[{"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-886":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},2311684,4515,"Chapter 886","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-886",886,"\u003Cp>Rongguo Mansion, Lixiang Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn, the sky was bright, still cold outside, but the weather was clear, though the sun had not yet risen high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slanting sunlight bathed the courtyard, gilding every house and tree with gold, casting mottled, overlapping shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main hall, a firepot burned silver frost charcoal, glowing red-hot, warming the room thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima sat by the desk, reviewing the account books sent from Jin Ling, all checked by Baochai, with detailed annotations noting every complex or questionable entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she reread them, everything became crystal clear; she felt both joy and sorrow—her two children were worlds apart, as if each had been born into the wrong gender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half-used red silk curtains hung before the door leading from the hall to the inner chamber, where Baochai sat on the kang, sewing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her glossy black hair was coiled into a bun, she wore a honey-colored cotton jacket, a rose-gold thread vest, and a light green silk embroidered cotton skirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A peony branch hairpin adorned her head, a pale blue palace flower tucked beside her temple, complementing her icy skin and snow-white complexion, her delicate features radiant and dazzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xue household, raised in wealth since childhood, she once owned countless garments and ornaments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, living in quiet ease, Baochai had lost all interest in adornment; her clothes were all half-new, half-old, lacking luxury, yet exuding quiet elegance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she wished to adorn herself for the one who delighted her, that person was now away on campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how finely she dressed, it was like plucking a flower with no one to see it—she had no one to show it to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she worked her needle and thread, footsteps sounded in the outer hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were brisk and loud—not the light tread of a maid, but surely her brother Xue Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She found it odd: during the year-end and New Year period, her brother usually went out socializing, rarely staying home quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet these past two days were strange—he had stayed home the whole time, which was unusual, though Baochai had not asked why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted the curtain and stepped out, finding her mother still poring over the account books, while Xue Pan sat beside her, looking bored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid Tong Xi served him tea; he took the cup, drank, waved her away, his face full of listlessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai smiled: “Since the New Year, Brother goes out every day to meet friends. Today you’re finally idle, staying home with me and Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima said: “He’s not just idle today—yesterday he stayed home all day too. It’s as if the sun rose in the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You were too preoccupied seeing off Cong-ge to notice him. If he stayed home like this every day, I’d truly rest easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Pan grumbled: “Mother, what nonsense you speak. I go out to make friends, not to commit crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would staying home be peaceful? I’m not that foolish Bao Yu who just lounges indoors all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s long had a rotten reputation—no one pays him any mind when he goes out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used to be the king of the house; now he’s nothing at all, just a side door in the Eastern Courtyard—he’s worse off than I am now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima scolded with a laugh: “I only told you to behave yourself, and you unleash a flood of nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like comparing apples to oranges—why drag Bao Yu into this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Pan laughed: “I’m living off his downfall now. I once thought myself useless, but since Bao Yu was humiliated by the Clan Office,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I realized I’m not so wasteful after all—I’m far more respectable than he is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he can’t even live in the Western Courtyard, yet I still live comfortably—I’m far better off than he is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just can’t understand how he still thinks so highly of himself after falling so low. He’s shameless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday I heard the servants gossiping: Bao Yu publicly blabbed in Rongqing Hall, calling the students of the Imperial Academy unfilial and rebellious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really dares say that. Though I’m wasteful, I’d never dare insult scholars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scholars are dangerous. Don’t look down on them now—they may be poor, but one day they’ll pass the exams and come back to ruin you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget the distant past—just look at Cong-ge from the Eastern Courtyard. When we first arrived, he was just a scholar candidate, quiet and unnoticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few years later, his standing has grown terrifyingly strong. I’d love to befriend scholars, but I can’t find a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Bao Yu, that fool, dares to insult scholars as disloyal and unfilial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard his uncle flew into a rage, slapped him hard across the face—so loud it echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Yu’s face is still bruised and swollen, they say he looks like a painted clown. Too bad I didn’t get to see it. What a pity. What a pity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai found her brother’s words amusing and smiled, but didn’t reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Bao Yu had made reckless remarks in front of his uncle, trying to show off—and ended up humiliated in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai and the other girls had already left the hall and hadn’t seen it firsthand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shi Xiangyun had sneaked back to eavesdrop, then rushed back and blabbed it all like a gossiping sparrow—so all the girls knew of Bao Yu’s disgrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one