Chapter 876: Spring Sorrow Presses the Embroidered Bed

The Earl’s Mansion, Jia Cong’s Courtyard.

The fiery evening glow illuminated the courtyard, casting long shadows from the vermilion pillars along the veranda before the main hall.

The sunset light struck the lintel of the main hall, glinting golden, interwoven with the shadows of the pillars, creating a striking contrast of light and dark that evoked an unusual warmth and stillness.

Dou Guan’s voice was clean and clear, bright and crisp with a child’s timbre, brimming with playfulness and mischief.

Ying Lian and Ling Guan covered their mouths, stifling giggles; Jia Cong, being unscrupulous, even laughed out loud.

Qing Wen’s delicate face flushed red as she shouted with laughter: “You half-grown little maid, you pick fights with me every day.”

“I reckon you’re itching for a beating—I’ll help you peel off your skin all at once!”

Dou Guan saw Qing Wen lunging at her, let out a loud shriek—but it carried no fear, only excitement and delight, and she darted away like a flash.

Dou Guan had trained in opera since childhood; after entering the Eastern Mansion, no one disciplined her due to her young age.

She climbed and scrambled everywhere, never still for a moment; when it came to nimble feet, Qing Wen couldn’t match her.

The two chased each other along the veranda; Dou Guan ran a full lap, yet Qing Wen failed to catch her.

Dou Guan sprinted another lap, then darted back to the front of the main hall and instantly hid behind Jia Cong.

She cried out: “Third Master, Qing Wen sister wants to peel my skin and eat my flesh—please stop her!”

Jia Cong spread his arms to block Qing Wen and smiled: “I’ll scold him later—let her off this once.”

But Qing Wen had run too fast and couldn’t stop in time; she crashed headlong into his arms.

Jia Cong was engulfed by her impact—her touch was strange, soft and plump, fragrant and smooth, undeniably pleasing; he instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist.

Dou Guan peeked out from behind Jia Cong’s back, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, as if displeased.

She said: “Third Master, if you’re being chased, Qing Wen sister wants to beat me—why don’t you hug me instead? Why hug her?”

Jia Cong instinctively let go; Qing Wen’s face turned pink.

She laughed and scolded: “Look at this little brat—you’re not even as tall as the back of a chair, and you want the Third Master to hug you? Don’t you know shame?”

Dou Guan spoke brazenly, utterly unconcerned: “Wanting to be as tall as a chair back? Easy—I’ll grow that much if I eat another half-year’s worth of meals.”

Qing Wen was about to retort, but Jia Cong smiled: “You’re holding a padded jacket—is it made for me? The stitching looks excellent.”

Qing Wen, distracted, said: “I’ve been so flustered by this little brat I forgot the main thing—this jacket isn’t mine.”

It was made specially by Miss Lin, sent over by Zi Juan at noon. I thought it fit well, but Third Master, please try it on—it’s Miss Lin’s thoughtfulness.”

The group entered the inner chamber; Dou Guan shut the door, Ling Guan added charcoal to the incense brazier and stoked the fire higher.

Ying Lian helped Jia Cong remove his outer coat and inner padded robe; Qing Wen slipped the fur-lined padded jacket onto him—it fit perfectly, snug and true.

As the group chattered, a voice came from outside: “Qing Wen sister, is Third Master at home?”

Jia Cong recognized it as Xiujú, Ying Chun’s maid; Qing Wen replied: “Third Master is in. Wait a moment—we’ll be out.”

The group helped Jia Cong dress properly again; Dou Guan opened the main hall door. Jia Cong smiled: “Is Second Sister looking for me?”

Xiujú said: “Today, Miaoyu has moved back to the Southern Slope Courtyard. Second Sister has prepared a vegetarian feast there.”

“One, to welcome Miaoyu back; two, so the young ladies can gather. She sent me to invite you to join.”

……

The Earl’s Mansion, Ying Chun’s Courtyard.

Daiyu, Tanchun, Baochai, Xiangyun, Xichun, and the other sisters were all present, dressed in brocade and silk, adorned with jeweled hairpins, the hall suffused with refined elegance and opulence.

Zhi Shao sat on the left, conversing with Xing Xiuyan; they had lived together for years at P’anxiang Temple in Suzhou, their bond deeper than others’.

Shi Xiangyun listened nearby, her expression listless, her bright eyes shifting restlessly.

Sometimes she glanced at Zhi Shao, sometimes at Xing Xiuyan, often lapsing into quiet daydreaming.

Tanchun was speaking with Baochai, their conversation drifting, both distracted; only Xichun focused intently on eating fruit, utterly carefree.

Miaoyu conversed with Ying Chun, wearing a Miaochang headdress, a pale white long-sleeved robe, over which she wore a dark blue satin-lined long vest, with a light ink-white silk skirt tied at her waist.

