Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 11 In front of the Rongguo Mansion, I unexpectedly encountered Lin Daiyu entering the mansion!

At the beginning of spring, official boats, passenger boats, and cargo ships gather at the Chaobai River ferry crossing, where music and singing can be heard, making it a very prosperous place.

A Fujian-style boat flying the "Jia" flag slowly docked at the shore. Several maids escorted a petite figure out of the cabin. She wore a bright red feather gauze cloak with a white fox fur lining, a sky-blue porcelain jacket with cloud patterns, a blue-gold and green double-ringed sash, and red fragrant sheepskin boots with gold cloud patterns. She looked like a willow swaying in the wind and a swan in flight.

"Greetings, Miss!"

On the dock, a group of servants and young men from the Jia family greeted each other, attracting the attention of all the peddlers and laborers around them.

Upon seeing this, a fleeting look of wariness flashed in Lin Daiyu's watery eyes. Accompanied by her wet nurse, Granny Wang, and her personal maid, Xueyan, she boarded the sedan chair without uttering a word or taking an extra step, lest she be ridiculed for her lack of manners.

"Ta! Ta!"

A group of Jia family servants and young men carried sedan chairs and trunks from the Chaobai River ferry to the capital. After about half a day, their pace gradually slowed down.

Lin Daiyu, still young, couldn't contain her curiosity and gently lifted a corner of the curtain. Sure enough, she saw that the streets of the capital were bustling and the population was thriving, far surpassing that of Yangzhou.

The group had already stepped into Ningrong Street. On the north side of the street, there were two exquisitely carved, imposing stone lions, as well as three large gates with animal heads. A dozen or so people in splendid clothes sat in front of the gates. The main gate was not open, but people were going in and out through the two side gates on the east and west sides. Above the main gate was a large plaque with a red background and black lintel, inscribed with the five regular script characters "Imperial Decree Ningguo Mansion".

After walking west for a while, a similar three-bay gate with animal head decorations came into view, with a plaque that read: "Imperial Construction of Rongguo Mansion".

"Wait!"

Wang Mama, the wet nurse who accompanied Lin Daiyu, stopped the Jia family servants who were about to carry the sedan chair into the side gate. She said with a displeased expression, "Our young lady is the daughter of the Imperial Physician and your esteemed eldest daughter. What are you trying to do? Do you intend to bully the Lin family of Suzhou?"

"Oh my, what are you saying?"

The head maid quickly said, "The old lady and the madam are waiting for Miss Biao, let's go in quickly."

"presumptuous."

Granny Wang's anger rose even higher. Others might not know, but how could she not know the importance of entering through the side gate? Not to mention the families of dukes and marquises, even officials knew that the side gate was a small gate, reserved for servants, low-ranking people, and others.

Noble residences have always had a main gate, a middle gate, and a corner gate. The main gate of Rongguo Mansion is a three-bay gate with animal head decorations. The middle gate is the second gate in the mansion, which separates the inside from the outside. It is located on the central axis and is called the hanging flower gate by the common people. The corner gates are also called small gates and are located on the left and right sides.

Only when meeting distinguished guests, or when there is an imperial decree, would noble families open the main gate. But to not open the main gate and make Lin Daiyu use the side gate is a blatant trampling on the dignity of the Lin family.

The maid in front of her was not ignorant; rather, she was taking advantage of Lin Daiyu's youth and ignorance, trying to use filial piety to force Lin Daiyu to swallow this injustice in silence.

"Granny Wang."

Lin Daiyu, who was inside the sedan chair, heard the argument and lifted a corner of the curtain, her small face showing some unease.

“Please sit down, young lady. Today, I will definitely explain things to them clearly.”

"This is not just a matter for the young lady alone; it concerns the Lin family of Suzhou."

Granny Wang gently instructed Lin Daiyu, then continued arguing with the Jia family's servants.

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu, who was always quick-witted, understood immediately and lowered the sedan curtain again without saying anything more.

At 9:00 AM, the sun was blazing, and the streets of Shenjing were bustling with people, whispering and making a constant noise.

"Ta-ta-ta! Ta-ta-ta!"

The dull thud of hooves echoed all around as the group rode straight into Ningrong Street. Along the way, the people all gave way.

"Hurry up, let's get back to the manor for dinner." Jia Yan, dressed in a black outfit with gold trim, couldn't hide his excitement. His planning over the past few days had paid off, and the effort to turn the tide was about to begin. How could he not be overjoyed?

"Yes."

The twelve guards cracked their whips and gave their horses a good thud, increasing their speed considerably.

However, as soon as they entered Ningrong Street, before they could return to Ningguo Mansion, they heard a group of people making a fuss. Gatekeepers, servants, maids, and young servants had gathered together, along with parked sedan chairs and trunks, creating a chaotic scene that attracted Jia Yan's attention.

"Dong Yong, go take a look."

With a slight frown, Jia Yan gave an order.

"Yes, Second Master."

Without saying a word, Dong Yong, the leader of the personal guards, dismounted and went forward to ask what had happened.

A moment later, he reported, "Sir, guests have arrived at the West Mansion. Only the side gate was opened, which is why the dispute arose between the two sides."

'guest?'

Jia Yan asked calmly, "Do you know where these guests came from?"

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to cause trouble in front of the Rongguo Mansion. Most guests entering and leaving the Ningguo Mansion would enter and exit through the side gate, unless they were people of extraordinary status.

"Master."

"I heard them say they were from Yangzhou. I only caught a few words: the Lin family of Suzhou."

"The Lin family of Suzhou?"

Jia Yan looked surprised. If he wasn't mistaken, the person who came was probably Lin Ruhai's only daughter: Lin Daiyu.

Since the Jia family received news of Jia Min's death last year, Grandmother Jia has sent someone to Yangzhou to bring her granddaughter to the capital for education. Calculating carefully, it's about time.

'Alas, her virtue was cut short; her talent, like willow catkins in bloom, is pitiful. A jade belt hangs in the forest; a golden hairpin is buried in the snow.'

Thinking of Lin Daiyu, Jia Yan couldn't help but recall the judgment poem: Two withered trees stood in the snow, with a jade belt hanging from them, and half a gold hairpin was faintly visible in the snow beneath the withered trees. The scene was utterly desolate.

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai are tied for first place on the list of talented women in the Land of Illusion. Their rivalry is not only a contest of virtue and talent in human nature, or a contest of metal and wood in marriage, but also a contest of two different natures, and a mutual appreciation between them.

Unlike Xue Baochai, who at least had Aunt Xue and Xue Pan, Lin Daiyu lost her mother at a young age and then her father. Living in the Jia family, she had to live cautiously, which led to her aloof and proud personality. However, she was seduced by Jia Baoyu, which stirred her heartstrings and ultimately resulted in her untimely death.

Grandmother Jia seemed to dote on her granddaughter, but she only used her as a way to support her own daughter, Jia Min, as if she were a cat or dog. She didn't care about what the granddaughter wanted. The Rongguo Mansion squandered the dowry that the Lin family had originally intended for Lin Daiyu, so it had lost its value. Why would anyone take her seriously?

Throughout the Dream of the Red Chamber, there are countless tragic women, but Lin Daiyu is the most heartbreaking. Lin Daiyu may have been aloof, but she poured all her passion into the Rongguo Mansion. From Grandmother Jia and Jia Baoyu onwards, no one in the Rongguo Mansion treated her well.

'The side gate, so that's how it is.'

Jia Yan had already figured out the key point, and a mocking look appeared on his face.

It seems that some people had already begun scheming against Lin Daiyu.

(End of this chapter)