Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

"Brother Wang, I know you are idle at home now, and you must be feeling very depressed! Looking back at the past, you were a brilliant, elegant and handsome young man! It's a pity that until now, you haven't even got an official position. I heard that your son-in-law Lin Ruhai has returned to the capital to receive the reward. Why don't you ask him for help? You know, he is the emperor's favorite student and an important official in the court!" Zhen Youdao said with a smile on his face, his eyes revealing an eager expectation.

Wang Zisheng slowly lifted his teacup, took a sip, and then replied solemnly, "Master Zhen, you're joking. Lin Ruhai is a court official, so how could he possibly bend the law for personal gain? If he seeks official positions for his family, what's the difference between that and selling official positions? Although I know he wouldn't do that, I must solemnly declare: If Lin Ruhai truly does so, don't blame me, Wang Zisheng, for being inconsiderate. At worst, I'll take my daughter and grandchildren back home. Even if life becomes more difficult, I will definitely raise them to adulthood." These words were spoken with righteousness and passion. Zhen Youdao's face darkened upon hearing this; he hadn't expected Wang Zisheng to be so unsympathetic.

"Zisheng, you and I have been friends for many years. I am doing this for your own good. In today's world, it is difficult to survive without power and influence!" Zhen Youdao advised earnestly.

Wang Zisheng was unmoved. He put down the teacup in his hand and stood up. "Thank you for your kindness, Master Zhen, but I, Wang Zisheng, have lived an upright life and would never do anything that goes against my conscience."

Seeing that Wang Zisheng was not accepting the challenge, Zhen Youdao quickly changed the subject and said with a smile: "Brother Wang, you are still the same as before. You are in the officialdom but can maintain your integrity and uprightness. It is really admirable! I came here this time specifically to thank you for your care and teachings for my son." As he said, he took out an exquisite gift list from his arms and gently placed it on the table.

Wang Zisheng frowned as he looked at the gift list and asked in confusion, "Master Zhen, what does this mean? I cannot accept this gift without merit."

Zhen Youdao smiled and explained, "Don't worry, my brother. I have no other intentions. I am already old, and I only have one legitimate son, Zhen Baoyu. Although this child is smart, he has a naughty character due to his mother and grandmother's excessive pampering. I am deeply worried about this and have been looking for a suitable teacher to guide him onto the right path. After careful consideration, I believe that your talent and moral character are worthy of being a model, so I hope you can accept Baoyu as your student. I wonder if my brother would be willing to do me this favor?"

Wang Zisheng sighed inwardly, a look of embarrassment on his face as he politely declined, "Master Zhen, you're flattering me too much. I'm just an idler at home right now. How can I be qualified to teach your son?"

Zhen Youdao refused to give up and continued to persuade him, "Brother Wang, don't be too modest. Your talent is obvious to everyone. Besides, I don't ask Baoyu to be a big shot. I just want him to be as honest and kind as you."

Wang Zisheng knew that Zhen Youdao was trying to establish a relationship with Lin Ruhai, but he decided to politely decline the request. After all, Wang Zisheng knew Zhen Baoyu well, and he didn't want to get involved in such complicated social situations.

Wang Zisheng politely responded, "Master Zhen, you are too kind. I only possess a limited amount of talent. As for teaching you, I'm afraid my abilities are limited and I'm not up to the task."

Zhen Youdao, sensing Wang Zisheng's hidden meaning, showed a hint of disappointment, but he remained unwilling to give up. He said earnestly, "Brother, why are you being so modest? I've heard your young master is incredibly intelligent, and I believe you will be able to teach Baoyu well. If you agree to this, I will be deeply grateful."

Wang Zisheng knew that rejecting Zhen Youdao outright would likely cause unnecessary trouble. So, he feigned contemplation and said slowly, "Master Zhen, let me consider this matter. How about I discuss it with my wife and then give you an answer?"

Seeing that Wang Zisheng did not directly refuse, Zhen Youdao thought that there was still hope for the situation, so he hurriedly said, "Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Wang. When you have made up your mind, just let me know at any time." After that, Zhen Youdao said goodbye and left, full of anticipation.

However, Wang Zisheng was well aware of the complexity of the matter and needed to carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a wise decision. After Zhen Youdao left, he immediately began to think about how to deal with this difficult situation...

