[The Grand View Garden Chronicle of the Imperial Harem] Chapter 93: A Splendid New Year's Eve Banquet, Dazzling and Elegant as the Cold of the New Year Fades Away

Chapter 93: A Splendid New Year's Eve Banquet, Dazzling and Elegant, Dispelling the Cold of the New Year
It is said that when Baochai finished her song, it was truly melodious and charming,
and everyone couldn't help but applaud. Her usual dignified demeanor, coupled with her willingness to perform so gracefully, pleased everyone. Even Fengjie, Yuanchun, Daiyu, and Xiangyun couldn't
help but praise her, and the atmosphere instantly became lively. Everyone sipped some tea and ate some food, becoming increasingly
chatty and cheerful.
Among the performers at the Dripping Emerald Pavilion, Ruiguan was now Hongzhou's personal servant, while Fangguan and Lingguan were the ones in charge of the honorary title
. In fact, all three had their own strengths. Ruiguan, known as "Xiuge," was particularly beautiful, and it was only because of
her exquisite dance that she had captured Hongzhou's heart, allowing her to rise rapidly in rank. In truth, if we were to discuss beauty and charm, Lingguan
, known as "Yunzi," was the most beautiful and graceful; Fangguan, known as "Qingyin," possessed a clear and alluring voice that
was equally captivating. Unfortunately, firstly, the actresses in the Dripping Green Pavilion were still quite young. Ruiguan was only sixteen, Lingguan only fifteen
, and Douguan, Ouguan, and Fangguan were only thirteen. They were still in their naive years, and being of lowly birth
, they were innocent and unaware of the need for flattery or seeking favor. Secondly, these girls were trained in the Jiangnan music academy,
and considering their youth and innocent appearance, they inevitably developed some ambitions to climb the social ladder through their beauty. Once they entered the garden, not only did
they see the delicate beauty of Daiyu and the graceful charm of Baochai, but even the renowned beauties like Ping'er, Yuanyang, and Xiren
dared not overstep their bounds, content to serve under Fengjie's wing. Seeing the concubines, young ladies
, and maids in high spirits, Fangguan offered to sing a song to liven things up. However, upon opening the first line, "It's New Year's Eve again,
Happy New Year," everyone laughed, "Quickly, send her back! We don't need you here to offer New Year's greetings; sing your best songs."
Fangguan could only softly sing a song, "When Admiring Flowers":
"The emerald phoenix feathers are used to make a broom, idly sweeping fallen flowers at the Heavenly Gate.
Look at the wind stirring up jade dust.
Suddenly, beneath that layer of clouds, how many gates are beyond the horizon?
Don't let your sword miss the yellow dragon by a hair's breadth, don't let the old man sell wine in the east.
You and I gaze at the clouds and mist, Dongbin, if you've found someone, please reply soon.
If you're late, it will leave people with regrets for the peach blossoms."
She was young, with a melodious voice, clear eyes, and a graceful, childlike figure. And she was also
... Fangguan's beautiful voice, honed through years of practice, drew admiration from everyone. Even Fengjie couldn't help but sigh, "It's a pity the master isn't here today.
If he were, just that one line of 'Dongbin, you've found someone, so please reply soon!' would have captivated him.
The master would probably be smitten, and tonight would have been your night with him..." Fangguan, being young
, blushed like a peach blossom at the teasing, her head bowed in a blissful expression, wishing she could disappear into the ground. Ping'er, of course,
comforted her, saying, "You sang exceptionally well."
Meanwhile, Xiangyun, who had been somewhat drowsy, was now in high spirits and emboldened. She clapped her hands with
a giggle, took a sip of tea, and stood up, saying, "Singing like this all the time, while pleasant to listen to, isn't really lively. Since it's
New Year's Eve and Sister Feng has suggested some wine, how about I start a game, and we can all recite some tokens to amuse ourselves?"
Everyone agreed, but then asked what the game was. Xiangyun explained, "My game is called 'Nine-Nine Cold-Dispelling and New Year-End Banishing
Game.' Each person names a New Year's item that we already have, something with a festive feel, and must be accompanied by
twelve characters from the 'Wind, Flowers, Snow, Moon, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Heaven, Earth, Ruler, and Parents,' all from classical poetry and literature
. At the end, we must say a closing line and sing it. We start from one and go up to nine, and whoever can say it first gets to say it. Finally, when the Nine-Nine
Cold-Dispelling Game is finished, the New Year is near, and no one can say anything else. If it's you, Miss..." " If you're going to play a drinking game, you'll be punished with three cups of wine, how about that?"
