Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

What kind of quick-witted person is Jia Yun?

After a moment's thought, he understood Baoyu's intention in "retreating to advance".

Jia Yun looked at Bao Yu kneeling in front of him and secretly laughed at his cunning, but his face remained expressionless.

Since you're willing to put on this "respecting teacher" act, I'll go along with it and solidify this master-disciple relationship even further! Then, disciplining you in the future will be perfectly justified!

After a moment of contemplation, Jia Yun slowly spoke: "Since you know your mistakes and are able to correct them, that is the greatest virtue. I will accept you as my student. Get up."

Baoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief and stood up with Xiren's help. However, the pain between his buttocks and legs made him grimace, and his movement to get up was quite comical.

Jia Yun's gaze swept over the three students in front of her, each with a different expression, and the pent-up frustration she felt because of yesterday's events finally eased a little.

He knew that only after this incident could he truly establish his position within the Jia family's school of learning.

"Now that everyone is here, let's begin today's lesson. Today we will discuss 'Mencius, Book 6, Part 2'..."

A few days passed after Jia Yun established his authority in the family school that day. While studying, he often pondered the fundamental principles for his future conduct.

He knew that if he wanted to truly break free from the constraints of the Jia family and have his own place in the world, the imperial examination was the only way.

In the days that followed, Jia Yun found an opportunity to formally visit his new mentor, Li Shouzhong, with a letter from Li Wan.

Although Li Shouzhong held a low-ranking official position as Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, he was a man of solid scholarship and exceptional character, and enjoyed a good reputation among scholars.

He was gratified to see that his student, who had come because of a bet, had become more composed despite the hardships he had endured.

Upon hearing that Jia Yun intended to devote himself to studying for the provincial examination before the autumn examination, Li Shouzhong pondered and said, "Wenwei, with your current status as a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination), it is certainly possible to study at home, but working in isolation is not a good strategy. The Imperial Academy is a place where the best talents in the country gather, and the exchange of information during academic discussions will greatly benefit you."

Jia Yun had long harbored this intention, and immediately bowed to inquire, "This student also has this thought, but I don't know how to proceed?"

Li Shouzhong stroked his beard and smiled, "Besides the four regular categories of students at the Imperial Academy—those recommended by officials, those recommended by scholars, those who have paid tribute, and those recommended by the regular system—there is a fifth category: 'specially recommended students' who are recommended by court officials or academic officials. Although I am of low rank and have little influence at the Imperial Academy, I can write a letter of recommendation for you. With your talent and learning, you are qualified to study there."

Overjoyed, Jia Yun quickly bowed and thanked him.

With Li Shouzhong's letter of recommendation, the procedures were handled exceptionally smoothly.

A few days later, Jia Yun officially became a student of the Imperial Academy.

From then on, Jia Yun's life became exceptionally fulfilling and regular. Every morning, without fail, he would teach Jia Lan, Jia Huan, and Bao Yu for one hour at the Jia family's school.

After receiving that "discipline beating," all three of them were completely obedient. Even Baoyu dared not be blatantly lazy anymore, and upon examination, his studies did indeed improve somewhat.

As soon as the lecture ended, Jia Yun rushed to the Imperial Academy.

At the Imperial College, he met two good friends he had made during the previous prefectural examination—Zhou Xiangyu and Wang Wei.

Zhou Xiangyu was cheerful and outgoing, while Wang Wei was meticulous and thoughtful. The three were overjoyed to be reunited and soon became inseparable, reading and discussing philosophy together.

Through them, Jia Yun met some other students of the Imperial Academy, including the famous and talented Guan Shaoning.

They hit it off immediately, feeling like old friends who had known each other for ages.

Of course, there were also those with whom they did not get along, namely another scholar, He Ruizheng.

This fellow has been getting close to the eunuch faction lately, and he has a lot of resentment towards Jia Yun.

Meanwhile, news of Jia Yun and Wang Xifeng's conspiracy to open a new-style clubhouse between the Ning and Rong mansions quickly spread.

