The Red Mansion

Chapter 315 Borrowing the Milky Way Water to Cleanse Eternal Love

The Duke's Mansion.

The study in Yuan Chun Courtyard was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Yuan Chun and Tan Chun sat facing each other by the window. Even their personal maids, Bao Qin and Dai Shu, were specially dismissed, leaving only the two sisters.

As Tan Chun pondered this, she suddenly felt a warmth on the back of her hand; it was Yuan Chun taking her hand. Yuan Chun's voice was as gentle as spring water: "I have already heard about your uncle Zhao Guoji's matter."

Although spoken softly, these words caused Tan Chun's face to flush instantly. Tan Chun lowered her head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "My birth mother and uncle have done such foolish things, and I am also to blame. I have made you a laughingstock, elder sister."

Seeing her like this, Yuan Chun felt even more pity for her and gently patted the back of her hand, saying, "Don't say that. You have always been well-educated and reasonable. This matter has nothing to do with you, so why blame yourself?" As she spoke, she held Tan Chun's hand even tighter, "In terms of etiquette, Madam is your real mother. Although we are not born of the same mother, in my heart, you are no different from my own sister."

At that moment, a ray of autumn sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the gold and kingfisher feather hairpin adorning Yuan Chun's hair. The dangling pearl tassels swayed gently, shimmering with a warm glow. In this radiant light, Yuan Chun's gaze was clear as a spring, utterly devoid of pretense. Tan Chun felt a surge of warmth in her heart, as if a gentle current had flowed through her.

Yuan Chun added, “You don’t need to worry too much about your birth mother and uncle. As long as your birth mother doesn’t cause any major trouble, the Rong family will always have a place for her. As for your uncle, even if his family’s property is confiscated and he is kicked out, he won’t starve to death on the streets.”

Tan Chun said softly, "Thank you for your understanding, elder sister. I have remembered what you said."

Yuan Chun smiled with relief and suddenly took out a blue silk package. The package was not large, but it seemed heavy. She gently pushed it in front of Tan Chun: "You only receive two taels of silver a month in the Rong Mansion, and you also have to help Aunt Zhao and Huan Ge'er from time to time, so you must be short of money. Here is one hundred taels of silver, please take it and use it."

Tan Chun instinctively wanted to refuse: "How can this be..."

"Don't refuse!" Yuan Chun feigned annoyance, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, but her eyes held a smile. "If you refuse, you'll be being too formal, and I won't allow it."

Tan Chun recalled how she had suffered countless mistreatments in the Rongguo Mansion over the years because she was born out of wedlock and had a mother like Aunt Zhao. Now, seeing Yuan Chun's kindness, her eyes reddened, and she quickly stood up and gave a proper curtsy: "Thank you, elder sister."

Yuan Chun helped her sit down, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "Actually, the reason I called you here today was because of Fourth Master's idea." Seeing Tan Chun's surprise, she added, "Fourth Master specifically instructed me to comfort you and give you some money to live on. This arrangement is exactly what I wanted."

Tan Chun was taken aback by these words. She hadn't expected that the high and mighty Fourth Prince, who was busy with court affairs, would notice such a trivial matter and show such concern for her...

……

……

It was already evening, and the last rays of sunset lingered on the horizon.

Inside the Lishengzhai, Yuan Yi was sitting at his desk reviewing documents. The desk was piled high with documents, and the scent of ink wafted through the air. Xiangling stood quietly to the side, grinding ink. The ink was of the finest pine soot, which slowly dissolved in the Duan stone inkstone, emitting a faint bluish light.

Seeing Yuan Chun stroll in, Yuan Yi put down his pen and asked with a smile, "Have you sent your two younger sisters back?"

Yuan Chun nodded and smiled, "I just sent someone back." As she spoke, she handed over a scroll of the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" with a smile, "This was left by my third sister before she left. The Fourth Prince had previously rewarded her with a set of precious writing implements and asked her to write a copy of the 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion' with care. Although she wrote it at the time, she felt that she was in a hurry and it was not well written. These days she has practiced diligently and rewrote it to return the favor to the Fourth Prince."

