[{"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-866":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},2311664,4515,"Chapter 866: The Tender Heart Revealed","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-866",866,"\u003Cp>Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanyang saw Wang Xifeng enter the hall, took a set of imperial kiln white-glazed covered bowl, poured steaming hot Laojunmei tea, and presented it on a tray to Wang Xifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled: “Second Mistress, this is newly brewed Laojunmei—everyone’s had some; you should try a cup.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng laughed as she took it and drank, praising it repeatedly as excellent tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wang watched, displeased: now everyone shifted with the wind, even Yuanyang had grown increasingly disrespectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, the tea she served for herself and Baoyu was brought over by a young maid, yet Xifeng, a junior, received it personally from her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the second branch moved to the eastern courtyard, the Master is still the Old Lady’s own son and raised Cong-ge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone has turned arrogant overnight; the Western Mansion is falling apart, and the Old Lady is growing senile, refusing to rein in Xifeng’s reckless behavior…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu, hearing Wang Xifeng’s words, laughed: “So there’s more to it? But Cong-ge being summoned to court is nothing unusual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re just waiting for news—let them wait here too; the Lantern Festival is coming soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was just about to ask Second Girl: how is the Eastern Mansion preparing? The fifteenth of the first month is a major occasion; the family should truly enjoy themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baoyu, hearing Jia Cong had been summoned to court and that the Old Lady spoke of it as routine, felt deeply unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt everyone in this household had sunk into decay, speaking only of corrupt officials and imperial servitude—all tainted by Jia Cong alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he heard Jia Mu say they’d celebrate the Lantern Festival, his gloom lifted slightly; at least these people were finally speaking sense…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng smiled: “Whatever the Old Lady thinks of, I thought of days ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The banquet, lanterns, fireworks, opera troupe, and female storytellers—I’ve already arranged them all. The Old Lady just needs to sit back and enjoy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu, delighted, said: “Yuanyang, go to the Eastern Mansion and tell Second Girl, Lin Yatou, and the others to come over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re just waiting at home for news—here is just as good. When Cong-ge returns, invite him over too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to hear what’s new—why was he urgently summoned to court, and what new post has he been given?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanyang, having received Jia Mu’s orders, went to the Eastern Mansion to deliver the message. Baoyu, hearing his sisters were coming, felt joy rise—he instantly forgot his earlier bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only half a cup of tea passed before Yuanyang returned with Yingchun, Daiyu, Tanchun, Baochai, and Xichun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu hurriedly urged the granddaughters to sit; Baoyu beamed with delight—but most of the sisters ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiangyun used to chat with Baoyu, but since he’d rebuked her last time, she still held a grudge; now she merely rolled her eyes at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu noticed, of course, but such childish squabbles meant nothing to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled at Yingchun: “Second Girl, the Lantern Festival is near—Xifeng has already arranged the banquet and opera troupe in the Western Mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now you manage the Eastern Mansion—have you prepared everything for the New Year’s celebration? Festivals must be lively and joyful to bring good fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Jia Cong had been suddenly summoned to court, he’d mentioned a few words to Tanchun before leaving; the sisters all guessed his summons related to military command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingchun was deeply anxious about this—though Jia Cong had not led troops for the first time, last time in Liaodong he had crushed the Jurchens and returned unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But war is perilous—no victory is guaranteed—and now, in her dread, how could she care about festivities?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingchun said: “Grandmother, the Eastern Mansion has prepared lanterns and banquets for the Lantern Festival, but no opera troupe yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We hired one before New Year’s Eve; the sisters watched for several days. Then, suddenly, war broke out in the north—the Mongols breached the pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The court grew tense. Cong-di said the state is at war; military families should not be staging operas—it would look improper to outsiders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we dismissed the troupe. Now that Cong-di was summoned abruptly to court, I suspect it’s tied to his deployment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, we should not hire an opera troupe for the Lantern Festival—keep things quiet and clean; it’s a good omen for Cong-di.