The Red Mansion

Chapter 285 Partridges Playing Chess, Mandarin Ducks Relying on Each Other

Yuan Yi left Xing Xiuyan's elegant courtyard and walked along the clean, rain-washed flagstone path, accompanied by the fresh scent of the evening breeze, earth, and flowers. After only a few dozen steps, he arrived at the gate of another quiet courtyard. This was the residence of his concubine, Jing Qing, which was very close to the residences of Xing Xiuyan and Yingchun.

The courtyard was brightly lit, making the windows gleam.

Without asking anyone to announce his arrival, Yuan Yi went in on his own. He gently lifted the soft curtain of the inner room and saw Jing Qing sitting opposite her maid, Lü Yi, in front of a chessboard, engrossed in playing chess, while her maid, Hong Xia, sat watching from the side.

None of the three noticed Yuan Yi's arrival until he approached and the sound of his footsteps startled them. They all looked up and, seeing it was him, hurriedly got up to greet him.

"Greetings to Fourth Master."

Jing Qing curtsied, her voice soft and melodious. She wore a plain sky-blue silk blouse with a moon-white pleated skirt. The blouse was devoid of any elaborate patterns, which only accentuated her slender figure and refined elegance.

Hongxia and Lüyi also bowed.

Yuan Yi nodded with a smile, his gaze falling on the chessboard. Seeing the black and white pieces scattered across it, he realized it was an unresolved game. Intrigued, he asked, "Oh? You're playing chess?"

Jing Qing approached and stood beside him, a faint and elegant fragrance wafting around her. She said softly, "Your Highness, it was just that Lü Yi and I were bored and played a game of chess. My chess skills are shallow and my strategy is rough, please forgive me."

Yuan Yi said, "In the art of chess, winning and losing are certainly important, but the strategic planning and hidden wits are also worth savoring."

This statement is quite profound!

He leaned down and carefully examined the board, then asked, "Should we move the black pieces next, or the white pieces?"

Jing Qing said, "It's Lu Yi's turn to move the white piece."

Yuan Yi picked up a lustrous white chess piece from the chess jar, gently rubbed it between his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then steadily placed the piece in a corner of the chessboard.

This move, seemingly unremarkable and not directly involved in the fierce battle in the center, subtly echoed a seemingly insignificant scattered piece in the corner, instantly bringing new changes and possibilities to that previously dormant area.

Jing Qing stared intently, savoring the move, and exclaimed, "Fourth Master's move is truly a masterpiece! It seems like a casual, seemingly insignificant move, but in reality, it demonstrates foresight and conceals hidden strategies, subtly connecting the positions of the edges and the center."

Yuan Yi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your words sound a bit like you're trying to flatter me. I know my chess skills are still in the beginner stage, and this move may not be that wonderful; it was just a lucky one."

Since playing chess with Prince Yuan Xi in Jiangning, he has put some effort into the art of chess. With his exceptional memory and comprehension, he has made rapid progress, but in the end, it has only been a short time and he is still far from being a master.

Jing Qing smiled and said, "Fourth Master's move was indeed brilliant."

Yuan Yi didn't argue with her. He sat down in front of the chessboard and said, "Sit down. I'll finish this game with you."

The two then began playing the game, taking turns attacking each other.

After Hongxia poured tea for Yuan Yi, she and Lüyi watched quietly from the side, not daring to make a sound to disturb him.

Jing Qing's chess skills weren't very good, but they were better than Yuan Yi's. However, in this game, she deliberately revealed a flaw at a crucial moment, ultimately allowing Yuan Yi to win.

Jing Qing put down the chess piece in her hand and smiled sweetly, "Originally, I had the advantage in this game, but who knew that after Fourth Master took over, he turned the tide with just a few moves, and I lost instead."

Yuan Yi had already seen through the trick and smiled as he pointed it out, "Don't think I can't see it. You're clearly letting me win on purpose."

Jing Qing did not deny it, but smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling, tacitly acknowledging the matter.

Yuan Yi was in high spirits: "Let's play another round. This time, you can't hold back anymore. You have to show your true skills. If you win, I'll reward you; if you deliberately let me win again, I'll scold you."

Jing Qing smiled and said, "Then I will do my best, and I only hope that Fourth Master will be fair in rewarding and punishing."

In the new game, Jing Qing abandoned her desire to give way, focused her mind, and used all her skills to play seriously.

Her chess skills were superior to Yuan Yi's, and this time she went all out. By the middle game, she had already gained a slight advantage. Although Yuan Yi also tried his best, he was still a relatively new player. Faced with Jing Qing's serious offensive, he was overwhelmed and ultimately had no way to turn the tide, so he resigned.

At this moment, the sky outside the window was completely dark, and the night enveloped the courtyard. The bright lights inside the room cast a warm orange glow on the window.

