Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 370 Deep Affection is Hard to Bear
Chen Siyuan washed his hands and asked with a smile, "Xiangling can play leaf cards now?"

Xiangling said shyly, "I always saw the girls playing around, so I thought I could learn a little bit myself. But when I got to the table, I panicked and forgot all my cards. I let the other three win against me."

Chen Siyuan laughed heartily, took a seat, accepted the warm tea offered by Wu'er, took a sip, and then said, "Prepare the six gifts for my tuition in the next two days, and also prepare a Duan inkstone and two reams of Chengxin paper."

Xiangling and Hongyu exchanged a glance, and the former said, "Sir, you want to become an apprentice? May I ask which master you are apprenticing to?"

Chen Siyuan sighed, "It's Liao Shiwei, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

The two maids exchanged a glance, both overjoyed. The Vice Minister of Revenue was a third-rank official, and according to the Ming dynasty system, while the Minister was appointed, the actual officials were the Vice Ministers. If the Minister did not enjoy the Emperor's trust, a powerful Vice Minister could even sideline the Minister.

The two women, unaware of court affairs, assumed their master had found a capable teacher and thus congratulated Liu Wu'er profusely.

Chen Siyuan smiled and agreed. After drinking a cup of tea, he sent Liu Wu'er to fetch the food box. Remembering the instructions of Prince Yanping, he then went to his study to sit down.

Perhaps noticing that Chen Siyuan's smile seemed somewhat forced, Hongyu brought in a teapot to serve him. After refilling his cup of tea, she whispered, "Sir, you don't seem to be in high spirits. Is there any custom associated with becoming an apprentice?"

Chen Siyuan didn't hide anything from her, saying, "There are both advantages and disadvantages, and it's hard to say whether it's good or bad right now."

Hongyu comforted him, saying, "No matter what, it's better than having no teacher to look after you. You're going to enter officialdom someday, and having a teacher to guide and help you will help you avoid some detours."

Let's hope so. Although Hongyu is intelligent and quick-witted, she is limited in her knowledge, and there are some things Chen Siyuan shouldn't say too much about. Saying too much would only cause her anxiety and fear, which would be counterproductive.

After Bendao answered correctly, Hongyu would leave. But Hongyu hesitated for a moment and then whispered, "Master, Master Rong from the East Mansion has returned today."

Chen Siyuan was taken aback, and when he looked up, his brows furrowed. He said, "Jia Rong is back?"

Hongyu bit her lower lip, leaned closer, and lowered her voice, saying, "When Sister Ping'er came to report, Second Madam's expression immediately changed. She drank a cup of tea before leaving the table. When I came back, a servant told me that she saw Second Madam leading her maids and servants to the East Mansion."

Jia Rong was sent by Jia Zhen to guard the old mansion in Jinling. Judging from his travel time, he was rushing back before the Lantern Festival. Did he cause trouble?

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, with Jia Rong back now, You Shi might start making a scene again. He should go back to the new house in the next couple of days to check on things, lest You Shi incite You Erjie to do something stupid again.

Not yet. After saying this, Hongyu hesitated for a moment, then added, "Master Bao also went today. He drank too much and kept staring at Miss Lin. Xiren noticed something was wrong and coaxed and persuaded him until she finally dragged Master Bao away."

Chen Siyuan's brows twitched as he listened! He knew Baoyu all too well; he was so affectionate that he was almost heartless. Whoever was by his side, he would treat them with utmost sincerity; but once they left him, he would forget them completely in the blink of an eye.

With Xia Jingui pregnant and having caused such a commotion, she was no longer allowed to enter the Grand View Garden. Bored and with Xia Jingui not around, Baoyu was bound to have other ideas.

Without Chen Siyuan even asking, Hongyu quickly added, "I saw that Miss Lin's expression changed at that moment. If it weren't for Second Miss and Miss Bao saying a few words to smooth things over, she probably would have gotten angry."

Chen Siyuan finally smiled. He thought to himself, "That's more like it. Although Lin Daiyu is a little rebellious, she is extremely proper. Now that she's engaged to me, she will never have any further involvement with Baoyu."

Just as he was pondering this, there was a slight commotion outside, and then Wu'er, carrying a food box, led Ying'er inside. Wu'er looked up and smiled at the person inside, saying, "Master, Miss Bao sent Sister Ying'er to bring you a bowl of stewed pear soup."

Hongyu stood up and greeted him with a smile. Chen Siyuan nodded slightly and then asked with a smile, "How is Sister Bao?"

Ying'er handed the food box to Hongyu and went into the study to report, "Miss is fine, but she drank too much today and has a bit of a headache. Miss Yun is also keeping bothering you and keeps chattering away. Miss was also worried about Master Yuan having been out socializing all day, so she sent me to bring stewed pears. If you have wine, it will help you sober up; if you don't, it will soothe your throat."

