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

Chongzheng Academy, with its headmaster residing in the center.

Xin Like was carrying a jar of wine, pouring and drinking it by himself.

The girl sat to one side, looking out the window.

Jiao Si walked in.

"Finished the exam? How was it?" Xin Like didn't even lift her eyelids.

Jiao Si paused for a moment, then briefly recounted the poem he had written.

"When hungry, chirping is called singing; when cold, shivering is called singing; when wings are broken and dying, the mournful cries never cease, and people still call it singing."

Next, he also mentioned the events in the text that directly pointed to the northern frontier, the East China Sea, and Plum Blossom Mountain, as well as the poem at the end of the text that read "Behind the red gates, wine and meat go to waste."

Before he could finish speaking...

The girl with the zither stood up abruptly, her eyes wide open beneath her veil.

"Jiao Si! Are you crazy? That's the imperial examination!"

"Writing this kind of thing, is this not taking an exam? It's clearly challenging royal authority, risking your life and future for a moment of impulsiveness!"

With a "crack," the wine glass in Xin Like's hand broke open from his grip.

"evil creature!"

Xin Like slammed his hand on the table, causing the stone table to shake.

"I teach you both literature and martial arts so that you can strengthen your body and distinguish right from wrong, not so that you can display reckless courage or become some kind of upright and outspoken minister!"

"A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act! Haven't I told you that before?!"

"War in the northern frontier, Japanese pirates in the East China Sea, corrupt practices in the imperial court..."

"Which of you officials doesn't know the truth about these matters? Who gives you, a mere commoner and scholar, the right to point fingers and spout nonsense in the imperial examination hall?!"

"You're courting death!!"

His roar was like thunder, so loud that it seemed to shake the roof beams.

After Xin Li stopped breathing heavily, Jiao Si slowly spoke.

"Master, when you were an official in the court, were you also demoted from your position as censor to become the headmaster of Chongzheng Academy because you were 'unable to know when to advance and retreat' and spoke frankly, thus offending powerful figures?"

Xin Like was suddenly startled.

The hand pointing at Jiao Si froze in mid-air.

"Your disciple has merely learned from what Master did back then."

"Some things, once I see them or think about them, I just have to get them off my chest. To gloss over problems or pander to others is not my style."

"I suppose that's not your logic either."

Xin Li Ke stared intently at Jiao Si, her eyes swirling with extremely complex emotions.

A long time passed.

Xin Li sighed heavily and deeply.

He turned his back, looked towards the palace, and spoke in a low voice.

"You are different from me."

"Back then, I was merely demoted. This time, you have offended the Emperor, mocked the entire court, and shattered the illusion of 'peace and prosperity'."

"Given His Majesty's already delicate attitude towards the 'Yellow Dragon Mandate Talisman,' coupled with this outrageous article of yours, which is enough to cause a huge uproar..."

He paused, then spoke each word as if delivering a verdict.

"His Majesty is currently in a fit of rage."

"You will die."

Upon hearing this, Qin's face turned pale instantly.

"Uncle Xin! We can't just watch Jiao Si..."

Xin Liqi suddenly turned around.

"Little Qin'er!"

"Immediately utilize Erlang's covert network in Jinling!"

"Prepare the fastest horses, the fastest ships, and enough provisions and silver! Investigate all routes out of the city, especially waterways and secluded paths!"

"If anything changes or the situation becomes suspicious, immediately escort Jiao Si out of Jinling!"

"Let's head south first...yes, let's go to the water fortress for temporary refuge, and then we'll plan our next move!"

The girl nodded emphatically.

She gave Jiao Si a deep look, her eyes filled with reproach and concern.

"You stay in the academy and don't go anywhere! Wait for my news!"

Having said that, she didn't linger any longer. Her white figure swept out of the mountain residence like the wind and quickly disappeared into the twilight.

Xin Li Ke looked at Jiao Si again, his tone stern.

"You wretched child! From this moment on, you are not to step out of the academy without my permission! You shall remain here in this mountain dwelling and go nowhere!"

Jiao Si reluctantly agreed.

He knew that this time, he might have really stirred up a hornet's nest.

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

The mountain is outside, behind the artificial rockery.

A figure hidden in the shadows overheard the entire conversation that had just taken place inside the room.

It was Hong Chou, who had changed his name to Hong Chengchou.

He had come to bid farewell to Xin Like and prepare to transfer to the Qian family's school, but unexpectedly he heard such news.

Anxious...

He actually wrote a rebellious article on the college examination paper that satirized the current political situation and directly criticized the court for whitewashing the truth.

A look of wild joy flashed in Hong Chengchou's eyes.

He quietly retreated, quickly left the academy's grounds, and immediately headed towards the Qian residence.

The Qian family study.

Qian Chou was staring blankly at a portrait of Qian Qianyi, his eyes gloomy.

A knock came at the door.

"Father, it is I who bear the brunt of your hatred."

"Come in."

Hong Chengqiu pushed open the door and entered, bowing respectfully.

"Father, this is incredible news!"

"It concerns the Emperor's dignity, the court's decorum, and even more so, the very foundation of our Great Yi Dynasty!"

Qian Chou raised an eyebrow: "Speak."

Hong Chengchou stepped forward and recounted everything he had heard outside the mountain residence, embellishing the story.

As Qian Chou listened, the gloom on his face was gradually replaced by a kind of ecstasy and malice.

He couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Excellent! Excellent Jiao Si! What a fine 'Ode to the Singing Bird'!"

He looked at Qian Qianyi's portrait, his eyes gleaming.

"Billions, did you hear that? This is what they call 'Heaven's punishment may be avoided, but self-inflicted punishment is inescapable!'"

"Does he think that having a broken jade talisman for protection means he can disregard royal authority and court laws? Does he think he can act so recklessly?"

Hong Chengchou immediately bowed, his tone extremely "earnest," and he placed the hat on the ground very high.

"Father is absolutely right!"

"This child is arrogant and unruly, daring to speak ill of the emperor's virtues and criticize the peaceful state of the realm. This is a grave crime of disrespecting the emperor and undermining the foundation of the nation! He is truly a malignant tumor in our Great Yi Dynasty and a major threat to Your Majesty's rule!"

"He is courting death! He has severed ties with the court and with the scholars of the land! The Holy Emperor is benevolent and magnanimous, and has shown great leniency in the past. This time, he must not allow such a madman to tarnish the examination hall and mislead the people!"

Qian Chou nodded in satisfaction, his smile growing increasingly sinister.

"I was worried about how to find an opportunity to kill him. I never expected him to put his own neck under the guillotine!"

"This time, we won't need to use our dirty hands. His Majesty's wrath will be enough to crush him to pieces!"

He stood up, paced around the room a few times, then stopped and looked at Hong Chengchou.

"You did a great job. This news is priceless."

"Keep an eye on Chongzheng Academy, especially Xin Like and that Qin girl's movements. They... certainly won't sit idly by and wait to be killed."

"Yes, Father! Your son will remember!" Hong Chengchou replied respectfully.

Qian Chou straightened his clothes, a ruthless and decisive glint in his eyes.

Stepping out of the study, I gazed at the deepening twilight.

The pain and hatred that had been building up in his heart for so long, as if it had finally found the most intense and cathartic outlet.

Jiao Si, your death is truly upon you this time.

"Prepare the sedan chair!"

"To the Eastern Depot's office!"

He wanted to immediately and completely report this tremendous "good news" to Wei Xian.