【Illustrated Record of Fragrance】【48】【Author: Qingzhu Qiu】

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Everyone exclaimed in admiration. Wanrong rolled a three, her opponent was Xiaolian, and her opponent was Suxin. The two played a game, and Suxin lost. After drinking, she drew two tokens: one with an azalea design, and the other with the name of an ancient figure, Meng Zong. Suxin smiled and said, "These are interesting draws. I've come up with a naturally coincidental line of poetry." She said, "The cuckoo cries blood in the middle of the night.
" The ladies all slapped the table and praised, "Indeed, this line is a natural coincidence; the previous two lines are not as natural as Liyun's." Suxin then picked up a plum and said, "I see no cuckoo crying blood in the middle of the night, only the ripe plums in the half-sunny, half-cloudy weather."
After saying this, she rolled a four, her opponent was Madam Fang, and her opponent was Shen Langu. Madam Fang lost the game, drank, and drew the flower designation "Drum Flower" and the ancient figure name "Sun Wukong." Upon seeing this, everyone burst into laughter, saying, "How come there's a Monkey King in the name of this ancient person?" Luo Zhu laughed, "The whole family is having a competition, and Sister Shen won again. This has made the First Madam both drink a penalty cup and play drinking games, and she's worried about being laughed at. She's so anxious, like a monkey!" This caused everyone to laugh even harder. Madam Fang also laughed, "Good, good! You little monkey are teasing me. I'll settle the score with you after the banquet." Qiong Zhen laughed, "Don't bother calling me a monkey; we'll all get confused about our monkey-themed games." Madam Fang smiled and said, "All the immortals recite 'Rainbow Skirt' on the same day." She
then picked up a peach from the table and said, "
Why is it that he recites 'Rainbow Skirt' on the same day as all the immortals, while that little monkey only has a peach from Sui Mountain?
" The ladies laughed and praised, "He really went to great lengths to come up with that." Madam Fang also rolled three dots; the player before her was Xiao Feng, and the player after her was Jing Yi. The two women, seated across from each other, engaged in a fistfight, the bracelets on their wrists jingling incessantly. After half a day of this, a winner was decided: Xiao Feng lost. He raised his cup, downed it in one gulp, and drew a peony, a flower associated with the ancient poet Mi Fu. He thought for a moment and said, "The
emperor summons, but I won't board the boat." Having said this, he looked around the table for a while, then grabbed Xiao Lian's sleeve, laughing loudly, "Let's use this as the base for the wine." He continued, "Why would I not board the boat when the emperor summons? It's because I wish to seek my beloved minister from the king.
" This drew laughter from the ladies, who all said, "Though witty, it's amusing, and it perfectly captures the mood." Xiao Lian blushed, slapped Xiao Feng, and flung his sleeve away, saying, "You're imitating those gossipy people, making fun of me! I meant to make you a lively figure at the banquet, not to make fun of others!" Saying this, she filled a cup for Xiao Feng to drink, and then repeated the sentence.
Xiao Feng laughed, "You sitting here are part of the scenery. I didn't say anything about outside the table. Who told you to call me 'Ai Qing'? Besides, this poem was written by the ancients, not something I made up to mock you. If my name is fitting, you can say whatever you want, I won't blame you. I'll drink this cup of wine, but if you say it's a punishment, I'm a little unhappy. You can ask the others at the table to judge." Madam Fang interjected, "I have a mediator here, so you don't need to argue. In my opinion, this cup of wine should be drunk by Yao Jun, not as a punishment, since her family has found Ai Qing alone, consider it a congratulatory cup." Qiong Zhen laughed, "That makes sense, that makes sense. I'll drink one cup to reconcile you." Saying that, she raised her cup and drank it down. Jing Xiao Feng and Xiao Lian both laughed and said, "Thank you." Xiao Feng rolled four again. The player before her was Xiao Dai, and the player after her was Wan Rong. The two argued for a while, and Xiao Dai lost. After drinking some wine, she used both hands to draw lots from two tubes at the same time. The name of the flower was "Oleander," and the ancient name was Wen Yu Ke. Xiao Dai laughed and said, "If I had drawn any other flower name, it would be difficult to match it with Wen Yu Ke. The three characters 'Oleander' are a match made in heaven." She then said, "I cannot live a day without this gentleman."
The ladies said, "This is truly a ready-made connection, much more advantageous for him." Xiao Dai picked up a piece of braised pork from the table and said, "Since one cannot live a day without this gentleman, why say one would rather live without bamboo than eat without meat?" She
then rolled a diagonal, the player before her being Jingyi, and the player after her being Xiaofeng. The two then played a thumbs-fighting game across their seats, this time Xiaofeng winning. Jingyi drank her wine, reached out and drew a peony flower, the name of an ancient figure, Emperor Wu of Han. She pondered for a moment and said, "The beauty in the brocade tent knows in her dreams." She
then picked up a piece of chicken from the plate and said, "
Just as I rejoice that the beauty in the brocade tent knows in her dreams, I hate to be awakened by the rooster's crow and the moon over the thatched inn."
After saying this, she rolled a six, and both the players before and after her were Luozhu. The ladies laughed, "What should we do then? Should we let Rouyun play diagonally with her left and right hands?" Luozhu also laughed, "Forget it, I don't like playing rock-paper-scissors; it's no fun with all the shouting. How about I consider myself the loser and we drink and draw lots instead?" Everyone nodded in agreement. Luo Zhu smiled and drew the name of the apricot blossom from the tube, the name of the ancient poet Sima Xiangru. She said, "Several branches of vibrant beauty brush against the wine of Wenjun."
Pointing to the fish-shaped object in the tube with her chopsticks, she added, "
Because I love several branches of vibrant beauty brush against the wine of Wenjun, not only the zither is allowed to be played by fish and dragons under the moon."
