Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 257 The Qilin Tribulation

Just as everyone was silent, Sister Bao suddenly stood up and said with a smile, "Brother Bao must have been bored, so he came to join in the fun. He's a guest, Sister Xing, let's go and greet him."

The baby's birth banquet was held for Xing Xiuyan and took place in Hengwu Garden, so both Baochai and Xing Xiuyan were considered half-hosts and should go together to welcome the baby.

Xing Xiuyan smiled and agreed, then got up and went out with Baochai to greet them. She looked up and saw that Baoyu had already led two maids inside.

Baochai frowned and said, "Brother Bao should take good care of himself while he is ill... If Auntie finds out, she will definitely not agree."

Baoyu smiled awkwardly, and seeing Xing Xiuyan in front of him, he quickly bowed and congratulated her: "Sister Xing, I wish you: your youthful beauty shines like the sun, and good days will always be with you."

Xing Xiuyan quickly curtsied in return, then gave another curtsy—because today was also the birthday of Baoyu's son.

Xiangyun asked from afar, "Brother Ai, have you come to deliver a congratulatory gift to Sister Xing?"

Baoyu became even more embarrassed. He had no idea that today was Xing Xiuyan's birthday, and he had not prepared any congratulatory gifts. What was even more awkward was that Xing Xiuyan had sent a pair of needlework by Zhuan'er earlier that morning.

In his haste, Baoyu didn't think of composing any poems. He just blushed and said, "I came in a bit too quickly. I'll finish it tomorrow."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said, "Brother Bao's arrival is a token of our appreciation. Please take your seats."

Baoyu bowed in agreement and then followed the two women into the hall.

Since the seats had been reserved in advance, Baoyu had no choice but to sit next to Yingchun and Tanchun. When he looked up, he saw that Chen Siyuan was surrounded by a riot of flowers, Daiyu, Xing Xiuyan, Baochai... Baoyu immediately felt uneasy.

He already knew about Xing Xiuyan and Chen Siyuan's affair, so he didn't think much of it. But... when he looked up, Lin Daiyu didn't even glance at him, and Baochai was busy whispering with Xing Xiuyan in the main seat. Every now and then, the two of them would look at Chen Siyuan beside them and cover their mouths to laugh.

Although Tan Chun raised her cup, seemingly to offer a toast to the Buddha, inviting everyone to celebrate Bao Yu's birth, Bao Yu felt increasingly uneasy as he thought of the past years and this day.

From childhood to adulthood, every April 26th, Baoyu was always the undisputed head of the table. But this time, he was relegated to the lowest seat, even though it was a birthday celebration, it was just a pretext.

Feeling uneasy, Baoyu frowned inwardly and began drinking cup after cup of wine. Seeing him drink three cups in a row, Tanchun quickly advised, "Brother Bao, why are you drinking so hastily?"

Baoyu simply smiled and said, "I'm thirsty, I'd like to have some."

Unfortunately, Sister Bao overheard this and said, "Even if you're thirsty, you shouldn't drink like this. Meiren and Qiuwen, keep an eye on things, lest Brother Bao drinks too much."

Baoyu, already feeling stifled, immediately retorted angrily, "Can't I even drink a couple more cups?"

Baochai simply said, "Drinking too much is bad for your health, and Brother Bao is still not well."

The others all glanced over, their gazes piercing Baoyu's heart. He knew perfectly well that they were afraid he'd get too drunk and cause trouble again.
She was about to lash out when she saw Chen Siyuan staring at her with a smile. Although he didn't say anything, the threat in his eyes was obvious. Looking at Baochai, her eyes were cold and full of disgust.
For some reason, Baoyu immediately felt disheartened. He ignored the two maids who replaced his wine cup with tea, drank it in silence, and then claimed that Lady Wang was still waiting for him. He got up and fled in a hurry, as if he were escaping.

As soon as he left, Daiyu chuckled and said, "It's good that he's improved a bit."

Baochai and Chen Siyuan exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly. The room became lively again. When the banquet was halfway over, Xiangyun stepped onto a chair to play drinking games. They played both the literary and martial games. Even Chen Siyuan drank a few more cups than usual, and the other girls had flushed faces and hazy eyes.

