[Dream of the Red Chamber] The Cast-Off Wife's Wonderful Life

After finally passing the civil service exam and landing a government job, single mother He Xiaoxiao planned to sleep for three days straight. Who knew she'd suddenly transmigrate, only to open her eyes as Wang Xifeng of the Rongguo Mansion, miscarrying and on the verge of death?!

Dozens of masters above and below her expected her careful service,

while hundreds of big and small matters inside and out awaited her judgment every day.

After pretending to be dead for three days, the newly appointed Second Madam Lian finally came around.

Life is a play, and it all comes down to acting.

She might not get to choose which troupe she performed with, but she could still choose what role to play.

Wang Xifeng, whose fate was to obey, submit, then die? Whoever wants the role can have it.

All she wanted was to flee with her daughter and happily raise her as a single mother. Of course, wealth and power would be ideal, but a modest fortune would do.

Jia Lian flirting with every woman he meets? Let him go have his fun! As long as he doesn't bring home a disease, she doesn't care.

Second Sister trying to take her place? Invite her right into the mansion! If she wants to get pregnant, have a child, and take her position, let her.

Everyone in the Jia household was waiting to see how she would cause a scene. Instead, Wang Xifeng took good care of Second Sister, making sure she stayed healthy and gave birth to a son. The whole household thought she had changed her ways.

Before long, the name "Kind and Virtuous Wang Xifeng" was known everywhere.

Just as Second Sister was holding her son, full of ambition, Wang Xifeng quietly told Ping'er to send out two letters.

The next day, Wang Xifeng, childless and ill, asked to leave of her own accord.

Granny Jia and the others tried in vain to persuade her to stay, and had no choice but to let the ailing Wang Xifeng return home with her daughter.

Only later did the Jia household slowly realize that, at some point, the whole world had changed.

"Second Madam... are you really not sorry, miss?" Ping'er asked Wang Xifeng one day, many years later.

"Sorry for what? Keeping the child and getting rid of the father? Or leaving that gilded pit of wealth?" Wang Xifeng, now a first-rank titled lady, smiled coolly.

☆☆☆ A few words from the author:

☆ The heroine has a golden finger, but given the setting, she can't just level up and slap everyone in the face all the way to an easy victory. She'll still have to plot and struggle to turn things around.

☆ Also, some timelines in the original novel are unclear [or perhaps the author isn't capable enough], so certain details will be adjusted or even made up to serve the plot.

☆ Third, the author has limited ability, limited ability, limited ability! With a classic masterpiece before me, writing fanfiction feels like showing off an axe at Lu Ban's door. So suggestions and plot discussions are very welcome. There are also quite a few typos. I'm doing my best to fix them, but if you spot any others, please point them out. Many thanks~

[But please don't just trash the author's intentions, the characters' abilities, or the author personally. The author can be a little fragile sometimes too. Hehe~]

☆☆☆

The work is complete. Starting June 6, the chapters from Chapter 24 onward will be released as VIP chapters.

There are still many places where this story could be improved, and I have plenty of regrets. But my original wish to give Wang Xifeng a freer, wider world has finally come true.

There are so many women in Dream of the Red Chamber, protagonists and supporting characters alike, each with her own charm. So many died young, and it's heartbreaking.

That's why I'm already preparing a new story.

If you're interested, please add me to your favorites.

Thank you so much for keeping me company during this time. I hope fate brings us together again in my next story.

Though mountains and rivers may separate us, we'll meet again in the martial world!

☆☆☆☆☆ Upcoming stories in the Dream of the Red Chamber series ☆☆☆☆☆

☆1. Everyone Around Me Is a Backstabber (You Erjie):

After a surgery that lasted more than a dozen hours, You Jing was just about to go home and sleep for three days straight when an agitated patient's family member stabbed her to death with a small surgical knife.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, as You Erjie, a stunning beauty famous in and out of the book for her tragic death.

You Jing sighed.

In her modern life, she was a typical science girl, the kind you could find all over the street. She had no idea how to live the life of a stunning beauty like this.

"Why are you looking at that little knife again? Hurry up and get ready. Someone from the Jia family is here to take us to live the good life!"

You Jing, now the new You Erjie, felt her heart seize up, and nearly dropped what she was holding.

She picked up the one surgical knife that had come with her from the modern world into Dream of the Red Chamber, touched her chest, and asked with feigned calm, "What good life? Which Jia family? Who's here?"

