[{"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-882":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},2311680,4515,"Chapter 882: The Hidden Meaning Behind the Hairpin","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-882",882,"\u003Cp>Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng, upon hearing Jia Mu’s words, was momentarily startled; she came from a prominent clan and married into the Duke family’s opulent household, having lived a life of luxury for half her years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her daily attire always favored extravagance; she had seen so many exquisite, lavish ornaments that what others deemed fine objects, she often took for granted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, Miss Xu’s attire was elegant and striking, her bearing outstanding, yet she wore a Hu robe—utterly unlike the usual daughters of refined households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Wang Xifeng had concluded the girl likely came from an ordinary family; she had merely glanced at her attire and jewelry and paid it little mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet hearing Jia Mu take note of a single gold hairpin studded with pearls, she was somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she knew the old lady was born into nobility, had seen countless treasures in her youth, and anything she noticed must be extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she herself had seen many fine things, she was still young; a momentary oversight was not surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng recalled Miss Xu’s gold hairpin; she vaguely remembered its design was simple, yet the craftsmanship seemed remarkably refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hairpin’s tip held a pearl the size of a thumb, strikingly brilliant—but even so, why would the old lady take notice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady had once been the eldest daughter of the Baoling Marquis, and had spent her life as a Duke’s lady; she had seen countless fine objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu said: “That gold hairpin on her head is no ordinary piece; it’s set with a top-grade Eastern pearl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We often see fine Eastern pearls, usually pure white, but hers glowed faintly golden, harmonizing perfectly with the gold of the hairpin—a truly exceptional treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, when I drew her close to speak, I examined it more closely: the hairpin is intricately carved with openwork, engraved with golden phoenix patterns, and inlaid with blue gems at five or six points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng smiled: “If it’s such a fine thing, it must have been given to her by Cong brother—he’s the one who knows best how to please young ladies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu laughed: “Cong Er has received imperial gifts before, but they were all golden wine and writing brushes—nothing suitable for a woman’s adornment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong Er could never have given her such an item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue inlays on this hairpin are masterwork craftsmanship—requiring live kingfisher feathers, extracted with secret methods and inlaid and heated onto gold. Common artisans lack such skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the imperial workshops can produce such pieces; this type of hairpin is called the Phoenix-Pattern Inlaid-Blue Pearl Hairpin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long ago, when I visited the palace to pay homage, I saw such pieces—used by a few imperial consorts of the previous generation, though the years have blurred my memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Miss Xu’s family is now ordinary, she wears a Phoenix-Pattern Inlaid-Blue Pearl Hairpin—it must be an heirloom passed down from her ancestors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No guesswork is needed: her family’s forebears once received imperial gifts, and clearly once held great prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t that what the operas sing? ‘Swallows once flew above the halls of Wang and Xie, now flutter into common homes.’ Every family rises and falls—it’s nothing unusual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Miss Xu looks like a delicate beauty, but I’ve heard from Er Niang several times—she’s skilled in martial arts, fought alongside Cong Er on the Liaodong battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A typical refined maiden would never possess such courage or background; a minor household could never raise such a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in our two households can accompany Cong Er into battle, but as elders, we can still help him win hearts and minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She accompanies him on campaign, aiding him inside and out; if she helps him earn merit, she gains the Jia family’s honor and fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xifeng suddenly understood: the old lady had seen many outstanding young women, and though Miss Xu was striking, she had no formal tie to Cong San.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the old lady treated her with such warmth, pulling her close even on their first meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even gave her a top-grade bracelet as a greeting gift—clearly she had a plan all along; the old are wiser than they seem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought the old lady was being generous today—she saw through Miss Xu’s true origins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong San really knows how to attract women—wherever did he dig up such a one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bojue Prefecture, Jia Cong’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ai Li returned with Jia Cong to the Eastern Prefecture, changed into male attire, donned soft armor and riding boots, strapped a saber at her waist, and donned a plumed helmet—dashing and spirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women face many inconveniences on campaign; dressed as a man, she could move freely—this attire made her indistinguishable from a personal guard, ensuring she wouldn’t draw attention following Jia Cong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their luggage was carried out by maidservants, handed over by courtyard servants to the personal guards at the eastern gate, who loaded it onto carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingchun and the other sisters gathered in Jia Cong’s courtyard, each weighed down by somber thoughts; the merriment of yesterday’s farewell banquet had vanished as if by magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daiyu knew sorrow was inappropriate before departure; her eyes were slightly red, yet she refused to show it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recalled how last time, when Third Brother went to Liaodong, he faced a Jurchen invasion and didn’t return for half a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, they say even more Mongol barbarians have come—more formidable than the Jurchens; how much longer will Third Brother be gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’s away for a