Chen Siyuan knew perfectly well that Baochai had found an excuse to send Ying'er to inquire about the news. He had been missing for a day, and hadn't even attended Daiyu's baby-birth banquet. Baochai must be very worried, and probably wouldn't be able to sleep soundly if she heard anything bad.

So he smiled and said, "Tell Sister Bao that I've gotten a job and will soon become an apprentice of Lord Liao, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Ying'er was first surprised, then delighted. She curtsied and offered her congratulations repeatedly before bidding farewell to Chen Siyuan and hurriedly returning to Hengwu Garden.

At that moment, Baochai was trying to stay composed by smoothing her hair, while Xiangyun was sewing shoe patterns and recounting the amusing incident from earlier. Only after Ying'er lifted the curtain and entered did Baochai perk up, excuse herself from Xiangyun to change clothes, and pull Ying'er into a side room to talk.

Ying'er happily recounted her story, but Baochai, after listening, was initially pleased but then worried, frowning and saying, "He has no connection with Lord Liao at all, so why did he suddenly become his apprentice?"

Ying'er smiled and said, "Master Yuan didn't say, so you can ask him tomorrow."

Sister Bao nodded slightly and said, "Since the master-disciple relationship has been established, there is no way to change it. Go and look in the trunk. I remember there are still two pieces of pine soot ink. I'll send them over as tuition fees tomorrow."

Ying'er smiled and agreed, without saying anything more.

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

The next day arrived in a flash. Chen Siyuan had missed Daiyu's birthday banquet the day before, so he thought he should go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion after breakfast.

No sooner had breakfast been served than Hongyu came back with a smile, saying that Sister Bao had brought Ying'er to visit.

This matter is perfectly reasonable. Yesterday, Chen Siyuan suddenly said he wanted to become Liao Shiwei's apprentice. It would be reasonable for Sister Bao to show concern for him.

As soon as Hongyu finished speaking, Sister Bao and Ying'er came over from behind the screen.

Chen Siyuan greeted her at the front of the hall. Upon looking up, he saw Baochai wearing a gold-embroidered satin jacket with a front opening, over which was a beige cross-collared coat, and a beige embroidered horse-face skirt with floral branches. Her hair was adorned with a kingfisher feather hairpin and a forsythia flower. Beneath her dignified appearance, there was a unique charm.

The two looked into each other's eyes, and Chen Siyuan couldn't help but smile. Baochai observed him closely and, seeing that there was no trace of sorrow on his face, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Without bothering with formalities, he went straight to the point and said, "Yesterday, Ying'er told me that you had taken a teacher, and I've been feeling quite uneasy ever since... What's the reason for that?"

Chen Siyuan led Baochai to a seat, and after Hongyu served her fragrant tea, he briefly recounted what had happened the previous day.

Baochai was better off not listening, because after hearing it she became even more uneasy, and frowned and said, "According to you, it would be better not to have a teacher at all. Instead of being helpful, it will only become a hindrance."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "It can only be said that there are advantages and disadvantages. My teacher's cousin is the newly appointed Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, Liao Shijie."

The governor was a high-ranking official of the first rank, and Liao Shijie was a close advisor to the emperor, so Baochai naturally had heard of him. So she breathed a sigh of relief, waved her hand, and had Ying'er bring over the two blocks of pine soot ink, saying, "This matter came so suddenly, I was afraid you wouldn't know what to give as a gift, but luckily I have two blocks of pine soot ink in my possession, which is just right for a gift."

This pine soot ink is more valuable than gold; if one intends to make friends, this would be the most appropriate gift. However, Liao Shiwei comes from a respectable background and is extremely cynical; if he were to give this, he would likely face a lot of trouble. Nevertheless, it was Baochai's good intention, so Chen Siyuan accepted it, smiling and saying, "I was just struggling to find a gift to give for my studies; my sister understands me perfectly."

Baochai smiled quietly, afraid that her words would be overheard by the maid and cause ridicule, so she lowered her head with a blush and took a small sip of tea.

Wu'er, Hongyu, and the others, being very tactful, covered their mouths and giggled as they pulled Ying'er outside to chat, leaving only the two of them inside. Only then did Baochai raise her head, her almond eyes filled with admiration, and say, "I thought it was already rare that you had poetic talent, but I didn't expect you could also write a book like the Chronicles of the Four Continents."

Chen Siyuan sighed with a touch of melancholy, saying, "Since the Song Dynasty, heroes have been judged by their literary talent, while poetry and lyrics are merely minor arts. Even if I possess the talent of Li Bai and Du Fu, I fear that if I were to pass the imperial examinations and enter officialdom, I would only serve as a court poet. To support my family and protect my estate, I need some power and influence."

