The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 206 Poetry Party
In late autumn, Four Seasons Garden, Summer Courtyard

Jia Rong came in from outside and saw forty or fifty beautiful girls when he entered the yard.

"Your Majesty~"

A group of beautiful girls greeted Jia Rong in unison.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Why are you all here?"

Tanchun walked out of the crowd and said with a smile, "We are holding a poetry gathering today in the Summer Courtyard. Brother-in-law, are you here to see Sister Bao?"

When Jia Rong walked in from the door, the air was filled with the scent of girls' makeup, as well as the smell of some pens, ink, paper, and potted plants with fragrant flowers.

"Come and take a look. It's about this time. I have nothing to do these few days."

Shi Xiangyun quietly approached from the side and grabbed Jia Rong's arm with both hands.

"Hey!" Shi Xiangyun said with a smile: "Since you have nothing to do, let's have some fun here today and join our Begonia Poetry Festival!"

Lin Daiyu followed with a smile and said, "Sister Bao, it's okay. Brother Rong can't always care about Sister Bao and forget about us good girls~"

Jia Rong just happened to have nothing to do. He had just been busy for a while these few days and now wanted to relax and unwind.

"Okay, let the kitchen cook and we'll eat here today!"

Lin Daiyu's maid Xueyan quickly said, "I'll go tell them! Make some delicious food that the prince likes!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I'll make you some delicious food, and put it on my account."

Xueyan was even happier. She quickly found a hand scooter and rode over to deliver the message.

Xue Baochai was also in the yard at this time, and came to join in the fun accompanied by Aunt Xue and her maid.

"Master, I am in good health. The midwife has been staying at home these days. If you can't come in time, you can let the midwife deliver the baby."

Jia Rong and Xue Baochai sat down near the table. There were more than ten tables in the yard, and those who came to participate were maids and young ladies who were good at reciting poems.

Many of them were young ladies and ladies from wealthy families who had received formal education. They fell into prostitution and became Jia Rong's slaves.

Jia Rong said directly: "I don't know many of them, but I will get to know them slowly."

Shi Xiangyun sat down, put one hand on the table and supported her cheek with the other.

"There are now 36 people in the Begonia Poetry Society. We could have had more, but Sister Yuanchun wouldn't allow it."

As soon as Shi Xiangyun finished her complaints, Xue Baochai interrupted her by saying, "The princess said that if there were too many people, there would be no work to do. They all came here to write poems, and there would be no one to do the housework. Otherwise, she would deduct the salary from Sister Yun's room. Sister Yun was not happy again."

Jia Rong finally understood why Shi Xiangyun always had to borrow money to get by.

She really wasted money.

The cost of running a poetry club each time is not a small amount, especially since Shi Xiangyun is both poor and rich. When she was in the Shi family, she had no financial power and was very short of money. But when she came to Jia Rong, she suddenly had a lot of money and didn't know how to be frugal when spending it.

Jia Rong is not short of money.

"How much is the poetry club's operating fund?"

When Shi Xiangyun heard Jia Rong ask this, she quickly said, "Two hundred taels in total, this amount every month."

Xue Baochai volunteered, "This is already a lot. Originally, we planned to hold a party on the 26th day of each month. Ten taels of silver would be enough each time. The rest could be used to buy some writing brushes, inkstones, new poetry collections, or some snacks and desserts for the girls to cool off in the summer."

Xue Baoqin said directly: "Xiangyun thought it was not lively enough, so she spent all her money recklessly."

Shi Xiangyun felt a little angry when she saw that all the problems were thrown on herself.

"It would be great if we could just eat and drink and have some fun. If you think I'm not good enough, I won't be the president anymore. I'll just find someone who can manage things to be the president!"

Jia Rong knew that Shi Xiangyun was just speaking in anger, so he said directly: "If Baoqin becomes the president, she won't have to save money every month. Just spend all the 200 taels. If she doesn't spend all, there will be 100 taels left. Next month, she will make up 100 taels. Anyway, she can make up 200 taels."

"If there is not a cent left, you can make up for it with two hundred taels. Anyway, you can't owe money. Just make up for whatever you have spent. Be happy."

Xue Baoqin nodded in agreement.

"Okay, let's just keep it as it is now."

The others had no objection, as this way they could spend money openly.

Shi Xiangyun was unhappy.

If nothing changes, why should I, as the president, resign?
Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai and others looked at Shi Xiangyun's expression and laughed secretly.