The servants and maids have gossiped about you a lot, and many feel that this Master Yun has become a bit arrogant. He has just gained some prestige and has become restless, even going so far as to get involved in such "lowly professions".

However, amidst all this speculation, one person held a completely different view: the Third Sister, Tan Chun.

She sat at the large desk by the window, listening to the gossip that Shishu had inquired about, but her hands did not stop copying calligraphy, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

In Tan Chun's view, Jia Yun's actions were not reckless at all, but rather a testament to his unique vision and pioneering spirit.

Tan Chun felt that her marriage to Jia Yun was almost certainly approved by the matriarch, and her heart was already set on that scholar. Naturally, she couldn't bear to hear others belittle her, and she secretly pondered how she could share his burdens and solve his problems.

The initial investment for this newly established clubhouse must have been substantial.

Thinking of this, she put down her pen and said to the maid, "Go to my aunt's room and tell her I want to talk to her."

Shi Shu was slightly surprised, because Tan Chun and Aunt Zhao were not usually very close. There must be a reason why she took the initiative to go today.

The master and servant walked through several corridors and arrived at the small courtyard where Aunt Zhao lived.

Although the furnishings in the courtyard were neat and tidy, they lacked the elegance of other places and had a more gaudy feel.

Aunt Zhao was lounging on the kang (a heated brick bed) eating melon seeds, while two maids were massaging her legs beside her.

Although she was over thirty, the woman still had a graceful figure.

Especially with her full breasts and slender waist, wrapped in a peach-colored floral jacket, she had the graceful charm of a beautiful young woman.

That pale, oval face still retained a touch of pink, and the foundation of its handsome eyes and well-groomed eyebrows was still there. However, some fine lines had appeared at the corners of its eyebrows and eyes, and because it always looked at people with a hint of calculation, it diminished its original seven-tenths of its charm by three-tenths.

Seeing Tan Chun enter, she merely raised her eyes slightly and lazily said, "What brings you here today, Miss?"

Before she could finish speaking, the young woman spat out a sunflower seed shell with a "snap," which landed right on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Although he was a phoenix that flew out of a crow's nest, he still had a bit of a crow's tone and his behavior always revealed a petty and stingy air.

Tan Chun sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and Shi Shu and the two maids who were massaging her legs tactfully retreated to the door.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the soft cracking of sunflower seed shells breaking.

After much deliberation, Tan Chun finally managed to speak: "Aunt, I've come today to...to borrow some money from you."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhao frowned abruptly, slamming the melon seeds in her hand onto the kang table. Her beautiful eyes widened instantly: "Borrow money? Miss, are you joking? You receive two taels of silver a month, and your food, clothing, and daily necessities are all from the public funds. What do you need money for?"

Tan Chun's face flushed slightly as she was questioned, but she still explained gently, "I have some urgent business to attend to recently and am temporarily short of funds. If you can help me, Aunt, I will definitely repay you in the future."

"In the future?" Aunt Zhao sneered, suddenly sitting up straight, her ample breasts trembling. "Let me ask you, is it because of that club that Jia Yun opened? Well, I raised you with such care and hardship, and now that you've grown up, instead of remembering to be filial to me, you're sending your money to outsiders!"

Her finger almost poked Tan Chun's forehead, and the two bracelets on her wrist jingled loudly.

Tan Chun was so embarrassed by her words that her thoughts were exposed that her ears turned bright red, but she still tried to remain calm: "Auntie, please don't make wild guesses. What does this have to do with other people? I have some plans of my own."

"Pah!" Aunt Zhao spat on the ground, pointing at Tan Chun's nose and berating her, "Do you think I'm some kind of blind fool? Who in the manor doesn't know about you and Jia Yun? He's a collateral descendant, and instead of studying hard and making progress, he insists on learning that lowly profession. And you, on the other hand, are eager to use your money to fill this bottomless pit!"

