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

After everyone had left, Daiyu leaned against the headboard, holding the note Jia Jing had left behind while writing his poem, lost in thought.

Originally, Shi Xiangyun also wanted this piece of paper, believing that since she had obtained the poems herself, it should belong to her.

However, Daiyu argued that the poem was written in her own room and that the title was about visiting her illness, so it undoubtedly belonged to her.

In the end, Xiangyun, considering Daiyu's illness, gave in to her this time.

Zijuan quietly brought in the medicine that Xueyan had prepared from the outer room and placed the bowl on the small table beside the bed.

Seeing Daiyu staring at the note in a daze, he couldn't help but smile.

"Girl, your medicine is here. You should drink it and then go to sleep!"

Daiyu's reverie was interrupted by Zijuan. She snapped out of her reverie, gave a lazy "hmm," and seeing Zijuan's smiling face, asked:

What are you grinning about?

Zijuan sat down on the embroidered stool by the bed, pulled the quilt up a little tighter around Daiyu, picked up the medicine bowl again, and continued to smile:

"I laugh at the girl; her body is here, but her soul isn't!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's hand trembled, and the paper fluttered onto the bed. She instantly became alert and defensive, glaring at Zijuan and saying:

"What nonsense are you spouting? Have you mistaken someone for a stranger?"

Zijuan was not afraid of her at all. She and Daiyu were mistress and servant in name, but in reality, they were sisters who depended on each other for survival.

Instead, she leaned even closer, lowered her voice, and chuckled mischievously:

"When the Marquis was here just now, the young lady was not like this at all. She seemed quite different from usual."

"The Marquis told you to eat and take your medicine properly, and you obediently complied. When Miss Bao and the Marquis were discussing current affairs, you 'accidentally' interrupted them."

"His eyes darted between the curtains and the blankets, but he dared not look at the Marquis."

"Now that the Marquis is gone, you're staring blankly at the note he left behind. I'm not making this up, am I?"

Daiyu's face flushed red instantly, even her ears burned. She picked up the pillow beside her and threw it at Zijuan, saying angrily and embarrassingly:

"You...you're getting more and more unruly! What do you mean by 'obediently agreeing'? What do you mean by 'accidentally interrupting'? What do you mean by 'looking around like that'?"

"I was just feeling unwell and spaced out, and you're making up stories about me!"

"What's different from usual? Third brother has always treated his younger sister well. How dare you gossip like that!"

"I see that you are different from before. If you want to go with your third brother, I will grant your wish."

Zijuan was not annoyed by what she heard. Instead, she smiled even more as she looked at Daiyu's face, which was flushed with embarrassment and anger.

This is the vibrant complexion a normal girl should have, not the pale look she had before due to vomiting blood.

Zijuan smiled and put the pillow that Daiyu had tossed to her back in its original place, then said earnestly:

"I've known this girl for so long, and I can't fool her feelings, even if you can fool others."

"My master and I depend on each other for survival in this household. Does the young lady not trust me? Is there anything we can't say to each other?"

"Alright! Let's not talk about that anymore, drink your medicine first!"

Daiyu remained silent for a while, then sighed.

Seeing Zijuan bring the medicine bowl to her lips, she frowned and drank the medicine in one gulp.

Zijuan quickly handed her some water to rinse her mouth and then used a handkerchief to wipe the medicine from the corners of her mouth.

Daiyu rinsed her mouth, lay back on the pillow, her expression unreadable, but her gaze drifted to Zijuan's face. After thinking for a moment, she said:

"I understand what you're thinking! But I advise you not to overthink it. My third brother was ennobled at a young age and is a hero of his generation. He only has the thought of his country and his family in his heart."

"To me, it's just brotherly and sisterly affection. Thinking about these romantic feelings will only demean ourselves."

Upon hearing this, Zijuan's smile faded, and she frowned, saying:

"I don't understand what you mean, young lady!"

"How is that demeaning? It's perfectly normal for a man to marry and a woman to be married when she comes of age!"

