Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 397 Ode to the Five Beauties

Although Chen Siyuan didn't visit Miaoyu often, every time he did, Miaoyu would cling to him desperately. But Siqi spoke with such conviction that Chen Siyuan wondered if it was because of Siqi that Miaoyu had developed other thoughts.

He remained suspicious and sent Siqi away first. He then returned to his thatched cottage, changed his clothes, gave a few brief instructions, and rode his horse north of Nengren Temple.

Upon arrival, Miaoyu acted as usual. Siqi, on the other hand, seemed frightened and only showed up briefly during the meal. After finishing her meal, she went straight back to her room.

Chen Siyuan, eager to find out, kept a close eye on Miaoyu. Miaoyu, unaware of the reason, assumed Chen Siyuan was lusting after her, and blushed without realizing it. That night, Miaoyu no longer acted as she usually did, initially refusing and then welcoming him; instead, she was even more proactive than Chen Siyuan.

The enchanting night goes without saying, but who knew that the very next morning, Chen Siyuan only teased Miaoyu a few times, and the two of them were so engrossed in each other that they didn't stop until the sun was high in the sky.

Besides, Chen Siyuan also found the vajra pestle made of latex under his pillow, and could smell the ocean scent from afar. Miaoyu was so ashamed that she didn't want to see anyone, so she simply covered her head and pretended to be asleep.

After thinking for a while, Chen Siyuan realized that Miaoyu hadn't just changed her mind; she had clearly become addicted!

Fortunately, Miaoyu couldn't last long in a fight, otherwise, if Siqi were added to the mix, wouldn't Chen Siyuan be thoroughly drained every time he came?
While they were having breakfast, Siqi kept making eye contact and looking around suspiciously. Chen Siyuan didn't want to say much in front of Qingfan, so he found Siqi when they were about to set off and told her, "She was just trying to scare you, but you took it seriously."

Siqi patted her chest in relief, letting out a long breath, and said, "The way she looked at me back then was off, how was I supposed to know she was bluffing?"

Seeing that he was very wary, Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Alright, just stay away from her from now on, and you'll be fine."

Siqi grumbled and complained for a while before watching Chen Si leave.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye. Apart from returning to his new residence at Nengren Temple, Chen Siyuan spent the rest of his time locked in his study, engrossed in reading.

On the second day of the sixth lunar month, Jia Jing was buried in the ancestral tomb, and Jia Zhen, You Shi, Jia Lian, Feng Jie, and others returned home.

However, just two days later, Jia Lian was urged by Jia She to go to Ping'an Prefecture.

Now that Sister Feng is free of worries and Ping'er is probably pregnant, she visits the Green Bamboo Nunnery whenever she has free time. She meets with Chen Siyuan every two or three days, but strangely enough, even Ping'er is pregnant, while Sister Feng's belly remains flat.

As time went on, Feng Jie gradually became discouraged and treated Ping'er even more affectionately. Her intentions were obvious; she simply hoped that Ping'er would give birth to a boy so that she could raise him by her side.

However, when it came to Chen Siyuan, Sister Feng never gave up her ambition to be the best, and would often make sarcastic remarks regardless of the occasion.

All the girls found this behavior strange. Baochai even went to Chen Siyuan in private to ask if it was because of her that Fengjie had been so displeased with Chen Siyuan.

Madam Xing then sought out Chen Siyuan again and asked him directly if he had offended Sister Feng.

Chen Siyuan was truly suffering in silence. He thought to himself, "How can this continue? I must talk to Sister Feng and clear things up, lest my actions be exposed and it be too late to regret it then."

On this day, the two met again at the Green Bamboo Nunnery. They spent two nights together, their love blossoming. Feng Jie was in high spirits and lay obediently beside him like a cat. Her phoenix eyes were closed, her breathing was heavy, and her red lips were slightly parted, clearly still unable to extricate herself from the afterglow.

She was only wearing a bodice to cover herself, and her back was glistening with fine beads of sweat. Chen Siyuan reached out and gently stroked her, and Feng Jie groaned twice, tilted her body, and stuck her slender foot against Chen Siyuan's chest, frowning and scolding, "Don't bother me."