Baochai's eyes reddened as she said, "You have to study hard on one hand and seek the favor of noble people on the other. It's really hard on your mind and body... It was because of my good-for-nothing brother that I thought of urging you to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible, so that you could take care of my brother a little."

Now that your brother has passed away, the Xue family's fortune has fallen into the hands of the second branch of the family, so you don't need to work so hard. You must know that the officialdom is fraught with peril; one wave can wash away an entire family. You would be better off focusing on your studies. If you pass the imperial examination, you will naturally have mentors and fellow graduates to help you.”

Chen Siyuan was inwardly grateful, but unfortunately, his background had long been exposed, and the Prince of Yanping held the key to his downfall. The Prince of Yanping had already said that Chen Siyuan shouldn't even think about being a clean official; that meant he wanted Chen Siyuan to be a beast of burden and a capable bureaucrat. He couldn't fight against the powerful; dared Chen Siyuan utter a word of dissent?

Chen Siyuan, who couldn't openly discuss his private affairs, and out of gratitude for Baochai's kindness, smiled and took her soft hand to comfort her, saying, "I've been writing the 'Chronicles of the Four Continents' for a long time, on and off, and only finished it this January. I didn't expect it to make a splash when it was printed, but who knew it would catch my master's eye. Don't worry, even if my master can't protect me, there's still Prince Yanping behind me, isn't there?"
The imperial treasury is currently short of funds. Yesterday, the prince sought my advice, and after pondering it all night, I have devised a plan. Once I present this strategy, even if we encounter great calamity in the future, Prince Yanping will be willing to protect me for the sake of this plan.”

Baochai, however, was already in tears. She didn't believe it and covered her face, sobbing, "Everyone outside says that Prince Yanping is difficult to deal with, so don't try to fool me..."

Chen Siyuan said with a forced smile, "When have I ever lied to you? Just you wait and see, in less than a month, the Prince of Yanping will definitely thank me properly."

Seeing that Baochai was not entirely convinced, Chen Siyuan briefly explained his plan. Baochai pondered it for a few moments and found the plan ingenious, which stopped her tears and brought a smile to her face.

Finally, he sighed, "Suddenly I see the green of willows along the roadside."

It seems to have no beginning or end, but the next line is "I regret teaching my husband to seek fame and fortune."

Chen Siyuan's heart melted, and he embraced Baochai affectionately. In the original text, Baochai always urged Baoyu to study hard and make progress; she had never had such thoughts before. It was only because she had fallen in love with him that she both hoped for his success and feared that he would be involved in the court struggles.

After a long while, Baochai's clothes were disheveled, her face flushed, and she felt something strange below. She struggled to get out of Chen Siyuan's arms, gave him a reproachful look, and said, "Ying'er is still outside. How can we face people if they see us?"

Chen Siyuan chuckled and said a few words of annoyance before Baochai finally sat down across the tea table.

Baochai drank a cup of tea to calm her emotions, but the blush on her face never faded. Perhaps feeling a little embarrassed by Chen Siyuan's gaze, Baochai then brought up the matter of Daiyu's birthday banquet the day before. Chen Siyuan then asked, "I heard that Jia Rong from the East Mansion has returned?"

Baochai's face turned serious, and she lowered her voice, saying, "I'm afraid she's caused trouble! Yesterday, Feng'er went from the garden. I heard from the old woman that Lian Erge and the eldest master also went to the East Mansion. The old lady even sent Yuanyang to the East Mansion to inquire. Logically speaking, Jia Rong should have come to see the old lady after returning from Jinling, but I don't know why I haven't seen him at all."

He paused, then warned, "You know the East Mansion is notoriously absurd. You'll be leaving the palace next year, so it's best to avoid getting involved with them."

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded.

Sister Bao pondered for a moment and said, "Yesterday, Baoyu drank a few too many cups of wine and seems to have fallen back into his old habit. Xiren and Sheyue forcibly dragged him away, but Lin Daiyu was quite angry. If everyone hadn't been there, she probably would have thrown a tantrum!"

Chen Siyuan sneered, "You know what kind of person Brother Bao is. I just hope a new girl comes to the garden soon, so that Brother Bao won't have any more wild thoughts."

Baochai deeply agreed, and secretly rejoiced. With Baoyu's fickle nature, he was no good match! Luckily, she had persuaded her mother with a bold move; otherwise, clinging to the promise of a perfect marriage might have led to her marrying the wrong person.

Baochai then said, "After the birth of her child, Daiyu will be thirteen years old. With Baoyu's temperament... it might not be appropriate for Lin Daiyu to stay in the Jia family any longer."

The implication was that Chen Siyuan was marrying Daiyu this morning. Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "There is still a difference in age, she's only thirteen... I'm afraid that if I ask, the old lady will insist on keeping her."

