Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 34 I'll Play the Playboy!

After reading the message left by Li Chen, Lin Daiyu's gaze fell on the four words "treat others with sincerity." She immediately felt ashamed, and her cheeks flushed red.

It was her slip of the tongue that prompted the Marquis of Zhenyuan to rashly enter the palace, almost pushing the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion into an abyss.

It was Li Chen who turned the tide, offering advice and strategies to help the Marquis of Zhenyuan regain the initiative and turn the crisis into safety.

Li Chen wrote down all his thoughts and ideas without reservation.

Between the lines, his understanding of the emperor's will, his insight into the political climate, and his weighing of the pros and cons of people's hearts are all unfathomable, showing a maturity beyond his years.

If she didn't know him inside and out, she would almost suspect that he had been replaced by someone else again.

On second thought, since Li Chen has such talent, combined with my own help in the imperial examinations, perhaps the officialdom is truly his stage.

Right now, he is being honest with himself, seeking to create a great path together.

He secretly set a trap for himself, becoming the narrow-minded and ungrateful person.

"Ugh."

Rubbing her temples, Lin Daiyu leaned over the table and sighed softly.

"Who told you to always look like a lecher? You're always eyeing Sister Bao, and... trying to take liberties with me. How can anyone believe you have such a sense of responsibility in external affairs when you're so improper?"

Lin Daiyu couldn't fathom what Li Chen was thinking. It seemed that the only way to make up for it now was to have these classic texts in front of her, and then she could shine in next year's county examination.

"Alright, consider it an apology. I'll do my best to make amends."

Engrossed in reading, Lin Daiyu's time flew by. With no one else in the room to disturb her, she could sit there for an entire day. It wasn't until late at night that she remembered she needed to go to the main hall to greet the Marquis of Zhenyuan and his wife.

As I got up to go out, I heard familiar footsteps coming from under the eaves.

"Chen'er, are you still studying hard?"

Ms. Zou pushed open the door and entered, her face beaming with a smile.

Lin Daiyu looked up and saw that Zou Shi had indeed changed back into her usual gorgeous attire, wearing a gold phoenix hairpin with filigree, pearl earrings, and a brocade fur coat, looking very imposing.

Most importantly, the lingering melancholy between her brows from the previous body transformation had completely dissipated, leaving her radiant and looking as if she had become several years younger.

Lin Daiyu felt relieved and quickly went to help Zou Shi sit down, then went to pour hot tea for herself.

"With the Spring Festival approaching, I'm worried that my studies will be delayed, so I'd like to take advantage of this time to read more."

Lin Daiyu deliberately softened her voice, mimicking a man's tone.

Madam Zou took the teacup, her face full of satisfaction. "My son is diligent, and I am naturally happy for him. But you must take care of your health and not overwork yourself. The county examination is held twice every three years. If you don't succeed this time, there will be another time. Just do your best."

"Now that things are better in the manor, and your father has real power, he won't pressure you like before."

The mother and son had a heart-to-heart talk for a while.

Suddenly, Madam Zou changed the subject and stood up, saying, "Alright, Chen'er, get some rest. Tomorrow we need to go to the Rongguo Mansion to deliver congratulatory gifts to the Xue family. Remember to be there early and don't keep the servants waiting."

"tomorrow?"

Lin Daiyu was taken aback; she had never heard of such a thing.

"What, you don't want to go anymore?" Madam Zou frowned slightly. Although she doted on the child, she disliked his fickle nature. "The manor has prepared all the carriages and horses, and the visiting card has already been sent. If you go back on your word now, won't people think our Zhenyuan Marquis's manor is cold-hearted... Do you have something else to do?"

Suppressing her doubts, Lin Daiyu shook her head slightly, "No, no, I will go. I just didn't expect it to be arranged so quickly."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zou chuckled, "This silly child must have been so engrossed in his studies that he's forgotten how to live."

"Alright, get some rest. Mother's going back now." "Yes, Mother, take care." Lin Daiyu put on her crane-feather cloak and chased after her to see her out of the courtyard gate.

"What a wonderful phrase, 'treat others with sincerity'!"

Upon her return, the guilt and meekness on Lin Daiyu's face vanished instantly. She immediately concluded that Li Chen had deliberately made things difficult for her by not writing it down, intending to embarrass her.

When Lin Daiyu reopened the book and shone the candlelight on it, she indeed found a line of small characters in the crevices.

I hadn't noticed it at all before!
"On the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, we need to visit the Rongguo Mansion to return the gifts to the Xue family."

Lin Daiyu stared at the line of words, pondering, but her gaze grew increasingly resolute.

"Fine, go then. You can use my appearance to seduce Sister Bao, so why can't I use your body to thwart your delusions? Put away your纨绔 (wan ku, meaning spoiled and dissolute) nature and use it for something worthwhile. I'm doing this for your own good! Just like burning your book!"

Having made up her mind, Lin Daiyu felt relieved and fell asleep peacefully.

……

The next day, at noon,
Lin Daiyu was indeed baffled by Li Chen's return to the Rongguo Mansion in his body.

She had to pretend she didn't know how to get around the familiar covered walkways, rockeries, and stone paths.

Even familiar maids and nannies must be treated as complete strangers, with cold faces and eyes that never stray from their side as they walk past.

Fortunately, Pear Fragrance Courtyard had a small gate that opened outwards, allowing for independent entry and exit from the Rongguo Mansion. If Lin Daiyu had gone to Rongqing Hall and met her truly familiar sisters, as well as Grandmother Jia, she really wouldn't know what kind of expression to put on.

Especially Zijuan and Xueyan, with whom she spent every day.

With a jumble of thoughts, I arrived at the gate of Pear Fragrance Courtyard.

A richly dressed, overweight young man was waiting under the eaves.

Upon seeing Li Chen arrive, Xue Pan's chubby face immediately broke into a wide smile as he warmly greeted him, patting him on the shoulder. "Good brother, we've been waiting for you! Please come in, please come in. The banquet has already been prepared. My mother is overjoyed to know you're coming in person!"

Lin Daiyu stumbled from his slap, then dodged away, barely managing to reply, "Thank you for waiting so long, Brother Xue."

They walked side by side into the hall, where the decor was still familiar to Lin Daiyu.

The central octagonal table was already laden with all sorts of delicacies, and the aroma of wine filled the air.

Xue Pan warmly invited her to take a seat, and sat down beside her, saying, "Come, come, we're brothers, don't be shy. My mother will be here shortly, let's eat and drink first!"

Lin Daiyu waved her hand and thanked him, saying, "Brother Xue, how can a junior start eating before the elders arrive? Let's wait a little longer."

Xue Pan laughed heartily and clapped a few more times, "Good, good, good! When it's time to be serious, we should put on a show!"

Just then, footsteps came from the back room, and there was more than one person.

Lin Daiyu looked up and was immediately stunned.

Aunt Xue walked ahead, and through the gap in the curtain, the figures of Xue Baochai and Xiangling were clearly visible.

The two women did not come out with Aunt Xue, but instead hid behind the curtain and secretly looked out, their eyes falling on them.

Lin Daiyu's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, and her hand clenched tightly in her sleeve.

"Perfect timing! Today is the perfect day for me to play the playboy and ruin his dream!"

Then, Lin Daiyu winked at Xue Baochai, whose eyes met hers, and displayed the frivolous and reckless behavior that she thought a playboy should have.

"Sister Bao! Hurry up and hate me!"

(End of this chapter)