【Illustrated Record of Fragrance】【49】【Author: Qingzhu Qiu】

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Wang Lan laughed, "Interesting! This is the only way to keep everyone entertained. It's just a pity for the old monk; nobody pays attention to him." Bo Qing said, "Fortunately, both fist-guessing and guessing games involve two people. Zi Qian and I, along with you, can form two pairs." They decided that Bo Qing would play fist-guessing with Cong Long and guess with Wu Guan; Han Cha would play fist-guessing with Er Lang and guess with Mei Xian. Because Wang Lan had punished too many, he was allowed to skip one round. Bo Qing said, "It's better to let the one who benefits get away with it. I'm being stubborn. Since you've decided, let him off the hook." Wang Lan laughed, "Bo Qing, don't be so proud. Can you guarantee you won't be punished? If you are punished, I'll be sure to accept it." Saying this, everyone started playing fist-guessing games across the table. After a short while, Bo Qing won against Cong Long, and Er Lang won against Han Cha; in the guessing game, Wu Guan lost, and Mei Xian lost. Everyone then drank wine. Wu Guan took the pipa and sang with Mei Xian: "My darling, you still have the heart of a young man, spending your days searching for wildflowers and weeds, unaware of your wife's longing gaze. You only care about cockfighting and horse racing, like fallen leaves and drifting duckweed, your mind wandering, oblivious to the gossip and criticism of others. They only say you've fallen for me, changing your nature."
After the song, everyone praised them endlessly. It was Wu Guan's turn next. He put down the pipa, picked up the dice, and rolled a young woman meditating in the abbot's quarters. Wang Lan quickly took the dice book and laughed, "Let's see how this young woman meditates in the abbot's quarters!" He then unfolded the book and read: "If the roll is 'Young woman meditating in the abbot's quarters': Xiao Luan has thoroughly understood the three lives, confessing her falsehoods; Qin Cao has emptied all thoughts, vowing to take refuge alone. Ashamed of those women who claim beauty, she sits upright on my meditation cushion.
This one, a woman of delicate nature in her secluded chamber, has retreated to the Buddhist gate; her will is commendable, her feelings are pitiful. She should respectfully offer a cup to the old monk present and acknowledge him as her master." We must further examine the matter, using the four questions of greed, anger, lust, and murder posed by Ye Xiaoluan.
Upon hearing this, Wu Guan immediately rose and respectfully offered Xiao Ru a cup of wine. Xiao Ru accepted it, drank it, and laughed, "Wu Guan should kneel down and await my questioning." Wu Guan laughed, "Xiao Ru, please bear with it. You are not in office now, yet you still put on airs like an official. Don't make me laugh. Hurry up and ask, or I won't say anything more." Xiao Ru smiled and asked, "Have you ever broken the precept against drinking?" Wu Guan replied, "Yes." (The following lines are a separate, unrelated excerpt: "In the bridal chamber, they joyfully drank the wine of union; in the painted chamber, auspiciously, they celebrated the birthday banquet.")
Xiao Ru then asked, "Have you ever broken the precept against lust?" Wu Guan replied, "I often have my husband paint my eyebrows; I am used to competing with my little star for quilts.
" Xiao Ru asked, "Have you ever broken the precept against wealth?" Wu Guan replied, "My parents-in-law always give me brocade to add to my dowry; my children share New Year's money."
Xiao Ru then asked, "Have you ever broken the precept against anger?" Wu Guan replied, "I scolded the maid for picking flowers with leaves, and the rascal laughed and mocked me."
Everyone nodded in approval. Xiao Ru turned and looked at the clock; it was already past midnight. He said to everyone, "Let's eat. We'll postpone our journey until later. Fortunately, we've already made one trip." He then ordered the meal to be prepared. After everyone finished eating, they dispersed and lingered.
Inside the Cong Gui Villa, the ladies had also finished their banquets and were enjoying tea and conversation. Ba Yue'e invited her mother and Wang Shi, among others, to stroll around and admire the scenery. The maids and servants, along with the young masters and ladies of various households, were also playing in the garden.
