Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 11 Chapter of the Agreement
"Sister Zijuan, don't you think the young lady is acting very strangely today?"

Xueyan and Zijuan stood together by the tea stove, whispering to each other in hushed tones.

"It is a bit strange, not quite the same as yesterday."

"Right? You think so too? Your appetite wasn't as good as it had been the past few days this morning, and when you took your medicine you forgot to tell me to put less sugar in it, and you complained that it was bitter. Also, even though you and Miss Bao don't know each other very well, you spent quite a while chatting in the pavilion. All of this is not normal."

Zijuan added, "Especially when she was using the toilet, the girl stood there in a daze for quite a while."

Xueyan pondered for a moment with her not-so-bright little brain, then suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with fear, and said in a trembling voice, "Sister Zijuan, do you think... the young lady might have been possessed?"

"This……"

Zijuan glanced at Lin Daiyu, who was sitting at the table by the window, writing diligently, and shook her head, saying, "I can't say for sure what's going on. Let's observe some more."

"Ok."

Lin Daiyu neither heard nor paid attention to the two maids' private conversation, as she was currently focused on the article she was writing.

She was determined to use her status as the second young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion to amaze everyone through the imperial examinations, win the praise of her teacher, and gain the favor of the Xue family. The best way would be to pass the county examination in February next year, but simply passing the exam would not be enough.

Passing the county examination only grants one the status of a student who has completed the preliminary examination; only by achieving the top score can one gain recognition. This is Lin Daiyu's goal.

Fortunately, she checked the calendar and found that the county examination next year would begin in early February, followed by the prefectural examination two months later. If the rule of changing bodies every ten days was true, the day of the imperial examination would be the day she would be in Li Chen's body.

Lin Daiyu paused, unable to suppress her inner grumbling, "How come this playboy has such a good life? I'm the one who suffers the hardship of studying, while he gets a good reputation."

Lin Daiyu gripped her pen angrily, wanting to quit, but then she thought of the lady of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion, and her heart softened.

"How could such a kind lady give birth to such a dissolute son? Let's just assume it's because she didn't want to let Madam Zou down."

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips, suppressing her dissatisfaction, and dipped her brush in ink a few more times.

"As long as that spoiled brat knows what's good for him and stops driving his teacher away."

Thinking this to herself, Lin Daiyu didn't really have much hope. Others might not know Li Chen's abilities, but Lin Daiyu thought she knew him inside and out.

She sighed dejectedly. The beaded curtain in front of the door swayed, and Xiangling, the maid who had come to invite her to Pear Fragrance Courtyard this morning, came to the room again.

He stopped and looked around, then walked straight to Lin Daiyu's side, bowed, and said, "Miss Lin, my mistress sent me to speak with you..."

"Wait a moment!"

Lin Daiyu immediately interrupted, smiling at Zijuan and Xueyan, and said, "Go to the kitchen and fetch some tea and snacks. Xiangling has already made two trips today, so how can we not let her rest?"

Xiangling is quite beautiful, but because she was kidnapped and sold into the life of a maid when she was young, her tragic background has made her taciturn. Now that she is being warmly treated by Lin Daiyu, she will naturally be flustered.

He dared not speak, and hurriedly waved his hands, trying to refuse.

Lin Daiyu grabbed her wrist and nodded solemnly, "Sister Xiangling, once you're in my room, just listen to me."

Zijuan and Xueyan exchanged glances, then stepped forward to confirm, asking, "Shall we both go?"

Lin Daiyu nodded repeatedly.

His words, and his attempt to send the two maids away, only fueled their suspicions.

But since Lin Daiyu had said so, they couldn't disobey her, so they could only pout and leave, leaving Lin Daiyu and Xiangling in the room to talk privately.

"Bring over a round stool and sit down."

After Lin Daiyu finished making the arrangements, she waited anxiously for news.

Xiangling nodded obsequiously and sat down in front of Lin Daiyu, whispering, "My mistress asked me to deliver a message saying that the rumors circulating in the streets may be true. The second young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion seems to be extraordinary. Someone saw that the newly arrived tutor left the mansion with a radiant face, and moved all the luggage from the post station to the mansion. He should be staying here for a long time."

"I don't know anything more, and I wasn't able to visit the mansion. The Marquis of Zhenyuan is not currently in the mansion; he seems to be busy with military affairs in the outer city. The Xue family left a visiting card."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu looked surprised.

When Xiangling looked up, Lin Daiyu coughed lightly, covered her mouth with her handkerchief, and quickly composed herself, a sudden doubt arising in her heart.

"Huh? The new tutor has stayed in the manor? What merits does this纨绔 (spoiled brat) have to be appreciated by his tutor, who is a government-funded student?"

"Could it be that I underestimated him? Does he actually have some skill?"

Lin Daiyu shook her head repeatedly in denial, and muttered to herself angrily, "It must be that the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion spent a lot of money. Or maybe the calligraphy I left in the mansion worked, and my teacher was fooled by him."

Lin Daiyu thought about it again and again but couldn't come to a conclusion. In any case, she felt that it wasn't the playboy's doing.

But the outcome is good now, which is already a blessing. It seems he is not as hopeless as he thought.

"That's good, the play can continue."

After a moment's thought, Lin Daiyu smiled again, "Alright, I understand. I'm relieved that I haven't let my aunt and sister down. I'm also grateful for your help in making this trip again, sister."

Xiangling quickly stood up, keeping her eyes down and shaking her head, saying, "No, no, how could this servant accept Miss Lin's thanks?"

Even Xiangling, who worked at the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, had heard about the commotion that Lin Daiyu had caused not long ago.