Having said this, she picked up the dice and rolled a two. The player before her was Lan Gu, and the player after her was Xiao Feng. Unexpectedly, Xiao Feng won against Lan Gu's fist. Lan Gu drank a cup of wine and drew the name of the datura flower, the name of the emperor during the reign of Emperor Shun. An ancient person's name. He thought for a moment and said: "Boil sunflowers and bamboo shoots to feed the spring plowing."
Then, picking up a slice of bamboo shoot from the bowl, he said: "
Because I want to boil sunflowers and bamboo shoots to feed the spring plowing, I'm focused on: 'The bamboo shoot may not become bamboo.'" He then rolled a four, the player before him being Jasmine, and the player after him being Little Pity. Little Pity lost the game, drank some wine, and then drew a stick from the two bamboo tubes. One was the name of a flower, Willow Catkins, and the other was the ancient person's name, Green Pearl. Little Pity frowned and said: "Why did I have to draw this wretched flower name and ancient person's name? I'm going to die!" Luo Zhu said: "Stop! What are you talking about? This is just a toy, how can it possibly come true for anyone? Isn't that foolish? Speak quickly, if you can't, I'll take your place." Xiao Lian smiled and said, "Fallen flowers resemble those who have fallen from a building." She
then picked up a candied apricot from the fruit dish and said , "
Here, I lament that fallen flowers resemble those who have fallen from a building; there, I rejoice in the vibrant spring on the apricot branches.
" The ladies praised her, saying, "This single line has captured the essence of the moment, and the mood has already faded." It was already past midnight, and the lamps and candles had been changed several times. Madam Fang said, "Let's call it a night. We've all had a long day, and we're all exhausted. Let's meet again tomorrow." "Qiongzhen, Xiaolian, Suxin, Wanrong, and Xiaofeng also wanted to return. So everyone ate some food and washed their hands. Qiongzhen and the others then got up to say goodbye. Madam Fang led the ladies to see them off out of the garden. Lanyu Pavilion watched as Qiongzhen and the others boarded their sedan chairs on the path, said goodbye several times, and then turned back inside. They then went through the side gate to the main house and went back to their rooms to rest. Madam Ba and her daughters also went home. The servants in the garden tidied up the lamps, locked the doors, and arranged for everyone to stay overnight.
A day later, Xiaoru invited Conglong over, and everyone had a feast, which was naturally still a drinking and playing game. From then on, Boqing and Hancha would either stay in the garden for a few days or go home, doing as they pleased. Only Conglong, in his spare time, would come to the garden to find everyone for banquets and entertainment, always arriving early and returning late. The ladies inside would also sometimes invite Qiongzhen, Xiaolian, Suxin, Wanrong, and Xiaofeng to stay for a few days, truly finding no fun and no enjoyment." Unprepared. Whenever the flowers bloomed in the garden throughout the four seasons, they would hold banquets and feasts. Gan Shi heard of their enjoyment and Xiao Ru sent him a drawing of the Huifang Garden. Gan Shi was truly envious and also brought his belongings to Nanjing. Xiao Ru immediately cleaned up the Juanxuezhai and asked Gan Shi's mother-in-law, Madam Ba, to discuss bringing Madam Ba into the garden. They prepared a three-room side house behind the Green Field Hall in the East Residence. Madam Ba was also somewhat literate and studied with Madam Fang and others, practicing poetry. In less than a month, she could compose a couple of lines of poetry. Madam Ba's mother also came to accompany her daughter from time to time. Mei Xian then moved to Bancunting.
One day, Xiao Ru and others were at the Liukan Hall, enjoying some light tea. They asked Gan Shi to write a "Record of Huifang Garden" in his spare time so that it could be engraved on a stone to commemorate the grand gathering. Gan Shi agreed. Just then, Shuangfu rushed in and told Xiao Ru, "Second Madam has arrived." "Xiao Ru, knowing his sister-in-law had arrived, hurriedly told Shuang Fu to inform Madam to go out and greet her. We don't know what brings Yu Mei here; let's find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Forty-Eight: Matching the Matchmaker and the Courtesan; A Tale of Romantic Encounters. It is said that Han Yu Mei, after marrying Chen Renshou, was greatly loved by the couple. Later, because Renshou went to the capital for official duties, he placed her with Yun Conglong, which Yu Mei enjoyed, allowing her to often meet with Xiao Feng. Now that Xiao Feng has married into the Chen family, she naturally doesn't treat her the same way as before. She often chats with Wanrong, mentioning..." "Yu Mei was sold to my family when she was only eight or nine years old, and her behavior was already unusual. Don't laugh, Madam, but at that time I was still a child, and all the guests loved her for her charm and jokes. If the jokes went too far, she would refuse to acknowledge them. This shows how good she would be later. If we consider things now, although she served me for several years from childhood, I am not as fortunate as she is. Truly, life is unpredictable."
Xiao Feng changed her address to "sister," but Yu Mei remained true to her original intentions. Despite Xiao Feng's treatment, she continued to serve him cautiously, just as before, never calling Xiao Feng "sister," but instead addressing her as "Grandma." Even when Xiao Feng, anxious, swore an oath to change her address, Yu Mei smiled but did not answer. Behind her back, she often said, "One should not forget one's roots. If one forgets the poverty and hardship when rich and powerful, is one still a human being? Besides, Grandma treated me with the kindness of parents. Although I was adopted by Lord Yun and not abandoned by Lord Chen because of my lowly status, what would I have done if Grandma hadn't let me go then? All my good fortune today is thanks to Grandma. How dare I presume to call her 'sister'? Absolutely not!" Hearing this, Xiao Feng could only go along with her, each fulfilling their duty.
Some time later, Ren Shou granted the Jiangsu Provincial Education Commissioner a new position and went to Yuanpu to visit Yu Mei. Because the Education Commissioner was an imperial envoy, it was inconvenient for him to bring his family, so he remained at the Tianya residence. Ren Shou then went to various prefectures to take the examinations.
