Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Yuanchun then began to change her clothes, left the garden, and headed for Lady Jia's room. She was about to bow to Lady Jia, but Lady Jia hurriedly stopped her. Unable to contain her emotion, tears welled up in her eyes. She clutched Lady Jia and Lady Wang's hands tightly, and the three of them wept bitterly together. They shared a deep bond and a close kinship. Lady Xing, Yingchun, Li Wan, and others also wept silently nearby; perhaps, not crying would have seemed awkward. After a while, Yuanchun finally stopped crying.

Later, Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu waited outside for the emperor's order. Yuanchun invited them in, along with Aunt Xue. However, when Yuanchun looked around, she found Baoyu absent. Due to the gender difference, Baoyu was afraid to enter without permission. So, Yuanchun ordered Baoyu to be summoned. When Baoyu arrived, she hugged him tightly, as if he were her own flesh and blood, and tears welled up again.

At this time, a maid came over and announced that it was time for dinner. Baoyu then led everyone into the garden and started a feast. Yuanchun said that she wanted to write a short article about her visit, perhaps something like "A Record of the Grand View Garden" or "An Ode to the Visit," so she ordered the sisters to write poems and let them express themselves freely. Yuanchun looked at the sisters and said with a smile, "When writing poems this time, you sisters don't have to stick to the formalities. Just follow your heart and speak freely."

Lin Daiyu gently picked up the pen, pondered for a moment, and then wrote a few lines of poetry on the paper. Xue Baochai also thought for a while, and then wrote with a flourish.

Baoyu watched from the side, secretly admiring them. When everyone had finished writing, Yuanchun read through the papers one by one, her face showing admiration.

"Excellent, very good," Yuanchun said to the crowd with a smile, "especially Daiyu and Baochai's poems; each has its own merits."

Yuanchun then read the works of her other sisters, all of which were excellent. She was very pleased. It was a great pleasure to be able to gather with her sisters and share the beauty of literature during this visit.

"You sisters have all shown their talent in today's poetry. I will bring them back to the palace to savor them carefully," Yuanchun said with a smile. She praised the sisters' poems and promised to study them carefully. This made the sisters feel very excited and proud.

After reading the poems, the audience enjoyed a performance of opera. The Jia family had specially arranged a wonderful performance to please Yuanchun. The actors' superb skills and moving singing won applause and cheers from the audience.

After the opera, Yuanchun rewarded Jia Mu, Wang Fu Ren and other elders with many precious gifts to express her respect and gratitude. At the same time, she also brought some small gifts to her sisters, among which Xue Baochai and Jia Baoyu received the same gift.

Seeing it was almost time, the eunuch reminded her that it was time to return to the palace. Yuanchun nodded and stood to bid farewell to everyone. She bowed to Lady Jia, then, surrounded by the palace maids, left the Grand View Garden. Lady Jia and the others saw her off to the door, their hearts filled with reluctance and longing as they watched Yuanchun depart. As Yuanchun departed in her sedan chair, everyone in the Jia household felt a wave of reluctance. Lady Jia and Lady Wang watched the sedan depart, tears welling up in their eyes once again.

Returning to the palace, Yuanchun sat by the window, gazing at the poetry collection in her hands, recalling the scene of reciting poems with her sisters just now. She was overwhelmed with emotion. Although she held a high position in the palace, she had lost her freedom and the warmth of family affection. Now she could only express her longing through poetry.

Meanwhile, Daiyu and Baochai were in their respective boudoirs, pondering Yuanchun's words before she left. They understood that this visit might only be a short escape for Yuanchun, and that she would still face endless struggles and pressures upon returning to the palace.

As the night deepened, the Jia Mansion gradually returned to peace, but everyone's heart was still unsettled. Yuanchun's birth made them cherish everything in front of them even more, while also making them feel confused and worried about the future.