Red Chamber 2
A Yuan had read the vernacular version of this book and had a rough understanding of the characters and plot.
Although the couple appeared infrequently, they ran through the entire text, belonging to the type with an overwhelming presence. In every moment of poverty in Rongguo Mansion, the Lin Family’s millions in assets would be dragged out as an example to prove that Rongguo Mansion had no money in its accounts—a family of parasites feeding off the wealth of a childless household.
A big, bold character for “tragic.”
And now, this tragic couple had just settled down in Yangzhou, and Sister Lin had just been born. This was the most peaceful period of their lives, so naturally, they had the mind to meddle in the “idle matters” of their relatives.
“Brother, is what you said true?” A Yuan propped herself up with her arms and sat up, looking excited.
This startled Lin Han, who had been holding her sleeve and weeping. He quickly supported A Yuan’s arm: “Sister, why are you so reckless? What if you faint again?” Though he chided with concern, he did not forget to answer A Yuan’s question: “Sister-in-law has already written a letter and sent it posthaste to Rongguo Mansion. It’s just a pity that Father informed us too late; otherwise, we could have intercepted it back in Jiangnan Prefecture.”
“Hah.” Speaking of this, A Yuan sneered coldly: “Ma Shi kept it extremely well hidden to ensure nothing went wrong. If it weren’t for the eunuch delivering the Betrothal Gold and making it impossible to hide, she probably would have kept it secret until next spring.”
Hearing this, Lin Han’s eyes reddened again. He choked up: “You’ve suffered these past few years.”
A Yuan: “…”
This elder brother was good in every way, except he was a bit too emotionally expressive.
But it was understandable. Lin Han was the original owner’s blood brother and also Lin Huan’s eldest legitimate son. Ma Shi saw the siblings as thorns in her side. Afraid that his sister would suffer, he could only manage everything down to the smallest detail. Over the years, this had become a habit.
“Ah, let’s not talk about these things.”
A Yuan pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it into Lin Han’s hand: “Wipe your tears. You’re a scholar, after all. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you for carrying on like this?”
Lin Han, blushing all over, took the handkerchief and wiped his face: “It’s just a pity I couldn’t pass the tribute scholar exam. Otherwise, how could Madam treat you so poorly?”
He was a scholar from Gusu. If he had passed the tribute scholar exam, he could have studied at the County School, and perhaps even had Lin Huan as his teacher. Unfortunately, on the day of his exam, he had an upset stomach and ultimately failed to pass.
Only after Lin Han’s emotions had stabilized did A Yuan continue discussing the roster.
“The nationwide selection of Candidate Maidens is a national policy. Can Cousin and the others really intercept it halfway?”
Seeing his sister concerned about the selection, Lin Han quickly explained: “Cousin may not be able to, but Sister-in-law has her ways. She comes from Rongguo Mansion, and her father is a Super-rank Duke. If she can help and maneuver a bit, it will surely be easily accomplished.”
Easily accomplished?
Pfft~ If she were Jia Min, not only would she not help remove the name, but she would also exert effort to send her soaring to the clouds.
Lin Ruhai’s appointment as Salt Censor was ordered by the Retired Emperor, and Rongguo Mansion was part of the old nobility. Now, the emperor was growing older, while the Retired Emperor was aging day by day. It was only a matter of time before the emperor took full control of the government.
That couple of theirs was tied too tightly to the Retired Emperor. Were they really not anxious at all?
If she could enter the palace and become an Imperial Consort, she could whisper in the emperor’s ear in the future. That would be better than being completely in the dark now.
A Yuan thought this brother was a bit foolish.
“Did Sister-in-law really promise in person?”
“Brother is an unrelated man; how could he meet Sister-in-law? It was Cousin who promised.”
Though Lin Han’s tone was firm, his fingers couldn’t help but fidget uneasily.
