Concubine Zhao walked out of the hall.
"Wait."
A voice came from behind her.
It was You Shi, with her alluring face and voluptuous figure.
"What is it, Madam of the Eastern Mansion?" Concubine Zhao offered her no friendly look.
She knew Huan'er had a grudge against that father and son in the Eastern Mansion.
"May we speak somewhere private?" You Shi came up beside her and lowered her voice.
They passed through the Ceremonial Gate and reached a secluded corner.
"Want to borrow money?" Concubine Zhao asked.
You Shi pressed her lips together, fully aware that this was a deliberate show of hostility.
Rather than beat around the bush, she said directly:
"Huan is a seventh-rank official now. It is time to arrange a marriage for him. There is a girl in our You Family with a lovely face, an exceptional figure, and a gentle, agreeable disposition. She is accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework. Once married into your household, she would listen to you, too. She would certainly manage a home well."
That was her purpose!
In her eyes, the Eastern Mansion had been foolish to make an enemy of Jia Huan. Since the father and son could not swallow their pride, she had taken it upon herself to settle the resentment on both sides through marriage.
"You mean You Erjie? I met her once. She certainly is pretty." Concubine Zhao recalled that beautiful woman.
You Shi nodded slightly and said softly:
"Would I lie to you? A fortune-teller said her features promised prosperity for her husband. If Huan marries her, his official career will rise steadily."
Concubine Zhao seemed tempted. "A gentle disposition, and she can manage a household?"
"Yes."
You Shi had barely nodded.
"Fools!"
Under the dim yellow lamplight, two graceful figures emerged around the corner: Wang Xifeng and Ping'er.
They had been listening in for some time, and Wang Xifeng could no longer contain herself.
"Your You Family has had its heart smothered in the grease of folly! A petty household like yours is still dreaming of making its girl a principal wife, rushing over here to propose a marriage. Why don't you take a good look at how far above you those steps rise?"
Having scolded You Shi, Wang Xifeng narrowed her phoenix eyes and turned her rebukes on Concubine Zhao:
"And you have no vision at all! What is there to consider? Brother Huan is already a seventh-rank official at such a young age. People will be queuing up to propose marriages for him. How could it ever be the You Family's turn?"
Concubine Zhao was not angry. Instead, she smiled and said:
"Feng, you've misunderstood. Since she is gentle and pretty, she couldn't be more suitable as Huan'er's concubine. We can send a sedan chair to bring You Erjie into his room another day."
You Shi's face turned frosty.
"A concubine? How dare you even say it!"
Concubine Zhao sighed.
"She cannot be his principal wife. My son is a prized sweet bun everyone wants a bite of. Your family won't get its turn."
"Nor can she be his concubine!" Wang Xifeng said, brooking no argument.
"Brother Huan is intent on advancing himself. How could he be allowed to drown in women's charms? As his own mother, you spend every day thinking of stuffing women into his room. Are you trying to ruin him?"
Concubine Zhao smiled.
"Huan'er practices martial arts and is strong and healthy. Taking a concubine won't hurt him. That You Erjie really does have the looks of a fox enchantress."
Wang Xifeng spat, pointing at her as she scolded, "Taking a concubine before he has a wife would make him a laughingstock! Put that thought out of your head. Don't damage Brother Huan's official career!"
Ping'er lowered her head, puzzled.
Why is the young mistress so anxious? She's like a dog catching mice, meddling where she has no business. His own mother is making the decision. How is it a sister-in-law's place to interfere?
"Outrageous! Every other word is about making her a concubine. You're deliberately humiliating us."
You Shi angrily flicked her handkerchief and stalked away.
"She feels wronged at being a concubine? There are plenty of women wanting to enter Huan'er's room."
Concubine Zhao snorted coldly. With the ugly faces that father and son in the Eastern Mansion had shown, there was no chance of settling this grudge!
"Let me know first whenever you discuss a marriage for him." Wang Xifeng spoke sternly, then left with Ping'er.
Concubine Zhao found it strange. Feng loved managing things, but this was stretching her reach far too wide.
Not long after Jia Huan returned to his courtyard, Lin Daiyu came to visit with Zijuan and Xueyan.
"Huan, am I disturbing you?" Lin Daiyu's eyes brimmed with laughter as she held out her pale, delicate palm and said playfully, "Where's the poem? Let me appreciate it."