Everyone pondered the question. Daiyu, Miaoyu, and the others, who were confident in their talents, smiled and remained silent
. Fengjie, however, laughed and waved her hand, saying, "This is Yun-mei's doing! You scholars are so naive... I can manage a simple game, but as for
poetry, allusions, or references to 'predecessors' and 'later generations,' I'm not up to it... I can't compete with you all,
so I'm definitely going to be punished."
Baochai also laughed, "If we're going to play a drinking game, it should be both elegant and popular. It's
too much to just use classical poetry. If you ask me, it doesn't have to be a classical allusion. As long as it rhymes, it's not a classical allusion. It can be a simple
phrase, or even a colloquialism, it's fine... If someone can recite a good poem, we'll toast them with a cup of tea; if
they can make everyone laugh with a colloquialism, we'll toast them with a cup of wine, how about that?" Everyone agreed that this was the best approach. Baochai, however,
said, "If we keep saying twelve characters, it's too long. Where do we find so many classical allusions? Wouldn't we have to
use up all the Tang and Song poems? Forcing it out is tasteless. In my opinion… as servants in the garden, we should follow our masters'
preferences. Even just four characters, 'wind, flowers, snow, and moon,' would be enough to please them. It's also easier to compose, and we can easily
find phrases that suit our status."
Xiangyun shook her head and smiled, "Sister Bao is so kind… 'Wind, flowers, snow, and moon' are common. Saying only
four characters is too easy." Even Daiyu laughed, "Yun'er, you're so good at talking. Actually,
if we're going to compose something, it has to have a source phrase. Even 'wind, flowers, snow, and moon' requires memorizing it immediately. I'm afraid
you can't even say it… You started the game, and since you said it's easy, you go first…" "Say it now."
Everyone chimed in, agreeing wholeheartedly. Xiangyun pouted and said, "Do you think I can't say it? I'll find it myself, and
it's even cheaper for me to say it first..." She looked around, smiled, and took a sip of soup before saying, "Since Sister Feng
has specially hung so many riddles outside, I should naturally try to guess them later. For now, is it
alright to just pick the word 'lamp'?"
Everyone urged her to speak, and after a moment's thought, she said, "The first word is 'wind,' as in 'The east wind just arrives before the lamp
.' I love such lazy and charming phrases..." Some among the crowd recognized the source,
while others did not. Seeing Baochai, Miaoyu, Daiyu, and others nodding, they assumed that someone must know it. But then they heard Xiangyun continue,
"'Flower' is 'The lamp wick has faded another night'; 'Snow' is 'The snow melts in the corner after the lamp is put away'; 'Moon' is 'The lamp is out, the flowers
hang low, and the moon is like frost.'" Everyone then asked what the answer was. Xiangyun shook her head and laughed, "I'm the first one in the Nine-Nine Cold -Dispelling Ritual
, so it's easy for me. How about 'A curtain of autumn rain, trimming the lamp to watch'?" Everyone couldn't help but
cheer when they heard her so quick-witted. But then they heard Xiangyun softly recite the lyrics:
"One is a fairy flower from the celestial garden, the other is a flawless jade."
If there were no predestined fate, why did we meet in this life? If there were a predestined fate, why did our love end in vain?
One sighs in vain, the other suffers in vain. One is the moon in the water, the other a flower in the mirror.
How many tears can the eyes hold, how can they endure the flow from autumn to winter, from spring to summer!
Everyone couldn't help but sigh with admiration, but then Xiangyun took a breath, took a small bite of the plum blossom mung bean cake she had prepared for the New Year,
and laughed heartily: "I've said 'lamp' for one word, so it's complete. 'Nine' means I'm pointing to an object. Let's see who can
say it?" She looked around again and pointed to the pair of "Embroidered Three Rivers" vases against the wall: "It's hard
for Sister Feng to distribute toys to us for the New Year. There are only three pairs of these vases. 'Embroidered Three Rivers' is here. 'Lotus Saves Mother' was given to Miaoyu
, but I also got a pair of 'Zhaojun Goes Beyond the Great Wall' vases." "Let's use the character 'bottle' then."
