Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 60 Please behave yourself
The Zhenyuan Marquis's residence, the clean room, is surrounded by misty water vapor.

Hearing from Xiangling that the纨绔 (playboy) had frequented brothels, Lin Daiyu felt utterly filthy. After the servants prepared enough water, she began to scrub her body repeatedly...

With her cheeks flushed red, Lin Daiyu walked out of the washroom. Her gaze swept over Xiangling, who was standing quietly to the side. She really thought it was a problem and hurriedly bowed her head to pay her respects to the main room.

The most urgent task right now is to find a suitable excuse to get past Ms. Zou.

That playboy was having fun with Sister Xiangling, but he insisted that she take the blame.

How should she deal with it?
With a confused mind, she stepped into the main hall, but saw no sign of Madam Zou. There were only a few nannies tidying up.

Lin Daiyu sought out her familiar nanny, Wu, and asked, "Nanny, where is my mother?"

"Is the young master awake?"

Granny Wu turned around to greet him and said with a smile, "I was just about to inform the young master. Master is very busy with official duties and has not even had time to attend to the Lantern Festival. Madam is often uneasy at home, so this morning Master sent Madam back to her parents' home in the county, saying that she will return after the festival."

"Before leaving, Madam instructed that if Master returned at night, all would be well; if not, please have the young master send him some food. However, the young master should focus on his studies; these matters will be taken care of by your old servants."

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu felt a huge weight lifted from her heart and let out a long sigh of relief.

As long as we don't see Ms. Zou, we can avoid an awkward situation.

Returning to her room, Lin Daiyu saw that Xiangling was still looking depressed and pitiful. Her heart softened slightly, and she said softly, "There's no need to serve you here. Sister, go and rest."

"Yes……"

Seeing Xiangling's lonely expression, Lin Daiyu could only pretend not to see her.

Only by getting rid of her can I calm down and focus on studying the classics.

But before that, let's see what message Li Chen left behind.

"Sir, you've returned home. Did the Marquis of Zhenyuan encounter thieves? There are still thieves causing trouble right under the emperor's nose. The Marquis of Zhenyuan must be under a lot of pressure lately. No wonder he sent his mother out of the capital."

"It's alright, as long as I just focus on my studies and don't get asked for advice in my room, I don't want to give advice on these things anymore."

Looking to the end, Lin Daiyu saw that Li Chen had come again to ask for commentaries on the classics, and she couldn't help but frown and sigh inwardly.

"This playboy's behavior is truly contradictory and unpredictable. On one hand, he indulges in pleasure, and on the other hand, he is eager to study. Which face is he really wearing?"

Lin Daiyu found Li Chen increasingly incomprehensible, yet she couldn't refuse his request.

The two are now of one mind and one heart. Whether it is the path of the imperial examination or the path of officialdom, they need to walk together. Every bit he learns is a good thing for Lin Daiyu.

“I had actually written half a book at Rongguo Mansion, but Yun’er’s arrival delayed it. Now that it’s here, Xiangling won’t flip through it or touch it rashly, which is quite appropriate.”

With these thoughts in mind, Lin Daiyu began to work at her desk, spending the entire day and night writing the first draft.

This was not difficult for Lin Daiyu.

Using the abundant energy of this body, and combining his father's notes from back then with his own insights, he explained and annotated the essentials of "The Doctrine of the Mean" and "The Great Learning" one by one.

This busy work lasted until nightfall.

The Great Learning, with fewer than two thousand words, has already been completed.

Compared to that, the Doctrine of the Mean is much more complicated, so I'll have to find time for it later. It's only the first day now, so there's no rush.

After a simple meal and some practice with the stone locks, Lin Daiyu was completely exhausted and collapsed weakly onto the bed. Just as she was about to rest, she saw Xiangling had quietly prepared warm water and was standing outside the curtain.

"What should I do? I can't avoid her after all, and I can't keep ignoring her..."

After hesitating for a while, Lin Daiyu called out, "Xiangling, come in and help me wash and dress."

"Yes……"

Xiangling entered immediately and skillfully removed Lin Daiyu's boots and leg bindings, then gently pressed her feet into the bucket of water.

This is nothing new; Lin Daiyu was served in the same way in the Rongguo Mansion.

But now it's the dead of winter, and the floor inside is sweltering. Adding a charcoal brazier to the table makes it hard not to sweat.

With a different kind of scent emanating from her, Lin Daiyu felt extremely embarrassed to have to be served by Xiangling.

She clearly scrubbed and washed it at least three times today!
Lin Daiyu closed her eyes, frowned, and felt a deep sense of shame.

After Xiangling dried her feet, Lin Daiyu thought she could finally go to bed. But Xiangling removed the wooden tub from the side, crawled into the bed, and helped Lin Daiyu change her clothes. She stripped Lin Daiyu naked, leaving only her underpants, and then carefully massaged the sore spots on her shoulders, back, and legs.

"So this is how you treat Xiangling? What a heartless spoiled brat! You just thought she was gentle and obedient, so you let yourself be treated like this. But, this technique really feels so good..."

Lin Daiyu was almost drowsy from Xiangling's massage. When everything was over, she saw that Xiangling did not leave. Instead, she stared at her with her beautiful, bright eyes, which were like autumn water.

Lin Daiyu only then realized that the atmosphere was not right.

"Um...should I send Xiangling away again? Judging from her appearance, if I send her away, she'll probably hide under the covers and cry..."

Lin Daiyu, being kind-hearted, persuaded her to stay, saying, "Sister...please stay here tonight."

Xiangling's eyes lit up instantly. She couldn't wait to take off her outer garment, slip into the brocade quilt, and snuggle against him like a soft, fragrant jade. She whispered, "Master, please don't treat me so hot and cold anymore... My heart can't take any more of this."

Lin Daiyu stiffened, feeling the warmth in her arms and the rapidly beating heart in her chest, and couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Sister Xiangling, you...you should behave yourself, I...I really can't take any more of this."

……

The next morning, Lin Daiyu got up early.

Her mentor is returning home today, and it is only right and proper that she should give him a proper welcome.

Mr. Xing may not have been the most learned, but he was a very dedicated teacher.

When the carriage came to a stop, Lin Daiyu saw Mr. Xing arriving with his servants, carrying large and small bundles, looking travel-worn. She took some of the bundles and said gently, "Sir, you must be tired from your journey."

Xing Bingcheng, looking weary, perked up upon seeing Lin Daiyu, stroking his beard and smiling, "Finally, we can settle down and properly discuss the classics with the Second Young Master. Based on your previous progress, I've considered that today we'll begin by selecting a suitable scripture..."

"gentlemen."

Lin Daiyu interrupted softly, uttering a startling statement, "This student does not wish to specialize in one classic for the time being. May I ask the teacher to instruct me in the Five Classics simultaneously?"

"Five... Five Scriptures practiced simultaneously?"

Mr. Xing's smile froze instantly, his lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he accidentally broke off two whiskers.

When students are exceptionally gifted, it puts teachers in a difficult position.

All along the way, he had been racking his brains trying to figure out how to guide the second young master to choose the Book of Poetry as the primary text.

This is what he knows best and is most confident in teaching!
(End of this chapter)