The Red Mansion

Chapter 218 Poetic Boat Trip on the Lake, Sudden Changes

The following day, March 12th, Yangzhou was once again shrouded in misty rain.

The rain, fine as cow's hair, shrouded Baozhang Lake in a light veil, making the distant mountains and nearby waters appear hazy and picturesque.

Despite the rain, the retired Emperor Jingning was still eager to travel and insisted on taking a painted boat to tour Baozhang Lake, then disembarking at Shugang to visit Qiling Temple and Pingshan Hall.

Several painted boats are already moored at the Tianning Temple Wharf.

One of the ships, with its vermilion railings, painted decorations, and upturned eaves, was exceptionally luxurious and shone brightly in the rain; it was specially prepared for Emperor Jingning.

Jiang Nian had already prepared to travel on another boat to accompany him, but when Emperor Jingning was about to board the ship, he waved to him and Lin Ruhai and said, "You two will ride with me."

Therefore, Jiang Nian, Lin Ruhai, Prince Zhongshun, Yuan Xi, Yuan Li, Dai Quan, and others boarded the painted boat that Emperor Jingning was riding.

The painted boat was luxuriously furnished, with rosewood tables and chairs covered with apricot-yellow brocade cushions, fresh flowers and fruits on the tables, and ambergris incense burning.

Emperor Jingning sat in his armchair, gazing through the open, carved window at the rainy scenery outside the boat.

The painted boat slowly left the shore and headed west along the northern moat.

Rain pattered on the river's surface, creating countless tiny ripples. In the distance, the willows and painted bridges seemed to be immersed in ink wash painting.

Suddenly, a wooden bridge with red railings appeared, spanning the water; it was none other than the famous Red Bridge of Yangzhou.

It's the Red Bridge, not the Rainbow Bridge.

In this era, it was also called "Red Bridge," and the bridge was a wooden structure surrounded by red railings.

The red railings stood out even more vividly in the rain, like a rosy sunset falling on the water.

During the Jingning era, a literary giant who rose to the position of Minister of Justice wrote a few lines of poetry about the Red Bridge, which became widely circulated.

Emperor Jingning ordered the painted boat to stop under the bridge. Gazing at the bridge, he sighed, "Years ago, Zizhen wrote a poem: 'A red bridge spans the water, a single railing, nine curves of red. At midday, the painted boat passes beneath the bridge, the fragrance of clothes and the fleeting shadows of people.' Now the scenery remains the same, but Zizhen, who wrote this poem, has been gone for more than ten years!" He shook his head, "I am old, my poetic inspiration is not as good as before, and although I wish to write a poem now, I have no good lines."

Yuan Li hurriedly flattered, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, how can you say he is old? It is just an ordinary little scene, not worthy of His Majesty's attention."

Yuan Li was quite adept at pleasing Emperor Jingning. In fact, one of the reasons he was favored by Emperor Jingning was his skill in ingratiating himself with the emperor.

Emperor Jingning smiled and said, "Li'er has always loved poetry, why don't you compose a poem now?"

Yuan Li was secretly delighted; this was the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent. The pleasure boat had already prepared the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper). After a moment's thought, he picked up his brush and wrote: "Red bridges shrouded in mist and rain, spring sorrows locked away; winding railings reflected in the green stream. If you ask where in Yangzhou is the best place, a pleasure boat carrying wine is better than being granted a title."

After reading it, Emperor Jingning said, "This poem is clichéd, but considering you are only fifteen years old, it is understandable."

Yuan Liqiang smiled and said, "Grandson has another one."

After saying this, he picked up his brush and wrote: "In March, the rain in Yangzhou is like gauze, and the wine flags are faintly visible on the Red Bridge. Your Majesty, do not lament the decline of your poetic inspiration, but behold the new poem emerging from the evening glow."

Emperor Jingning read it and nodded slightly: "This one is not bad."

Yuan Li was secretly frustrated. He thought the poem was excellent, but he only received the Emperor's grandfather's evaluation of "not bad".

Emperor Jingning looked at his eldest grandson Yuan Xi and said with a smile, "Xi'er, you should also compose a poem."

Yuan Xi said respectfully, "Although I am not good at poetry, since it is at the behest of my imperial grandfather, I shall offer a humble poem."

He then picked up his pen and wrote: "Red Bridge in the misty rain, the emperor's boat; the holy ruler on his southern tour recalls past travels. Do not say that spring in Jiangnan is late; the emperor's grace has long since spread throughout the land."