Xiangyun then turned the chair upside down and lay face down on it, complaining that she was hot. She haphazardly pulled off half of her sleeve, revealing half of her fair arm. Cuilu and Shishu rushed forward to cover her up, but Xiangyun was still impatient. She muttered something as if in a daze and then tore her clothes open again.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Baochai and Xing Xiuyan argued for a while, and then Baochai arranged for everyone to disperse.

By the time Chen Siyuan returned to his thatched cottage, it was already past 3 PM. Hongyu was not there; she had probably gone to celebrate Ping'er's birthday.

As Chen Siyuan grew older, his alcohol tolerance also increased. He only drank two cups of strong tea and felt better by evening, so he went to his study to read.

That day, nothing else happened, but then Hongyu returned that night and went to Chen Siyuan to plead, "Master, I wonder if you could beg Second Madam to spare Caixia?"

Chen Siyuan put down his book and asked with a playful tone, "Was it Ping'er who asked you to do this?"

Hongyu shook her head and said, "This is not... it is Sister Amber."

Hongyu was about the same age as Yuanyang, Hupo, Zijuan, Xiren, Caixia, and others. They entered the mansion together one after the other, learned the rules, and were then sent to various places. Previously, Hongyu was a maid outside Baoyu's room, and was only familiar with Yuanyang, Hupo, and others. In the past two years, she came to Chen Siyuan's room and gradually became a head maid, which is why she became familiar with Yuanyang, Hupo, and others.

Amber and Caixia's family were just neighbors, living in the front and back yards. They couldn't bear the request and, believing Ping'er's words, they asked Hongyu for help.

Seeing Chen Siyuan hesitate, Hongyu continued, "The other day, Madam saw that Caixia had grown up and was also sickly, so she kindly sent her away to let her parents choose a son-in-law themselves. Who knew that the very next day, Laishun would pester her so much that Caixia was so angry that she wanted to throw herself into a well. Her parents had no choice but to beg Sister Amber for help."

Wu'er, who was standing nearby, brought water and said upon hearing this, "Grandpa, Caixia is an honest person. If you can help her this once, please do."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Caixia may not be an honest person."

Hongyu asked in surprise, "Why do you say that, sir?"

Chen Siyuan had previously learned from Ping'er that the object was probably placed in Feng Jie'er's pillow by Caixia. How could Zhao Yiniang, who almost killed Feng Jie'er, be an honest person?
It was only because Madam Wang deliberately created a mystery that the matter was brought to the attention of the authorities; otherwise, if it had gone to the yamen, the wicked Aunt Zhao and her accomplice Caixia would likely have faced certain death.

Such matters were not easy to discuss with Hongyu and Wu'er, so Chen Siyuan smiled but remained silent. Seeing this, Hongyu pursed her lips and said nothing. She knew in her heart that her master was usually easy to talk to, but once he made up his mind, it was hard to change it.

After a while, Chen Siyuan said to Hongyu, "This is not something I should be involved in. It's rare that you've asked for help. I'll talk to my second sister-in-law later and send Caixia away from afar. There's no need to torment people like this."

Hongyu was overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "I only found out now that there's more to the story. I had a few too many drinks earlier, and I couldn't resist their urging, so I agreed without thinking. I was just wondering how to refuse."

He paused, then frowned and said, "I need to be more careful in the future, lest I lose my sense of self after a few flattering words."

Chen Siyuan smiled and took Hongyu's hand, letting her lean against him. Hongyu came from a high social standing among the maids; her parents were both managers in the household, and she had been sent to serve outside Baoyu's room early on. It was only because Xiren and the others worked together to keep an eye on her that Hongyu had already distinguished herself.

Once she arrived at Chen Siyuan's side, Hongyu, being tactful and eloquent, was able to fully display her talents. Her previous frustration turned into unbridled joy. Whether it was Ping'er or Amber who orchestrated it, they got Hongyu drunk several more cups and coaxed the unsuspecting Hongyu into agreeing to the matter.

It's said that people in the imperial court are unpredictable, but the same is true among maids. They may address each other as sisters to your face, but secretly harbor ulterior motives…

Hongyu could understand these words on her own, so Chen Siyuan didn't bother to explain further.

The night passed peacefully. The next day, Chunxi came to inform them that the gentleman Chen Siyuan had negotiated with had finally arrived at their door.

