The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 762 The Wedding Procession (Part 2)

Even in the depths of winter, the bamboo outside Xiaoxiang Pavilion remained lush and green. Jia Huan looked at the smiling Yuanyang and said, "I hope Sister Yuanyang will be lenient and not give me any questions that are too difficult."

Yuanyang laughed and said, "Don't worry, Third Master Huan, my question is not difficult. It's just a matter of seeing." After saying that, she lifted the red silk covering the tray.

But when everyone saw what was on the tray, they were all in an uproar. This was too much of a humiliation for men.

It turned out that this was an embroidery, a picture of mandarin ducks playing in the water. The two mandarin ducks were embroidered with vibrant colors and lifelike details, which was breathtaking. However, one of the mandarin ducks was missing an eye, and Jia Huan and the others needed to fill in the missing eye to pass the test.

Zhang Zhilong couldn't help but complain, "This is outrageous! This question is far too tricky. It's really unfair to use a woman's needlework to make things difficult for us men."

Everyone chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! That's ridiculous! Miss Yuanyang, please choose a different topic. Poetry, prose, or any of the Six Arts of a Gentleman—you can choose whatever you like, and we'll all take your place."

Yuanyang smiled calmly and said, "My lords, please be patient and listen to what I have to say. Master Huan and you are all scholars who have passed the imperial examinations and are well-versed in poetry and prose. Poetry and prose are your strengths, while we young ladies only know needlework. If we were to test you with poetry and prose, wouldn't that be like showing off our limited skills in front of an expert and making a fool of ourselves? Therefore, we can only test your needlework skills."

Everyone was speechless.

Jia Huan smiled wryly and said, "Such a tricky question must have been thought up by Sister Qin, right?"

Yuanyang smiled without saying a word, which was taken as tacit agreement. Jia Huan couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. This little girl must be taking revenge on him because he had spanked her that day. No wonder she said that the matter was not over yet and that she would settle accounts with him later.

Oh no, everyone here is a grown man. Let alone embroidery, even if the clothes are torn, probably not many of them know how to sew. Just when everyone was at a loss, Liu Xianglian stepped forward and said, "Brother Huan, let me give it a try."

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they said, "Could it be that Second Master Liu can actually embroider?"

Liu Xianglian shook his head and said, "I haven't studied it specifically, but I come from a humble background and I usually mend my own clothes when they're torn, so I think it won't be difficult to patch up a hole in this pair of mandarin ducks."

Yuanyang smiled and reminded him, "So that this Second Master Liu may know that although I can overlook the needlework technique, if the embroidery is too ugly, it will not pass muster."

Upon hearing this, Xu Wenhou nervously grabbed Liu Xianglian and said, "Second Master Liu, are you sure you can do it or not? If not, we'll find someone else. Otherwise, ruining a fine embroidery is a small matter, but delaying Brother Jia's wedding is a big one."

Liu Xianglian laughed nonchalantly and said, "Don't worry, Seventh Master, I won't ruin Brother Huan's good deed." After saying that, he stepped forward and skillfully threaded the needle.

Yuanyang was surprised to see Liu Xianglian's skillful movements.

Soon, Liu Xianglian finished threading the needle and, with swift and skillful strokes, added an eye to the mandarin duck in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Although the stitches were not very neat, the eye was embroidered very round, and at first glance, there was no flaw.

It turns out that the topic was indeed set by Baoqin, and this half-finished picture of mandarin ducks playing in the water was also embroidered by her in a hurry during this period. Sure enough, people are most patient when doing "bad things". However, Baoqin obviously went easy on her, only asking her to add an eye, or more accurately, an eyeball. If it were any other part, Liu Xianglian probably wouldn't be able to do it.

Thus, this hurdle was successfully overcome. However, Lin Daiyu was not in Xiaoxiang Pavilion at this time, but with Baochai in Hengwu Garden, the final stop. In other words, the wedding procession still had to overcome numerous obstacles all the way to Hengwu Garden before they could finally bring their two beauties home.

