Chapter 4: Pity Youcao alone

A half-worn diamond-patterned bronze mirror sat by the window, reflecting a fair, smooth face. A girl of fifteen or sixteen, though only of average appearance, possessed the greatest advantage of youth. Her round jaw and smoothly curved profile evoked the youthful innocence and bold ambition of a young woman, worthy of the description, "a face like a silver basin, eyes like juicy apricots."

You Yanru pinched the eyebrow pencil, drew her slender eyebrows one by one, applied lip rouge evenly, and stood up to admire her own charm.

After her birthday, You Yanru kept repeating Xue Gu's hexagram: "Strong yang affinity, strive for progress, and give it a try." Coincidentally, she never paid close attention in class, but that day, she happened to notice the teacher mention the line from the poem "Guanju": "A graceful and elegant lady is a gentleman's ideal match." It suddenly dawned on her: beautiful and intelligent ladies are always easy to attract men. My family background made me a lady without any effort; I studied at Qiushui Academy, under the teacher's constant influence. I couldn't compare to Zheng Sirui in quoting classics, but I had studied the Four Books and Five Classics. Most women outside were illiterate, so I was good enough. Most importantly, beauty. Beauty.

Thus, Yanru's mind gradually turned to studying dressing and makeup.

At night, after "borrowing" her friend's lessons, Yanru would open her dressing table and her diamond-shaped bronze mirror, meticulously examining her figure and features. Her features were well-proportioned, her eyes and eyebrows radiating a touch of beauty, but her head and face were lacking in refinement. Her head, like a steamed bun, was turned upside down, with a face like a flatbread imprinted at the bottom. The glorious lintel required constant emphasis to be recognized, and this look, perfectly inherited by three generations of Yanru's family, was instantly recognizable. Yanru diligently researched and finally came up with two solutions: one, a cross-bun, combing the center section upwards, then twisting the hair on each side into a loop and letting it fall, thus concealing the unattractive roundness of her cheeks; the other, a simple bun, letting the loose hair at the temples down to enhance her appearance. Yanru's arms were numb from combing her hair. She found that the former made her look like a young woman, which was not suitable for her unmarried age, and needed to be embellished with grand gold jewelry to look good; as for the latter, an ordinary bun would look good even with flowers on it, and the loose hair could add a bit of feminine shyness and grace, which was very good.

Having figured out the problem, Yanru turned her attention to her own figure. Mercifully, she lacked the bulk of her mother and grandmother, and inherited her father's thin, tall build. Her limbs, especially her legs, resembled the tenderness of bamboo after the first rains of late spring and early summer. Her waist, less than two feet long, wrapped in an embroidered belt, evoked the graceful demeanor of the pre-Qin Chu women, whose figure seemed "slender and boneless, their skirts swirling in the wind, like butterflies dancing." From there, her belt gradually rose higher and tighter, emphasizing her physique, oblivious to the possibility of breathing problems.

At the foot of Jingzhong Mountain, near the river, lies a vast grassy area. Several pavilions were built a few years ago, giving it a more spacious and comfortable feel. In April, when the grass grows and the birds sing, scholars and literati often gather here. The most distinguished scholars from Jinling are invited to enjoy tea, music, and the natural beauty of the mountains and rivers, admiring the scenery and reciting poems. It's a truly elegant scene. On the fifteenth day of the lunar month, Qiushui Academy hosted a gathering, and Master Lu was invited. He disliked crowds, but the group was led by the royal palace, and even his noblest character couldn't resist. So, he decided to have his students attend on his behalf, under the name of the academy. The girls, suffocated by the piles of books, were overjoyed and began to plan their outfits and activities.

Even if other students planned ahead, they would still prepare three or two days in advance. Qian Peilan, on the other hand, had already arranged dresses for her daughter during the Qingming Festival when she was on home leave. She got a glimpse of the most fashionable styles from the palace, made a rose-red folded skirt and a jacket embroidered with oleander pink, and sent them to You Yanru to take away: "After the spring, there will definitely be many gatherings, such as elegant gatherings, polo matches, and tea parties, all with young men from wealthy families. You must go if you get the chance! The dress has been prepared for you by your mother. Look at the color, it's so bright, like a red pomegranate flower wherever you go. Every man's eyes will be on you."

It made sense. Yanru treasured it as a treasure, afraid that others would see it and follow her example, so she secretly stuffed it into the bottom box and hid it. On the fifteenth day, it finally saw the light of day. She got up earlier than usual to go to school, and tried on clothes and put on makeup in the room with the full moon about to set. She wanted to apply a layer of powder even to the roots of her hair. She worked until the morning sun shone on the dressing table, and finally it was done. Yanru straightened the pleats of her skirt, stroked the gauze flowers on her temples, got up and left the room. She went to Meng Qi first, wanting to make an appointment with her to go shopping together at the fair. After all, the Meng family was the number one tea merchant in Jinling, and they knew many people and had many connections. By then, she would be able to meet and greet many people by following her. Yanru passed by the window and was about to knock on the door when she accidentally saw Gan Yao, the apple of Gan Yuanwai's eye, inside, seemingly looking at jewelry. Gan Yao praised: "So many things are not as good as your gold-thread hairpin. You should wear this later."

Meng Qi scoffed, "Of course! The ruby ​​on it was bought by my father from a merchant in the Western Regions. You can't find anything as fine as this in Jinling City. I won't wear it, lest those poor, shabby people get jealous and say behind my back that I'm showing off."

"Not really." Gan Yao sneered, making Meng Qi unhappy. "Who knows what others are mumbling in their hearts? Last time, my teacher's wife secretly told me to come to the academy to study, so I should not be too conspicuous and focus more on my books. What a joke. I am not You Yanru. Wearing a few hairpins back and forth is so tacky. My jewelry is so beautiful. Any of them will look beautiful. They are not expensive. Broken earrings and broken hairpins are just a few taels of silver. Does everyone have to learn from Zheng Sirui and use bamboo sticks to tie their hair? I'm so poor, hahahaha."

