Chapter 35: Daiyu Reads the Ci

Jia Zheng’s face was heavy with sorrow: “If Cong er gets into trouble, I’ll never be able to show my face again.”

Jia Mu frowned: “What nonsense are you spouting? What does it have to do with you?”

“Mother doesn’t know—Cong er made a huge name for himself at the Nanxi Literary Gathering: his calligraphy was astonishing, and he wrote an exquisite plum blossom ci.”

Old Minister Liu Jing’an said this poem could endure for a hundred generations—it brought great honor to the Jia family.”

Today, all my colleagues in the Ministry of Public Works congratulated me; even Minister Li pulled me aside and spoke at length, saying our younger relatives should associate more with Cong er.”

These words left everyone in the hall stunned; Jia Mu’s eyes nearly glazed over, her mind a blur, her chest tight with unease.

The Jia family had long grown accustomed to steady, uneventful wealth; their sons like Jia Lian and Baoyu drifted through life in dull complacency, never stirring a ripple.

How could such a son emerge from within our walls? No one had ever seen one so disruptive.

A single couplet last year sparked countless troubles—then he went to a literary gathering even the elders struggled to attend, and was kidnapped by bandits.”

Now they say he wrote a poem destined to last through ages, praised by so many—it’s nonstop upheaval, wild highs and lows, enough to shatter a heart.”

Tan Chun’s poetic skill, though slightly inferior to Daiyu’s, was still proficient; she immediately recognized the ci’s merit and felt genuine joy for Jia Cong.”

The old lady waved her hand: “I don’t understand such things—let Lin Yatou read it. Is it truly that good?”

Only Baoyu frowned, his broad face showing disdain and resentment, his eyes fixed on Daiyu; suddenly, he felt the urge to smash his jade—but his father was here, so he dared not act up.”

Jia Zheng pulled out the copied ci he’d taken from Zhao Li and moved to hand it to Jia Mu.”

Daiyu smiled: “This ci is exquisite—clear and strange, yet full of upright ambition. I’ve read countless plum blossom ci’s, and none have moved me more—Cong san-ge is truly remarkable.”

Jia Mu knew Daiyu’s father was a third-place palace examination laureate—the finest scholar of his time—and that Daiyu, raised on countless texts, was famed as a gifted young lady; if she said it was good, it must be.”

As she took the copied manuscript from Jia Zheng, Daiyu’s heart quickened involuntarily; she noticed the expectant glances of her sisters around her.”

This grandson had always been disliked by me, and his parents despised him too—yet the flower inside the wall scented the outside.”

“Liu Jing’an—I know that old man well; he’s famous indeed. Your father had some dealings with him. This man was deeply respected even by the Retired Emperor—could this poem really be that good?”

Daiyu’s voice was clear and lively, like a mountain spring tinkling, echoing softly through Rongqing Hall.”

To write a single ci and be called a masterpiece of eternity—how did everything become so easy for him?”

Tan Chun and Ying Chun felt a quiet ache, filled with worry for Jia Cong; Tan Chun regretted again she wasn’t a boy—then she wouldn’t be sitting here helplessly, but could act on her own to save him.”

Outsiders took him seriously, which left Jia Mu with a strange, indescribable unease.”

Jia Mu asked: “Lin Yatou, is this ci truly that good?”

Now that they said Jia Cong had written an outstanding ci, even called a timeless masterpiece, though still worried, she felt a flicker of curiosity.”

She read two lines, and the emotion in the poem stirred her spirit; her delicate cheeks flushed faintly red. When she finished, her eyes shone with wonder and reverence.”

Ying Chun thought: What a rare talent this younger brother is—I only hope he escapes this danger. Though I’m poor with words, I’ll urge him to stay home more in the future.”

Fair, yet doesn’t vie for spring—only heralds its coming. When the mountain flowers bloom in splendor, she smiles among them!”