Earlier, he had been too caught up in excitement. Now, recalling the events, he could hardly remember what expression his cousin Lin Ruhai had worn at the time. All he knew was that upon learning of the matter, his cousin had first been furious, then actively worked to resolve it. Yet, after a night, his cousin seemed to have calmed down considerably, simply telling him to return first and comfort their father. As for the Register, he only said he would do his best to retrieve it.
“Anyway, I must start preparing.”
A Yuan was skeptical of the attitudes of Lin Ruhai and his wife, so she simply focused on what would happen after entering the palace.
Patting Lin Han’s arm, her expression instantly turned serious: “Now that you’re back, there’s no need for me to step in personally.”
Lin Han: “Huh?”
He was utterly confused.
“Go on, cry to Father about how pitiful your sister is. Best melt his heart and squeeze out a few thousand or even tens of thousands of taels of silver for me.”
After all, she couldn’t just be tricked into becoming a Candidate Maiden while Ma Shi only got off with house arrest.
At the very least, she had to extract half the family fortune to take into the palace with her later.
Lin Han gasped. A few thousand or even tens of thousands of taels of silver—his sister was being quite ruthless. How had he never noticed before that his sister had such a forceful personality?
He had always thought his sister was delicate and helpless. Now, it seemed there had been many misunderstandings.
A Yuan wasn’t afraid of breaking character.
What a joke—she was about to enter the palace and become the emperor’s wife. What was wrong with being a little forceful?
That was the only way to protect herself better!
“Don’t worry, sister. I won’t let you suffer.”
Lin Han gritted his teeth. If even his gentle sister was being forced to become strong, how could he, as her elder brother, act like a coward? He too should toughen up and fight for more silver to secure her future.
Lin Han strode off to the front courtyard with a determined air, while A Yuan leaned back and sprawled once again on the daybed by the window, calling out lazily, “Qiao Xiu, bring your mistress some snacks.”
“Coming, mistress!”
The all-purpose maid Qiao Xiu emerged from the side room carrying a plate of osmanthus cakes.
A Yuan picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, leaned back on the daybed, closed her eyes, and ate the snack with great contentment. Despite having fainted not long ago, she now showed no signs of illness.
Worried, Qiao Xiu cautiously asked, “Mistress, are you feeling unwell anywhere? Should I go find a doctor to take a look?”
“No need.”
A Yuan refused outright. She wasn’t sick at all—she had simply been too excited after drawing an SSR.
SSR!
A Yuan’s hand froze.
No wonder she felt like she had forgotten something—it was her precious SSR!
“Alright, I’ll rest for a while. You may leave.” A Yuan stuffed the osmanthus cake into her mouth and waved dismissively at Qiao Xiu, perfectly embodying the attitude of using someone and then discarding them.
Qiao Xiu pouted. Her mistress was becoming harder and harder to understand.
But she obediently left the room, even thoughtfully closing the door behind her to give her mistress some quiet space.
As soon as Qiao Xiu left, A Yuan immediately summoned the System Interface. She no longer minded how shabby the interface looked; in fact, every flicker of the screen now seemed to her like it was also trembling with excitement.
Opening the Backpack, a mix of gray, green, and blue lights shimmered, but A Yuan ignored them all—they were just trash.
Her eyes were fixed solely on that single, dazzling golden “SSR”!
She drew several dozen ten-draws in a row, turning her once abundant system into a debt-ridden one. Aside from some strange Skill Cards, she actually drew quite a few Character Cards, though most of them were labeled “An Ordinary Matron,” with their Skill Slots listing the skills they excelled in, such as “Poisoning,” “Gathering Intelligence,” “Spreading Rumors,” and the like.
She had assumed that SSR Cards would also be character-based, but unexpectedly, the card that appeared before A Yuan displayed a large question mark.
Looking at the Skill Slots, there was only one skill: “Soul Binding,” which allowed her to bind her soul with a Matron nearby. This way, no unfamiliar Matron would suddenly appear and draw attention, and she could still use the system’s skills.