Tanchun smiled and said, "Usually Xiangyun is the one who takes the spotlight, it's time for Baoqin to take the spotlight~"

Shi Xiangyun was not convinced, "How could that be?"

After everyone chatted and laughed for a while, the kitchen brought in the snacks that the girls had ordered earlier.

Chicken neck, duck neck, duck head, chicken wings, braised chicken feet, pig ears, peanuts and kelp shreds, beef dipping sauce, and fruit plate.

Everyone ate and chatted casually.

In addition to the people in the Jia family, there were also many ladies and young ladies who were formerly high-ranking officials and nobles. These people were usually treated as low-ranking maids, and could only eat good food when they followed Shi Xiangyun.

Now that Jia Rong attends a banquet, the food prices have also increased.

While everyone was chatting and laughing, Wang Xifeng came over with her maid.

"Second Grandma!"

The maids greeted the second butler.

Jia Rong and others sat near the table and watched with smiles on their faces, without standing up.

Wang Xifeng walked quickly to Jia Rong's side and said happily, "I just came back and heard that the master was drinking with the girls, so I came to join in the fun."

Xue Baochai joked, "We are composing poems and drinking games with the master. Can Second Madam understand?"

Wang Xifeng said with a smile: "Just listen for fun! Even if you can't compose poems or play drinking games, can't you still drink?"

Lin Daiyu made room for her and said with a smile, "Quickly sit down. Who would dare to let you drink with your big belly?"

Jia Rong said, "It's cold in the yard. Wear more clothes to avoid catching a cold. Xiaohong, go ask the kitchen to bring in a few small stoves and send some hot soup and vegetables to the table to be heated up slowly."

"Yes!" Xiaohong quickly went to work.

Wang Xifeng sat down quickly and sat with Xue Baochai, Jia Yingchun and Xue Baoqin.

Four women with big bellies sitting together gave the feeling of a maternity table.

Both Xue Baochai and Wang Xifeng became pregnant around the Chinese New Year and gave birth in September or October.

Yingchun was born a little later, in February of the following year, followed by Yuanchun, who was also born in February, and Baoqin, who was born in March.

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "It just so happens that these four pregnant women are here. If they can't keep up with the poems and drinking games, then the eldest brother will do it!"

"Good idea!" Xue Baochai agreed with a smile. Although she was one of the four, she was the first to agree.

Wang Xifeng and Jia Yingchun naturally had no objections, as neither of them was good at these things.

Xue Baoqin smiled and said, "Come on!"

Shi Xiangyun was already disliking Xue Baoqin, and when she saw that she was provoking her, she quickly rolled up her sleeves and prepared to have a fight with the new president!
Jia Rong said, "Wait for Yinglian to come over. She is learning this recently. Also call Qiao'er and Ling'er over. Let's eat and chat."

Naturally, everyone had no objection, so they began to clean up the table and took the food they had ordered previously to the small kitchen, and this time they enjoyed the good wine and food sent from the big kitchen.

Lanterns were also hung nearby and the best candles were lit.

In the corner of the yard, there was some mosquito repellent herbs, and the maids of several young ladies also brought cloaks to keep warm.

The servants came in a line to serve the food. On each table there was a small red clay stove for hot wine, and a blue-and-white ceramic hot pot.

Ceramic hot pots do not heat well, but they keep heat better than copper, and they do not taste like iron like iron pots.

The meat and vegetables in the hot pot were basically hot, and the maids used tongs to put charcoal into it to continue heating it. The others ate some side dishes and heated up some wine.

The pens, ink, paper and inkstone have been taken away, and now we just have a simple meal and play some games to liven up the atmosphere.

Shi Xiangyun soon started fighting with Xue Baoqin again and soon lost.

After losing, Shi Xiangyun was willing to admit defeat. She said disdainfully, "Give me a question!"

Xue Baoqin didn't indulge her either. "The topic we asked last time when the master was here is really a trap!"

Many girls didn't understand what Xue Baoqin said. Jia Rong explained to Wang Xifeng, "It should be the question I asked them last time when I was playing with them. It's been a long time and I can't remember it anymore."

Shi Xiangyun had a better memory than Jia Rong. She stood up and thought, talking as she walked.

“Roaring and surging.”

"The waves in the river and the sky are surging."

"You need an iron chain to hold the boat together."

"Since I encountered a river breeze."

“It’s not advisable to travel!”

