Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 159: A Dream of Red Mansions
Yuanchun responded, "Today I have carefully visited the scenery here, it is really wonderful. I was going to tell His Majesty that I am afraid that I will not be able to enjoy such a beautiful place and will cause gossip. I hope His Majesty will withdraw his order and let me have a courtyard in Yuanzhao Garden, which will be enough for me to enjoy in 'Heaven and Earth Family Spring'."

Yuan Qingbai smiled slightly, thinking that she was worthy of being Yuanchun, dignified and virtuous, as always.

However, Yuan Qingbai had already realized that although Yuanchun said this, she must be very fond of "natural paintings" in her heart.

Just yesterday, Yuan Qingbai gave Yuanchun the "Natural Painting", and today Yuanchun couldn't wait to come here to study and even brought a guqin over.

Yuan Qingbai saw this, but he didn't say anything to avoid embarrassing Yuanchun. He just smiled and said, "You are the queen, how can you not enjoy the scenery here? It is only natural that I give you this place. If it gets out, it will prove that we are in love and in harmony. Besides, you know that the queen mother is happy to see me give you this place."

Yuanchun was delighted, but she smiled and said, "I'll be frank with His Majesty. I was afraid of gossip just now, not because I was afraid of outsiders, but because I was worried about the gossip in the harem."

Yuan Qingbai suddenly realized what Yuanchun was going to say next.

Yuanchun continued with a smile, "Your Majesty may know more about the affairs of the harem than I do. Although I am the queen, Your Majesty has only granted me this scenic spot this time, and the other sisters have not had it. There will inevitably be gossip, and some will beg or make a fuss for Your Majesty to grant them a scenic spot as well. Will you grant it or not? If I disturb you like this, isn't it my fault?"

Yuan Qingbai picked up the teacup and sipped the fragrant tea again before responding, "To be honest, I have been married to you for nine years. Don't you know me? Why would I worry about such gossip in the harem? Since you mentioned this, I might as well make it clear that there are many scenic spots in Yuanzhao Garden. It would be a pity to leave them idle. I have already intended to grant them to my concubines in the future. However, this is a great favor and I will not give it lightly."

Yuanchun nodded, but said, "Why do you have to do this? Your Majesty, just take this place back. I can come here often in the future, but I will just lose my status. This is such a big Yuanzhao Garden. Except for a few places that are inconvenient to visit, if I want to visit other scenic spots, will Your Majesty not allow it? If Your Majesty favors any of my sisters, you can allow her to visit other scenic spots often, isn't it a bargain?"

Yuan Qingbai stared at Yuanchun, his tone becoming a little tougher: "I have already made the decision on this matter, the Queen doesn't need to persuade me any further."

Yuanchun understood.

In fact, she really loved "natural pictures" and wished she could have this view all to herself and own such a "garden within a garden" in Yuanzhao Garden. Yuan Qingbai specially gave her this view, which made her feel happy from the bottom of her heart.

But she felt that as a queen she should be virtuous and considerate, which was why she persuaded Yuan Qingbai in this way.

Now that she had tried to persuade him and Yuan Qingbai was determined, she knew better and stopped trying.

Yuan Qingbai's eyes moved away from Yuanchun's face and moved to a guqin placed in the room. After looking at the guqin, his eyes returned to Yuanchun's face and he said with a smile, "It has been a long time since I last heard the Queen play the guqin. I wonder if the Queen would be in a good mood today and play a song for me?"

The four sisters of the Jia family, Yuanchun, Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun, are good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting respectively.

Therefore, their personal maids were named Baoqin, Siqi, Daishu and Ruhua respectively.

Before Yuanchun married Yuan Qingbai, when she was a lady in the boudoir in Rongguo Mansion, she often played the piano. She owned several good pianos, some of which were given to her by her grandmother, and some were even given to her by Jia Zheng. Even a pedantic man like Jia Zheng supported his eldest daughter to learn to play the piano.

