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

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

"The Japanese pirates are audacious and deceitful, intending to seize the Great Yi, harming our people and deceiving our nobles. Their crimes are unforgivable."

"Fortunately, there were capable and extraordinary individuals who stepped forward to protect our people and safeguard our subjects; they repelled the Japanese pirates and took their lives. Now, after thoroughly investigating their names, they are hereby rewarded as follows."

"Feng Ziying, son of the Divine General Feng Tang, was highly skilled in martial arts and proficient in archery and horsemanship. He cleverly escaped from prison atop Plum Blossom Mountain and defeated the Japanese pirates."

"He was promoted to the rank of Fifth-Rank Guerrilla General and transferred from Lu Xiang, the Grand Marshal of the Northern Army."

"The top scholar Liu Ting possessed exceptional martial arts skills and extraordinary spirit. He single-handedly faced an army of ten thousand on the summit of Plum Blossom Mountain, successfully protecting everyone during their retreat."

"He was promoted to the rank of General of the Cavalry, fourth grade, and placed under the command of Prince Teng, the military governor of the capital."

"Specializing in suppressing Japanese pirates and bandits in the capital."

"Xue Pan, grandson of Ziwei Sheren. He has a rough and unruly nature and a chivalrous heart. When the Japanese pirates on Plum Blossom Mountain were in danger, he stepped forward and saved everyone from dire straits."

"By special imperial decree, the Xue family shall be exempt from all trade affairs and taxes for one year."

......

"Qian Qianyi of the Qian family, also known as the Water-Cold Young Master, is exceptionally quick-witted and unparalleled in spirit. At the summit of Plum Blossom Mountain, he feigned to be a traitor to the enemy, but in reality, he stole enemy intelligence and ultimately succeeded in rescuing everyone on Plum Blossom Mountain to safety."

"Now that the Emperor has bestowed this decree upon him, he is permitted to serve as a model for the scholars of Jinling City, refusing to bow before officials or submit to the law. All other scholars who see him must show him respect and deference, and submit to him wholeheartedly."

A large group of eunuchs, carrying the imperial edict, walked out of the palace gates.

An ordinary imperial edict was delivered to every household in Meihua Mountain on an ordinary afternoon.

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

The Divine Warrior General's Mansion.

Just as Feng Ziying was anxiously dispatching his old soldiers to continue searching for Jiao Si's whereabouts, he suddenly received this imperial edict.

After receiving the imperial decree and expressing his gratitude, he suddenly stood up and punched the stone table in the pavilion after the old eunuch who delivered the decree left.

"What's the reasoning behind that?"

"What do you mean I 'escaped from prison by cleverness'? It was clearly Brother Jiao who had extraordinary courage and successfully saw through the Japanese pirate leader's conspiracy, and that's why he did everything he could to create a chance for me to escape."

"If not for this, how could anyone survive on Plum Blossom Mountain?"

"Now we are all receiving rewards, even that scoundrel Qian Qianyi has earned a reputation as a thief. Why is Brother Jiao's name nowhere to be seen?"

As he spoke, Feng Ziying's large hands were filled with rage and hatred, almost tearing the imperial edict to shreds.

But then a voice, weathered and weary, was heard from outside the pavilion.

"Ying'er, this is the imperial court."

"Black becomes white, nothing becomes something, right becomes wrong, public becomes private."

"What's so surprising about dividing the credit among the dead?"

"Now that you have received your reward, you must think carefully about how to go further and longer on the path of the military. Only when you are in a high position will you have the right to say 'no' to the rules of the Great Yi Dynasty."

Feng Ziying gritted her teeth in resentment.

After a while, his gaze gradually calmed down.

Father is right.

If you want to get justice for Brother Jiao, instead of being cynical here, you should take advantage of this opportunity and climb a few feet higher.

Only those in high positions of power and influence will have their words heard.

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

In Jinling City, at the Xue family's old residence.

Xue Pan and Liu Ting knelt on the ground, quietly waiting for the old eunuch to read the imperial edict.

Xue Pan's eyes were filled with sorrow.

Brother Jiao, rest in peace... Although you died on Plum Blossom Mountain, the Great Yi Dynasty still remembers your achievements.

But the more names were read, the fewer there were.

With the word "So be it" uttered, the entire imperial edict came to an abrupt end, and the word "Jiao Si" was never heard.

Xue Pan stepped forward.

He took out a silver ingot from his pocket and stuffed it into the pocket of the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict.

"Your Excellency came all the way from the Forbidden City to read the imperial edict; it must have been a difficult task!"

"There is one thing that Xue Pan doesn't understand, and he would like to ask for your clarification, sir."

"Why is there no mention of 'Jiao Si' in this imperial edict? You must know, he was the true key to victory in the Battle of Plum Blossom Mountain!"

"And this Qian Qianyi, clearly a villain who colluded with Japanese pirates, how come he was also rewarded by the imperial court?"

The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree pocketed the silver and shook his head.

"Young Master Xue, I'm only here to deliver the imperial decree on His Majesty's orders. If you have any questions, why don't you just ask His Majesty directly?"