Everyone was taken aback. This "bottle" was more difficult than the "lamp." While they were still pondering, Miaoyu, who
was usually sitting coldly to the side drinking tea and eating simple snacks, sneered and said, "Yun girl, you're deliberately making things difficult
for us. I'll speak then." Everyone looked at her. Although she had been deflowered and violated by Hongzhou for a long time, she
was still dressed in a simple Buddhist robe and nun's attire. Yet, she spoke without hesitation and recited,
"'Wind' 'Copper bottle brews tea, pine wind sings
' 'Flower' 'Flowers in the vase are dim, no one owns them'
'Snow' 'Snow rolls in the silver bottle, turning into waves'
'Moon' 'The moon is in the blue sky, water is in the bottle'. The bottom character is 'two', but that's not difficult for me. It's
'Lazy to get drunk on two bottles on the sand'..."
Everyone felt that her casual remark was appropriate for the occasion and was quite fitting for her status. They couldn't help but admire her.
On the other end, Daiyu recited, "Too lazy to get drunk on two bottles by the sandbank, I call you to admire the bright light through the small window... These are lines from Lu You's poem."
As she read this, she glanced at Miaoyu; Miaoyu looked back at her, her face slightly flushed, and continued, "I am
a former nun... I can't sing, but I'll recite a verse for you to hear."
"Cause and effect are fundamental, lust is all due to fate, reincarnation is
unavoidable, compassion leads to heaven."
As she spoke, she closed her eyes, clasped her hands in prayer, and smiled slightly, displaying a graceful, carefree air, as if she were laughing at the world's troubles. Hearing her
speak in the same tone, everyone could only smile. She, however, didn't seem to mind, and opened her eyes again, saying, "My second nine-day period has passed, and
now comes the third, the coldest time. I only love plum blossoms. Consort Feng... has taken meticulous care of them. The few branches of blood-
red plum blossoms sent last month have already been transplanted outside the Longcui Nunnery. Their color is truly extraordinary, a testament to the power of creation.
Let's use the character 'plum'; it's easier that way..."
Everyone knew the character "plum" was quite common, so Li Qi, Li Wen, Xichun, Baoqin, and a few others
whispered a few words in Li Wan's ear. Li Wan then smiled and said, "Since that's the case, I don't have much talent. Let me try saying a few simple
lines."
"'Wind': 'The plum blossoms are just beginning to open, last night's wind.' '
Flower': 'The delicate flowers sitting here are quite overshadowing the plum blossoms.'
'Snow': 'In Jiangnan, before the snow, the plum blossoms are already white.'"
"Moon...'Is 'February spring flowers weary of falling plum blossoms' acceptable? I know it repeats the word 'flower' and is also wrong about
'second,' but I'm just mediocre when it comes to poetry, please forgive my lack of learning and talent. The last line is 'three
,' which is 'Falling plum blossoms, flute playing, midnight.'"
Everyone wanted her to sing the last line, but she waved her hands repeatedly, saying she couldn't sing it. So Li Qi and Li Wen
sang two lines on her behalf:
"After midnight, my dream returns.
One wutong leaf falls, one autumn; one banana leaf falls, one sorrow.
The lamp's flame flickers, the chess game is not finished, I sigh that it's hard to stay in the lonely inn of Xinfeng.
Ten years of events on my pillow, the sorrow of the two Qiao sisters in Jiangnan.
Sisters, sisters, it all comes to mind."
Only then did everyone stop. Ping'er and the others couldn't get a word in edgewise amidst the laughter. When she got to the corridor, she called over
all the maids and palace maids who had been on night duty, and gave each of them a string of large coins. Everyone naturally thanked her, and only then did she return to report to
Feng Jie. Li Wan, wanting Feng Jie to speak, laughed and said, "Always talking about plums and peaches, it's getting too common. Let me
say something... something everyone talks about during the New Year, so let's talk about 'money'..." Everyone burst into laughter, asking
how she would talk about money. Feng Jie retorted, "I was just about to say that! During the New Year, we should give lucky money, and the gifts exchanged are also money. Servants
should also be rewarded with money. Do you all live on air and dew and don't need money? If you ask me, money is what truly gives the New Year's spirit..."
She was about to finish her sentence when Daiyu, unusually, stood up, took a sip of wine, and said,
"May I say it?"