Her black hair, like ink-dyed silk, framed cheeks of jade-like radiance; her clear, bright eyes were calm and serene.

She stood in stark contrast to the Jia sisters’ refined wealth.

…………

Ying Chun smiled: “Moving back here is a good thing—we sisters have more company now.”

“I’ll have more chess partners. After you finish your scripture recitation each day, come by often—we can chat and drink tea together.”

Miaoyu’s nature was usually cold, but due to her junior sister Zhi Shao, her demeanor had grown noticeably more open than before.

She had visited the Jia mansion several times; perhaps out of affection for Zhi Shao, she treated Ying Chun and the other Jia sisters with polite, refined manners, shedding her former aloof eccentricity.

Before the New Year, Ying Chun often visited the Southern Slope Courtyard; Miaoyu’s chess skill was high, making her a worthy opponent, and both delighted in their games.

Once, Ying Chun entered Miaoyu’s meditation chamber and happened to see a prayer tablet for her brother, offered before the Guanyin statue.

Though Miaoyu said she owed Jia Cong a debt she could not repay, so she merely recited scriptures and prayed for him in her spare time,

Ying Chun was deeply moved. Even with Miaoyu’s cold nature, she felt drawn to her and naturally wished she would stay often at the mansion.

…………

Miaoyu said: “I owe my fortune to my junior sister—Yuzhang has been thoughtful in every way, bringing me and my master into the mansion. I’ve been a burden.”

Ying Chun laughed: “Don’t speak so formally, Miaoyu. War is coming—the outskirts are already chaotic. You moving in here is true peace.”

“But Jia Cong hasn’t had a year of peace at home—now he’s leaving for battle again. Who knows when he’ll return?”

“Miaoyu, your lineage is profound—you understand auspiciousness and yin-yang. Is Jia Cong’s campaign going to be smooth?”

Ying Chun was so anxious for her brother she forgot that divination required the subject himself to be present, casting the yarrow stalks or examining his face.

Miaoyu paid no mind, smiling: “Big Sister, rest easy—my master has examined Yuzhang’s destiny.”

“He said Yuzhang is a man of great fortune—his life will have trials, but misfortune will turn to good.”

“A few days ago, my master was invited by Zhang Tianshi to exchange techniques at Luocang Mountain’s Xuantian Palace.”

“On returning, my master mentioned Zhang Tianshi is an old acquaintance of Yuzhang—he first met him when Yuzhang was only ten.”

“Zhang Tianshi immediately declared Yuzhang’s destiny extraordinary.”

“These past years, Yuzhang has prospered in all things, each step blooming like lotus flowers—clearly, Zhang Tianshi and my master were right.”

“So this campaign will surely go smoothly.”

“Who knows? Perhaps Yuzhang’s glory will lift the entire family to even greater heights.”

Ying Chun only liked hearing good things about her brother; she smiled: “I don’t care about his achievements—just let him return home safe and sound.”

…………

Miaoyu saw Ying Chun’s calm, tender sisterly affection, and felt uneasy—she had spoken only blessings, omitting forbidden words.

That day, when her master exchanged techniques with Zhang Tianshi, he had mentioned Yuzhang only briefly.

But her master was a true adept—she heard the music and understood the meaning, saw one leaf and knew autumn.

Zhang Tianshi had said that when he first met Yuzhang, he saw his face and aura—unlike any ordinary person: sudden reversal from great misfortune to great fortune, life and death entangled, unclear.

His spirit and bone structure were priceless; death and fortune intertwined, a lineage of generals and ministers, generations blessed, an exceedingly rare destiny-breaking pattern.

At the time, her master had said Zhang Tianshi’s face-reading and her own innate divine numerology were in perfect agreement.

Her master had calculated that at age ten, Yuzhang was destined for a life-or-death crisis—he should have died, yet he survived against all odds.

Zhang Tianshi first met Yuzhang precisely when he was ten, and declared his destiny strange: sudden reversal from great misfortune to great fortune, life’s aura dim and obscure.

This matched exactly what her master had foreseen: a deathly crisis at ten, yet survival against all odds.

…………

Yuzhang met Zhang Tianshi at age ten—only after that did his fortune flourish, turning from misfortune to prosperity, becoming radiant.

Her master calculated that Yuzhang’s nature was unpredictable—easily winning today but losing tomorrow, fortune collapsing, calamity spreading.

Zhang Tianshi, using face-reading and aura analysis, said Yuzhang was no ordinary man—a rare destiny-breaking pattern.

Her master said both methods of divination aligned perfectly—two paths, one destination.

Any destiny-breaking pattern cannot be borne by ordinary people—it dooms one to constant upheaval, unpredictable fortune and misfortune: either a great sage or a great villain.

Miaoyu thought of this, her spirit trembling, unable to calm.

Jia Cong’s image rose in her mind—handsome, gentle, affectionate, loyal—how could he possibly be such a person?

…………