Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Xifeng sat upright on the couch, her hand resting on her chin, her eyes deep and pensive. Her thoughts surged like a tide, recalling the military families she had come into contact with. While there were many outstanding figures among them, she felt that something crucial was missing. Not all young men were as idle and unemployed as Jia Lian. In fact, there were many young men of outstanding character and talent. However, these people were inextricably linked to the Jia family, which made her feel a sense of helplessness.

She knew full well that most of the generals around her came from families that had followed Taizu on his campaigns, achieving remarkable military success. Their rise to prominence had only been three generations. As the saying goes, "wealth doesn't last more than three generations." Thinking back to the decline of the great families in her past life, Xifeng felt a growing weight on her heart. She realized she had to sever her ties with these families as soon as possible, or the consequences would be disastrous.

Of the people she had come into contact with, only the Zhang and Lin families could be considered aristocratic. However, due to their involvement in the incident involving the deposed crown prince, the Zhang family had gradually withdrawn from the court and adopted an increasingly low profile. Naturally, they would not readily marry into the Wang family. The Lin family, on the other hand, was sparsely populated, lacking men of the appropriate age. As her coming-of-age ceremony drew near, Xifeng grew increasingly restless. She knew that if she couldn't find a suitable husband, her future would be uncertain.

Just then, Ping'er walked in and said, "Miss, the Madam told me to tell you that we'll be taking you to the birthday celebration of the old Consort Dowager of Prince Beijing tomorrow." Xifeng smiled and softly replied, "I see." Her eyes revealed a hint of anticipation and curiosity, as if she was deeply interested in the event. That evening, after finishing her meal in her courtyard, Xifeng sat on the couch to do some needlework. However, as she picked up her needle and thread to begin embroidery, she suddenly heard a cry of pain. She had accidentally pricked her delicate finger with the needle, causing a small spot of blood to appear. Even more unfortunate, the spot of blood had accidentally rubbed against the birthmark on her wrist.

At this moment, Xifeng felt a trance, as if she had entered another world. When she came to her senses, she found herself standing in front of a door. Looking up, she saw the four characters "You Feng Lai Yi" written on the plaque.

Walking into the courtyard, Xifeng was surprised to find not only a warm hot spring but also an ancient well. Reminiscent of the plots in modern novels she had read, she felt a surge of surprise: Could this be the legendary portable space?

Xifeng was secretly delighted, thinking that such a good fortune had finally befallen her. She couldn't help but exclaim, "What a stroke of luck!" Without giving it time to ponder, Xifeng quickly walked to the well, scooped up a ladle of cool water, and drank it all in one gulp. Then, she floated lightly into the room and gently pushed open the door made of precious sandalwood. Inside, layers of purple gauze draped the ceiling, creating a dreamlike, fairy-like atmosphere. In the center of the room stood a fragrant table, surrounded by four intricately carved wooden chairs, each a breathtaking work of art. To the north, an exquisitely embroidered bed, draped with sheer gauze curtains, and neatly arranged at the headboard were embroidered quilts and pillows, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere. To the east, a shelf filled with porcelain vases and carved antiques stood out with remarkable elegance. Next to it stood a desk, neatly arranged with brushes, inkstones, and paper, exuding the faint scent of ink. On the wall in front of the desk hung two exquisite paintings, inscribed with the characters "沉鱼落雁" (sinking fish, falling geese) and "隔月耻花" (closing the moon, shameful flowers), their characters flowing like clouds and water. To the west stood a guest table, its chairs reminiscent of those used by concubines in the television series "The Legend of Zhen Huan," elegant and regal. On the table sat an unfinished chess game, its black and white pieces arranged in a staggered pattern, as if awaiting the master's continued play. Beside the table sat an antique guzheng, its strings gleaming, as if telling a musical story of yesteryear. In the southwest corner stood a dressing table, a dazzling array of rouge and exquisite jewelry. The entire room was meticulously appointed, every detail revealing the owner's taste and refined elegance.