Chapter 19: Lin Daiyu Inside the Xiaoxiang Pavilion
Page 1/3
The morning sun rose from the east.
That day, the streets of Shunchao Capital were more crowded than in the previous days. It seemed the common folk had learned that the army of Prince Qian would besiege the city at dawn the next day. Therefore, if anyone wanted to go out, today was the only chance.
In front of the rice and grain shops, people clamored, complaining that the prices were too high and threatening to report the matter to the authorities. However, the shopkeepers remained unperturbed; they knew the government was too busy to bother with such complaints.
“One dou of rice costs one tael of silver, or two strings of cash. Buy it if you want, but even if this siege lasts for months, not a single son or daughter could be sold to get me this one dou of rice!”
The shopkeeper, accompanied by his assistants, looked down arrogantly on the customers.
The crowd was furious, retorting, “Prince Qian’s two hundred thousand-strong army will take the capital within three days. When Prince Qian takes the city and pacifies it, who will buy your rice then? I advise you to think carefully—do you really believe the city’s soldiers can fight?”
The city’s imperial guards usually bullied the common people inside the walls, and everyone knew that while they could intimidate civilians, they would cry for their mothers and flee at the first sign of battle.
Seeing their words, the shopkeeper hesitated and finally conceded, “One dou of rice for one string of cash. Those who want to buy, hurry up. I will close the shop this afternoon!”
Even so, one dou for one string of cash was still exorbitant, compared to the usual thirty to fifty wen. But given the circumstances, those short on rice had no choice but to buy.
Soon, some people took out money and bought rice to store at home. Others lingered, some paying, others moving on to the next shop, while a few continued to bargain, hoping the shopkeeper would lower the price.
The Jia family, being the ducal household of the current dynasty, naturally did not worry about shortages of rice or grain.
At the Xiao Xiang Pavilion,
Zi Juan, the second-tier maid in Lin Daiyu’s chambers, woke early and inquired with the other maids about the situation outside. The young servants stationed just beyond the second gate had left at dawn and would soon return to bring news for the maids inside.
This was the only way for the inner household servants to learn of the outside world.
After hearing the news, Zi Juan returned to the pavilion and relayed it to Lin Daiyu, who was preparing her makeup.
“I wondered where you went so early,” Daiyu said with a smile. “So you were checking the rice prices.”
Daiyu smiled softly. “A few days ago, I asked Sister Feng. The household’s rice and grain can last two months. But I worry that once the rebel army enters the city and pillages, no amount of stored rice will be enough.”
Her smile faded as she spoke, troubled by this thought.
At that moment, a maid outside called out, “Second Young Master Baoyu has arrived!”
“That useless fellow, why is he here?” Daiyu, still fixing her makeup and not yet done with her eyebrows, wanted Zi Juan to keep him at bay. But Jia Baoyu burst in cheerfully, grinning at her.
“Miss Lin, the peach blossoms outside have bloomed. Later, we should gather Sister Bao and the others to drink wine and enjoy the flowers beneath the trees.”
Lin Daiyu stared at him for a long moment before turning away to continue shaping her eyebrows.
Page 2/3
“Dear sister, why are you ignoring me again?” Jia Baoyu approached, picking up her rouge box and sniffing it near his nose, only for Daiyu to snatch it back, annoyed.
“Brother Baoyu, what do you think you’re doing?”
He could eat the maids' rouge if he liked, but her rouge was absolutely off-limits!
Baoyu chuckled, “So you’re finally paying me some attention?”
Daiyu said nothing and kept working on her eyebrows.
After watching her for a while, Baoyu noticed that her eyebrows, though fine and light, carried a certain indescribable subtle charm.
Daiyu glanced at him, took her mirror, and moved aside, turning to shape her eyebrows in silence.
“Zi Juan, please take Second Young Master Baoyu out to enjoy the blossoms. I have no time for such frivolities today,” she said coldly.
“What are you going to do instead?” Baoyu snapped back to himself and asked anxiously.
Daiyu sneered, “Tomorrow the city will be at war. Even if I do nothing, I must visit Grandmother.”