Daiyu was truly surprised by this Cong san-ge—how could one person generate so many extraordinary events? At such a young age, his calligraphy was astonishing—rare indeed.”

Daiyu unfolded the copy and read aloud: “Wind and rain send spring away, flying snow welcomes spring’s return. Already, cliffs hang with ice a hundred zhang deep—yet still, plum blossoms stand proud.”

Baoyu had some talent, well-versed in verse and couplets; though inferior to Daiyu, he could still recognize the ci’s quality, lamenting that Jia Cong associated with those money-grubbing fools, wasting such a spirited soul.”

After a moment of silence, the old lady said to her son: “Don’t wait for your brother—send Lai Da with your letter to Zhen’an Prefecture and ask them to help search.”

Jia Zheng ordered a maid to relay the message to Lai Da to act at once, then added: “For our Jia family to produce such a literary prodigy is ancestral blessing—we must protect him well, that’s the way.”

Hearing this, Baoyu and the sisters naturally agreed; nearby, Li Wan thought: If Cong er returns, perhaps Lan er could associate more with him.”

Wang Lady’s face remained expressionless at her husband’s words, though her prayer beads turned faster…”

Jia Mu wasn’t truly senile—having a capable grandson was surely a good thing.”

But years ago, her eldest son quarreled over a courtesan, making a great spectacle.”

His father’s illness worsened; that bitterness had festered in Jia Mu’s heart for years—only death could free her from it.”

She glanced again at the handsome Baoyu, and hearing her son’s words, she felt a fresh pang of discomfort.”

Suddenly, she recalled many old matters: “He may have talent, but he mustn’t throw the whole household into chaos—these past two months have brought so much trouble.”

For a family like ours, the most important thing is steady wealth and security. Heaven never gives without taking.”

If it grants you talent, it denies you peace—always finding ways to torment you, like a debt collector.”

Better to be those country folk who can’t read a single character—give them a humble name, and they live to eighty. Wasn’t my Zhu er more talented than him?”

As she spoke, Jia Mu’s eyes grew red. Now she doted on Baoyu—but back then, Jia Zhu was even more dutiful; how could she not have loved him equally?”

Nearby, Li Wan wept uncontrollably. Wang Lady also wept, her prayer beads stilling…”

Jia Zheng recalled his eldest son’s many virtues—once, he had made his father proud—and his heart ached.”

Though the old lady favored the second branch, and the eldest had been worthless, it wasn’t just that—Jia Zhu’s excellence was the real reason they lived in Rongxi Hall.”

Though she favored her younger son, she was never foolish.”

Jia Zhu excelled in his studies from childhood; we hoped Rongguo Mansion would produce another Jia Jing, a palace examination graduate.”

We even arranged his marriage to the daughter of Li Shouzhong, Director of the Imperial Academy.”

Li Shouzhong was a renowned scholar-official from Jin Ling; marrying his daughter was meant to carve a path for us in the civil service.”

We planned this to extend our family’s wealth for decades—but Jia Zhu died so young.”

Jia Mu added: “I see his father and he follow different paths. If you like that he reads, guide him sometimes—make him more composed.”

We don’t need him chasing fame or glory. Our household doesn’t lack for his keep—let him grow up peacefully, and we’ll all be spared worry.”

Hearing this, Wang Lady’s expression shifted slightly: The old lady told her husband to watch over Cong er—could she be softening? What then of my Baoyu?”

Jia Mu’s eyes flickered, catching her daughter-in-law’s face; she sighed inwardly and said:”

“It’s only four or five years away. Though he’s a concubine’s son, he won’t be mistreated—then give him a house or two, some land, and send him off to live his own life.”

Hearing this, Wang Lady breathed easier.”

Tan Chun thought: Such an outstanding Cong san-ge, and still he’ll be sent away to live apart—she felt a pang of kinship with his fate.”

Daiyu watched coldly, recalling her own situation, and a fresh sorrow rose in her heart.”

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(End of Chapter)