treated her the same as the other sisters, showing no affection whatsoever, which made Xiangyun secretly feel wronged and annoyed.

As the young girl's heart began to stir with love, she may have subconsciously felt resentment and disgust towards Baoyu, the one who started it all, and naturally vented her anger on him by belittling him.

……

However, the little girl didn't lose her composure and said with a smile, "It's not that Second Sister misspoke, it's that Second Brother misspoke."

Your second brother used to study at the Jia family school. The elders in the clan knew that your second brother was of noble birth, so they were naturally kind to you and dared not be too strict with you.

Therefore, how can a clan school compare to the prestigious Imperial Academy? The two places are worlds apart in terms of learning and scholarship.

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun recalled the quarrel between Xiang Yun and Bao Yu that day, and knew that she was going to use words to vent her anger towards Bao Yu again.

She felt a little puzzled. Yunmei had been quite irritable lately, and she would always argue with Baoyu whenever she encountered him. She wondered what was going on...

Xiangyun continued, "My elder brother also received a place in the Imperial Academy through hereditary privilege and is currently studying there, so I know the inside story best."

The Imperial College started classes at 7:30 AM every day, teaching the Four Books and Five Classics to newly enrolled students. They had a day off on the first and fifteenth of each month, and classes were held at other times.

Students are not allowed to leave the hall without a valid reason. If there is a special reason, they must report to the Chancellor and write a formal leave slip before leaving the hall. Otherwise, they will be punished according to the regulations.

The daily teaching hours were taught by the instructors, who would lecture, review, recite, and rotate classes with the students, and distribute daily assignments for inspection every day.

There will be a written test every month, with one question each on the classics and the book, and two questions each on imperial edicts, proclamations, memorials, policy essays, judgments, and internal affairs.

After each monthly exam, the rankings are posted in the prison at the beginning of the month to commend the excellent and encourage the less diligent.

Besides the daily instruction in the Four Books and Five Classics, students were required to write 200 characters every day, which would then be reviewed and corrected by a scholar, as calligraphy would be of paramount importance for the imperial examinations.

There are many other strange and unusual rules, making it quite complicated.

Moreover, classes are held in the morning and evening, and students who do not pass the lessons will have to stay after school for extra classes.

My elder brother went to the Imperial Academy, but it was quite a ordeal for him. He didn't do well in his studies, and the academy even knew about it.

My two older brothers were far less academically gifted than my third brother, and they were often beaten black and blue by my second and third uncles.

The eldest brother is doing relatively well, but the third brother is even worse, because the third uncle is a military commander, and he not only beats his son in many ways, but also likes to kill his son.

"I find it really strange that my third brother hasn't been beaten to death all these years and is still perfectly fine..."

……

Baochai knew that Xiangyun was exceptionally talented, standing out among her sisters, and possessed a remarkable memory.

He spoke at length, as if recounting his own treasures, becoming increasingly sarcastic and enthusiastic as he went on, clearly harboring some ill intentions.

She stole another glance at Baoyu's expression; his round face was deathly pale, and his eyes were filled with terror. She couldn't help but twitch her lips, but she forced herself not to laugh out loud.

But then they heard Xiangyun's voice, clear and melodious, like a nightingale singing incessantly.

She continued, "The Imperial Academy's curriculum is so rigorous, yet Second Brother still comes to the West Mansion every day after class to show filial piety and talk to his sisters. Such ease and skill must come from an exceptionally good student; I imagine Third Brother is no better."

With such unwavering determination, my second brother will surely achieve great success in the imperial examinations next year, which is certainly a good thing.

Xiangyun asked Daiyu with a smile, "Sister Lin, my brother was studying in prison and once received instruction from a doctor."

When Uncle Lin was imprisoned, he excelled in his studies and was renowned for his talent.

Sister Lin comes from a family with a long and distinguished academic background; surely she knows what I know and have heard. Is all of this true?

Daiyu didn't want to kick someone when they were down, but Xiangyun asked her about it, so she had to answer truthfully. Besides, she was also very disgusted by Baoyu's wicked thoughts.

He said, "My father did indeed go to prison to study back then, but he wasn't fortunate enough to be admitted through the school's own connections; he entered prison through his own examination."

When I was young, my father recounted his experiences studying in prison, and the rules and regulations there were exactly as Sister Yun had described.

Tan Chun, who was standing to the side, was stunned. How come she had never noticed before that Sister Yun's words were so sharp and vicious, every word of which pierced Bao Yu's heart.

She's truly unafraid of causing trouble; what would happen if she provoked Baoyu to go mad...?

…………

After hearing Xiangyun's words and receiving confirmation from Daiyu, Baoyu naturally believed them without a doubt.

