Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

By the time Deng Zechen, who was outside the palace, learned of the emperor's death and the new emperor's ascension to the throne, everything had already been settled.

From the day the news broke, the entire capital city became much quieter.

After all, during a period of national mourning, anyone who dares to seek pleasure at this critical juncture would be truly courting death.

Therefore, Deng Zechen's lips twitched when he heard that Xue Pan had come to visit:

"Is Xue Pan really here to invite me to a brothel?"

Although he was inwardly resentful, he couldn't just leave the person outside like that, so Deng Zechen still asked Hu Zi to bring the person in.

Upon seeing Xue Pan, Deng Zechen became even more curious, because it was obvious that Xue Pan hadn't really come to him to drink and frequent brothels.

A few days ago, he looked very energetic, but today he looked much more disheveled, with some dark stubble on his chin.

I got a blister on the corner of my mouth, but I don't know if it's a physical or physiological sign of internal heat.

As soon as Xue Pan saw Deng Zechen, he began to talk incessantly, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube:

"Brother Deng! I've been so worried these past two days, I haven't even had anyone to talk to!"

Deng Zechen poured him a glass of water, handing it to him while asking:

"What's wrong? Speak slower."

Xue Pan took the water but didn't have time to drink it. He simply placed it on the table beside him, and in his haste, he spilled quite a bit.

"I have a younger sister. My brother and I stayed at the Rongguo Mansion when we came to the capital this time."

"My sister participated in the selection of concubines and had already passed the preliminary selection, but..." At this point, Xue Pan seemed to be hesitant to speak, as if he was avoiding something.

Deng Zechen understood a bit; it seemed that Xue Pan wasn't really brainless after all.

He knew what to say and what to say that might cause trouble, so he simply kept quiet.

"I understand. Because of the national mourning, the selection of concubines must have been suspended, right?"

Xue Pan nodded vigorously, confirming Deng Zechen's statement:

"Yes! In that case, my sister's efforts have all been in vain!"

Even without Xiangling's affair, could Xue Baochai not continue down the path she chose?

Even if Xue Baochai failed the selection, she still lived comfortably in the Rongguo Mansion, so why was Xue Pan in such a hurry?

Deng Zechen: "Even if the selection of concubines is not settled, your younger sister must be a very talented and beautiful girl to have passed the preliminary selection. Why is Brother Xue in such a hurry?"

Xue Pan seemed to have thought of something that made him very angry, and he couldn't control his temper.

He slammed his right fist on the table beside him with a loud "bang!" The glass of water that was placed on the edge of the table was knocked to the ground by the impact.

The cup shattered into pieces, spilling water all over the floor. Xue Pan looked at it with an apologetic expression.

"I'm so sorry, I got flustered..."

Deng Zechen waved his hand dismissively, signaling Xue Pan to continue.

Xue Pan gritted his teeth. "You should know that the Rongguo Mansion has a young master named Bao Er who was born with a jade in his mouth, right?"

We've met a few times.

"Jia Baoyu is of marriageable age now, and the Rongguo Mansion wants my sister to marry him!"

Deng Zechen raised an eyebrow, somewhat disbelieving:

"The Rongguo Mansion is a prominent family, and it's currently a time of national mourning. How could they act in such a way? When did this happen?"

Xue Pan was stunned for a moment after hearing Deng Zechen's words, looking somewhat dazed:

"Yes, how could I forget that!"

"It must be because I was so angry that I lost my mind."

"Besides, there's nothing wrong with a marriage alliance with the Rongguo Mansion, isn't there? I remember you already have a marriage alliance with the Rongguo Mansion, wouldn't that make the relationship even stronger?"

"If they come in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, I have nothing to say."

But the lady of the Rongguo Mansion got that... prickly heat...

Deng Zechen chimed in at the opportune moment: "Prickly heat."

"Yes! It's prickly heat! The old lady in the mansion said that Baoyu is not young anymore, so why not get married soon to bring good luck, and maybe Madam will get better."

They want my sister and Baoyu to get married quickly, as if they're rushing to be reincarnated, afraid that if they're a step too late, they won't be human anymore.

They said they would carry a sedan chair in first, and the two of them would go through the wedding ceremony first, and then they would make up for it later.

"Tell me, is this even possible?! I've never heard of wedding ceremonies being held after the wedding!"

At this point, Xue Pan became angry again, and his eyes filled with blood.

"What do they take my sister for! How can they just dismiss her like that?"

Because he spent so much time with Xiangling, Deng Zechen actually had some reservations when he first met Xue Pan.

But after spending time with him, they discovered that Xue Pan was indeed a "foolish tyrant" and hadn't really done anything outrageous, so they gradually let go of their prejudice.

Seeing Xue Pan so anxious about Xue Baochai that blisters appeared on his lips, I couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

"This is indeed strange. Even if you really want to arrange a marriage, there's no need to be in such a hurry. Is there something you haven't told me?"

Xue Pan patted his head quite forcefully and replied sullenly:

"I don't know why I'm in such a hurry. My sister was afraid that if I found out, it would cause trouble, so she didn't let me know."

If I hadn't happened to overhear it yesterday, I don't know when I would have found out.

"From what you've said, your sister is also a person with her own ideas. You should calm down first and go back to discuss it with your sister."

If you, as the older brother, are always so impulsive and rash, how can your younger sister trust you to handle this matter?

"It's all my fault for being useless..."

Deng Zechen interrupted Xue Pan's self-pity, "Don't say such discouraging things, listen to me."

Only after Xue Pan looked up at him did Deng Zechen speak:

"We are currently in a period of national mourning. If you are trying to shirk your responsibilities, you can use this as an excuse to avoid it."

Furthermore, you can communicate more with your younger sister to see what she thinks.

I'm just an outsider after all, and there's nothing I can do to help.

But since Brother Xue has come to me as a friend, I will certainly not refuse to help within my capabilities, provided he has made up his mind.

"I don't know why, but when this happened, the first person I thought of was you..."

At this moment, one of Xue Pan's servants rushed in in a panic:

"Sir! Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

Xue Pan's eyes widened in anger, and he was about to get up and kick him, but Deng Zechen held him back, still somewhat enraged.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you scoundrel? Your grandfather is perfectly fine!"

Spit it out! Don't interrupt me!

"The lady is gone! The young lady sent me to find you and bring you back!"

"Which wife is gone? So what? What does it have to do with me?"

Can't you see I'm busy? You come to me with everything. What are you all for?

Xue Pan heard the servant's words, but they seemed to fly straight out of his ears, leaving no trace in his mind.

Deng Zechen frowned: "Which wife? Be more specific."

The servant was so anxious his lips were chapped: "The Second Master's wife of the Rongguo Mansion! She just passed away!"

Is Lady Wang dead?