Madam Fang happened to be discussing the Zhu family's marriage with Hong Jingyi. Madam Fang said, "The two children are going to travel during the provincial examinations this year. If they are lucky, they will be going to the capital soon. This matter can only be settled next autumn. I think it's best to ask Wang Renren to write a letter to the Zhu family first. If Baozheng is able to pass the provincial examinations and become a Juren, then marrying Miss Zhu will naturally be next autumn. Otherwise, we should check their birth dates this winter so that the Zhu family can make preparations in advance. Although the two families are not competing for dowry, all the odds and ends cannot be arranged overnight." Jingyi said, "I think so too. The boys and girls are both grown up. The sooner they are settled, the less worry your wife will have. If the eldest son passes the provincial examinations, that is a serious matter. It is not good to delay until next autumn. Tomorrow, I will urge my husband to send a letter to see what the Zhu family says in their reply. I'm afraid they may still have some difficulties. I will also inform the Leng family and ask them to help." Madam Fang nodded in agreement.
A short while later, it was time to light the lamps. The candles inside and outside were as bright as day, reflecting the moonlight, creating a dazzling display. A feast was soon laid out again, and the ladies remained in their original seats. The Ba family, mother and daughter, and others set up a table in the inner room, and invited Jinzheng to sit with them. Since it was Wuguan's birthday, everyone urged Jinzheng to take the seat of honor. Jinzheng repeatedly refused, but Suxin, overhearing from outside, instructed her to sit. Yue'e and the others took turns serving Jinzheng wine. At both the inner and outer tables, people sipped wine and chatted quietly, creating a lively atmosphere.
Outside in the Red Fragrance Courtyard, Xiaoru and the others also took their seats. Wang Lan said, "I've punished enough. This time, Xiaoru is still the order-giver, and I'll punish someone a few more times before I stop." Xiaoru laughed, "It's just that you chose a bad name; it's difficult to punish someone now. I just hope I don't get punished." He then ordered someone to bring the dice bowl and the order book, drank another cup, and threw out the name "Old Monk Meditating in an Ancient Temple." He took the dice book and read: If he rolled "Old Monk Meditating in an Ancient Temple": A green lamp shines against the wall, where one sees Buddha and one's own heart; red leaves cover the mountain, yet one seems utterly alone and without self. He dwells in a dilapidated hut, mending his robe with a few autumn clouds. The one who rolled this is practicing in a secluded valley, his shadow his only companion, ignorant of the world, having attained true enlightenment. He should drink a large cup of wine before the next person takes over
. The young scholar laughed, "Wonderful, wonderful. This dice book will not bother anyone, nor will anyone bother me." He poured himself a cup of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and pushed the dice bowl in front of Conglong. Conglong rolled "Butcher, Wine Merchant, Abbot Sleeping Soundly," and laughed, "Interesting! Last time it caused trouble in the women's quarters, this time it's in the Buddhist temple." He then unfolded the dice book and read: If he rolled "Butcher, Wine Merchant, Abbot Sleeping Soundly": The Buddha is a kindred spirit, but besides sleep, he only seeks wine and meat; the Buddha may not be angry with me, for I have recently laid down my butcher's knife. Pity this drunken dreamer, suddenly found among the likes of Ah-na. Although the one who threw this was sleeping in the wrong place, fortunately, the situation is understandable, and he should drink three cups with each of the old monks present. The old monk casually created a breeze at the table and asked the one who threw it in a Zen-like manner. If the one who threw it could not answer, he would be punished with three large cups.
After Conglong finished reading, he first poured three cups of wine and drank them, then filled the empty cup and sent it to the young scholar. The young scholar held the cup in his hand, thought for a moment, and asked: "Zaitian, do you know whether I should drink this cup of wine or not?" Conglong said: "Drink what you should drink, and don't drink what you shouldn't drink." The young scholar then picked up a slice of orange from the plate and asked: "Should I offer this orange to you, or keep it for myself to drink with my wine?" Conglong said: "Respecting others is a matter of courtesy, and eating for free is a matter of principle." After the question and answer, everyone clapped and praised.