"Silly girl, you were sick with a cold for two days and now you've gone dimwitted? It's the Ningguo Mansion, of course! We're lucky your good older sister still remembers us and sent me to take you two sisters along to help." Madam You looked with satisfaction at You Erjie's pale, haggard little face, whose beauty remained undiminished. After giving a few more instructions, she hurried out.

"Sister, do you think we really have to go?" You Erjie looked at Third Sister, still fixing her hair in front of the mirror, and recalled the way Madam You had just looked at her, as though appraising a piece of merchandise.

"We're almost out of silver, and Mother has already accepted the travel money the Jia family sent. Can we really refuse?" You Sanjie said casually. "Don't overthink it. With our looks, do you think we can't handle a few Jia men?"

☆2. No More PUA: I'll Start with Myself (Xia Jingui):

The modern special agent A Qi transmigrates into the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, becoming Xia Jingui of the capital's famous Osmanthus Xia family.

In this life, she is the only child in a family with three generations of only sons, heir to a vast fortune and without a father or brothers to rely on. Her name is Xia Jingui.

Born into wealth but with no one to depend on, she has only a weak mother and a bunch of relatives waiting to grab the family fortune.

Xia Jingui's life in the book can be divided into two stages:

Before marriage, she was pampered and well-versed in literature. After marriage, she became a completely different person, known as the most ferocious shrew in Dream of the Red Chamber.

Foolish.

That was A Qi's most apt assessment of the original owner.

She did no research before marriage, and only afterward discovered that the Xue family was in decline and broke, Xue Pan was a womanizer with no bottom line, and her dowry had already fallen into the hands of the Xue mother and son. After struggling for ages, all she got for her trouble was a ruined reputation and a horrific death by poisoning.

"What a waste of a face like that, and all those books she read."

A Qi tossed aside the dressing box and scoffed.

Reborn once more, she decided to cherish her life and enjoy her freedom. She'd stay single and childless to keep herself safe.

Unfortunately, there were always people who couldn't mind their own business.

Aunties from the clan tried to console her: "You and your mother are just too hard to handle. Who would dare marry you?"

Old acquaintances of the Jia family came calling: "A man like Master Xue is a rare catch. If you let this chance pass, you won't get another!"

Matchmakers took turns badgering her: "You're not getting any younger. Without someone to support you, how long can you keep the family business going?"

A Qi dug at her ears, not even bothering to roll her eyes. "First undermine someone's confidence, then offer sweet words of advice. Carrot-and-stick, basic PUA tactics, and you think you can control me?"

In your dreams!

☆3. The Little Rich Lady of Dream of the Red Chamber (Li Wan):

In the third month of spring, when all things were coming back to life, Li Wan, the widowed elder sister-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion, finally recovered after being ill for more than a month.

But everyone in the mansion said that the eldest young madam had completely changed after recovering. She had even stopped caring much for the son she once treasured above all else.

Everyone in the Jia household found it strange. The kindhearted and sensitive ones would sigh with sympathy whenever they mentioned "Elder Sister-in-Law."

But where no one could see, poor Li Wan quietly drew up a plan to make a fortune after transmigrating into a book.

That's right, she'd transmigrated into a book.

In her previous life, she was born in a particularly patriarchal region of Fujian Province. As the eldest daughter in her family, she devoted her whole life to her three younger brothers, and in the end died alone by the roadside, ignored by everyone.

In this life, she would live for herself, make money for herself, and enjoy life for once.

Her cheap son was obedient and well-behaved? Only in front of outsiders. He dared to bare his teeth at her? Sorry, she wasn't going to treat him like a beloved treasure.

Her sisters-in-law's families were respectful and devoted? It was all for show. They were secretly plotting to seize her dowry and property? Every last one of them would have to pay back double what they'd taken!

As for the Jia family being on the verge of confiscation, that was indeed a problem.

When the nest falls, no egg remains unbroken.

If she wanted to hold on to her wealth and enjoy a long, comfortable life, she'd have to find a way to leave the Jia household as soon as possible.

What? You're asking her to save people?

Don't be ridiculous. Her persona was that of a heartless, dead-inside little widow. How could she possibly save an entire family?

She could only save a few friends and relatives she liked and got along with.

After all, her abilities were limited. She was just a little rich lady with more gold and jewels than she could ever spend, and a clever, obedient child in tow.

☆ All the upcoming stories have outlines. Which one I write first will depend on reader interest and how the ideas develop. If you like any of them, feel free to add them to your favorites~

Theme: Wang Xifeng wakes up, turns her life around, leaves the mansion, and saves herself through her own strength.