Everyone was surprised, saying, "You, such a refined person, why did you choose this topic?" To everyone's surprise, Daiyu wasn't annoyed. She
simply smiled calmly and said, "The medicine I've been taking at the end of the year is called 'Aduna Cream.' I always thought my health was incurable
, and I was just going to have to endure it. But who knew that this foreign medicine would actually work for me? Now I
can even sleep for four or five hours at night, and I sweat less... It's truly unexpected. At first, I thought it was just a case of the medicine
curing a person with a special affinity, but Sister Feng told me that this medicine costs a hundred taels of silver a bottle... I'm so unlucky and frail, how could I possibly afford
this?... I don't know how to express it, I just felt compelled to say this. Today, I won't talk about anything else, but to express my gratitude, I'll just mention the word 'money,'
is that alright?" Others might have been unmoved, but Sister Feng, Baochai, and Miaoyu, hearing her tone and seeing the blush on her cheeks, all vaguely
sensed that beneath her seemingly aloof and reserved demeanor, she harbored a deep sense of gratitude. While she ostensibly spoke of
money, she was actually showing a touch of girlish affection for her master, Hongzhou, because of his concern for her. Fengjie pondered that
while this was a good thing in the garden, it was also somewhat presumptuous. After all, all the women were Hongzhou's servants, and whether
they were moved or not, the thought left a lingering, indescribable feeling. Naturally, she couldn't stop her, so she agreed. But Daiyu, without
hesitation, began to say:
"'Wind' 'Buying all the romance without spending money'
'Flower' 'Five flowers linked together, turning into ice
' 'Snow' 'The cold weather and snow clear the road
' 'Moon' 'Monthly expenses of twenty thousand coins from the court'."
Everyone was surprised by her unusual tone. She calmly said, "The answer is four, which is a bit difficult
… let's say 'It's a pity it only sells for forty thousand coins'."
Xiangyun couldn't help but clap and laugh, "What 'It's a pity it only sells for forty thousand coins'? You, a person like you, actually
use these vulgar, bargaining phrases to fob people off… You've run out of ideas too, you deserve to be punished!"
Daiyu glanced at her but remained silent. Baochai tugged at Xiangyun's sleeve and whispered, "You'd better not mess things up
... What Daiyu said, 'It's a pity it only sells for forty thousand coins,' wasn't some market bargaining remark; it definitely
has a historical basis..." Xiangyun paused, then lowered her head in thought.
Even Yuanchun overheard this and couldn't help but smile slightly, glancing at Xiangyun and then at Daiyu. She
was the most lonely, fearful, and ashamed among the women, but seeing her sisters laughing and playing
games so joyfully during the New Year, each one charming and unique, enjoying a scene of familial bliss, even though they were all now the prince's sex slaves, physically and mentally
violated and shameful, the peaceful days, the sisters' laughter, and the gentle New Year celebrations made her
feel as if she were in another world, spending her days in the cold palace. She had been having a private conversation with Lady Wang, but upon hearing this, she felt that even if
she were to be violated and ravaged by Hongzhou for just one day, it would be worth it. Listening to Xiangyun and Daiyu's banter, she, a learned and
talented woman, the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Jia family, couldn't help but say, "Yun'er, don't you know, 'It's a pity it only sold for
forty thousand coins' is from Xu Daohui's 'Four Spirits of Yongjia' from the Song Dynasty." The lines from her poem "Stone Screen Song" are quite elegant
and grand, and also convey the sentiment of a talented woman seeking a husband. Moreover... the general meaning of this song is "I am a stone talent, grateful for the gentleman's appreciation
; I am a celestial talent, yet I am abandoned in the hall of fame"... This is very fitting and appropriate for Lin Daiyu,
and also conveys gratitude to her master. It's hard to believe that Lin Daiyu has such talent; even though it's forced, it
's still so elegant and profound."
Daiyu didn't know Yuanchun, and being proud, she wouldn't reveal her own story. Hearing Yuanchun's high regard for her confidante
, she couldn't help but nod and smile, saying, "Since Sister Yuanchun has spoken for me, I'll just sing two or three lines of 'Stone
Screen Song' as the opening."
Surprisingly, she also recited it melodiously and softly, singing:
"Let me tell you of a long, naturally formed stone in Wuxi, upon which are inscribed the calligraphy and prose of the Yan family.
Lord Pan obtained it for a fortune, but alas, he only sold it for forty thousand coins.
Let me tell you of the old man of Meishan, who, seeing the wonder of nature, found it so captivating that his smiles were filled with poetic saliva.