This flattery was so scathing that Emperor Jingning was indeed delighted: "Xi'er's poem is truly magnificent."

Yuan Li stood aside, secretly gritting his teeth. He felt that he was never inferior to Yuan Xi when it came to pleasing his grandfather, but unexpectedly, Yuan Xi had won the prize.

Emperor Jingning then looked at his son, Prince Zhongshun: "Third Prince, compose one as well."

This Prince Zhongshun was the third son of Emperor Jingning. He was skilled in literature and calligraphy, which Emperor Jingning appreciated, and often had him accompany him when he left the capital.

Prince Chungshun smiled and said, "Since Father Emperor enjoys such refined tastes, I will make a humble attempt to compose a couplet and ask for your guidance."

He then wrote: "Emerald curtains hang like smoke among ten thousand willows, a colorful boat rocks past a small red bridge. The sound of spring rain shatters like jade, a warbler's song breaks the vast blue sky."

After reading it, Emperor Jingning nodded slightly: "Not bad, not bad!"

Upon seeing this, Yuan Li thought to himself that this poem was inferior to his, but he did not voice these thoughts.

Emperor Jingning glanced at Jiang Nian, wanting him to compose a poem as well, but hesitated and decided against it, since Jiang Nian, this grandson, had not yet been officially recognized as a member of the imperial family.

Emperor Jingning turned to look at the misty rain outside the window and said, "The scenery of Yangzhou, no matter how you look at it, is not as interesting as your poems."

After the painted boat passed the Red Bridge, it officially entered the territory of Baozhang Lake.

On the embankment, willows swayed in the breeze, peaches and plums bloomed in vibrant colors, and pavilions and towers dotted the landscape.

During this era, Yangzhou salt merchants had already built villas and gardens along the shoreline of Baozhang Lake (especially around Hongqiao), forming the prototype of "flowers and willows along both banks, and pavilions all the way to the mountains."

Emperor Jingning leaned against the window and looked out. Suddenly, he saw a garden on the shore. It covered a large area and had pavilions scattered around. Although it was a bit desolate, it could not hide its former exquisiteness. So he pointed and asked Jiang Nian, "Whose garden is this? It has a lot of elegance."

Jiang Nian bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, this is Shen Garden, which was originally the villa of salt merchant Shen Chuan'en. Later, due to the Shen family's offenses, their property was confiscated, and this garden has been sealed off."

Emperor Jingning frowned slightly, recalling the detailed report on the Shen family's crimes submitted by Jiang Nian and Lin Ruhai, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Emperor Jingning had a close relationship with the Shen family. If the Shen family hadn't committed any crimes and the Shen Garden hadn't been sealed off, he would definitely have gone ashore for a visit by now.

The painted boat slowly passed Shen Garden and continued its leisurely journey on Baozhang Lake.

Emperor Jingning suddenly smiled at Yuan Li and said, "Li'er, the poem about the Red Bridge was written in a hurry. Now that the scenery of Baozhang Lake is even better, why don't you compose another poem?"

Yuan Li was feeling down because his previous poem had been outshone, but upon hearing this, he was invigorated and immediately picked up his brush, completing two poems in one go:
The first poem reads: "Ten miles of shimmering waves unfold, painted boats and flutes and drums arrive in the rain. Yangzhou has been a prosperous place since ancient times, how much gold and silver has turned into green moss."

Secondly: "Willows brush the water, water brushes the embankment, pavilions stand in disarray, making one feel lost in the mist. If it weren't for the emperor's southern tour, how could such a wondrous scene be found?"

After reading them, Emperor Jingning commented: "The concluding line of the first poem, 'Gold and silver turn into green moss,' has a warning to the world; the three words 'Looking at it with longing' in the second poem are cleverly used. Although they are not top-notch, it is already remarkable that you, at the age of fifteen, could compose these two poems in such a short time."

Yuan Li felt somewhat unconvinced upon hearing the words "not considered top-notch," but he didn't show it on his face.

Emperor Jingning then ordered Yuan Xi to compose a poem. After a moment's thought, Yuan Xi wrote: "The painted boats glide lightly on the green waves, the reflections of pavilions ripple on the flowing water. The spring breeze cares not for the rise and fall of dynasties, but still turns the mountains south of the Yangtze River green."

Emperor Jingning praised: "Xi'er's poem is unadorned yet its artistic conception is profound, surpassing even Li'er's work."

Yuan Li stood to the side, smiling as he looked at Yuan Xi, but a chill had crept into his heart.

