In Dream of the Red Chamber, Daiyu and I Become Powerful Official Spouses

[One heroine + top scorer × frail Lin sister + mutual devotion + sweet romance]

My name is Gu Yanci, eldest son of the Gu family of Jinling. My father is a censor, an upright man who has offended many people at court. My mother has always been in poor health.

At eighteen, I placed third in the imperial examinations and joined the Hanlin Academy. Everyone says the young master of the Gu family has a bright future, but I know the official world is full of dangerous currents and holds little appeal for me. In my spare time, I like painting and collecting stones, and I help my father sort through old records.

Then one autumn, my mother said, “The Old Madam of the Jia family sent an invitation. You haven’t visited in ages. You should go see them.”

I knew what she meant. The Gu and Jia families have been connected for generations, and there is still a young cousin living in the Jia residence. My mother and that young lady’s mother, Aunt Jia Min, were once the closest of friends. I’d heard that Miss Lin Daiyu had lost both her parents and was staying with the Jia family.

I felt nothing in particular. There are so many unfortunate people in the world. What could I do about it?

But I never expected that after that visit, I would never be able to let her go.