Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 115: Meeting Yuanchun in the Deep Palace

Hearing the words "Sister Baoqin" reminded Baoqin of the time she spent in the Jia Mansion. Back then, the maids and the masters in the mansion called her like this. It has been six years now.

Jia Cong followed Baoqin around the Qianyang Palace and walked for a while. He saw that the scenery in front of him gradually became more lush with flowers and trees, and it became more vibrant with every few steps he took.

After walking a few turns on a small bluestone path, you will see an exquisite octagonal pavilion.

There was a palace lady standing in the pavilion. She was tall and slender, wearing a red silk gown with a closed collar and a front button, with wide sleeves, a plain pleated skirt, and an exquisite Qu crown on her head.

She has an oval face, eyes like watery apricots, lips rosy with red, skin as white as cream, and a refined and scholarly air between her brows. She is an extremely beautiful and generous woman.

The woman smiled and said, "Brother Cong, do you still recognize me? When you were in my house, you were still a timid child. I haven't seen you for many years, but now you have grown into such a proud young man."

Jia Cong looked at the beautiful and elegant Yuanchun in front of him. She was indeed an outstanding woman who was selected to be a female historian in the palace because of her talent, beauty and virtue.

For twenty years I have been distinguishing right from wrong, and the pomegranate flowers are in bloom, illuminating the palace.

Three spring contests and early spring scenes, Hu Si meets and dreams back.

Most of the elders in the Jia family were mediocre or unworthy, but they managed to raise these beautiful women.

In order to continue her family's wealth and prosperity, Grandmother Jia sent such an outstanding woman into the palace to curry favor with the emperor, causing her to waste her youth year after year, alone and lonely. It must be pitiful to think about it.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong felt a little sad and replied in a gentle voice: "Jia Cong meets Sister Yuanchun."

"We are siblings, so there is no need to be so reserved, come and sit down. In the past two years, when the old lady and the wife came to the palace to pay homage to the empress dowager during the New Year holidays, they would bring letters from my father.

Every time my father mentioned you in his letters, he said that you were diligent and self-disciplined, and had done very well in your studies. You were the most outstanding child in the family in recent years. This month I heard that you won the first place in the exam.

I have always been curious, and today I finally got to see Brother Cong in person."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I often hear the second master mention the eldest sister at home. When they get along with the sisters every day, they often think of the fact that the eldest sister is missing, and they always feel regretful."

Yuanchun's eyes were slightly moist: "I am happy that my sisters still remember me often."

Seeing her gloomy expression, Jia Cong suddenly felt a little sorry for her and blurted out, "If my brother has the opportunity to enter the palace in the future, he will come to see me often."

Yuanchun's eyes were filled with joy: "Then brother Cong, please remember what we said today and come to see me when you get the chance."

Yuanchun had been in the palace for many years and the palace rules were very strict. She could not even take a step out of the palace gate. Only during the New Year holidays, when the old lady and the lady came to the palace to pay homage, could she see her.

However, she has not seen her father since she entered the palace. She was once the most precious young lady in the Jia family. Now, she is separated from her family and alienated from her relatives. She feels lonely and sad in her heart, which is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

In the past two years, in addition to mentioning Jia Cong, his father's letters also mentioned that Baoyu was addicted to playing in the backyard and did not like reading. Despite repeated admonitions, he refused to change. It would be extremely difficult for him to study and go to school.

But the outsider had no official title or status, so he had no chance to enter the palace. He couldn't see Baoyu again, because he was his own brother whom he had raised, and his family must have spoiled him too much in recent years.

On the contrary, Jia Cong, his cousin, was chosen as the top candidate at a young age and was also conferred an eighth-rank official title by the emperor. He was no more talented than any other man in the world.

With this cousin's ability, he can expect to take part in the autumn or spring examinations. I heard that even the emperor emeritus likes his calligraphy. He will have many opportunities to enter the palace in the future, and I can see him often.

Yuanchun has been trapped in the deep palace for many years. As time goes by, she has become attached to her family. The thought of seeing her younger brother Jia Cong often in the future can ease her homesickness a little.

Baoqin was standing aside, and seeing the siblings chatting happily, she was also happy. The girl had been lonely for all these years since she entered the palace, and it had been a long time since she saw her so happy. After all, she still missed her family.

Yuanchun waved to a young eunuch who followed her. The eunuch came up with a tray containing some fine pens and ink, a tribute inkstone, a glazed pen holder, a white jade paperweight, and other items.

They are all exquisite and valuable calligraphy items.