Have you not seen how, during the Yuan You era, Di Yi brought it in, and the snow-covered forest was nourished by spring waters for a thousand miles?
Have you not seen how, back then, Yu Chuanzi was overjoyed to find a jade tablet?
Let me tell you of something so strong yet so easily broken, something that has been wounded by the ancients; let me tell you of something that people wish would be placed in a hall of high esteem.
Let me tell you of something that people wish would be placed in a hall of high esteem…"
The crowd had never heard her sing before, and hearing it now, it truly sounded like celestial music. Listening closely to the lyrics, one
could hear the lingering self-pity. Before she could even savor them, Zijuan had already cleared the remaining tea from the table for her. Then Daiyu paused, saying, "
I've finished talking about the fourth nine. Sister Feng's suggestion is... a favor from the master... Our garden is quite lively during the New Year,
with people and carriages coming and going. Let's talk about 'carriages' for the fifth nine..." She then looked at Yuanchun and smiled, "Sister Yuanchun
, you are so learned and knowledgeable. Why not share this with us during the New Year?"
Everyone cheered enthusiastically. Yuan Chun, both shy and amused, lowered her head, fiddling with her skirt, and waved her hand, surprisingly choosing her words: "
...Um...the garden is full of concubines, young ladies, and maidens...I'm just a convict, how could I say such things
..." Everyone knew what she meant, but Feng Jie personally came to persuade her: "Sister Yuan Chun, I just said you're not allowed to talk about unhappy
things...As for future fortune and misfortune, that's all in the master's heart. Let's be happy today...With your
beauty, are you afraid the master won't like you? You could even recite a drinking game, and it would be best if you could drink a cup."
Yuan Chun could only nod in agreement, took a sip, thought for a moment, and then gracefully recited:
"'Wind' 'The fairy chariot gently sends forth fragrant breeze'
'Flower' 'Flowers hang in two chariots, traversing spring'
'Snow' 'Snow clears, a thousand carts of wheat on the river'
"The moon, a white horse and a white carriage, a journey in the moonlight" has a "five" at the end, so I'll say "a five-flowered horse and a seven-fragrant carriage."
On the other side, Xichun, being young, couldn't help but clap her hands and said, "Elder sister was once an imperial concubine... these
words are all in the golden melody." As soon as she said that, she realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly turned her head to cover it up. But Yuanchun seemed
not to have heard either. However, she was still mindful of her status and refused to sing. She only murmured two lines:
"A five-flowered horse, a seven-fragrant carriage, Consort Yang drove to Mawei Slope, the six armies of the barbarians fought fiercely, the six armies fought fiercely
, what can be done about the fragrant soul, what can be done about the fragrant soul..."
Although she did not sing, her slow recitation was already captivating. Everyone listened in a daze.
The metaphor of "Consort Yang at Mawei Slope" was very similar to her. Everyone thought she was about to cry, but instead she smiled gently, as if nothing had happened. She
pointed to the peach charms on the wall and said with a smile, "I don't like to make things difficult for people. When it comes to the sixth nine,
it doesn't matter if it's the character 'peach' or 'charm,' just say one."
Baochai thought to herself that she should also say one, so she smiled and said, "I'll try to say one. I don't like anything difficult, so I'll
say something common, like 'peach.'" Without thinking, she began to recite:
"'Wind' 'Unconsciously, the little peach is weakened by the
wind' 'Flower' 'Walking to Peach Creek, the flowers smile
' 'Snow' 'Snowflakes fall at Peach Leaf Ferry
' 'Moon' 'In March, the peach blossoms are fragrant early'
The last one is the sixth nine, so I'll say 'The six palaces proclaim the golden peach'."
Although everyone heard that her words were elegant and her demeanor was calm, they knew that she was deliberately hiding her talents and would not show them off tonight. But
then she chuckled and said, "I just sang one, so I'll skip that now. Let's just say 'seven and nine' instead. We're talking about
peaches and plums, which is too elegant and strange. We need something more down-to-earth... like firewood, rice, oil
, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. Who doesn't need them during the New Year? So please, whatever you like, just say one..."
