Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 42: Shameless
"You really love to stir up trouble."

After bidding farewell to Baoyu, Xue Baochai walked back with Li Chen. She couldn't help but scold him softly, "Still making fun of Baoyu. What kind of celebration banquet is this? Can he possibly outperform Young Master Li?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen's eyes sparkled, and he leaned against Xue Baochai, teasingly saying, "Sister Bao, you're always talking about Young Master Li these days. You're really biased."

"You, you little brat! Aren't you done yet! I'm really not going to care about you anymore!"

Xue Baochai looked slightly annoyed and pushed Li Chen into Zijuan's arms, saying, "Take your young lady away quickly."

Li Chen leaned on Zijuan's shoulder, laughing so hard his whole body trembled.

The two's playful and frolicking antics left Zijuan completely bewildered.

"Didn't they say there was a quarrel in Rongqing Hall? Why are Miss and Miss Bao so happy?"

Unlike Xueyan, Zijuan didn't ask any more questions. She first helped Li Chen back to bed, placing a pillow behind his head so he could lean against the headboard.

Li Chen lay back comfortably, feeling refreshed and invigorated. The spectacle in front of the hall was more effective than any medicine; the pain of her period seemed to have completely vanished.

However, this pillow could never compare to the softness and comfort of Baochai's legs.

My gaze shifted to the room, where Zijuan was serving tea to Baochai, while Xueyan took away the old clothes he had just taken off.

Only Xiangling stood there all alone, her eyes vacant. She had never been very spirited to begin with, and now she was like a jade sculpture, only retaining the appearance of a beauty.

Li Chen couldn't help but ask curiously, "Sister Bao, what's wrong with Sister Xiangling? She seems distracted. Has she suffered some injustice?"

With a wave of his hand, Li Chen smiled and said, "Sister Xiangling, if you've been bullied in your room, come to my place. I still have a spare room."

Xiangling trembled violently, hurriedly shook her head, her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Xue Baochai also looked up at her, finished her tea, and stood up, saying, "It's nothing, Sister Lin, please rest. We won't disturb you any longer."

“Okay, Sister Bao, please come and sit here often.”

Seeing that the two were just saying one thing and meaning another, Li Chen stopped asking questions. He had already used up too much energy and now it was time to conserve his strength.

Having been at the Rongguo Mansion for the past two days, he hasn't read a single book, and the letter he was supposed to leave for Lin Daiyu remains untouched.

After bidding farewell to Lin Daiyu, the mistress and servant left the courtyard and walked back along a secluded path.

Xue Baochai deliberately slowed her pace, waiting for the preoccupied Xiangling to walk beside her, and then took her arm.

"Do you know that this is your destiny?" Xue Baochai said softly.

"Me?" Xiangling looked up blankly.

What good fortune has she ever had in her life?

He was kidnapped at a young age and forced to recognize his thief as his father. He grew up in mistreatment and later got involved in the gourd case, where he was raised in the Xue family.

His life was full of hardships, and it was only because he met Xue Baochai that he was able to take care of her; otherwise, he would often be looked down upon by others.

Xue Baochai nodded and gently analyzed, "Just now in the hall, Young Master Li displayed his talent and ambition; he is destined for greatness. Wouldn't it be better for you to follow him than with my brother?"

Xiangling didn't dare to reply, and just lowered her head even further.

"Your mother must have already prepared your indenture."

Xue Baochai gently held her cold hand, "Once you're out of this door, just focus on serving Young Master Li. He doesn't seem heartless; he won't mistreat you. As for the Xue family, let's not associate with them anymore."

"girl……"

Xiangling could no longer hold back, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xue Baochai gently pulled Xiangling into her arms, patting her back, while she herself looked up at the sky, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

"In the end, he still couldn't figure out Lin Daiyu's feelings and even lost his composure because of her. This girl is really hard to fathom."

Xue Baochai forced a wry smile, a faint hint of bitterness appearing on her lips.

The Zhenyuan Marquis's Residence

Lin Daiyu sneezed for no apparent reason, rubbed her temples, and took a few breaths, finally managing to suppress her anger towards the Rongguo Mansion for the time being.

This trip dispelled all her previous shyness, and now she had only one thought in her mind.

Reading will drive everyone crazy!

Why should nobles be ridiculed for studying, and why should hiring famous teachers guarantee victory?

Lin Daiyu was determined to prove that she could amaze everyone without relying on external forces!

Originally, she only wanted to pass the test safely, but now she has only one goal: to be the top scorer!

You keep saying how difficult the imperial examinations are, I'd like to see just how difficult they are!
It wasn't about saving face in front of Li Chen or showing off my abilities.

However, when she saw Xiangling standing timidly under the eaves, carrying a small bundle on her back and holding a contract of sale in her hands, her heart sank, but she felt grounded again.

"Before you start reading, Sister Xiangling... what should we do?"

When Madam Zou heard that her son had returned home, she waited for him under the eaves with great relief, thinking to herself, "This is the first time Chen'er has left the manor to deal with people, and he can finally stand on his own."

But when she saw that Lin Daiyu was followed by a beautiful young woman, her eyebrows immediately furrowed and her smile vanished.

"Chen'er, who is she?"

Lin Daiyu closed her eyes, sighing inwardly.

She just wanted to study, so how did she get into so much trouble?

Forcing herself to get closer, Lin Daiyu whispered in Zou Shi's ear, "Mother, she was a maid from the Xue family. When she heard that my roommate was still in need of someone to take care of her, she... she gave her to me."

Lin Daiyu, who was a powerful figure in the Rongguo Mansion, was so embarrassed upon returning to the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence that she just wanted to disappear on the spot.

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Zou became even more displeased. "You despicable merchants, how dare you corrupt my son with such means! I will have your father return all the money, and from now on, our two families shall have no further dealings!"

Sending a maidservant ahead of the marriage to secure favor is practically a test of Zou's bottom line.

"As for this girl, send her away!"

Lin Daiyu's heart tightened.

In the dead of winter, what chance did the maids who were driven out have? They either froze or starved to death, or ended up in filthy places.

Left with no other choice, Lin Daiyu steeled her heart and changed her words, saying, "No! Mother, actually, it was I who asked for her. I... I actually coveted her beauty..."

As she spoke these words with her eyes closed, Lin Daiyu's body trembled slightly, as if a part of her soul had become tainted.

Zou looked at Lin Daiyu suspiciously for a few moments, then glanced at the pitiful Xiangling, her expression softening slightly. "Hmm... she does look quite presentable, and seems rather unassuming, just a young girl who hasn't even had her first child yet."

"However, the maid in your room is different from the others, so you need to be careful."

Then, Madam Zou called out loudly, "You, come with me."

Lin Daiyu instinctively wanted to follow, but Chuntao stopped her outside with a smile.

"Oh my, my boy, you've really grown up now! You can even pick your own sweetheart! Let Madam teach you a few rules, and I'll return you to you in perfect condition in a little while."

Lin Daiyu's face flushed crimson and paled, and she cried out in her heart, "Please, stop talking!"

(End of this chapter)