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

Lin Ruhai's return to Beijing was known to some well-informed families well in advance.

Therefore, visiting cards flew to the Lin family mansion like snowflakes, but Lin Ruhai did not respond.

Lin Ruhai politely declined all offers, and aside from meeting His Majesty, he only visited the Rongguo Mansion.

Considering the relationship between the Jia and Lin families, the people didn't think twice and instead sent invitations to the Rongguo Mansion.

This brought the Jia family, a family that had gradually faded from public view and held the titles of two dukes, back into the conversation.

The Rongguo Mansion understood that these people were not really there to see them. Not wanting to expose their conflict with the Lin family, they could only pretend to be confused and laugh it off.

Three days after Lin Ruhai returned to Beijing, the Lin family finally made a move.

Lin Ruhai's former classmates who passed the imperial examinations are now mostly serving as officials in the Hanlin Academy or the Six Ministries. They were the first to receive Lin Ruhai's invitation.

In addition, there were some noble families who were on good terms with the Lin family, as well as some literati who, although they did not serve as officials in the court, had made significant achievements in the literary world.

The invitation was very simple:

My old friend's nephew, Deng Zechen, had his coming-of-age ceremony at the Bamboo Grove Hermitage.

This child is intelligent, kind, and gentle; I am very pleased with him.

I wish to borrow the mirror of time and experience to reflect this fine jade.

Several jars of fine wine were specially prepared to sweep the path in anticipation of our arrival.

If you would not mind, we could discuss our feelings over wine, which would be a delightful thing.

In summary, I have a nephew whom I value highly. He has reached adulthood, and I'd like to introduce him to you.

Although the people who received the invitations did not know who Deng Zechen was, they all prepared gifts and went to the Lin residence one after another.

The Rongguo Mansion people naturally received an invitation as well, but when Jia Baoyu heard that it was for Deng Zechen's coming-of-age ceremony, he absolutely refused to go.

This infuriated Jia Zheng, but in the end, it was Jia Lian who stepped in to smooth things over.

"Never mind, if he doesn't like this, let's not force him. I'll go."

Meanwhile, Xue Baochai, who was waiting for the results of the selection at Rongguo Mansion, also learned of the news and summoned Xue Pan:

"Brother, go with Master Lian too, and remember to bring the gifts I've prepared."

Xue Pan asked, puzzled, "They didn't invite us, so why should I go along?"

"Even I've heard that Lin Ruhai is the most popular person in the court right now."

Would he invite ordinary people to Deng Zechen's coming-of-age ceremony?

Even if my brother can't get close to anyone, it would be good for him to have a chance to meet some respectable people.

Although Xue Baochai was impatient, she eventually explained the matter to Xue Pan in detail.

"Alright, although I don't understand, since my sister said so, I'll go."

When Xue Pan asked to accompany him, Jia Zheng initially declined, but Xue Pan didn't understand at all and happily thanked him.

Jia Lian chuckled at the sight, thinking to himself, "What a fool Xue is."

Seeing this, Jia Zheng had no choice but to take Xue Pan along as well.

When Jia Zheng arrived at the Lin residence with Jia Lian and Xue Pan, they found that several people had already arrived.

These men held official positions in the court that were several ranks higher than Jia Zheng's. When Jia Zheng went up to talk to them, they all responded politely out of respect for Lin Ruhai.

People gradually arrived, and then Lin Ruhai, beaming with pride, led Deng Zechen to appear before everyone:

"This child is Deng Zechen, 17 years old this year. Although he has only passed the county and prefectural examinations so far, he ranked first in both. He is a promising student!"

Deng Zechen bowed generously to the people in front of him, his demeanor elegant and refined, possessing a charm that surpassed that of the average scholar.

Everyone present was taken aback by what they saw; how could they have won two yuan in a row?

If I win first place again in the next provincial examination, wouldn't that make me a "minor triple champion"?

Since the founding of the nation, there has never been a "small three-skill" in Ogaki. This cannot be simply summarized as a "study seed".

An elderly man with gray hair looked at Deng Zechen, his eyes filled with undisguised joy:

"Ruhai, where did you find such a studious seed?"

Why not send it to me? Am I not qualified to be his teacher?

The speaker was none other than Zhang Bingzhu, the current dean of Shoushan Academy.

Hearing Zhang Bingzhu's words, Lin Ruhai and Deng Zechen were both somewhat surprised. Did Zhang Bingzhu not know that Deng Zechen had been rejected?

However, now is not the right time to talk about this, so Deng Zechen took the initiative to change the subject:

"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but I have already become your student."

Another refined-looking middle-aged man in a blue robe smiled, somewhat curious:

"Oh? Dean Zhang has countless students, at least a third of the people in the court are his disciples, and you're still willing to acknowledge another master?"

"A teacher for a day is a father for life; how can one be tempted by profit?"

The middle-aged man in the blue robe let out a hearty laugh, his voice deep and resonant, quite different from his refined appearance and demeanor.

"Hahaha! Good, good boy, I misspoke."

But Zhang Bingzhu's eyebrows shot up, his eyes wide with anger:

"Who? I'd like to see who in the capital is more capable of being your husband than me."

Lin Ruhai could tell from Zhang Bingzhu's lively eyebrows that Zhang Bingzhu was not really angry.

After all, he liked to use this to scare people. People would definitely be startled when they first saw it. Lin Ruhai had already figured this out when he was in school.

"My master said that I cannot call myself his disciple outside because I did not pass the academy examination."

Everyone was shocked. What a boastful tone!

When Zhang Bingzhu heard this strange and arrogant rule, his eyes flickered, clearly wanting to ask more questions, but he didn't speak.

The eyebrows above the eyes looked like dead caterpillars, drooping listlessly over the eyelids.

Seeing the change in Zhang Bingzhu's expression, Deng Zechen thought to himself, "Could it be that Dean Zhang knows my master?"

……

After Deng Zechen finished the wedding ceremony, everyone, regardless of their inner thoughts, showed a very joyful expression.

Jia Zheng's expression was complicated. After today, in the eyes of outsiders, Deng Zechen was almost completely tied to the Lin family and could be considered half a member of the Lin family.

Could it be that Lin Ruhai really intends to marry Lin Daiyu to him, which is why he is going to such lengths to promote him?

No, it's not possible...

After the three rounds of drinking and the offering of sweet wine, Lin Ruhai rose and walked to Deng Zechen, who was kneeling at the table. His voice was clear and resonant:

"Zechen, you have now come of age. Today I hereby announce your given name, Xianyun."

Deng Zechen kowtowed twice, and the ceremony was completed.

The act of choosing a courtesy name is always done by one's own father, teacher, or respected elder.

In either case, this gesture signifies a close and unusual relationship between the person who gives the name and the person who receives it.

After the coming-of-age ceremony, Zhang Bingzhu spoke first:

"Although we are not destined to be master and disciple, I find you pleasing to the eye, so I will give you this jade pendant as a gift."

After saying that, he handed Deng Zechen an oval-shaped jade pendant about the length of an index finger. It had a warm and lustrous color, and it was clear that its owner often took it out to play with.

Lin Ruhai's expression shifted slightly, and he hesitated before speaking:

"Dean, Zechen is still young, this gift is too much..."

Zhang Bingzhu's eyebrows started to twist again, no longer standing straight up as before, but after twisting for a moment they became two wavy lines.

It did add a touch of childlike charm to the old man.

"Why should I do what I want to tell you?"

"It's not for you, why are you being so polite?"