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

However, with the lessons of the past right before their eyes, if Wang Ziteng hadn't just been promoted to the governor of nine provinces, this matter would never have been so easily swept under the rug.

Lady Wang also heard from Jia Zheng that Lin Ruhai trusted and valued Deng Zechen so much that he almost treated him as his own nephew.

If he gets caught again this time, it won't just be a scandal; it will likely also annoy his brother, Wang Ziteng.

After much deliberation, Madam Wang still couldn't swallow her anger and felt suffocated. She added fuel to the fire and wrote a letter to Prince Teng, hoping that he could help her vent her anger.

On the other side, Wang Xifeng, who was also in a bad mood, finished the medicine Ping'er handed her, rinsed her mouth, closed her eyes, lay down, and asked while enduring her headache:

"What has happened at the manor recently? Has Madam made any moves?"

Ping'er placed the bowl on the tray, recalled the recent events in the mansion, and told Wang Xifeng about Jia Baoyu's complaint and the punishment of Jia Yingchun and her two sisters for copying books:

"Aside from those servants who were used to flattering the powerful and currying favor with the weak, the mistress threw a tantrum in her room after sending Master Bao back home."

But nothing has happened since then; we'll have to wait and see.

Ever since Wang Xifeng learned that her uncle Wang Ziteng had been promoted, she knew that Madam Wang would not be imprisoned for long. Did she really have to offend both the Lin and Wang families because of this?

At this critical moment, Wang Xifeng's headache flared up again, fearing that her previous actions had already made Madam Wang secretly resentful.

Fortunately, Wang Xifeng's role in this matter was not that of the mastermind in Madam Wang's eyes. By making a concession and showing some weakness, Madam Wang was able to vent her anger, and perhaps the matter was let go because they were all members of the Wang family.

Ultimately, both of them are members of the Wang family, and they need the support of their maternal family to live a good life.

Minor skirmishes are fine, but if they really fight, it will only result in mutual destruction, and neither side will benefit.

Therefore, Wang Xifeng simply used her illness as an excuse to stop managing the household alone. As expected, Madam Wang regained control of the household. She secretly made things difficult for Wang Xifeng, but then did nothing more.

Wang Xifeng, her eyes still closed, rubbed her forehead with her delicate hand and instructed Ping'er:

"Keep a close eye on your wife, and be sure to tell me immediately if you hear anything."

Ping'er said she would leave the room quietly from now on. Wang Xifeng felt a bitter taste rising in her mouth, not knowing whether it was from the medicine she had just drunk or from the humiliation she had suffered recently.

"well……"

Du Feng put down the articles submitted by his two junior brothers, suppressed the urge to take action, and finally sighed at Guo Wenshao.

Guo Wenshao didn't dare to raise his head. Hearing Du Feng's sigh, he trembled all over and didn't dare to say a word.

"Zechen has made great progress. Passing the prefectural examination this time is a sure thing. Go change your clothes and warm up. I'll check your boxing skills in a bit."

Deng Zechen's heart lifted upon hearing Du Feng's words. "Yes! Thank you for your hard work, Senior Brother!"

As Deng Zechen closed the door and left, he could still faintly hear Du Feng's voice, which he was trying his best to control:

"What am I supposed to say to you... You clearly got everything right last time..."

Leaving behind the voices that were no longer relevant to him, Deng Zechen went to change into a set of martial arts clothes and went to the place where they usually practiced martial arts.

I heard that this place was originally just an ordinary courtyard, but it was changed into its current form to facilitate the training of the previous disciples.

In the once empty courtyard, three or four wooden dummy stakes covered with wear marks were erected, along with a dozen or so stone locks of varying weights, arranged neatly.

There was also a sandy area near the wall, with plum blossom stakes of varying sizes standing on it.

Deng Zechen stood in front of the wooden dummy, looking at the shallow marks on it. Without much thought, he started moving based on muscle memory.

He had already memorized the boxing manual, and his performance was dazzling.

The movements were wide and sweeping, with the occasional whooshing sound of air being cut through the air as the arms were extended and fists were thrown.

Before long, the sound of Deng Zechen striking the wooden dummy echoed through the courtyard. Listening to the sound, Deng Zechen realized that his movements were getting slower and slower, but each move was becoming more and more precise.

Just as Deng Zechen felt his body getting hot and started sweating, Du Feng's voice came from behind him:

"Good...very good, I knew I wasn't wrong, this set of boxing techniques is indeed suitable for you."

Upon hearing Du Feng's words, Deng Zechen abruptly snapped out of his daze. He couldn't control the force of his final punch, and due to some distraction, his movements became somewhat distorted.

With a "smack!", he actually punched the wooden dummy and made a small dent.

It's unclear what material the wooden dummy is made of, but this punch didn't break it directly; it only left a very clear fist mark, which stood out among the shallow marks on the dummy.

Guo Wenshao came with Du Feng, and when he saw Deng Zechen's punch, his eyes suddenly widened:

"Junior brother, what did you eat to gain strength so quickly?"

This wooden dummy was there before I even started learning, and this is the first time I've seen someone leave such obvious marks on it.

That blow was quite powerful, but it hit wood after all. Deng Zechen's fist was throbbing slightly. Hearing Guo Wenshao's voice, Deng Zechen pretended to be nonchalant and hid his fist behind his back: "There's nothing I can do about it, it's just how I am."

Guo Wenshao believed him and said, "Huh? It seems there's really no other way."

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Deng Zechen quietly loosened his fist hidden behind his back and moved his wrist. Fortunately, he hadn't broken any bones, and the slight stinging pain wouldn't affect anything.

Du Feng stepped forward to examine the wooden dummy closely. His fingers brushed over the fist imprint, and he caught a glimpse of Deng Zechen's subtle movement out of the corner of his eye. He smiled.

"Alright, don't waste time, Wen Shao, go stand on the plum blossom stakes to warm up."

As usual, if you can hold out until the time it takes for an incense stick to burn without me catching you, you'll get a day off. If I catch you within that time, your training time will double!

Guo Wenshao couldn't believe it, and the last word he uttered was even slurred:

"Why is it taking longer again! Last time it only took half an incense stick's time!"

Du Feng's smile vanished, replaced by a stern face: "If you waste any more time, I'll punish you by making you stand for the duration of an incense stick, and you'll only get half a day off."

Guo Wenshao raised his hand and gently patted his mouth, no longer daring to utter a single word.

Immediately, Guo Wenshao lightly touched the ground with his toes, and like an arrow released from a bow, he shot straight toward the highest plum blossom stake on the sand, his face solemn as he began to prepare for the upcoming assessment.

Deng Zechen and Guo Wenshao had sparred before, but neither of them was very satisfied with the results.

Because Deng Zechen couldn't touch Guo Wenshao, Guo Wenshao couldn't withstand Deng Zechen's punches.

In the end, the two often end up staring at each other, unable to do anything to each other, and in the end, it's all for nothing.

However, both of them reached a consensus: the senior brother was terrifyingly strong.

Because the eldest brother beat Deng Zechen as easily as a strong man beat a toddler who had just learned to walk, and caught Guo Wenshao as easily as an eagle catching a chick.

It looks like he didn't use any real skills, but he can still easily crush you.