The remaining three Skill Slots were empty, as if waiting for A Yuan to fill them. A Yuan looked at the card, then at the Skill Cards and Tool Cards in her inventory that weren’t part of the card set… Suddenly, she felt dissatisfied.
How could an SSR Card be paired with N-grade Skills?
It had to be paired with SSR-grade ones too!
A Yuan finally realized the system’s malicious intent—no wonder it had been so quick to offer Loan Points. It was all about Forced Spending in the later stages!
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath to calm herself, and when she opened them again, her gaze was filled with determination.
Complete missions!
She had to complete missions. She couldn’t tolerate her SSR Matron being equipped with a full set of N-grade Skills!
A Yuan rose from the chaise lounge and walked to the dressing table, picking up the Bronze Mirror to examine her face. The original owner was naturally beautiful, but due to her dull temperament and timid demeanor, what should have been an eight-out-of-ten beauty was reduced to a five or six.
It was now late autumn, and the Eunuchs had set the entry date for the Imperial Palace as the fifteenth day of the third month, leaving her just under half a year. She needed to take good care of herself during this time to ensure she could successfully pass the selection.
Just from the snippets of information the system provided, she could sense the bloodshed and turmoil hidden within.
The Imperial Palace was definitely full of missions!
How could someone as diligent as her let them slip by? Besides, didn’t Matron Cards and the Imperial Palace seem like a perfect match?
While A Yuan was enthusiastically preparing herself for entry into the palace, the front courtyard was in chaos.
Lin Han had a gentle nature, but even the gentlest person could become fierce and formidable when their bottom line was crossed. Over the next few days, no one knew exactly how Lin Han managed it, but the front courtyard was frequently filled with wails and cries—not just from the maids and servants, but also from his half-siblings.
At the height of the commotion, Lin Huan even sent someone to A Yuan’s small courtyard, hoping she could persuade Lin Han.
Persuade Lin Han?
What a joke. A Yuan directly took a belt and ran to the County School gate, threatening to hang herself—either give her money or bear the charge of forcing a Candidate Maiden to her death.
Lin Huan had no choice but to slump his shoulders and return to the front courtyard.
A Yuan sneered. What a despicable man! Where was this pitiful demeanor when he allowed Ma Shi to torment the original owner? Now that the knife was cutting into his own flesh, he finally felt the pain. To have his own legitimate children regard him as an enemy—he really ought to reflect on what kind of father he had been.
As for whether Lin Huan would later use filial piety to control Lin Han?
A Yuan wasn’t worried in the slightest. Over the past few days, she had carefully observed the children Ma Shi had borne. Perhaps their intelligence took after their mother, as they were each more foolish than the last. Already half-grown, they couldn’t even recite the Three Hundred Thousand properly. Relying on these children was more hopeless than expecting a sow to climb a tree—at least a street performer could earn a few coppers.
In the end, the couple suffered a heavy loss, not only returning all of Wen Shi’s dowry but also scraping five thousand taels of silver from their Private Treasury.
Ma Shi’s eyes reddened with hatred.
On the eve of A Yuan’s departure for Jingcheng, she gnashed her teeth and hissed viciously: “You little harlot, just wait until you fail the selection and return. I’ll make sure to find you a fine husband, guaranteed to give you a good life in the future.”
“Then I shall thank you for your auspicious words, madam. If I have such good fortune, I will certainly help my younger siblings as well.”
Ma Shi trembled with rage, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
How dare this wretched girl threaten her!
Red Chamber 3
If Ma Shi was unhappy, then A Yuan was happy.
She was someone who refused to suffer any losses. Ma Shi could be a love-struck fool, but she couldn’t be a malicious one.
Especially when that malice was directed at her.
After sarcastically mocking Ma Shi, A Yuan slept soundly that night. The next day, when she boarded the boat, her complexion was rosy and radiant, a faint smile playing on her lips. She looked less like a Candidate Maiden heading to the selection and more like someone leisurely visiting relatives.