Jia Huan could only put her off.
"Once I have some leisure over the next few days, I'll give it proper thought."
He had shown off on a whim that day, never imagining Lin Daiyu would be so persistent about poetry.
"No!" Lin Daiyu looked at him and said earnestly:
"Official paperwork wears you out, Huan, and you spend all day hunting down Vicious Fiends and ridding the people of harm. When would you have the leisure to ponder poetry? I wouldn't want to disturb you, either. It must be here and now."
"You promised. Otherwise, I'll quietly tell everyone that Huan is overflowing with talent, and let the literary circles pester you to death."
Jia Huan was helpless. Why had he bothered doing that needless thing that day?
He had plenty of poems, but going on like this was no solution.
He smiled.
"Miss Daiyu, let me walk you back to Xiaoxiang Hall. As we stroll, inspiration will gush like a spring."
"It's a promise!" Lin Daiyu immediately nodded.
"After you."
Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu walked side by side.
Xueyan, Qingwen, and the others followed behind with lanterns, whispering among themselves.
When they reached the Grand View Garden, Daiyu pressed her lips together, not daring to speak for fear of disturbing Jia Huan's thoughts.
The evening breeze was mild. As they walked along the cobblestone path, flowers bloomed in the night and birds chirped. Jia Huan gave a deep sigh.
"Miss Daiyu, after this verse, my talent and literary inspiration will fade, and I will lose all feeling for the poetic realm. I fear I will never produce another fine work. From now on, I will devote myself to worldly affairs, no longer racking my brains over poetry."
Lin Daiyu's eyes widened. Tilting her head, she studied Jia Huan closely, both astonished and expectant, and murmured:
"After this verse, no more inspiration?"
"Yes." Jia Huan nodded.
In the distance, Xue Baochai, Tanchun, Shi Xiangyun, and the others had just returned to the Grand View Garden when they caught sight of this scene.
The two stood within arm's reach, and Daiyu was rising eagerly onto her toes, her eyes fixed intently on Huan.
"Those two..." Shi Xiangyun looked astonished.
Tanchun was even more puzzled.
Daiyu had always been aloof and admired men of letters. Even if she appreciated his ability to rid the people of harm, she would hardly have struck up a friendship with him, much less become so close.
A trace of complicated emotion appeared in Xue Baochai's eyes.
In truth, few people would take the drunken nonsense her brother Xue Pan had spouted to heart. Everyone in the household knew that little devil's nature. Huan had no need to explain himself at all.
Yet he had still declared before everyone, "I have absolutely no such intention."
Could he favor Daiyu? Had he seen her there and hurried to clear things up because he didn't want her to be jealous?
In that instant, Xue Baochai felt she had been eclipsed, and the sensation left her rather uncomfortable.
On the cobblestone path, Jia Huan suddenly stopped. After a long silence, he said softly:
"Drunk, I knew not the sky lay in the water; a boat laden with lucid dreams weighed upon the river of stars."
Boom!
Lin Daiyu's delicate body trembled. Her gaze grew dazed as towering waves surged through her heart.
She felt as though she stood within that poetic realm, the sky reflected below her, as if she lay among brilliant stars. What a magnificent, sweeping spectacle it was.
It was the most beautiful poetic vision she had ever heard, without exception.
A verse that truly could endure through the ages!
Jia Huan took his leave.
"My inspiration has run dry. There will be no more fine works for the rest of my life. I hope you will forgive me, Miss Daiyu."
Although he could draw upon all the poetry written after the Song dynasty, he could not keep doing this every day. He needed an excuse to keep Miss Daiyu from pestering him.
Watching him recede into the distance, Lin Daiyu stared entranced, her eyes drifting out of focus, unable to pull herself free of the poetic realm.
But to Xue Baochai and the others, she looked unwilling to let Huan leave, her soft eyes, clear as autumn waters, all but clinging to him, with affection nearly spilling from them.
"He likes Daiyu, and Daiyu likes him too?" Shi Xiangyun was intensely curious.
Xue Baochai said nothing. Recalling how Jia Huan had declared, "I have absolutely no such intention," before everyone's eyes, she felt a sudden sour ache in her heart. For no reason at all, it seemed as though she fell far short of Lin Daiyu!
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