Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 38 Overt Praise, Covert Criticism
"Sister Lin, how are you feeling?"

Beside the embroidered couch, the beaded curtain swayed gently.

Xue Baochai quietly sat down beside him, gently stroking Li Chen's lower abdomen with her delicate hand, and asked with concern.

Li Chen was still in a semi-conscious state; the torment of her period these past two days had been excruciating.

Her mind was in a daze, and she couldn't concentrate on anything. She relied entirely on her two maids, Zijuan and Xueyan, to take care of her all day long.

With great effort, she opened her eyes and saw the dignified and beautiful Xue Baochai. Only then did she regain her composure and replied weakly, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Bao. I am still feeling unwell and will probably need to rest for another day or two."

Seeing that her face was pale and her lips were bloodless, Xue Baochai knew that she would not be able to accompany her today.

She summoned Ying'er and Xiangling, and placed the tonics prepared for her on the bedside table. Xue Baochai then said, "Very well, after all, my sister's health is the most important thing. There will be another opportunity to see Young Master Li next time."

"?"

Li Chen's messy bangs trembled slightly, as if his antenna had suddenly received a message, and he abruptly woke up.

"That's right! Today is the day Lin Daiyu comes to the Rongguo Mansion to deliver gifts! How could I miss such a good show?"

As Xue Baochai stood up, a slightly cool hand quickly reached out from under the brocade quilt and grasped her wrist.

"What's wrong with my sister?"

"After seeing my sister, I felt much lighter."

Li Chen forced himself to stay alert, a sly glint in his eyes, "It wouldn't hurt to accompany my sister on this trip."

Xue Baochai was taken aback: "Really?"

“Sister, this is a big event for both of us, how can we not go together? Besides, I... I haven’t even met that Second Young Master Li yet.”

As he spoke, Li Chen lowered his eyelids, feigning embarrassment.

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai was taken aback and couldn't help but ponder, "Could it be that Sister Lin is fond of that Second Young Master Li? But if she really is, why has she repeatedly tried to bring about a relationship between our two families?"

Suddenly, a flood of doubts arose in my mind.

Xue Baochai's mind was in complete turmoil.

Xue Baochai could clearly see through her mother's and aunt Lady Wang's thoughts.

Unable to be selected as a concubine in the palace, she planned to match her with Jia Baoyu, thus binding her to the Rongguo Mansion.

But she felt that Lin Daiyu and Jia Baoyu were childhood sweethearts, inseparable since they were little.

However, after becoming close to Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai realized she had made a grave mistake. Lin Daiyu harbored absolutely no feelings for Jia Baoyu, and was even more enthusiastic towards another man outside the family.

But she also happens to be somewhat fond of this man from another family.

The two seemed like natural enemies.

Xue Baochai couldn't help but sigh; she truly didn't want to compete with Lin Daiyu for anything...

While she was hesitating, Li Chen had already summoned Zijuan and Xueyan, and they were dressed.

He was helped off the bed by two people on either side.

Li Chen unconsciously squeezed his legs together, as if afraid that something might fall off, and his walking posture was very strange.

Zijuan couldn't bear it and asked, "Miss, why don't we rest in the room?"

Li Chen frowned.

Today, he will crawl to Rongqing Hall, even if he has to!
"No! I will risk my life to accompany my sister today."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai came to her senses and gave a bitter smile, "I would never dare to let my sister risk her life. It's not appropriate to say such unlucky things on a Guishui day."

Xue Baochai gently poked Li Chen's forehead and smoothed her bangs before taking over Zijuan's task and helping Li Chen up.

“Sister Zijuan, you know Lin Daiyu’s temper. Once she’s made up her mind, no one can persuade her otherwise. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of her when we get to the main hall.”

Zijuan thought to herself, "Why is Miss so eager for this young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion when she looks down on Master Bao? Could it be that Miss's heart has changed?" But now is not the time to delve into these matters.

Zijuan composed herself and curtsied, "Then I'll trouble you, sister. We'll wait outside. Just call us if anything happens. Don't disturb the old lady or the madam first."

"Zijuan, stop nagging."

Li Chen leaned against Xue Baochai's shoulder, gently inhaling the cool fragrance emanating from her full, jade-like neck. He felt completely relaxed, and even his abdominal pain seemed to lessen.

……

Outside Rongqing Hall,

Lin Daiyu stood stiffly under the eaves, struggling to move.

A familiar hall, but an unfamiliar identity.

How should I deal with these close relatives?

Two little girls, around five or six years old, lifted the felt curtain in the main hall, while the housekeeper's wife, standing to the side, extended a warm invitation.

"Young Master Li, please?"

Lin Daiyu remained motionless, her mind soaring to the heavens.

"Master Li?"

After being urged several times, Lin Daiyu finally woke up as if from a dream.

"Yes, yes, I am Young Master Li..."

Lin Daiyu secretly grumbled to herself, still feeling quite awkward.

Take a deep breath, bow your head, and step in.

Everything inside the hall was as it was before, including the large table, the large tripod, and the longevity painting that Lin Daiyu was familiar with.

Grandmother Jia sat high on her armchair, with Jia Baoyu beside her, dressed in splendid attire. Below her, Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Li Wan, and Wang Xifeng sat in neat rows, all scrutinizing themselves.

To the right, a rosewood-framed marble screen separates the front hall into a warm pavilion. Inside, one can vaguely make out the figures of many people, who are undoubtedly the maids from Grandmother Jia's quarters and the sisters of the Jia family.

Lin Daiyu suppressed the bitterness in her throat, stepped forward a few paces, and bowed: "This junior, Li Chen of the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion, inquires about the well-being of Old Madam Jia."

Grandmother Jia, leaning on her phoenix-headed cane, carefully examined the young man below the steps.

He was handsome and composed, and his manners were impeccable in the presence of such a wealthy and powerful man. I was immediately drawn to him.

"He has a good temperament. Despite the extravagance in front of Rongqing Hall, he doesn't even glance at it."

Many of the ladies present shared the same thought as Grandmother Jia, nodding slightly and gradually withdrawing their gazes.

"Get up."

Grandmother Jia said gently, "This old woman loves to see such spirited young men like you; it makes me feel good."

Even the matriarch praised him, and Jia Baoyu suddenly felt a sense of crisis. He hurriedly tugged at his grandmother's sleeve, lowered his voice, and said, "Grandmother, he's not just energetic; he's studying day and night, his mind filled with knowledge about officialdom and economics!"

Being able to read between the lines is something Wang Xifeng excels at.

With a quick glance between Li Chen and Jia Baoyu, his phoenix eyes had already discerned seven or eight parts of the relationship between the two.

Given Jia Baoyu's playful and carefree nature, how could he possibly praise anything about officialdom or scholarship?
Before anyone could react, Wang Xifeng clapped her hands and cheered, her hoarse voice ringing out, "Oh my! This is such a wonderful thing! Grandmother, look at this young man, he's handsome and talented, he looks like he's destined for great things!"

"Who knows, he might become the top scholar in the imperial examination and rise to the position of prime minister in the future!"

Feigning disgust, Wang Xifeng flicked her handkerchief at Jia Baoyu, then praised Li Chen, saying, "My dear Bao-brother, you should learn from him! Don't just talk about being a 'parasite' all the time. When Young Master Li becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination and parades through the streets on horseback, that'll be real glory! Don't be envious then!"

Everyone present couldn't help but laugh, and Jia Baoyu was especially overjoyed.

Lin Daiyu's face had already turned half black...

(End of this chapter)