Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 39 is unnecessary!
"Sister Bao, Sister Bao, hurry up! You've been taking up too much time in my room, and if we stay any longer everyone will be gone!"

Li Chen urged her repeatedly, almost dragging Xue Baochai forward.

Xue Baochai was both amused and exasperated by him, so she could only hold his arm tightly and gently advise, "Good sister, your health is important, watch your step."

"It's really alright!"

Upon arriving at Rongqing Hall, they were unable to enter through the main gate.

The two slipped through the connecting back corridor and into the warm chamber behind the screen.

A large number of people had already gathered inside the pavilion.

The head maids Yuanyang and Hu Po, who were serving by Grandmother Jia's side, were also present, as were the three young ladies of the Jia family: Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun.

Li Chen glanced around and, although he had never interacted with them before, he could recognize them clearly.

Sitting at the tea table, quietly holding a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, her gaze wandering, appearing indifferent and even somewhat wooden, it must be the second daughter, "Silly Wood," Yingchun.

There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names; he really does have a dull and wooden demeanor.

Sitting next to Yingchun, she was peeling a tangerine by herself. She was petite and delicate, like a seven or eight-year-old child. She was Xichun.

Unlike Yingchun and Tanchun, Xichun was born to Jia Jing, the head of the Ningguo Mansion who practiced Taoism. Grandmother Jia, feeling sorry that she had no birth mother to care for her, kept her with her at the Rongguo Mansion.

However, in the eyes of the Rongguo Mansion, she was not a proper mistress either, and her situation was perhaps even worse than that of Lin Daiyu.

The most eye-catching figure was the third daughter, Tan Chun, who was kneeling on the soft couch next to the screen, peeking out through the gap.

She was born with slender shoulders and a slim waist, beautiful eyes and delicate eyebrows, and her demeanor was radiant with every glance, quite different from her two quiet sisters.

Hearing the sound of the curtain being rolled up, Tan Chun turned around and saw Xue Baochai helping Li Chen in. Li Chen's face was still deathly pale, and he had to climb down from the soft couch first.

Recently, Sister Lin's reputation has become legendary in the mansion. Even her sister-in-law, Li Wan, has warned them not to provoke her.

With a smile, Tan Chun stepped forward and whispered, "Sister Bao, what's wrong with Sister Lin?"

Xue Baochai replied gently, "I'm not feeling well; an old ailment has flared up."

"I see. Then come and rest here."

Tan Chun understood and quickly helped Li Chen to sit down on the soft couch.

Turning around to ask Yuanyang for a soft pillow, she saw Li Chen had already fallen down and rested his head on Xue Baochai's lap.

"Sister Bao, is it alright if I lean against you like this? It's comfortable and makes it easy to talk."

Hearing Li Chen's coquettish tone, Xue Baochai couldn't help but smile. She gently straightened his head, making him lean more comfortably, and naturally rubbed his lower abdomen with one hand.

"Alright, as you wish. Since I promised Zijuan, I will naturally take good care of you."

Tan Chun, standing to the side, stared in disbelief, wondering, "When did these two become so close?"

Li Chen, however, had already closed his eyes contentedly.

He finally got a real sense of Xue Baochai's body this time.

Plump and soft, with warm legs, it's far more comfortable to use as a pillow than a regular pillow.

In addition, Xue Baochai often took "Cold Fragrance Pills" to treat her fever, and her whole body was surrounded by a rich and exotic fragrance that seeped into his heart and soul, making him feel slightly excited.

"This is truly... an aromatherapy and massage service all in one!"

He muttered a curse to himself, then turned his head and beckoned to Tan Chun, who was standing there dumbfounded. "Third sister, we're late. What were we talking about in the hall just now? Did we miss something interesting...?"

Hearing Lin Daiyu call her affectionately, Tan Chun was startled again.

The two hadn't interacted much, and she had never seen Sister Lin like this before. Later, she dared not disturb her, and she was still finding it hard to get used to it.

Composing herself, Tan Chun quickly sat down on the edge of the couch and said in a low voice, "Sisters, you've come at just the right time! Standing in the hall is the second young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion. I heard he used to be a playboy, but recently he's changed his ways and wants to take the imperial examination! It seems he has some grudge against Brother Bao, and he was just ridiculed by Sister Feng."

"puff……"

Li Chen covered his mouth to stop laughing, but his waist couldn't help but wriggle slightly.

Is there anything funnier than this?
Lin Daiyu was publicly ridiculed by Jia Baoyu in Rongqing Hall.

He really wanted to interview Lin Daiyu to find out how she felt now.

Xue Baochai glanced down at him, assuming he was unwell, and didn't think much of it. She quickly asked Tan Chun, "What sarcastic words did you say?"

Tan Chun immediately perked up, mimicking Wang Xifeng's tone, and repeated the teasing remark about "being granted titles and positions of power," adding her own embellishments.

"If you ask me, how difficult is the imperial examination? It's already difficult for the sons of noble families to pass, and he only started school at fifteen. Isn't that just wishful thinking? I think Brother Bao has a better chance than him!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai unconsciously tightened the handkerchief in her hand, but her face remained expressionless. She replied in a low voice, "Third sister, it's not our place to comment on what's happening outside. Be careful what you say."

Tan Chun stuck out her tongue, sensing the subtle atmosphere. She was puzzled, "I was just speaking up for Brother Bao, so why do Sister Bao and Sister Lin seem not to like it?"

Li Chen remained silent, waiting for the show to unfold in the hall.

It was thought that Lin Daiyu would retaliate angrily, but unexpectedly, after a long silence, it was Grandmother Jia who stepped in to smooth things over.

"Spicy Phoenix, if you keep spouting nonsense, I'll tear your mouth off!" Grandmother Jia scolded with a laugh, but there was little anger in her tone. She then spoke gently to Lin Daiyu, "Young master, don't take her to heart. She's just a down-on-her-luck person."

"However, the imperial examination is certainly not an easy path for noble families like ours. Have you yet hired a renowned tutor, young master?"

Lin Daiyu, who had been hanging her head, finally raised it slightly.

Her silence was not only due to her discomfort with Jia Baoyu and Wang Xifeng's arrogant attitude.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that someone had come into the warm room next door.

Even if she couldn't see her facial features, how could Lin Daiyu not be familiar with the outline of her own body?
Unexpectedly, that playboy actually endured the pain of menstruation and came to the hall to see her make a fool of herself.

Still...still resting on Baochai's lap?

Aside from her close friend Bao Jie, no one else would give her a pillow anymore.

How shameless!
Gritting her teeth, Lin Daiyu clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves, her heart filled with resentment.

But when Grandmother Jia came to ask, she had no choice but to swallow her shame and indignation, and put aside what Jia Baoyu and Wang Xifeng had said, maintaining a facade of decorum.

“We already have Mr. Xing, a student of the Imperial Academy, as our teacher.”

Grandmother Jia looked at Li Wan, who was sitting below her. Li Wan understood and spoke up in a low voice, "He is an old scholar from Wanping County who has failed the provincial examinations several times."

Grandmother Jia nodded slightly, then turned to Lin Daiyu and asked gently, "I am very happy to see you. Would you like to keep Baoyu company in the mansion from now on? The tutor we have hired is a proper graduate of the Imperial Academy."

Lin Daiyu took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. But, it's not necessary!"

(End of this chapter)