Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

Prince Xin, Chen Jian, put down his silver chopsticks, looked at the table full of delicacies, and sighed softly.

During lunch with my elder brother and mother, I noticed that my elder brother was not in good spirits and barely touched his favorite crab meat lion's head meatballs.

We had originally planned to gather again for dinner, but just now we heard that the imperial physician had been summoned from the Qianqing Palace.

The Xuqin Palace behind Cining Palace was brightly lit with candles, but the light only made him feel more lonely—this exquisite imperial cuisine was not as satisfying as the mutton hot pot at the small restaurant outside Shenwu Gate.

He has always disliked these formalities.

Those palace servants standing respectfully on both sides probably never imagined that this nobleman was most familiar not with classics and historical texts, but with the prices of daily necessities in the capital.

He knew more about everything from the market prices of fresh vegetables to the market prices of antiques in Liulichang than even the purchasing eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department.

Just a few days ago, a clueless eunuch dared to overstate the amount of money spent on purchases. He was exposed on the spot by the price list from the West Market, and the man was so frightened that he kowtowed as if his face had turned ashen.

Perhaps the palace walls were too stifling, for he suddenly remembered the boy with the elegant handwriting and bright eyes, and thought he should send a eunuch to call him out so they could go out and play together.

Upon meeting him that day, Chen Jian felt an extraordinary affinity for him; otherwise, he would not have later gifted him the personal jade pendant bestowed upon him by his father.

Prince Xin tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and heard a servant report that Jia Yun was not spending the New Year at home, but had gone to the Iron Threshold Temple outside the city.

On a whim, he changed into a simple blue satin robe, typical of a wealthy young man, and rode out of the city with only two capable bodyguards.

"Your Highness, what are you doing going to that desolate mountain temple on New Year's Day?" the head guard couldn't help but ask.

Prince Xin cracked his whip and laughed, "Go find someone interesting. That Jia Yun is no ordinary, pedantic scholar."

Upon arriving at the Iron Threshold Temple, they learned that Jia Yun had gone to the Sanqing Temple on the back mountain.

Prince Xin then came looking for him again.

Even before getting close, one could hear the bustling noise and the firelight illuminating the sky inside the temple, a hundred times more lively than the proper banquets in the palace.

He gestured for his attendants to stay outside, and quietly went inside himself.

Inside the courtyard, charcoal fires roared, and the aroma of roasted lamb mixed with the scent of wine filled the air.

The four Zhou brothers were playing drinking games with Jia Yun, their voices echoing across the rooftops. Zhou Kui, his face flushed, was drinking heartily from a large bowl. Zhou Yingluo, her cheeks rosy, was fighting with her sister Wanyan over a bag of candied fruit, her laughter like silver bells.

Prince Xin's gaze was immediately drawn to the woman in plain clothes who sat quietly by the brazier.

Zhou Wanyan wore no makeup, her cotton dress as simple and elegant as snow. In the flickering firelight, her profile was as graceful as a lady in an ancient painting.

She would occasionally bend down to add firewood, a gentle smile always playing on her lips. Her calm and serene demeanor created a wonderful harmony with the surrounding liveliness, instantly captivating Prince Xin's heart.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, a charcoal fire blazed brightly, and the four Zhou brothers were playing drinking games with Jia Yun.

Zhou Jian's voice boomed: "Sixes are auspicious! Eight horses!"

Zhou Xuan, holding up a large bowl, laughed loudly: "Junior brother, you lost again! Drink!"

Zhou Yingluo clapped and cheered, while Zhou Wanyan sat quietly by the fire adding firewood, a smile playing on her lips.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the door. A servant boy ran in carrying two letters: "Second Master Yun, urgent news from the manor!"

Jia Yun opened the first letter with surprise and read: "Grandmother intends to test your knowledge in a few days, so please pay attention."

He opened the second letter: "The old lady wants to test my knowledge."

Zhou Yingluo leaned closer to look at the letter, then suddenly pinched Jia Yun's waist: "This handwriting is so delicate, which sister wrote it?"

"Ouch!" Jia Yun cried out in pain. "It was written by Caiming from Second Mistress Lian's room!"

"Caiming? You call me that so affectionately!" Yingluo pinched him again, causing everyone to laugh.

"It's a male!" Jia Yun hurriedly defended herself.

Prince Xin was utterly amazed by the lively scene. He had never seen anything so vibrant and lively in the palace before.

Zhou Kui, with his sharp eyes, spotted a distinguished-looking young man standing at the door. He stood up and asked in a gruff voice, "Young master, who are you looking for?"

Jia Yun turned around upon hearing the voice, and was startled to see it was Prince Xin. He quickly stood up to pay his respects.

Prince Xin, however, spoke first, waving his hand and laughing, "I am a friend of Yun-ge'er, surnamed Chen. I was passing by and heard the commotion, so I came to invite you all for a drink. I wonder if you would welcome me?"

His gaze couldn't help but drift towards Zhou Wanyan again.

Zhou Jian immediately made way for him, saying loudly, "Since he's my junior brother's friend, he's our friend too! Come, sit down! Eat meat! Drink wine!"

Prince Xin did not refuse and actually sat down, accepting a large bowl of wine handed to him by Zhou Xuan.

At first he was a little reserved, but the Zhou brothers didn't care about that and pulled him aside to play rock-paper-scissors.