Chen Siyuan chuckled, grabbed Ling's foot and tickled the sole twice. Feng Jie immediately couldn't stand the tickling and her body writhed like a maggot.

After she begged for mercy repeatedly, Chen Siyuan finally released her. Looking at her pretty face covered in sweat and messy hair, Chen Siyuan said with a smile, "Tsk, you're obedient now. I don't know where you get so much temper from. You always talk to me in a sarcastic way."

Sister Feng's phoenix eyes widened, and she gave a cold snort, saying, "You've taken my innocent body, so why do you think I'm being sarcastic?"

Chen Siyuan clicked his tongue again and said, "What you're saying... we need to have a serious talk about this. Was it me who provoked you that day? You came to me of your own accord, and now you're blaming me!"

"You—" Sister Feng was furious and kicked again. Chen Siyuan quickly dodged to the side, saying in fear, "Where are you kicking me? You're kicking me away after I've climbed onto the roof, or burning me down after I've crossed the river!"

Sister Feng knew she was in the wrong, but that was just her nature—to be the best. Besides, what logic could there be between men and women? She was just resentful and wanted to share some of Chen Siyuan's favoritism.

Chen Siyuan, a womanizer, knew exactly what Feng Jie was thinking. He put her down and then came closer with a lecherous grin, reaching out to put his arm around Feng Jie's shoulder. Feng Jie twisted her body away, and he pulled her into his arms tightly.

He said, "What's wrong? You can't forget me?"

Sister Feng bit her lower lip, remaining silent. There's a saying: comparisons are odious, and comparing people is agonizing. In terms of ability, one was unambitious and cynical, while the other was diligent and ambitious. In terms of domestic skills, one had a serious addiction to food, always leaving Sister Feng feeling awkward and unsatisfied, so naturally she didn't even bother changing positions, only wanting to finish as quickly as possible. The other… Sister Feng, in a moment of passion, could utter anything—the difference was like night and day!
It's a pity that the two were more than ten years apart in age, otherwise, Jia Lian would have had no chance.
As the saying goes in "Fortress Besieged," those inside the city want to get out, and those outside want to get in. At this moment, Sister Feng felt that life in a high-class household, deep within the mansion, was simply unbearable. Rather than that, she thought it would have been better to find a decent man like Chen Siyuan, from an ordinary family, and spend her life with him.

Seeing that he remained silent, Chen Siyuan gently patted his back while comforting him, saying, "Do you think I don't care about you? If you're willing to leave Jia Lian, I'll immediately take you far away."

Sister Feng rolled her eyes at her and said, "You might be able to fool a young girl with those words, but you can't fool me. If I were to follow you, would you really abandon Baochai and Lin Yatou?"

Chen Siyuan chuckled and said, "If I were to give you up, wouldn't I be heartless and ungrateful? If you were to come with me, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to show your face in public, and I would have no choice but to keep you as a mistress."

Although Sister Feng knew it was impossible, she still felt a glimmer of hope after hearing these words.

Chen Siyuan then comforted him, saying, "Every time Jia Lian sees you, he acts like a mouse seeing a cat. I think it's best if you treat each other with respect from now on. He can go out and fool around. If you feel lonely, just send me a message."

Sister Feng felt wronged, her eyes reddened, and she sobbed a couple of times but remained silent.

After a moment, Chen Siyuan added, "By the way, two more women came to the Zhen family last time. Was it about that pawnbroking matter again?"

Sister Feng said, "That's not it. The two families have already mortgaged each other's land, and only the houses can't be mortgaged anymore. The last time someone from the Zhen family came, they said that all the money that was previously deposited in the Zhen family had been taken away by the master."

It was taken by Jia Zheng?

Chen Siyuan frowned and asked, "Could it be that the old lady instructed you to do this?"

Sister Feng shook her head and said, "The old lady doesn't know either... I vaguely heard that Aunt Fu, seeing that her pregnancy was getting bigger, was making a fuss about buying a property for the child in her womb."

Chen Siyuan was taken aback. After a long while, he smiled sarcastically and said, "Master, this is like an old tree sprouting new buds."

Sister Feng moved closer to his chest, found a comfortable position to lean against, and sighed softly, "When I got married, my wet nurse gave me a vague suggestion, saying that I shouldn't be too strong-willed, otherwise a man might be able to tolerate me for a while, but he wouldn't be able to tolerate me forever."