This man was from Daming Prefecture. He was learned and talented, but he always failed the imperial examinations. In twenty years, he taught three scholars and two provincial graduates. His teaching ability is beyond question. That's why Chen Siyuan waited for more than a month.

Chen Siyuan hurried to Daoxiang Village—his sister-in-law Li Wan had asked him for help, and now that it had been done, he had to let her know.

No sooner had they left the thatched cottage than they bumped into Suyun at the Qinfang Pavilion.

Upon seeing Chen Siyuan, Su Yun hurriedly stepped forward, curtsied, and asked, "Where are you going, Master Yuan?"

Chen Siyuan said, "The gentleman we were looking for has finally arrived. I was just about to go and tell my sister-in-law."

Su Yun exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence! Our grandma also has something to ask Grandpa Yuan."

"Oh?"

Su Yun looked around and, seeing that no one was watching, whispered, "Grandma just received news that Master has a new job and will be heading south soon."

Chen Siyuan asked in surprise, "When did you receive the news?"

Su Yun said, "Just now, the master's servant sent a message to the front, and Bi Yue went to answer it." She paused, then said with a strange expression, "I don't know what kind of errand it is, it seems that the master is in a hurry to go south."

Chen Siyuan tentatively asked, "Brother Li...you're not angry, are you?"

Su Yun covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Not only is he not angry, but I heard he is full of ambition and is just waiting to go south to show his skills."

Chen Siyuan secretly praised, "You've worked hard, Prince Yanping. That Li Chongming is only half-full of knowledge, lacking both talent and character. It's a pity that Prince Yanping tolerated him for over a month before finally getting rid of him... This ten thousand taels of silver was well spent."

While pondering, they followed Su Yun all the way to Daoxiang Village. It was nearing noon, and Li Wan was leading Bi Yue to weed the fields.

The two, mistress and servant, dressed in simple clothes and wearing plain hairpins, followed by a flock of half-grown chicks, indeed exuded a rustic charm. Chen Siyuan saw Li Wan constantly wielding her hoe, her hair disheveled, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that Li Wan's temperament was much stronger than his own.

Chen Siyuan asked himself, if he had sixty or seventy thousand in assets, why would he bother to spend his time working in the fields? Then he thought, Li Wan is a widow who is unemployed. She can't leave the mansion and is not favored by Lady Wang. So why doesn't she have to find something to do?

Su Yun stepped forward and called out to her. Li Wan, leaning on her hoe, glanced at her and immediately said with embarrassment, "I didn't expect Brother Yuan to arrive first. It was my rudeness... Please wait a moment, I'll go change my clothes and come right away."

Chen Siyuan said, "It's just a matter of a few words, why bother, sister-in-law?"

Li Wan thought it over and agreed, so she invited Chen Siyuan to come to Liaofeng Pavilion for a short rest.

The maid Biyue served warm or cool tea, and Chen Siyuan said first: "I have finally lived up to my sister-in-law's expectations. Mr. Zhou has been invited to my new house, and Third Sister has vacated a room in the front. Starting tomorrow, Lan'er can go to the new house to study."

Li Wan was overjoyed and thanked him profusely, "Oh, that's all thanks to Brother Yuan." She smiled, and her peach blossom eyes immediately became bright and sparkling, causing Chen Siyuan to linger for a couple of glances. But after her joy subsided, Li Wan frowned and said, "But... it's not good to skip the private school. Could you let Lan'er attend the private school first before going?"

Has Li Wan not yet mentioned this to Madam Wang?
Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "Sister-in-law, please allow me to say something. Lan'er is only so young. It takes him four hours to go to the private school every day. By the time he comes back, he is already exhausted. No matter how good the teacher is, how can Lan'er concentrate on listening?"
If it were up to me, then it would be better not to attend the private school.

Li Wan said with difficulty, "That's the truth, but... Brother Yuan knows my situation. I'm a widow who's unemployed, and I'm really afraid of what people will say."

Because she was disliked by Madam Wang, Li Wan dared not approach her to plead her case. She could certainly ask the old lady for help, but that would be tantamount to breaking ties with Madam Wang…

After thinking for a moment, Chen Siyuan said, "Since you're in a difficult position, why don't I talk to the master about it later? It would be a real pity if Lan'er, who is such a promising student, were to be neglected."