Yuan Yi placed the chess piece back into the jar with a crisp sound. Far from being annoyed, he smiled and said, "Good! This game was won cleanly and decisively, with a clear strategy and swift attacks. Truly beautiful. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Jing Qing hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the desk in the room, where writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were neatly arranged. She said softly, "Gold, silver, pearls, and jade are all readily available in the manor, and I dare not covet such worldly things. Your Highness's calligraphy is exquisite, forming its own unique style. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to bestow upon me a piece of your calligraphy?"

“That’s easy.” Yuan Yi readily agreed and immediately got up and walked to the desk.

Jing Qing hurried forward, extended her slender hand, gently rolled up a section of her plain-colored sleeve, and began to grind the ink herself. Her movements were unhurried and graceful, and the ink she ground was of just the right consistency, with a subtle fragrance wafting through the air.

Yuan Yi spread out a sheet of paper, pressed one corner down with a white jade paperweight, and looked up at Jing Qing, asking, "What do you want me to write?"

Jing Qing said softly, "If Fourth Master doesn't mind the trouble, would you be so kind as to write a poem for me? It can be either long or short."

Yuan Yi paused slightly, then smiled and said, "Alright. Since you want a poem, I'll improvise one for you. That would be quite a novel idea."

Upon hearing this, Jing Qing was overjoyed and her beautiful eyes widened: "Fourth Master... Fourth Master actually wants to compose a poem on the spot? I only hoped that I could have Fourth Master write an old poem by someone else, and I would be satisfied. I dare not trouble Fourth Master to compose one himself."

Yuan Yi smiled and said, "It's alright. Since it's a reward for you, I naturally have to show my appreciation."

He said no more, picked up his pen, and concentrated on composing his thoughts. In a short while, his eyes flashed, and he had already figured it out. He dipped the pen in thick ink and began to write, his brushstrokes flowing and powerful, the structure elegant and well-organized. Lines of beautiful and elegant phrases appeared on the paper—a poem titled "Partridge Sky: Playing Chess with Jing Qing."
The sudden rain has just stopped, and the summer heat is gone. I sit quietly, facing the empty courtyard, playing chess.

Her starry eyes subtly probed the mysterious forces at play, and her jade-like fingers lightly flicked out a cold sound.

The calamity is not yet over, the night is still dim, and the first move will determine the outcome.

But I write new verses to reward the beauty, and casually say that the weather is not yet clear.

Jing Qing watched intently from the side, her eyes sparkling with admiration from the very first word Yuan Yi wrote. By the time the entire poem was finished, her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and she couldn't help but softly recite it, praising, "Fourth Master, this poem is so fitting for the occasion, so wonderful! And it uses the 'Partridge Sky' poetic form that I love so much!" Once the ink on the paper had dried slightly, she carefully picked up the poem with both hands, admiring it closely as if it were a precious treasure, unable to put it down.

However, Yuan Yi was about to leave shortly afterward.

Jing Qing suppressed her shyness and asked softly, "Fourth Master...aren't you staying here tonight?"

Yuan Yi smiled slightly at her: "You should rest well and get plenty of rest. I'll come over again tomorrow night. Tonight I'm going to Baochai's place."

A sense of loss welled up in Jing Qing's heart, but she put on a gentle smile and said softly, "Yes, I understand. Fourth Master, please take care."

Yuan Yi smiled and said, "The second young lady of the Rongguo Mansion who just moved in at the back of your courtyard today is skilled at chess. If you want to play chess in the future, you can go and play against her."

Jing Qing hummed in agreement and escorted Yuan Yi to the courtyard gate.

If she often plays chess with Yingchun, the two can become closer and pass the time when they are bored.

……

……

Yuan Yi, stepping through the night and the lamplight, arrived at Xue Baochai's residence once again.

Since moving into this mansion, the maid Xing'er has lived with Xue Baochai. However, Xue Baochai prefers quiet and does not like Xing'er, so she usually does not allow Xing'er to serve her.

For example, at this moment, only Xue Baochai and Ying'er are in the room.

Ying'er was sitting on the couch, facing the candlelight, her head bowed, her slender fingers deftly weaving a colorful plum blossom knot.

Xue Baochai sat upright behind a desk by the window, on which lay several thick account books and a stack of letters. Dressed in a casual dress, she did not appear extravagant. She was intently reviewing an account book, occasionally picking up her brush, dipping it in ink, and making a few annotations beside it, her brows furrowed with seriousness.

Since the businesses of Xue Pan and Xue Jin's branches of the Xue family were merged into one, and she took charge of it, holding a 20% stake, handling business accounts and correspondence has become an indispensable part of her daily life. Even now, within the inner chambers of the Duke's mansion, she has not slackened in her business dealings and financial transactions; on the contrary, she has become even more cautious than before.

Ying'er occasionally looked up and saw Xue Baochai so focused on the Xue family business. She admired her and dared not disturb her.

At this moment, Yuan Yi arrived at the door. Seeing that the door was closed, he knocked. Ying'er's voice came from inside, and he simply replied, "It's me!"

