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

Seeing the two of them talking back and forth, Lin Daiyu lowered her long eyelashes, her bright eyes narrowed, and she didn't know how to respond.

In terms of political sensitivity and career prospects, although she was not good at them, she was originally better than Baochai and the three sisters.

After all, she had a father who was a top scholar in the imperial examinations, and she had been exposed to the world of literature since childhood. In addition, she had read some political books and the Four Books in Lin Ruhai's study, so she had some understanding of the subject.

However, Baochai came prepared this time, and because she was ill, weak and short of breath, she couldn't keep up with the conversation for a while.

As Baochai spoke of the benefits of the new policies, Daiyu's bright eyes sparkled, and she casually brushed her hand over the teacup that Jia Jing had placed on the small table beside the bed.

"Snap!"

The teacup tipped over from the small table and rolled onto the floor with a crisp sound.

Baochai stopped talking in the room and turned her attention to the teacup that had fallen to the ground.

Zijuan quickly stepped forward and asked with concern:

"Are you alright, young lady?"

Then he looked at the teacup at Jia Jing's feet. There wasn't much water in the teacup, and it was some distance away from Jia Jing's legs, so it didn't spill on Jia Jing.

Daiyu's starry eyes, beneath her delicate, misty brows, were now as bright as lacquer. She spoke softly:

"I'm fine. I was so engrossed in listening to Sister Bao's profound discourse that I didn't notice and knocked over the teacup on the small table."

"It was my fault for interrupting Sister Bao and Third Brother's conversation!"

Baochai's fair face froze for a moment. She glanced at the small table, which was quite a distance away from Daiyu, with her watery almond eyes, raised her eyebrows, and said nothing more.

Jia Jing vaguely sensed that he was being sarcastic and unfriendly by Lin Daiyu!

He's still sick! And he dares to subtly criticize himself.

He dared not even imagine what Lin Daiyu would do if she recovered from her illness.

However, since he has regained some of his former temperament, it seems that my words of comfort earlier had some effect.

Thinking of this, Jia Jing felt a little relieved.

After Zijuan cleaned up the broken porcelain shards on the ground, Yingchun, Xichun, and Xiangyun's voices came from outside the courtyard.

Xiangyun was the first to walk in, smiling. Upon seeing Jia Jing, Baochai, and Daiyu, she said:

"Third Brother, you're here too! Sister Bao, you left too quickly, why didn't you wait for us?"

Xiangyun had a smile on her face, as if she was always this happy.

Then Yingchun and Xichun also came in.

"Hehe, Third Brother!"

Xi Chun, with her wispy bangs and beautiful features, no longer had the aloofness she had shown at their first meeting. She greeted Jia Jing in a clear, crisp voice.

She was followed by two maids, Ruhua and Caiping.

"Why are you so happy today, Fourth Sister? And did you catch that giggling from the little actor?"

Jia Jing ruffled Xi Chun's hair as she walked to his side.

Xi Chun blinked her small eyes and said with a smile:

"Yes! Little Jiao promised that when her little pony comes, she will let me ride it."

"Oh, you want to ride a pony too?"

Jia Jing asked with a smile.

Seeing that Xichun had become more innocent and lively like her peers, he was very pleased.

Although he hasn't done anything intentionally, the fates of those around him are gradually improving without him even noticing.

In the original novel, Xichun is described by You Shi as a person who is "cold-mouthed and cold-hearted, ruthless and cruel".

This is not because Lady You was prejudiced against Xichun and made up something out of nothing.

In the original novel, during the search of the Grand View Garden, Xi Chun's maid, Ru Hua, was reprimanded for secretly passing things around.

At this point, Xichun not only did not defend or plead for Ruhua, but instead urged, "Beat her, kill her, or sell her. Take her away quickly."

She said, "As the ancients said, 'Good and evil, life and death, even father and son cannot help each other'... I only know that I can protect myself, I don't care about you."

He also said, "If you don't act ruthlessly, you'll never be able to live a truly free life. I'm an innocent person, why should you corrupt me!"