Yuan Yi took the scroll and unfolded it. He saw that the ink was dripping, the brushstrokes were vigorous and powerful, and the ink conveyed the sentiment of mountains and rivers. The beginning of the strokes was like a startled swan skimming the water, and the ending strokes were like wild geese returning to their nests. Upon closer inspection, although the handwriting did not have the unparalleled elegance of Wang Xizhi, it already had a nascent style. In some places, it even captured a three-tenths of the spirit of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

"It's admirable that she put in so much effort." Yuan Yi nodded in praise, his fingertips lightly tracing the ink marks. "Compared to the previous painting, there's been considerable improvement. It's clear she's been practicing diligently these past few days."

Yuan Chun laughed and said, "That's right, I also think this one is much better."

Though she wore a smile, she felt a little awkward inside, thinking to herself: "Fourth Master cares about Third Sister; he even specifically instructed me to comfort her and give her some money to live on. And Third Sister seems to care a lot about Fourth Master too, practicing the 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion' so diligently, and even eagerly bringing it to me today. If this continues, could it be that Third Sister will become Fourth Master's concubine in the future?"
Seeing that she suddenly seemed lost in thought, Yuan Yi asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Yuan Chun quickly composed herself, forced a smile, and said, "I was thinking that I should advise Fourth Master to take care of his health. Fourth Master has been working very hard these days, and last night he was busy at Li Shen Zhai until 9 PM. Although national affairs are important, health is the most important thing."

Yuan Yi smiled slightly: "As you know, I have always paid attention to my health. Even though I am busy with national affairs now, I still take care of my health."

This is the truth. Although he was diligent, he always paid attention to his health, and even had a plan in mind: he must live a long life, and if he could succeed to the throne as the Emperor of Daqing, he would become the longest-lived emperor in Chinese history, just like the Qianlong Emperor of his previous life. One reason he insisted on taking afternoon naps and practicing martial arts was for the sake of his health.

In this life, if you don't have good health, even if you own a vast empire, it's nothing but a mirage!

Seeing his composed expression, Yuan Chun smiled and said, "I'm relieved that Fourth Master knows what he's doing."

After exchanging a few more words, Yuan Chun took her leave: "Fourth Master is busy with state affairs, I dare not disturb you any longer."

She walked out of Lishenzhai. Night was falling, and a cool breeze brushed her face, but she was oblivious to it, staring blankly at the lights inside the room.

Baoqin asked softly from the side, "What is Madam thinking about?"

"I wasn't thinking about anything," Yuan Chun said, a self-deprecating smile curving her lips, inwardly sighing, "What kind of jealousy am I having!"

……

……

After returning from the Duke's Mansion to the Rongguo Mansion, Tan Chun and Xi Chun first went to Rongqing Hall to tell Grandmother Jia the whole story, and then went to Lady Wang to report in detail before returning to their respective rooms.

Before Tan Chun could even change her clothes, the curtain was lifted, and her younger brother, Jia Huan, sneaked in. Jia Huan wasn't ugly, but his hunched shoulders and drooping head, along with his shifty eyes, made him appear rather unsightly. Seeing this, Tan Chun frowned slightly: "What are you doing here at this hour?"

Jia Huan leaned closer and whispered, "Your aunt wants to see you. She says she has something important to discuss." He had no respect for his elder sister, Tan Chun, and wouldn't even call her "elder sister."

Seeing his state, Tan Chun felt even more annoyed and sneered, "What important matter could she possibly have to do?"

Even so, after a moment's thought, she straightened her clothes and followed Jia Huan to Aunt Zhao's room.

Seeing Tan Chun's gorgeous clothes and pearl hairpins, Aunt Zhao couldn't help but say sourly, "You dress up like a fairy every day, but have you ever thought about what kind of life your mother and your brothers live?"

