1. Prologue
In early autumn, Yangzhou's river breeze blew softly, carrying a faint chill and the sound of water lapping against the boat's sides. Dawn was just breaking on the horizon, and mist veiled the docks of Yangzhou as ripples shimmered across the river. Lin Daiyu stood aboard an official vessel at the riverbank, her eyes swollen and red as she gazed into the distance, reluctant to leave. Tears silently slid down her cheeks. She could not bear to part from her father. Her younger brother was gone, and her mother had recently died. Now she had to make the journey to the capital alone, to seek refuge with her maternal family. She did not know what awaited her there, and her heart was filled with apprehension. 2. First Dream: Entering the Dream of the Red Chamber