Jia Rong and others listened, and the young ladies and maids nearby were also thinking about it carefully.

Even Wang Xifeng was wondering how this was played, but she just couldn't understand.

Just being able to recite a few poems is definitely not enough. You can't get into the game of these ladies. Xue Baoqin asked directly: "Where is the bottom of the wine?"

Wang Xifeng asked curiously, "So you haven't finished yet?"

Jia Rong smiled and raised his hand to stop her from speaking.

But the other maids didn't shut up, and they all came over and urged, "Hurry up and speak!"

"Hurry up and tell me~"

"Big girl, please speak~"

"Come on, why don't you say anything?"

The maids urged him with laughter, and Jia Rong watched with a smile.

There are not so many rules in the palace. Unless it is a formal dining occasion, the maids, young ladies and the old ladies can just sit wherever they want. There is no such strong distinction between classes.

However, Jia Yuanchun has a lot of things to do and has to take care of people, so she rarely comes here.

Yushi and the others were uneducated and didn't want to just sit there.

Although Wang Xifeng is not well educated, she loves to join in the fun and is good at speaking without feeling embarrassed.

"Hurry up and tell me! If you can't tell me, you lose! Drink a penalty!"

Qingwen and Xiren came over to greet Shi Xiangyun.

Shi Xiangyun has an extroverted personality and has a good relationship with both Qingwen and Xiren. Of course, the one she has the best relationship with is definitely Xiren, with whom she often spent time when they were children.

Not only Qingwen and Xiren, but also the maids in several courtyards have a good relationship with Shi Xiangyun, and they are easy to play jokes on her when playing.

"I can't say it anymore, drink a penalty!"

Shi Xiangyun quickly sat down opposite Xue Baoqin, and after sitting down, she picked up a duck head with chopsticks.

"This duck head is not that girl, how can she ask for osmanthus oil on her head?"

Although Qingwen was not a maid, she felt that she was being talked about, so she quickly picked up the wine glass.

"Okay! Miss Yun is making fun of the maids again, drink a glass of wine!"

Shi Xiangyun was quickly given a glass of wine by Qingwen and she enjoyed it.

It is normal to be forced to drink alcohol. This wine has a low alcohol content, so just drink it as a beverage.

Even Wang Xifeng was often forced to drink by the girls.

Wang Xifeng looked at Shi Xiangyun's happy expression after drinking the wine, and asked Jia Rong curiously, "Why is the bottom of this wine so long?"

Jia Rong discovered that Wang Xifeng really wanted to learn, but just couldn’t.

Jia Rong picked up the beef and dipped it in the sauce, saying casually, "She was cursing, so she deserved to be forced to drink."

After hearing this, Qingwen quickly put her hand on Shi Xiangyun's shoulder again, "Great! Miss Yun is scolding us! I'll make you drink another cup!"

Shi Xiangyun quickly declined, "No, I'll eat first."

Jia Rong said to Qingwen, "I wasn't scolding you guys, I was scolding Baoqin."

Xue Baoqin, who was sitting quietly, showed a puzzled expression and kept thinking about the drinking game that Shi Xiangyun had just played.

Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, Jia Tanchun and others were also frowning and thinking about this.

After four or five seconds, Lin Daiyu asked curiously, "Brother Rong, which one is an insult? Why didn't I hear it?"

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Sister Daiyu couldn't hear it, so I can't hear it either."

Wang Xifeng stopped thinking about it and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

Xue Baoqin couldn't think of it either, and looked at Shi Xiangyun who was eating pig ears with her head down. It was obvious that Jia Rong did not wrongly accuse this girl.

Being scolded is nothing. What is uncomfortable is that you can't hear that the other person is scolding you, which makes it seem like there is a big gap between you and the other person.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "The drinking order is a line from a bone tile, a tune, an old poem, or a line from an old almanac, and the base of the drink is the name of a fruit or vegetable."

"The duck head and maid mentioned in Xiangyun's wine, with osmanthus oil on their heads, correspond to the duck-cheek fur coat Baoqin is wearing, which is made of duck feathers."

Xue Baoqin understood immediately. This duck head was not that girl, so how could she ask for osmanthus oil on her head?

"Okay! You win this time!" Xue Baoqin also admitted defeat. She really didn't hear it well and didn't have enough experience.

Shi Xiangyun pouted, "It's all my fault, big brother!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Let's change the topic. I'll give you a question, and I'll write down the two poems I wrote last month and give them to whoever answers it correctly."