Several fine zithers became Yuanchun's dowry.

However, Yuanchun had seldom played the zither in the past nine years, because of the royal rules, because she considered herself dignified and virtuous, because it was inconvenient to play the zither in the palace, and also because of the mourning period brought about by the successive deaths of Emperor Jing'an, Empress Dowager Wang, and Emperor Chengtai.

The last time Yuan Qingbai heard Yuanchun play the piano was on the first day of the first lunar month more than a month ago. That day was Yuanchun’s birthday, and Empress Dowager He asked Yuanchun to play a piece of music.

At this moment, facing Yuan Qingbai's "request", Yuanchun smiled happily and said: "If Your Majesty is in such a refined mood, I will certainly perform my ugly tricks. I wonder what song Your Majesty wants to hear?"

Yuan Qingbai said decisively: "Dream!"

Yuanchun smiled brightly, "On the first day of the first lunar month of this year, my birthday, Your Majesty listened to me play a piece of music. It's only been a little over a month, which is not a long time. But if we talk about the song "Dream" composed by Your Majesty, you haven't heard me play it for a long time. Your Majesty and I have a tacit understanding. Just now you said you wanted to hear me play the piano, and I immediately thought of the song "Dream." "

Yuan Qingbai sighed and said, "Indeed, I haven't heard you play the song "Dream" for a long time. It is a blessing to hear it again today. This song was written by you and me, and it is of great significance."

Yuanchun smiled and said, "It is truly the emperor's credit that we were able to obtain this piece of music. I have only done my humble part."

After saying this, Yuanchun stood up slowly and sat down next to the guqin.

Yuan Qingbai stared at her intently.

This is a precious ancient guqin handed down from the Song Dynasty, which Yuanchun cherishes very much.

Yuanchun stretched out her left hand to stroke the zither and her right hand to press the strings. As her fair and delicate fingers plucked the strings deftly, a piece of music with graceful melody and profound artistic conception flowed out like the sound of a gurgling stream.

The title of this song is "Dream".

One day, when Yuan Qingbai was listening to Yuanchun playing the guqin, he was moved and suddenly had an idea. He hummed a song from his previous life and asked Yuanchun to play it on the guqin.

This piece of music is the "Introduction" from the 1987 TV series "Dream of Red Mansions". There is also a version called "Overture to A Dream of Red Mansions".

Yuan Qingbai loved this song so much that he thought it could be the theme song of "Dream of Red Mansions".

After Yuanchun played this piece of music on the guqin, Yuan Qingbai named it "Dream".

At this moment, Yuan Qingbai couldn't help feeling emotional when he heard Yuanchun playing "Dream" again after a long time.

This song once again reminded him that he was living in the world of the Red Mansion in this life, and the beauty who was playing the piano for him was not only the queen who had lived in harmony and love with him for nine years, but also Yuanchun, the Golden Hairpin in the original novel.

When the song ended, Yuanchun looked at Yuan Qingbai with bright eyes, expecting praise from her husband and the emperor. Yuan Qingbai did not disappoint her, clapping his hands and laughing, saying, "Wonderful! I love listening to it. It's strange to say, since you married me, you haven't played the zither very often in the past nine years, and even less in recent years. However, every time I hear you play the zither, I feel that your skills are improving day by day."

Yuanchun was satisfied and smiled: "How can I improve day by day? I think Your Majesty is just joking and teasing me."

Yuan Qingbai smiled and said, "I am not kidding, I really feel it."

Yuanchun snorted softly and started to act coquettishly without realizing it.

She seldom acts like a spoiled brat, but when she does, she becomes very lovable and charming.

In fact, Yuanchun also knew that her piano skills were improving day by day.

The reason is that, although she did not play the piano much in the past nine years, she often looked at the music scores and often sat at the piano to practice. However, when she was practicing, her fingers did not actually press the strings, so no sound was produced.