One day, while taking the examination in Yangzhou Prefecture, he met a newly appointed scholar named Han Guangkui from Zhaoyang. He casually inquired about Han's family background and ancestors, and learned that Han was a cousin of Yu Mei's great-great-grandfather. Ren Shou was overjoyed and immediately summoned Han Guangkui to his private office to recount their kinship. Han Guangkui also knew of a cousin who had been sold into servitude as a child and whose fate remained unknown. Hearing Ren Shou's explanation and recognizing that the provincial education commissioner was his cousin's husband, he was overjoyed and rushed home to inform his parents, wanting to see his cousin. Han Guangkui, from a wealthy family, hired a large boat, brought many gifts, and traveled with his parents to Qingjiang. He first visited Conglong, explaining his purpose. Then, upon seeing Yu Mei, he embraced her and wept bitterly. He then consulted Conglong, saying he wanted to take her back to live with him, and to make further plans after his cousin's term as education commissioner ended. Just then, Conglong received an imperial decree to be transferred to Liangjiang. Moreover, they were Yu Mei's uncles, aunts, and brothers, and Ren Shou had already recognized them as relatives, so it was appropriate for him to stay at his mother's home. Only Xiao Feng was reluctant to part with him, but since Yu Mei had already recognized her family, she should go back home, so he hardened his heart and let her go. When
Yu Mei returned to Zhaoyang, all the Han relatives knew about it, and seeing that she was the wife of the provincial education commissioner, they all rushed to curry favor with her. One family invited her to a banquet, another invited her to a feast, keeping her extremely busy. Half a year later, Han Guangkui suddenly remembered that the former governor was his sister's uncle, who was now retired and living in Nanjing. Why not go and recognize the relatives and make some connections, thus bringing honor to the hometown? He then came to discuss it with Yu Mei, who also wanted to visit her uncle, aunt, and Xiao Feng, which suited her perfectly. So she and Guangkui came to Nanjing. After mooring the boat, they first sent someone ashore to inquire and learned that Xiao Ru had moved to a new house at Taoye Ferry. They then took a sedan chair into the city and got off at the Green Field Hall.
Madam Fang and the other ladies had already come out to greet them, and they went inside to pay their respects and take their seats. The ladies of the Zhu, Jiang, and Yun families were also there, exchanging greetings. Madam Fang asked, "Are you staying a while longer before returning to Zhaoyang, or will you stay here?" Yu Mei laughed, "It's so lively here; I came to join in the fun. I've brought all my belongings; why would I go back?" Xiao Feng clapped his hands, "Even if you want to go back, I'll keep you here." Madam Fang immediately ordered someone to clean the house. The house had seven courtyards. Madam Fang lived in the first courtyard, Jingyi in the second, and Xiao Dai in the third. Each courtyard had suites for the maids and women. The remaining four courtyards were prepared for Qiong Zhen and the others' arrival. The fourth courtyard was to be cleaned up and used to house Yu Mei's belongings.
Outside, Xiao Ru had already invited Han Guangkui over for a meeting, and they had hosted a banquet and opera performance, entertaining him in the garden for several days. Seeing that Yu Mei didn't want to return, Guangkui had to take his leave. Xiao Ru also gave away many gifts that day. Bo Qing and Xiao Ru chatted, and it came to the fact that Wu Guan was getting old and should be engaged, which was the proper thing to do. Mei Xian chimed in from the side, "Wu Guan's marriage is not easy to talk about. I asked him behind his back, and he said, 'The union of men and women is originally determined by heaven, but it cannot be done haphazardly. One must choose someone who is worthy of oneself, and she must have a gentle personality and elegant manners. If she has these two qualities, even if she is not good-looking, it doesn't matter. If a person has this thought, even if his wife is destined to be a ugly woman, he can still change the will of heaven. If it is arranged hastily, without considering beauty or ugliness, I would rather be unmarried for life, and live a carefree and unburdened life.' You all listen to him, he's arranging a marriage for me." "It's bound to be a long and difficult process," Xiao Ru nodded. "It's understandable, Wu Guan isn't an ordinary person, so naturally he won't be hasty. That means we have to meet our daughters before we can arrange a marriage for him." After pondering for a while, he suddenly smiled and said to Bo Qing, "I've got it! Your girl Jin Zheng, I think she's beautiful and her temperament is beyond reproach. Why not tell Wu Guan? It would be a wonderful thing." Bo Qing smiled and said, "Indeed, Jin Zheng is a good match for him, that's not difficult, but we need to find out his opinion first. Xiao Qu, ask him tomorrow and see what he thinks." Mei Xian agreed. After dinner, they all went back to their rooms.
Mei Xian arrived at Cong Gui Villa, where Wu Guan was reading under the lamp. Seeing Mei Xian enter, he quickly got up to offer her a seat and asked a servant to bring tea. Mei Xian said, "The weather is getting cooler. You should have someone cover the windows in the outer room with cloth, otherwise, if you sit for a while in the evening, you might catch a chill from the wind." Wu Guan replied, "I already told them yesterday." The two talked for a while, and then Mei Xian brought up the marriage proposal that Xiao Ru and Bo Qing had discussed during the day. Wu Guan blushed and said, "It's not too late to discuss this matter in a few years." Mei Xian smiled and said, "Whether it's sooner or later, Bo Qing's family has offered you Jin Zheng. Are you willing?" Wu Guan said, "You're being silly. Even if I'm willing, it's pointless to talk about it now if I don't handle this matter." Seeing that he seemed willing, Mei Xian didn't press him further. After saying a few more words, she said, "I'm going now. You should get some sleep." With that, she got up and left. Wu Guan saw her off to the courtyard before returning home.
