[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-25":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Rising Force in the Red Chamber",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310823,4515,"Chapter 25: Divination of Dread","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-25",25,"\u003Cp>Liu Bi helped his grandfather onto the sedan chair, and sturdy Wangfu  retainers immediately lifted it, carrying Liu Yanxiu to the Shuyun Villa halfway up the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Jiaoshun accompanied Zhang Tianshi as they climbed the steps, pointing out the mountain scenery along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man carrying the long sword followed closely beside Zhang Yuzhen, his eyes flickering, noticing that Zhang Yuzhen had been subtly and repeatedly observing the boy walking beside the sedan chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy wore a bright red Xingxingzhan  cloak, strikingly visible against the snow; the xiuyu hairpin pinned to his head reflected a soft glow in the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group stepped through the gate of the Shuyun Villa, the sword-carrying youth seized the moment when no one stood near Zhang Yuzhen and stepped forward to ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, you’ve been studying that boy—have you noticed something strange?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was like a oriole emerging from the valley, clear and lovely—it was a girl’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew her father Zhang Yuzhen had been trained since childhood in the family’s secret arts and excelled in divination and physiognomy; seeing him scrutinize Jia Cong for so long, then silently calculating with his fingers, she knew there must be a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuzhen spoke softly: “That child’s aura is naturally formed, brimming with spiritual energy—I’ve never seen its like before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet his Three Stops and Twelve Palaces reveal a fickle fate, vitality seemingly severed yet not quite, concealing a celestial mechanism—almost as if he were not of this mortal world. I’ve never encountered such an odd divination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Liu Jing’an held the highest standing among the literati; nearly all scholars attending the literary gathering came to pay their respects to this contemporary literary patriarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Halfway up Qixiang Ridge lay a vast natural clearing; the grandfather of the current Emperor, Emperor Hongxuan, had built a small imperial villa there, adapting to the natural terrain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These guests, arranged by age and reputation, took their seats in sequence along both sides of the stone channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The designer of this villa must have been a master with profound vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the stone channel, at regular intervals, low tables of green stone were stacked, each beside embroidered cushions, with incense tea and wine flasks placed atop, incense smoldering, and broad canopies erected above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was now the Shuyun Villa, but after its completion, Emperor Hongxuan visited only twice before falling ill and passing away; since then, the villa had remained vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All guests attending the literary gathering had arrived in turn, guided by Wangfu  maids to their preassigned seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A water channel, half a man’s height wide, had been carved into the clearing, winding through the entire villa; the stream, channeled in, flowed along it and emptied into a man-made lake to the north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake bordered a sheer cliff, its shores planted with countless varieties of plum blossoms, blooming brilliantly against the snow, filling the air with fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the south of the villa lay an open patch of ground, where a half-man-high archway had been cut into the wall, covered with a fine mesh of steel wire to deter wild beasts and intruders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clear, rushing Nanxi River flowed through this archway into the villa; the fine steel mesh blocked beasts and enemies but allowed the pure stream to pass unimpeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Jiaoshun, Liu Yanxiu, and Zhang Yuzhen now sat in the stone pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Prince Jiaoshun turned sixteen and left the palace to reside independently, he loved the scenery of Qixiang Ridge and petitioned the Retired Emperor for this villa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong clearly observed this entire intricate arrangement—the clear channel was clearly meant for the “curving water, floating cups” ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl disguised as a man jumped in surprise; raised beside her father, though she had not yet mastered his art, she understood its gravity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the stone pavilion stood a writing desk, with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone; atop it, a bronze incense burner shaped like a beast’s head emitted curling blue smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong saw the Shuyun Villa’s flowers and trees lush and scattered, pavilions and towers arranged in graceful disorder, water pavilions serene, winding corridors leading to quiet depths—possessing a wild, profound beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the lake stood a spacious stone pavilion, containing three seats; the water channel extended into the pavilion, curved once at its center, then flowed on into the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze puzzled, fixed on the boy walking ahead—vitality seemingly severed yet not quite, not of this mortal world—could he not be alive, had he once died? Though absurd, he could not suppress a shiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now the hour of Si; the morning sun warmed the southern clearing, and even on this fifteenth day of bitter cold, not a trace of chill remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong saw the slightly plump Jin Rong brother step forward to greet Liu Jing’an; the old man merely nodded slightly in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by Jin Rong’s expression, he sought to strike up conversation with the literary patriarch, but seeing Liu Bi’s cold gaze from outside the pavilion, he awkwardly halted his advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene puzzled Jia Cong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his expression, Liu Bi did not hide it from him, speaking with resentment: “Cong brother, that man is no good—be careful if you meet him again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As more people approached to greet his grandfather, Liu Bi pulled Jia Cong away a few steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plump Jin Rong brother