Wang Zisheng returned to the courtyard, his heart heavy. As soon as he saw his wife, he couldn't wait to tell her about the incident. He said worriedly, "Madam, how should I handle this? After all, a powerful dragon can't defeat a local snake. Zhen Youdao is no pushover. If I reject him outright, I'm really worried that old fox will secretly sabotage our family and do something detrimental to us."

After hearing this, his wife frowned slightly and after a moment's contemplation, she said, "My husband, what you say is quite reasonable. Zhen Youdao does have considerable power and influence in this area. If we offend him so easily, I'm afraid our future will be difficult and we will definitely encounter many unnecessary troubles. In my opinion, why don't we just pretend to agree to it for now, and then we can make a long-term plan and carefully plan a countermeasure."

After listening to his wife's words, Wang Zisheng nodded repeatedly, agreeing with her opinion. He thought to himself that if he followed his wife's advice, it would indeed be a good choice. But then he fell into deep thought again, muttering to himself with a worried look on his face, "But if we agree to this, how will we educate Zhen Baoyu? I heard he's naughty and difficult to discipline. Getting him to behave and study hard would be harder than climbing to heaven!" His wife smiled and comforted him, saying, "Don't worry too much, husband. When we left Suzhou, we told our daughter and son-in-law that we were only coming to Jinling to observe the situation and accompany our grandson to take the Tongsheng exam. We can return to the capital after the exams are over at the end of the month. If they ask you again in a few days, you can pretend to delay Zhen Youdao and tell him that we need to observe Zhen Baoyu's character and talents before making a decision. Besides, their main purpose in inviting you isn't to get Zhen Baoyu to become your disciple, but to use it as a way to establish a friendship with my son-in-law, right?" Wang Zisheng felt a little more at ease after hearing his wife's words. After discussing it, the two decided to hold off for the time being, biding their time, and then make a decision based on the specific circumstances.

A few days later, Zhen Youdao sent someone to inquire about the matter again.

Following the strategy he had discussed with his wife, Wang Zisheng said to the newcomer, "This matter requires further consideration. I need to observe Zhen Baoyu's character and talents first. If he is truly as outstanding as you say, then we can become master and apprentice."

After hearing this, Zhen Youdao didn't force anything. He just smiled and said, "Of course it should be. I believe that with Baoyu's character and talent, he will definitely be recognized by my brother. However, fate is determined by heaven. If my brother doesn't like it, I won't force it."

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was the end of the month, the day of the Tongsheng examination.

Wang Zisheng and his wife had already prepared everything. They packed their luggage and booked a large ship, intending to sail north to Beijing directly after Wang Yi finished his exams and left the examination hall. That day, Wang Yi entered the examination hall early. Wang Zisheng and his wife waited anxiously outside. Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam, and the candidates filed out. Wang Zisheng and his wife frantically searched for Wang Yi. When they saw him approaching with a relaxed expression, their hearts finally settled.

"Grandfather, grandmother, I feel like I did pretty well in the exam." After Wang Yi said this confidently, Wang Zisheng asked everyone to prepare to board the ship.

"That's good. Let's get on the boat quickly and set off early to avoid any unnecessary trouble." Wang Zisheng urged.

So, the family boarded the long-awaited ship and sailed towards the capital. Along the way, they admired the beautiful scenery along the way and felt particularly happy. However, they did not know that Zhen Youdao, who was far away in Jinling, would not learn of their departure until two days later.

"Insidious and cunning, truly worthy of being the former crown prince's advisor. They deserve to be trapped in Jinling for life," Zhen Youdao cursed grimly as he sat in his study. He felt he had been tricked by Wang Zisheng, and his heart was filled with anger and resentment. He had thought he could easily capture Wang Zisheng and his family, but now they had escaped. He attributed all this to Wang Zisheng's cunning and scheming.

Zhen Youdao grew angrier and angrier as he thought about it. He slammed the table and stood up. He decided he couldn't just let Wang Zisheng and his family off. He had to find a way to get revenge on them. He paced back and forth in the room, thinking about his next move. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and a sinister grin spread across his face.