Even Zhou Rui's wife, who was part of Lady Wang's dowry, was kicked out. As a maid bought by the Xue family, she was even more afraid of offending Lin Daiyu.

However, after spending two days together, Xiangling felt that Lin Daiyu was not as unruly and unreasonable as the rumors suggested; on the contrary, she was very kind to her. Xiangling couldn't help but attribute this to the fact that Lin Daiyu was as close as a sister to her mistress, and thus she felt that she should not take advantage of her mistress's favor.

"Miss Lin, perhaps like the second young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion, the rumors are all unreliable."

Xiangling muttered softly.

Lin Daiyu blinked. "Sister Xiangling, what did you just say?"

"No, no, it's nothing. Now that things have been explained, I should go back. I won't bother you any longer while you write."

After Xiangling bowed, she was about to take her leave, but Lin Daiyu persuaded her to stay.

Lin Daiyu looked Xiangling up and down.

She wore a moon-white cotton-padded jacket with a light blue vest draped over her shoulders. The collar was decorated with some diamond patterns, and her lower body was a light green silk skirt. She had a charming and endearing appearance.

Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem like someone who likes to gossip in front of outsiders. It's a good opportunity for Lin Daiyu to find out what good things that playboy did when she was in the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion.

Just as she was thinking this, she noticed that Xiangling's body began to tremble slightly, and Lin Daiyu couldn't help but ask, "Sister Xiangling, why are you afraid of me?"

"No, no, Miss Lin is overthinking it," Xiangling vehemently denied.

"Sister Xiangling, you don't need to hide it from me. You went to Pear Fragrance Courtyard with me today, and you saw that everyone in the mansion avoided me like I was some kind of ferocious beast. I have a pretty good idea of ​​why, isn't it because of that matter?"

Lin Daiyu, feigning a pointed remark, raised an eyebrow and said, "Sister Xiangling, look up at me. I want to ask you, what are you thinking?"

Lin Daiyu lifted the teacup and took a small sip.

The honest and simple Xiangling is the perfect person to work with.

As expected, Xiangling avoided eye contact for a moment before speaking her mind.

“Miss Lin is the mistress, and as a servant, I shouldn’t comment too much. Besides, I’m not good with words and not as eloquent as the others in the mansion. But if Miss Lin insists on asking, I… I’m afraid. After all, Zhou Rui’s wife is the second mistress’s maid. She was reprimanded and kicked out of the mansion for neglecting you when delivering palace flowers. I… I’m a troublemaker. Not to mention in this mansion, many people in the Xue family don’t like me, so they dare not provoke you.”

Lin Daiyu had just put the tea in her mouth when she spat it all out.

"what?"

Holding a teacup in one hand and the lid in the other, Lin Daiyu looked over in disbelief, not even bothering to wipe her mouth.

Xiangling hurriedly backed away, nearly falling to the ground.

Seeing her so frightened, Lin Daiyu suddenly came to her senses, a slight smirk playing on her lips. She sighed helplessly, "This spoiled brat! How could you bring your spoiled nature to the Rongguo Mansion? You even kicked Zhou Rui's wife out! No wonder my second aunt won't see me. From now on, everyone hates me, and I'll be sent back to Yangzhou!"

Lin Daiyu frowned slightly and forced a smile. "Sister Xiangling, don't be afraid. I just didn't expect that you all thought of me this way. Go back now, and I'll definitely invite you to stay for a meal when you come back another day."

"it is good."

Xiangling's bangs were plastered to her scalp by the fine sweat that had beaded on her forehead. Hearing Lin Daiyu's words, she felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She bowed respectfully again before leaving the room.

After watching her leave, Lin Daiyu angrily picked up her pen, took out a small booklet, and began to write furiously.

I feel bitter and resentful, and my feelings are difficult to express.

"This Li Chen is simply a scourge. If he is not restrained, I'm afraid that within a few months he will turn the Rongguo Mansion and the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion upside down!"

Then the book produced text.

"Young Master Li, given that for some unknown reason, we will switch bodies every ten days, and if it happens again in another ten days, in order to prevent anyone from discovering our secret, I hereby make a three-point agreement with you, which you must not violate."

"Firstly, from this day forward, to bring joy to Madam Zou, I will do my utmost to help you pass the imperial examinations. However, in return, you must also practice calligraphy and study to prevent others from noticing anything amiss."

"Secondly, I must not use my body to indulge my纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brat) nature and cause trouble."

"Third..."

Lin Daiyu pondered for a moment, but couldn't think of anything else she should pay attention to or remind herself of.

Just then, two maids returned carrying food boxes, but Xiangling was nowhere to be seen when they entered the room.

"Miss, where is Sister Xiangling?"

"Oh, she had something urgent to attend to and went back first. Let's put the food box aside for now and enjoy it ourselves."

Zijuan replied, "Then why don't we take it to the inner room and let the young lady enjoy it while she takes a bath later?"

"Bath?"

Zijuan nodded. "Miss, haven't you been looking forward to taking a bath? It was all arranged. Today is the tenth day after the first bath. Taking it too frequently can easily lead to catching a cold."

Lin Daiyu shuddered and, filled with shame and indignation, immediately wrote down the third point.

"Thirdly, you must not touch my body without permission, and you must not take a bath!"

After writing it down, Lin Daiyu quickly put it in the drawer and forced a smile. "Alright, let's make it a fixed schedule from now on. We'll bathe every ten days or so. Boiling all this water and cleaning the bath tub is quite a hassle."

Zijuan and Xueyan exchanged a glance, their suspicions growing stronger.

(End of this chapter)