had been jostled to the edge of the crowd, looking dejected; Liu Bi cast him a glance heavy with contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cong brother, you may not know—he’s Wu Jinrong, a second-rank jinshi of the Jiazhao Eighth Year, appointed as a junior scholar in the Hanlin Academy, a respectable position, with considerable talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because he came from a humble family with no connections in court, he spent two years in the Hanlin Academy while his peers secured real posts—he remained stagnant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he began scheming and networking, seeking any possible avenue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, he managed to befriend Cai Xiang’s second son, Cai Xiaozhang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cai Xiaozhang was a playboy, only dragging him along for amusement—he never truly helped him secure a position; months passed with no progress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, when Wu Jinrong visited the Cai household to see Cai Xiaozhang, hoping to meet his father Cai Xiang, he unexpectedly saw the Cai family’s third daughter and was instantly awestruck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fellow, blinded by ambition, fancied himself climbing the dragon’s back as a stepping stone—he sent her poems, gifts, and more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daughter of a Grand Secretary was no ordinary woman—she would never tolerate such vulgar conduct; yet Wu Jinrong’s antics caused enough scandal to stir gossip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Cai daughter heard the rumors, she was utterly humiliated and threatened to kill herself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Xiang, upon learning of it, flew into a rage; this man was already a scoundrel, and to have his face slapped by a lowly junior scholar—he would not let it pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew what Shouduan  he used, but by year’s end, the Ministry of Personnel had leaked word that Wu Jinrong would be reassigned to a third-class inferior county as assistant magistrate, with his official commission due after the New Year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong brother, you may not know—first- and second-rank jinshi, when posted outside the capital, start at least as county magistrates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be demoted to a deputy in an inferior county is tantamount to exile—his entire official career is effectively ruined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong glanced at Wu Jinrong standing outside the crowd—a second-rank jinshi, willing to use a woman as a ladder to advancement, truly shameless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a young scholar of average height approached Wu Jinrong and whispered something; both kept glancing toward Jia Cong’s direction—he felt a flicker of suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Liu Bi continued: “If he’d simply accepted the assistant magistrate post, he might have retained some dignity—but his ambition won’t die, and he struggles desperately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spent years in the Hanlin Academy, he’s well-informed—he learned the Emperor recalled Zhou Jun, Assistant Regional Commander of Dezhou, to the capital to head the Tuishishi Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the late Emperor’s reign, the Tuishishi Academy held immense power, feared by all officials; now that the current Emperor has revived it, he likely intends to use it heavily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A schemer like Wu Jinrong could not miss the stakes—he immediately conceived the idea of pledging loyalty to Zhou Yanluo; rumor says he rushed to Dezhou during his holiday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned quietly afterward—no one knew if his scheme succeeded; in the capital’s official circles, it became a laughingstock.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one expected that on the fourth day of the new year, after Zhou Yanluo returned to the capital and met the Emperor, he recommended Wu Jinrong for the post of Geshizhong in the Tuishishi Academy—when the news spread, everyone was stunned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yanluo is a ruthless official who never acts without personal gain—why would he champion Wu Jinrong? No one knew the reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wu Jinrong, to advance his career, shamelessly allied himself with Zhou Yanluo, a tyrant despised by court and people alike—his moral character is beyond doubt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost all his Hanlin peers now wished to sever ties with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His inclusion in this gathering must trouble Prince Jiaoshun—he’d never have invited such a man to sully the reputation of the Nanxi Literary Gathering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nanxi Literary Gathering has always invited distinguished literati and those of exceptional talent; Hanlin Academy editors, compilers, and junior scholars were all top-tier first- and second-rank jinshi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These men’s scholarship was unquestionable; though not all were invited, over half were present—including Wu Jinrong, before his alliance with Zhou Yanluo had been exposed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for his affair with the Cai daughter, it was merely a romantic folly common among young jinshi—though absurd, it did not yet tarnish his reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Prince Jiaoshun, known for his scholarly decorum and disinterest in politics, would never have invited Wu Jinrong, whose reputation was already stained, to bring scandal upon himself and the Nanxi Gathering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong, having experienced the deceit and treachery of the future, knew that Zhou Yanluo’s narrow, venomous nature meant he would never lift a finger for anyone unless immense gain was at stake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jinrong must have offered Zhou Yanluo something he desperately wanted—something that secured his appointment; what exactly, no one knew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a second-rank jinshi, Wu Jinrong, for personal advancement, disregarded the dignity of the junior scholar position entirely—this was rare indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though despised, he was decisive and bold, daring to defy all convention—he was a formidable man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, I saw him whispering with another young scholar, their eyes fixed on me—by their manner, they mean no good; I must be more cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1772,"2026-06-20T12:19:54.434Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","49c7999eb44ce9bead3fb68f70bfc09d48ff3f7743625a97099b230d2b30225f","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-26","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-24",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]