"As for this billion... kid, I'll say a few more words for the sake of your money."

"The Qian family is backed by the Eastern Depot. And behind the Eastern Depot, Prince Zhongshun is secretly pulling the strings."

"Prince Zhongshun is His Majesty's uncle; how can others be allowed to question his decisions?"

Xue Pan was about to argue when Liu Ting pressed him down with his large hands.

"Brother Xue, the law is as strict as the heavens. Without evidence, no matter how many times you argue, it will be in vain. The only solution now is..."

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

Beijing Palace.

Half a day had passed since the incident at Plum Blossom Mountain, and Shuiyun had taken countless calming medications before finally settling down.

But hearing the old eunuch reading the imperial edict in the courtyard, she could no longer contain herself and rushed out of the house.

Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, took out a silver coin and gently handed it to the eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree.

"Why isn't Jiao Si's name mentioned?"

"And there's this trillion-dollar sum. If he hadn't handed over Liu Ting's vital energy gate to the Japanese pirates, the Battle of Plum Blossom Mountain wouldn't have been so brutal."

"You old eunuch, you wouldn't have taken money from the Qian family and deliberately kept quiet about Qian Qianyi's affair, would you?"

Shui Rong hurriedly stood in front of Shui Yun.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he apologized to the eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree.

"Father-in-law, my younger sister has been spoiled since childhood, which is why she has developed such a willful nature."

"I hope you won't take offense, Father-in-law. After all, it's easy to offend people when you speak your mind."

The old eunuch who delivered the decree snorted coldly and did not pursue the matter further.

As Shuiyun watched the eunuch delivering the imperial decree walk further and further away, she could no longer contain her emotions and began to sob softly.

After a long silence, he seemed to have made up his mind.

He raised his hand, summoning Da Mao and Er Mao, and whispered instructions.

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

Rongguo Mansion.

The eunuch who read the imperial edict carefully tucked a silver ingot into his pocket and slowly left.

Wang Xifeng, the second wife of Lian, was out for a stroll when she encountered bandits, but managed to escape.

This news sounds absurd to anyone.

It does sound rather eerie that a woman with bound feet and limited mobility could survive the brutal and bloody conditions atop Plum Blossom Mountain.

But His Majesty's edict clearly states that Second Mistress Wang Xifeng, through her own wisdom and resourcefulness, successfully escaped!

I hereby bestow upon Your Majesty a jade ruyi scepter upon Your Majesty's desk!

Wang Xifeng, who had initially looked puzzled, now understood everything.

She looked at Grandmother Jia in the main hall.

"Old lady, I was able to escape this world thanks to that person's kindness."

"Our benefactor's remains are still in an unknown location. Could you perhaps mobilize a detachment of troops from your household to help search for his remains?"

Grandmother Jia's face was serious.

"Feng girl, you're so foolish!"

"For powerful families, regaining power is already extremely difficult; to rise again from decline is even more difficult than ascending to heaven."

"Don't mention troop deployment again! Self-preservation is the best policy!"

Wang Xifeng said no more and took her leave from Grandmother Jia.

Back in her own courtyard, she waved and Wang'er appeared.

"Go to the market in Jinling and call Ni Er to come see me. I have something to tell him."

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

Chongzheng Academy.

The girl sat in the chair, her expression unfriendly.

Her arrow wound had not yet fully healed, and at this moment she could only sit in a chair and slowly recuperate.

Beside him, Zheng Gong and Xin Like stood silently by his side.

For Xin Like and Zheng Gong, although Jiao Si died, it was a blessing that Qin was alive.

But then they heard the girl clench her teeth tightly, making a grinding sound.

"Brother Sunqian, is the imperial court going to erase your achievements?"

"But I'm determined to make the world remember you."

She took out an incense stick, lit it, and sat down in a chair, waiting for the others to arrive.

Zheng Gong sighed softly.

"Qin girl, Sihai Xiang can summon the leaders of the various halls of Erlang Society here. It should not be used indiscriminately unless absolutely necessary."

"How can you recklessly waste this Four Seas Incense for some random man?"

The girl remained silent.

He just kept repeating the last two lines of the poem by Jiao Si.

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

Cloud Tower on the Huai River.

Liu Rushi styled her hair in a married woman's bun and sat gracefully in front of the yellow mirror.

A three-foot-long white silk ribbon hung from the beam in the room.

At this moment, however, Liu Rushi seemed to have lost all intention of committing suicide.

"Butterfly, tell me, the imperial edict didn't mention Jiao Lang at all, but instead rewarded Qian Qianyi with a fortune?"

Seeing Die'er nod slightly, Liu Rushi smiled and lowered her head, seemingly finding it quite absurd.

After a long while, she finally raised her head.

"Butterfly, let's not die yet."

"Jiao Lang's merits are not yet cleared, and his great revenge is not yet avenged. How dare I speak of death?"

He patted Die'er's head.

"You must go to Jinling City and spread the news immediately."

"The matter of Liu Rushi's hair styling will proceed as usual. The third test will be held in seven days at the Cloud Tower on the Huai River."