By the time he returned from the government office, it was a quarter to nine. Lanterns hung throughout the residence, and stars dotted the sky. Jia Huan quietly handed two black bundles to Qiao Ping'er, then headed back to his own courtyard.
As soon as he entered, he saw Qingwen and Xiangling gathered around a graceful figure. Her skin was so white it seemed to glow, and her delicate face had a fragile, slightly sickly beauty. It was Lin Daiyu.
"Miss Daiyu."
Jia Huan greeted her politely, then shot Xiangling and Qingwen a glare.
Xiangling stuck out her tongue and lowered her pretty head in embarrassment.
"What urgent business brings you here so late, Miss Daiyu?" Jia Huan asked.
Lin Daiyu showed no shyness, answering with easy composure:
"Brother Huan, I wanted to ask your advice on poetry."
Although she suspected Jia Huan had plagiarized it from somewhere, she could not say so outright without hurting his pride.
Jia Huan smiled.
"I'm an ignorant, uneducated fellow. How could I possibly instruct you, Miss Daiyu?"
Lin Daiyu glanced at those beside her. With so many people around, loose tongues might embarrass Jia Huan. She walked alone into the dim corridor and raised a hand.
"Brother Huan, come here. Let me have a word with you."
Jia Huan followed her.
They were hardly a man and woman alone together. Xueyan and Zijuan could see them talking, though they could not hear what was being said.
The lamplight cast two shadows, one tall and one short.
Lin Daiyu persisted:
"Brother Huan, there are stars and a moon tonight. Make up a poem for me. I'll let it rot in my belly without breathing a word, and I promise no one will laugh at you."
Her voice was low, soft, and clear. Her eyes shimmered like autumn waters, and her porcelain-white skin was especially striking in the night.
Seeing Jia Huan remain silent, Lin Daiyu said gently:
"Brother Huan, I'm not trying to make you embarrass yourself. I only want to see your true talent and learning."
A single poem would be enough to give her a fair idea of his poetic ability.
With matters having reached this point, Jia Huan had little choice. He clasped his hands behind his back and strolled leisurely.
Lin Daiyu held her breath and focused.
Then a low voice slowly rang out.
"How often beneath the flowers I sat and played my flute; the silver river and red walls stretched distant in my gaze."
Lin Daiyu's heart jolted. Her little cherry-red mouth parted, and she could scarcely believe her ears.
The imagery was exquisite. In an instant, she could picture a man standing beneath the flowers, gazing intently toward his beloved's chamber.
His mastery of poetry was profound!
That line alone inclined her to believe the earlier lyric had indeed been Brother Huan's work, but it still lacked intense emotion.
Brimming with anticipation, Lin Daiyu watched Jia Huan intently.
"These stars are not the stars of yesternight; for whom do I stand through midnight's wind and dew?"
As the final syllable faded, Lin Daiyu clutched her handkerchief, her face filled with astonishment, while towering waves surged through her heart.
"These stars are not the stars of yesternight; for whom do I stand through midnight's wind and dew?" The line was beautiful beyond measure, expressing all the sorrow of regret and unattainable longing. Melancholy flooded her heart at once.
At the sight of Lin Daiyu's dazed expression, Jia Huan's lips curved upward, only for him to notice tears filling her eyes, with crystalline drops clinging to her lashes.
"Miss Daiyu?" Jia Huan asked with concern.
Surely not. Was she really this sentimental?
Lin Daiyu lowered her head and wiped her tears with her handkerchief. After a long silence, she gave Jia Huan a radiant smile and spoke with wholehearted admiration:
"You reworked Li Shangyin's lines, 'Last night's stars, last night's wind; west of the painted tower, east of the cassia hall.' Unlike his veiled subtlety, yours are more ardent and unrestrained, Brother Huan."
"Brother Huan, your talent overflows. I can only admit my inferiority!"
Jia Huan could not bring himself to accept that praise. He replied with earnest sincerity:
"You're not only skilled in poetry, but well versed in policy questions and the meaning of the classics. How could I compare with you?"