The next morning, Mei Xian told Xiao Ru what Wu Guan had said. Xiao Ru then arranged to meet Bo Qing to inquire about Wu Guan's situation in person. Wu Guan initially hesitated, but Xiao Ru and Bo Qing pressed him for the truth. Wu Guan had seen Jin Zheng several times; although she was a maid, she was quite beautiful, far better than marrying a daughter from a poor family who would be shy and timid in front of others. So he agreed. Seeing that Wu Guan had agreed, Bo Qing returned to the mansion that afternoon to discuss it with Su Xin, who also agreed. Xiao Ru then prepared the seventh courtyard as the bridal chamber and moved Mei Xian and her husband to the back. Mei Xian managed all the furnishings for Wu Guan's side. Su Xin, because Jin Zheng had always served diligently, gave her several hundred taels of her own money for her wedding. The auspicious
day arrived quickly, and Jin Zheng was married off from the Zhu family's residence, carried in a four-person decorated palanquin, with two pairs of palace lanterns and a band of musicians. Upon arriving at the new residence, they worshipped Heaven and Earth in the Green Field Hall and invited the ladies to come out and receive their worship. Wu Guan had arranged for a small opera troupe and prepared several tables of wine to invite Xiao Ru and others. Yun Conglong, having heard of Wu Guan's wedding, also sent a gift and came in person to offer his congratulations. Lanterns and decorations were hung throughout the hall. Outside, Shuangfu and other family members also had a banquet. People played drinking games and drank until late into the night. When the banquet ended, Wu Guan was escorted to his bridal chamber to celebrate their marriage. Bo Qing and Han Cha stayed in the garden as it was getting late. Only Conglong returned to the yamen; Wanrong, Xiao Feng, and others were also kept there by Madam Fang.
The next morning, Wu Guan and his wife got up. Su Xin sent two maids to help Jin Zheng with her facial hair, and she went out again to pay her respects to Xiao Ru and the other ladies. Everyone gave her gifts. From then on, everyone addressed her as Granny Liu. Wu Guan and Jin Zheng were indeed a handsome couple, deeply in love.
It was mid-July, and the early osmanthus blossoms in the garden were in full bloom. Madam Fang invited Wanrong and Xiaofeng to admire the blossoms. Since Wuguan didn't live at Conggui Villa, it was empty, so she decided to hold a banquet there. She ordered her personal maid, Hongwen, to lead a group of maids to clean up. Hongwen then invited Chunmei from Jingyi's room, Yuluan from Luozhu's room, Suyue from the shopkeeper's house, Meinu who served Lan Gu, Qiuxia, Si'er, and a group of other maids to play. None of these maids disliked going to the garden, so they used the excuse of cleaning up to come in groups, laughing and joking. Hongwen told the maids to carry tables and chairs, set up a few seats, and gave some instructions before letting them slowly clean up. She then came out and saw Qiuxia and Si'er standing in a corner, chattering about something. The other maids were either picking osmanthus blossoms to make flower hoops or catching crickets in twos and threes on the grass.
Hongwen joined them in a joke, saying to Si'er, "You've talked enough. It's obvious you and Sister Qiu are old acquaintances, and on the surface you're closer than others. Come and talk to us too." Si'er replied, "You don't understand. We're talking about our innermost thoughts; you wouldn't know." Hongwen laughed, "Alright, as the saying goes, good things shouldn't be hidden, and bad things shouldn't be hidden. I can guess a bit of what's on your minds. It's mostly because Si'er sees that Sister Jin is doing well now and wants to make some plans for herself, so she asked Sister Qiu to help you." "Consider it, isn't that right?" Hearing Hongwen mock him, Si'er blushed and was about to reply when Qiuxia sneered and interjected, "What Hongwen said is truly strange. How can you tell we're gossiping about such nonsense, and how can you tell Si'er is asking me about this matter? Oh, I see. It's a common saying that people tend to suspect others of the same thoughts they have. If you asked me, I could teach you a method, but Si'er asking me, I have nothing to teach him." "Chunmei." Yu Luan and her companion were squatting behind a rock catching crickets when they heard Qiu Xia's words. They stood up, clapped their hands, and laughed, "Sister Qiu's words truly touched my heart.
Sister Hong Wen has lost today; she has no reply." Mei Nu, standing to the side, clicked her tongue and said, "Sister Qiu, if you don't speak, fine, but when you do, your words are all just platitudes. How can you even understand someone's heartache? If you were a doctor, you'd be quite skilled." Si'er chanted a Buddhist prayer, "Amitabha! Those who mock me usually get mocked back. As the saying goes, 'If bird droppings on Buddha's head, I won't hit you, but someone else will.'" It turned out that Hong Wen was more beautiful than the other maids and loved to dress up in a striking way, wearing several brightly colored clothes. She was usually quick-witted, thoughtful, and had a proud and arrogant personality. Relying on Madam Fang's favor, she didn't take Qiu Xia and the other thousand maids seriously. If they made a mistake, Hong Wen would immediately accuse them, making even the most intangible things sound incredibly true and influencing them. The maids knew they were no match for him, and Yan Wu was no match for him either, so they could only endure it in their hearts. Today, because Qiu Xia mocked him, he ended up setting a fire, and everyone ridiculed him to vent their old grievances.
