The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 699 Ayina's Invitation

There's a popular saying online that "cuteness is worthless compared to sexiness," and in my opinion, sexiness is also worthless compared to true elegance. True elegance isn't affected or pretentious; it's a natural quality, a beauty that pleases the eye. Take, for example, the dance performance "Only This Green" from a certain year's Spring Festival Gala. It was truly stunning, elegant to the core. Then look at the Spring Festival Gala from a certain island province in Southeast China that same year, where a few sexy girls were kneeling and swaying their fake tails. They were sexy, yes, but compared to that, it seemed incredibly vulgar, exuding a petty, low-class air.

Sexiness only arouses people's primal desires, while elegance is a spiritual enjoyment and purification!
Both Daiyu and Baochai were well-educated ladies from prominent families, possessing exceptional talent and proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Every word, action, and smile exuded a natural elegance and grace, and even their ordinary walking posture was pleasing to the eye.

The love of beauty is universal, regardless of gender. Having spent so much time with Daiyu and Baochai, how could thirteen- or fourteen-year-old Ayina not be drawn to it? Imitating and learning from her was inevitable. Recently, Ayina developed an interest in poetry, and once she grasped its essence, she became even more captivated.

After Ayina dismissed Shanba, she continued copying "Selected Poems of Du Fu" for a while. Then, she took her calligraphy work and left her residence, heading excitedly to the palace to seek critique from her teachers, Xue and Lin.

However, when Ayina arrived outside the Hami Palace, she found that Jin soldiers were guarding the palace gates. She tried to enter, but was politely stopped.

Ayina frowned and protested, "I used to go in every day, why can't I go in today?"

The leading soldier replied solemnly, "His Excellency the Governor has ordered that from today onwards, no one may enter the palace without his permission."

Ayina angrily retorted, "This palace belongs to my family. Why can't he let me in? This princess is determined to enter!" With that, she tried to force her way in.

clang clang...

The soldiers, who had been so polite just moments before, immediately drew their gleaming swords and gave Ayina a cold warning. She dared not take another step forward, for these soldiers were unreasonable, and if she dared to continue trying to force her way in, they would really dare to chop her down!
Just as Ayina was both angry and afraid, caught in a dilemma, Jia Huan happened to walk out of the palace gate. He was wearing a square turban, dressed as a scholar, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, and a gentle and refined appearance.

"Pah, pretty boy!" Ayina spat inwardly, taking her anger out on Jia Huan. Her anger was at its peak as she pointed at him and said, "Jia Huan, what do you mean?"

Ayina was naturally beautiful, with bright eyes and white teeth, and her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting. Her small mouth was like a bright red water chestnut, as if she had her own makeup. At this moment, when she was angry, she had a unique kind of beauty.

Jia Huan frowned and asked the guard at the gate, "What's going on?"

The soldier replied, "Princess Ayina is attempting to force her way into the palace. According to your orders, Your Excellency, no one is permitted to enter without your permission during this period."

Jia Huan glanced at "Little Reba," who seemed eager to fight him, his mind racing. He smiled and said, "Except for Princess Ayina, she can come whenever she wants, except at night!"

The soldier guarding the gate grinned, as if he knew everything, sheathed his sword, stepped aside, and shouted, "Understood!"

Seeing the soldier's meaningful look, Jia Huan knew that the guy had misunderstood, and he was speechless.

Ayina was stunned. She hadn’t expected Jia Huan to be so easy to talk to. What was this cunning and greedy guy up to?
Ayina was puzzled and secretly pondered Jia Huan's intentions when the latter made a gesture of invitation and smiled, "Your Highness Princess Ayina, please come in. Sister Lin and Sister Bao are waiting for you."

Ayina glared at Jia Huan, then deliberately swaggered over, the bamboo flute hanging from her slender waist swaying precariously.

Jia Huan smiled slightly. Culture is a kind of soft power, and developed economies often have a greater cultural influence. In this respect, the Great Jin Dynasty is a dimensional reduction attack on a barbarian land like Hami. Look, this little girl Ayina has fallen into the trap. Since she loves to learn poetry and songs, let her learn!

After leaving the palace, Jia Huan led his personal guards out of the city to inspect the situation. Although Turpan had invaded, normal market trade had to be maintained until the enemy arrived. Therefore, the city gates of Hami were opened for an hour every morning and evening, and the market in the south of the city was open as usual.

Jia Huan inspected various pastures outside the city and visited several tribes before returning to the city in the evening.

Fan Silang, who was also a deputy captain of the personal guard, asked in bewilderment, "Those barbarian tribes clearly don't welcome us, so why did the governor still go to... that place!"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Do you feel like I'm offering my warm face to someone's cold backside?"

Fan Jian chuckled awkwardly, "That's not what I meant. I just think these barbarians are too disrespectful. The governor himself came to visit, and they didn't even prepare any wine or meat. Damn it, these guys only learn from their mistakes. We can't give them too much face. If they're not satisfied, we'll beat them until they submit."