Yuanchun smiled and said, "These calligraphy items are all top-grade tributes from the palace. The Empress asked me to bring them as a reward to Brother Cong. You can use them when you go to Jinling to copy scriptures for Empress Dowager Xianxiao this time."

Jia Cong looked at the gifts, feeling somewhat puzzled. Seeing his expression, Yuanchun asked, "Brother Cong, is there something wrong?"

Jia Cong did not speak, but only glanced at the young eunuch behind Yuanchun. Yuanchun had lived in the palace for a long time, and had seen many tricks in the palace, and had already practiced them very shrewdly. She said to Baoqin beside her: "Baoqin, you and Xiao Fuzi go play, I will talk to Brother Cong."

Baoqin had followed Yuanchun for many years, so how could she not understand what Yuanchun meant? Xiao Fuzi was a eunuch beside the Queen, so he was somewhat taboo, so he took the little eunuch away.

Jia Cong said, "Big sister, Baoqin came to summon me with the silver medal of the Queen of Fengzao Palace. Logically, it should be the Queen who summoned me, why did she only let big sister come to meet me?

Moreover, the reward was only asked to be passed on by the eldest sister, which seemed to be an intentional avoidance. If this was the case, why did they use the Fengzao Palace silver medal?
Although this is much cheaper for me and I can spend more time with my older sister, it just feels a little unreasonable."

Yuanchun smiled and said, "Brother Cong is really thoughtful. He can think of these things. The Queen and His Majesty have a deep love for each other. The Emperor appointed you as an eighth-rank Fengyilang in order to copy scriptures and pray for his biological mother.

In fact, it can be regarded as a way of showing filial piety to His Majesty. As the Queen, you are one with the Emperor, and of course you have to show your gratitude in this matter, so I reward you with these precious calligraphy items.

But now that Empress Dowager Yi Zhang is in the palace, His Majesty has built a temple and erected a monument to pray for the Emperor's biological mother, which has always been a bit of a hindrance to the current Empress Dowager Yi Zhang. The Queen did not summon you in person because she was considering the Empress Dowager.

It just so happens that you and I are siblings, so it would be more reasonable for me to come and see you and bring you gifts.

This way, the Queen Mother, the Empress, and even the Emperor can all save face."

Jia Cong was shocked when he heard this. He thought that a wealthy family like the Jia family was deep enough, but he didn't expect that it was still child's play compared to the imperial palace.

In such a shameful place, if you don’t have a lot of twists and turns, you really can’t survive more than a few episodes.

Yuanchun had been in this place for five or six years, and had gone through countless hardships and risks. She couldn't help but feel a lot of sympathy for this older sister.

Seeing his stunned expression, Yuanchun smiled and sighed, "This is how everyone survives in the inner palace. Let us girls figure out these things.

You are a man, just study hard and keep your mind on the world. You don't need to care about these things."

Among the girls Jia Cong knew, Wu'er Qingwen was a cute little girl, considerate and gentle, and all her thoughts were on him.

Daiyu and Tanchun are not very old, and are still little girls who need care.

Yingchun is like an older sister, careful and reserved, and often thinks about the details of his daily life.

But Yuanchun is different from all of them. She is wise, generous, gentle and calm, and she is very talented and thoughtful in her words and deeds.

Although this was his first meeting with Jia Cong, his words were profound and thoughtful, revealing his tact and forbearance, as if he was born to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

Jia Cong thought of how she had lived in seclusion in the deep palace for many years, wasting her youth and feeling lonely inside.

Although she is the eldest daughter of the second wife, she seems to be more pitiful than Yingchun.

The two talked and saw a lot of daily gossip, chatting and laughing, and time passed very quickly.

Seeing that it was getting late, Yuanchun asked Baoqin and Xiao Fuzi to escort Jia Cong out of the palace. If they delayed too long, the Imperial Household Department might come to inquire about the matter. It has always been a taboo for people from outside the palace to stay for a long time.

When Yuanchun saw Jia Cong was about to leave, her eyes suddenly turned red. She smiled at him and said, "Brother Cong is about to go to Jinling. I wish you all the best."

Yuanchun was sad, not because of Jia Cong.

At that time, the old lady and the wife were very enthusiastic about sending her to the palace. As a girl, she was brought up with filial piety and the three obediences since childhood, so she could only obey her elders. She did not like it at all.

Thinking about staying in this shameful place, meeting with my family and talking so many words like today is a great luxury.

Unfortunately, such opportunities are extremely rare.

When Jia Cong followed Yuanchun out with his zither, he looked back and saw Yuanchun still standing alone in the octagonal pavilion, looking at him. The breeze blew the sleeves of her red silk robe. She was silent and looked a little desolate.

(End of this chapter)