Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Becoming a princess's companion was a tremendous honor and opportunity for a woman. Once accepted, a woman's future status would rise dramatically, potentially even changing the fate of herself and her family. Many princesses' companions in the past were granted marriages by the emperor, marrying into the royal family and enjoying wealth and prosperity. Even if a marriage wasn't granted, remaining by the princess's side was a welcome opportunity, allowing them to gain valuable experience and exposure, broadening their horizons and improving their personal qualities.

Mrs. Wang had long considered Xue Baochai her family's cash cow, and how could she tolerate such a fortune slipping away so easily? Thus, she began actively scheming for Xue Baochai, hoping to secure her a place as the princess's study companion. Meanwhile, the virtuous concubine Jia Yuanchun, upon receiving Mrs. Wang's letter, was caught in a dilemma, having already received a letter from her grandmother. She knew the two letters shared the same purpose: to arrange the marriage of her half-brother, Jia Baoyu. Caught between her mother's expectations and her grandmother's demands, Jia Yuanchun felt torn, unsure how to choose.

Since Jia Yuanchun knew all about Lin Daiyu in the palace, she had only learned from Lady Wang's letters. She reasoned that Lin Daiyu came from a family of scholars. Though adopted, she was still a daughter of the Lin family, a lineage highly respected among Jiangnan scholars. Furthermore, Daiyu and Baoyu had been childhood sweethearts, their personalities congenial. If they could finally marry, it would give her a valuable asset within the imperial court and fulfill her grandmother's wishes. She also doubted her mother's claims about Lin Daiyu's meager dowry. She recalled her own childhood, when her aunt Jia Min was wealthy and often sent them lavish gifts that even her own family could not match. She also recalled how, before she married, Jia Min was her grandmother's most beloved daughter, addressed as "Miss" by everyone in the palace, and even the servants around her were not allowed to be neglected. Now that I think about it, Lin Ruhai, a former top scholar, rose to the position of Minister of Personnel, and a family of scholars with four generations of noble status, couldn't his family be much worse off? And as his eldest daughter, even if Lin Daiyu were adopted out, her dowry couldn't be meager. Perhaps her mother had some prejudice against Lin Daiyu, deliberately saying this. Jia Yuanchun pondered this, a calculation gradually forming in her mind.

Then she thought that Baochai was really as dignified and polite as her mother said. After all, her family background was not as good as Lin Daiyu's, and she was two years older than Baoyu. If Baoyu was really given a marriage with Baochai, he would probably be unhappy. Thinking of this, Yuanchun couldn't help but sigh. She could only let her cousin Baochai down and let him be rejected. She would make a final decision after meeting them in the future.

Under the secret manipulation of the virtuous concubine Jia Yuanchun, Xue Baochai was eliminated in the first round of the selection.

Back when Xue Baochai's father was still alive, he doted on his daughter, sparing no expense to hire the finest teachers to teach her the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and etiquette. Xue Baochai was intelligent and eager to learn, so she naturally excelled in these skills. Therefore, when they learned of the opportunity to enter the palace to accompany the princess to study, the family believed it was tailor-made for Xue Baochai, and she was confident she would easily be selected. However, reality dealt them a heavy blow.

Now that everything has been settled, the three members of the Xue family feel very disappointed that Baochai was not selected.

In contrast, Xue Pan acted relatively calm. He had never taken the matter too seriously, but he paid some attention to it because he saw that his sister took it very seriously. After a few days of loss, he quickly put the matter behind him and continued to eat, drink and have fun in the capital. Aunt Xue was completely different. She felt deeply unfair and resentful about the result. She believed that her daughter was impeccable in both talent and appearance. How could she be eliminated in the first round? She said angrily: "My daughter is so beautiful, are those who are responsible for selecting the concubines blind? It's so infuriating!"

Xue Baochai was also filled with loss, but she had always been sympathetic to her parents' feelings and possessed a rather stubborn character. She knew she couldn't let her mother worry any longer, so she forced herself to smile and whispered to Aunt Xue, "Mother, don't be angry. I don't really care whether I can enter the palace or not. I just don't want to disappoint you."

Aunt Xue looked at her sensible daughter, feeling both relieved and distressed. Tears could not stop flowing down her face. She held Xue Baochai's hand tightly and said with a sob, "My dear child, it's all your fault. You have been wronged."

Xue Baochai looked at her weeping mother, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She gently reached out and wiped the tears from her mother's eyes. Then she smiled tenderly and said softly, "Mother, please don't be sad. I believe that my destiny will eventually come. Even if I can't enter the palace this time, I believe there will be other opportunities in the future to demonstrate my talents and value."

At this moment, Mrs. Wang hurried over, gently patted Aunt Xue's shoulder, and said softly, "Sister, it's not a bad thing that Baochai was not selected! This way, she can always be with you, avoiding the pain of separation between mother and daughter. Before, we were busy with Baochai's selection, so we didn't have time to spend together. Now that the selection is settled, you must stay at home for a few more days."

However, Lady Wang's expressed concern was at odds with her true feelings. In reality, she was secretly glad Baochai wasn't chosen, because with the Xue family's background, marrying into a wealthy family would likely require only a concubine. She had always hoped Baochai would marry Jia Baoyu, and if they had spent more time together, perhaps the marriage would have been more smoothly arranged. Thus, while she outwardly cared for Aunt Xue, she actually looked forward to the development of a relationship between Baochai and Baoyu.