Everyone laughed again, now knowing she was intentionally saving it for Sister Feng. Sure enough, Sister Feng clapped her hands on the table and said coquettishly,
"What you're saying is interesting. I'll say 'seven and nine' then. But if I say it wrong, I'll drink the penalty wine. You're not
allowed to laugh at me." Everyone told her to just keep going. She thought for a moment before laughing, "Firewood and rice are too cheap and worthless
... Oil is more valuable, so I'll talk about oil... As for 'wind,' the night wind is strong... A red sleeve adds lamp
oil, is that alright?"
Everyone laughed heartily, naturally unwilling to confuse her with the allusion of "a red sleeve adding fragrance," but they also found it unique and
interesting, urging her to continue. She also thought for a moment, holding her head, and said, "As for 'flowers,' rapeseed flowers are everywhere... I
've already had the kitchen press them for sesame oil."
Everyone laughed again, with Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xi Chun rolling on the floor laughing, when they heard Feng Jie spit out:
"You all only know about flowers and blossoms, but you don't know that rapeseed oil is the sweetest and most fragrant. Tomorrow is the first day of the new year, and I'll bring
over some rapeseed oil-infused glutinous rice cakes. You little girls, don't clamor for any. Now, let me say 'snow,' and snow becomes difficult
... Hmm... I've got it... Heavy snowfall... Apply more chicken bone oil..."
Everyone burst into laughter, even Yuan Chun was puzzled. Bao Qin, standing beside her, said playfully, "The oil we use in winter is
mixed with chicken bone fragrance; it's a medicinal ingredient. Sister Feng... Sister Feng doesn't understand; she thinks it's oil made from chicken bones..." Yuan Chun naturally
didn't expose her, just smiled.
But then Fengjie spat, "Stop laughing! In winter, when it snows, skin inevitably becomes dry and cracked. That chicken bone
oil is the best moisturizer. You're laughing so happily now, but aren't you going to ask Ping'er for some tomorrow? If delicate skin
isn't pampered, how can the mistress enjoy touching it?"
Everyone said, "Very well, very well. Go on with the last one." Fengjie then said, "Monthly...monthly...monthly
allowances are late...the little maid is slipping away with her feet oiled..." Everyone burst into laughter again, waving their hands,
saying, "These days, there's no such thing as 'slipping away' in the garden...that's not wrong." Fengjie sneered, "Actually,
the garden is just like it used to be. Everyone, from top to bottom, needs monthly allowances...you don't know the cost of firewood and rice, you
only know about romance and pleasure, so naturally you don't know my hardships...I can't sing the 'Seven Nines,' but here's the gist:
'Firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea are the seven essential mundane things.'
'Gold, silver, copper, iron, porcelain, tin, and wood are the seven earthly utensils.'"
"Silk, satin, cotton, and linen, these are the seven kinds of clothes tailored to fit the body."
"Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, grief, fear, and shock, these are the seven unavoidable emotions."
Hearing this, everyone was stunned, feeling that although it was rustic language, it possessed a unique flavor, something only
a learned person could create. Just as they were all pondering, Ping'er was about to bring fruit to accompany the wine when Fengjie
laughed again, "After the seventh nine-day period, it's the eighth nine-day period, and it's time for some things truly used for the New Year, like Spring Festival couplets
. Who wants to say something?"
Everyone thought it was Yingchun's turn, and sure enough, Yingchun and Xing Xiuyan lowered their heads and discussed for a few moments. The two reluctantly stood up
, and Yingchun said, "I'm not very good at these either, but Xiuyan and I discussed it and came up with one, just to flatter you."
"'Wind' 'Sighing at the dust on the moat
' 'Flower' 'The carriage road once linked the reins under the flowers' '
Snow' 'Dewy breasts linked pearls, sparkling flying snow'"
"The moon, the osmanthus blossoms fall in the autumn moon,"
Xing Xiuyan continued, "The next line is an 'eight,' so I'll say 'August, the wild geese write in the air.'"
Yingchun, always honest, forgot she was supposed to sing and timidly said, "We can't really talk about the taste of romance, but
since everyone is having fun, we shouldn't forget our mistress. We are, after all, young ladies serving our mistress, so
we should talk about things for our ladies. The mistress has been so thoughtful, making us skirts and undergarments for so many years. Now that the coldest days of winter are almost over, let's talk about something
like that..."
