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

At this moment, Jiao Si was truly overwhelmed with worry.

Xin Like stood by, watching intently. It was clear that if he couldn't give a proper explanation, he would immediately kick him out.

The veiled girl crossed her arms, and although there was a veil between her and the others, one could imagine the amused expression on her face.

statement……

statement……

Jiao Si's head was as big as a bucket.

In my haste, I caught a glimpse of a piece of scrap paper on the table.

There was also a short poem on the paper.

What caught his attention were the last four lines.

I'd rather be a frivolous young man from the Five Mausoleums.

Born during the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan eras.

A life of cockfighting and dog racing.

The safety of heaven and earth is unknown.

Old Xin, as expected, suffers from the common ailment of scholars: he always feels that his talents are not being recognized and his ambitions are not being fulfilled...

Jiao Si quickly came up with an idea.

He laid out the paper, applied the ink, and began to write three characters.

Ode to Dried Bamboo Shoots

Then Xin Li Ke let out a cold snort.

"You wretched child! You've really gotten so engrossed in entertainment venues that you've forgotten all your studies!"

"Your calligraphy used to be decent, but it wasn't this ugly. You think you can pass the imperial examination with such terrible handwriting?"

"dream!"

Damn it, the original owner left, taking her beautiful handwriting with her.

The body now inhabited by Jiao Si, who spent his entire life using a hard-tipped pen, has no one to reason with.

Unable to respond, he hurriedly put down his pen and wrote the first sentence.

He possesses the talent to soar to the clouds.

"Gambled away your entire fortune, and now you realize you're in debt? Too late!"

He remained silent, then picked up his pen and wrote the second sentence.

His life's ambitions were never realized.

hiss......

Xin Li frowned slightly.

The first line was supposed to be about this wretched child reflecting on his own sins, but now this line, "His heart has never been open throughout his life," seems to be directed at me.

But Jiao Si's pen continued to flow, and he quickly wrote down the last two lines.

On the day of disembowelment,

Only then did I realize that my heart remained unchanged.

"What a clever idea!"

Xin Shanzhang remained silent, but the veiled girl clapped her hands in praise.

"Although dried bamboo shoots are a small item in the kitchen, this poem uses the small to symbolize the big, using 'bamboo shoots that cannot grow into bamboo' to symbolize 'a person who is not successful'."

"The last two lines may sound a little awkward, but 'unyielding innocence even when one lays bare one's heart'—is this not a true reflection of the countless loyal and devoted men of our Great Yi Dynasty?"

"Uncle Xin, Laiwang from the Rongguo Mansion says this kid is a notorious gambler who refuses to pay his debts. But you always say that poetry reveals one's character, so why do I feel this kid is more like a righteous man?"

As the veiled girl spoke, Xin Like's lips trembled slightly, as if he had a thousand words to say but could not utter them.

"Unopen-minded and unchanging, isn't that exactly what Lao Xin thinks?"

Although we old ministers have been sidelined in the power struggles between civil and military officials, our hearts for the country and the people have never changed in the slightest.

Otherwise, why would I be confined to Chongzheng Academy?

Why would Lao Zheng lead a fleet to explore the four seas?

Why would we old soldiers establish this "Erlang Society"?

Xin Li Ke was so engrossed in her personal emotions that Jiao Si was left somewhat at a loss.

The veiled girl cheered, but Old Xin remained silent.

Could it be that my flattery backfired?

"Headmaster Xin..."

"Headmaster Xin?"

"Headmaster Xin!"

"You wretched child! Stop yelling! I'm not dead yet!"

He ducked his head and quickly fell silent.

But then Xin Like rubbed his chin and looked at Jiao Si with great interest.

"No wonder the sage said, 'When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests their resolve.'"

"In the past, although you had a reputation for intelligence at the academy, you were still confined to the rigid eight-legged essay and fell into the clichés."

"You've managed to bring out some new meaning in today's poem, even though it's not in perfect rhyme or meter and doesn't use any allusions."

"Not bad, not bad..."

Passed.

Jiao Si finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Headmaster Xin, since it's a good match, then regarding the guarantor..."

"No rush."

"Within half a month, bring reliable information about how you dealt with the Second Mistress of the Rongguo Mansion to the academy, and I will arrange a guarantor for you."

Damn it!

I racked my brains to come up with these few crooked lines of poetry, and you're telling me I'm not in a hurry?

How to appease the second mistress of the Rongguo Mansion?

How can I, a nobody, possibly handle this?

If things are really settled, why would we need you to arrange a guarantor?

"You old man..."

"...In addition to this, I'll offer an extra reward: I'll accept you as my disciple, Xin Li Ke. What do you say?"

......

"The old headmaster is highly capable and has a long-term vision; it's only right that he puts me to a slight test!"

"I will definitely come to see the headmaster in half a month, bringing all the information and tuition fees!"

After offering a few servile compliments, Jiao Si left the academy with a fawning smile.