Wang Lan said: "The young scholar's question was wonderful, and Zaitian's answer was also wonderful." The old monk was naturally well-versed in Zen principles, but unexpectedly even a butcher could understand this. Truly, the saying "lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot" is worthy of praise. Now that you've finished your drinks, it's our turn to play the drinking game. He pulled over the dice bowl and presented it to Mei Xian, saying, "This time, you're the one to roll. You complained before that I didn't roll well, which dragged you down. You'd better roll well." Mei Xian chuckled, grabbed the dice, and rolled them once, revealing a prostitute riding a horse in the marketplace. Wang Lan laughed, "You rolled well! You've conjured up a horse handler!" Mei Xian said, "What's this about horse handlers? As long as there's no punishment, that's fine. Look at this game, no one should be too harshly punished." Wang Lan unfolded the game book and read aloud: "Whoever throws this game and gets the title of 'Horse Racing Prostitute in the Marketplace': Look at such a slender figure, sitting so steadily on the horse's back; I lose to you all in controlling the reins, how could such a beautiful woman be willing to yield? This beauty rides in, the whole market surrounds her to watch. Who would have thought that the champion of horse racing would be a woman? Her skill is amazing, her act is despicable. The penalty is to drink wine as much as you can, without any limit. She may then have a contest with any of the gentlemen present, the loser of which shall be punished with three large cups. If anyone joins in the game, the thrower loses, and the person who joined drinks.
" Wang Lan laughed and said, "It's really inappropriate to have you in charge, and I'm the one who joined in. If you lose, I'll be the one drinking again, wouldn't that mean I've become a genius at punishing people!" This caused everyone to burst into laughter. Mei Xian then made a drinking game with Bo Qing,
with two out of three rounds being best. Unexpectedly, Bo Qing won two rounds against Mei Xian, and Wang Lan had to drink the penalty wine. The next player was Er Lang, who failed to land a winning hand on all three throws and drank three cups of wine, then pushed the dice bowl in front of Bo Qing. Bo Qing let Han Cha win, who rolled "Gongzi Zhangtai Zouma" (公子章台走马). According to the rules, everyone at the table should drink three cups of congratulatory wine. Since Han Cha was the youngest, everyone added another cup, making it four cups in total. Only Wang Lan, Mei Xian, and Wu Guan drank five cups.
Wang Lan said, "Zi Qian followed Bo Qing's lead and rolled a very good one, even better than Bo Qing's last roll of 'Gongzi Shijing Maiqiao' (公子市井卖俏). Unlike Xiao Qu, who followed my lead, he lost the game and made me drink. Isn't it just bad luck of mine today?" After everyone had finished drinking, Han Cha presented the dice bowl to Wu Guan. Wu Guan rolled a "young woman in her boudoir throwing a punch." Cong Long said, "It's quite a sight to see this young woman throwing a punch in her boudoir." He then unfolded the dice book for Wu Guan and read aloud: "If you roll 'young woman in her boudoir throwing a punch,' you will be described as: 'With a beautiful face and elegant eyebrows, why does she roar like a lion at night? In her silken bedchamber, she fears the crowing of a hen at dawn. People fear the power of Lady Liu, who would suffer the humiliation of Ji Chang?' If you roll this, the young woman in her boudoir suddenly displays her prowess. Although her husband is also unruly, the wife is too fierce. She should be punished with three large cups of wine. If the surname is Liu, it fits the story of Hedong. The gentlemen present and those surnamed Chen should all avoid her presence and wait until the next servant arrives before being allowed to take their seats. The prostitutes present should also leave to avoid troubling the gentlemen. If anyone speaks privately with a gentleman, they will be punished with one cup of wine and made to kneel on a chair and sing a short song."
