A Rake in the Red Chamber

After transmigrating into the world of Dream of the Red Chamber as a transparent, insignificant concubine-born son with no patron to rely on, he faced the confiscation of his family’s property without even a decent sister to help him. He decided he would have to rely on himself. As for what it felt like to climb to power by stepping on Jia Baoyu, he could only say it was all right. Wasn’t it Jia Baoyu who said that all scholars who served as officials were greedy parasites and walking corpses?

Then wasn’t the food and wealth Jia Baoyu enjoyed won through the efforts of us greedy parasites and walking corpses?

When Jia Baoyu cursed the very people whose food he had eaten, Jia Cong came up and slapped him across the face. “We scholars rise before dawn and study by lamplight late into the night. We don’t just covet fame, fortune, and status. You, Jia Baoyu, are full of talk about benevolence and morality, and you’re certainly high-minded. But what have you actually done for the people of this world?”

By then, he had risen to the highest ministerial office in the Red Chamber court. The past was lost in the mists of time. He simply enjoyed a comfortable life with his wife, two concubines, several lovers, and bedchamber maids. When times were hard, he guided the state; when they were easy, he had his beautiful wife and concubines by his side and his children and grandchildren gathered around him. If that made him a scoundrel, so be it. At least he wouldn’t be exiled with his whole family. After all, he didn’t have a Granny Liu to save him.

This is a story of power plays and domestic drama in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber. It has both family intrigue and political maneuvering. Dear readers, please come on in. I welcome your feedback on anything I haven’t described well.

I’ll be sure to make improvements!