There were other Candidate Maidens from Gusu on the same boat, but those girls were thin and pale, as if they were heading to the execution ground.
At the dock, Lin Huan seemed to suddenly be overcome with paternal affection. His eyes reddened, and his voice choked with emotion. “Once you enter Jingcheng, you must be cautious in your words and actions. Do not act impulsively as you did before. Such behavior must not happen again. Jingcheng is different from Gusu. If something happens to you, even if I could save you, it would be like trying to put out a fire from afar—too little, too late.”
He was referring to A Yuan’s threat to hang herself at the entrance of the County School.
This daughter of his had always been timid and cowardly, but who would have thought she could be so stubborn? When she made a scene, she cared for nothing. If she only harmed herself, it might be tolerable, but she had a tendency to escalate matters. Jingcheng was full of nobles and influential families. If she offended the wrong person and implicated the family, that would truly be disastrous.
Especially…
Lin Huan looked at A Yuan’s face, which resembled her deceased mother’s but was even more refined, and sighed inwardly. He wondered whether this trip to the capital would bring fortune or misfortune.
“Father’s admonitions are etched in my heart, but I also have a few words of advice for you,” A Yuan said, her smile unchanged and her posture respectful, though her words were far from pleasant.
The original host had feared paternal authority, but A Yuan was not afraid.
Her voice was soft, but her tone was laced with sarcasm. “Why my elder brother suffered unbearable stomach pain on the eve of his Linsheng examination—we both know the reason. Father, you have had countless students under your guidance, and many have brought glory to their families. I only hope you do not mistake the means for the end and bring decline upon our own family. A merchant’s daughter may be shortsighted, obsessed with wealth, but she forgets that passing down knowledge and virtue is the true foundation of a family. Even if you cherish the warmth of your household, do not forget that my elder brother, as the legitimate eldest son, is the one who should uphold the family’s honor.”
At this point, she clicked her tongue twice, her tone tinged with disdain. “…Surely, Father doesn’t still have hopes for those fools.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Huan’s face turned ashen.
“It’s getting late. You should board the boat now.”
A Yuan let out a soft, dismissive “tsk,” rolled her eyes, and turned to board the boat without the slightest bit of attachment to Lin Huan.
Lin Han, who had been standing nearby like a pillar, clasped his hands and bowed to Lin Huan. “I take my leave, Father. Take care.”
Just go!
Lin Huan stood rigidly, his heart heavy with suppressed anger, watching as his son and daughter boarded the boat.
As for the servants following behind them, he, as their father, should have given them a stern warning, but he was in no mood for it now. He simply waved his hand, letting them follow directly. He stood on the shore with his hands behind his back, watching the canal boat gradually drift away.
“Master, why must you be so distant with the young master and the young lady?” the steward Lin Fu quietly consoled.
Lin Huan sighed. “No matter how flawed Ma Shi is, she is still the mistress.”
But what of being the mistress? If the master truly resolved to stand up for the young master and the young lady, surely the mistress would not dare go too far. Now, the young master failed the Linsheng examination, and the young lady is heading to the capital for the selection—are these not the results of the master’s indulgence?
Gusu was originally a prosperous place, and Lin Fu, as the chief steward of the Lin Family, witnessed a great deal of comings and goings every day. He felt that his young lady possessed extraordinary character and appearance, and it was possible that this journey to the capital might bring her great fortune.
Lin Fu believed his master lacked insight—how could the second or third young masters uphold the prestige of the Lin Family?
In the end, it still relied on the eldest young master.
Although the master was well-read, he was not as perceptive as Lin Fu!
A Yuan was unaware of the commotion at the dock. At that moment, she was watching Lin Han, whose eyes were red like a rabbit’s, with a headache. This elder brother was excellent in every way, except he was overly emotional, shedding tears every time they met.
She was going to participate in the selection for Candidate Maiden, not to her death!