Everyone thought for a moment and each said their piece. Xichun was too young, and only Tanchun, You Erjie,
and Xiren hadn't spoken yet. Xiren, however, couldn't speak of such things. Given the current situation, how could You Erjie dare to
overstep her bounds? Tanchun rose, gave a slight curtsy, and said with a wry smile, "Let me say something... to conclude... 'Clothes and skirts,
' the word 'clothes' is the simplest, but since Erjie has spoken, we shouldn't forget our status. We are daughters serving
our masters' pleasure, so let's talk about skirts, to be more relevant..."
"'Wind' 'The wind blows the skirt's sash, slowing it down the steps
' 'Flower' 'The pomegranate blossoms are not as red as the dancing skirt
' 'Snow' 'A white skirt, snow-white silk, hangs by the cloud-like edge'" The phrase
"the moon is like the moon on a beautiful woman's skirt"
is followed by "the ninth day of winter," so I said it was about winter going and spring coming, which was a bit infuriating, "the skirt of nine clouds and the carriage of five clouds."
Everyone recognized her words and phrases, which were truly exceptionally charming and graceful. Only now did they realize that she was also pitiful. She had always
served Keqing and was also suppressed by Keqing. In terms of appearance and posture, she was one of the most beautiful women in the garden, but she had not yet served
Hongzhou and was still a pure virgin. However, she was raped and played with by Keqing, and her mouth was filled with sweet and seductive sounds.
But then she began to sing softly: "The cold of the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is over,
the cold of the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is over, peach blossoms bloom, plum blossoms scatter, pear blossoms are in full bloom, apricot blossoms open, the cold of the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is over, can it overcome the spring chill? Can it overcome the summer chill? Can it overcome the autumn chill? Only the winter chill is over
..." Everyone could hear the melancholy and sorrow in her song, a feeling of being in a boudoir, which was quite fitting for the theme, so they all cheered...
The song "The Cold of the Ninth Day of the Ninth Lunar Month" was now complete. Then Sister Feng urged everyone to have some soup, and Lingguan
sang another song, "The Stroll in the Garden," for everyone. At this moment, the Zhuijin Tower was truly filled with the delicate fragrance of flowers, the melodious sounds of women's music, the overflowing cups
, and the rich, fragrant aroma of wine... the extravagance and elegance were indescribable... After a few more rounds, everyone was slightly tipsy
. Some palace maids and eunuchs brought out fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the New Year. Some timid ones had their maids cover
their ears, while others, with their strong constitutions, went to the courtyard to watch...
The firecrackers crackled in the evening sky, and the fireworks were like brocade. Some eunuchs and palace maids watched the candlelight, just in case there was a fire. Everyone
couldn't help but laugh and joke. The close friends gathered in twos and threes to talk, but Baochai, watching Yuanchun, Yingchun, Tanchun,
and Xichun laughing and talking around Lady Wang, and seeing the colorful and dazzling night sky, couldn't help but sigh.
She hugged Baoqin, who was already dozing off, and murmured to herself, "Life in the garden is nothing more than this.
Even if one has to endure humiliation and pretend to be happy, it can still be considered peaceful and joyful. But I hope it's not as good as fireworks, which are fleeting and exciting, but will eventually turn into smoke and clouds..."
Amid the sound of firecrackers, no one else heard it, but Xiangyun beside her did and couldn't help but say, "Why is Sister Bao saying
such things?" Baochai glanced at her and smiled, "We're all happy... but the master is in a bad mood. It's not
proper for me to say that, so I just said it offhand." Xiangyun sneered, "Sister, are you playing tricks on me... are you
hiding something from me?" Because the two had been intimate for so long, Baochai couldn't bear to hide it from her and smiled helplessly, "I was just being a little overly
worried." Xiangyun thought she was worried about Hongzhou, blushed, and couldn't help but jokingly retort, "The master is only
unhappy for a few days because of Consort Qing... Sister, you're such a good 'servant.' Since you miss the master so much,
go 'see' him first thing tomorrow morning. With the master's personality and your looks...
you'll be fine in no time. If you feel it's not enough... take Sister Lin with you... I think Sister Lin, hehe, actually, is
moved by how well the master treats her... Or, let Qin'er go. Qin'er is almost fourteen, isn't she... becoming more and more beautiful..."
"That's all."
Baochai couldn't help but spit out, "You're just talking nonsense... What are you talking about? We
are nothing but playthings for our master. If our master wants to play, he can play for a while to relieve his fatigue, and make a fuss. It's a small matter. Even if Consort Qing
is gone, she's gone... What is there to worry about?" She couldn't help but look at Yuanchun again before softly saying,
"It's the palace maids and eunuchs at the gate spreading gossip that's making me a little worried..."
