[{"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-8":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},2310806,4515,"Chapter 8: The Prince","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>Distant bursts of firecrackers echoed beyond the high walls; the Eve of the Lunar New Year in the tenth year of Jiazhao of the Great Zhou was drawing near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside and outside Rongguo Prefecture, everyone was busy: door gods, spring couplets, hanging plaques, and new peach charms painted with fresh lacquer had been installed everywhere, filling the air with the joyous spirit of spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, Jia Zheng had sent someone to the Guanglu Temple to collect the imperial spring sacrifice stipend, specifically for honoring the ancestral spirits in the family shrine—far more dignified than spending ten thousand taels of silver on one’s own offerings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Prefecture had sent over plenty of wild game: large deer, roe deer, bear paws, and deer sinews, claiming they came from the Heishan village estate of the Eastern Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Rongqing Hall, Jia Mu sat upon a soft couch, while the maid Yuanyang gently massaged her legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two bronze incense burners glowed with silver frost charcoal, warming the room like spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Fu Ren and Wang Fu Ren sat beside her, whispering quietly about the details of New Year decorations in the Eastern Courtyard and the Western Prefecture; Jia Mu listened, occasionally adding a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celebrating the New Year in official and noble households was a major affair—the busiest time of the year for the women who managed the inner quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did they have to receive and entertain colleagues and old relatives, but they also had to organize the annual spring ancestral sacrifice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decorating the home in red, sewing new clothes, hosting family banquets, hiring opera troupes, preparing festival gifts, distributing silver to each branch of the household, settling accounts with shops and estates—countless trivial matters, only a sharp and experienced woman could handle them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu no longer managed these trivial affairs; listening to her two daughters-in-law discuss New Year preparations was merely for show, to enjoy the noise and cheer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With phoenix-like triangular eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows slanting upward, her figure slender and alluring, her powdered face held spring’s warmth without revealing her authority, and her crimson lips had not yet parted when her laughter was already heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Wang Xifeng, who now managed the internal affairs of the Western Prefecture for Wang Fu Ren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a gold-threaded eight-treasure beaded headdress, adorned with a morning sun five-phoenix pearl hairpin; around her neck hung a crimson gold coiled-dragon Yingluo  necklace; at her waist, a green silk sash tied a double-fish-shaped rose jade pendant; she wore a narrow-sleeved crimson damask robe embroidered with a hundred butterflies among flowers, over which she draped a five-colored brocade dark-blue silver-sable jacket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu asked curiously, “What rare thing happened? Tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu loved how lively and festive her granddaughter-in-law spoke; she laughed and scolded, “You little monkey, talking nonsense again—you deserve a slap on the mouth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her sat four young, beautiful girls, each with celestial grace and elegant bearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng added, “I meant to come earlier to pay respects to the old ancestress, but something unusual came up and delayed me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This morning I inspected and arranged for a troupe to enter the garden tomorrow morning to perform several days of grand opera for the old ancestress—we’ll all benefit from her blessing and have some fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she finished speaking, a beautifully adorned young woman entered, dressed unlike the other girls, her attire glittering brilliantly, as if a goddess or fairy had descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Fu Ren, seeing her own proper daughter-in-law, revealed a flicker of disdain in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Fu Ren, upon seeing her enter, offered a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu laughed, “That’s well arranged—I was just thinking of watching opera and storytelling. Feng’er truly knows my heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng smiled, “It’s the New Year, after all. Knowing the old ancestress loves opera and storytelling, I sent people yesterday to find an excellent female troupe and clever female storytellers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu chuckled, “You’ve been bustling about again this morning—we were talking, and you didn’t show your face once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warm curtain was lifted, and a voice as crisp as a silver vase shattering rang out: “Oh my, today everyone’s here in full force!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting below Wang Fu Ren was a modest, dignified young woman, wearing a snow-blue outer robe with bamboo-pattern embroidery and a single white jade hairpin in her hair; her features were delicate and unadorned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A handsome young man in a crimson riding jacket, wearing a purple-gold crown set with precious stones, joked with the girls, drawing from them tinkling, bell-like laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng laughed, “I’m just born to be busy—the fortune of the old ancestress’s wealth and comfort has rubbed off on me just enough to ease my fate of endless fussing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now outside, a man from the Jia Shun Prince’s mansion arrived—a seventh-rank attendant scholar—sent by the Prince to find Jia Cong…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu instinctively sat upright on her couch, her expression startled: “The Jia Shun Prince’s mansion! How could he possibly have any connection to the Jia Shun Prince?