Back then, he treated me with utmost devotion, which I didn't believe. But now, he'd rather go to the outer study than come to my room… And looking at my husband and wife, they've long since lost any affection for each other. Now, thinking back, everything my wet nurse said made sense, but alas, my nature has been like this since childhood, and how can I change it so easily?”

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "You are as tough as steel in front of those incompetent people, but when you come to someone like me, you turn into soft silk."

Sister Feng was taken aback, thinking to herself: That's right, I'm strong-willed and always want to be one step ahead of Jia Lian, isn't it because Jia Lian is incompetent? If it were someone else around me, I'm afraid I would be happy to be a virtuous wife and loving mother.

Sister Feng was alluring and had a face like a goddess, but she was stubborn and old-fashioned. Her previous commotion stemmed from her infidelity, which she couldn't overcome in her own conscience. Now, having found a pretext, she shifted all the blame onto Jia Lian, and Sister Feng felt a great sense of relief.

Looking at the tender and affectionate Chen Siyuan, she couldn't help but find him even more pleasing to the eye. It was only because she was feeling so weak at the moment that she would have clung to Chen Siyuan twice more.

The two cuddled for a while, and seeing that it was getting late, Chen Siyuan finally got up and dressed. Suddenly, Feng Jie noticed a small brocade pouch fall from his sleeve. Picking it up, she recognized its familiar scent. Opening it, she saw it was full of cordyceps and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't you just send a box of that a few days ago? Why are you sending another one?"

Chen Siyuan looked embarrassed and said with a forced smile, "This is for Ping'er."

Sister Feng glanced at her sideways and sneered, "You're so kind."

Chen Siyuan said, "She gave birth to a boy, but she still raises him in your room, so why are you being so jealous?"

Sister Feng thought about it and agreed, so she said no more.

Chen Siyuan quickly tidied himself up, took the brocade pouch, and bid farewell to Feng Jie. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Ping'er guarding the courtyard. It was early summer, and a gentle breeze was blowing, so the heat was no longer unbearable.

Ping'er was sitting on a stool, idly knitting a knot. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Chen Si approaching. Ping'er quickly lowered her head and got up to greet him.

"Uncle Yuan..."

Chen Siyuan responded with a soft voice, "Didn't I ask you to come when you had time? Why haven't I seen you come?"

Ping'er stammered and couldn't say anything.

Chen Siyuan then took her hand, handed her the brocade pouch, and instructed her, "Keep it to make tea. After you finish drinking it, chew and swallow the cordyceps as well. This is the best thing for nourishing your body."

Ping'er clutched the brocade pouch and whispered, "No, there's no need for that... Grandma usually shares some with me."

"She gave it to me, but I gave it to her."

Ping'er looked up and met his gaze, feeling even more comforted. She was pregnant with Chen Siyuan's child and naturally longed for him, but such a thing was not something to be made public, and she was afraid that others would find out, which was why she dared not get too close to Chen Siyuan.

Chen Siyuan didn't ask for much. He gave a few brief instructions and then quickly left Longcui Nunnery.

Ping'er watched Chen Si leave into the distance before hurrying to the side room. Upon entering, she noticed that Feng Jie had just put on a jacket, so she went to help Feng Jie get dressed.

After a moment, Ping'er hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped. Feng Jie noticed and asked, "Is something else?"

Ping'er nodded and said, "Qiu Tong wasn't feeling well today, so we invited Physician Hu to treat her. I heard... Physician Hu prescribed a formula to regulate her Qi and blood."

Sister Feng immediately frowned. If menstruation needed to be regulated, safflower was indispensable. It would regulate Qiu Tong's menstruation and regulate her qi, but if used on Zhang Jinge, how could the child be saved?

Ping'er then advised, "Grandma, I think Aunt Zhang has a strong personality and has always been very respectful to you. She's not the kind of person who would bewitch you. If Qiu Tong were to harm her... I'm afraid that when Second Master comes back, he will blame you."

Sister Feng sneered, "You're so kind...aren't you afraid that one day you'll give birth to a daughter, but she'll give birth to a boy?"

