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The creative background of "Dream of Red Mansions" is deeply rooted in the feudal society of the Qing Dynasty, reflecting the various contradictions and crises in the society at that time.

Although the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong were known as the "Kangxi and Qianlong prosperous era", behind the prosperity of society lay problems such as the decay of the feudal system, the corruption of the bureaucratic system, the strict social hierarchy and the low status of women. These were the social realities that Cao Xueqin wanted to reflect and criticize when he wrote "Dream of the Red Chamber".

There are many different theories about the story background of "Dream of Red Mansions", including the Qing Dynasty theory, the Ming Dynasty theory and the vague era theory.

The Qing Dynasty theory holds that many details in the novel, such as clocks, glass and other Western items, are evidence of the large influx of these items in the mid-Qing Dynasty. The novel shows the various problems and crises in society at that time through the rise and fall of the four fictional families of Jia, Shi, Wang and Xue.

The Ming Dynasty theory holds that certain chapters in the novel seem to point to the Ming Dynasty background, and the author uses the Ming Dynasty background to express more universal themes of society and human nature.

The fuzzy era theory holds that Cao Xueqin used obscure methods to express sensitive content in order to protect himself when creating the work. Therefore, the story background of "Dream of Red Mansions" is not limited to a specific dynasty, but integrates the characteristics and elements of different eras.

Cao Xueqin, the author of "Dream of the Red Chamber", was born into a declining aristocratic family. His family had experienced prosperity and decline. The ups and downs of life had a profound impact on his creation.

Cao Xueqin depicts a world full of emotion and philosophy with his delicate brushstrokes. Through the detailed description of the Jia family and the people around them, he reveals the corruption and inevitable decline of feudal society.

Our story begins in the capital of this Eastern Empire...

……

Sijiu City is located on Qianhai West Street. A magnificent mansion is located here, but it is a more prosperous place than the Ning and Rong mansions, only because the person living here is the powerful Su Guogong Su Yan. The first generation Su Guogong was the red pants brother of the founding emperor, and his relationship was almost the same as that of Xu Da and Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, the title of Su Guogong is still the hereditary Feng'en Zhenguogong, not the Ning and Rong mansions' low-ranking Zhenguogong and Fuguogong.

The royal titles in the world of Red Mansions are similar to those of the Qing Dynasty, namely, Heshuo Prince, Duolo Prince, Duolo Baylor, Gushan Baylor, Feng'en Zhenguo Duke, Feng'en Fuguo Duke, Zhenguo Duke who is not among the top eight, Fuguo Duke who is not among the top eight, Zhenguo General, Fuguo General, Fengguo General, and Feng'en General.

At this time, Su Ning was in the backyard of Duke Su's mansion. Looking at this deep courtyard, his heart was filled with melancholy. He did not expect that he would be arranged by the system to be the prince of the Duke of Su's family.

Although this copy of the Dream of Red Mansions is very close to the end of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it is somewhat different from the Qing Dynasty in some aspects. For example, the old emperor chose to abdicate and become the emperor emeritus, and the new emperor was an emperor as ambitious as Yongzheng. In the history of the Qing Dynasty, this seems to be the political structure in which the prodigal son Qianlong appeared. Under normal circumstances, the new emperor would ascend the throne only after the death of the old emperor.

So the knowledgeable Suning also felt a little dizzy, but what was certain was that the modern scientific revolution had begun overseas in this copy world, while the Eastern Empire where Suning was located was still in a feudal society with many beautiful women.

A neat and capable servant walked towards the confused Su Ning and explained, "Young Master, the Duke and his wife want you to go to the backyard."

"Oh? Is there something wrong?" Suning collected his thoughts and looked at the servant in confusion.

The servant in front of him immediately answered what he knew. You know, Su Ning is the undisputed heir of Duke Su. "My lord, it seems to be about the birthday of Mrs. Jia in Rongguo Mansion."

"Okay! Lead the way."

"Yes! Young Master."

Thinking about his upcoming meeting with Jia Baoyu, Suning still felt a little funny. He wondered what kind of person this guy who grew up in a world of cosmetics was.

You should know that there are many versions of "Dream of Red Mansions". For Jia Baoyu alone, there are more than ten different versions, including Ouyang Fenqiang, Ren Jie, Xu Yulan, Ma Tianyu, etc., and of course the most amazing Yue Opera version by Chen Lijun.

Of course, normal men sometimes envy Jia Baoyu. After all, he is surrounded by beautiful girls, and what he likes most is the smell of rouge on the girls around him.

At this time, Su Ning had already arrived at the backyard of the Su State Mansion and bowed to his father and mother in the hall, "I, Su Ning, greet my father and mother."