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others in the hall exchanged glances; though all came from wealthy noble families and had seen much, a reigning prince was still an immense figure in their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elders present—Wang Fu Ren, Xing Fu Ren, and others—knew full well that Jia Cong was of humble birth, branded with ill omen from birth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old ancestress had always despised this grandson; though she never abused him like Jia She and his wife, she ignored him completely, rarely seeing him even once a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she was paying attention—this matter was clearly unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu turned to Xing Fu Ren and asked, “You’re his mother—do you know why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Fu Ren was momentarily stunned—why would a prince come seeking that whore’s son?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Jia Mu asked her, Xing Fu Ren stammered, “This wretch has always been unruly and disrespectful. My husband and I have constantly scolded him, but he’s learned nothing good—how could he have stirred up trouble so severe that even a prince has come knocking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu, hearing her vague, incoherent reply, frowned: “So you don’t even know the reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng glanced at her mother-in-law, seeing her confused and misdirected answer, felt a flicker of contempt—why was she still trying to smear Jia Cong? Was that what the old ancestress wanted to hear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old ancestress, don’t worry—the man, though an official, spoke politely and properly, not like someone here to accuse him. He said he brought a letter from the Jia Shun Prince for Jia Cong, and must deliver it into his hands personally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prince sending a letter to a mere boy, still smelling of milk, and one of such lowly status as a bastard son—Jia Mu and Wang Fu Ren and others were all taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Tan Chun’s bright eyes flickered, as if she had connected something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her sat a frail, delicate girl, the most intelligent and spirited among them; sensing Tan Chun’s unusual expression, her clear, watery eyes kept studying her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu said, “Then send someone to call him—let him go meet the man himself. The Jia Shun Prince’s emissary must not be slighted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng replied, “I’ve already sent someone to call him—he left early this morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu frowned; she was old and experienced, a peerless duchess who annually entered the palace to pay homage to the Empress Dowager and Empress—her understanding of court power dynamics far surpassed anyone else in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew the Jia Shun Prince was the youngest and most favored son of the Retired Emperor, raised in his youth by the principal wife of the old Prince of Wu, yet the current Emperor still treated his younger brother with great affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jia Shun Prince was elegant and cultured, always disinterested in politics, devoted solely to scholarship and learning—a virtuous prince with an excellent reputation throughout court and countryside, holding an exceptionally noble status among the imperial clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a man, publicly and privately, could not be treated with the slightest disrespect. Since he had sent someone to the mansion with a message, proper etiquette must be observed—no room for criticism, so all would retain dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu glanced at the young man chatting with his sisters, then said, “Then send Lian’er to receive him—don’t let the courtesies fall short. Send several servants to find your brother—he’s wandering about everywhere on the New Year’s Eve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng smiled, “Today’s unlucky—Lian’er and the eldest master were called away by Brother Zhen of the Eastern Prefecture—they’re discussing the New Year banquet guest list. Last year’s invitations were too generous; this year they’ll be more careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu thought a moment and said, “We can’t leave him waiting—it would look bad. Since he’s an official, let Second Master Jia Zheng meet him, fulfill the proper courtesies, and find out what this is about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added, “When he’s found and the matter settled, bring him here—I want to speak with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wang Fu Ren remained calm; the younger boys and girls were curious—they mostly didn’t know the boy from the Eastern Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Tan Chun’s expression softened slightly; hearing that the Jia Shun Prince had sent a letter to Jia Cong, she thought of the Western Zhou melody hanging in her own room—she vaguely sensed a possible reason, though she wasn’t certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frail, flower-like girl beside her, with eyes that seemed neither happy nor sad, studied Tan Chun’s unusual expression, her curiosity deepening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xing Fu Ren, hearing Jia Mu wanted to summon Jia Cong for questioning, grew stiff-faced, deeply uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She most despised this low-born bastard son—partly because Jia She disliked him, and since she always fawned on her husband, she naturally followed his lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another reason: she believed that if not for this ill-omened spawn and his lowly mother, the old ancestress would never have turned against her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, her branch should have proudly occupied Rongguo Prefecture, not be crushed beneath the awkward Eastern Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1661,"2026-06-20T12:19:54.434Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1554c11b7be361746bcd8ce419b5e76a38713c1df862fcf2513f51b8606a47dd","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-9","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-7",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]