After listening to Long's instructions, Wu Guan poured three cups of wine and drank them in turn. While Wu Guan was drinking, Bo Qing, Han Cha, Xiao Ru, Wang Lan, and Mei Xian all stayed away. When
Wu Guan drank his second cup, he noticed Wang Lan standing behind Bo Qing, smiling slightly. Wu Guan put down his cup, picked up a candlestick, and flicked the wick with his hand, just managing to flick it near the sole of Bo Qing's boot. Bo Qing was talking to Xiao Ru and didn't notice. Wang Lan, fearing the wick would burn Bo Qing's boot, quickly nudged him, saying, "Look down! Don't just chat; you'll burn a hole in your boot!" Hearing this, Bo Qing hurriedly walked away, about to speak, when Wu Guan said, "Zhe Xiang has spoken with Bo Qing, breaking the rules. Quickly drink the penalty wine and sing a little song for everyone to hear." Everyone immediately understood and praised him.
Erlang laughed, "It's a bit too bitter for the fragrance. My good intentions might have backfired on Boqing, but he ended up falling into Wuguan's trap. Truly, good intentions don't always bring good results." Wang Lan realized that Wuguan had deliberately tricked him by flicking candle wicks at Boqing's feet. He gritted his teeth and laughed, "You little devil, you're trying to scheme against me too! I'll settle the score with you later!" He had no choice but to take his seat and drink a cup of wine. Meixian picked up her pipa, knelt on one knee on the chair, and said, "I'll sing." She then sang "Silver Button Silk": "A clear breeze and bright moon, a fine night indeed; August's autumn deepens, the fragrance of osmanthus wafts. The wild geese cry high; life is short, so we must enjoy ourselves. The wine cup is never empty; guests frequently arrive; we play drinking games and laugh together. Look, the moon's shadow is already full; the silent, damp light chills the flower petals. Guests and hosts, it's time to go home; please come again tomorrow."
After Mei Xian finished singing, Wu Guan hurriedly poured a large cup of wine and bowed deeply to Wang Lan, saying, "I'm sorry for the trouble, I'm sorry for the trouble. I'll drink a cup as punishment." With that, she raised the cup, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp, to the applause of everyone.
Xiao Ru said, "Xiao Qu sang 'Let's go back tomorrow morning,' so we should disperse now. Let's go back tomorrow morning. Fortunately, the banquet has already been held, and it's almost midnight. We should have some food and drink; we still need to return to the yamen." By this time, everyone had drunk a bit, so they ate some noodles and snacks before getting up and sitting down to rinse their mouths and wash their faces. The servants served a round of tea, and Cong Long immediately rose to take his leave. Xiao Ru and the others saw him off at the garden gate. Cong Long got into his sedan chair, and with gongs and shouts, he returned to the yamen. Everyone then went to their respective quarters to rest.
Meanwhile, the ladies of Cong Gui Villa also dispersed. Madam Fang kept Wanrong there, and Xiaofeng was delayed for a few days. Yumei invited Xiaofeng to her room to celebrate. The two of them had a maid prepare tea and chatted by lamplight. Just as they were having a good time, Madam Fang, Cheng Wanrong, and Jiang Suxin came in together. Xiaofeng and Yumei quickly got up to offer them seats. Madam Fang laughed and said, "It's obvious you're old acquaintances and closer than others. You all got together early and are chattering away. What are you saying? We're here to hear." Xiaofeng laughed and said, "What are we saying? Just the same old things. Why hide them from us? It's fine if you come and listen." Before she finished speaking, Qiuxia came in with a hand lamp, illuminating Zhu Qiongzhen and Zhao Xiaolian as they entered the room. Behind them, the wet nurse carried Young Master Menggeng. Suxin laughed and said, "You've come too. Why did you bring Menggeng?" She then took Menggeng and sat him on her lap, teasing him as he looked at the lamplight and laughed. Qiongzhen said, “My sister Ai and I went to talk to my sister-in-law, and we found the maids all dozing off. When we asked, we found out you were here. Just then, Menggeng woke up crying and looking for you, and his wet nurse was about to bring him over. We also heard that Sisters Chen and Yun were here, so we figured you were discussing something, and we rushed over to join in the fun. Besides, my sister-in-law and I have to go back tomorrow. We won’t