Getting back to the main point, Jia Huan and the others passed through the bamboo grove and arrived at the Warm Fragrance Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance. Xi Chun's personal maid, Ru Hua, was already waiting at the door, accompanied by another maid carrying a brocade tray. Everyone's hearts pounded with apprehension; could this be another needlework session?
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ruhua, the maid, was clearly a little shy. Before she could speak, her pretty face turned red. She lifted the red silk covering the tray, revealing a roll of Xuan paper underneath.

Ru Hua slowly unfolded the Xuan paper and said in a sweet voice, "Please look, everyone. This is a topic set by our fourth young lady. She is to create a painting based on the line 'The rooster crows, the thatched inn is bathed in moonlight,' and to capture the mood and imagery of this poem."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; finally, there was a normal question. Xu Wenhou was especially eager to try. Everyone knew that His Highness Prince Min had two great hobbies: food and painting, so they all said, "This challenge is definitely His Highness Prince Min's to conquer."

Xu Wenhou was immediately struck by a jolt of curiosity, and after deliberately declining for a while, he finally picked up the pen.

However, it must be said that Xu Wenhou's painting skills have indeed improved a lot. He finished the painting in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. A crescent moon was sinking behind the treetops in the west. A corner of a thatched hut was hidden in the woods on the side of the official road. Several chickens were foraging and crowing by the wall. The sky in the east was turning pale. Dawn was breaking. An early traveler stepped through the frost and crossed a stone bridge. His footprints were faintly visible.

Although it's a simple ink painting, it perfectly captures the essence of the poem "The rooster crows, the thatched inn is bathed in moonlight."
"Excellent! The meaning is fully expressed. Your Highness, Prince Min, your painting and brushwork are superb!" Everyone praised. Xu Wenhou proudly handed the painting to Ru Hua and asked, "May I ask if this painting meets my standards?"

Ru Hua hurriedly and nervously took the gift with both hands, curtsied, and said, "Wait a moment, I'll take it to my young lady for her judgment." After saying that, she quickly ran into the house.

Soon, Ruhua came out of the house again and said with a smile, "My daughter said the painting is very good. Congratulations, Third Master Huan, you have passed the test."

Xu Wenhou chuckled smugly, put down his pen, and said with high spirits, "Brother Jia, hurry up and continue your journey through the trials."

Jia Huan smiled, and the wedding procession continued with music and fanfare, crossing Qinfang Bridge and heading straight for Tan Chun's Qiushuangzhai. Everyone couldn't help but marvel at the garden's magnificence and splendor, truly a place where heaven and earth's wonders are all gathered, a garden worthy of the name "Grand View."

At this moment, the wedding procession finally arrived at Qiushuangzhai. Upon entering, everyone immediately felt that the style here was even more grand and unrestrained.

Liu Xianglian exclaimed, "Could this be Brother Huan's residence?"

Jia Huan shook his head and laughed, "No, Qiushuangzhai is my third sister's private quarters."

Everyone was secretly amazed upon hearing this. The furnishings here were nothing like those of a young lady's residence; they were more like those of a young master.

At this moment, Tan Chun's personal maid, Shi Shu, came out empty-handed and curtsied, saying, "This maid, Shi Shu, greets Third Master Huan and all the esteemed gentlemen."

Jia Qiang cupped his hands and said, "Miss Shishu, your hands are empty. Does this mean you don't need to pass this test?"

Shi Shu laughed and said, "You wish." After saying that, she turned around and pointed to a colorful flag tied to the roof ridge beast of Qiu Shuang Zhai, and continued, "Please look, everyone. There is a colorful flag here. Our Third Miss said that if you have the ability to take down the colorful flag, you will pass the test. The premise is that you cannot climb onto the roof, and you cannot use tools such as bows and arrows, firearms, grappling hooks, or bamboo poles. Also, you cannot damage a single tile of the roof."

The group exchanged bewildered glances. The roof was quite high, probably three or four zhang (approximately 10-12 meters). How could they take down the colorful flags without climbing onto the roof? Moreover, they couldn't use any tools.

Even Jia Huan was stumped. His sister was indeed his own, giving him such a difficult problem.

(End of this chapter)