Chapter Four: First Encounter with Lin

The visitor was none other than Yuanyang, the capable secretary by Grandmother Jia’s side. Shi Yi smiled at her as he entered the room.

He passed through the side hall, entered the partitioned area, and stepped into the warm chamber.

Looking up, he saw, seated on the couch at the center, an elderly lady with hair as silver as frost—Grandmother Jia herself. In her left arm, she held a delicate girl, undoubtedly Lin Daiyu.

The girl’s eyes brimmed with emotion, their joy tinged with sorrow; her cheeks bore the gentle imprint of melancholy, her frail frame cloaked in the air of illness—yet even her sickly grace outshone that of Xi Shi. She sat with bashful charm, her every gesture radiating the tender loveliness of youth. Her face, fair and tender, was tinged with rosy shyness, embodying the demure beauty of a young maiden.

Daiyu, too, was quietly observing Shi Yi. Finding his features handsome and his gaze clear, she felt a vague sense of familiarity, and her heart stirred with a sudden, inexplicable emotion, causing her to lower her eyes in thoughtful anxiety.

To Grandmother Jia’s right stood a dazzlingly beautiful woman, her attire resplendent with embroidered colors. Her jet-black hair was drawn up into a peach-shaped chignon, held in place by ornate hairpins; her willow-leaf brows arched gracefully above almond-shaped eyes accented with a hint of red. Her gaze was alluring, her lips alluring as cherries, her figure both elegant and seductive—she seemed like a goddess descended to keep the old lady company.

Shi Yi immediately recognized her from memory—who else could she be but Wang Xifeng?

On the other side stood Li Wan, dressed in a sky-blue jacket and a dark blue pleated skirt, a gentle smile on her face.

Two rows of seats lined the room. To the left sat Lady Xing and Lady Wang; to the right, in three matching outfits, sat Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun—three exquisite girls arranged in a row.

Each wore a pleasant smile as they rose to greet him. “Brother Yi!” Three melodious voices sounded in unison.

Shi Yi withdrew his gaze and returned their greeting with a cupped-fist salute. “Heh, greetings to my three little sisters.”

He then stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Your junior pays respects to Grandmother, and to my two aunts.”

“Aunts?” Daiyu blinked her bright, clear eyes in sudden realization, then shyly lowered her head, quickly covering her face with an embroidered handkerchief.

Grandmother Jia nodded, smiling at Shi Yi. “You rascal, what brings you here today? Wasn’t your father confining you to your quarters just the other day?”

Shi Yi scratched his head in embarrassment. There was a long story behind it, but he thought it better left unsaid.

He rubbed his nose and changed the subject, smiling. “Heh, of course I’ve come to see Grandmother! If I go even a day without paying my respects, my heart feels uneasy, my whole body restless—as if a thousand ants were biting me all over.”

Pfft!

This humorous metaphor made the three sisters—Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun—burst into giggles, unable to suppress their laughter.

Grandmother Jia, delighted by his sweet words, beamed with pleasure.

Wang Xifeng gave him an appraising glance, teasing, “Brother Yi, you haven’t lost your tongue after a month’s absence! Tell me, during your confinement, how many scriptures did you copy, how much of the Analects did you memorize?”

She sauntered over, swaying gracefully, and deliberately looked him up and down.

A delicate fragrance wafted over, making Shi Yi’s heart flutter as his gaze briefly flicked across the beautiful woman before him.

He took a step aside and addressed Grandmother Jia, “Grandmother, look—Second Sister-in-law Lian is poking fun at me! What’s so special about the Four Books and Five Classics? They’re easy enough to handle. A real man should aspire to greater things.”

He recalled that his relationship with Xifeng had always been rather friendly, so he responded without reservation.

Wang Xifeng laughed heartily, her bright eyes twinkling. “Don’t blame me for poking fun, Brother Yi. I dare say you still recognize fewer characters than I do! Why, just last month when Second Master was teaching you math, didn’t you sneak off to ask Ping’er for help?”

“Er... Did I really do something so embarrassing? Asking for help with arithmetic!” Shi Yi was dumbfounded, momentarily speechless—mainly because he’d sought help from the wrong person.

Pfft!

The women burst into laughter at his blustering being so easily exposed, the warm chamber ringing with their mirth.

Grandmother Jia pointed at Shi Yi, laughing. “No wonder you slipped away without a word last time—so that’s the story!”

Shi Yi stopped protesting, scratching his head in embarrassment. “Grandmother, please stop teasing me, I do care about my reputation.”

“All right, all right, I won’t tease you anymore.”

With gentle affection, Grandmother Jia beckoned him over. “Good child, come here and greet your cousin Lin.”