This time, Emperor Jingning did not intend to ask Prince Zhongshun to compose a poem. Instead, he looked at Jiang Nian and pondered for a moment. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "I know you have quite a talent for poetry. Why don't you compose a poem today?"

Upon hearing this, the pleasure boat fell silent.

Prince Zhongshun narrowed his eyes, Yuan Xi looked surprised, Yuan Li stared at Jiang Nian, and Dai Quan had a meaningful smile on his face—they all knew the rumor that Jiang Nian was Emperor Taishun's illegitimate son, and they all believed that the rumor was mostly true.

Jiang Nian respectfully replied, "Your subject is of limited talent and learning, and I fear I may make a fool of myself."

Having said that, he picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote on the paper: "Willows continuously connect with the remaining reeds, and the red bridge with its jagged edges resembles a painting. It is also a place where money is spent, so it should be called the Slender West Lake."

When Emperor Jingning read the poem, his mind suddenly cleared. The first two lines described willows with drooping branches connecting the desolate hills in the distance, and red bridges arranged like the jagged teeth of geese, resembling a natural painting. The last two lines were even more ingenious, comparing Yangzhou to the "gold-burning pot" of Hangzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty, fully expressing the luxurious pleasures of the place, while also containing a hint of satire. The word "slender" further highlighted the lake's delicate and graceful appearance compared to West Lake in Hangzhou.

In fact, this poem is the representative work of Wang Hang, a poet from the Qing Dynasty in Jiang Nian's previous life. It was because of this poem that the Yangzhou Baozhang Lake in the previous life was renamed Slender West Lake, and this name became widely known.

"Excellent! Brilliant!" Emperor Jingning exclaimed. "The three characters 'Slender West Lake' are the finishing touch! I find the name 'Baozhang Lake' too vulgar. From now on, let's rename it 'Slender West Lake'!"

Jiang Nian quickly bowed: "Your Majesty flatters me. I merely doodled on the spot. How could I dare to rename this Baozhang Lake because of my humble work!"

"No need for such modesty." Emperor Jingning waved his hand, his eyes full of admiration. "This poem is unadorned yet its meaning is fully expressed. In particular, the five characters 'a pot of gold' perfectly capture the extravagance behind Yangzhou's prosperity and serve as a warning to the world."

Yuan Li stood aside, a chill creeping into his heart again, but this time the chill quietly swirled toward Jiang Nian.

He was confident in his poetic talent, yet today he was outshone by Jiang Nian. The Emperor Emeritus's praise for this poem far surpassed his evaluation of his previous four poems. What's even more infuriating is that this Jiang Nian is nothing but a bastard child who can't be brought into the light of day.

Jiang Nian suddenly felt a piercing gaze and turned to meet Yuan Li's sinister eyes. The gaze vanished in an instant, and Yuan Li had already put on a smiling face.

……

……

Shugang is located in the northwest of Yangzhou, stretching for more than 40 miles. It forms a cultural highland with Qiling Temple and Pingshan Hall as its core. Literati such as Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi left behind poems and inscriptions, and Emperor Jingning also left behind his imperial calligraphy.

The painted boat docked at the foot of Shugang Hill. Although the hill was not very high, it stood out because it was located on a plain. The hill was covered with pine and cypress trees, which looked even more verdant in the misty rain.

When Emperor Jingning disembarked, a palanquin had already been prepared, but he waved his hand and said, "I want to walk up the mountain to stretch my muscles."

Seeing that they could not persuade him otherwise, the crowd had no choice but to escort the imperial carriage up the winding bluestone path.

The stone steps gleamed from the rain, and ancient trees towered on both sides, with birds chirping among them from time to time.

Halfway up the mountain, a historic temple suddenly appeared hidden among the trees, with yellow walls, black tiles, and upturned eaves. It was Qiling Temple.

Qiling Temple, originally named Daming Temple, was named after the Daming era of Emperor Xiaowu of the Southern Song Dynasty. The temple's name has changed many times over the past thousand years. It was once called Qiling Temple during the Sui Dynasty.

When it came to Daqing, it was renamed Qiling Temple because the characters "Daming" were taboo.

The abbot of Qiling Temple and the monks waited outside the mountain gate to welcome the emperor. Upon seeing the emperor's arrival, they quickly put their palms together in greeting.

Emperor Jingning first briefly toured Qiling Temple, and then proceeded to Pingshan Hall.

Pingshan Hall is located on the west side of Qiling Temple. It was built during the Qingli era of Emperor Renzong of Song by Ouyang Xiu, who was then the prefect of Yangzhou. From the railing, one can see all the mountains of Yangzhou, hence the name "Pingshan" (meaning "flat mountain").

