Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

Jiao Si turned around and saw a beautiful young woman standing behind him, bending over and looking curious.

The veiled girl.

His male instincts prevented him from exposing his recent setback to a woman.

"Miss Qin, what a coincidence, you're here to admire the moon too!"

Jiao Si rubbed his nose guiltily, only to find that Miss Qin was covering her mouth and chuckling.

"Brother Sunqian has such refined tastes. He can't appreciate the moon at the academy, nor at home, but he insists on appreciating it on the deck outside the Yunlou Gate on the Qinhuai River."

"If it weren't for that question, I would have almost thought you were kicked out by the guards~"

Harmful!

The old woman had already foreseen her fate; she's just amusing herself right now!

He was so embarrassed that his face turned red, and he was trying to find an excuse to slip away.

The girl patted him on the shoulder.

"Come on, I'll take you inside!"

Jiao Si was somewhat surprised.

"Oh, Miss Qin, you're so rich? Judging from your relationship with that violent old man... no, judging from your relationship with Headmaster Xin, I thought you were like him, living a rather frugal life."

The girl with the zither smiled mysteriously.

Let's go!

"I can go in without paying!"

Jiao Si pursed his lips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

But then he saw the girl Qin leading him mysteriously to a back door.

Among the people guarding the door were several of those who had just groped Jiao Si's buttocks.

Seeing Jiao Si arrive again, the group exchanged glances, all wary of each other.

But then the girl with the zither clasped her hands together and spoke eloquently.

"The Heavenly Eye suddenly opens, illuminating the nine heavens."

The guard at the head of the group straightened up.

"A long sword, forged a hundred times, cuts through injustice."

"I wonder which boat you're on, brother, and which incense you're burning?"

Miss Qin cupped her hands in a respectful gesture.

"Iron-hulled ship, thirty-three feet long, strikes the white waters to the east amidst towering waves."

"Ambergris, in a golden censer, let's take this petition to the Heavenly Official."

The guard smiled, patted Jiao Si on the shoulder, and made way for him.

"So you're the brothers who came from Zheng Gong's boat. Why didn't you say so earlier? It's like the flood washed away the Dragon King Temple."

"Seating has already been arranged above, brothers, please take your seats."

The two of them spun around.

After entering through the back door, Jiao Si asked curiously.

"Miss Qin, was that... coded language just now?"

The girl smiled.

"It's not wrong to call it slang, but it's actually two fragments of a poem left by an old senior when the Erlang Society was founded."

"Although these two lines of poetry are unremarkable, the brothers in the guild tried to continue them several times, but they could never satisfy all the hall masters. So they abandoned them and made a secret."

Seeing Jiao Si deep in thought, Miss Qin joked.

"Brother Sunqian, perhaps you'd like to add a couple more lines?"

"You should know that Uncle Xin also tried it back then, but even with his poetic talent, he couldn't satisfy everyone."

"If you want to continue, you'll probably have to surpass Master Xin."

Jiao Si curled his lip.

I may not be able to defeat this violent old man, but the thousands of years of accumulation in another world in my mind are no joke.

"Miss Qin, if I could continue the story?"

A brief silence followed behind the veil.

"If you can continue, Erlang will naturally give you a reward that will satisfy you."

"Besides... haven't you always wanted to see my true face?"

"If you can continue the story, come find me anytime. As long as your sequel satisfies everyone, I will satisfy your curiosity."

Jiao Si rubbed his nose.

It seems that this half of the poem will have to be continued.

As for the present...

"Miss Qin, thank you for helping me on this journey."

"I have other business to attend to, so I won't bother you any longer. If I have any ideas in the future, I'll definitely come to you."

After bidding farewell to Miss Qin, Jiao Si glanced at Qian Qianyi, who was beaming with pride in the distance, and clenched his fist slightly.

Water-cooled bastard...

In a little while, I'll turn you into the Boiling Water Prince.

-----------------

The groups for the written test have not yet been finalized.

Not far from the table of the aloof young master Qian Qianyi, a dark-skinned, burly young man with a long sword at his waist, a beautiful woman in his arms, and a long, narrow scar on his face.

