Dreams of Jianghu

Chapter 4 – Red Chamber (4)

Lin Yu Tong was taken aback. It appeared Lin Ru Hai was seriously ill. She hurriedly went over to support him and helped him to the couch.

Lin Yu Yang poured a cup of tea and handed it over. Lin Ru Hai took a few sips before recovering.

Just now, he had not felt it, but now he realized, no matter how weak and ill he was, he was an adult man. But just now, his eldest daughter supported him and did not expend any effort to help him walk. She was not just normally healthy. The Lin Family had difficulty having children, and they were all weak. Having two healthy children, he felt that even if he passed away, he would not be ashamed to meet the ancestors of the Lin Family.

“You sit.” Lin Ru Hai leaned against the cushions and instructed.

Lin Yu Tong and Lin Yu Yang sat down, looking at Lin Ru Hai and waiting for him to speak.

Lin Ru Hai nodded in satisfaction. While they had grown up outside, their manners were not bad.

“It was this father’s fault back then, for you and your mothers to have suffered so much outside. I know what you experienced these years. This father is full of shame……” When Lin Ru Hai spoke, he started to cough fiercely again.

Lin Yu Tong sighed and stood up to pat his back. “Do not hurry to speak. You can say it later when there is more time. Your health is most important.”

Lin Ru Hai grimaced. “This father just fears there is not enough time.” His voice was very soft but heavy.

Lin Ru Hai was just a stranger to Lin Yu Tong. In terms of feelings, she really had none for him. But she glanced at her brother and saw a hint of sadness flash through his eyes. She just knew that the child would not be able to let go.

It had always been the siblings depending on each other. In his life, there had never been a male elder to guide him. Now, he had his father. His father had also ranked third in the imperial examinations and was one who scholars looked up to. She thought, her brother must be very happy.

But now, the father they had just met was about to go away. While there was a lot of wealth, what was the use?

Elder Sister had said, she loved money, but money would never be all in life.

He thought, he now understood a bit of the meaning.

A thought flashed through Lin Yu Tong’s mind. She did not know whether the spring water from her pocket space would have any effect on Lin Ru Hai’s illness. The redologists ¹ of the future had many speculations on Lin Ru Hai’s death, but no one knew the truth.

Lin Yu Tong decided to try, even if it was just for her brother. Also, with Lin Ru Hai present, even if he retired from being an official, there would be an elder in the family. It was better than wasting energy and effect trying to protect the wealth they had.

She comforted, “Just rest and recover. Leave the rest to me. Brother was not in good health back when young, but I managed to take care of him. In the last two years, he did not even get a cold.”

Lin Ru Hai heard the tone and heard that it meant she did not plan to leave. He was overjoyed. “Child, this is your home. This father only has you three children, and does not bear for you to be lost outside. What happened back then…… Mistress has already passed away. A death is like a lamp going out, I do not want to pursue it further. It is fine to give the family matters to you to take charge.”²

Lin Yu Tong nodded. “Let’s not speak of this first. Just your health…… Starting today, I will take care of your food and rest. No one else can interfere. I do not trust anyone.”

Lin Ru Hai stilled and shock flashed through his eyes. “You suspect…… This father’s health is……”

“They say that your health declined because you lost your son and wife, and have no desire to live. But you have been an official for so many years, do you not even have this bit of endurance?” Lin Yu Tong’s smile turned chilly. “In this world, dying of age and sickness is normal. Also, you have a young daughter living under others in the capital. Ask yourself, is it because of the mistress’s death that you are in such pain, you do not want to live out of love? Or because you first became ill, and have no more energy? If this is because of the mistress, it is a stretch of an excuse. The mistress has passed for several years now. You dying for love now, isn’t it a joke?”

Before meeting Lin Ru Hai, Lin Yu Tong knew that he was not a person who was overly emotional. If he truly was in love with Jia Min, where did the concubines come from? Where did she and her brother come from? So Lin Ru Hai’s death could be because of anything except the so-called “death due to depression.”

Lin Ru Hai was shocked. He came up through the imperial examinations, he had studied hard in order to elevate his family and realize his ambitions. He would not be one to fall into despair because of a woman.

Who had spread these things? It was absurd.

He was ill in health. He just lamented about this branch of the Lin Family not having an heir. How did it turn into dying for love?

Also, the Lin Family members rarely had good health and great longevity. He did not have any thoughts about his own health.

He was experienced in politics, and he had such an important position as the Salt-control Censor. How could he not carefully deal with the schemes of others? He naturally would not use people he did not trust deeply around him. He knew people plotted against him, but he was confident that others would not succeed. This was why he never thought about the people around him.

But his eldest appeared and set off such a large bomb.

Who did the child suspect?

If someone really harmed him in his residence, it must have been done by people in the residence. People who were deeply rooted in the residence and able to reach his side, other than the people of the Lin Family, could only be the dowry of the Mistress.

Those dowry servants were from the Jia Family. The Jia Family and Jiangnan’s ZhenFamily were old relatives. ³

Mistress was gone now, and had not left behind a son. Her only daughter was living among the Jia Family. They would have less misgivings about acting.

