Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

When Wang Xifeng returned to her residence, she didn't even bother to remove her makeup before collapsing wearily onto the couch.

"Ping'er, come here and give me a shoulder massage."

Ping'er, Wang Xifeng's dowry maid, stepped forward and said, "Madam, why did you take on this thankless task?"

"Do you think I want to do this? Even if I don't take it on, do you think this task won't end up falling to me?"

Ping'er was at a loss for words. Since she came to the Jia family mansion with Wang Xifeng, she had seen through the entire household. Madam Wang didn't manage affairs, and Madam Xing, as a second wife, had little say. And none of the men in the Jia family were capable.

Looking at it this way, it seems this matter will definitely be pushed onto Wang Xifeng. If Wang Xifeng takes the initiative to accept it, she can at least leave a good impression on Grandmother Jia.

"By the way, it's so late, why hasn't your second master come back yet?" Wang Xifeng rubbed her temples and asked.

"This..." Ping'er hesitated for a moment before carefully speaking, "Second Master is probably busy with something outside."

"Ha, so you're on his side now, always making excuses for him." Wang Xifeng sat up, pushed her away, and said, "I think you should just give in to him, and in a couple of years you can have my position too, okay?"

When Ping'er heard Wang Xifeng think of her so much, she felt a pang of grievance, knelt on the ground, and tears streamed down her face.

"Why would Second Master tell me what he's doing?" Ping'er said stubbornly. "If Grandma doesn't believe me, she might as well send me away so I won't get in her way."

As soon as Wang Xifeng spoke, she realized that she had spoken too harshly, and her tone immediately softened.

"Alright, I know you're loyal. I brought you here personally, how could I not trust you?"

Wang Xifeng reached out and pulled Ping'er up from the ground: "I was just too angry for a moment. Grandma, I apologize to you."

As she spoke, Wang Xifeng stood up and made a gesture as if to bow.

Ping'er dared not accept it and quickly stopped her, saying anxiously, "Grandma, what are you doing? You're going to make me feel terrible."

Wang Xifeng, stopped by her, did not insist and sat back down on the couch.

The next morning, Wang Xifeng got up before dawn and took out all her treasured jewelry. Today she was representing the Rongguo Duke's Mansion at the Princess's Mansion, and she absolutely could not lose face.

By the time she finished getting ready, it was already broad daylight.

"Sister Feng, Sister Feng."

Wang Xifeng was about to go out when she heard a shout from outside and stopped in her tracks. "Why is this little darling here?"

Jia Baoyu, dressed in a bright red robe with arrow-sleeved sleeves, burst in with a gust of wind: "Sister Feng, I heard you're going to fetch Sister Lin. I'll go with you. It's inconvenient for you to go out alone; I can help take care of you if I come along."

When Wang Xifeng heard him finish speaking, her heart skipped a beat. What kind of place was the Princess's residence? It was not a place to act recklessly. If this little darling really came along, who knew who would take care of whom in the end?

But knowing Jia Baoyu's temperament, she didn't dare refuse directly, fearing he would act recklessly. She could only coax him gently, "Brother Bao, it's not that I don't want you to go, it's just that the Princess's residence is different from other places; the rules are very strict. How about this, you wait at home, and I will definitely bring Miss Lin back exactly as she was. Is that alright?"

Jia Baoyu, however, refused and tugged at Wang Xifeng's sleeve, saying, "Sister Feng, please let me go. I heard from Madam that Lin Daiyu was originally going to stay at our house, but she was intercepted halfway by that damned Marquis of Duanping's mansion."

"Lin Daiyu has already lost her mother's love, and I've heard that Gu Erguan is a lawless man. I wonder what kind of grievances Lin Daiyu has suffered since falling into his hands. I must go and see for myself to be at ease."

Wang Xifeng patted her forehead in exasperation, but she hesitated because the other person was Jia Mu's darling.

Her eyes darted around, and she said, "Brother Bao, I would agree to anything else, but I really dare not agree to this so easily. If something goes wrong, I really can't bear the responsibility. How about this, I'll wait here, and you go and ask the old lady. If she agrees, I'll take you with me."

Jia Baoyu's eyes immediately lit up. He loosened his grip on Wang Xifeng's sleeve and strode out, calling out as he went, "I'll go ask Grandmother right away. Sister Feng, please wait for me!"

Wang Xifeng readily agreed, breathed a sigh of relief, and sat back down in her chair to wait. With the old lady's endorsement, even if something really went wrong, at least she would suffer less.

After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, just as Wang Xifeng was about to take Ping'er directly there, Jia Baoyu finally returned from Rongqing Hall with a joyful expression.

"Sister Feng, the Ancestor has agreed, let's go quickly." Jia Baoyu urged as soon as he entered the door.

Wang Xifeng was somewhat surprised. She had prepared herself for Jia Baoyu to return dejected, but she hadn't expected the old lady to actually agree. But thinking about it, it made sense. In Grandmother Jia's eyes, her Jia Baoyu was the best in the world, and everyone should be happy to see him. How could anything go wrong?

"In that case, let's go together. But it's not like home there, so Brother Bao, you must be careful."

The Rongguo Mansion entourage arrived at the East City, and Wang Xifeng, with Ping'er's help, stepped down from the carriage. Looking at the towering Princess's Mansion before her, Wang Xifeng sighed repeatedly. The Rong and Ning Mansions were already quite grand, but compared to the Princess's Mansion before her, they lacked a certain imperial grandeur.

The gatekeeper of the Princess's residence had already received instructions, and upon seeing the Rongguo Mansion's people arrive, he led them inside. Since Jia Baoyu was a boy, the servants led him to a side hall. As for Wang Xifeng, Li Shulan received her in the main hall.

"Your humble servant, Lady Wang, greets Her Highness Princess Anning."

Li Shulan sat upright in the main seat, looking at Wang Xifeng kneeling below. She gently waved her hand, signaling the maid to help her up, and said indifferently, "No need for formalities, please sit. I've already heard about yesterday's events from Hong'er. It's kind of you to make this trip."

Wang Xifeng could easily see the veiled barb in Li Shulan's words, but no matter how fierce she was, she could only force a smile in front of her: "Your Highness is too kind. It's all a misunderstanding. Yesterday, it was just that the servants under me didn't do their job well. When the Old Madam found out, she was furious and gave those servants a good beating."

"That's why the old lady sent me out early this morning. She was worried that Miss Lin was all alone outside and might disturb His Highness's peace, so she specially ordered me to bring Miss Lin back to the manor."

"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, your household surely knows the answer," Li Shulan said, picking up her teacup with a nonchalant tone. "As for taking her back, I don't think it's necessary. Before her marriage, Min-mei lived in our household regularly, so what's wrong with Miss Lin living here now?"

"This..." Wang Xifeng looked troubled. She knew that if she couldn't bring Lin Daiyu back today, she was afraid she wouldn't get a good outcome even if she went back.

"Your Highness, the old lady truly misses her granddaughter dearly. Now that Miss Lin has arrived in the capital, it would be improper not to pay her respects to her grandmother first, and it would also damage Miss Lin's reputation. Your Highness, what do you think? I will take Miss Lin back today so that we can rekindle our grandmother-granddaughter bond. In a couple of days, I will personally bring Miss Lin here for a short stay, is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shulan frowned, slammed her teacup heavily on the table, and her expression was already displeased.

"Hmm? Is Madam Wang trying to use the rules to pressure me?!"