Pingshan Hall became a place exclusively for scholars and literati to compose poems and essays.

Su Shi visited Pingshan Hall three times, leaving behind poems such as "Xijiangyue".

More than forty years ago, Emperor Jingning inscribed the plaque "Virtuous and Upright" at Pingshan Hall.

At this moment, Jiang Nian led Emperor Jingning into Pingshan Hall, where the furnishings were simple, and a plaque with Ouyang Xiu's poem "Chao Zhong Cuo: Pingshan Hall" hung on the wall, which read:

"I lean against the railing of Pingshan against the clear sky, the mountain scenery appearing and disappearing in the mist. The willow I planted in front of the hall, how many spring breezes have passed since I left? The literary governor, he wields his brush to write ten thousand words, and drinks a thousand cups in one go. Enjoyment should be enjoyed in youth, look at this old man before the wine cup."

Emperor Jingning carefully admired the plaque inscribed with the poem "Chao Zhong Cuo: Ping Shan Tang" and sighed, "When I first saw Ouyang Yongshu's poem at Ping Shan Tang, I was still young. Now, decades later, I see it again, and I am old, yet I feel that the poem resonates with my state of mind even more. What a wonderful line, 'Enjoyment should be enjoyed in youth, look at this old man before you!'"

Prince Zhongshun chimed in, "Father, you seem to be in a good mood for poetry today. Why don't you also write a poem?"

Emperor Jingning shook his head: "I didn't compose a poem just now. Now that I've come to Pingshan Hall and there are Ouyang Yongshu's poems here, how can I pick up a pen?"

Outside the hall, the misty rain washed the ancient cypress trees in front of the hall, making them appear lush and verdant.

Inside the hall, tea had already been poured. Amidst the fragrant aroma of tea, Emperor Jingning said to Yuan Li, "Li'er, I noticed you weren't quite satisfied with your poetry today. How about composing two more poems for Pingshan Hall?"

Yuan Li, who was feeling depressed, quickly mustered his spirits upon hearing this, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote two poems in a short time:
The first poem reads: "Rain falls softly beneath Pingshan Hall, where can one find traces of Ouyang Xiu? Only the old willows before the gate remain, year after year awaiting your arrival."

Secondly: "Ascending Shugang, my vision is empty; the bright moon shines twice, reminding me of Ouyang Xiu. The rivers and mountains are indifferent to rise and fall; the spring breeze still cares for the green willows."

After reading it, Emperor Jingning smiled faintly and said, "Not bad." Then he turned to Yuan Xi and said, "Xi'er, compose one too."

Yuan Xi calmly picked up his brush and wrote: "Passing by the misty rain at Ping Shan Hall, what has become of Ouyang Xiu since his departure? The bright moon still shines on me today, once illuminating my drunken songs of yesteryear."

Emperor Jingning praised: "'The seven characters 'Once I sang after getting drunk that year' are more than enough, and have captured the essence of poetry."

Emperor Jingning then smiled at Jiang Nian and said, "Why don't you compose one too?"

Jiang Nian hurriedly bowed and declined, saying, "Your subject is of limited talent and learning. To offer a poem today is already presumptuous. How dare I offer another?"

In his view, having already composed a poem entitled "Ode to Baozhang Lake" today, it was inappropriate to seek the limelight again. Moreover, he had already discerned that Yuan Li, despite his outwardly gentle and refined demeanor, harbored suspicion and dissatisfaction towards him. Although he had long harbored ambitions to seize the throne, he did not want to offend Yuan Li, this "secret" heir apparent, so early on.

Emperor Jingning was not annoyed by Jiang Nian's sincere refusal; on the contrary, he appreciated the young man's tact and knew how to conduct himself. Just as he was about to speak, a eunuch named Wei Geng rushed in and whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, Shen Chuan'en, a salt merchant from Yangzhou, requests an audience. He hopes Your Majesty will remember our past relationship and grant him permission to see the Emperor."

Emperor Jingning's two most trusted eunuchs were Dai Quan and Wei Geng. These two eunuchs were enemies.

Shen Chuan'en?
Emperor Jingning was taken aback, his gaze involuntarily sweeping towards Jiang Nian. He saw that Jiang Nian was holding her breath, still unaware of this sudden turn of events...

Shen Chuan'en had committed a crime and fled, and Jiang Nian had already issued a warrant for his arrest. Why would he suddenly appear in Shugang demanding to see this retired emperor?

(End of this chapter)