Hong Wen saw everyone mocking him in unison, and Qiu Xia's words were sharp and difficult to refute. What had started as a joke now turned to shame and anger. His face flushed crimson, he cursed, "You bunch of damned, wicked little devils, you'll all be going to the Tongue-Pulling Hell tomorrow! I was just joking, what does it matter to me whether it's true or not? It's fine if Qiuxia sides with Si'er when I'm talking to him. But you little hussies, you don't need to fawn over him. How did you know about my troubles? You're trying to pin these lies on me, don't expect me to say anything nice. You probably all have other ideas, and Jinzheng is jealous. Now that I've touched a nerve with Si'er, you're joining Qiuxia in spouting nonsense. Don't you dare embarrass yourselves!" The maids listened as he continued his incoherent rant. Her laughter turned to anger, and Yu Luan first put on a stern face, saying, "Hong Wen, you need to distinguish whether you're joking with us or intentionally trying to scold us. You were the one who teased Si'er first, and that's why Qiu Xia answered you. We were just joking around; how could we say you have a heart ailment and therefore have a heart ailment? If you did have a heart ailment, we wouldn't have said it. Why are you taking it so seriously? It makes it seem like you really have a heart ailment. You said something to Si'er, and Si'er didn't get upset, which shows that Si'er isn't sick. Besides, even if we were wrong to joke with you and say something inappropriate, it's just something we're used to playing around with, and you shouldn't have resorted to cursing. If you were to curse, it wouldn't sound good to anyone." Mei Nu said, "That's right, if..." "We can all scold each other! We know that we may not be as good-looking as others, or as clever as others in our actions. If we're talking about scolding, we can at least say a few words, unlike our usual sharp tongues and nitpicking. We're not as good as others in any way." Qiuxia said, "Sisters, please stop. It was my fault for speaking up for Fourth Sister. You all chimed in with your own words, which unfortunately touched on her sore spot. This has only made things worse for Fourth Sister and me! It has also angered you all, making us even more uneasy. Now we've all lost out, all scolded in one fell swoop. Actually, in my opinion, we sisters are all the same. Who has more eyebrows or more eyes? What are we? Do you know?" "What is it?" Thinking about it this way, everything is fine; even this explanation is unnecessary. My dear sisters, listen to me, I guarantee you'll be right. Think about it carefully. "Chunmei clapped her hands and laughed, "Sister Qiuxia is right! Words don't need to be many; as long as they hit the nail on the head, they're better than those who curse. That's utter nonsense, just pointless rambling. You don't even curse, yet your words are more powerful than curses. So who's inferior, and who has more than whom?" Hearing this, Qiuxia couldn't help but scoff and spit, "Chunmei, you're talking nonsense again! I think you have more than them! Aren't you ashamed? How can a young lady spout such nonsense?" This made Yuluan and the others laugh.
Hongwen grew increasingly anxious upon hearing this, and seeing their large numbers and hurtful words, she blushed with shame. After staring at them for a long time, she said, "Don't be so happy. You're just spouting nonsense. I'll go tell your master to judge for me and see who's in the wrong. So you all secretly conspired to bully me." With that, she cried and turned to leave.
By this time, the servants had finished cleaning. Hearing the commotion escalating, and seeing that Hongwen was about to tell the ladies, they feared being blamed for not intervening and observing the situation. Two servants hurriedly came out and stopped Hongwen, laughing, "Miss Hong, here you are again! You sisters are used to joking around like good friends, why are you taking it so seriously today, making yourselves a laughingstock? If you're going to tell the ladies, you'll be even more mistaken. Your joking hasty words have angered the ladies, and even we'll be in trouble. We sisters are together all day; we can talk more with some and less with others, and that's it. We've never seen you two fighting like chickens and ducks all month long. Good girl, we've already tidied things up. Please go and see if there's anything wrong with the arrangements, so you can point it out and prevent us from getting into trouble with the ladies." Saying this, they pulled Hongwen into the house. Seeing the servants stopping Hongwen from telling the ladies, Qiuxia and the others assumed there was no further problem. It was inconvenient to say anything more, lest she take it seriously and cause a scene, in which case she herself would also be in the wrong. So everyone dispersed.
Hongwen had intended to make a scene, but the others dragged her inside. They quickly fetched water for her to wash her face and then comforted her, saying, "Miss, don't be angry. Except for Miss Qiuxia, everyone else is younger than you, and they speak without thinking. You can tolerate it all. Even with Miss Qiuxia, you two are used to laughing and joking together, and you've never made a scene before. But today you suddenly started, and in your anger, you only wanted to tell the ladies. Madam Zhu and Madam Jiang will naturally criticize Miss Qiuxia; your lady will also have to say something to you, otherwise you'll lose face and feel bad for the ladies. It's clear you're biased towards your own family." After they talked it over, they... "It's pointless. That's why we advised you, young lady, not to tell them. Your sisters will see each other sooner or later, and they'll eventually reconcile. Why make a scene now and create resentment among them? Besides, if you say they're wrong, they'll also have to come up with their own arguments. Everyone'll be accusing each other, and even the wives won't be able to tell right from wrong. They'll just end up saying their own daughters are bad. You're a very sensible person, young lady. Think about whether our words are for your sake or theirs." Hongwen, hearing this and after being comforted by everyone, gradually calmed down. She simply said, "Today's over, but in a couple of days I'll find something to do, to deal with those sluts, and finally vent my anger. I don't want them laughing at my incompetence, suffering their wrath without daring to vent. Then they'll realize my power and regret it!" An elderly maidservant clapped her hands and said, "Excellent! What you've said so far makes perfect sense. There's a saying: 'A gentleman doesn't leave a grudge unavenged.' Another saying goes: 'A determined man can avenge a long-standing grudge.' When they come to you, you might just die of some illness. I'm not flattering you, but one person can't win an argument with them; if you treat them with cunning..." Even with a few more, they wouldn't be a match for the young lady. Don't say they're just rough and careless; they only care about their momentary pleasure. If you ask them tomorrow, they'll have forgotten. It's clear they're all childish; the young lady should see through that. Hongwen had no reply, so she and the other servants tidied up the room and returned to report to Madam Fang: "The arrangements at Conggui Manor are complete. Madam, please tell us when to host the guests so we can instruct the kitchen to prepare." Madam Fang then chose the next day for lunch and dinner. She stipulated: not the usual lavish food, just two small dishes, six dishes in total, nothing but delicacies from land and sea, omitting all fish and meat. She also prepared a jar of aged Shaoxing wine.
It just so happened that the next day was Wuguan's birthday. Xiaoru and the others, because of his arrival, would celebrate his first birthday, so they needed to have a lively celebration. They also heard that Madam Fang was hosting a banquet and invited Wanrong and others to admire the osmanthus blossoms. He also ordered the kitchen to prepare several more tables of wine, inviting Conglong and the others to come and see the osmanthus blossoms, and also to celebrate Wuguan's birthday—a win-win situation. The banquet was then set up in the Red Fragrance Courtyard. Nothing more was said that night.
