Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Xiren, who was by Baoyu's side, brought him a cup of fragrant tea and smiled sweetly as she advised him:

"Second Master, you can't talk nonsense! Xiangling is the only head maid in the Marquis's household, and she'll likely become one of his concubines in the future!"

"How can a younger brother ask his older brother for the women in his room? Even if the Marquis were willing to give them up, it would still be difficult to say!"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you're taking advantage of your elders' favor to steal your brother's wife! That's not good for your reputation."

"Besides, the old lady wouldn't allow something like this!"

Although Xiren smiled, her pretty face held a hint of panic in her eyes, and she felt a sense of unease in her heart.

My lord! How can you say such things! Everyone knows the Marquis's current status in the mansion; even the old lady treats him with respect.

You dare to ask for the maid in his room? If you anger the Marquis, I'm afraid even the old lady and the madam won't be able to protect you.

You should know that Master Zhen of the East Mansion was so badly punished by the Marquis that he was bedridden for more than half a month before he could get out of bed. How dare you provoke him!

Daiyu, standing to the side, smiled, glanced at Xiren, and thought to herself:

Bao-gege's head maid is quite loyal to her master. On the surface, she said it was for Bao-gege's reputation, but in reality, she was afraid he would anger the third brother.

Shi Xiangyun didn't think too much about it and readily agreed:

"Exactly! Third Brother only has this one head maid in his room. How can Brother Ai possibly ask for another one? What kind of image would that create!"

"Besides, Brother Ai already has so many head maids in his courtyard, isn't he satisfied? He can't possibly take every pretty one in the mansion to his own courtyard!"

"Xiangling is doing very well with Third Brother now! Why are you forcing her! If Master finds out, you'll be in for a world of trouble!"

Jia Baoyu blushed with embarrassment after their words and forcefully retorted:

"I was just saying it casually; I didn't mean to force you!"

Shi Xiangyun snorted:

"Whether it was just a casual remark or not, you know perfectly well! I'm just advising you not to do anything shameful!"

"My third brother works hard outside, and you're disrespectful to his maid at home! What kind of behavior is that!"

Jia Baoyu blushed, and said in shame and anger:

"You're not on good terms with me anymore! You keep talking about Third Brother! You're always on his side, not mine!"

Shi Xiangyun spat:

"I'm not siding with Third Brother. I'm just being fair! You're in the wrong here!"

Shi Xiangyun has always been a straightforward and outspoken person, and she wouldn't give in to Jia Baoyu. With just a few words, she made Jia Baoyu blush with anger.

Shi Xiangyun continued:

"If you ask me, Brother Ai shouldn't always be thinking about pretty maids. He's getting on in years now, he should go to the clan school with Huan-ge and the others to learn more!"

"Now that Huan-ge'er, Cong-ge'er, and Lan-ge'er have all made progress, we can't just let our older brother stay at home and not study!"

Xiangyun's words were sincere; she was thinking of Jia Baoyu. For a boy, studying and making progress is the proper thing to do, and it's not good for him to stay in the inner quarters all the time.

This wasn't the first time Shi Xiangyun had tried to persuade Jia Baoyu; every time the topic came up, it inevitably led to a quarrel.

Suppressing his displeasure, Jia Baoyu retorted:

"Why haven't I gone to school? Master has already hired a tutor for our home, and I go to study regularly!"

Xiangyun pouted and said:

"Studying one day and resting three days—how can this kind of learning work! I think the clan school is much better; you can go for half a month at a time, and there's a teacher supervising you every day!"

"Whether studying literature or martial arts, only through perseverance can one make progress! Even if one doesn't aspire to be an official or a general, it's still good to gain more exposure to and understanding of the outside world!"

Seeing that Baoyu's expression had changed, Daiyu, who knew Baoyu's temperament well, quickly and quietly pulled Shi Xiangyun aside, signaling Xiangyun to stop talking, otherwise there would be another quarrel.

Seeing that Baoyu wouldn't listen to advice, Xiangyun felt a little sad. If it weren't for their childhood friendship, she wouldn't have said anything.

He then ignored Baoyu and changed the subject, asking Lin Daiyu:

"My third brother hasn't been home for over two months. I wonder what he's been up to all this time!"

"The New Year is almost here, I wonder when Third Brother will be back! Does Sister Lin know?"

What topics could the young ladies in the inner quarters possibly have to talk about? Every day, besides reciting poems, composing couplets, and gossiping, their main conversations revolved around Jia Jing, their familiar and close brother.

Lin Daiyu's bright eyes were moist, and she shook her head with a light laugh, saying:

"If you don't know, how would I know? But I think he'll probably come back for the New Year! Even high-ranking officials in the court take a break and go home around the New Year."

Then, turning to the young actor who was playing with Xichun, he asked:

"Little darling, do you know when your third brother will be returning to the manor?"

"I know! Third Master will be back after he finishes his work in the next couple of days, and he'll bring me a little pony. He said he'll teach me to ride, hehe!"

The little girl replied with a smile, saying that she asked the guards in the courtyard about Third Master's whereabouts every day, hoping that Third Master would come back soon to teach her how to ride a horse!

This was the reward Third Master gave her for speaking up for him at Rongqing Hall last time.

Ever since the eldest son of the East Mansion was beaten, the young actor's status in the mansion has become increasingly "important".

The servants in the mansion dared not neglect her more and more, and behind her back, they gave her another title: "The Nemesis of the Eastern Mansion".

Upon hearing the young actor's words, Shi Xiangyun clapped her hands and said:

"My third brother has been gone for over two months, and he's finally coming home! I heard that the court recently gave him an additional post to oversee the suppression of bandits in the capital region. I was worried he wouldn't even have time to come back for the New Year!"

"I suggest that when my third brother comes back, we hold a poetry gathering in his courtyard."

"Last time, Sister Lin and Sister Bao secretly obtained a good poem, but we can't let that happen again this time!"

Lin Daiyu was quite pleased to hear that Jia Jing would be back in the next couple of days, and said with a light laugh;

"What do you mean by sneaking around? I already said it was just a coincidence! As for your suggestion?"

"Third brother is a very busy man. If you can persuade him to attend our silly poetry gathering in the inner quarters, then you'll have a real skill!"

"Hmph, if Third Brother doesn't agree, I'll just act like Sister Lin and cry in front of him!"

Shi Xiangyun snorted and teased.

"Who are you calling petty!" Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun joked.

Baoyu, standing to the side, looked increasingly pale. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his face turned from red to black. He stood there, stunned.

His face, as round as the Mid-Autumn Festival moon, was wide-eyed, his chest tight with anger, and his expression frozen.

Even Lin Daiyu now calls me "Third Brother" all the time; her heart isn't with me anymore!

Her tears will no longer be shed for me alone!

Jia Baoyu stared blankly at Lin Daiyu, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and anxiety.

His feelings for Lin Daiyu were different from those for others; they held a special meaning in his heart.

Seeing the two laughing and joking about "Third Brother," Jia Baoyu finally couldn't hold back any longer and roared, snatching the jade pendant from his necklace and slamming it to the ground.

"What rubbish! You even claim to be a medium?! I'll smash you!"