Xue Baochai and Ying'er were all too familiar with Yuan Yi's voice. Xue Baochai quickly put down her brush, while Ying'er hurriedly put down her work. Xue Baochai personally went to open the door, a perfectly timed gentle smile on her face: "Fourth Master has arrived."

Yuan Yi nodded and entered the room. After Xue Baochai and Ying'er had paid their respects, his gaze swept over the account books on the desk and he said, "It's so late, are you still busy with these?"

Xue Baochai smiled slightly and said, "These are just some daily chores, nothing to worry about. Ying'er, quickly brew Fourth Master a cup of fresh tea." Her tone was calm, having already lost the focused state she had been when dealing with the accounts, as if it were just a trivial matter.

The candlelight flickered in the room, illuminating Xue Baochai's beautiful face.

Yuan Yi looked at Xue Baochai and knew that this woman possessed a profound understanding of life, far surpassing ordinary young ladies. The performances in the manor's garden, with her presence, would undoubtedly take on a more sophisticated and nuanced quality…

After talking with Xue Baochai for a while, Yuan Yi rubbed his temples and said, "I've been traveling a bit today and had a few too many drinks at the banquet. I'm feeling quite tired now and would like to rest as soon as possible. I'll stay here with you tonight."

He was indeed exhausted today. He hadn't taken a nap because of the Rong Mansion's affairs. He rushed to Changchun Garden to plead with Emperor Taishun, then braved the torrential rain to return to the city to see Lu Keduo, then went to Jia She's courtyard to bring back Yingchun and Jia Cong, and also had to have a banquet with the three gentlemen... With so many things to do, plus the fact that he was a little drunk, he was inevitably tired.

Xue Baochai was naturally delighted. In her eyes, Yuan Yi staying overnight at her place was a matter of face and favor. She lowered her eyelashes and softly responded with an "Mmm," then raised her head again and asked with concern, "Did Fourth Master take a bath before coming? If not, I will have hot water prepared."

Yuan Yi said, "I've already taken a bath and feel great, so you don't need to do anything else."

Xue Baochai nodded and said, "Since Fourth Master has already bathed, please rest first. I have not yet bathed and I am afraid that my sweat stains may offend Fourth Master. Please allow me to freshen up a bit and I will come immediately."

Yuan Yi nodded in agreement.

Xue Baochai then led Yuan Yi into her bedroom, where she and Ying'er helped Yuan Yi remove his outer robe, boots, and socks.

Wearing only his undergarments, Yuan Yi lay down on Xue Baochai's neatly made bed, which carried a faint fragrance. The thin quilt was soft and warm, the curtains hung low, and a small horn lamp by the bedside emitted a hazy glow, adding to the tranquility.

Seeing that Yuan Yi was settled, Xue Baochai left the bedroom and went to the bathroom. Usually, she would take half an hour to bathe, washing herself carefully and unhurriedly. But today, because she was thinking about Yuan Yi who had already retired for the night, she was much quicker than usual. She only rinsed herself briefly, dried herself, changed into a nightgown, and only wrung her hair half-dry with a towel, loosely tied it into a bun, before hurriedly returning to the bedroom.

She quietly lifted the bed curtains and slipped into the quilt, bringing with her the fresh scent of soap. The thin quilt was already warm and cozy from Yuan Yi's body heat. She lay down on her side, and by the light of the lamp, she saw that Yuan Yi had his eyes closed as if he were asleep, breathing evenly, so she did not disturb him, but simply lay quietly beside him, feeling a sense of peace and contentment in her heart.

However, just as she lay down, a warm hand covered her soft hand that was resting outside the thin blanket. She was slightly startled and looked to the side, only to see that Yuan Yi had opened his eyes at some point and was looking at her with a smile. Although there was weariness in his eyes, there was also a clear tenderness in them.

"How come you finished bathing so quickly?" Yuan Yi asked in a low voice, gently stroking the back of her hand with his fingers.

Xue Baochai was immediately embarrassed and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Yuan Yi pulled her closer to him and chuckled softly, "Are you worried that I'll sleep alone?"

Xue Baochai buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, smelling the faint scent of alcohol mixed with the refreshing smell after his bath, and hummed softly.

Seeing her shy and demure appearance, so different from her usual dignified and composed demeanor, Yuan Yi felt even more affection for her, and his weariness dissipated somewhat. He lowered his head and planted a kiss on her smooth forehead, tightening his arms around her.

This kiss seemed to have touched Xue Baochai's heart; she seemed suddenly drunk, as if she had drunk more wine than Yuan Yi that day.

All her usual seriousness and rules were thrown to the winds, leaving only excitement and obedience.

The night outside the window was deep and dark, while the flickering light inside cast a picture of a pair of mandarin ducks nestled together on the gauze curtains, adding a touch of tenderness and romance to the tranquil night.

(End of this chapter)