“This…then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Yuan.” Li Wan was grateful, but then said shyly, “I have another request for you, Brother Yuan. My brother sent a letter this morning, saying he’s going to take up a post in the south, but he didn’t say a word about what kind of post it is…Could you please inquire for me? If it’s an ordinary post, that’s fine, but I’m afraid—”

"Alright, I'll make a trip to the Prince's residence in the next couple of days."

Li Wan was speechless and could only get up and curtsy again. There were many people around, so Chen Siyuan could not stay long. After settling two matters, he took his leave.

When Li Wan went to the fields, Su Yun, who had changed her clothes, said, "Grandma, Brother Yuan has been a great help."

Li Wan smiled wryly and said, "I don't know how to thank him either—" Suddenly, she remembered something and said, "That's right, Brother Yuan's family is in Yangzhou. I'll make some three-ingredient buns and send them over later, as a small token of my gratitude."

Su Yun immediately smiled and said, "Grandma's three-ingredient buns are absolutely delicious. Lan-ge was asking for some just a couple of days ago."

Li Wan smiled and said, "It's just that even if it takes more effort, it might not be as good as what the kitchen can make. What's the point?"

............................................................

The next day, Chen Siyuan indeed went to the Prince's residence. On the way, he saw a large contingent of the Beijing garrison entering the inner city. Chen Siyuan assumed it was the Emperor returning from a hunting expedition, but after inquiring, he learned that it was actually the Imperial Guards being rotated. The Great Shun Dynasty had learned from the lessons of the Ming Dynasty, rotating the Beijing garrison, which guarded the capital, into the inner city to serve as the Imperial Guards. They also had a system of having the Beijing garrison stationed on the border and the border troops returning to the capital, thus strengthening the central government and weakening local forces.

Chen Siyuan thought it was nothing out of the ordinary. After the army had passed through the border, he rode his horse to the Prince of Yanping's residence.

Just as they were watching Prince Yanping return to his residence, Chen Siyuan requested an audience, but was only answered by Ding Daolong, the head of the kitchen. Upon meeting, Ding Daolong complained, "Oh dear, Chen Xiaolian, the prince has suffered quite a bit for that ten thousand taels of silver."

He then began to ramble on about Li Chongming's actions. As a guest of the Prince's mansion, Prince Yanping couldn't very well avoid seeing him, but Li Chongming had no real skills yet liked to show off.

One day, the prince led his guests on a stroll in the garden. However, Li Chongming, oblivious to the situation, uttered a poem that spoiled the mood, causing the prince to leave disappointed. Li Chongming, completely unaware of this, started interfering in the affairs of the prince's residence the very next day.

The Prince of Yanping was extremely annoyed and simply avoided seeing him. For the sake of the ten thousand taels of silver, he endured it for more than a month, and only yesterday did he find an excuse to send him to Zheng He Island to take care of the latex forest.

Chen Siyuan managed to cover it up with a forced smile. He then went to see Li Chongming, who was indeed full of ambition, looking like he was about to make a big splash in the south.

Chen Siyuan was both amused and exasperated, thinking to himself that it would be good enough if this man could just obediently go to Zheng He Island. He didn't expose his dream of becoming an official, but instead offered his best wishes and presented the two thousand taels of silver notes that Li Wan had sent earlier that morning as a travel allowance.

Li Chongming was deeply grateful and had long considered Chen Siyuan a friend. He vowed that if Chen Siyuan ever became successful, he would never forget his kindness.

Chen Siyuan chuckled and agreed, not taking it seriously at all. When he asked Li Chongming when he would set off, Li Chongming replied that it was also the first day of the fifth month.

Unfortunately, Li Wan couldn't go out, and Chen Siyuan had other business to attend to that day. Chen Siyuan spoke frankly with her and patiently talked for a long time before finally returning to the Rongguo Mansion.