be able to come back until after the Mid-Autumn Festival.” As she spoke, she saw that the maids had already set up seats, and Qiongzhen and Xiaolian sat down. Qiuxia and the other maids, including Huixiang, the maid who served Yumei, and Wenqin, the maid who served Xiaofeng, were invited to have tea in the room across the hall. The ladies chatted and laughed, and played with Menggeng for a while. Madam Fang said, "I just remembered something and was about to discuss it with Sister Yaojun, but it's a pity you're all here. Is it alright for you to comment on what I said? I love Qiuxia; she's clever and doesn't talk much. Unlike my Hongwen, that hussy. Although she's cunning, her mouth is sharper than a knife. She never lets anyone off the hook and always causes trouble. I hate her." Xiao Dai laughed, "Don't mistake her for someone else. Qiuxia seems honest and kind on the outside, but she's much more shrewd than anyone else. Every word she says is sharp and can be quite hurtful. Her quietness is precisely her advantage. It's Hongwen who speaks without thinking and is annoying." "Actually, she's all talk and no action, nothing at all. Of all these maids, not to be biased, but my Suyue is a bit of a simpleton. She's empty-headed and has nothing to say. She's the same way whether she's friendly or angry." Luozhu laughed, "Enough, enough, enough! Everyone else's maids are no good, only your Suyue is good. She's a simpleton, but because her master is good, even the maids are good. We haven't even gotten to the point, and you've been making a fuss about who's good and who's bad all day. Let them explain themselves clearly before we hear your arguments." This made all the ladies burst into laughter. Xiao Dai laughed, "I only offered a few words of criticism because Mrs. Chen said her daughter Hongwen wasn't good, but it didn't suit your taste at all, and instead led to your long-winded rambling. I won't say anything more to you, let's get down to business." Madam Fang smiled and said, "I'm not necessarily praising Qiuxia, but since there's a marriage proposal, it's appropriate for me to act as matchmaker for Qiuxia, so I need to discuss it with Sister Yaojun. When my master was serving in Jiangdu County, he had a famous servant named Wang Xi, who was quite resourceful." As she spoke, she turned to Xiao Dai and smiled, "Speaking of Wang Xi, you should know him." Upon hearing this, Xiao Dai's face immediately turned bright red, and she spat on the ground, saying, "How can you all be so friendly! Decades ago, and you still remember it so clearly. You're trying to be as glib and sharp-tongued as them, don't expect me to scold you." The ladies thought about it for a moment, and then they all laughed, making Xiao Dai restless. She stood up and went to play with Meng Geng. Luo Zhu said, "Don't say anymore, Cui Pin will get anxious." Madam Fang continued, "My master dotes on him greatly, and he sends Wang Xi to handle all important matters. Even Shuang Fu, who grew up with my master since childhood, doesn't know his master's temperament as well as he does. Later, when he served as the provincial governor of Jiangning Prefecture, he was always used to handle external affairs, and he never made a mistake, no matter how big or small. The year before last, he was taken to the capital, and when he returned, he was recommended to the residence of the Prince of the Eastern Mansion. Wang Xi was initially unwilling, but my master repeatedly persuaded him, saying that since he was resigning and returning south, he didn't need someone to handle external affairs, and besides, he was still young, so he could curry favor with the Prince and perhaps encounter some good fortune in the future. If it were someone else, they wouldn't even be able to get this connection with the Prince; besides, I wouldn't be willing to go there with any effort." I recommend you. It would be a pity if you came back south with me. You are not like Shuangfu, who has been with me since childhood and I cannot live without him; nor can he go to another family. You should consider it carefully and not miss a good opportunity. Who knew that after the recommendation, the prince would be very pleased with him. It was also thanks to his cunning that he managed to win the prince's favor in half a year, securing him a position as a captain in the grain transport corps and managing his affairs in the ministry, directing him to be appointed as a captain in the grain transport corps. Just as the master had