Composing himself, Shi Yi glanced at the girl and stepped forward with a smile. “Cousin Lin, do you still remember me?”

Confronted with the familiar face of a handsome young man, how could she not? Daiyu’s cheeks flushed crimson, her head bowed, twisting her handkerchief nervously—unsure how to reply.

The old lady patted her hand lightly and turned to Shi Yi, half-chiding, “Don’t frighten your cousin. It’s her first day here—how could she possibly know you?”

“Heh.” Shi Yi grinned. “Grandmother, I happened to meet Cousin Lin’s sedan chair on the road earlier and greeted her. Though this is the first time I’m seeing her face to face, she seemed so familiar to me, as if we’d met somewhere before!”

Pfft! At this, the three sisters again covered their mouths, unable to hold back their laughter.

Tanchun, her bright eyes wide, teased, “Brother Yi, you’re funny indeed! How could you have seen Cousin Lin beforehand, unless it was in a dream—?”

“Yes, in a dream!” Shi Yi shamelessly played along.

At this, the whole room erupted in laughter.

Daiyu’s face turned scarlet, and she shrank into her grandmother’s embrace, too shy to look up.

Grandmother Jia laughed merrily, pointing at Shi Yi. “You little scamp, always talking nonsense!”

After the laughter subsided, she introduced him gently, “He’s your third cousin, Shi Yi, a few years your senior, and the most mischievous of the lot—he doesn’t much care for reading.”

Daiyu rose and offered a graceful curtsy, lowering her eyes and, like the three sisters, quietly addressed him as “Brother Yi.”

Shi Yi returned her greeting with a smile, “Cousin Lin.”

Grandmother Jia, ever kind, said, “Now that you’re here, stay for a few days. Once Baoyu returns from fulfilling his vow at the temple, the three of you can keep this old lady company.”

Shi Yi was more than willing, replying with a smile, “I would ask for nothing better! If I could, I’d be happy to keep Grandmother company every day.”

Grandmother Jia laughed, pointing at him. “You and your glib tongue—you always know how to cheer me up.”

Everyone smiled in response, while Shi Yi touched his nose, a hint of envy passing through his thoughts. “In the end, I can never compare to her precious treasure Baoyu, who only needs to be by her side to make her utterly happy.”

After that, he naturally remained in Grandmother Jia’s chambers, occasionally chatting with Daiyu.

A little while later, once the tea and refreshments had been enjoyed, Grandmother Jia instructed two old nurses to take Daiyu to meet her two uncles, with Lady Xing rising to accompany her as well.

As Daiyu left, Shi Yi shrugged and walked out of the Hall of Glorious Celebration. But just as he stepped over the threshold, he ran into a familiar face.

Under the corridor’s eaves approached a girl dressed in gold and silver, her beauty like the moon among flowers. She wore a silver cloak patterned with the nobleman’s motif, its narrow sleeves draped elegantly, beneath which peeked a white jacket with raised collar, and over it all, a dark green pleated skirt. She came forward, head slightly lowered, her steps graceful and light.

Shi Yi’s lips curled with amusement. He moved to block her path, teasing, “Sister Ping’er, where are you hurrying off to?” though he already knew the answer.

Ping’er, gentle by nature, gazed at him with surprise but did not take offense. She played along, smiling, “Master Yi, what a coincidence! Second Master was just looking for you.”

“Jia Zheng wants to see me?” Shi Yi froze, instantly sensing trouble, and dashed away.

He knew all too well that every time he visited Rongguo Mansion, Jia Zheng would always find some excuse to summon him for a lecture or a reading, reciting the classics like the monk’s tightening spell—a torment beyond words.

Ping’er glanced back, laughter in her beautiful eyes, before lifting the curtain and disappearing into the room.

“Wait—Jia Zheng should be meeting Daiyu right now!” Shi Yi had run several steps before realizing he’d been tricked. Looking back, he saw not a trace of Ping’er.

He plopped down on a beauty couch under the corridor, muttering, “That little fox! One day, I’ll have you.”

Over the past month, he’d made many plans. Since he’d been transported into the world of “The Dream of Red Mansions,” he might as well adapt to his circumstances. The most important thing was to win the hearts of these dazzling Golden Lotus girls.

As for that father of his, Shi Ding, who was always urging him to study for the imperial exams—he could forget about it. He just didn’t have the mind for it.

After a month confined at home with books, he hadn’t remembered a thing. With no talent for scholarship, it would be better to pursue the martial exams—more direct, and much easier.

His sturdy physique was a blessing; just the other day, he’d discovered he could lift a three-hundred-pound stone lock with his bare arms!

That alone had cemented his resolve to aim for the military exams.