Chapter 481: You haven't even sung

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty, the matriarch of Rong Guo is ninety‑seven this year; next year will be her eightieth birthday."

I fear another favor is about to be bestowed; Xia Shouzhong has a premonition!

Jing Sheng Di nodded and, after a moment of contemplation, said:

"Reaching seventy in life has always been rare; seventy‑nine is already a great age. Zi Jie, for the sake of state affairs, will not permit the Jia family to hold a grand birthday banquet, yet I cannot slight his elders."

"Have the Empress draft a grant, using that golden‑thread nanmu wood screen inlaid with jade depicting a pine‑crane for longevity; then have the Empress herself write a 'Blessings of Fortune, Longevity, Health and Peace' plaque, and send them together to Jia Mansion as a birthday gift from the Emperor and the Empress to the elderly lady."

"Additionally, instruct the Empress to add another line: 'The matriarch of Rong Guo, the Shi family of the Jia household, virtuous and prudent, warm and courteous, occupying the honored position of the whole household while carefully upholding the fundamentals of the inner residence, worthy of being emulated by the wives of meritorious relatives!'"

This is to give Jia Jing a platform, and to use Jia Mu to strike at Grand Consort Nan An and others!

Xia Shouzhong's expression hardened; he quickly bowed and said, "I, your servant, obey the command."

It is obvious who the phrase 'carefully uphold the fundamentals of the inner residence' is aimed at.

Jing Sheng Di said no more, picked up a memorial from Jiangnan, his gaze scanning its text, and his cold, hard expression grew even more solemn.

In Jiangnan, open and covert struggles are constant; it seems impossible to refrain from moving troops!

Jing Sheng Di contemplated, set the memorial aside, and took the paper he had just written with the imperial brush.

Through the candlelight in the hall, falling upon the paper, it was clear that the vermilion ink wrote exactly the poem Jia Jing had recited:

"Where is the victory of the northern campaign now? All the ministers appear decayed; this morning, holding the Son of Heaven's sword, I slay all corruption and finally feel at ease!"

Only a few words were altered, yet the whole poem became far more murderous!

……

Rong Guo Mansion,

In the afternoon, the women, not drinking like the male guests, finished their meals first and then gathered in the courtyard; at this time, the courtyard outside Rong Qing Tang had already set up a stage.

According to today's birthday banquet schedule, the women in the afternoon mainly accompany Jia Mu to watch the opera, or arrange dominoes, garden strolls, etc.

Male guests either sip tea and chat in the outer study, or view the antiques and calligraphy collected by Jia Mansion, and may also be arranged to listen to music.

Young ladies might be interested in strolling around the mansion, or forming a poetry circle, if someone suggests it.

Having just finished the meal, the natural next step is to drink wine and watch the opera.

The stage faces south to north, directly opposite the corridor where Jia Mu and the others are seated.

On the stage hangs a large red curtain, with colorful tassels on both sides, and several pots of newly moved begonia in full bloom placed at the front.

Along the corridor are rows of rosewood tables and chairs; a large central table is where Jia Mu, accompanied by several distinguished ladies and external guests, sit, while five or six smaller tables scattered nearby serve as seats for the young ladies.

The tables are already laden with seasonal fresh fruit and delicate pastries; the maids move back and forth, refilling tea and water.

Jia Mu, assisted by Yuan Yang, rose to sit, then pulled Zhen Shi and Li Shi to sit on her left and right, smiling as she invited everyone to take their seats in order.

Lady Wang, Mrs. Xing, Aunt Xue, Lady You, Qin Keqing, Yuan Chun and others sit on the opposite side of Jia Mu.

Xiang Yun, the most lively, saw that Baichai and Daiyu were still standing and not yet seated, so she bounded over in two steps, grabbed each with one hand, and with a crisp laugh said:

"Sister Baichai, Sister Lin, you both sit with me at one table! The three of us together makes a perfect spot to chat."

As she spoke, she unceremoniously pushed the two toward a small table beside them.

It must be said, Xiang Yun's best companions in Jia Mansion are probably Baichai and Daiyu!

Baichai and Daiyu exchanged glances, for some reason offered no objection, each pursed their lips in a faint smile, and followed her to sit.

Nian Shilan and Tan Chun sat at a neighboring table, You Erjie and You Sanjie sat together at the farthest table, while Yingchun, Xichun, Xing Xiuyan and others each found seats.

Once everyone was seated, the young maids brought over the opera program; Li Wan took it, respectfully handed it to Jia Mu, and said with a smile:

"Grandmother, today this opera troupe was newly purchased from Jiangnan; I hear they sing excellently, please select a piece first."

Jia Mu took the program, flipped through it, not hurrying to choose, but smiled and handed it to Zhen Shi:

"Princess Wang, please select a piece first."