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu, hearing this, paused, startled—Yingchun’s words made sense, but she always favored merriment; a quiet Lantern Festival felt dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baoyu, hearing Yingchun speak only of Jia Cong, caring for him in every detail, felt a surge of bitter resentment—why had no sister ever shown him such devotion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yingchun was Jia Cong’s own sister, and her affection for him was natural, Baoyu still felt stung and unjustly slighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Jia Mu’s expression darken slightly at Yingchun’s words—he brightened inwardly: the Old Lady, too, was uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baoyu knew Jia Mu’s nature well—she shared his temperament: both disliked restraint, despised talk of corrupt officials, and loved opera and refined pleasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baoyu felt a sudden confidence: Yingchun was still too young, these past two years corrupted by Jia Cong—it’s no wonder she thinks this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingchun may be clever, but she’s too partial; she lacks the Old Lady’s wisdom and poise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fueled by this strange confidence, Baoyu felt the urge to show off—now that all the sisters were gathered, he must make them see his superior insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled: “Second Sister speaks sense, but she’s too rigid. Warfare and slaughter are for soldiers and generals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re bored, craving glory, rushing to earn merit, eager to shine before others—none of it concerns us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their karma is their own; they shouldn’t dictate others’ pleasures. Each person should mind their own affairs—keep ourselves pure and clean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they want to go to war, let them go—why deny others joy? That’s absurd, tyrannical, utterly lacking in peace and elegance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So our family, close kin, shut our doors and enjoy opera and song—it harms no one. As long as we’re happy, that’s all that matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Baoyu felt smug, convinced his insight was truly transcendent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since moving back to the Eastern Courtyard, his father Jia Zheng had tormented him constantly—summoning him for lectures, testing his studies, posing questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, Jia Huan, that corrupt official-worshipper, had become obsessed with poetry and the imperial exams, memorizing every stale Confucian text, flaunting it before the Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made the Master scold Baoyu for not studying hard—Baoyu felt life unbearable, forced to retreat to his room and weep helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, without the Old Lady’s protection in the Eastern Courtyard, he could only endure his misery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his inner torment, besides indulging in romantic novels, he’d taken to reading the Nan Hua Jing, Laozi, and Zhuangzi to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d gained vague, half-understood insights that pleased him deeply—he believed himself born with innate wisdom, having grasped profound truths, and grew self-satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, resenting Yingchun’s favoritism toward Jia Cong, he seized the chance to show off, twisting meaning and forcing his views.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Baoyu was intoxicated by his own detached, unworldly spirit—certain he’d risen above dust and noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu and Lady Wang, hearing Baoyu’s circular nonsense, grew confused and alarmed—no one had provoked him, so why was he suddenly speaking madness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yingchun and the others, well-read and cultured, instantly recognized his pretentiousness and felt deep resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingchun, usually gentle, now frowned slightly—but her nature kept her from rebuking him outright, especially before the Old Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daiyu couldn’t help a sharp huff, deeply displeased; she turned her head slightly, refusing to engage him, lest he drag her into his nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanchun, hearing Baoyu’s words, frowned, her face turning pale with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This second brother always twisted meanings, picked up scraps of book learning, and spun absurd theories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could ramble all he wanted—but why use these foolish words to mock Third Brother? Did he think this would win the sisters’ favor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needn’t love books, but he should at least be sensible, or he’d be looked down upon—yet he remained self-deluded, speaking so foolishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His constant behavior would only drive the sisters further away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not understand? Third Brother’s virtues are beyond his reach—no amount of twisted words could diminish them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanchun had once, out of blood ties, held a sliver of loyalty toward Baoyu, hoping he’d reconcile with the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing his unchanging ways, his deep corruption, beyond redemption, she grew ever more disappointed in this elder brother…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai, well-read in Buddhist and Daoist texts, understood Baoyu’s meaning and felt profound disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baoyu was a military scion; the Rong family’s tradition was to serve the state, defend the land, protect the people—generation after generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong-di is a Hanlin Academician, a current military noble, favored by the Emperor—his departure to war is a noble act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baoyu, having read a few superficial Daoist and Chan phrases, twists them to mock state affairs, ignorant of heaven’s height and earth’s depth—truly revolting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xichun, still young, with little reading or experience, could not grasp the meaning behind Baoyu’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>",1507,"2026-06-20T12:19:58.587Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6e7a16cfb10be93f0a16601081fd82b44afa4c568613c318af05712287bc7153","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-867","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-865",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]