Tan Chun remained silent, feeling a strange odor in the room that made her dizzy. She noticed that although the furnishings were neat, they were gaudy and tacky, with a few leftover melon seed shells scattered on the bright red brocade quilt. Seeing her silence, Aunt Zhao grew even angrier, glaring at her and saying, "I heard your eldest sister invited you to the Duke's mansion next door again? Your uncle's house was raided today, and he was kicked out. Your mother was also punished, and you have the leisure to enjoy yourself instead of pleading for your uncle!"

Tan Chun remained silent with her head down, one hand unconsciously clenched.

Seeing her like this, Aunt Zhao simply made her point out: "This time you must help. Go and beg your eldest sister to let your uncle return to the manor to work, and return all the confiscated property, including the few hundred taels of silver that he embezzled."

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun could no longer contain herself and said, "How can this be? Aunt, don't be delusional!"

"You heartless wretch!" Aunt Zhao immediately cursed, her voice shrill and piercing. "Now that you've climbed the social ladder, you don't even recognize your own mother, and you don't care about your own uncle anymore! I've raised you for nothing!" As she spoke, she beat her chest and stamped her feet. "What kind of fate do I have to give birth to such an unfilial daughter!"

Tan Chun suppressed her anger, her nails digging into her palms: "There is absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter. From now on, I will give you two taels of silver every month, plus you and Huan'er will each receive two taels of silver a month. That should be enough to support your brother."

Aunt Zhao's eyes lit up, then narrowed again, sizing up Tan Chun: "You must have received quite a few gifts from your eldest sister today, right?" She leaned closer, her eyes shining, "Your eldest sister wouldn't be stingy with her gifts, would she? What did she give you? Did she give you gold or silver?"

Tan Chun grew increasingly frustrated, thinking to herself that her birth mother was foolish, yet always so clever in such matters. If Yuan Chun had given her a hundred taels of silver today, she would surely have forcibly taken it. So she hardened her heart and said, "No silver or gold. From now on, I'll give you all my monthly allowance. I only ask that you not come to ask for any more money or goods, and let me have some peace and quiet!"

After saying that, she turned and left, and heard Aunt Zhao crying and wailing behind her: "What a heartless woman! Two taels of silver a month, and she's already trying to get rid of her own mother!"

Back in her room, Tan Chun removed her hairpins and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes, usually so bright and lively, now seemed like dusty pearls, filled with an indescribable weariness. Recalling the scene of Yuan Chun holding her hand and speaking gently at the Duke's mansion during the day, and comparing it to her birth mother's face just now, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Seeing Tan Chun staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror, two lines of tears silently streaming down her face, Dai Shu quickly handed her a handkerchief and gently advised, "Why should you argue with your aunt, Miss? It's not worth getting upset."

Tan Chun took the handkerchief, but did not wipe away her tears. Instead, she gazed at her blurry, tearful eyes in the mirror and sighed, "Alas!"

A sudden gust of evening wind blew outside the window, rustling the leaves as if they too were sighing for her awkward situation.

Suddenly, Tan Chun felt an overwhelming sense of unease in her heart and wanted to compose a poem. So she got up and went to her desk, instructing her attendant to "grind the ink." She then spread out a sheet of paper.

As the scent of ink gradually filled the air, Tan Chun instructed Dai Shu, "You may leave now."

Waiting for Shu to understand, he quietly withdrew. Tan Chun then sat alone at her desk, picked up a wolf-hair brush, dipped it heavily in ink, and after a moment's thought, her brushstrokes flowed forth, displaying both delicate beauty and strength:
"The moonlight shines like silk on the empty pillars, I sit alone by the autumn window facing the bright candlelight."

Though bathed in the ever-present warmth of the sun's rays, the chirping of crickets in the cold night cannot be dispelled.