In Yuanchun's view, this method of practice was a bit funny and did not fit her image of a dignified queen, so she avoided Yuan Qingbai every time she practiced like this, and was too embarrassed to speak of it at this moment.

Yuan Qingbai changed the subject: "Today I feel like writing poetry. Queen, would you be willing to accompany me to visit this 'natural painting'? After the tour, I will write a poem for this landscape."

Yuanchun knew that he was going to write a poem for every landscape in Yuanzhao Garden, and she had also seen several places where he had already written poems. She admired his talent in this area and was also happy that he had such a refined poetic sentiment.

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How could she not respond?
"Your Majesty is in such a refined mood for poetry, I am naturally happy to accompany you."

After saying this with a smile, Yuanchun accompanied Yuan Qingbai to carefully explore the "Natural Paintings".

They visited Langyin Pavilion, Zhuxue Tower, Wufu Hall, Bamboo Sinking Lotus, Jingzhi Chunshijia, Su Causeway Chunxiao, Yifang Tower and the pond in front of the tower.

After a tour, the two returned to Langyin Pavilion. Yuanchun spread out the paper and ground it herself, while Yuan Qingbai picked up his brush and splashed ink to write a poem titled "Natural Picture".

It says: In front of the courtyard, there are thousands of bamboos, and two tung trees stand out against each other. The branches are exposed to the wind, and the green covers the collar and sleeves. To the west is a tall building, which turns to the south and is flanked by terraces. The scenery of the distant and near is vividly displayed, which is beyond the reach of words.

He also wrote a poem:

I have heard that the earth is full of patterns, so why should it be that it is naturally without patterns?

The thatched roof is gone, and the ancient pure style is recorded in the scriptures of Leling Pond.

The pine branches are connected to the clouds and overlook the green waves, while the bamboos below make quiet sounds.

Two tung trees stand tall and luxuriant in the mist, and I think a magical bird is croaking in the morning sun.

The leisurely bamboo forests have existed for many years, and the steep buildings and carved walls are a warning from ancient times.

There are many pleasant places to enjoy, and lakes and mountains can provide a sense of tranquility.

The towering Western Peaks serve as a barrier, and it takes a lot of effort to gaze at and chant at the bottom.

Sometimes I pick orchids and think of their beauty, sometimes I stroke pine and bamboo and think of their integrity.

The gentle breeze brings spring to all things, and the sweet rain brings hope to agriculture, farmers and farmers.

The moss on Zhou'a is green and lush, and the flowers on the frame are red and delicate.

Singing and dancing is not my business, but I just read the history books on my desk.

With the mind being happy day and night forever, I forget that I am in the realm of Emperor Xi.

When Zhi Gong bought the mountain for a price, did he ever realize the price of Mount Sumeru?
This poem is quite long and uses gorgeous words. Yuan Qingbai stopped to think many times while writing it. By the time he finished writing, it took him nearly half an hour to compose the poem.

It lasted for quite a while, but Yuanchun stood aside the whole time, watching attentively. She sincerely felt that it was quite charming that Yuan Qingbai could have such elegant taste for poetry while being busy with state affairs.

"This poem is truly a masterpiece. Your Majesty is truly a great poet and calligrapher!"

Yuanchun praised with a smile. She really loved Yuan Qingbai's calligraphy, but she secretly thought that the poem Yuan Qingbai wrote this time was not that good. If she were to write one, it might be better.

She would never speak out loud about such private thoughts in her heart.

Yuan Qingbai sat on the couch, sipping tea, and said to Yuanchun with a smile: "'Natural Painting' is such a beautiful sight, doesn't the Queen want your family to enjoy it?"

Yuanchun was delighted when she heard this, and immediately understood the hidden meaning behind it. She couldn't help but stare at Yuan Qingbai expectantly: "Will Your Majesty allow my family to come here to enjoy the scenery?"

(End of this chapter)