Ping'er bit her lip and remained silent. Feng Jie then said, "Fine, whoever gives birth to a boy, I'll raise him in my room anyway. Since you're so kind, just pass on a message to Zhang Shi and tell her to be careful."

Ping'er breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

After a while, the master and servant left the Green Bamboo Nunnery together, crossed the White Stone Bridge, and followed the path behind the Grand View Garden towards the front gate.

After walking for a while, they could see mandarin ducks laughing and frolicking around the green peaks, followed by cuckoos laughing and frolicking in pursuit.

Seeing this, Sister Feng smiled and said, "Why is Yuanyang so free?"

"Perhaps the old lady has gone to sleep?" Ping'er had mentioned it before saying, "Yesterday, Yuanyang came by and said that she had transferred the old lady's private vault key to Amber."

"Amber?" Sister Feng paused, looking surprised. She pondered, "Although Amber is loyal, she is stubborn and not as clever as Yuanyang."

Ping'er said, "Miss Lin will probably get married in a couple of years, and Yuanyang will definitely go with her then. Although Amber is not good at being clever, she is loyal. Among the old lady's head maids, once Yuanyang leaves, won't Amber have to keep the key to the private treasury?"

Jade is certainly resourceful, but it's simply too old. I think the old lady intends to divide the task of making mandarin ducks in two, giving it to Amber and Jade.

Sister Feng nodded and smiled, "That makes sense. Ah, Yuanyang is indeed clever. Just wait and see, when your second master comes back, there will definitely be some fun to see."

............................................................

Jia Lian never returned, and before long it was already the fifteenth of July.

In early autumn, the sky was high and the air was crisp. That day, Madam Xing found some free time to visit Qingtang Thatched Cottage. She feigned concern, and after the maids had left, Madam Xing hurriedly asked, "Didn't you say you were partnering with the Imperial Household to make that houttuynia cordata vegetarian dish? Why is there still no sign of it?"

Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "Don't mention it. The other day, Ding Daolong sent someone to say that all the Houttuynia cordata had been sold to the Ministry of War."

"The Ministry of War?" Madam Xing's face was full of bewilderment.
Chen Siyuan then said, "The southwest is unstable, and Burma has repeatedly invaded. The Prince of Nan'an has led his troops in many battles, and many soldiers in the army have been wounded. The Grand Marshal heard that houttuynia cordata has a miraculous effect on treating injuries, so he simply submitted a memorial to the court requesting that the court allocate funds to purchase this medicine."

As a result, all of Chen Siyuan's Houttuynia cordata was bought by the Ministry of War. Although they made money and would receive a considerable bonus at the end of the year, the matter of swindling Jia She had to be postponed.

Madam Xing immediately said in distress, "When will this ever end?"

Chen Siyuan asked in surprise, "Could it be that the master is bothering you again?"

Madam Xing rolled her eyes and said, "Him? With his health these days, he's lucky if he can find a concubine once every ten days. Where would he find the time to seduce me? But..."

However, Jia She was locked in a fierce battle with Prince Zhongshun, and having recently received a sum of money, he was smug and self-satisfied. Every day, he would come home and boast to Madam Xing, much to her dismay. Listening to him boast for a few days would have been bearable, but if it continued, Madam Xing was even tempted to take matters into her own hands.

"Never mind, let's not talk about it anymore."

Madam Xing knew that Chen Siyuan was unwilling to harm Jia She at this moment, fearing it would delay his marriage to Yingchun. However, she herself couldn't bear it and was determined to go back and increase Jia She's dosage, hoping that he would suffer a stroke and become mute.

Madam Xing left with a heavy heart, while Chen Siyuan went to his study to read. After a while, Xiangling came in with graceful steps.

Upon entering the study, he remained silent until Chen Siyuan put down his book, at which point he said, "Master, Miss Lin is holding a memorial service in her courtyard. I noticed that Miss Lin's eyes were red..."

Chen Siyuan asked in surprise, "I just went to check on her yesterday. Lin Daiyu only caught a slight cold. How come she's not feeling well again?"

Xiangling frowned and shook her head. Chen Siyuan sighed and simply got up and headed towards Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

After a while, they crossed the Emerald Smoke Bridge and entered the courtyard of the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. There, they saw wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner, and the remaining jade wine. Zijuan was watching people move tables inside and tidy up the furnishings.