Also, they definitely had motive. Some of his actions may have affected the interests of the Zhen Family.

In a moment, he thought a lot.

Footsteps came from outside the door. Then came the voice of Steward Lin. “Master, the courtyard has been tidied up.”

Lin Ru Hai refocused and said loudly, “Come in.”

Steward Lin saw that the masters all had grave expressions and stammered. “Master…… Master…… That’s……” He pointed outside. “The rooms for Eldest Miss and Young Master have been prepared.”

Lin Ru Hai nodded. He glanced at the siblings, kindness flashing through his eyes. “First go with Steward Lin and settle in.” Then he said to Steward Lin, “Starting today, Eldest Miss will be in charge of the matters of the inner courtyard. If there are outside matters, report to your Eldest Young Master. If no decision can be made, then come and ask me.”

Steward Lin acknowledged. When he looked up, the two young masters did not even bat an eyelid.

Lin Ru Hai saw this and nodded in satisfaction. “Eldest Miss will be in charge of everything in my courtyard. You will do as Eldest Miss says.”

Steward Lin was stunned this time.

Lin Yu Tong placed a pillow down for Lin Ru Hai. “Since Father says to listen to me, then listen to me. Right now, do not worry, just rest.”

Lin Ru Hai laid down, closing his eyes. He truly was tired. He really could not hold on after this little while.

Lin Yu Tong saw Lin Ru Hai settle down, she said to Steward Lin, “The people serving in this room must all be trustworthy.”

Steward Lin instantly understood something. His eyes went wide and he said, “Do not worry, my two sons will take shifts standing guard here for Master.”

“How old is your grandson this year?” Lin Yu Tong asked an unrelated question.

“One is ten, the other eight,” Steward Lin did not know what Eldest Miss was thinking of doing and said truthfully.

“Have your two grandsons be attendants for Yang-ge’er,”⁴. They can learn to read and write along with him. When they are let go in the future, they can be officials,” Lin Yu Tong promised.

Lin Yu Yang looked at Steward Lin and nodded, indicating he would recognize his sister’s promise.

Steward Lin immediately understood the young master was giving a boon so they would be loyal. If they did this, it meant that it was not clean around the master. He knelt down and said, “This old servant swears and does not dare to betray.”

“Stand up.” Lin Yu Tong held Steward Lin up. “Do not think too much. Father knows your loyalty.”

Lin Ru Hai heard this, and his worries were eased. If one knew how to use kindness and authority together, there was nothing to worry about.

Lin Yu Tong immediately started working. “Use a screen to block the bed from the outside. Do not burn incense in here. Each day, let the wind in for a quarter of an hour. You can place some fruits for fragrance. Do not use fresh flowers. Who knows which flowers are harmless?”

Steward Lin was stunned and hurriedly acknowledged.

“Also, send trusted people to other places to find famed physicians. No matter the price, invite them here. Right now, Jiangnan is the world of the Zhen Family. ⁵Do not use the physicians from before.” Lin Yu Tong ordered as she walked to the kitchen. “Also, if Father has any official messages coming in or out, books he likes, store them well. Have the physician examine them when they come, and see if anyone has done something to the paper.”

Steward Lin was frozen. How did this miss’ head grow? Why would she think of such things? He immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Lin Yu Tong sighed inside. If this was the case, and Lin Ru Hai still died, then it was fated.

Thinking that there were still many Jia Family people in the residence, Lin Yu Tong did not dare to let her brother live alone. She instructed, “Prepare two rooms in the courtyard. Yang-ge’er, and I have to stay here or we will worry. Other than us few people, do not allow anyone to come close.”

When Lin Ru Hai started to recover, she had to clean the residence.

Living on edge like this was not as free as living in the countryside.

It was the first time Lin Yu Yang knew that being an official was as dangerous as this. He felt that his sister had opened a brand-new door in his world.

The chefs and servants in the courtyard were all dismissed.

Lin Yu Tong was going to take care of the food for the three of them on her own. To her, this was not a hard thing.

So when Lin Ru Hai woke up, what he saw was the food that the daughter he had just recognized had made.

He had ate many delicacies, but none were as delicious as the four dishes, two meat, two vegetarian, and one soup.

This time, Lin Yu Tong really bled and had used the water from the center of the spring. She hoped that the effects would be better.

Translator Ramblings: People have built their entire careers on Dream of the Red Chamber, analyzing it, translating it, acting it. The 1987 version is said to be the definitive, and had taken over two years to produce. Part of it was the sheer detail and poetry which

The Zhen (homophone for truth) Family is said to be a mirror of the Jia (false) Family. In the story, the Zhen Family has produced one imperial consort in the previous generation and therefore holds great favor. They are on the rise compared to the Jia Family who are in decline even though they still hold a title.

Table of Contents

• Grafting Life Chapter 3 – Red Chamber (3)
• Grafting Life Chapter 4 – Red Chamber (4)
• Grafting Life Chapter 5 – Red Chamber (5)