“Why did you have to say those words to Father? It only ended up displeasing him.”
The words spoken on the shore earlier were all carefully calculated for her own benefit. Lin Han was deeply moved upon hearing them, feeling that his sister was the only one in the family who truly cared for him.
A Yuan deftly pulled out a handkerchief and tossed it to Lin Han. “His displeasure is his own affair—what does it have to do with me? Right now, we are the aggrieved party, and I am a Candidate Maiden awaiting selection. Even if I speak more harshly, he wouldn’t dare do anything.”
“I’m only afraid that if you fail the selection and return home, your days will be difficult.” Lin Han hadn’t forgotten that A Yuan’s marriage was still in the hands of Ma Shi.
“Then you must strive harder, gain more influence at home, so that Father dares not disregard your opinions. In the future, you can also stand up for me.”
“You’re right!” Lin Han’s fighting spirit surged instantly. “I’ll go study right now.”
With that, he stood up, intending to return to his room and immerse himself in his books.
A Yuan quickly stopped him. “There’s no need to rush at this moment. I still have more to say.”
Lin Han sat back down.
“These past few days, there has been no news from Yangzhou. It’s likely that intercepting the registry has failed, and my participation in the palace selection is now inevitable. In that case, we should start planning for the future.”
“Go ahead, sister.”
After spending these days together, Lin Han had come to understand that his sister was someone with great depth and foresight.
In the past, such a temperament would have worried him, fearing that extreme intelligence might bring harm to herself. But now, he felt it was just right, especially since they were about to enter a place that devoured people. Having wit was far better than lacking it.
“My marriage is controlled by the mistress. If I return after failing the selection, I likely won’t be matched with a good marriage. She’ll probably find me a superficially attractive but useless husband. Rather than being controlled by the mistress, it would be better to be frank with my cousin. If he can help me rise to great heights, I will surely stand by him in the future, supporting each other between the court and the inner palace.”
“But…”
Lin Han frowned deeply upon hearing this. “This selection for Candidate Maiden came about under strange circumstances. I fear entering the palace might endanger your life.”
“After all, men are all the same. What difference does it make whether it’s the inner palace or the inner household? Besides, I have high aspirations and ambitions of my own.”
Since she had to be with a man anyway, why not be with the most powerful one in the world?
Lin Han, being a man himself, naturally understood the flaws of men. He didn’t defend them and even found his sister’s words strangely reasonable.
Since he couldn’t find any words to refute her, he simply didn’t argue.
The canal boat swayed gently from Gusu to the Yangzhou dock. Lin Fu, the chief steward of the Lin Family, had been waiting at the dock early. As soon as he saw his young master, he called for sedan chair bearers to bring a small sedan chair onto the boat. A Yuan boarded the sedan without leaving the cabin and was carried directly off the boat.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lin Fu, Lin Han led the group straight back to the Lin Family residence.
Lin Han went to the study to meet with Lin Ruhai, while A Yuan was carried directly through the second gate and led to meet Jia Min, the mistress of the Lin household.
A Yuan had not brought many servants with her, and only Qiao Xiu attended to her personally.
As it was the end of the year, although Yangzhou had not seen snow, the damp cold was still uncomfortable. Since giving birth to her eldest daughter Daiyu, Jia Min had been particularly sensitive to the cold. She had specially built a fire wall and a warm chamber in the house and was now receiving this legendary cousin-in-law there.
With just one glance, Jia Min straightened her posture.
Such a beauty truly caught the eye. She had already formed some plans in her heart, and seeing the person in the flesh only strengthened her confidence.
A Yuan stepped forward to greet her: “Sister-in-law.”
“Ah, please rise.” Jia Min personally supported A Yuan’s arm, her face beaming with a smile as her eyes swept over her repeatedly. “Truly an exceptionally beautiful woman. Your father often spoke of you in the past, and now I finally get to meet you in person.”