"Five top honors! Six sixes bring good fortune!" Zhou Jian's voice boomed like a bell.

Prince Xin had never played this game before. After losing three rounds in a row and being forced to drink several bowls of wine, a blush immediately rose on his fair face.

Jia Yun, already seven-tenths drunk, saw Prince Xin embarrass himself and, forgetting his status, put his arm around his shoulder and laughed, "Brother Chen, you're too clumsy at this game! Come, come, let me teach you a new way to play!"

Emboldened by the alcohol, he brought out all sorts of drinking games from later generations: "Let's play 'Truth or Dare'! The loser either tells the truth or has to accept the punishment!"

Zhou Huan asked curiously, "This is interesting. How does it work?"

Jia Yun casually picked up an empty wine jar and placed it in the middle: "Spin the jar; whoever the jar's mouth points to has to choose!"

The first altar pointed directly at Prince Xin. Zhou Zhongqi clamored, "Which one will Young Master Chen choose?"

Looking at the expectant gazes of the crowd, Prince Xin hesitated and said, "Then... let's speak the truth."

Jia Yun, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, leaned closer: "Brother Chen, have you ever been interested in any young lady?"

Prince Xin glanced subconsciously at Zhou Wanyan, who was sitting quietly to the side, and his face immediately turned red. He stammered and couldn't say a word.

Everyone burst into laughter upon seeing this, and Zhou Yingluo laughed so hard she almost fell over.

Zhou Xuan shouted, "If you don't tell the truth, you have to drink!"

Prince Xin had no choice but to tilt his head back and drink the whole bowl, his tongue lolling out from the spiciness.

Seeing this, Zhou Wanyan silently handed over a bowl of hangover soup and said softly, "Young master, please drink slowly."

This caused Prince Xin to blush deeply, and his fingertips trembled slightly as he took the bowl.

In the second round, the altar turned to Jia Yun, who chose dare.

Zhou Jian laughed loudly and shoved a tattered felt hat onto his head: "Junior brother, hop around the fire three times like a rabbit!"

Jia Yun actually jumped up and down, and his comical appearance made even the usually quiet Zhou Wanyan unable to help but laugh. The corners of her eyes, which she covered her mouth with her sleeve, curved into crescents.

Prince Xin had never experienced such unrestrained joy, and gradually he also relaxed.

When it was Zhou Huan's turn to be punished, he surprisingly suggested, "Let's play pitch-pot! The loser has to tell a joke!"

"Good!" Prince Xin has finally found something he's good at. The palace often plays pitch-pot, and he's an expert at it.

Sure enough, he made one shot after another, drawing cheers from the Zhou brothers.

Zhou Huan lost, scratching his head and telling a vulgar joke, but Zhou Yingluo chased after him and beat him up.

Prince Xin, watching the lively scene, laughed heartily. Taking advantage of his drunken state, he leaned close to Jia Yun and whispered, "Yun-ge'er, your design from last time was very much liked by your elder brother. Do you have any other ingenious ideas? If you can offer one or two more, there will be a great reward!"

Jia Yun, already slightly tipsy, put his arm around Prince Xin's shoulder upon hearing this, completely forgetting their respective ranks: "Brother Chen, don't worry, I have plenty of clever ideas! Bicycles, thermometers, telescopes... I'll draw them for you slowly when I have time!"

Although Prince Xin did not understand these terms, he was taken aback by Jia Yun's intimate behavior.

Normally, he would have been punished for his disrespect, but in this mountain temple, he felt unusually comfortable addressing him as a brother.

"But now..." Jia Yun hiccuped, "I need to prepare for the exams first. Brother Chen, you don't understand, we scholars..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Wanyan came over with a bowl of hangover soup and said softly to Jia Yun, "Junior brother, drink less; you still have to study tomorrow."

The voice was gentle and clear, and the words that Prince Xin was about to say were immediately swallowed back, his face flushing again.

Her shy demeanor made her seem like a virgin.

Seeing this, the Zhou brothers gathered around again, egging them on: "Keep drinking! We won't leave until we're drunk tonight!"

After countless rounds of drinking, Prince Xin felt dizzy and his last memory was of Zhou Kui's booming laughter: "Help these two lads inside!"

The next morning, Prince Xin awoke with a hangover and a dry mouth.

He groggily opened his eyes and was shocked to find himself lying fully clothed on the hard earthen bed, with Jia Yun fast asleep beside him, one of her arms accidentally draped over him...

Prince Xin sat up abruptly, looking at the dilapidated roof, smelling the lingering scent of wine and firewood in the air, then looking down at himself and the sleeping Jia Yun beside him. Recalling the unprecedented revelry of the previous night, his expression became extremely strange.

He gently moved Jia Yun's arm away, and was about to get up when he saw Jia Yun mumble as he turned over: "Brother Chen... have some more..."

Prince Xin couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. Just then, Zhou Wanyan's gentle voice came from outside the door: "Has Young Master Chen woken up? I've prepared some congee and side dishes."

Prince Xin straightened his clothes and went out.

In the morning light, Zhou Wanyan stood in the courtyard holding a food box, her white clothes as pure as snow.

Prince Xin looked at her, and the flutter in his heart from last night surged up again.

Inside the house, Jia Yun was still fast asleep, completely unaware of the many stories that had unfolded that night.