"Look at Miss Bao, how bold she was just now! Not only did she look at the books those boys were reading outside, but she also discussed current affairs with the Marquis."

"She spoke eloquently about salt administration and new policies, and her eyes were constantly fixed on the Marquis. I think her feelings for him go far beyond those of a brother and sister!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's eyes darkened, and she thought to herself:

"You've seen through Bao'er's thoughts too, so what's there to say? She's already like this, can we still argue with her?"

Daiyu lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes, making her complexion somewhat dull.

Zijuan grasped Daiyu's hand and said solemnly:

"What do you mean, 'this' and 'that'? They haven't even discussed marriage yet! I think it's impossible for Miss Bao and the Marquis to get married!"

"In terms of background, her family is merely imperial merchants, and she lost her father at a young age. Their status and position are far inferior to that of the Marquis."

"The young lady's family has been nobles for generations, and the master is a third-ranked scholar and an important official in the court. The Marquis also said that when the master returns to the capital, he will probably be promoted even further."

"The girl's mother was also a legitimate daughter of the Jia family, the old lady's own daughter, and their family backgrounds were a perfect match."

"As for feelings, the young lady and the marquis have known each other for many years. Miss Bao has only been here for a short time, and she has only met the marquis a few times."

"In terms of looks and appearance, and I'm not bragging, how many young ladies in the entire capital can compare to you, young lady?"

"In terms of talent, young lady, you are proficient in poetry, lyrics, songs, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"Not to mention, before the Marquis returned, there were rumors in the manor about a perfect match, a golden and jade pairing. Wasn't it said that the one who wears gold should be paired with the one who wears jade?"

"I heard from people that this news came from the Second Madam's courtyard; the Second Madam wants to matchmake Miss Bao and Second Master Bao!"

"For Miss Bao to want to marry the Marquis is a pipe dream, an impossible task!"

"On the contrary, for you, young lady, this matter will be much simpler once the master agrees."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's complexion improved somewhat. She gently tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't, so she let Zijuan hold it.

Seeing that Daiyu did not refute, Zijuan became bolder and leaned closer to say:

"Actually, the most important thing about this matter is the Marquis's thoughts."

"As you know, no one in this household can make decisions for the Marquis."

"Although marriage has always been arranged by parents and matchmakers since ancient times."

"But now that the Marquis's father is dying, not to mention the First Madam, she is neither the Marquis's biological mother nor does she have a good relationship with him. Would the Marquis allow her to interfere in his own marriage?"

"The old lady probably wants to marry Miss Yun to the Marquis, to strengthen family ties. Although she hasn't said it outright, it's been rumored among the servants."

"But none of that matters. There are plenty of people in the capital who want to marry the Marquis. Before the Marquis returned, the doorsteps of the mansion were practically worn down by suitors."

"The Duke's mansion, the Marquis's mansion, and even the Dowager Princess of the Prince's mansion all came. The young lady experienced that period herself. The old lady received guests every day, but she didn't dare to arrange a marriage for the Marquis, did she?"

"I'm not suggesting that the young lady compete with anyone for anything, it's just that a good match like the Marquis's is indeed hard to find."

"If the young lady has no intention, that's fine. But if she does, she should act quickly and let the Marquis know as well."

"The Marquis is not young anymore, and I reckon the marriage will only be a matter of one or two years. If another young lady gets there first, she won't even have time to regret it!"

"To be honest, I think the Marquis treats the young lady differently too!"

Daiyu's eyelashes trembled, her face flushed slightly, but she forced a calm tone. She turned her head away and said in a muffled voice:

"What's the difference! I think Third Brother treats all of us younger sisters the same."

"The gifts they give are always the same, and they care about everyone."

"Especially with Bao'er, as you just saw, he got along very well with her and praised her a lot!"

Zijuan chuckled upon hearing this:

"So, young lady, you're admitting you deliberately knocked over the teacup just now?"