Zhen Shi, having been told by Jia Jing about the void incident, had been distracted; hearing the words, she snapped back to attention and hurriedly declined:

"It's the Grandmother's birthday; how could I choose first? Let the Grandmother go first."

Jia Mu then offered it to Li Shi, who also repeatedly declined.

Jia Mu stopped yielding, squinted, flipped through the program, and said with a smile:

"Then let's start with 'Ma Gu Presents Longevity,' lively and auspicious, fitting the occasion."

The so‑called "Ma Gu Presents Longevity" centers on an auspicious longevity scene, blending Peking opera singing styles and movement; its selections often include silk ribbons, longevity peaches and other symbolic props, producing a splendid, festive effect, and is a staple piece for wealthy households' birthday banquets.

Li Wan quickly announced it loudly; on stage, gongs and drums rang, strings and flutes sounded together, several delicately costumed young dan actresses streamed out like fish, their water sleeves fluttering, singing melodiously.

After the piece finished, everyone praised it enthusiastically.

Xiang Yun clapped her hands and laughed:

"This troupe is indeed excellent! It's even better than the one we originally had at our mansion."

Beside her, Xichun replied haughtily:

"Of course, this was specially bought from Yangzhou, all specially trained, especially the Fang Guan role, the best at singing."

The twelve young actors are naturally the twelve roles; Xichun, being young, has had contact with several of them.

Jia Mu also nodded and praised a few words, then took the program and handed it to Zhen Shi:

"Princess Wang cannot decline again; today you are an honored guest, you must select a piece."

Zhen Shi could not decline, smiled and chose "Full Bed of Tablets."

This play tells of Guo Ziyi's sixtieth birthday, with seven sons and eight sons‑in‑law gathering to pay respects, the bed filled with tablets, epitomizing opulence, and is a highly festive, lively drama.

Amid the drums and gongs, the stage resumed with a lilting chant, and Zhen Shi, while watching, whispered to Jia Mu:

"The script is well written—descendants filling the hall, wealth filling the doors; Grandmother truly has such blessings."

Jia Mu heard this and laughed so broadly she could not close her mouth.

After several lively plays were finished, Jia Mu, in high spirits, again instructed the maids to deliver the program to the young ladies' tables, and said with a smile:

You young ladies also pick a play; don't always just listen to what this old woman likes.

Xiang Yun pushed Baichai and said:

Baichai, you're the best at picking plays—come on, come on!

Baichai didn't decline, took the playbook, flipped through it a bit, and then selected the play 'Lu Zhishen Drunkenly Causing a Ruckus at Wutai Mountain'.

Xiang Yun pouted, grabbed Baichai's sleeve, and complained:

How come it's another lively play again? Baichai, we've already watched several like this today. Dear sister, can we switch to something more refined?

Although Xiang Yun is naturally lively, she's grown weary of watching nothing but fighting and jumping plays.

Baichai, understanding her meaning, smiled and patted her hand, then explained slowly:

Don't underestimate this lively play. It uses a set of the northern 'Dian Jiang Chun' melody, whose rhythm is resonant and solemn—extremely rare in opera.

When sung, this melody is vigorous and sorrowful, showing more skill than those refined plays.

Speaking, she then recited the lyrics of one piece, 'The Parasitic Grass,' from 'Wandering, I seek heroes' tears' straight through to 'Let my straw shoes and broken bowl follow fate,' and after finishing, she carefully explained a few subtleties of the melody.

Xiang Yun listened intently, savored it carefully, nodded repeatedly, and finally clapped her hands in praise:

Indeed good! No wonder even Third Brother says Baichai reads widely, is knowledgeable, and differs from others. After hearing this, I'm truly convinced!

Daiyu sat quietly at the side, peeling a longan, listening to the two with a half-smile.

Hearing Xiang Yun's praise, she placed the longan seed in her mouth, slowly pursed her lips, slightly raised her smoke-stained eyebrows, gave Xiang Yun a half-smiling glance, and said in a coquettish voice:

You haven't even sung 'The Mountain Gate,' yet you're already acting mad—Third Brother said so much, but you alone remembered this line!

Is it because she reads more? Is it because she's more knowledgeable? Is it because she's different?

Hmph!

Xiang Yun first froze, then realized, moved closer to Daiyu, her eyes flashing, and whispered:

Lin sister's sharp tongue is formidable—perhaps only someone like Third Brother can keep her in check!

Xiang Yun often eats and sleeps with Daiyu, so she understands her thoughts somewhat.

Daiyu's face flushed, she laughed and moved to twist Xiang Yun's mouth.

Baichai sat composedly to the side, her expression unchanged, pretending not to have heard.

Just as they were singing on stage, a panicked old woman hurried to Tan Chun's side, whispering something; only the words 'Second Master Lian' could be faintly heard.

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun's face changed, she immediately rose and walked out!