Early in the morning, Xiao Ru sent someone to invite Yun Conglong, and Madam Fang also sent Hongwen to personally invite Wanrong and Xiaofeng. A short while later, male and female guests arrived, and were invited inside. They were offered seats and tea. First, Xiao Ru and others accompanied Yun Conglong to the Red Fragrance Courtyard, where they saw Wu Guan, dressed in formal attire, waiting there. He greeted everyone in turn. Everyone congratulated him, and each person gave a gift, such as a calligraphy piece, a handkerchief, a fan, or a ribbon.
Conglong then urged Wu Guan to change into casual clothes, and everyone else changed their clothes as well, taking their seats casually. There were also a dozen or so osmanthus trees in the Red Fragrance Courtyard, half of which were already in bloom, their fragrance wafting into the room, which was quite lovely. After chatting for a while, the servants set out a feast, and everyone took their seats, passing cups around, drinking and cheering.
Inside, the female guests arrived at the Osmanthus Villa and took their seats. After the maids brought tea, Madam Fang rose and invited the other ladies to the inner room to change their coats. They then returned to the outer room and found the table already set. She seated Wanrong in the head seat, Madam Fang in the main seat, and the others in order of seniority. During the meal, they chatted and laughed, but
we'll leave that aside for now. Let's turn to Xiao Ru and the others in Hongxiang Courtyard. After several rounds of drinks, Xiao Ru said, "We should play a drinking game today to make it more lively. But while there are many drinking games, few are truly good. Games like thumb wrestling are too rough, guessing numbers is too vulgar, and other games like 'drawing characters to float wine cups' or 'passing flowers while drinking' are too general. Furthermore, the scheming and elaborate games are rather dull. The other day, Boqing, Zhexiang, and I, in our spare time, compiled several new sets of games that are both refreshing and elegant. I've already copied a copy and intend to have it printed and share it with fellow enthusiasts. Why don't we try them out today?" Saying this, he turned and called Shuangfu to fetch them.
The group saw a dice bowl, made from a blank sheet of paper, containing six dice. Outside was a small, openwork ivory scroll with six ivory sticks inserted, each inscribed with characters. There was also a thick paper scroll. The young scholar said, "You must read this scroll first to understand." Upon hearing this, Conglong reached for the scroll, unfolded it, and showed it to everyone. It read: "The order is to use six ivory dice, each inscribed with six characters: one for a young master riding a horse in a brothel, one for an old monk meditating in a temple, one for a young woman embroidering in her boudoir, one for a butcher fighting in the marketplace, one for a prostitute selling her charms at a door, and one for a beggar sleeping soundly in an ancient temple." Outside were six ivory sticks, each inscribed with the names of a young master, an old monk, a young woman, a butcher, a prostitute, and a beggar. The method is as follows: Several people at the table first use one die. One roll represents a young master, two rolls an old monk, three rolls a young woman, four rolls a butcher, five rolls a prostitute, and six rolls a beggar. After the roll, each person identifies their chosen role based on their result and holds it in their hand. The official then begins the game; everyone takes turns rolling. Those who roll a face or a number are required to read the inscription below the name they rolled and proceed accordingly. If they fail on the first roll, they are allowed to roll again. If they fail on the third roll, they are penalized with three cups of wine and the next person takes their turn.
For example, if someone rolls the name "Young Master Riding a Horse at Zhangtai," the inscription reads: "Long branches warm in the sun, swaying horses, recalling Zhang Lang of yesteryear; flying catkins and misty smoke, holding the reins, feeling the spirit of Yu Xin of yesteryear. A whip on the Sui Dynasty's dike, a thousand strands of the Han Dynasty's garden." The person who rolls this name drinks three cups of wine in celebration. If the person who rolls this name is young, or has the surname Zhang, and it fits the story, they drink an additional cup. The young women and prostitutes present, seeing this handsome young man, are all captivated and drink an extra cup compared to their companions.
Or, if the roll reads: "A young man from Zhangtai who practices Zen: He mourns the oldest among men, abandoning worldly pleasures to pursue the highest path; he thinks of Emperor Wu of Han, who sought to reach the heavens, channeling his spirit to achieve spiritual enlightenment. Who would have thought his son would harbor such a depraved Buddhist heart?" Those who roll this are young and have successfully severed their worldly desires, but this is not the right place for Zen practice; they are punished with two cups. Even the most devoted to the Way cannot be without a teacher; one should offer a cup of respect to the old monk and bow before him. Any disrespect will result in a cup of punishment. If one speaks with any of the young women or courtesans present, both will be punished with a cup; those who remain silent will not be punished.
Or, if the roll reads: "A young man from Zhangtai who embroiders: He rivals the cleverness of Lingyun, weaving parrots from willow threads; he surpasses the artistry of Su Hui, weaving mandarin ducks from floral silk. He disdains the refined style of talented women, instead imitating the frivolous ways of women in their boudoirs." Those who roll this should be severely punished, for Dong Qichang once said that painting is inferior to calligraphy, and calligraphy is inferior to embroidery. However, to heed the wisdom of the ancients, the punishment is reduced by one cup. If someone throws a ball and gets to compare their hand skills with the young women present, the loser will be penalized
with a cup. If the thrower gets to throw a ball and gets to throw a ball and get ... throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball and throw a ball If the roll reads "The young master sleeping soundly at Zhangtai": Learn from his three sleeps and three rises, enter Handan in Zhao County; feel the coming and going of spring, seek Zhuangzi's butterfly. Borrow the weeping willows as a canopy, brush the tender grass as a carpet. The one who rolls this is drowsy all day, indulging in flowers and willows, and is punished with two cups. He should share a cup with the beggar. If there is someone with the surname Liu present, the one who rolls this should drink a cup of harmony with him. If
the roll reads "The young master meditating in the abbot's quarters": Concerned about the fleeting years, look up at the fragrant land with one finger; looking back at the fleeting smoke and clouds, he thoroughly understands the three lives on the meditation cushion. Only the simplest food is sweet, and he realizes that worldly vanities are like a dream. The one who rolls this is young and has easily shed the dust of the world, and should guess flowers with the old monks present to prove the meaning of picking flowers. The one who loses is punished with one cup. The one who rolls this again should explain his usual behavior and drink two cups.