Chen Siyuan had intended to discuss Jia Lan's studies with Jia Zheng, but Jia Zheng had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, and he didn't know what Jia Zheng was busy with at the yamen. The next day, his servant Qingyu delivered the official gazette, and Chen Siyuan gasped in shock after just one glance!
The first item on the list states that during the hunting expedition at Tiewang Mountain, on the third night, a battalion of the Beijing garrison made unusual movements. Fortunately, the Wuyi Battalion noticed something was wrong and blocked the Wuwei Battalion's path without asking for permission. Subsequently, the Fifth Army Department and the Ministry of War entered the camp to suppress the disturbance. The failed brigade commander swallowed gold and committed suicide, and the matter was only slightly calmed down.

The Wuwei Camp was the capital's garrison that accompanied General Feng Tang on his expedition to the Western Regions. When this incident occurred, the Emperor was naturally furious. The next day, he placed Feng Tang under strict surveillance and subsequently ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to thoroughly investigate the case.

Later, he saw a news article in a tabloid saying that the commander was a former member of the Jia family's personal guards... Chen Siyuan suddenly realized why Yuan Chun in the palace was so uneasy and ordered the Jia family to hold the peace ceremony without saying anything; she was afraid of being implicated in this matter.

Upon careful consideration, not only the Jia family, but also the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, and even Prince Teng himself, must be filled with unease! Prince Teng's mission was to take action against the Jia family's personal guards, and he missed such a disloyal traitor. Is Prince Teng disloyal or incompetent?

Suddenly recalling the recent rotation of the Imperial Guards, Chen Siyuan frowned and thought to himself, "I'm afraid that after this rotation, the Emperor Emeritus will be left to retire in peace."
If the Jia family were sensible, they should have settled down by now. However, Grandmother Jia has some insight but little wisdom. Jia Jing has fled outside the city to avoid trouble, Jia Zhen acts recklessly, Jia She is greedy and despicable, and Jia Zheng is pedantic. She fears things will not go as planned, and she is filled with anxiety, worried that she may become even more deeply involved with the Crown Prince.

Chen Siyuan sighed inwardly, but also secretly warned himself. He was now just a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations; it was best to stay away from such matters of vying for the throne and choosing sides.

On April 28th, Sister Feng came to Qingtang Thatched Cottage and said that she would hold a peace ceremony on the first day of the month. However, Jia Lian had not returned, and neither Jia Qin nor Jia Chang were reliable. So she asked Chen Siyuan to go ahead and make the ceremony for her.

Such matters would be handled carefully by the subordinates; Chen Siyuan was merely in charge, so he readily agreed. Before Feng Jie could take her leave, Chen Siyuan said, "Second Sister-in-law, I have something to discuss with you."

Sister Feng laughed and said, "What a coincidence! I also have something I want to discuss with Brother Yuan... Why don't you speak first, Brother Yuan?"

Chen Siyuan pondered for a moment and said, "After Caixia returned home, she caused a lot of trouble for Laishun. Hongyu came back and said that Caixia was making a fuss about throwing herself into the well."

Sister Feng squinted and sneered, "Why does such a perfectly good marriage have to turn into a life-or-death struggle? Could it be that Caixia has become too proud and arrogant after working in the Madam's quarters for a few years?"

Sister Feng was convinced that if Chen Siyuan hadn't seen through her scheme last time, she would have lost her life. However, because Madam Wang intervened, Sister Feng couldn't retaliate openly, so she had to resort to such underhanded methods.

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "She's just a maid who's been used as a tool. Why bother with such a girl, Second Sister-in-law? If it were up to me, we should just send her away."

Sister Feng asked in surprise, "What? Has someone come to Brother Yuan for help?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "I really can't refuse."

Sister Feng gritted her teeth, then suddenly smiled and said, "If anyone else had said that, I would have spat at them! But since it was Brother Yuan who said it, I will be magnanimous and send that family to the estate later."

Chen Siyuan quickly said, "Thank you so much, Second Sister-in-law, for your kindness. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to explain this to others."

Feng Jie was puzzled and was about to ask who had asked Chen Siyuan for help when Ping'er came looking for her, saying, "Grandma, the old lady is looking for you urgently."

Sister Feng frowned slightly and muttered, "Look at this, they all come to me for everything, big or small. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I'm afraid it wouldn't be enough to keep up with them."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "The saying goes that the capable should do more. It's not easy to find someone in the mansion who can manage things, so the old lady and madam will have to use him."

Sister Feng was secretly pleased to hear this, and stood up and said, "Alright, my matter isn't urgent. I'll come and talk to Brother Yuan about it later."