"Brother Huan, you're making fun of me!" Lin Daiyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she said softly:
"You concealed your sharp edge and played the fool, deceiving everyone in the household. My little talent beside yours is a firefly beside the bright moon. I used to think you were kindhearted but reckless and uncouth. I'm sorry. I was too shallow."
"If you don't mind, Brother Huan, I'd like to collect your manuscripts so I can study and learn from them."
It felt as though she were meeting Jia Huan for the first time.
So all that stupidity and vulgarity had been an act!
How laughable that whenever the sisters chatted in the Grand View Garden, they spoke of Brother Huan as someone who neglected his studies and knew nothing of poetry. They had eyes, yet failed to see!
"There's no need to collect my manuscripts. Whenever I have some leisure in the future, I'll ask your advice."
After speaking, Jia Huan added:
"Please keep this secret."
"Of course!" Lin Daiyu nodded repeatedly and stepped closer. Proud as she was, admiration spread across her face.
"I know you care little for fame or fortune, Brother Huan. You don't want to be burdened by a reputation. All you wish is to perform your duties well, root out the vicious beasts who harm the common people, and restore clear, bright skies to the world."
Jia Huan maintained his usual expression, though such praise inevitably left him a little embarrassed.
Lin Daiyu looked at him and asked tentatively, "Brother Huan, I'd like to visit your courtyard from time to time to seek your advice on poetry. I hope you won't find me a nuisance."
She so admired the intense emotion in his poetry that she was beginning to think of him as a kindred spirit in verse.
"Not at all." Jia Huan nodded.
At his agreement, Lin Daiyu was delighted. Her smile lingered as she gave a slight curtsy and took her leave.
But after only two steps, she turned back and said playfully:
"Brother Huan, if you ever complain that I chatter too much, I'll spread the word everywhere and let everyone pester you to death!"
Jia Huan laughed too. Miss Daiyu really was rather amusing.
As she emerged from the corridor, Xiangling and Xueyan hurried after her and eagerly asked:
"How did it go?"
Lin Daiyu pressed her lips together and answered vaguely:
"Brother Huan has ink in his belly. His learning is quite good."
She had promised to keep his secret, so she absolutely could not reveal his astonishing mastery of poetry.
"If my teacher says he's good, then the young master must be amazing." Xiangling smiled happily, her dimples showing.
"I'll return to Xiaoxiang Hall now." Lin Daiyu gave a soft hum of assent and walked away at an easy pace.
Xueyan and Zijuan took the lanterns Caiyun handed them and accompanied their mistress home.
At some point, Jia Huan had moved beside Qingwen and poked her waist with a finger.
"Pah! You shameless rogue!" Qingwen's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and even her ears turned red. This time, however, she did not slip away. Instead, she said shyly:
"I won't go back on what I promised, but you're only allowed to taste my lip rouge. Anything else scares me..."
"At a quarter to eleven, I'll slip into your warm chamber," Jia Huan murmured.
"Sister Lin, a maid said you went to see that scoundrel Jia Huan!"
On the way back to the Grand View Garden, Jia Baoyu blocked her path, his eyes bulging with anger.
"What business is it of yours? I went to play with Sister Xiangling!" Lin Daiyu walked around him, not bothering to engage with him.
Jia Baoyu's face filled with fury, and he shouted:
"Absolutely not! I've broken all ties with that scoundrel Jia Huan. You're not allowed to take his serving maid as your pupil anymore, much less visit his courtyard! Sister, you're a fairy-like maiden. What could you have to say to an uncouth brute? You'll only sully your pure spirit for nothing!"
Lin Daiyu regarded him coldly. She almost wanted to tell him that if Brother Huan was an uncouth brute, then he was a stinking fish in a filthy ditch, unable to measure up to Brother Huan in the slightest.
Her patience ran out. She wanted to get home at once and write down the poem, so she snapped coldly:
"Who do you think you can order around? Now I'll make a point of talking to Brother Huan. Stay away from me!"
With that, she walked away with Xueyan and Zijuan.
"Argh! I'm furious!" Jia Baoyu stamped his foot hard and threw back his head, shouting at the sky.
Sister Lin was giving me the cold shoulder, and even speaking up for that scoundrel Jia Huan!
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