Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Shi Xiangyun, however, hadn't thought that far ahead. She was focused on inviting Jia Jing to the poetry gathering, and continued with a smile:

"I know my third brother is very busy, but you have several dozen days off during the Lunar New Year holiday!"

"New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival are days for family reunions, you should be at home."

"Or we could come to your yard to hold it sometime when you're free. This isn't just my wish; they're just too shy to say it!"

"Besides, Xiangling has been studying poetry with Sister Lin for over two months and has already made some progress. Don't you want to test Sister Lin's teaching results?"

Daiyu reclined on the pillow, a brocade handkerchief she'd taken from somewhere covering her face, leaving only her eyes visible as she smiled at Xiangyun:

"I'll just say one thing—you just said, 'They're just too embarrassed to say it.' I'll remember that."

"If Sister Bao wants to hold a poetry gathering tomorrow, or if Tan Ya wants to hold a poetry gathering, or even if Xi Chun wants to hold a poetry gathering in her room, I will agree to it for you."

"Just say, 'Miss Shi said it all for you, things you were too embarrassed to say.' Anyway, you're her 'spokesperson,' so don't try to renege on your promise later."

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun jumped up and down in a panic:

"Sister Lin is teasing people again!"

Baochai smiled and said:

"She's always been a funny person."

After laughing and joking with Daiyu for a while, Xiangyun came to pester Jia Jing again, asking him to agree.

Jia Jing thought for a moment and looked out the window.

In the northwest, dusk was falling, and the crescent moon hung like a knife.

He couldn't help but recall his conversation with Yuanyang earlier, as well as Emperor Jingsheng's entrustment to him a few days ago, and said:

"During the holidays, we may not have time. Although the court grants us leave, military affairs at Ba Shang are very busy and we can't stop for a moment."

"Well then, there's no time like the present. I just came across a poem while chatting with Yuanyang, so why don't I write it down and share it with you ladies for your appreciation!"

After Jia Jing finished speaking, he walked to the desk in the room and picked up a pen.

Upon hearing Jia Jing's words, Xiangyun cheered:

"That will do! Quickly grind the ink! Quickly grind the ink!"

Baochai walked to the desk and said softly:

"I'll do it!"

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves and began grinding ink, her movements practiced and composed.

Yingchun moved behind Jia Jing, wanting to see how he would write.

Xichun simply climbed onto the chair and lay down on the edge of the desk.

Daiyu then had Xiangyun read it to her.

Jia Jing pondered for a moment, then wrote down the poem's title and preface:

A Visit to Daiyu's Illness in Winter, Shown to My Sisters

In the winter of the ninth year of the Jingsheng era, I visited Daiyu, who was ill in her courtyard. Xiangyun asked me to write a poem, and I could not refuse.

Baochai grinds ink, Yingchun holds up paper, Xichun leans over the table to observe, and Daiyu lies on the bed laughing.

Surrounded by my sisters, I composed this piece.

I also want to tell my sisters: With the nation and its people on my shoulders, I dare not shirk my duty.

After Xiangyun finished reading the poem's title and preface to Lin Daiyu, she widened her eyes in surprise:

"You asked for a poem, but I couldn't refuse? Third Brother, are you portraying me as a bandit?!"

Xue Baochai smiled and covered her mouth, saying:

"You became a bandit, and I became a book boy grinding ink."

Yingchun blushed slightly, paused for a moment, and said:

"I'm just standing here, I'm not holding any paper!"

Xi Chun smiled the happiest:

"I'm 'observing intently' at the table, hehe! I've entered into poetry too!"

Daiyu smiled too. Not only was she mentioned in the poem's title, but she was also mentioned in the preface. Others only mentioned her once, but she was mentioned twice. This poem could be considered as being written for herself!

After everyone finished laughing and joking, Jia Jing continued writing:

"My strength is weak, my responsibilities heavy, and my spirit weary; if I exert myself any further, my feeble state will surely crumble! If it benefits the nation, I will risk my life; how could I avoid it because of personal fortune or misfortune? The dust has been swept away from the government gates, and the banner of the new government still flies high throughout the land. If I can receive the Emperor's grace, which is as deep as the sea, my heart will forever be devoted to the Emperor."

When he finished writing the last sentence, Jia Jing paused, the pen hovering over the paper for a moment before finally falling.

Xiangyun stood at the front, reading aloud each sentence Jia Jing wrote. After Jia Jing finished writing, she read it aloud as well. She pondered for a moment and said:

"‘My strength is weak, my burden heavy, and my spirit exhausted; if I exert myself any further, my feeble state will surely crumble.’ Is this Third Brother's way of being modest, or is he truly that tired?"

Baochai pondered the entire poem for a moment, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes, and then she said in a deep voice:

"If it benefits the country, I will risk my life; how can I avoid it because of personal fortune or misfortune?" This means that as long as it is beneficial to the country, one should not avoid personal fortune or misfortune, but only ask whether it is right or wrong. One should not consider one's own fortune or misfortune as important, but prioritize the interests of the country.

"The dust has been swept away from the mansion gates, but the banner of the new policies still flies high throughout the land. This means that the household has been cleaned up, but the implementation of the new policies in the court is difficult. As if the banner has not yet fallen, we still need to go all out and dare not slack off."

"The last two lines express the poet's aspirations, gratitude for the emperor's boundless kindness, and a willingness to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to serving his country. This is a heart full of unwavering loyalty, thinking only of his nation and its people, without regard for his own interests!"

"My third brother's poems always express his aspirations and ambitions directly. Unlike our poems, which tend to be more delicate, sentimental, and melancholic."

As she finished speaking, Baochai's voice lowered, and she looked up at Jia Jing, her eyes shining.

I was just lamenting how hard it is to find a good match and a true friend!

But isn't this confidant right beside me now?

Xiangyun said:

"Third brother's poem is indeed much better than the poems we usually write about chrysanthemums and willows."

"Poetry expresses one's aspirations, and I propose that we write poems with such breadth of vision and spirit for our next poetry gathering."

Daiyu took the note from Xiangyun and read it twice. Suddenly, she felt a pang of sadness and a sense of empathy.

People like my third brother and my own father are probably people who are devoted to the country and don't care about their own safety.

My father was inspecting salt in Yangzhou. He had long since disregarded life and death and wrote many letters expressing his determination to burn his bridges and entrust his affairs to others after his death.

Now my third brother thinks the same way: as long as it benefits the country, he doesn't care about fortune or misfortune!

But what about themselves? Where are they?

Where are their relatives, like themselves?

Daiyu looked somewhat somber.

Yingchun, however, was pondering something when she looked up at Jia Jing and, unusually, cracked a joke:

"With this poem from our third brother, we're likely to become famous for all time, just like Fei Yanggu!"

Xiangyun disagreed and retorted:

"How can that be the same? Fei Yanggu is infamous for all time, while we are the ones whose stories will be remembered for eternity."

"If my third sister knew she missed such a great opportunity, she'd probably regret it to death!"

Xi Chun blinked and said:

"To be remembered for eternity? Does that mean when I grow up, everyone will know that I used to hunch over a table as a child?!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

After another short while, as dusk settled, the group gradually left Daiyu's courtyard.

……