Even the most flawless gems have their flaws, and being trapped in the filth of the world brings only resentment.

I wish to borrow a thousand bushels of water from the Milky Way to cleanse the eternal emotions of my life.

As she wrote the words "feeling indignant," her pen trembled slightly, and a tear suddenly fell onto the paper, blurring the character "regret" into a dark flower. She didn't bother wiping away her tears, and continued writing the final line while weeping.

After finishing the poem, she checked its rhyme scheme and, finding it correct, stared at the lines with a sudden smile. She felt her poem was quite good, showcasing exceptional talent, especially the last line, "I wish to borrow a thousand bushels of water from the Milky Way to cleanse my life's eternal emotions," a line not easily composed by an ordinary young woman.

She gently folded the manuscript and put it into a mother-of-pearl inlaid box, the surface of which was decorated with a picture of "Chang'e flying to the moon".

The wind outside the window has stopped, leaving only the chirping of autumn insects, one chirp after another.

……

……

The Daqing Dynasty valued horsemanship and archery. In the past, during the reign of Emperor Jingning, he often led princes and ministers to hunt in the border regions when the horses were fat and the autumn was in full bloom, a practice known as "autumn hunting." He also built a large imperial palace in Rehe, which was built against the mountains and by the water, and was magnificent in appearance.

Emperor Jingning himself enjoyed traveling outside the capital and hunting. However, this autumn hunt in the border regions was actually an important matter of military training and pacifying the vassal states. It was not only for training the army, but also for consolidating border defenses and strengthening relations with the various Mongol tribes.

Emperor Taishun was not skilled in martial arts, disliked autumn hunts, and was also reluctant to leave the capital.

This year, despite the fact that the retired Emperor Jingning is old and in poor health, he still went on an autumn hunt in the border regions.

It was already late July.

That morning, banners covered the sky in Changchun Garden, and the ceremonial guard was solemn.

Emperor Taishun led his officials to see off the retired Emperor Jingning. Among them, Princes Yuan Yi and Yuan Zhou each rode a fine horse, accompanying Emperor Taishun's entourage. Yuan Zhou's horse trotted incessantly, its gilded saddle and bridle jingling. He would occasionally glance sideways at Yuan Yi, his eyes darting around, seemingly plotting something.

Suddenly, three whips cracked, and the sounds of sheng, xiao, drums, and music filled the air. Emperor Jingning, seated in a ceremonial palanquin carried by sixteen men, slowly emerged from the main palace gate. The palanquin was magnificent, shimmering in the rising autumn sun. Emperor Jingning, dressed in a dragon robe, appeared remarkably vigorous and spirited.

Many officials accompanied Emperor Jingning on his journey to the frontier, including Prince Zhongshun, Prince Li Yuan Xi, and even Prince Xun Yuan Ti.

Emperor Taishun escorted him three miles outside Changchun Garden before bidding farewell to Emperor Jingning.

Yuan Yi reined in his horse and watched the Jingning Emperor's entourage gradually disappear into the distance, thinking to himself, "This year I've been busy with water conservancy and agricultural affairs in the capital region; otherwise, this autumn hunt with the retired emperor would have been a perfect opportunity to get close to the emperor's heart." Then he thought again, "Perhaps there will be another opportunity next year; I should prepare early."

Emperor Jingning's autumn hunt delegation departed from Changchun Garden, traveled along the Imperial Road north of Beijing to Gubeikou, stopped at the Rehe Imperial Palace, and then headed north to the outer hunting grounds beyond the Great Wall. The hunt took place in August, a time when the autumn air was crisp and clear, and the livestock were plump and healthy, making it ideal for the hunt. The entire autumn hunt concluded in September, after which the delegation returned to the capital.

The day after Emperor Jingning left the capital, Yuan Yi also left the capital.

This time, Yuan Yi led a team out of the capital with Zhuo Shi to inspect the water conservancy and farmland in the capital region...

(End of this chapter)