The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

I learned that the other person is steady in temperament, has solid knowledge, and is quite upright, making him a person I can entrust my life to.

Lin Ruhai truthfully told Jia Zheng his opinion, adding that although this man was not extremely wealthy or noble, he was of upright character and had a promising future. If Tan Chun married him, she would surely live a stable and respectable life. With Lin Ruhai's affirmation, Jia Zheng felt much more at ease.

After confirming that both parties were satisfied, the Jia family and the Guo family formally exchanged birth certificates.

After Tan Chun's marriage was settled, Wang Xifeng privately discussed the matter with Jia Lian, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

“Our household is really not what it used to be. Look at Third Sister’s marriage. Although the boy seems to be a good one, if this were during the heyday of our household, I’m afraid Third Sister’s marriage would have been arranged even better!” Wang Xifeng sat on the kang, pinching her brow as she sighed.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian also sighed deeply, his tone heavy: "Feng'er, you and I are both sensible people. Of the four princes and eight clans, there are only two left who can hold on. The case of Ningguo Mansion has served as a wake-up call for us. It is already difficult enough to keep this family from collapsing and from having our property confiscated and our titles stripped."

The next morning, Wang Xifeng felt unwell, with a poor appetite and lethargy. Upon seeing this, Jia Lian quickly summoned a doctor to the mansion to examine her pulse.

After examining the patient through observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, the doctor stroked his beard, beaming, and bowed, saying, "Congratulations, Second Master Lian! Congratulations, Second Madam! Second Madam is pregnant! The pulse is steady and strong, the fetus is stable, congratulations!"

This news was like a ray of sunshine, instantly dispelling the gloom in Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng's hearts.

Wang Xifeng's originally pale face instantly flushed red, and her eyes were filled with surprise and disbelief.

She had been married into the Jia family for many years and had only given birth to one daughter, Qiao Jie. She always hoped to have a son.

Now, this long-awaited good news has quietly arrived under such circumstances.

Jia Lian was overjoyed. He rubbed his hands together excitedly, thanked the doctor repeatedly, and immediately ordered someone to deliver a generous consultation fee and reward.

Side Story: The Empress's Rebirth - A Comparison of Uncle and Nephew

After becoming pregnant, Wang Xifeng was in high spirits and seemed much more energetic. Knowing that Tan Chun was now engaged and always clever and resourceful, she hatched a plan. Instead of working herself to the bone, she decided to get Tan Chun's help.

Therefore, Wang Xifeng asked Tan Chun to help manage the household.

Tan Chun was always talented and familiar with the affairs of the mansion, so she quickly got the hang of things.

Wang Xifeng even brought Xichun along. After all, Xichun was now Jia She's daughter, and nominally Jia Lian's younger sister. Wang Xifeng was happy to train her and let her learn more about managing the household.

With the help of her two sisters-in-law, Tan Chun and Xi Chun, Wang Xifeng's household management became much easier.

Tan Chun acted decisively and managed the household strictly, quickly smoothing out some of the problems within the mansion. Although Xi Chun was still young, she was calm and learned a lot from Tan Chun.

Wang Xifeng was happy to have a leisurely life, and apart from handling some important decisions, she left all the other trivial matters to the two of them.

With nothing else to do, Wang Xifeng started talking about Baoyu with Jia Lian.

“Now that my third sister is engaged, Baoyu’s marriage is still undecided,” Wang Xifeng sighed.

Upon hearing about Baoyu, Jia Lian couldn't help but frown: "In the end, isn't it because the old lady spoils him too much? What kind of family are we now? We're no longer the Duke's mansion. Not to mention, Second Uncle has been demoted. Although Baoyu is the legitimate son, he doesn't want to take the imperial examinations or pursue martial arts. What can we do?"

Wang Xifeng was not unaware of the reasons behind it.

She knew that Grandmother Jia thought her grandson was perfect in every way, but outsiders didn't think so.