Conglong wanted to look again, but Wang Lan snatched it away, saying, "Don't look anymore. It's all just going around in circles. We can look at it when we get there. Don't waste time. Besides, we can't see everything at once." Conglong smiled and stopped looking. He then appointed Xiaoru as the game master and took out a die for Xiaoru to roll.
Xiaoru picked up the satin and rolled a two, which meant the old monk. He then took out the old monk's dice from the ivory box and placed them in front of him. Next, it was Conglong's turn to roll, and he got a four, which meant the butcher and wine seller. Wang Lan laughed and said, "What a boring thing! Just a butcher and wine seller, drunk and violent, acting like a scoundrel." Saying this, he pulled over the dice bowl and rolled a five, which meant the prostitute. Long clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Retribution, retribution! My street-smart punches are slightly better than your flirtatious door-leaning antics. Wait a minute, we'll have to admire your flirtatious skills!" This caused everyone to burst into laughter, and they all said, "Now, Zhe Xiang has nothing to say. You can only blame the dice for being so uncooperative, rolling a five to slap you in the face." After laughing for a while, it was Erlang's turn to roll, and he got a six. Mei Xian smiled and said, "No one else's roll is appropriate, only Chu Qing's is most suitable. But thinking back to those days, I'm afraid I can't help but feel the difference between then and now." Erlang blushed upon hearing this, wanting to take it seriously, but then he knew that Mei Xian was just saying it without thinking, and certainly not intending to ridicule him. Xiao Ru quickly glanced at Mei Xian and changed the subject. Mei Xian also realized that she had spoken out of turn and lowered her head without saying a word. Wang Lan and the others then chatted and laughed, and the matter was over. Then Bo Qing rolled a number, and it was the young master. Wu Guan rolled a three, indicating a young woman. Han Cha and Bo Qing rolled the same number, so Han Cha got up and moved to sit next to Bo Qing. Mei Xian and Wang Lan
rolled the same number, so Mei Xian also sat next to Wang Lan. During the meal, everyone took their seats according to their assigned roles. Shuang Fu took the dice, placed the six winning dice in a basin, and pushed it in front of Xiao Ru. He also brought three tall wine cups. Xiao Ru said, "There are eight of us at this table, but we only have six dice. Zi Qian and Xiao Qu are under Bo Qing and Zhe Xiang's names, so I think each of us should roll one. The first time, Bo Qing should roll, and Zi Qian should follow suit. The second time, it's Zi Qian's turn, and Bo Qing should follow suit. This way, there will be no cheating. Zhe Xiang and Xiao Qu should do the same." Everyone nodded in agreement. Xiao Ru first drank a cup of wine, then reached for the dice and rolled them. To find out what the winning role was, stay tuned for the next chapter.
Chapter 49: The Official in Charge of the Wine Cups Takes Power and Strict Rules Apply, Yet Wang Lang is Punished. It is said that Chen Xiaoru, being the official in charge of the wine cups, should take the lead. He took the dice and threw one, which landed on the surface: an old monk leaning against a door, brandishing his fist. Erlang laughed, "Well done! It's called an old monk, and it involves brandishing his fist, and leaning against a door. Let's see how this rule is interpreted." He then took the rule book, opened it, and read: "If one throws 'Old Monk Leaning Against a Door, Brandishing His Fist,' fearing the sound of the bell, he first puts on this fierce expression; he waits menacingly by the door, let alone the compassion of a Bodhisattva. Committing this transgression of anger shames the title of Lin Li. Those who throw this have violated the rules and are angry; this is not appropriate for a monk and should be severely punished. However, considering that self-interest is the essence of a monk, and that scholars are often troubled by this, the punishment is reduced by two large cups." One must attend, pour a large cup, and respectfully stand before the young master, saying, "This monk was blind and did not recognize Mount Tai. I am guilty and hope the sir will forgive me." Then, one must sing a song titled "The Snobbish Monk." Those who are disrespectful in offering the wine or refuse to sing will be fined three times the amount.
After Erlang finished reading, he laughed loudly, "This penalty is too harsh! Xiaoru has brought this upon himself. Please, offer me wine and sing a song." Xiaoru had no choice but to pour a cup of wine and present it to Boqing, then recite the penalty. After he finished, everyone burst into laughter. Wang Lan said, "This story belongs to my family. It would be more appropriate if I drew the young master's penalty! How come it's benefiting Boqing?" Xiaoru said, "Don't be so happy, Zhexiang. Of all the penalties in this rule, the fine for prostitutes is the heaviest, so it will naturally fall on your head. I can't sing, so I'm willing to pay three times the penalty." He then drank the two large cups of penalty wine. When Erlang poured more, Wuguan stopped him, saying, "You can't drink nine cups of wine either. I'll sing for you." Wang Lan said, "It's not enough for someone else to sing for you; Xiaoru must sing himself." "He's the official in charge, and he found someone to sing for him first. Soon after, we were punished, and he followed suit, finding someone to sing for us too." "Five Officials said, 'It wasn't Xiao Ru who asked me; I volunteered to sing for him. Besides, Xiao Ru really can't sing; it would be too much trouble for him, and he'd find it boring. Even if I didn't sing for him, he'd still be punished with nine cups of wine anyway.' Wang Lan laughed, 'I won't argue with you. Just punish me and ask you to sing for me. Don't reply.' Five Officials didn't answer and calmly sang a song, 'The Snobbish Monk.'