Chen Siyuan agreed and got up to see Sister Feng off.

In the afternoon, the steward came to ask when to depart. Chen Siyuan set the time as 1-3 PM, and when the time came, he went to the front, where the servant Qingyu was already waiting at the ceremonial gate.

Just as Qingyu was about to lead Chen Siyuan's horse, a young Taoist priest suddenly darted out from the side gate. The young priest was in such a hurry that he knocked Qingyu off his horse.

"Ouch, ouch..." Qingyu was furious when he saw that his new clothes had been torn on the ground. He stood up and cursed, "Are you blind, you old fox?"

The young Taoist priest was stunned and repeatedly bowed and apologized. Then, the steward came over and said, "This is a young Taoist priest from Qingxu Temple. Master Zhang sent him to discuss the ritual arrangements for the day after tomorrow with the old lady."

Qingyu swallowed his curse words, but said irritably, "You'd better watch out!"

The young Taoist priest obediently agreed and was eventually escorted out of the Rongguo Mansion by the steward.

Seeing Qingyu's long face, Chen Siyuan simply rewarded him with a string of coins and ordered him to buy a new set of clothes. Only then did Qingyu cheer up. After the horse was brought over, Qingyu muttered to Chen Siyuan, "I wonder what kind of treasure that little ox-nose was hiding in his arms. He bumped into me and it still hurts."

Chen Siyuan, who hadn't taken it seriously at first, was suddenly stunned. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized... Could it be that the little Taoist priest was carrying a golden unicorn?
The more I think about it, the more I like it!
According to the original text, this golden unicorn was a family heirloom of the Shi family. How could the Taoist priest Zhang of Qingxu Temple have obtained it? Grandmother Jia also shares the surname Shi, so perhaps the other golden unicorn was in her possession. In order to bring Xiangyun and Baoyu together, she simply secretly sent it to Taoist priest Zhang…

Tsk tsk, Chen Siyuan wasn't mentioned in the original text. At that time, Daiyu was still having a falling out with Baoyu. Everyone says that Grandmother Jia dotes on Daiyu, but bringing up Shi Xiangyun to compete with Daiyu is also considered doting on Daiyu? Ha, this old lady has a lot on her mind. Who knows if she's planning to exploit the Lin family's extinction!
The master and servant rode out of the mansion, joined by two stewards and eight servants, and headed towards Qingxu Temple in a grand procession. But let's leave that aside for now.

..................................................................

That afternoon, after leaving Rongqing Hall, Sister Feng went to the back garden to find Baochai and Daiyu, and invited them to stroll around Qingxu Temple together.

Baochai just laughed and said, "No, no, it's too hot. I'm not going to any plays I haven't seen before!"

Fengjie then asked Daiyu, who also smiled and said she wouldn't go. Fengjie then said, "If you won't go, I will. I've been so bored these days. There are always plays being performed at home, but I can't watch them comfortably. I just want to take advantage of this lively occasion."

After some deliberation, Sister Feng went to find Sanchun again.

Daiyu then said, "He wants to go too, but isn't Sister Bao going?"

Baochai shook her head and said with a smile, "If Sister Lin isn't going, what would I do if I went?"

By dinnertime, Sister Feng finally asked about it. Sanchun was going, of course. Xiangyun was also supposed to go, but someone from the Marquis of Baoling's residence had just come and taken Xiangyun back to the residence, saying that she would be sent back in a few days.

Sister Feng politely inquired with Xing Xiuyan again. The clever Miss Xing knew that this wedding ceremony was a family matter of the Jia family, and it was not appropriate for her, a girl from another family, to get involved. So she smiled and politely declined.

So, after all the calculations, excluding Chen Siyuan, an outsider, only Baoyu and the three sisters remained. The only daughter-in-law above them was Fengjie; above that, Lady Wang was eager to visit Yuanchun in the palace, so only Lady Xing wanted to go; and above that, only Grandmother Jia remained.

Nothing much happened that day, so Baochai said goodbye to Daiyu in the afternoon and returned to Hengwu Garden to escape the summer heat.

Just as Baochai finished washing up, past midnight, she suddenly heard a rustling sound from the backyard. Baochai and Ying'er exchanged a glance, and Ying'er quickly looked back. A series of footsteps approached from the front, followed by a woman's deep voice: "Miss, did you hear anything?"