year or two, when will they meet again? The thought brought a pang to her heart; even when Jia Cong spoke to her, she was distracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yingchun, though reluctant to part with her brother, knew Jia Cong was the pillar of both households; a man’s glory lies in distant campaigns—this was the fate of a martial noble family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much she longed to hold him back, she dared not show it, lest it sadden him before departure and burden him with worry on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanchun, ever ambitious beyond the boudoir, yearned for the wide world; Shi Xiangyun’s bold, spirited nature refused to drown in sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their hearts ached with longing, they knew it was inevitable—Jia Cong was not Baoyu; he could never be confined to the home forever; a man’s glory lies beyond the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What gnawed at them was only this: as daughters of the inner chambers, they were doomed to remain trapped in deep courtyards, unable to ride beside him across the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, seeing Ai Li, dressed as a man, helmeted, armored, saber at her waist, so dashing and spirited, they felt deep envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both drew close to speak with Ai Li, curious about everything she did, their words brimming with admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai’s heart overflowed with parting sorrow, but as a cousin from the maternal side, with Yingchun, Daiyu, and others present, she naturally held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born into an imperial merchant clan, she understood the outer world better than Daiyu and the other official families’ daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cong brother is commander of an army, accompanied by tens of thousands of troops; as long as no major disaster strikes, his journey will be safe—he need not be overly worried about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet last time he went to Liaodong, he returned ennobled as the Weiyuan Bo, and even received an imperial marriage gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, going to war again, with his exceptional talent, he will surely earn further merit—what new heights await him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai thought of this, her heart torn between joy and sorrow, her thoughts as aimless as willow fluff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her own feelings were hard to voice; even her mother, though fully aware, had carefully avoided the subject these past year—perhaps deeming it too ethereal…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the sisters, only Xing Xiuyan felt at peace; though she longed for Jia Cong, she had resolved to wait quietly for his return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had quietly slipped her newly made incense pouch into Jia Cong’s hand…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As each felt their own parting sorrow, the head steward of the outer courtyard delivered word: a guest had arrived to see the Bo off on his campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, Jia Cong had paid formal court to Emperor Jiazhao to bid farewell; at his age and rank, being entrusted with command of an entire army was a mark of imperial favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, his departure today was no secret—it spread quickly through official circles, and it was natural for colleagues to come to see him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong went to the main hall of the outer courtyard and found five or six guests already seated—close friends and fellow officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One middle-aged eunuch had a clean, dignified face, wore a green brocade fish-pattern robe, and a black gauze mountain cap, his bearing calm and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Wang Dong, chief eunuch of the Kangshun Prince’s household; when Jia Cong first rose to prominence at the Nanxi Literary Gathering, he had forged a bond with the Kangshun Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, he had maintained ties with the Kangshun Prince—the only noble of the imperial clan Jia Cong had truly befriended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when he investigated the great case at the Jinling Water Surveillance Office and had ties with Prince Ning Li Zhongrui, their relationship was merely superficial, far less intimate than with the Kangshun Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time Jia Cong achieved success, the Kangshun Prince, bound by status and caution, could not visit in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he always sent his trusted eunuch Wang Dong—each gesture, though indirect, was deeply sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dong had visited the Jia household many times, knew both Eastern and Western Prefectures well, and showed Jia Cong no unnecessary formalities, merely offering warm words of safe journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also presented a fitting gift: a gilded silver-mounted saddle, exquisitely ornate—perfect for a general setting out on campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After delivering the Kangshun Prince’s gift, Wang Dong made no further pleasantries, rose with a smile to take his leave, and Jia Cong escorted him all the way to the hall’s entrance before returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed two close friends among the guests: Liu Xiao, now chief registrar of the Honglu Temple, and Cui An, a scholar awaiting the spring imperial examinations in Shijing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both waved cheerfully at Jia Cong, urging him to attend to the other guests first; as former classmates, no excessive formalities were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiao, now in officialdom, noticed that two of the visitors held notably high status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Li Congmian, a fifth-rank Hanlin Academy Reader, a man of considerable reputation in Shijing’s scholarly circles—his rank in the Hanlin was second only to Ge Hongzheng and Jia Cong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other, dressed in fifth-rank official robes, was a stranger, yet held a chief post in one of the Six Ministries—his background was no minor one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong knew this fifth-rank official was from the Ministry of Works: Hu Antai, Director of the Tuntian Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a trusted aide of Minister of Works Li Dekang, and Jia Cong’s actual colleague within the same ministry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Congmian and Hu Antai shared the same intent: they came not only as colleagues and friends, but as representatives of the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Works.\u003C\u002Fp>",1858,"2026-06-20T12:19:58.587Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b5172dcd731417e788f53895ab267b66cd25e60fe528f7d072ac5ec0916b927e","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-883","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-881",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]