The next player was to follow Long. Long threw out the 'Butcher and Wine Merchant, Boudoir Selling Flirtations' and laughed, 'A butcher and wine merchant in a boudoir is already unacceptable, let alone selling flirtations. I'm sure the interpretation will be disastrous.' He then found the answer to the question: 'If you throw out the 'Butcher and Wine Merchant, Boudoir Selling Flirtations': 'Slaughtering cattle and drinking wine may be heroic, but why do I hate women? Selling smiles and vying for beauty, why not temporarily charm the ladies?'" Unexpectedly, such a man with such features appeared behind the curtains. The one who threw this is pretentious and utterly unlike his true self; he shall be punished with three cups. However, since he intends to emulate the women, he fears he has not yet achieved the same level. Therefore, the courtesans present shall be ordered to enhance their allure and sing a seductive song. The one who threw this should sit upright with sincere respect to watch the punishment drink. Furthermore, a young woman shall be ordered to bow her head and offer a cup to the one who threw this.
Conglong laughed, "This rule is easy for me, but it's difficult for Zhexiang and Xiaoqu. No wonder Xiaoru said the fines for prostitutes are the harshest. It seems that the two rules for young women and prostitutes are either not punished at all, or the punishments are quite amusing." Wuguan smiled and stood up, saying, "Let me offer a toast; I need to ask Zhexiang and Xiaoqu for their advice." Wang Lan said, "You mischievous devil, you won't sing for me, and you even want to make fun of me. Fortunately, the rule says that young women must bow their heads and offer cups to the thrower. If you're even slightly wrong, I won't stand for it." Wuguan said, "Don't worry about me, I'll handle my appearance." Saying this, he filled three cups, and with his usual theatrical manner, he presented each cup to Conglong with feigned tenderness and charm. Truly, his eyes were like clear water, his brows like spring mountains, his waist like a willow swaying in the wind, and his movements like a lotus flower glistening with dew. Everyone at the table praised his skill, and even Wang Lan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Having seen the wine offered by the five officials, and finding it difficult to refuse, he lowered his eyes and softly sang a song called "Auspicious Meeting." Mei Xiandian followed suit with her own song. Conglong, as expected, sat upright and listened attentively until the song was finished. The entire banquet praised it endlessly. After Conglong finished his three cups of wine, it was Wang Lan's turn to take over. Just as Wang Lan was about to roll the dice, Mei Xiandian said, "Master Xiang, you must roll carefully. This time it's your turn to roll the dice, and I'll follow you. Don't drag me into it. I just sang a song of injustice, and I blame myself for following your lead!" Wang Lan laughed and said, "Don't be discouraged. If I roll the dice that will result in punishment, I won't ask you to punish me; I'll take your place." Saying this, he rolled the dice twice before getting a result: "A courtesan sleeping soundly in her boudoir." He then unfolded the dice book and read: "If the result is 'A courtesan sleeping soundly in her boudoir': If you go to Wushan, I can be the clouds and rain; if the god comes to the Luo River, people will be amazed by the barbarian emperor and the barbarian heaven." The figure fluttered gracefully in the Han palace, and lingered gently in the dream of Liu Sheng. The one who threw this is already fast asleep; it is inconvenient for him to drink again. Therefore, we should ask the gentlemen present to drink a large cup in his place. Anyone who joins in the game should also drink a large cup. The one who threw this should sing a short tune at will, the lyrics of which must be fitting to the theme, and all should listen quietly so as not to disturb his sweet slumber.
Wang Lan, seeing this, had no choice but to first ask Bo Qing to drink a cup, and Mei Xian also drank a cup. The official ordered someone to bring a pipa, plucked the strings, and urged Wang Lan to sing. Wang Lan said, "I have committed the sin of singing today, making a mess of long and short tunes. Now that the game is over, how many songs should I sing?" He then began to sing: "Last night I dreamt I entered the Yangtai Terrace, hand in hand under the silk curtains, flying together. A weak dragonfly gently touched the autumn river water, and a beautiful mandarin duck slept soundly, softly borrowing the spring flower petals. Awakening, I still remember, renewing our auspicious date, wondering if tonight I can experience the same romantic pleasure again?"
After he finished singing, everyone praised him in unison. It was Erlang's turn to play next. Erlang rolled a "Beggar's Horse" (a winning hand in the game). Meixian saw it immediately and couldn't help but laugh again. Xiaoru, fearing Meixian would say something more and make things even more difficult for Erlang, quickly took the game book and read it aloud for Erlang: "The one who rolls 'Beggar's Horse' is: Zheng Yuanhe's elegance remains undiminished, whipping his whip to sing 'Lotus Flower' again; Tang Liuru's unrestrained spirit is worth pondering, striking the zither with bold strokes. The willow's green is still faintly visible, the flower's beauty unchanged. The one who rolls this, though fallen in status, still has a heroic heart, and should drink a full cup to express his satisfaction. However, I fear it is not advisable to play arm in arm with the young master at the brothel. He must take turns playing thumb wrestling with the young master and the courtesans present. Whoever wins against a courtesan will have the courtesan serve three cups of wine to that person to establish a lasting bond."
Erlang then had Boqing and Wang Lan play thumb wrestling. Boqing lost, and then Erlang won against Wang Lan. Wang Lan had no choice but to offer three cups of wine to Erlang. Erlang stood up and took a sip. Then, Boqing, the next player, was to lead the drinking game. Boqing threw the "Young Master, Marketplace Charm" card. Han Cha quickly took the game book and read: "If you throw the 'Young Master, Marketplace Charm' card, you must emulate Pan An's past practice of throwing fruit, attracting ladies and gentlemen; you must also emulate the former 'Golden Prince's' stroll through the streets, lacking in elegance. You must compete with the commoners and boast of your beauty in the neighborhood. Although the one who throws this card is charming and self-admiring, being young, he is inevitably too arrogant and lacks dignity. He is no different from butchers, wine sellers, and beggars. He may play a thumb fight with the butchers, wine sellers, and beggars present to determine the winner. The loser will be penalized with a large cup. Then, he may play a drinking game with the young women and prostitutes present. If the loser loses, he must give a cup to each of the young women and prostitutes; if the young women and prostitutes lose, they must sing a short song together, which must subtly suggest that the loser go home and hide away."

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【Illustrated Record of Fragrance】【48】【Author: Qingzhu Qiu】

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