Behind.

The veiled girl looked at Jiao Si's retreating figure, her words carrying a strange meaning.

"Uncle Xin, are you sure you want to... take him as your apprentice?"

"Although this man's poem is full of spirit and quite impassioned, he's been staring at my veil ever since he entered the room. I wonder what he's thinking!"

"Moreover, this person has a grudge against the Duke's mansion; he's likely a huge problem!"

Xin Like stroked his short beard and laughed heartily.

"Little Qin'er, when has your Uncle Xin ever been afraid of trouble?"

"As for this kid..."

"It's alright."

"It's not the trouble you should be afraid of; only cowardly and timid people don't cause trouble. As long as you can handle the trouble yourself, you're a capable person."

The veiled girl lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

But then someone outside the door barged in, cursing and swearing.

He was a bald, fat chef.

"Brother, wasn't this the arrangement yesterday? Why are we having dried bamboo shoots stewed with salted pork today? Why did you sneak in the ingredients yourself?"

As he spoke, the cook reached out to take some dried bamboo shoots.

But Xin Like reached out and stopped him.

"Second Pig, keep these dried bamboo shoots. Go find some fresh bamboo shoots elsewhere."

"What do you need dried bamboo shoots for?"

"To express one's aspirations."

"You're quite clever, where am I supposed to dig bamboo shoots now?" The fat cook looked puzzled and scratched the wrinkles on his scalp.

Xin Li pondered for a moment.

"There's a bamboo grove in front of Hong Linsheng's house; you can go and dig some up."

"Him? He spends all day chanting to that bamboo grove something like, 'The emperor's grace is as high as the sky, the subject's loyalty is as strong as this bamboo. The emperor's grace is as deep as the sea, the subject's loyalty is as heavy as a mountain.' Going to his place to dig bamboo shoots is like asking him to die, isn't it?" The fat cook said with some reluctance.

"It's alright."

"Playing with toys leads to the loss of ambition, and a loyal subject cannot be cultivated by a few bamboo stalks. Moreover, it is premature for a student to call himself 'your subject' at this age."

Hong Linsheng's cultivation of bamboo is an example of indulging in trivial pursuits and neglecting one's duties.

You stole my dried bamboo shoots; that's how you show your loyalty.

Ershi glanced at the dried bamboo shoots on the table and gave Xin Like a disdainful look.

He finally shook his head and left.

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

The moonlight was soft and warm, and the night was cool and still.

Jiao Si lay in bed, gazing at the full moon in the sky, his thoughts racing.

Although becoming Master Xin's disciple after successfully completing the task was an unexpected bonus;

It's no easy task to appease a duke's matriarch in a short period of time.

Moreover, in just a few days... it will be Grandmother Jia's birthday.

It was also Wang Xifeng's promise that they would meet again someday.

The incident of Wang Xifeng abandoning her post as a government official was clearly a warning to herself. If she couldn't find a way to break through this situation, the next time it might not be as simple as just abandoning her post as a government official.

What a hassle!

Otherwise, we should try to get some money to settle her accounts.

The thought had barely formed when Jiao Si shook his head.

That thousand taels of silver was the capital Wang Xifeng used to scheme against Jiao Da; her original intention was to make a deal that would harm both herself and Jiao Da.

Now that her business has failed, am I, the victim, supposed to make up for her losses?

Pathetic!

There's no need to repay the money; I still have a sharp knife.

That's the matter of bad debts.

As long as this knife can be handed to the right person, without having to do it personally, the high and mighty Second Madam Lian can be injured, knocked down, or killed on the ground!

But this messy debt...

Some strong evidence is still lacking.

The knife is sharp, but it has no handle. Even if you were to hand it to someone, they probably wouldn't dare to take it...

After much deliberation, anxiety inevitably led to sighs.

A soft voice suddenly came from outside the window.

"My benefactor, are you still not resting at this late hour?"

Oh, it's Miss Lu.

He rose to welcome them in, and the two sat down by the candlelight.

In Jiao Si's eyes, Miss Lu was a prostitute who was seduced and then abandoned, and she also had a great grudge against Wang Xifeng.

Since we're on the same side, there's nothing to hide.

Jiao Si laid out his entire plan.

Lu Yanping listened with a mixture of surprise and furrowed brows.

With delicate fingers tapping lightly, the old wooden table made a "clack-clack" sound.

"Is what my benefactor just said true?"

"If you can't resolve the matter with Second Madam Lian, you'll be expelled from the academy, your future ruined?"

Seeing Jiao Si nod, Lu Yanping's expression became conflicted.

Half an hour passed.

She gritted her teeth, as if making up her mind.

"My benefactor, I have evidence regarding this messy affair..."

"You'll come with me to get it tomorrow."

"But you must promise me that you will stop here and only protect your own future. You must not use this evidence to drive Second Madam Lian to her death."

"Also, when we arrive at our destination tomorrow, I'll need you to lend me some money..."