"Ning'er, I believe you also know why we asked you to come. We want you to represent our Suguo Mansion to deliver a birthday gift to Old Madam Jia." Then Su Ning's father in this life looked at Su Ning in front of him expressionlessly and explained.

"Isn't it inappropriate? After all, the Ning and Rong mansions are both the direct forces of the retired emperor, and our Duke Su is the emperor's subordinate. Will doing this make the emperor unhappy?" However, thinking of the story setting given by the system made Su Ning feel inappropriate.

"That's why we arranged for you to go! Your mother and I are not suitable to show up." Duke Su explained while stroking his beard indifferently.

"Yes! I can save you that."

The Duke's wife, standing by, also warned Su Ning, "Ning'er, remember! Don't have too much communication with the people from the Ning and Rong mansions."

"Yes."

……

The birthday banquet for Old Lady Jia of Rongguo Mansion was quite grand. After all, the Ning and Rong mansions were still at their peak. You know, the collapse of the towering tree was not a matter of one or two days.

The appearance of Su Ning, the young master of Duke Su's Mansion, naturally brought the birthday banquet to a climax. Everyone in the Ning and Rong mansions felt particularly honored, and Su Ning was also the first to be arranged to sit in the main seat of the birthday banquet.

Madam Jia laughed heartily as she looked at Su Ning in front of her and said, "Haha, young master, I didn't expect you to come to my birthday banquet in person. I'll have to drink a few more glasses of wine later!"

"Thank you, Grandma Jia." Suning quickly stood up and bowed to express his gratitude.

Then, Madam Jia wanted to introduce Jia Baoyu, who was beside her, to Su Ning. "Young Master, I remember that you and our Baoyu are about the same age. After the birthday banquet, let's go to the backyard and play for a while."

"Thank you, Grandmother Jia! It's just that Suning is sorry to bother you." Suning could only respond casually now. He was not very interested in effeminate men.

At this moment, Mrs. Jia shouted to Jia Baoyu who was rushing over, "Baoyu, come here quickly! Meet your brother from the Su family."

A tall and slender Jia Baoyu came over and bowed to Su Ning, "Jia Baoyu greets Brother Ning."

"Huh? You are Jia Baoyu from Rongguo Mansion?" At this moment, Su Ning was stunned when he saw the heroic Jia Baoyu in front of him. Isn't this the Yue Opera version of Jia Baoyu played by Chen Lijun?
"It's me, my younger brother." Jia Baoyu didn't notice that Su Ning's expression was wrong.

"..." At this moment, Su Ning could not help but be stunned, because the Jia Baoyu in front of him was so handsome that he even felt like he was going to turn a straight man like him gay. "You are indeed a gentleman like jade! Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you."

Soon, Suning forced himself to suppress his inner shock, and then continued to sit there politely. He now represented the entire Su Guogong Mansion.

The Jia Baoyu in front of him looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. He was tall, with fair skin, red lips and white teeth. He was a real beauty. The only pity was that he was a boy with a feminine appearance. If he were really a girl, he would be extremely beautiful.

The protagonist of the birthday banquet was naturally the old lady of the Jia family, but Su Ning had been secretly observing Jia Baoyu, and finally experienced for the first time what it meant to be popular with both men and women.

Of course, at the birthday banquet, Su Ning also saw Sister Lin and Xue Baochai, but it was far less impressive than Jia Baoyu's. Sister Lin still looked like a dying, sickly woman, while Xue Baochai appeared quite lively and feminine. Then, the Jia family's staff arrived, starting with the incredibly handsome Jia Lian. "Young Master, I am Jia Lian from the Rongguo Mansion, and this is my humble wife, Wang Xifeng."

"So it's Mr. Lian and Mrs. Lian in person! How disrespectful! I'm so sorry." Su Ning quickly stood up and returned the greeting with a smile, but he didn't mention how beautiful Wang Xifeng was.

At this time, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but look at Su Ning and teased him, "Haha, I didn't expect that the young master of the Su Mansion is also as handsome as our second master Bao."

"Sister-in-law Lian is joking."

"Young Master, both the Jia and Su families are hereditary dukes. You must visit them more often in the future!"

"That's what Sister Lian said."

Then the wretched man Jia Zhen also came to Su Ning with Jia Rong, "Young Master, I am Jia Zhen from Ningguo Mansion, and this is my son Jia Rong."

"So it was Uncle Zhen and Uncle Xiaorong in person! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry." Su Ning suppressed the urge to kill and dealt with the father and son in front of him.

If there is a character in Dream of the Red Chamber that Suning hates the most, it would be this ridiculous bastard Jia Zhen. After all, "stealing an adulterer" is something that is condemned by both humans and gods.