Is this something a teenager should say?

However, Xichun's personality was not inherently so aloof and cold; rather, it was the unique environment of the Jia family that caused her tragedy.

In Chapter 40 of the original novel, Granny Liu said, "Old Liu, Old Liu, eats like a cow, he can eat a whole sow without even looking up."

Everyone laughed. Xichun left her seat, pulled her wet nurse, and asked her to rub her intestines.

This was the only time she acted cute, which shows that she does have a lovely side.

Xi Chun gradually became cold and indifferent because she lacked parental love from a young age.

Her biological father, Jia Jing, went to become a Taoist priest and abandoned her; her biological mother died early; and her biological brother, Jia Zhen, was a scoundrel who also neglected her.

Although she was raised by Grandmother Jia from a young age, Grandmother Jia never really paid much attention to her.

Nominally a young lady, she was actually a dispensable and invisible figure in the Rongguo Mansion, even less important than Yingchun and Tanchun.

After all, she wasn't a member of the Rongguo Mansion, and her blood relation with Grandmother Jia was quite distant. It wouldn't be proper for a young lady from the Ningguo Mansion to live in the Rongguo Mansion.

Furthermore, after witnessing the tragic fates of her sisters Yingchun and Daiyu, her increasingly aloof nature had objective reasons.

Finally, having personally witnessed the devastating confiscation of the Jia family's property, he chose to become a monk amidst his grief.

Her decision to become a nun may not have been a sign of renunciation of worldly desires, but rather an escape from a state of negativity and helplessness.

Upon hearing Jia Jing's question, Xi Chun raised her delicate and adorable face and replied with a smile:

"I want to ride it! But only the little one has one..."

After saying that, she secretly glanced at Jia Jing, her face paused slightly, she twisted her body, and hesitated as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Jia Jing said gently:

"Since Fourth Sister likes it too, how could Third Brother not grant your wish? Consider it a New Year's gift from your brother. I'll have someone send a few more when I get back; they should arrive in the next day or two!"

"From now on, every Lunar New Year you can ask your brother for a gift, okay?"

"Pop! Third Brother, you're so kind!" Upon hearing Jia Jing's words, Xi Chun was overjoyed and kissed him on the cheek, saying with a smile.

Jia Jing was caught off guard and was somewhat stunned.

However, Xichun is still young, so it's normal for her to act in such a childlike way.

Daiyu, Xiangyun, and the others smiled upon seeing this scene of deep sibling affection. Xiangyun said:

"Third brother, you can't show favoritism! All of us younger sisters are watching!"

"Also, last time you only recited poems about snow with Sister Lin and Sister Bao, and they secretly learned how to write good poems. You can't do that this time."

"I've already spoken to my family; I'll be spending the Lunar New Year with my mother and won't be going back home this year. We'll hold a poetry gathering during the holiday, and I'm inviting you in advance!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing pondered for a moment and said:

"The foals are no problem. You'll each get one as a New Year's gift from your brother."

"But this poetry gathering... I have to attend the grand court ceremony and banquet held in the palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and on the second and third days I have to attend the New Year's greetings gathering among my colleagues."

"I also need to visit some relatives and friends back home, but I might not be able to find the time..."

Xue Baochai, standing to the side, smiled and advised Xiangyun:

"Third Brother is a high-ranking official and very busy. Sister Yun, please don't force him!"

Daiyu glanced at the two of them, then called Xiangyun over and said with a mischievous smile:

"Sister Yun, I told you Third Brother is a very busy man; you couldn't possibly get him to attend our silly poetry gathering in the inner quarters!"

"I've told you, but you won't listen. Now your third brother and Baochai have both spoken up, and you still won't listen?"

Jia Jing: "..."

This sentence sounds so familiar!

It seems I've been subtly teased by the quirky Lin Daiyu again!

Baochai's smile faltered; Lin Daiyu's mood seemed different today!

What's wrong?

Could it be because of illness?