Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 8 Turning a Clumsy Act into a Clever Success
"Second Young Master, I am Xing Bingcheng, and I have come to teach you. Is it convenient for us to meet today?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen, who was standing on the ground, quickly stuffed the booklet into his pocket and quietly crawled back to bed.

He pinched his nose and said in a low voice, "I am ashamed to say that I am not feeling well today and I am afraid I am not able to perform the apprenticeship ceremony with you."

"It's alright. I've just come to visit you, young master, and have a brief chat. I won't disturb you any further."

Li Chen frowned slightly.

I don't know where this stubborn old scholar came from, but even feigning illness couldn't stop him from entering the room.

"Well... alright, sir, it's best to stay away from him to avoid catching a cold."

Li Chen coughed a few times in response.

Xing Bingcheng pushed open the door and entered, stopping at the tea table in the outer hall, truly not daring to disturb the room any further.

Looking around at the furnishings, which were spotless and pristine, I couldn't help but nod in approval.

The family tradition of the Marquis of Zhenyuan is indeed excellent; there's far too much falsehood circulating outside.

A moment later, Xing Bingcheng's gaze fell on the calligraphy copybook in front of his desk and he couldn't look away.

"Pure and undefiled, free and at ease with whatever comes."

Although Xing Bingcheng, as a student of the Imperial Academy, often studied the Four Books and Five Classics, he also had some knowledge of Taoist scriptures. He immediately recognized that this was a line taken from the Taoist text "Qingxin Jue".

A pure mind, in harmony with nature, and a tranquil approach to life, like flowing water, embodies the Tao Te Ching's saying, "The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving."

The ink on this calligraphy copybook was not only identical to the "standing out from the crowd" that Zhenyuan Hou had shown him earlier, but what Xing Bingcheng found even more interesting was the meaning behind the phrase.

If this phrase is used to cultivate one's character, then the second young master's knowledge and temperament should be even better than what he imagined.

It seems that primers like "Youxue Qionglin," which explain the use of classical allusions, are no longer of any use to him.

With this in mind, Xing Bingcheng's expectations were raised even higher.

Li Chen, lying on the bed, squinted and secretly glanced at the old gentleman who had come in, only to see him staring intently at the calligraphy and paintings, and his heart began to pound.

Lin Daiyu's calligraphy was excellent; she was the most talented woman in "Dream of the Red Chamber," surpassing everyone else.

Li Chenke couldn't write this character; if he were asked to write it on the spot, he would definitely be exposed.

If we anger this old man and he leaves, he might really be left to fend for himself in the Tongzhou camp.

"No."

Li Chen shivered, his mind racing.

As a time traveler, although I don't have any cheat codes, my perspective and overall understanding spanning hundreds of years should be enough to figure out a way to deal with a mere teaching exam.

"I am unwell today and cannot perform the apprenticeship ceremony. I hope you will forgive me. If you wish to test me, I will be unable to write and will have to answer orally. However, my mind is currently confused and my answer may not be good. Please do not be angry."

Xing Bingcheng snapped out of his reverie and smiled kindly, "Second Young Master, you flatter me. I merely wish to have a casual chat and inquire about your health."

Perhaps because Lin Daiyu had lived in his body for ten days, Li Chen, who originally had plenty of meat, eggs and milk every day, had been eating only clear soup and water for ten days, and his cheeks really did look thinner.

He hadn't even had a sip of water all morning, and his lips were dry and chapped; his sickly appearance didn't seem fake at all.

Xing Bingcheng, of course, had no interest in distinguishing whether the illness was real or fake; he was more concerned with whether the calligraphy copybook was genuine or fake.

"Was this calligraphy on the wall written by you, young master?"

Knowing the whole story that had unfolded in the past ten days, Li Chen had no choice but to agree, nodding slightly, "Exactly."

Xing Bingcheng nodded in satisfaction, "Indeed, the Second Young Master's knowledge has probably long surpassed elementary education. He should have begun to study the Four Books and Five Classics, and it's time for him to learn how to write essays, isn't it?"

Li Chen dared not boast, and could only reply, "I have already read the Analects."

Whether in ancient times or in modern times, the Analects has always been an introductory textbook.

Li Chen, in particular, was a liberal arts major and could recite a few classical Chinese phrases. He could then offer some explanations in the hope of getting away with it.

But Xing Bingcheng didn't think that way.

Unable to hold a pen properly, yet able to write such calligraphy; having only read the Analects, yet able to take the Taoist mantra of purifying the mind as a maxim?

This second young master must be modestly hiding his talents again.

Xing Bingcheng stroked his beard and began to ponder.

Since he claims to be ill, I shouldn't bother him any further. If I were to ask just one question to probe his condition...

"Second Young Master, today we are not discussing the meaning of scriptures, but rather self-cultivation. The Doctrine of the Mean says, 'The superior man is cautious about what he cannot see, and fearful of what he cannot hear. Nothing is more visible than what is hidden, nothing is more manifest than what is minute; therefore the superior man is watchful over himself when alone.' And in the Analects, the sages say, 'When it comes to benevolence, one should not yield even to one's teacher.'" "These two principles of conduct, 'the superior man is cautious when alone,' and 'when it comes to benevolence, one should not yield even to one's teacher,' seem contradictory. What is your interpretation?"