Xue Baochai said happily, "This is great! Master, please give me some questions! Sisters, please let me have some."

Tanchun said directly: "I also want your calligraphy and two poems. Brother-in-law, please give us the topic and we will try our best!"

Lin Daiyu and the others were also eager to try.

Jia Rong quickly asked questions, "The books I read when I was young were all required for the exam, so the questions I asked this time are more suitable for men to guess. Sister Daiyu is a Jinshi enlightenment, so she has a little advantage. Wait until five people can't guess, then you can answer."

Lin Daiyu thought about it and nodded quickly, "Okay."

Xichun urged, "Tell me the question quickly! Just give me the money if I guess it right first."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Okay, if you guessed it right, I'll give you two hundred and fifty taels."

Everyone became more excited.

Soon Jia Rong asked a question: "Use Xiren's name as the topic and tell me the correct source."

Jia Tanchun said immediately, "It is Lu You's poem, The scent of flowers makes one feel the day is warm, The magpie's cry through the trees brings joy to the new clear sky."

Jia Rong shook his head, obviously not.

Hua Xiren stood near Jia Rong, listening to the others discussing her name with great surprise.

Wang Xifeng joined in enthusiastically and said, "It was her mother who gave her this name."

Everyone nearby started laughing, but Wang Xifeng didn't take it seriously.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "No."

Hua Xiren took the initiative to say, "Our names were all given by Master Bao."

Xue Baoqin said: "It is Hong Peng's bamboo light that fascinates the wild path and the fragrance of flowers that makes people's clothes smell."

Miss Zhen San said, "Is it the poem in Lu You's "Night Rain" where the fragrance of flowers fills the lonely night, and the sound of rain around the house heralds a good harvest?"

Jia Rong shook his head.

Xue Baochai glanced at Lin Daiyu and found that Lin Daiyu was eager to try at this time, and thought that she had to wait in line and wait for others to make a mistake before she could speak.

Xue Baochai laughed and said, "I can't guess it either. Let Sister Daiyu tell me now. Daiyu, you can tell me now~ Don't hold it in~"

Lin Daiyu blushed and quickly said to Jia Rong, "It's Lu Zhaoling's "Ancient Style of Chang'an"! Only the sweet osmanthus flowers in the south mountain are blooming, flying around and touching people's skirts."

Everyone recalled this very long poem, which had the same number of words as an average of more than ten poems.

Xue Baochai quickly remembered the key.

"So that's how it is. I remember this was a piece of gorgeous poetry." Xue Baochai's words made Lin Daiyu lower her head again.

Tanchun asked curiously, "I remember a line: If we can become a pair of mandarin ducks, why would we refuse to die? I would rather be a mandarin duck than be an immortal."

Xing Xiuyan continued, "There are two more lines at the end: A woman in a yellow, pink and white carriage came out, with a charming and charming look and a different mood. A charming boy riding a BMW with iron and money, a prostitute with a golden dragon on her knees."

Another talented woman followed up, "We all invite the chivalrous knight with the lotus sword to stay with us in the whore's house."

"At dusk, the prostitute wears a purple silk skirt, and sings a song with a misty scent on her mouth."

Xue Baoqin roughly guessed the reason.

"So that's how it is. This is the origin of the name Jia Baoyu used."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Daiyu's learning is different from yours. Like me, she learns for the purpose of guessing questions for the exam. For example, when the emperor gives questions during the exam, we cannot answer according to our own ideas, but must return to the emperor's point."

Wang Xifeng asked, "Master, if our sister Daiyu were to take the imperial examination, what would she be able to come back with?"

Jia Rong said: "If you can get a scholar, it is very likely that you will not be able to get a juren, because there are too many questions that may arise."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "I thought I could pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi!"

Lin Daiyu said shyly: "Sister Feng, please don't laugh at me. Come and eat~"

When everyone was having a lively meal, suddenly Xue Baochai's hand holding the chopsticks became unsteady, and then her face became painful, and she opened her mouth and shouted.

"Master! I'm...ah...coming out..."

Jia Rong stood up and picked up Xue Baochai, "Relax, I'm here!"

Jia Rong carried Xue Baochai into the house, and Wang Xifeng, who had given birth to two children, hurriedly asked people to prepare various things.

The mansion had already received more than a dozen children, and this time Jia Rong was present in person. Soon, the plump and big-butt Xue Baochai gave birth to a little girl in a simple and neat manner.

(End of this chapter)