In an instant, he was so frightened that his face turned pale, his eyes went blank, his legs trembled, his heart turned to ashes, and he wished he could die immediately.

He was originally very unwilling to study at the Imperial Academy. How could he go to such a place where corrupt officials gathered and associate with such people? Would he still have any integrity left?

But his father, Jia Zheng, was extremely enthusiastic about this matter. Even before he was imprisoned, he forced him to study and take exams every day in order to ensure his academic success.

Since moving back to the East Courtyard, Baoyu had been tormented to the point of ecstasy by his father. He had originally thought that once he was imprisoned, his father would be unable to do anything about it.

He wanted to continue catching his breath and fooling around, but Shi Xiangyun's words made him instantly realize that the Imperial Academy was far more ruthless than his father's strictness...

Not only was Baoyu flustered by what he heard, but even Lady Wang was somewhat alarmed by Xiangyun's words, disregarding the mischievous and strange tone in Xiangyun's speech.

Even if she didn't believe Shi Xiangyun's words, she did believe Daiyu's.

Even though she had never liked Daiyu, as the daughter of a top scholar and well-versed in poetry and literature, Lady Wang believed that Daiyu wouldn't talk nonsense.

She quickly said, "Madam, I only knew that the Imperial Academy was a first-class place to study, but I really didn't know it was so strict."

Baoyu was frail from a young age, so it was only right to let him study, but he couldn't possibly endure such torment day and night.

Pearl was also studying in prison back then, returning home every day at sunset. I didn't see how hard he worked in prison. Later, it was because he overslept..."

Lady Wang stopped speaking at this point, but the implication was clear: she was having second thoughts about Baoyu going to the Imperial Academy to study.

Tan Chun frowned upon hearing this. "Madam is a bit confused. Brother Xianzhu is exceptionally intelligent and has a remarkable talent for studying."

Although the Imperial Academy had a heavy workload, he was able to manage it with ease and returned home every day at sunset, which was not surprising at all.

This is the difference between being able to study and not being able to study. He himself did not feel bitter, so naturally he would not go home and talk about it. His parents were also used to it.

I heard that Brother Xianzhu died young because he worked too hard.

Perhaps he was naturally gifted in his studies, but ultimately not as good as his third brother. If he wanted to advance further in the imperial examinations, he would naturally have to work incredibly hard, which is why he ended up in such a miserable state...

……

After hearing Shi Xiangyun's words and seeing that Lady Wang was still shaken, Grandmother Jia was naturally also worried.

He asked, "Second daughter, when Cong-ge sent Bao-yu to study at the Imperial Academy, did he know that the studies there were arduous, and did he mention it to you in his daily life?"

When Yingchun saw the faces of Lady Wang and Baoyu, she worried that her brother's good intentions in introducing her cousin to study at the Imperial Academy were misplaced.

You don't want your good intentions to backfire and cause you trouble; that would be incredibly annoying.

She said, "Grandma, my brother Cong studies at Qingshan Academy and has never been to the Imperial Academy, so he naturally doesn't know what the studies are like there."

He never mentioned this to me, but when he was studying at Qingshan Academy, he often talked to me about the academy.

The workload at the academy was comparable to that of the Imperial Academy, and perhaps even more rigorous, than what Sister Yun described.

Although Xiangyun was not as reserved as Yingchun, she was still an extremely intelligent young lady. After listening to the conversation between Grandmother Jia and Yingchun, she instantly grasped the meaning behind it.

Although Jia Cong annoyed and worried her, and she felt that her third brother was clueless and wanted to treat him better, he just wouldn't get it. He was really a dullard.

But realizing that Jia Cong might cause trouble, she immediately tried to make amends for him.

She said, "Second sister is right. Although Qingshan Academy is not a government-run school, its cultural and educational achievements have always been unparalleled in the world."

Qingshan Academy consistently produced more students passing the provincial and imperial examinations than the Imperial Academy, making its curriculum even more demanding.

The third brother himself studies diligently, so he's naturally used to it and wouldn't take it to heart.

Even if he knew the Imperial Academy's curriculum was tedious, he would take it for granted and wouldn't bother to nag about it.

……

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia agreed that it made perfect sense, but the strictness of the Imperial Academy's curriculum was certainly true.

The thought of his most beloved grandson having to suffer like this made him hesitate.

Yingchun said, "Grandma, the Imperial Academy has a lot of complicated courses. It is precisely because it is a proper place to study that it is so well-regulated."

Studying and pursuing an official career is inherently extremely difficult.

Although I am confined to my chambers and have limited experience, I fear that you will never see another person with such extraordinary talent as my brother Cong in this lifetime…

As Yingchun spoke, her pride was palpable, but no one present took it seriously; they all thought it was perfectly natural.