A young master who couldn't inherit a title and had no real talent, whose father held a low-ranking official position, couldn't possibly choose a good family. But if he didn't choose a good family, Grandmother Jia wouldn't approve; her standards were ridiculously high.

"I'm just a little curious," Wang Xifeng asked, "Why is it that Uncle Lin was willing to help with Third Sister's matter, but it didn't work out with Baoyu?"

Jia Lian didn't know why either. He only knew that Lin Ruhai had indeed given sound advice on Tan Chun's marriage and had even personally investigated the potential suitors.

When it came to Baoyu, Jia Zheng also wanted to consult Lin Ruhai, but Lin Ruhai politely declined. Jia Lian couldn't understand why.

Ultimately, it's all Baoyu's fault.

When Xiren was expelled from the Jia family, the uproar quickly subsided, but it served as a profound warning to Daiyu.

After Daiyu returned to the Jia family mansion, she mentioned this matter to Lin Ruhai. This was not to embellish the story, but rather out of concern for the internal problems of the Jia family and her opinion on Baoyu's character.

In Daiyu's view, while Xiren was certainly at fault for overstepping her bounds, the root of the problem lay in Baoyu's lack of self-control and unwillingness to take responsibility as his master.

After Xiren was driven away, he was indeed sad for a few days at first, and even threw a few tantrums, but what happened afterward? He acted as if nothing had happened and remained the same as before.

Lin Ruhai was always insightful and loved his daughter dearly. He could naturally discern the deeper meaning in Daiyu's plain words, and therefore he did not particularly like Baoyu's personality.

Moreover, Grandmother Jia's favoritism towards Baoyu was somewhat excessive, and Lin Ruhai felt it was better not to get involved.

Since giving Tan Chun advice on her marriage last time, Jia Zheng has once again sent an invitation to Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai felt a sense of helplessness upon seeing the post. He feared that Jia Zheng would bring up Baoyu's matter again, especially since he had already subtly expressed his unwillingness to get involved last time. Lin Ruhai even secretly resolved that if Jia Zheng did bring up Baoyu's matter again, he would find an opportunity to make his point even clearer.

However, Lin Ruhai was somewhat surprised when Jia Zheng entered the study with someone. Jia Zheng did not come alone; he brought his grandson, Jia Lan.

After bowing respectfully, Jia Zheng pointed to Jia Lan beside him and said with a hint of anticipation, "I have come here today with great concern for Lan'er's studies."

Lin Ruhai's gaze fell on Jia Lan. Seeing that he was so young, yet his brows held a calm and resolute air, he secretly admired him.

Seeing that Lin Ruhai showed no dissatisfaction, Jia Zheng then mentioned Jia Lan's desire to study at Yuntao Academy: "This child is growing up, and the teachers we've hired at home aren't very good, so he's taken the initiative to suggest going to Yuntao Academy in the suburbs of the capital."

"But as you know, brother-in-law, the entrance requirements for Yuntao Academy are extremely high, and it is not a place for ordinary students. After much thought, I brought Lan'er here to ask you for a favor."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai spoke gently: "Since Lan-ge'er wants to go to Yuntao Academy, then let me test you on a few questions about the Four Books."

"May I ask, sir?" Jia Lan asked, acting like a little adult.

"Lan-ge'er, do you feel any understanding of the saying 'Only when things are investigated can knowledge be extended' from the Great Learning in your daily reading and study, or when you get along with others and handle household chores?" Lin Ruhai admired Jia Lan even more for his lack of fear.

Jia Lan pondered for a moment, then respectfully replied, "Reporting to my lord, I believe that the saying 'Only by investigating things can one attain knowledge' is also reflected in every aspect of our daily lives."

"Take reading for example. If we just skim through a book, we've only scratched the surface. To truly understand something, we need to savor the words and sentences, analyze the author's intentions, and even research the background information and allusions. Only by exploring in such depth can we truly grasp the essence of the book, reach the level of 'knowledge attainment,' and truly transform the knowledge in the book into our own wisdom."