Chen Siyuan knew that the ceremony had already taken place—Daiyu had already removed her mourning clothes in the first month of the lunar calendar, so naturally she would have to worship her parents during the Ghost Festival.

After walking a few steps, he turned his head and glimpsed through the open window that Daiyu was slumped in a chair, looking listless, with red eyes and her hand supporting her cheek, seemingly lost in thought.

Zijuan turned her head and saw that it was Chen Siyuan who had come. She quickly said, "Uncle Yuan is here," and then led Chen Siyuan inside.

Just before entering, Zijuan repeatedly winked at Chen Siyuan. Chen Siyuan nodded slightly, glanced around inside, and then smiled, "Little sister, are you feeling much better today? Oh? Why are you heartbroken again?"

Daiyu was in a bad mood, and after glancing at him, she said, "But you have nothing to say, so I'm going to be sad again sooner or later?"

Chen Siyuan, with a lecherous grin, leaned closer and said with a smile, "How about you come with me for a stroll around Shichahai tonight?"

During the Ghost Festival, lanterns are released on the Shichahai River. Yesterday, Chen Siyuan asked Baochai and Lin Daiyu about it one by one, but Lin Daiyu caught a cold and declined to go.

Daiyu said, "What's so rare about river lanterns? I've seen plenty of them in the south."

Chen Siyuan was about to make a few jokes when he suddenly noticed a corner of paper peeking out from under the inkstone. He couldn't help but reach out to take it: "Hey? What did my little sister write?"

To everyone's surprise, Daiyu reacted quickly, snatching it away and tucking it into her bosom, scolding herself, "You don't care about anything, you just come here and cause chaos."

Chen Siyuan pondered for a moment, then exclaimed in astonishment, "Could it be—"

Knowing that he was bound to say something unpleasant, Daiyu quickly interrupted, "No!"

"Why won't you let me see it?"

Before he could finish speaking, Baochai walked in, glanced into the study, and said with a smile, "What do you want to see now?"

Daiyu rose and invited Baochai in to sit down. She glared at Chen Siyuan before taking Baochai's hand and laughing, "I've read in ancient history that there were many talented and beautiful women whose lives were filled with experiences that were both admirable and enviable, tragic and lamentable. Today, after dinner, I had nothing to do, so I picked out a few of them and hastily composed a few poems to express my feelings. Just then, Tan'er came to invite me to see Sister Feng, but I felt lazy and didn't go with her. I just finished writing five poems, but then I got sleepy and left them there. I didn't expect her to come and see them."

Baochai teased, "Oh dear, we mustn't let him see that, lest he spread his nonsense about talent everywhere. Haven't you heard that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent? Chastity and quietness are the most important things, and needlework is secondary. As for poetry and the like, they are just games for women in their boudoirs. It's fine to know them or not. Girls from families like ours don't need such reputations of talent."

Chen Siyuan said nonchalantly, "A wild goose leaves its cry as it flies past, and a person leaves their name as they pass through life. Wouldn't it be better to leave behind some fame for our talents? Even if we all turn into dust in less than a hundred years, there will still be descendants who remember us."

Baochai and Lin Daiyu knew that Chen Siyuan didn't care about those complicated rules and indulged them greatly in private. They looked at each other and smiled. Baochai advised, "That's enough, that's enough. He's already said so. If we don't show it to him, it will be our fault."

Daiyu smiled and handed the manuscript to Chen Siyuan, urging him, "Look, look, there's only one thing: you must not tell anyone."

Chen Siyuan readily agreed, took the paper and examined it, and saw that it indeed contained five poems.

One of them describes Xi Shi, and everyone else praises her, but Daiyu alone envies Dong Shi.

Do not laugh at the village girl who imitates Xi Shi, for she still washes silk by the stream with white hair. Perhaps because she had been living in the Jia family for a long time, and the Jia family was in constant turmoil, Daiyu only hoped to live a simple and ordinary life like Dong Shi in the future.
Secondly, in the poem about Yu Ji, Daiyu praises Yu Ji highly.