Baochai offered a suggestion: "Lin Daiyu's marriage has long been entrusted to the Grand Marshal, so why bother about what the Jia family thinks? Just tell the Grand Marshal about Lin Daiyu's difficulties whenever you have time. Even if she is young, we can marry her first and consummate the marriage in a few years. It's better than us worrying about her and Lin Daiyu living in fear."

That's a good idea, so Chen Siyuan thought he'd find some time to talk to Jia Yucun about it another day.

Composing himself, he glanced at Baochai again, and knew perfectly well why Baochai had brought up Daiyu's marriage.

Baochai is three years older than Daiyu. Even her second sister, Yingchun, will get married next year. Baochai will be able to finish her mourning period this year, so it would be perfect time for her to get married next year.

Chen Siyuan then said gently, "Sister, don't be in a hurry. I will wait until you finish your mourning period before I can find a matchmaker to come and propose marriage."

Baochai let out a soft moan, her pretty face flushed red as if covered by a cloth. Her murmurs were full of shyness. She gave Chen Siyuan a reproachful yet delighted look, then got up and walked out, leaving only the words, "I'm not talking to you anymore," before hurriedly walking around the screen and leaving.

Chen Siyuan chuckled to himself, thinking that even Baochai would be shy when it came to such an important matter as marriage.

Before he could chase after them, Xiangling and Hongyu entered suspiciously. Hongyu didn't know what to say, but Xiangling gave him a lecture, saying things like "they're not married yet" and "it's all about reputation," which made Chen Siyuan both laugh and cry.

After a short rest, seeing that the daylight outside was just right, Chen Siyuan, without even putting on his cloak, strolled towards Xiaoxiang Pavilion with his hands behind his back.

Just as they crossed the Emerald Smoke Bridge, they bumped into Wang Mama, Daiyu's wet nurse, who was coming this way. When Wang Mama saw Chen Siyuan, she couldn't help but smile. She went up to greet him and, upon learning that Chen Siyuan had come to visit Daiyu, Wang Mama said with a smile, "Brother Yuan, you've come at an inopportune time. Yu'er was just summoned to Rongqing Hall by the Old Madam."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself that someone must have already spread the word about Baoyu's outburst yesterday. Although Grandmother Jia was not happy about Daiyu's engagement to Chen Siyuan, she wouldn't do something as foolish as ruining someone else's marriage. So she had no choice but to call Daiyu over to comfort her.

Chen Siyuan and Granny Wang had a slight rapport. When he heard that Daiyu's health was gradually improving and that apart from a cold she had caught last year, she had no other illnesses, he was relieved and rewarded Granny Wang with twenty taels of silver, saying it was for Granny Wang to have some wine.

After saying goodbye to Granny Wang, Chen Siyuan was about to return to his thatched cottage when another old woman from the back gate came looking for him, saying, "Master Yuan, Dongmei from the new house is here looking for you. She says there's something going on at the new house and you need to go back."

Dongmei is Yunxiang's third sister, and she has always followed Sister You on errands. Could it be that she came looking for you now because of Jia Rong's return to the capital?
Chen Siyuan thanked the old woman and casually tossed her a silver coin, which made the old woman beam with joy, but she didn't mention it again.

Fearing that things were urgent regarding the new residence, Chen Siyuan simply borrowed horses from the front, spurred them to bypass the Rongguo Mansion, and headed straight for the new residence near Nengren Temple.

It was only mid-February, the willows were sprouting, and the breeze was not cold. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Chen Siyuan arrived at his new house.

Hearing the commotion, the old gatekeeper quickly opened the gate and took the reins. Chen Siyuan strode into the hanging flower gate, where Qingwen, who had received the news beforehand, came out to greet him.

Another year has passed, but Qingwen's height hasn't increased at all; she still looks petite and delicate. She approached, puzzled, and asked, "Master, didn't you see Chunxi who brought the message?"

Chen Siyuan said, "I didn't notice, why did you send Chunxi to deliver the message again?"

Qingwen spoke quickly, "I don't know where these scoundrels came from, but they blocked Baicaotang early this morning, insisting that we had taken medicine that caused someone's death. At that time, Third Aunt was invited to Ningguo Mansion, and Second Aunt panicked as soon as she heard that. She hurriedly sent Dongmei to inform her. Before long, Third Aunt returned, and after receiving the news, she scolded Second Aunt and then went back to ask Master Zhen of Ningguo Mansion to intervene. Just before leaving, she sent Chunxi to inform Master Zhen."

Did we run into a scoundrel trying to extort money?

Chen Siyuan was frowning when Qingwen said, "Third Aunt said that since the Ningguo Mansion has taken so many shares, it's not good to get something for nothing without contributing. She also told Chunxi that the master doesn't need to worry about it and can just focus on his studies."

(End of this chapter)