"Even when dealing with everyday chores, such as household accounts or preparing a banquet, one needs the spirit of 'investigating things.' One must understand where every expense goes, the ingredients and methods of every dish, and not be careless. Only by having a thorough understanding of these details can one handle things properly and avoid oversights. Therefore, the student believes that 'investigating things leads to knowledge' teaches us to be attentive in everything we do, to explore deeply, so that we can distinguish right from wrong and increase our wisdom."

“You’re a good kid,” Lin Ruhai praised. “Yuntao Academy is indeed a good place to study. I can only pass on your message and recommend you to take the exam. But whether you pass or not depends on your own ability.”

Upon hearing that his uncle had agreed to help, Jia Lan was overjoyed. He immediately bowed respectfully and thanked him loudly, saying, "Jia Lan thanks Uncle! Jia Lan will study hard and strive to be admitted to Yuntao Academy, so as not to disappoint Uncle's expectations!"

Daiyu took Jiayue home to see her father. After hearing about this from Lin Ruhai, she laughed and said, "It's clear that spoiling someone too much is not good."

Both father and daughter knew who Daiyu was referring to, and they smiled at each other.

When Lin Ruhai inquired about Daiyu and the other girls' school, Daiyu began to recount the story vividly.

Extra Chapter: The Empress's Rebirth - Xiangyun's Self-Recommendation

Daiyu was talking to Lin Ruhai about girls' education.

“The Crown Princess and Second Sister-in-law are both very capable. They have already finalized the curriculum for the girls’ school. In addition to the compulsory courses of poetry, literature and etiquette, they have also specially added courses such as flower arranging, painting, playing the zither, chess, and needlework, striving to make the girls both virtuous and talented,” Daiyu introduced.

She paused, then continued, "We've also drafted plans on what kind of female teachers we should select, as well as the corresponding tuition fees for them. Finding women who are both talented and virtuous will certainly require some thought."

Lin Ruhai listened and nodded frequently, feeling gratified by his daughter's dedication and talent.

Just as preparations for the girls' school were in full swing, the Prince Yi's residence received an unexpected invitation. The sender was none other than Shi Xiangyun, who had already married into the Wei family.

Daiyu looked at the post, feeling a little curious.

She knew that Xiangyun had married into the Wei family and heard that her husband worked in the military. However, it seemed that the Wei family had fallen on hard times after repaying the national treasury and was now living a rather ordinary, even somewhat impoverished, life.

When Xiangyun entered the mansion and met Daiyu, she didn't hesitate and directly stated her purpose.

"Sister Lin, please don't laugh at me," Xiangyun said cheerfully as always, but there was a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "I've come here today to volunteer to be a teacher at the girls' school."

Daiyu was slightly taken aback, then gently gestured for Xiangyun to sit down.

Xiangyun sighed and told Daiyu about her difficulties: "As you know, Auntie is in charge of the household now, and we are living on Uncle's meager salary. We are really struggling to make ends meet."

“I heard that the women’s academy here is recruiting female teachers, so I thought I’d give it a try. It would be good if I could help my family.” A complex emotion flashed in Xiangyun’s eyes. “When I was little, I always thought my aunt was too much. She always made us do needlework and wouldn’t let us go out to play. Now I understand that with the family’s difficulties, we can’t just sit around and do nothing.”

Daiyu had heard about the Shi family's situation and knew that the Shi family had sold off their ancestors' old property to pay off the national treasury's deficit in their early years. Xiangyun preferred to play at the Rongguo Mansion back then. In the end, it was just the nature of a young girl who naturally wanted to live a carefree life.

"Of course I'm happy that you can come, sister! I couldn't be happier!" Daiyu said sincerely, holding Xiangyun's hand. "But the teachers there also have to go through strict examinations. Her Highness the Princess and the Crown Princess have drafted the examination rules together, so you can just come and take the exam."

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun's eyes shone with confidence. Although she was struggling financially, she remained confident in her talent.

"Oh dear, I actually called her Sister Lin." Only now did Xiangyun realize that Daiyu was the Princess Consort.