Dong Dao nodded and said, "On this point, I agree with what you said, Master. You only know the pain when the whip hits you. These local barbarians deserve to be taught a lesson."

Fan Jian rolled his eyes and roared, "Call me Master Fan!"

Jia Huan smiled slightly: "When the whip strikes someone, those around them will also feel fear. This is the principle of killing the chicken to scare the monkey. Just wait and see. As long as we defeat Turpan this time, these people will obediently become compliant citizens." After saying that, he pulled on the reins and rushed straight onto the drawbridge, heading into the city.

Dong Dao and Fan Jian exchanged a glance, then spurred their horses and chased after them.

After Jia Huan entered the city, he first went back to the governor's office to change into new clothes before heading to the Hami Royal Palace.

"Third Master is here!" Xiangling, Ying'er, and the others greeted Jia Huan with joy and went inside.

By the end of August in the lunar calendar, Hami was already quite cold. The temperature was still in the teens during the day, but it would drop to around zero at night. So, a charcoal stove was already lit inside, making it warm and cozy. At this time, both Daiyu and Baochai had changed into thick clothes and were playing chess by the stove to pass the time. One was dignified and elegant, while the other was charming and delicate. When they saw Jia Huan enter, they both looked at him with tender eyes.

With Zijuan's help, Jia Huan took off his cloak, walked to the chessboard, glanced at it, and found that a game had just begun. He then smiled and said, "Sister Bao, let me play a game for you."

Xue Baochai smiled gently and said, "I couldn't ask for more!" With that, she moved aside and gave her seat to Jia Huan.

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and laughed, "Even if you come, it won't work. It's just a scholar moving house—all books (losing)."

"Don't cry if Sister Lin loses later." Jia Huan rolled up his sleeves and placed a piece.

Lin Daiyu gave a soft snort and responded with a move of her own. Jia Huan seized the opportunity to grab Lin Daiyu's wrist and said with a smile, "It's really cold today, dear sister, let me warm my hands first."

Jia Huan had just returned from outside, his hands were ice-cold. Lin Daiyu gasped in surprise at the coldness, and all the women laughed. Xue Baochai said with a smile, "I forgot that Huan-di just came back from outside. Ying'er, quickly pour a cup of warm wine for Third Master to warm him up."

Ying'er quickly poured a glass of wine for Jia Huan. Upon taking the glass and smelling it, he immediately recognized it as the Snow Lotus Wine. He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. Now, every day when he came, Daiyu and Baochai would serve him this wine.

"Third Master, let me pour you another cup!" the kind-hearted Xueyan said.

Jia Huan was startled and quickly shook his head, saying, "That's enough, that's enough. If you drink too much, you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Just kidding, after these two cups of snow lotus wine, I won't be able to sleep tonight; I'll just be having all sorts of wild thoughts.

Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu exchanged a glance, seemingly realizing something. Their cheeks flushed, and they almost simultaneously stopped Xueyan from pouring more wine, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

Jia Huan coughed lightly and said with a smile, "Sister Lin, let's continue."

Lin Daiyu secretly glanced at Jia Huan, her watery eyes revealing a hint of shyness, which made Xue Baochai feel rather uncomfortable.

After Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu played a few rounds of chess, the ambiguous atmosphere subsided. Suddenly, Lin Daiyu remembered something and said, "Brother Huan, Ayina said that a large number of snow lotus flowers in the nearby mountain meadows are in full bloom, and she invited Sister Bao and me to go see them."

Jia Huan frowned and asked, "Where is Shandianzi?"

Lin Daiyu shook her head and said, "I don't know, but according to Ayina, it should be possible to make a round trip in one day."

Jia Huan pondered to himself that a day's round trip wouldn't be a problem, but the Turpan army wouldn't arrive for at least five days. So he asked, "Sister Lin, do you want to go?"

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "Of course I want to see what the Tianshan snow lotus looks like."

Xueyan and Ying'er nodded repeatedly, but Baochai sat calmly with a smile and said nothing.

Jia Huan asked with a smile, "Where is Sister Bao?"

Xiangling immediately looked at her mistress expectantly, and Xue Baochai smiled and said, "It doesn't matter whether I go or not. Since everyone wants to go, I'll join in the fun."

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Since everyone wants to go, then let's go!"

The maids immediately beamed with joy. Having been in Hami for so long, they had long wanted to go out of the city for some fresh air.

After Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu finished their game of chess, Jia Huan got up to say goodbye. Lin Daiyu carefully tied his cloak around his neck, then suddenly leaned close to Jia Huan's ear and whispered in a soft, fragrant voice, "Brother Huan, tonight, I'll have Xueyan serve you."

Jia Huan was taken aback for a moment before he came to his senses, and his eyes lit up as he asked, "Really?"

"Dream on! You've already confessed!" Lin Daiyu gave a light pinch on the waist of a certain ring.

Jia Huan feigned disappointment, hanging his head and saying, "Oh, then I'm leaving!"

Lin Daiyu was both annoyed and amused, and watched the person leave with a mixture of shyness and reproach.

(End of this chapter)