Baoyu replied, “I just came from Grandmother’s. She didn’t sleep well last night, but there’s nothing else of concern.”
“Then go,” Daiyu said.
Baoyu grew anxious. “I haven’t done anything wrong lately, yet you’re displeased with me and won’t joke or play with me. Do you dislike me because the rebel army outside is coming? Is that why you avoid me?”
“Brother Baoyu, what are you saying?” Daiyu turned to look at him, her eyes wide and misty like water.
“I—I said nothing!” Baoyu retreated and dared not continue.
Daiyu snapped, “What does the rebel army coming have to do with me disliking you? What are you trying to hear from me? If you don’t trust me, then take back this handkerchief—I don’t want it from you anymore!”
She stood and reached into her chest, searching for the old handkerchief, her eyes already reddened, tears threatening to fall.
Baoyu panicked and tried to stop her but was pushed away. She lay on the bed, sobbing softly.
Baoyu sighed, “Dear sister, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have compared you to others I saw outside. You know my heart, and I know yours. I won’t mention it again.”
“Who were these people outside?” Daiyu turned and asked him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Baoyu’s earlier implication was that once Prince Qian’s army entered, they would take the Jia daughters into the palace. He suspected Daiyu disliked him because she intended to cling to higher powers and thus would no longer be close to him.
“Don’t ask,” Baoyu refused to say, smiling. “Wipe your tears. You look pitiful. I must go now. Father asked me to help manage the household. Brother Lian left early this morning.”
Only after he left did Daiyu slowly stop crying, though a sadness lingered in her heart.
Page 3/3
Baoyu, unsure of who had distanced himself from him, feared Daiyu sought to climb the social ladder by entering the palace and thus worried she would abandon him.
But what he did not know…
Daiyu pulled a strip of white silk from beneath her pillow and stared at it blankly.
Zi Juan entered and, seeing this, was terrified. She quickly put down her water basin and took the white cloth from Daiyu’s hands.
“Miss, you must not have such thoughts!”
As Daiyu’s personal attendant, Zi Juan did not know how she had acquired the silk. Perhaps she sent Xue Yan or Chun Qian? They were young and might not understand that white silk was used for hanging oneself.
Daiyu whispered, “I had a dream last night.”
“What dream?”
Daiyu did not answer but looked at Zi Juan. “If the bandits break into the garden, you don’t need to worry about me—just save yourself.”
Terrified, Zi Juan persuaded her for a while before taking the silk away and deciding never to let Daiyu have access to such things again. She also forbade her from touching weapons like daggers or knives.
Better to live a miserable life than die. Besides, she had heard that once Prince Qian entered the city, he never killed indiscriminately—only corrupt officials were executed.
After washing up, Daiyu went to pay respects to Grandmother.
Upon entering, she saw East Residence’s Lady Rong sighing heavily.
“Grandmother, I said a few days ago it’s best not to attend court anymore. Yet Second Master went again this morning…”
Daiyu found this unusual. Lady Rong, who usually respected her elders and managed the household, never spoke like this.
But today, having come to the West Residence, she spoke ill of her second uncle.
Qin Keqing was only Lady Rong’s daughter-in-law and should not have had grievances against Jia Zheng.
Yet this matter seemed to concern the Jia family’s survival, so no one pressed further.
Grandmother said only, “The Jia family has long enjoyed imperial favor. As the ancients said, to receive the emperor’s stipend is to be loyal to the sovereign. If we betray our lord before the enemy even enters, wouldn’t that stain the family’s century-old reputation? Let this matter not be spoken of again!”
Qin Keqing rose to apologize and said no more. After sitting a while, she left.
Daiyu and the other young ladies stayed with Grandmother for a long time. Ying, Tan, and Xi—the three sisters—along with Shi Xiangyun, Xue Baoqin, and others, gathered around Grandmother as if the chaos outside could not reach them. Only by staying near her could they feel safe.
Near noon, Jia Zheng returned and entered Grandmother’s room to announce, “The Emperor has decreed that tomorrow we must fight the rebel army to the death!”
Daiyu, Xiangyun, and the other girls exchanged glances and fell silent.
They awaited the coming dawn.