Daiyu chuckled: "Alright, we've been sisters for years, are we going to become estranged because of this?"

Daiyu admired Xiangyun's independence and self-reliance, so she tried her best to persuade Xiangyun to have lunch at Prince Yi's residence.

After lunch, Daiyu and Xiangyun went to the study, where they discussed poetry together. Daiyu casually picked up a scroll of poems and they critiqued it together.

Xiangyun's wit remained sharp, and her insights into poetry were quite unique. She would occasionally utter some wonderful lines that Daiyu had never thought of, or put forward some novel viewpoints, making Daiyu nod frequently and smile.

Not long after Shi Xiangyun left, Xiao Tingjun returned.

Seeing that his usually handsome face now looked somewhat solemn and tired, and his complexion was not good, Daiyu's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward to ask, "Your Highness, why do you look so pale today? Is something unpleasant happening in the military camp?"

Xiao Tingjun sighed softly, took Daiyu's hand, and his worry remained undiminished. He did not hide anything and told Daiyu directly, "Yu'er, something terrible has happened... There has been an earthquake in Zhili."

"What?!" Upon hearing this, Daiyu was struck dumb, her face turning pale with fright.

Having been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, she naturally understood what an "earthquake" meant. This was a very serious natural disaster, often accompanied by collapsed houses, casualties, and even famine and plague. Her heart jumped into her throat.

"What is the extent of the disaster? Are there any casualties?" Daiyu asked anxiously, her voice trembling slightly.

She knew that Zhili was a vital area surrounding the capital, densely populated, and the consequences of a severe earthquake would be unimaginable. Xiao Tingjun's expression already demonstrated the gravity of the situation.

Seeing Daiyu's worried expression, Xiao Tingjun sighed softly and revealed his plans.

“That’s right, Yu’er,” Xiao Tingjun said in a deep voice. “The earthquake in Zhili has caused quite a bit of damage. The Ministry of Revenue is already urgently allocating relief supplies, but disaster relief is by no means an easy task. I was just thinking of requesting permission to go to Zhili to personally participate in the disaster relief efforts.”

The Ministry of Revenue... Daiyu thought of her father; it seemed she was really in for a lot of work this time.

"But I thought I should come back and discuss it with you first."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu grasped Xiao Tingjun's hand tightly and said firmly, "This is a major matter, so it is naturally even more important. Besides, we are in the capital now, so you don't need to worry about Yueyue and me."

The next day, just as dawn broke, Xiao Tingjun dressed himself neatly, preparing to enter the palace to request an imperial decree to personally go to Zhili to provide disaster relief.

However, when he arrived outside the Imperial Study, he found that he could already hear conversations coming from inside the hall.

He stepped inside and saw that his second brother, Xiao Tingkai, was already in the hall, respectfully reporting something to the emperor. Moreover, Crown Prince Xiao Tingrui was also present.

Xiao Tingjun stepped forward first and bowed: "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"

When the emperor saw Xiao Tingjun arrive, a smile of relief appeared on his face.

He pointed to Xiao Tingkai in the hall and said to the Crown Prince, "It seems your brothers are all willing to share the burden of the country. Just now, the second brother said he wanted to go to Zhili for disaster relief, and the third brother has also come."

Upon hearing this, Tingjun finally understood why Xiao Tingkai had acted first.

Xiao Tingjun was also a little surprised: his second brother seemed to be a bit depressed these days, how did he suddenly change his personality?

Xiao Tingkai quickly stepped forward and said earnestly, "This disaster has struck suddenly, affecting the capital region. People have been displaced, and the nation is in turmoil. As a prince, I should naturally prioritize national affairs and share the burden with my father. Disaster relief is no small matter; it requires not only the allocation of supplies but also the pacification of the people and the proper resettlement of the victims. Although I have no experience in disaster relief, I have always been compassionate towards the people and am willing to personally participate in the work."

In fact, Xiao Tingkai's initiative to take the lead in this attack can be largely attributed to Yu Ran.