Chapter 68: My Arrival Was Inopportune

Actually it's not just Jiangnan; I came from Jinling all the way to Shenjing, and most of what I saw and heard on the road was the same scene.

Many places still have the old policies; even if the fields are barren, the peasants are not allowed to farm them. Many disaster‑stricken refugees beg along the way, sell boys and girls, and even resort to child‑swapping for food…

Jia Jing nodded gravely and asked:

Then, what does Sister Xue think of the court's New Policies—good or bad?

Seeing Jia Jing with a hint of examination, Xue Baichai blinked, her heartbeat quickening slightly, and mused:

Good for the common folk, but perhaps not for officials and gentry…

Jia Jing nodded with approval and said:

That's exactly right! The New Policies aim to straighten bureaucracy, reform taxes, lessen the burden on the common folk, and curb officials' corruption.

For the court and the people, they are benevolent policies; for officials and gentry—these vested‑interest groups—they are not good news!

They don't want the court to take away their vested interests, to subject them to strict reforms, or to abolish their privileges, so of course they are displeased!

I didn't expect Sister Xue to be insightful enough to see the underlying logic.

Jia Jing glanced at Baichai, his face showing admiration.

Baichai and Jia Jing's cold, deep gazes met, and Baichai's heart jolted; her snow‑white pretty face flushed, and in a shy, timid voice she said:

Many people don't fail to understand; it's just that it concerns their own interests, so they pretend to be clueless!

As Baichai finished that coquettish sentence, even the somewhat dazed Xiangling sensed the awkward atmosphere.

Third Uncle was just discussing state affairs with Miss Baichai, wasn't he? Why does it feel like she suddenly became coquettish?

She's always dignified and poised; why today does she keep showing a little girl's demeanor!

She can't be… toward Third Uncle…

My heavens! We've only met twice in total!

What Xiangling doesn't know is that Xue Baichai has long been curious about Jia Jing,

not only because of his youthful marquis aura, not only his literary brilliance, not only the three outlooks,

what truly moved her was that Jia Jing could discuss official career, economics, and state affairs with a secluded lady like herself.

He showed no trace of the usual male contempt for women, which deems a woman without talent as virtuous.

He didn't treat women as ignorant housewives confined to needlework, forbidden to step beyond the main gate.

For Baichai, who harbors the ambition "A favorable wind lifts me to the azure clouds," this is exceedingly precious and rare.

Baichai has always believed that men should study, train in martial arts, and become officials to fulfill the ideal of governing the nation and aiding the world, rather than loitering in the inner chambers like Jia Baoyu.

Thus, in the original work she once admonished Jia Baoyu to seek a degree.

And now Jia Jing undoubtedly matches perfectly all her fantasies of a life partner; she can't help feeling affection, and her behavior naturally changes.

Just as Xue Baichai was a bit at a loss, a coquettish voice rang out from the courtyard gate:

Yo! My arrival turned out to be rather inopportune!

Everyone turned toward the gate, and it was Lin Daiyu entering again, surrounded by the maids and old women such as Ziqian and Xueyan.

Today she wears a large red feather‑silk veil, a white fox‑lined crane cloak, paired with gold‑trimmed, cloud‑carving red‑scented sheepskin boots, a turquoise‑gold double‑ringed four‑fold auspicious ribbon, and a snow hat atop her head.

The red‑and‑white ensemble, both brilliant and cool, made her look as if she stepped straight out of a painting while walking in the snow.

Xue Baichai and Xiangling rose first to greet, and Xue Baichai asked with a smile:

Why is it inopportune?

Lin Daiyu walked to the pavilion's edge, skeptically sized up Xue Baichai and Jia Jing with a lively glance, and said:

Had I known you were coming, I wouldn't have come!

Jia Jing: "……."

A familiar scent.

What does Daiyu mean by that?

Could it be that I'm using Jia Baoyu's script?

Xue Baichai was equally puzzled, wondering if she had somehow offended Lin Sister, and asked earnestly:

What do you mean by that?

If you come today and I come tomorrow, staggered like this, the courtyard won't be too lively for Third Brother nor too quiet.

Sister, how can you not even grasp this reasoning!

Lin Daiyu, while giving Baichai an explanation, smiled charmingly at Jia Jing and said:

I originally came to thank Third Brother for the Bird's Nest he sent a few days ago, but I didn't expect such a bustle here. Looks like I'm an uninvited guest!

Jia Jing smiled and said:

I've long heard that Sister Lin's eloquence is naturally exquisite; today I finally got to witness it.

Xue Baichai laughed, took off the hat covering Lin Daiyu's head, and said:

Pin'er, your mouth has already become quite famous!

Beside them, Xiao Jiaoer also laughed:

Miss Lin, you're here! Come quickly and eat the hotpot, hehe!

She is clearly more affectionate toward Lin Daiyu than toward Xue Baichai.

Daiyu sat beside Xiao Jiaoer, pinched her little cheek, and hummed:

Why haven't you come to my courtyard these past days? Now that Third Brother is here, you've abandoned Sister Lin! Little traitor!

Xiao Jiaoer smiled placatingly and said:

No! I'm planning to go to the lady's courtyard today! It's just snowing; I want to eat the hotpot first and then go!

Lady, you look truly beautiful today!

Baichai's brows and eyes curved as she looked at Daiyu, and she smiled, praising:

Indeed, she is a beauty blown by the wind; at a glance I saw her like a red plum in the snow, outstanding and unconventional.

Jia Jing said:

Lin Mei, you're not coming today; then I'll have to go find you?

Lin Daiyu, hearing this, was somewhat surprised and said:

Third Brother, do you have something?

Jia Jing waved for Xiangling to come over and laughed:

This maid of mine wants to learn some poetry; I see she is quite earnest and has a bit of spirit, and I thought to have Lin Mei be her teacher, to instruct her a bit!

Xiangling didn't expect that the teacher Third Uncle said he would find for her would actually be Miss Lin; she was somewhat at a loss and waved her hands, saying:

No, that would be too much trouble for Miss Lin!

Jia Jing laughed and scolded:

You silly girl, Miss Lin is the sole daughter of the current top scholar, excels in poetry, her learning is more than enough to teach you; many seek such a teacher in vain, yet you still hesitate!

Lin Daiyu, hearing Jia Jing's praise, felt somewhat delighted inside, but modestly said:

Before Third Brother, I dare not say I am good at poetry; Third Brother himself is talented, why not teach her yourself!

Jia Jing said:

In a few days I must go to the military camp to take office; this time I need to properly drill the troops, and thereafter I likely won't return often, so I have no time.

Lin Daiyu originally disliked such trouble, but this was Third Brother personally speaking.

Third Brother has always taken good care of me; now it's a good opportunity to repay him.

Moreover, she sees Xiangling as quite obedient and well-behaved, so taking on a student would be no problem.

Thus she said:

Poetry is not really difficult! It's worth learning!

It's just a matter of beginning, development, turn, and conclusion; the development and turn are two couplets, level tone against deflected tone, empty against solid, solid against empty; if one happens to have an outstanding line, even mismatched level/deflected, empty/solid can be used. Since you have this heart, you will surely achieve refined accomplishment.