Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 43 Feeling Hot All Over
The difficulty of the county-level examinations varied from place to place.

In wealthy provinces, where the literary atmosphere is flourishing, the more academies there are, the more difficult it is to stand out among thousands of candidates.

As a county near the capital, Wanping County was also a place where high-ranking officials and dignitaries gathered.

The competition among them was so fierce that it was a one-in-a-million chance.

The county examination in Wanping County was divided into four sessions: the main session, the second session, the third session, and the fourth session.

The first round of examinations is like a preliminary selection, testing candidates on two essays from the Four Books and one poem. After submitting their papers before nightfall, candidates can rest for two days before proceeding to the next round of examinations.

To win the top prize, one must not only pass the main examination, but also excel in every subsequent round of questions and answers, ranking among the best.

The content examined in the subsequent replies, repetitions, and consecutive replies differs slightly from that in the main examination.

It usually focuses on the interpretation and explanation of the Five Classics, with a small portion of regulated verses, contemporary essays, and other content.

In particular, consecutive repetitions are equivalent to promotion matches, ranking matches, and the final ranking matches. After consecutive repetitions, the final ranking is determined.

The content of this examination was closely related to the preferences of the county examination examiners. It might be the Four Books and Five Classics, current affairs essays, or poetry and prose. In short, there was no fixed pattern.

As a result, it would be even more difficult for Lin Daiyu, who was born into a noble family, to achieve the top score in the examination.

The stereotype of nobles and dignitaries makes it easy for her to be looked down upon.

Therefore, in order to achieve her goal, Lin Daiyu needed to hone her knowledge and learning to perfection, making it flawless.

His mastery of the Four Books is already quite proficient, so there is nothing to worry about.

For the entire afternoon, Lin Daiyu immersed herself in the interpretation of the Five Classics and various contemporary articles, striving to make up for her lack of knowledge about the outside world as a young lady confined to her chambers.

Now she has no distractions, only one thought in mind: the scroll!

Before she knew it, it was already dark, but Lin Daiyu was still writing furiously at her desk.

She was completely unaware of the three knocks on the door until Xiangling forced herself to push it open and walked in shyly.

Holding the food box, Xiangling carefully placed it on the nanmu square table in the hall. Standing properly behind the curtain, she softly announced, "Young Master, it's time to eat."

"Okay, just leave it there."

Lin Daiyu casually replied, "Wait until I finish writing this section."

"Yes."

Xiangling responded softly, her hands clasped awkwardly inside her sleeves as she cautiously looked around.

The furnishings here are quite different from those in Pear Blossom Courtyard. There are no colorful ribbons, no antique furniture, and no exquisite imported goods. Everything here is much simpler.

However, it does bear some resemblance to the atmosphere in Xue Baochai's room.

"No wonder the young lady occasionally mentions Young Master Li; it seems the two really do have something in common."

As Xiangling pondered silently, the fear she felt upon first meeting him gradually subsided.

If he were truly a lecherous playboy, he would never live like this.

But then Xiangling couldn't understand why Young Master Li had specifically asked for her.

"Madam said that if the young master ever grows tired of me, I should be sent back to where I came from. But my indenture is all here, so where can I go..."

Thinking of this, Xiangling couldn't help but sigh inwardly, worrying about her uncertain future.

After a long while, Lin Daiyu finally put down her pen and got up.

Having always lived alone in this mansion, she was startled when she vaguely saw a person standing outside the curtain.

After rubbing his eyes and looking closely, he realized it was Xiangling and reluctantly remembered this troublesome matter.

Lin Daiyu truly didn't know what to do with her.

Lifting the curtain, Xiangling immediately bowed and greeted him: "Young Master, the meal is ready. Would you like to wash your hands first?"

"Ah."

Lin Daiyu gave a soft reply, watching as Xiangling deftly brought over a basin of water, soaked a handkerchief, and handed it to her. Observing her expression, the lingering unease and fragility made Lin Daiyu feel a pang of pity.

All her unease today stems from her own actions, so how could Lin Daiyu not consider her well-being?

"Sit down and have some with us," Lin Daiyu said gently.

Xiangling shook her head repeatedly and replied timidly, "This servant dares not, I have already used it."

Seeing that her gaze was evasive, Lin Daiyu blinked and tentatively asked, "What did Mother say to you?"

Xiangling shook her head again.

Lin Daiyu sighed helplessly, "Look up and answer me. What's there to hide?"

Xiangling looked up as instructed, and her gaze met Lin Daiyu's. She wanted to look down as if she had been burned, but she forced herself to do so and finally looked at Lin Daiyu straight in the eye.

"They only told me some of the rules of the manor, and instructed me to take good care of the young master, and also..."

"besides?"

Lin Daiyu turned her head and realized that Xiangling was slightly different from when she brought her to the manor.

The fine hairs on his face had been removed.

Lin Daiyu knew that this was called "opening the face" among maids, which meant that she was formally incorporated into the male's room as a concubine maid.

If she were to be taken on as a concubine, she would be given a crystal or jade hairpin by the mistress of the household to style her hair, thus highlighting her special status.

Coming to her senses, Xiangling's face flushed crimson. She stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "Madam said that the young master is at the crucial stage of his studies, and she wants me... she wants me not to consummate our marriage yet..."

"Pfft...cough cough cough."

Lin Daiyu choked on a mouthful of soup.

Consummating the marriage? Who wants to consummate the marriage with her?

Am I, Lin Daiyu, some kind of lecherous person?
Lin Daiyu was filled with shame and indignation, with nowhere to vent her anger, all because her excuse of "coveting beauty" had led Madam Zou to misunderstand her to this extent!

Silently, Lin Daiyu took the handkerchief Xiangling offered and wiped her mouth. She waved her hand weakly and said, "I understand. You should go and rest now."

However, Xiangling's face was still flushed, but her feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, and she did not move at all.

"What, is there anything else?"

Xiangling nodded, then shook her head, fidgeting and unable to utter a coherent sentence.

Lin Daiyu frowned in confusion, and couldn't help but put herself in her shoes and consider her situation.

"Why does she seem afraid of me, yet also reluctant to go out?"

"Could it be that she intends to stay overnight in my room on her first day back at the manor?"
Lin Daiyu thought about it and realized that it should be done that way.

The maid who was taken back was kicked out of her room on the first day and made to rest in a separate room. How could her position in the mansion be secure?
Lin Daiyu felt a wave of weakness wash over her. She leaned back in her chair, twitched her lips, and said resignedly, "Then... you go make the bed first."

Xiangling felt as if she had been granted a pardon, nodded shyly, and quickly walked towards the inner room.

Seeing that it was indeed the case, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but put her hand to her forehead and sighed inwardly, "What sins have I committed that I have to suffer this embarrassment?"

After washing up, Lin Daiyu undressed, turned off the light, and lay down on the bed in the dark.

The bed was already warmed by Xiangling, and there was a faint, sweet fragrance in the air that was different from usual.

Suddenly, Lin Daiyu had the illusion that she was in her boudoir.

However, even in her boudoir, sharing a bed with Zijuan and Xueyan, she found it difficult to adapt.

Now that Xiangling, who was only wearing a bellyband, was lying next to him, he felt even more uncomfortable.

"Huh...why do I feel a little hot?"

Lin Daiyu reached under the covers to her chest and murmured to herself.

(End of this chapter)