Lin Ruhai and Lin Han were cousins, and since Lin Ruhai was the only son in his family, Jia Min addressed Lin Han as ‘Second Uncle.’
A Yuan flushed red, feigning shyness: “You flatter me, sister-in-law.”
She also took a glance at Jia Min. As Lin Daiyu’s mother, Jia Min was naturally a rare beauty as well. However, with age and years of striving for a son, her complexion carried a hint of illness. Though she appeared lovely, she lacked a certain vibrancy.
“It’s cold outside, come in and sit.”
Jia Min led A Yuan deeper into the warm chamber. Passing around a four-panel screen, they reached the innermost room. Inside the modestly sized chamber was a rather large kang. At that moment, a small child who had just settled down was leaning over a kang table, on which lay a book. Clearly, Jia Min had been holding the child and reading to her just moments before.
A Yuan looked at the little child with curiosity.
“This is your niece, her childhood name is Daiyu.” Jia Min affectionately stroked the small floral cap on little Daiyu’s head. Her own health was poor, so even within the warm chamber, she dared not let the child wear fewer clothes, fearing she might catch a chill.
Yet, seeing the little girl’s flushed cheeks, A Yuan knew the child was overheating.
Perhaps Lin Daiyu’s poor health stemmed from being overly bundled up as a child, much like chicks in a brooder—excessive heat hinders growth and makes them prone to illness.
Jia Min guided A Yuan to sit on the other side of the kang table and began discussing the matter of the imperial selection: “…My husband sent people chasing northward all the way, but they were delayed. By the time they reached Jingcheng, the roster had already been submitted to the Ministry of Revenue. Even with extraordinary means, it was impossible.”
Her tone was full of remorse.
A Yuan had long been mentally prepared and thus played along with Jia Min’s act. Dabbing the corner of her eye with a handkerchief, her eyes reddened, tears welling up: “You’ve gone to such trouble, sister-in-law. It seems I lack that fortune.”
“What are you saying, dear sister? You mustn’t speak of yourself that way. You, my dear, have great fortune ahead of you.”
Jia Min took A Yuan’s hand and coaxed gently: “Speaking of women under heaven, who could compare to the ladies in the palace? His Majesty is currently in the prime of youth, yearning for companionship. If one has the fortune to attend by his side, that is truly good fortune.”
A Yuan stiffened slightly, then appeared lost in thought, as if stirred by Jia Min’s words. She glanced up at Jia Min, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, making Jia Min’s heart tremble involuntarily.
Remembering the letter from her mother two days prior, Jia Min’s heart grew even more fervent.
Yuanchun was born on the first day of the Lunar New Year, a sign of great fortune. Her mother had long chosen her future path, waiting only until she came of age to enter the palace and serve the emperor. However, since her father’s passing, the family had lost its voice in the court, with only an old relative, Consort Zhen, remaining.
Her mother had originally intended to use Consort Zhen’s connections to send Yuanchun into the palace, but this was not ideal. The emperor was wary of the Retired Emperor, and even if Yuanchun entered the harem, she would likely be viewed with suspicion by His Majesty.
Who could have foreseen the sudden announcement of a nationwide selection of beauties? It was truly a case of receiving a pillow just as one was about to doze off.
Jia Min’s letter provided the Dowager with another option. She thought of paving a path to glory for Lin Yuan, so that when Yuanchun entered the palace later, she could rely on Lin Yuan’s influence to avoid the emperor’s suspicion and secure favor.
Now, having seen A Yuan’s true appearance, Jia Min’s tone grew even more sincere: “Dear girl, listen to your sister-in-law’s advice. No matter what you think in your heart, you must appear cheerful when you reach Jingcheng, lest the palace take offense and bring misfortune upon your family. If you are chosen, serve His Majesty with peace of mind. If not, return home safely. With your character and looks, even if you do not enter the palace, you will be sought after by countless families. Set your heart at ease—you will not be wronged in the end.”