[{"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-43":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},2310841,4515,"Chapter 43: At Luoxia Bridge","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Zhi Shao saw Wang Shanbao’s wife come again, frowned, and ignored her, focusing instead on organizing the xuan paper Jia Cong had written on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Jia Cong’s disappearance, her heart had withered half-dead; she merely endured, waiting for his return, spending her days doing chores inside the room to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, she would have exchanged a few words with Wang Shanbao’s wife, for the woman controlled many affairs in the East Road Courtyard, and she didn’t want Young Master Three to suffer losses—so outwardly, she still kept up appearances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Jia Cong gone so long, Zhi Shao’s former fears had faded, and her usual sharpness had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her like this, Wang Shanbao’s wife’s anger flared up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that the recent scolding from Old Master, which had stripped half her lifetime’s dignity, and she resolved today to make a scene—she would force this lowly maid to submit to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Master has ordered you to pack up and report to the main house today. Stop fussing in this room—it’ll be empty soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Shao’s heart jolted. To reassign a maid required Old Master’s personal command? It must be that matter Lady Xing had mentioned before—how could there be such a father?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While her own son’s fate was unknown, he was already eyeing the maid in his son’s room—she felt utterly sickened. Jia Cong was gone; she couldn’t stay here another moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhi Shao still standing frozen, Wang Shanbao’s wife told the two maids she’d brought: “Help her pack. Take her away quickly—get it over with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rushed into the room and saw Zhi Shao standing pale-faced and hollow-eyed, while Wang Shanbao’s wife lay on the ground, face covered in blood, life unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two maids were stunned by the scene, staring at the once lovely, obedient maid who now looked like a demon possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Zhi Shao had retorted, Wang Shanbao’s wife had been provoked—when Jia Cong was still around, she’d kept some restraint, knowing he’d recently won Second Master’s favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little slut, have you lost your mind? Is it because your dead master looks like his lowly mother that you’ve developed a crush? Thinking you’ll become his concubine someday? I advise you to give up that foolish dream now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he’s gone, what’s left to fear? The two maids here are her trusted servants—she spoke without restraint, only needing to frighten this lowly maid into submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong’s disappearance had tormented her for so many days; she was already on the brink of collapse—now it felt as if something inside her had shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Shao trembled with rage, her beautiful eyes blazing with fury she’d never shown before: “Shut up! Don’t you dare curse Young Master Three!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shanbao’s wife was mid-insult, relishing her cruelty, when suddenly Zhi Shao let out a piercing scream—startling her into a shudder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing those words, Zhi Shao turned deathly pale, her whole body shaking like a sieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could react, Zhi Shao cried out and shoved her—her strength was astonishingly great. Wang Shanbao’s wife stumbled backward, unable to stop herself, and crashed headfirst into the sharp corner of the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhi Shao still dared to talk back, Wang Shanbao’s wife grew even more arrogant, advancing step by step, her finger nearly poking Zhi Shao’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two maids at the door heard only Zhi Shao’s piercing scream, then a dull thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Shao stepped back: “I won’t go. I’m waiting for Young Master Three to return—he’ll need someone to serve him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This desk had been picked by Zhi Shao and Jia Cong from the storage shed; its corners were broken, covered in jagged wood splinters—Wang Shanbao’s wife had just smashed into one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind if he’s dead—if he’s alive, a bastard born of a courtesan, in this grand household, is destined only for suffering and degradation. Better to die now and be freed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if I curse him? He’s already a dead ghost. Lady Da has already prepared for him—Second Master just sent a servant to the coffin shop to pick out planks for him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shanbao’s wife sneered, spittle flying: “Stop dreaming your foolish dreams! It’s been days—no sign of him, not even a ghost! Your cursed master isn’t coming back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They watched helplessly as Zhi Shao stumbled out the door, soulless, too terrified to reach out and stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Murder! Someone’s been killed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrified cries echoed through the Lin Store Courtyard. The two maids dared not touch Wang Shanbao’s wife, bloodied and sprawled on the ground, and stumbled off to report to Jia She and Lady Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the news, Jia She didn’t care whether Wang Shanbao’s wife lived or died—he ordered servants and maids to chase after Zhi Shao and bring her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the East Road Courtyard erupted into chaos—people scrambled everywhere, lantern shadows swaying wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi was driving his cart past the black-oil gate of the East Courtyard when he saw a slender figure burst out and vanish into darkness—she looked oddly familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, many servants and maids poured out of the black-oil gate, each carrying lanterns, some holding ropes, hurrying after the fleeing figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi grabbed a familiar servant: “What’s going on? What’s this new drama?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhi Shao from Young Master Cong’s quarters killed Wang Shanbao’s wife and ran off. Old Master ordered us to catch her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi froze. How could Zhi Shao, who looked like that, commit murder? His mother often said Young Master Three cherished her most—he couldn’t just stand by. He had to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Shao ran blindly, not knowing where she was going, only hearing the roaring sound ahead—the Liuyang River, cutting through the eastern quarter of Shenjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The river was wide, its currents dense, connecting to the southern Grand Canal; its eastern tributaries were said to flow all the way to the sea—Shenjing’s vital waterway to the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stone bridge arched across the river like a rainbow—Luoxia Bridge, the longest stone arch bridge in Shenjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Shao staggered up the bridge steps; behind her, the East Road Courtyard’s servants and maids reached the bridge’s base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven or eight lanterns flickered wildly, like ghostly flames of doom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi watched as Zhi Shao stopped at the bridge’s center, staring blankly at the churning river below, her robes fluttering in the night wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi suddenly felt something was wrong—the servants and maids were rushing up the bridge, not to capture her, but to prevent Old Master from being blamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhi Shao stared at the approaching figures and the chaotic lantern light—her head spun with dizziness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind if he’s dead—if he’s alive, a bastard born of a courtesan, in this grand household, is destined only for suffering and degradation. Better to die now and be freed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s just a dead ghost anyway. Lady Da has already prepared for him… sent a servant to the coffin shop to pick out planks…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shanbao’s wife’s cruel words echoed endlessly in her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave a bitter smile: If Young Master Three is gone, why should I stay in that courtyard to be abused?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi watched helplessly as Zhi Shao stepped over the bridge railing, then fell like a shooting star into the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he rushed to the bridge’s center and shouted down, it was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servants’ lanterns shone down on the water—only a cloud-like tangle of hair floated on the surface, then a dark current swept it away, gone without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group scoured the riverbank like headless flies, but it happened to be high tide—the Liuyang River’s current was fiercer than usual; how could they find her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news returned to the East Road Courtyard; Jia She and Lady Xing were thrown into panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A maid’s death meant nothing—but this one had been driven to suicide. Old Lady Jia valued dignity and family reputation; if she heard of this, it would be catastrophic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The couple ordered everyone to seal their lips, then sent stewards and servants downstream to search all night—by dawn, they found nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1351,"2026-06-20T12:19:54.434Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","215dc0a5988a2533f3ca1f4e314f3f328abd07afcd7e62dfbfc06f429c12fafe","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-44","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-42",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]