Even though Lady Wang harbored a secret resentment towards Jia Cong, she dared not doubt it in the slightest.

At the age of fifteen, he was the second-place scholar in the imperial examination and a fifth-rank Hanlin Academician. In the nearly ninety years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he was the first person to achieve this, and there will likely never be another like him.

……

Yingchun continued, "Even with Cong's talent, if he wants to pass the imperial examination with flying colors, he still has to study the classics diligently. Over the years, he has been burning the midnight oil every single day."

We sisters were by his side and witnessed firsthand that even he dared not slack off in the slightest, which shows that studying and pursuing an official career is extremely difficult.

Although the old lady felt sorry for Bao-ge, she wanted him to achieve something in his studies and become a pillar of the second family. She believed that if he wanted to make a name for himself through the imperial examinations, he could not avoid the hardships of studying.

It would be better to take advantage of Brother Bao's youth and the prime of his life, and let him work hard for a few years. As long as he achieves academic success, it will be a lifelong asset.

Cong's younger brother introduced Baoyu to the Imperial Academy because of his relationship with the Second Master and because he also had the same wish in his heart, hoping that his brother would be successful.

It's not that I knowingly made Baoyu suffer so much from studying.

Although Yingchun was reserved, she was also meticulous and perceptive, and knew that Madam Wang harbored deep resentment towards her younger brother.

No matter what her younger brother Cong does, she can always find fault with it and come up with ridiculous excuses. Only by bringing up the issues upfront can you shut her up.

……

Although Grandmother Jia was old, she was a worldly-wise person and naturally understood what her granddaughter was thinking.

He laughed and said, "You're just speculating. I only truly understood how difficult and arduous it is to study and pursue an official career after meeting Cong-ge."

Jing-ge from the East Mansion and your Xian-zhu elder brother both went through similar experiences back then.

When Cong Ge sent Bao Yu to study at the Imperial Academy, it was out of genuine brotherly affection. Who could blame him for making Bao Yu suffer while studying?

You're such a silly girl, overthinking things and worrying too much. You're too protective of your brothers. Cong-ge is lucky to have a sister like you.

However, Baoyu is not like Congge'er. He was able to withstand hardship from a young age and had also learned martial arts skills. He was the kind of person who could fight on the battlefield and was naturally able to endure hardship.

Baoyu has been frail since childhood; how could he withstand such exertion? He and Zhu'er are twin brothers, and their health is largely similar. I'm genuinely worried.”

Shi Xiangyun glanced at Baoyu and felt a strange sensation in her heart. Why did the old lady always say that Baoyu was weak?

Look how strong and robust he is, his clothes are all bulging, he looks like he's got a lot of fat. If he didn't eat and sleep well every day, he wouldn't have such a blessed appearance.

If this is considered weak, then what kind of person in the world is physically strong?

The old lady's eyes are really blurry. The third brother, standing next to Baoyu, looks even more slender and tall, but he doesn't have Baoyu's plump appearance at all.

But then again, the third brother is even better; he just looks more appealing...

……

Baoyu thought that if his mother spoke up, the old lady might feel sorry for him and perhaps he could avoid the disaster at the Imperial Academy.

Unexpectedly, my second sister has become deeply corrupt. Even though the Imperial Academy is so harsh, she speaks eloquently as if it were perfectly reasonable, which is utterly absurd.

Is it possible that everyone in the world would follow Jia Cong's example, embracing his hypocrisy, wickedness, and obsession with fame and fortune, and willingly degenerate without realizing it?

I cannot allow my pure and innocent heart to be destroyed like this...

He was filled with panic and couldn't help but cry out, "Grandma, it's not that I don't want to study, it's just that the Imperial Academy is so harsh and unreasonable."

Anyone who goes to prison, who spends their life studying books and goes against human ethics and common sense, would be a tormenter to the point that I would be unable to extricate myself from that place every day.

Even if they come to visit the old lady and do some good deeds, they never have a moment to spare. If this continues year after year, wouldn't that be a great violation of filial piety?

The purpose of reading is to understand principles. To go against filial piety by reading is to put the cart before the horse and defy the world's condemnation..."

Baoyu, with a grief-stricken expression, spoke eloquently and with considerable flair; in fact, at first glance, his words even seemed to make some sense.

However, Yingchun, Daiyu, Baochai and others were stunned, and Shi Xiangyun was so shocked that she opened her mouth and forgot to close it.

They were all horrified. How could Baoyu utter such words? How did he come up with them?

Tan Chun felt a wave of dizziness. Xiang Yun was indeed amazing; her second brother had really fallen ill. What should she do?

Third Brother isn't home, and Master is in the East Courtyard. If Baoyu starts making a scene, who will be able to control him...? (End of Chapter)