said, good fortune had come his way. Wang Xi had saved a lot of money over the years and spent a lot in the ministry. Now, with the captain position in the guards being prioritized, he resigned from the prince's post and came to the grain transport corps to wait for a position. He arrived in Nanjing yesterday and has already seen my master. I heard that he has gained a lot of weight and has a very official air about him. "I intend to marry Qiuxia to him, so as not to ruin Qiuxia's life. If he were to become an official and then refuse to marry Qiuxia because she is a maid, my master has spoken, and he wouldn't dare to disobey. Besides, he is just a commoner, not a descendant of any prestigious family, so Qiuxia would not be disgraced by marrying him. As the saying goes, a husband's honor brings honor to his wife. Qiuxia is a maid here, but if he marries her, she will be the wife of a military commander." Qiongzhen said, "This marriage is excellent, and Qiuxia would be more than happy to have it. I'm just afraid Wang Xi won't agree. Although he comes from a humble background, times have changed. Now that he's in the world of wealth and power, many people forget their true nature. To us, a military commander is nothing special, but for him, coming from a humble background..." "It's not easy to climb to the sixth rank and achieve such a high position; it's inevitable that one might have a sense of self-respect. I think I should send someone to him tomorrow to subtly inquire. If he's willing to take Qiuxia, then I'll ask Lord Chen to give him his instructions in person. Otherwise, if things turn out differently, it'll be pointless for both of us. Even if he doesn't dare refuse and reluctantly agrees, Qiuxia will be spending her life with him in the future. Rather than causing him and his wife to gossip later, it's better to make things clear now and avoid any resentment." Suxin said, "Miss's concerns are valid. Besides, one's lifelong commitment shouldn't be rushed." Madam Fang also agreed, saying, "Tomorrow, we should send Shuangfu to ask him. Wang Xi and Shuangfu are very close; they talk about everything. We can get a clear answer from him." The ladies chatted and laughed for a while longer, until it was already past four in the morning. Su Xin, fearing that Meng Geng would catch a cold as he had fallen asleep in his wet nurse's arms again, got up and said, "It's late, let's go." The ladies also got up and went outside. Qiu Xia, Hong Wen, and others quickly lit lanterns and led the way. Xiao Feng and Yu Mei escorted them all the way to the outer courtyard, where they drank some tea. Wen Qin and Hui Xiang then came up to help the two of them to bed. They lit the lampshade for the night, closed the door behind them, and went to sleep in the suite.
Madam Fang returned to her room, and Xiaoru went to bed early. Lan Gu and Miss Saizhen were still waiting in their room. Seeing Madam Fang enter, they greeted her briefly, offered some words of comfort, and then Lan Gu returned to her own room, while Saizhen retreated to her suite. Xiaoru had already woken up and asked, "Why are you only coming back now? What good things did you talk about that made you forget to sleep?" Madam Fang then recounted what Qiuxia had told Wang Xi, and Xiaoru agreed. Hongwen helped Madam Fang remove her makeup and loosen her skirt before going to bed, then returned to her suite to accompany the young lady to bed. Nothing more was said that night.
The next morning, Xiaoru and Madam Fang got up and washed. Xiaoru went outside and called Shuangfu in, telling him what Madam Fang had said the previous night and instructing him on how to probe Wang Xi's intentions, "and then report back to me." After saying this, he went to the garden to chat with Boqing and the others. Just as they passed the flowerbeds of the nursing home, Shuangfu hurriedly came back and said, "Wang Xi is outside reporting for duty." He presented a document to Xiaoru, who saw in Shuangfu's hand that it read: "Disciple Mu'en Wang Qirong." Xiaoru smiled and said, "Now that his official title has been changed, you can have him come to Hongxiang Courtyard to see you." Shuangfu agreed and withdrew to fetch Wang Xi. What Wang Xi had to say upon his arrival, and how Qiuxia's marriage would fare, remains to be seen. Let's find out in the next chapter.

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【Illustrated Record of Fragrance】【49】【Author: Qingzhu Qiu】

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