took it seriously. Bao Yu’s absurd remarks were nothing new; they’d heard them many times before, and treated them as household gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Tan Chun was numb to it; Ying Chun, Daiyu, and the others just heard and forgot, too lazy to even comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima laughed and scolded: “You’ve been home two days and already think you’re something special? People would laugh themselves sick if they heard you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You go out causing trouble; Bao Yu causes trouble staying home. Don’t talk about the pot calling the kettle black—you’re both the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Pan laughed: “You flatter me too much. How could I ever be on the same level as Bao Yu? When I drink with friends and get drunk, I just yell at the servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Bao Yu? He dares insult palace nobles and scholar-officials alike, acting like he’s the only one who matters in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My closest friends are all scions of noble families—they know exactly how things work in aristocratic circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say if not for the great virtue of the Rongguo ancestors, and if not for Cong-ge holding up both households now, Bao Yu would’ve been picked apart long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother, you speak ill luck. No matter how useless I am, I’d never dare compare myself to that fool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xue Yima first spoke of Bao Yu, he was the rare child born with a jade in his mouth, the legitimate heir of Rongguo Mansion, her own sister’s son, strikingly handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after living in the Jia household so long, nothing could be hidden. Not only had Cong-ge risen unexpectedly, completely overshadowing Bao Yu,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but in just this past year, Bao Yu had caused countless scandals—gossiping, stirring trouble, behaving absurdly in every way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, he was a duke’s grandson, born into wealth and power, yet showed not the slightest responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, his reputation had been ruined by the Clan Office—he’d never rise again, doomed to idle away his life at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when her son criticized Bao Yu, she’d scold and stop him. Now, she simply looked down on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone and words no longer bothered her; even his flippant remarks seemed sensible to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Jin Ling business was tied to Xinchun Company, and with her brother Xue Yuan helping manage affairs, the Xue family’s main branch had grown steadily secure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima was now content, her only worry being her son Xue Pan—she only hoped he’d behave, avoid trouble, and everything would be fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Bao Yu was worthless, he had one virtue: he loved staying home. Even when he caused scandals, they rarely led to real trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If her own son had that virtue—staying home every day—Xue Yima would be perfectly satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he’d stayed home two days, she feared he’d grow bored and go out wandering again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she found small talk to keep him engaged, hoping to ease his boredom and keep him settled at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled: “You always say your noble friends are your closest companions. Why haven’t they come to see you lately?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard the old lady say the officials’ ten-day holiday ends after the Lantern Festival—could they be returning to duty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Pan knew his mother never spoke of such topics—she thought his friends were all drunkards and swine, and wished he’d avoid them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, unusually, she was asking about his friends—he immediately grew enthusiastic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned: “Mother, you don’t understand. My friends aren’t ordinary—they’re famous scions from the finest families of the Divine Capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Feng Ziying, son of the Shenwu General; Wei Ruolan, son of the Xiangcheng Marquis; Chen Ruichang, second grandson of the Qi Duke—there are many others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are my real friends, not just drinking companions. They hold official posts, and each has great insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They haven’t been going out these days not because of official duties or because they’re ignoring me, but because the noble families are facing a major event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So everyone is being cautious, telling their sons to behave and avoid going out, lest they get entangled in trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baochai, hearing that noble families faced a major event, immediately thought of Jia Cong—his status was high, one of the top scions of the Divine Capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the Mongol Yuan’s southern invasion, she’d never heard him mention any other major event that would make noble youths afraid to go out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima didn’t have Baochai’s subtlety; she didn’t care much about noble affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing her son’s interest, she didn’t want to dampen it—she naturally followed his lead, encouraging him to keep talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, he’d realize even at home, he had someone to talk to, and wouldn’t feel too bored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled: “Your sister and I never step outside—how would we know about such big events? Tell us, let us hear something new.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Yima was just coaxing her son to talk, but Baochai genuinely wondered—her bright eyes fixed on her brother, waiting for his answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Pan noticed his mother and sister were unusually interested in his outside antics—he felt proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spotted the maid Tong Xi, sitting in the corner of the hall, sewing shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said boastfully: “Tong Xi, bring me another cup of tea. Let me moisten my throat—I’ll tell Mother and Sister everything properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1788,"2026-06-20T12:19:58.587Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d163c7d794e9f8fa943cc73887cb0d0de3588e3f190bdb8500d8863d5f9535d5","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-887","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-885",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]