The poem uses the story of Ying Bu and Peng Yue, both of whom were originally generals under Xiang Yu. After surrendering to Liu Bang, they made contributions in defeating Chu. Ying Bu was enfeoffed as the King of Huainan, and Peng Yue was enfeoffed as the King of Liang. Later, both of them were killed by Liu Bang for plotting a rebellion.

Daiyu guessed that Ying Bu and Peng Yue were willing to surrender to the enemy, clinging to life and seeking glory, and ultimately could not escape death, while Yu Ji was loyal to Xiang Yu, remained calm in the face of danger, and drew her sword to commit suicide to prove her bravery.

This suits Daiyu's personality perfectly; once she sets her mind on something, she won't turn back even if she hits a brick wall.
The third poem describes Wang Zhaojun, lamenting her tragic fate while praising her courage in risking her life to go north for a marriage alliance, ultimately carving out a new path for herself.

Wang Zhaojun's departure to marry a foreign ruler was a northward journey, and wasn't Daiyu's stay in the Jia family also a northward journey? Moreover, Daiyu's nature was rebellious, and she had formed a bond with him early on. Was she comparing herself to Wang Zhaojun? Wait, if she was comparing herself, then what did she become?

Chen Siyuan frowned and looked at Daiyu, who wrinkled her nose and turned her head away, ignoring him. Baochai, standing to the side, covered her mouth and laughed.

Chen Siyuan shook his head and continued reading.

Fourthly, write about Green Pearl.

During the Taikang era of the Western Jin Dynasty, Shi Chong served as the Inspector of Jiaozhi. When he passed through Bobai, he was captivated by the beauty of Lü Zhu and offered her three bushels of pearls to become his concubine. He also built the Golden Valley Garden in the capital Luoyang, where he constructed a "hundred-zhang-high tower" so that she could "gaze to the southern sky" to soothe her homesickness.

When Zhao King Sima Lun seized power, his henchman Sun Xiu coveted the beauty of Lü Zhu and sent someone to demand her from Shi Chong, who refused. Later, Sun Xiu framed Shi Chong before Zhao King Sima Lun and led troops to surround the Golden Valley Garden, intending to forcibly take Lü Zhu. She then jumped to her death.

Green Pearl's unwavering devotion to Shi Chong has always been praised by poets, but Daiyu said that Shi Chong was only lusting after Green Pearl's beauty and had no true feelings for her, so Green Pearl died unjustly.

This shows that what Daiyu wanted was not fine clothes and delicacies, but rather someone with similar interests and a deep understanding.

The fifth poem describes Hong Fu Nu, praising her for her discerning eye in recognizing a hero.

Chen Siyuan couldn't help but steal a glance, and saw that Daiyu was also looking this way. Their eyes met, and Daiyu immediately blushed.

Chen Siyuan was secretly delighted, thinking that he now held some weight in Lin Daiyu's heart. On second thought, he realized that Lin Daiyu's previous poems were mostly self-pitying, but now she was reciting them with boldness, which showed that Lin Daiyu had grown up.

Putting down the paper, Chen Siyuan praised, "Sister, you have such talent! I think these five poems together should be called 'Ode to Five Beauties'?"

Baochai quickly took it, skimmed through it, and exclaimed, "No matter the topic of a poem, as long as one can interpret the ideas of the ancients well, it is acceptable. If one simply follows in the footsteps of others, even if the words and phrases are exquisite, it has fallen into a secondary meaning and cannot be considered a good poem."

For example, there are many poems by predecessors praising Zhaojun, some lamenting her fate, some resenting Mao Yanshou, and some criticizing the Han emperor for failing to have a painter depict the beauty of a virtuous minister. The range of opinions is quite varied. Later, Wang Anshi wrote, "Her beauty could never be captured in a painting; Mao Yanshou was wrongly killed at the time," and Yongshu wrote, "Even what the eyes and ears see is like this; how can one control the barbarians from ten thousand miles away?" Both poems express their own unique perspectives and do not merely imitate those of their predecessors.

"These five poems by Lin Daiyu today can be described as having novel ideas and a fresh perspective."

Daiyu blushed and tugged at Baochai, scolding, "It's just a few words of nonsense, and it's fine if he praises them randomly, but why did Sister Bao join in the commotion?"

(End of this chapter)