After hearing the exam questions, Li Chen inwardly grumbled.

I already said I studied the Analects, but you insisted on testing me on the Doctrine of the Mean. What's the difference between you and a high school teacher who highlights the key points but doesn't actually test them?
Sure enough, no matter how many years have passed, teachers are all the same kind of creature.

Isn't this making things difficult for me, Li Chen?
Fortunately, Xing Bingcheng had already extracted the core of these two sentences.

Otherwise, Li Chen would have to carefully ponder the meaning of the two ancient sayings.

A gentleman is cautious even when alone; he can restrain his mind and emphasize humility, self-discipline, and refrain from ostentation.

The phrase "taking responsibility without hesitation" is the opposite of the former, emphasizing initiative, accountability, and not shirking responsibility.

The two seem contradictory, so Xing Bingcheng's assessment is to determine which one is superior.

This could easily be treated as a policy question in the imperial examinations, used to analyze the meanings of the two. To start with such a difficult question is truly overestimating oneself.

Li Chen certainly didn't know how to write a formal essay on the topic, so he had to rack his brains to come up with a relatively reasonable answer.

If we can't get to the bottom of things, things are likely to escalate to the worst possible outcome.

"A virtuous person is cautious even when alone, and never shirks responsibility when it comes to matters of righteousness..."

Li Chen frowned as he pondered, and the entire room gradually fell silent, with only his own breathing and heartbeat remaining.

"It seems contradictory..."

"Contradiction? The principle of unity of opposites?"

Li Chen, after all, had prepared for the postgraduate entrance examination. His sure-fire way to win the short answer questions in the political exam was to find the unity of opposites when faced with contradictions, which would make him invincible and ensure that his answers were always correct.

Li Chen quickly regained his composure, organized his thoughts, and tried to use the allusions he had always longed for. He cleared his throat and began, “Sir, your question is comparing the merits of ‘a gentleman is cautious when alone’ and ‘does not yield when it comes to righteousness.’ Forgive my ignorance, but these two are not mutually exclusive; they should be two sides of the same coin: ‘self-discipline and restoration of propriety.’”

Xing Bingcheng, who had been waiting for a long time but was slightly disappointed with Li Chen's writing skills, suddenly woke up and his eyes lit up.

Self-discipline and adherence to propriety constitute benevolence; this is the supreme principle of Confucianism.

Clearly, Li Chen has already mastered the method of addressing and resolving questions, and is not at all just someone who has read the Analects as he claimed.

Xing Bingcheng held his breath and listened intently to the answer that followed.

"Students often think that the principles of all things in the world are not as contradictory as a game of chess. While 'being cautious when alone' and 'being righteous' seem to be one still and one moving, one attacking and one defending, in reality, there is stillness within movement and movement within stillness."

"If one is not careful when alone, one's benevolence will be clouded; if one is not yielding, one's fierceness will be easily exhausted."

"As two sides of self-discipline and restoration of propriety, it can also be understood as follows: when it is not benevolent, one should be cautious when alone, and a gentleman should keep his talents hidden, like a dragon that should not be used in its hidden state; when benevolence arrives, one should not yield, and like an arrow on a bowstring, one must release it."

"Only by being mindful of one's own conduct when alone and by being benevolent in one's own way can one achieve personal spiritual cultivation."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xing Bingcheng stood up excitedly, walked to the bedside, and exclaimed loudly, "Wonderful, wonderful! To govern both with a benevolent heart, to make movement and stillness one, and to make essence and function inseparable! Second Young Master, your knowledge has truly surprised this old man; you are truly a child prodigy."

"Madam, why are you still sending your son to school? Isn't that a waste of effort? In my opinion, he should pass the county examination next February and have a good chance of achieving the highest honors in all three levels."

"what?"

Lying on the bed, Li Chen saw the old man in front of him was so excited that he momentarily lost his composure.

He just wanted to pass the test; he didn't really want to show off.

Now, I can stay in bed and continue my studies while suffering from this illness, but what if it gets exposed later?
With a slight twitch of his lips, Li Chen couldn't help but say, "Sir, I am truly flattered. There are over a thousand people taking the county-level examinations in the capital; to reach the top is no easy feat."

Xing Bingcheng replied, “Young master, there’s no need for you to be so modest. Your words just now deeply moved even me, and you are a model for answering questions in the imperial examinations. With such knowledge, the county examination is nothing to worry about, and you can take the provincial examination in a year.”

"No, we can't delay any longer. I need to go back and think carefully about where the young master should begin his studies. He can't be treated like an ordinary student. The young master can focus on recovering. We'll meet again in the study once he's fully recovered."

Xing Bingcheng left with light steps, and even after closing the door, his loud voice could still be heard.

"Madam, your second young master is indeed a rough gem. With time and proper guidance, he will surely embark on the path of the imperial examinations and achieve fame and success. This is truly a blessing for the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion."

"Really? Well then, thank you for your guidance, sir..."

Li Chen lay on the bed with a look of utter despair.

Without some kind of magic trick, how could he possibly pass the imperial examination?

"Wait a minute. As long as Lin Daiyu is the one taking the exam, the county-level exam should be a piece of cake, right? Although I don't have any cheat codes, which is a disgrace to transmigrators, if you think about it from another angle, isn't Lin Daiyu my cheat code?"

(End of this chapter)