Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 26 Running in both directions
"The girl's temper is becoming more and more unpredictable."

Zijuan and Xueyan exchanged a helpless glance, both thinking the same thing to themselves.

The day before, during meals, the two of them were by her side, and Lin Daiyu fed them separately.

The girl takes a bite, and they share a bite; it's truly a harmonious and happy occasion where everyone shares their joy.

Today, Zijuan and Xueyan dared not approach. One guarded the tea stove, and the other guarded the charcoal brazier, only secretly peeking at each other.

Lin Daiyu, still sulking, sipped the blood bird's nest porridge made with rouge rice, but couldn't help but wonder, "Ten days ago, I heard with my own ears that Sister Feng wanted to reduce my food, clothing, and other necessities, so why is this breakfast extravagant instead of frugal?"

My gaze swept over the table full of dishes: the crystal sashimi, which was made with an intricate process and was as smooth as jade; the refreshing seasonal vegetables; four kinds of exquisite snacks; and the warm soup and refreshing drinks.

Everything he did was of the highest quality, far surpassing previous examples.

"Could it be that he caused another scene at the mansion?"

Lin Daiyu instinctively came to this conclusion, but the booklet did not explain why.

"This纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled brat) actually harbors some truth; he's truly despicable!"

But then I thought about it again and realized that I also had things to write, so I stopped being so self-righteous.

Lin Daiyu was not unaware of the occasional scrutinizing gazes of Zijuan and Xueyan.

Seeing their miserable expressions, Lin Daiyu didn't want to get angry, so she tried to lighten the mood by saying, "Zijuan, Xueyan, don't bother, sit down and eat with us. I can't eat much either."

Judging from what Zijuan just said, they usually ate together.

Moreover, being inexplicably embraced by Xueyan, from another perspective, is also evidence of their close relationship with Li Chen.

My coldness at this moment seems to make me seem heartless.

Could it be that he does all the good deeds, and she gets to play the villain?
Lin Daiyu was unwilling.

The three of them finished their breakfast in a fairly amicable manner, and following Li Chen's usual practice, they stretched their muscles and bones in the garden.

Upon returning to her room, Lin Daiyu immediately noticed a plain jade vase on the black lacquered high table by the window, with a few slender winter plum blossoms inserted diagonally inside.

Lin Daiyu was always fond of flowers and things, and she could not bear to break a single blade of grass or tree. Seeing this scene, her beautiful eyebrows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

Lin Daiyu subconsciously assumed that this was the act of Li Chen, that纨绔 (wan ku, a spoiled and dissolute young man), and her tone contained a hint of displeasure, "Find a quiet place in the courtyard and bury her properly."

Upon hearing this, Xueyan, who was standing to the side, was slightly surprised. "Didn't you bring it back to the house because you saw it was about to die under the tree? You even changed its water and took care of it every day. I didn't expect it to actually come back to life and even produce flower buds."

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu was suddenly stunned.

She misunderstood Li Chen again, and was too prejudiced against him, always thinking about his faults first.

"What kind of person is he?"

As her thoughts drifted away, Lin Daiyu often found herself reminiscing about people and things she encountered. In this moment, she put everything else aside and instead thought of herself.

Before the transformation, I was just like these withered branches in the mansion, both of us shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

Now, however, she lives each day with high hopes and goals, so much so that she can't even remember the last time she sat by the window, feeling melancholy or silently shedding tears for home.

"So I was also influenced by him and regained my vitality?"

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu's heart suddenly raced, and she stared blankly at that pale color, somewhat lost in thought.

This entanglement, whether fate or calamity, may change her life. If the ending is a happy one, would it be a bad thing?
"Girl, girl?"

Xueyan called out to Lin Daiyu several times and then waved her hand in front of Lin Daiyu before finally waking her up.

"Girl, what are you thinking about so intently?"

Lin Daiyu then realized that her eyes were a little wet. She quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief and forced a faint smile, saying, "No, it's nothing. It was just a withered branch that I brought back. Now it suddenly has flower buds. I thought you brought it back to coax me."

Xueyan pouted and complained, "How could Sister Zijuan and I not know your preferences? We would never dare to do something so annoying."

Lin Daiyu nodded, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face, the pent-up frustration in her heart completely dissipating.

After taking off her fur coat, Lin Daiyu returned to her desk, but her mood was completely different.

"Even if that person has a thousand faults, he also has his sincerity and thoughtfulness. Since this entanglement may be difficult to resolve, why not lend him a hand and fulfill this bond of 'fellowship'?"

Lin Daiyu sat down, her expression calm and focused, and began to carefully examine the calligraphy left by Li Chen.

I have already decided that I will not only guide him in calligraphy, but also systematically sort out his knowledge of the classics.

After all, he will eventually have to go out and face more people. He can't always rely on clever tricks to avoid being tested, especially if the test time doesn't fall during the period when the two switch bodies.
"Only through diligent study can one achieve lasting success. Moved by your sincerity, I will now impart to you, beyond calligraphy, the subtle meanings of classical texts..."

Lin Daiyu picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a line of elegant and dignified characters on a brand new page.

……

He opened his eyes, felt disappointed, dressed alone, and reminisced about the warm and luxurious life of the Rongguo Mansion. Li Chen was already very familiar with this routine.

Looking in the mirror, Lin Daiyu was quite cooperative this time, unlike the last time when she had starved him so much that his cheekbones protruded slightly.

Seeing signs of movement on the stone lock, Li Chen assumed it was due to the persistent training.

They had breakfast that wasn't fed to them with chopsticks like Zijuan and Xueyan.

Li Chen sat down at the desk, feeling bored, and flipped through the neatly arranged textbooks.

"Wow, is Lin Daiyu a typewriter? She's finished writing everything. The Four Books, the Five Classics, examination poems... complete explanations of past exam questions."

Li Chen stared in disbelief at the mountain of homework, "At this level, you could easily pass the imperial examination now, right?"

Propping his head in his hand, Li Chen couldn't help but dream about the future. "If I could pull some strings to get Lin Daiyu into the tutelage of a famous teacher and let her learn more, then even if I don't aim for the top rank, I should have a chance to become a second-class scholar, right?"

I have to say, Lin Daiyu's cheat code is really useful!
From now on, I need to take good care of her mental and physical health.

After all, the two of them were so entangled that it was no different from God gifting them a wife who was both talented and beautiful.

"Hmm, let's see what message Lin Daiyu left for me."

Li Chen was in a good mood as he took out the booklet, but his smile froze the moment his eyes fell on Lin Daiyu's handwriting.

"What? I've been sent to the palace as a cheapskate?"

Li Chen suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the room.

"If the superficial balance is broken, it will be the beginning of the struggle for the throne. I never expected that this beginning would be in my own residence."

Frowning in deep thought, Li Chen gritted his teeth. "This is a high-stakes gamble, and no one can escape it. The calmest place is often in the eye of the storm; it might just be a blessing in disguise!"

Having made up his mind, Li Chen hesitated no longer. He quickly straightened his clothes, pushed open the door, and went straight to the main hall where the Marquis of Zhenyuan was.

(End of this chapter)