Baochai quickly said, "The cranes in the garden are coming to find insects to eat again. They come every few days, so there's no need to make a fuss."

The plump woman agreed and added, "If you need anything, just tell me."

Baochai gave a vague reply, and only then did she send the "backer woman" away.

A moment later, the back door quietly opened, and Ying'er led in a dark figure. Baochai frowned as she greeted him, scolding, "Why are you here again?"

Chen Siyuan, dressed in black, just watched Baochai with a smile and said nothing.

Baochai thought he was thinking of her, and her heart softened instantly. She quickly pulled him to the study.

Ying'er cleverly hid in the west wing room, leaving the two of them alone to talk intimately.

Only then did Baochai take a good look at his attire, and immediately covered her mouth and laughed, "Wearing a black robe, are you perhaps planning to steal a kiss?"

Chen Siyuan pretended to be a rogue, leaned closer to sniff, and exclaimed, "It smells so good."

Baochai blushed and scolded, "You're being indecent again," but a smile remained on her face.

Because of the unbearable heat, an ice basin and chilled tea made with well water were placed in the room. Baochai saw that he was covered in sweat, so she poured him a bowl and brought it to him. Chen Siyuan did not stand on ceremony, took it and gulped it down, wiped his mouth, and then said, "I witnessed a strange thing today, and I couldn't hold it in any longer, so I came to talk to you, sister."

Baochai frowned and asked, "What is it?"

Chen Siyuan said, "But let's not rush to talk about that. Let me ask you something, sister... Does that girl Yun have any unique personal ornaments?"

Baochai was stunned. Knowing that Chen Siyuan must have a reason, she thought for a moment and said, "If we're talking about something unique... yes, Yun'er showed it to me. She was wearing a golden unicorn close to her body."

Chen Siyuan clasped his hands together and said, "That's it, that matches up!" He then beckoned slightly, and Baochai leaned forward and listened attentively.

Chen Siyuan recounted the events of the day in a low voice. The servant boy, Qingyu, had been tripped and his new clothes were ruined by the young Taoist priest, so he naturally held a grudge. When they arrived at Qingxu Temple, Chen Siyuan found a side hall and instructed the steward to look around. Qingyu took the opportunity to wander around aimlessly.

As luck would have it, they saw the young Taoist priest sneaking towards the main hall. Since Zhang the Taoist was talking to Chen Siyuan, the young Taoist simply waited in the main hall.

Qingyu quietly approached and kicked the young Taoist priest over. Just as he was about to curse him, a golden unicorn fell from the young Taoist priest's arms! Qingyu assumed that the young Taoist priest had stolen it from the Rongguo Mansion, grabbed the young Taoist priest, and shouted that he would report it to the authorities.

The commotion attracted Chen Siyuan and Zhang Daoshi. Zhang Daoshi stepped forward and spoke to them, finally separating the two. The golden unicorn was a gift from Grandmother Jia, so Zhang Daoshi quickly gave a vague explanation, signaling Chen Siyuan not to make a fuss.

This matter had nothing to do with Chen Siyuan, so he had no objection and readily agreed.

After Chen Siyuan explained the whole story, Baochai gasped and frowned, saying, "Grandma, what a clever idea!"

Everyone in the mansion knew that the old lady intended to match Yun'er with Baoyu. However, Yun'er was too young and knew nothing about matters between men and women. Baoyu only regarded her as a younger sister with whom he could play and have fun. The old lady could only worry helplessly.

Madam Wang was secretly pleased, thinking that the old lady's hopes had been dashed again. But then the old lady brought out a golden unicorn.

Upon closer reflection, Baochai was immediately filled with lingering fear!
If Aunt Xue still harbors any hope for that perfect match, I'm afraid the old lady will definitely find a way to get Baochai to go with her this time. If Zhang the Taoist priest blatantly presents a golden unicorn, where will Aunt Xue and Baochai put their faces?
Upon realizing this, Baochai was filled with lingering fear and couldn't help but grasp Chen Siyuan's hand, saying, "It's fortunate that we left first... otherwise, I'm afraid we would have faced a calamity in the future."

(End of this chapter)