Xiangyun was surprised. Given Baochai's personality, she would never listen to, speak of, think about, or care about gossip outside the gate . Since she was talking about this
, it must be some important "gossip" that was bothering her. She couldn't help but ask, "What gossip?" Baochai sighed:
"You think Master is only upset because of Consort Qing's matter? I heard from the eunuchs that
several censors in the court have jointly submitted a heavily impeaching memorial, accusing Master of 'adultery with his mother,' 'absurd and shameless,' and 'a disgrace to the clan,' using all sorts of accusations
. I wonder if Sister Yuanchun knows about this. If she does, I'm afraid she might
even want to kill herself..." Xiangyun was startled, staring blankly at Baochai, then glancing at Yuanchun, speechless
for a long time before shaking her head and saying, "Things outside can only be handled by Master himself. Although Master..."
…It's fun, but my mind is clear, and I can handle it myself… We young ladies in the garden just
get by.” Baochai smiled and said, “You’re right, I’m just worrying unnecessarily.”
Then she turned to Wenxing and said, “You and Qin’er go back and rest first. Qin’er has something to do tomorrow, so she should go to bed early tonight
. Otherwise, she’ll have dark circles under her eyes again.” Wenxing quickly agreed and went back with Baoqin.
After a while, the fireworks ended, and Fengjie called the women back into the hall. The eunuchs and maids had already brought hot water, teacups, and
towels, and everyone washed up a little. Seeing that the others were fine, but Jin Chuan'er and Yu Chuan'er still had to go to Gu En Palace
for their shifts, Feng Jie held their hands again and earnestly instructed them: "As soon as you see that the mistress is in a better mood,
you must send out the news so that the girls in the garden can be prepared."... The girls played and laughed for another quarter of an hour. Seeing that midnight had
arrived and the New Year was approaching, everyone finally said their goodbyes and returned to their rooms to rest....
During this time, there was only one person who stood timidly in the corner. Only after everyone had left did she come to Feng Jie, bow gracefully, and
speak with lowered eyes. Who could it be? We'll find out in the next document.
This is truly:
Speaking of the elegant writings,
Listening to the melodious songs and dances,
In times of wealth and honor, gold and silver gleam,
In moments of triumph, pearls glisten and
jade gleam, With fine wine and peaches, one is intoxicated, With delicacies, 　　one's
lips and teeth are never cold , Dreaming of Penglai, 　　with graceful maidens, Comparing to the elegant beauties of the Jade Terrace 　　, Speaking of the beautiful dreams of the past and present 　　, Imitating the new elegant poems of the Tang and Song dynasties 　　, 　　Celebrating the family reunion of sisters, Enjoying the carefree life of graceful ladies, 　　Firecrackers sound, another year has passed, 　　In the blink of an eye, all is fleeting smoke 　　(to be continued) 　　========Separation======== 　　Note: 【I】The poems and lyrics used by the women in this chapter for the drinking games are all from Tang and Song poems or famous lines from the past, with sources, 　　not fabrications. Interested readers can explore the sources one by one. 　　【II】Xiangyun's song "Wang Ning Mei" comes from the original novel of Dream of the Red Chamber. I know it refers to Baoyu and Daiyu, but don't call it 　　"real," it's just to make the tune right, and the author also likes this tune. 　　[Three] Fangguan's song "When Appreciating Flowers" is also from the original novel *Dream of the Red Chamber*, though the original source is unknown. 　　[Four] "The Stone Screen Song" is a seven-character poem, and without some modifications, it wouldn't be suitable for Daiyu to "sing," so 　　some fictional adjustments were made. Knowledgeable readers, please don't laugh; just bear with it. 　　[Five] Li Qi and Li Wen also sang lyrics by the earlier writer Xu Zaisi, with slight alterations. Otherwise, it wouldn't fit 　　the scene. 　　(Note: Okay, I admit, the "actual meaning" of this "note" is: This chapter is so brilliant— 　　elegant, quoting classics, rhyming, pretentious, flowery, with characters 　　appropriate for the scene, and seemingly very cultured—shouldn't readers quickly praise it?)

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[The Grand View Garden Chronicle of the Imperial Harem] Chapter 93: A Splendid New Year's Eve Banquet, Dazzling and Elegant as the Cold of the New Year Fades Away

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