These words were clearly somewhat insincere—Aunt Zhao was overjoyed when she first heard the news. The marriage was one thing, but more importantly, the fact that the old lady had bypassed Madam Wang, her "mother," to inquire about her made Aunt Zhao, who had bent her back her whole life, stand up a bit more.

But now, her own daughter wants her to pay for her husband's expenses? How could Aunt Zhao not be furious?

As she spoke, Aunt Zhao suddenly slammed her hand on the kang table and cried out, "Heavens! What kind of fate do I have! It's bad enough that my own daughter doesn't side with me, but now she's even trying to take away all my savings! Let me tell you, Tan Chun, even if I had some spare money, it wouldn't be your place to give it to that poor boy! If he really cared, he should be showing respect to his future mother-in-law first!"

Tan Chun was so angry at her unreasonable and irrational behavior that she trembled all over, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She knew her birth mother was coarse and uncouth, but she never expected her to be so unreasonable. She could no longer remain seated and abruptly stood up, saying, "Since Aunt is unwilling to help, then pretend I never said those words."

After saying that, she turned and left without looking back, as if in a fit of pique.

Aunt Zhao, however, kept nagging and crying behind him, "Go away! Don't ever come back! I want to see if you can squeeze a single copper coin out of me!"

Tan Chun walked briskly through the garden, the autumn wind brushing against her face, which actually made her flushed little face feel a little more comfortable. Shi Shu followed closely behind, whispering to comfort her, "Miss, don't get upset, Auntie... she just couldn't think straight for a moment."

Tan Chun bit her lip and remained silent, but her heart was ice-cold.

She had originally thought that if she could secretly lend some money to help Jia Yun, it would fulfill her own wish, but she didn't expect to run into such a big snag with her birth mother. What made her even more embarrassed was that although Aunt Zhao's words were vulgar, they were not without reason—although she and Jia Yun were in love, their status was not yet established, and such private assistance, if spread, would only cause more gossip.

Thinking of this, Tan Chun couldn't help but sigh, realizing how difficult life was in this deep mansion.

Even after returning to the courtyard, Tan Chun's eyes were still red.

The maidservant Shishu saw this and felt sorry for her. While getting tea for Tanchun, she secretly went to the west corridor and told Jia Yun the whole story.

Jia Yun was practicing calligraphy in the room when he heard about this, and the purple brush in his hand immediately stopped in mid-air.

He felt both touched and helpless—touched by Tan Chun's sincere intentions, but helpless because Aunt Zhao's behavior was truly embarrassing.

Jia Yun pondered to himself, "This Aunt Zhao is quite a pitiful person. She was in her prime, yet she was married to Master Zheng, who is so much older. Although she has no worries about food and clothing, in name she is only a concubine. Her own flesh and blood are right before her eyes, but she can only hear her call her 'Aunt.' How could outsiders know the bitterness in her heart? But then again, blood ties cannot be severed. No matter how cold Tan Chun's face may be, how can she not be tormented inside?"

The more he thought about it, the more troublesome it seemed. He paced back and forth in his study several times, but still couldn't come up with a proper solution.

If we go directly to Aunt Zhao to argue, wouldn't that confirm Tan Chun's accusation of "turning her back on someone else's side"? But if we ignore it, it would be really heartbreaking to see Tan Chun being wronged.

Just as he was feeling troubled, Qingwen came in to deliver freshly roasted tea and fruit.

This girl was always quick-witted. Seeing Jia Yun's furrowed brows, she asked a question.

After learning the whole story, she chuckled: "Second Master, you're usually so quick-witted, how come you can't see this clearly? Is Third Miss really short of a few taels of silver? She's clearly feeling down and needs a way to vent. Didn't you get a lot of interesting and novel stories the other day? Why don't you pick out a few refreshing and interesting ones and send them over? Wouldn't that be better than just sitting here worrying?"

Jia Yun then slapped his forehead.

That's right!

Isn't plagiarism his forte? The girls loved A Chinese Ghost Story, and they naturally enjoyed other romance novels as well.