Seeing that Jia Zhen actually had such a decent and powerful demeanor, it was hard to imagine that he could do such a thing as "stealing an adulterer". Of course, Suning was too lazy to waste words on such a thing.

Some people say that "Dream of Red Mansions" is a ghost story written on stone. In fact, in Suning's opinion, these people in front of him are indeed swept up by fate. They seem prosperous but are actually rotten inside.

As a distinguished guest of Rongguo Mansion, Su Ning was naturally the focus of everyone's attention. However, the person who was most interested in Su Ning was the daughter of the Jia family. You should know that Su Ning had not yet started discussing marriage.

Of course, among the four daughters of the Jia family, Yuanchun, Ying, Tan and Xi, was already a concubine. As for Yingchun and Tanchun, they were both illegitimate daughters of the Jia family. Only Jia Zhen's sister Xichun was a legitimate daughter, and she was too young.

However, Su Ning had never thought of marrying a noble who was destined to fall into decline. At the same time, she was not very interested in the Twelve Beauties of Jinling. Instead, she was very curious about the gentle and graceful Jia Baoyu.

In fact, it is not uncommon for boys to have feminine appearances, but Suning has never encountered such a stunning one. For the first time, he experienced the happiness of the literati in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.

After the birthday banquet, Jia Baoyu approached Su Ning again and invited him, "Young Master, would you mind going to my inner room for a cup of tea?"

"This..." Suning's heart was filled with inexplicable confusion.

"I wonder if the young master has any concerns?" At this time, Jia Baoyu also noticed the embarrassment on Su Ning's face.

Then Su Ning directly expressed his concerns, "Second Master Bao, it's not appropriate for a man like me to enter the inner courtyard of Rongguo Mansion, right?"

"Ah! Young Master, you worry too much. You and I are friends. Why should we care about worldly opinions?"

In the end, Suning rejected this rather tempting invitation. "I think we should forget it! Let's go out for tea together someday when we have some free time."

"This……"

Noticing the unhappiness on Jia Baoyu's face, Su Ning couldn't bear to look at him and suggested, "Second Master Bao, how about we go hiking in the West Hill tomorrow?"

"Mountain climbing is too tiring! Let's go to Shichahai for a boat tour." However, the surprised Jia Baoyu rejected Suning's suggestion and proposed a more interesting entertainment activity.

"Good! I'll wait for Brother Bao at Shichahai early tomorrow morning." Suning naturally accepted the proposal with pleasure.

"It's a deal! See you there."

Then Suning said goodbye to the enthusiastic people in the Jia Mansion, boarded the Su Mansion's carriage, and left Ningrong Street.

He used the folding fan in his hand to lift the curtain of the carriage and look at Ningrong Street. He felt that it was indeed one of the most prosperous areas in the capital. This prosperity alone made many people salivate, so the downfall of the Jia family was almost a foregone conclusion.

Thinking that the current world of the Red Mansion is very similar to the early years of Yongzheng in history, Suning knows that the overseas world has begun to explore modern science. Therefore, if Suning does not want to be controlled by others and follow the old path of the Jia family, he can only try to develop overseas or directly raise an army to overthrow this world.

What is also interesting is that the location of his own Su Mansion was later the Prince Gong Mansion. Then, when it came to the Qianlong period, it became Heshen’s residence. Therefore, it is very likely that his Su Mansion will disappear like the Jia family’s.

The only pity is that the system still blocks its own space world, leaving only a storage function for Suning, so it is not easy to rebel or develop overseas. You must know that the Qing Dynasty is the epitome of feudal society.

Just after Su Ning left the Jia family, Jia Lian suddenly looked at Wang Xifeng and asked, "Miss, what do you think of this young master of the Su Mansion?"

"He's very polite! But he always seems a bit distant from the Jia family, as if he's deliberately trying to keep a decent distance."

"That's for sure! The Jia and Su families weren't close to begin with. Furthermore, our Jia family is from the retired emperor's faction, while the Su family belongs to the emperor's faction. Therefore, being able to maintain a superficial cordial relationship is already a rare achievement."

"Second Master, what do you think about letting our Jia family and Su family marry?"

"Impossible! Not to mention that Yingchun and Tanchun are both illegitimate children, Xichun is too young. Even the retired emperor wouldn't agree."

"Humph! Isn't it better for the two families to use marriage to eliminate the estrangement? Perhaps Yingchun and Tanchun can't be concubines? Don't forget that Duke Su is the Duke of Feng'en, unlike us in the Ning and Rong families who are only the Duke of Fuguo."

"This……"

"Second Master, you know the current situation of the Jia family better than anyone else. If we don't think of a solution quickly, then..."

"Alas! These are not things we can worry about. I think we should just enjoy the wine today and worry about tomorrow."

"You... humph! It really makes me angry."

……

(End of this chapter)