Mao Ling Autumn Dream of the Red Chamber Broken - Part II: Dream of the Red Chamber Broken - Part II

Author: Gao Yang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-01-01
Features: "The Story of the Fall of the Red Chamber" is a historical novel that blends artistic imagination with academic research, detailing the rise and fall of the Cao and Li families from their affluent life in silk-clad mansions and fine robes to their decline and eventual exile back to Beijing. As the author puts it, it tells the "story of Cao Xueqin"—how Cao Xueqin created Jia Baoyu and "Dream of the Red Chamber" through "ten years of hard work." "Autumn of Maoling" is the second part. The decline of the Li family is unstoppable, leading to a dreamlike end and the dispersal of its members. Together with "Spring of Muling," the story captures the inner lives of many characters in the Li family, portraying the cold world after the loss of wealth and glory. In less than two years, Li Xun, who used to gallop in the spring fields and compete with his nephews and grandnephews, has now become an old man with white hair. This is due to a series of blows following the suicide of his wife, the grand lady of Ding. In the sixtieth year of Kangxi's reign, he was harshly criticized by the emperor upon his arrival in the capital. A severe blow to the forehead from colliding with the brick pavement also failed to change the emperor's mind. Once his favor declined, the officials in the Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Public Works began to look down on him! What he deserved was not given to him, and what he could not avoid were two payments that he had to make. The smaller one was a impeachment fine. This year, on March 18th, the emperor's birthday, though not his actual birthday, no celebrations were held because he had just reached the age of 60 on the throne. Only Li Xun, who was summoned, was allowed to attend. The other two factories