Beside him, a chubby, arrogant young man was embracing two beautiful women, groping them while looking at Qian Qianyi with dissatisfaction.

"Brother Feng, what's this Qian family kid up to? The written exam hasn't even started yet, and he's already boasting about his 'three unparalleled essays' and his 'certain victory'."

"I really want to know how scared he'll be when I, Xue Da, make my move!"

The burly, dark-skinned youth stroked the hilt of the knife at his waist and sighed.

"You idiot Xue, you scared me before you even scared Qian Shui Leng."

"If we're talking about wealth, you're definitely better than him. But if we're talking about poetic talent... sigh..."

"Let's make this clear first, I can only help you with the martial arts exam. You can't count on me for the literary exam."

Upon hearing this, Xue Da immediately became displeased.

Just as he was about to ask his brother Feng for clarification, he suddenly felt someone lightly patting him from behind.

"Hey buddy, I've got some 'good stuff' here, wanna grab some?"

When Xue Dayi turned around, he saw Jiao Si's face, which was beaming with a professional smile.

Looking at the outfit, the loose coat and the hands tightly wrapped around his body added a touch of sleazy air to the look.

This person's appearance, this place... this person must be...

Xue Da's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Is it colorful?"

"If they're in color, I'll take as many as you want. If they're black and white, get the hell out of here."

sweat......

It's so heartwarming to encounter someone with such a genuine love for the young imperial uncle in such an upscale place where tickets cost a thousand taels of silver.

Unfortunately, I don't have any in color, not even in black and white...

Upon hearing that there was no prize, Xue Er became enraged and tried to drive the people away.

"Brother, wait a minute! My stuff is way more exciting than any colored novel!"

"If you obtain this item, I guarantee you'll pass the written exam!"

As he spoke, Jiao Si opened his clothes, took out a few rolls of paper, and handed them to Xue Er.

"Rain patters on pear blossoms, the door is tightly shut..."

"I have never known love in my life..."

"What is love in this world...?"

Xue Er muttered to himself, turning the rolls of paper over and over again, his brows furrowed.

Just when Jiao Si thought the great thing was about to be accomplished, Xue Er suddenly stuffed the paper roll back.

"What 'this and that'? I can't even understand it, yet you dare to boast that you can help me pass the written exam?"

"Do you really think I, Uncle Xue, am a fool?"

"Hurry up, hurry up! Uncle Xue is busy reciting poetry with the girls, he doesn't have time for you!"

Today's fortune is influenced by the "Hua Gai" star, making it unsuitable for opening new businesses.

Another one who doesn't know what's good for them!

Jiao Si sighed inwardly and prepared to leave.

But then the burly, dark-skinned man spoke up.

"Brother Xue, this young man is quite literate. If you're willing to spend money and truly want to pass the written exam, perhaps he could help you; it might actually be possible."

Ok?

Although Xue Da did not trust Jiao Si, who had suddenly appeared, he trusted Feng Ge'er implicitly.

Hearing him say that, I couldn't help but feel a little wavering.

After glancing sideways at Jiao Si a few times, Xue Da asked again.

"How much do you want for these paper rolls?"

Anxious but overjoyed.

"That's the price we were originally going to get."

Jiao Si held up three fingers.

"It's only because I have a grudge against Qian Shui Leng, and the two of you happen to be in the same group as him, that's why I only want this price."

As he spoke, Jiao Si withdrew one finger.

Xue Da looked at Jiao Si's remaining two fingers and rubbed his chin.

"Hmm...that's a bit expensive..."

Anxious and hurried, he withdrew one more.

"It's alright!"

"As long as I can get the money cooled down, I can offer even more discounts!"

Xue Da clapped his hands together.

"good!"

"Ten thousand taels, it's settled!"

"However, before you take the exam, Brother Feng and I will test you to make sure you don't cheat and ruin our important plans."

One...ten thousand taels?

Jiao Si's mouth was wide open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

But then Xue Da's eyes darted around.

"Right now, on the Qinhuai River, in the most famous Huai Shang Yun Lou, I'm surrounded by women. Since that's the case..."

He closed his folding fan and pointed at Jiao Si.

"The three of us will then hold a poetry contest on the theme of 'daughter'."