"Since you're so unkind, don't blame me for being unjust!" Zhen Youdao muttered to himself. He felt that only more ruthless means could make Wang Zisheng pay the price. He decided to implement this plan immediately and let Wang Zisheng know the consequences of offending him.

Meanwhile, Wang Zisheng and his family's boat sailed smoothly across the river. Unaware that Zhen Youdao had murderous intentions, they reveled in their escape from Jinling. Meanwhile, Zhen Youdao began plotting a scheme to bring even greater trouble upon Wang Zisheng. This battle had only just begun, with both sides secretly competing against each other, and it was uncertain who would emerge victorious.

Zhen Youdao dispatched his trusted confidants to secretly track Wang Zisheng and his family. He wanted to track their movements and find the right moment to strike. These confidants were ruthless and skilled in concealment and assassination.

His trusted followers soon discovered Wang Zisheng's family's whereabouts and followed them, awaiting Zhen Youdao's orders. Zhen Youdao, in turn, used his connections to spread rumors in an attempt to undermine Wang Zisheng's reputation. He also secretly colluded with other forces, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Wang Zisheng at a critical moment.

Meanwhile, Wang Zisheng also sensed someone was following them. He vigilantly observed the surroundings while pondering how to respond to Zhen Youdao's threat. He knew Zhen Youdao wouldn't give up, so he had to find a way to preempt him.

During this time, Wang Zisheng and his family faced tremendous pressure and danger. But they did not retreat. Instead, they united as one and faced the difficulties together. They believed that as long as they persevered, they would be able to defeat Zhen Youdao.

Although Lin Ruhai and Wang Xifeng had already set out for the capital, their hearts were still etched on the safety of Wang Zisheng's family. Lin Ruhai frowned, worriedly saying, "Feng'er, I have a feeling my father-in-law and his family won't be able to escape this predicament easily! I've dealt with Zhen Youdao for many years and know him well. He's a very cruel and narrow-minded person. If you offend him, you'll definitely face retaliation."

Wang Xifeng's face also became solemn. She comforted him, "Father, when Mother goes to Jinling, I have arranged for the guards in the mansion to accompany her for protection. I don't think there should be any big problems!" However, Lin Ruhai still couldn't let it go. He shook his head anxiously and said, "No, I still can't let it go. How about this, let's send some more people over to make sure everything is foolproof." After that, he immediately called his confidants and told them to select some reliable people to go to Wang Zisheng.

The trusted confidants took the order and quickly selected a group of strong and experienced guards. These guards were elites who had undergone rigorous training, possessing agility, martial arts prowess, and extensive experience in dealing with various dangerous situations. They traveled day and night, without stopping, to reach Prince Sheng's residence. Along the way, they maintained constant vigilance and alertness to prevent any possible danger.

Meanwhile, Wang Zisheng is actively planning a countermeasure. Leveraging his intelligence and connections, he gradually learns some of Zhen Youdao's secret plans, ready to expose them when the time is right. He knows that only by exposing Zhen Youdao's schemes can he completely crush his ambitions and protect his family. So, he begins gathering evidence, investigating the truth, and collaborating with various forces to confront Zhen Youdao's threat.

Finally, the contest between the two sides reached a critical moment. Zhen Youdao's conspiracy gradually surfaced, while Wang Zisheng and the others were fully prepared. A thrilling duel was about to unfold. Who would emerge victorious? Let's wait and see... Zhen Youdao thought the time was right and was about to launch a final attack on Wang Zisheng, but unexpectedly, Wang Zisheng had already made thorough preparations. A thrilling duel began... Night fell early, and the sky poured down like a waterfall. The people on the ship had retired to their cabins to rest, but hidden beneath the ship were many people, lying quietly and motionless like fish, waiting for their chance to strike. In Wang Zisheng's room, the candle still burned quietly. He sat alone by the chessboard, muttering to himself, "Is this the end?" Suddenly, a commotion came from outside, and someone shouted in fear, "It's leaking! The boat is leaking!" The hull began to shake violently from side to side with the cry. However, Wang Zisheng had previously instructed that the elderly, the weak, women, and children were not allowed to go out tonight no matter what happened. Therefore, apart from the sound of weapons clashing between the assassins and the guards, there was no other sound outside.