Gan Yao chuckled a few times and quickly left, looking for an excuse. Yanru huddled in a corner, hearing Gan Yao's sarcastic remarks to the maid: "Every chance he gets, he brags about those things. It's the same old things over and over again, everyone has them."

Alas, I don't have any. Yanru was filled with sadness and felt sorry for herself. Meng Qi was big and fat, and her appearance was not as good as hers, but she was arrogant all day long. Isn't it because her family can afford to buy her a good headgear? Bah, you even said I was unsophisticated. You, a fat sister with a waist as thick as your head, are the real ugly and unsophisticated. Yanru realized that it was difficult to get close to the Meng family. Other classmates might be jealous of her beauty and gracefulness, and usually didn't like to see her. After thinking it over, Yanru decided to go out with Zheng Sirui so as not to appear lonely. She suddenly had an idea and used her own curtain to put on Zheng Sirui, directly and rudely covering her face, saying: "You have just recovered from a serious illness, take this with you to block the wind and don't catch a cold."

It's been three months since I recovered, it's not long yet... Zheng Sirui murmured helplessly, showing a hint of evasion: "Why don't I not go? Just rest and recuperate?"

"That won't do!" If you don't go, I'll be left alone. Without you, I'll look even poorer. Yanru said firmly, "You have to go. You'll get sick if you stay in the academy all day without seeing the sun!"

One was enthusiastic, the other half-hearted, and they went down the mountain and arrived at the elegant gathering. The sun was shining brightly at that time, and everyone gathered together, playing pot-tossing, fishing, guessing riddles, and writing poems, laughing and cheering, it was so lively. Yanru dragged Zheng Sirui for a stroll, walking slowly and gracefully, trying to attract the attention of others. She didn't know how to play pot-toss, had no interest in fishing, couldn't fit into any circle, and no man was willing to talk to her. It was a rare opportunity among the group of people who were writing poems, and Zheng Sirui's talent won her a few applause. Unfortunately, Yanru had no poetic talent, and didn't know many allusions. After trying for a long time, she managed to compliment it with a few words "very, very vivid" to cover up her embarrassment. Seeing Zheng Sirui receiving applause, she couldn't help but feel jealous. She dragged her away and chose a secluded swing to feel sad.

The swing swung back and forth, Yanru looked listless. Last night she had imagined that the princes and nobles would be amazed by her and would rush to flatter her; she had imagined that she would be dressed in bright clothes, making the ladies in gold and silver look vulgar and crude. However, she had not expected that she, who was as charming as a flower, would now be like the grass at the feet, unable to bask in the warm sunshine, with no one caring about her and no one pitying her.

"Miss, are you wasting your youth here? Are you feeling unwell?" Suddenly, a man's voice broke Yanru's silence. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man in a gray silk shirt, about the same age as her father, but dressed more elegantly than him. Yanru thought he was an old man trying to talk to Zheng Sirui and ignored him. It was not until he came towards her that she was flattered: "Ah? Are you talking to me?"

"Yes. I was drinking tea on the terrace when I saw the girl looking dejected, so I decided to come down and take a look. Is she feeling unwell?" The man looked concerned. Yanru couldn't figure out his ulterior motives, so she just let him chat for a while. "No, she's just a little tired from walking around."

"Oh? In that case, my friend and I have a tea table right above. If you don't mind, why don't you join the girl next to you and go up there to enjoy some tea and burn some incense?"

Yanru didn't rush to reply. She peered aside and saw from a distance that most of the people seated on the high platform were middle-aged men in elegant attire, interspersed with a couple of courtesans dressed as prostitutes. There were no elegant young men of similar age. She hesitated for a moment and turned to Zheng Sirui for advice. Zheng Sirui clutched a book, her curtains swaying from side to side, her white veil swaying in an arc of refusal. Yanru gritted her teeth and said, "Thank you, sir, for your kindness. I appreciate it. But the platform is full of men, and it would be inconvenient for two girls like us to go up there."

"No problem, no problem. I'm sorry for being so rude." The man apologized profusely and chatted with Yanru. He easily learned that she was a student at Qiushui Academy and that her grandmother's ancestor had been a second-rank minister, a distinguished family. Yanru also deduced from his brief remarks that he was a renowned painter, admired by many high-ranking officials and nobles. A few more words revealed that he lived in a prime location in the city, a truly distinguished and romantic figure.

"Ah, this guy seems to have a lot of connections. He must have a lot of prestige and influence in wealthy families! If I become friends with him, regardless of age, will he introduce me to a young man from a good family?" Yanru happily contemplated her future, feeling that her trip was worthwhile. The man was similarly smiling, as he returned to the podium in triumph. His friends teased, "Master Painter Ji's taste has changed dramatically recently. He used to talk about the beauty of a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally unadorned, but now he's into the glitz and glamor? We thought you were going to talk to the girl next to you."

"You are all too narrow-minded." Painter Ji smiled, wiped his hands, and took the teacup to start a conversation. "I pity the grass growing by the stream. I just pity the nameless grass, which no one cares about among the colorful flowers and green willows."

A bearded man laughed and said, "Only pitying the grass? Then why did you pick such a pink one? The one next to you is reading a book, so I can't see her face, but that figure, that waist, wow, if you could train her properly, she would definitely become a stunning beauty. But the one you're talking to, if I may be frank, her face is okay, but a little vulgar."

Painter Ji said, "I just heard that girl wearing a curtain compose a few lines of poetry over there. Her choice of words and sentences is too lofty, and she's holding a copy of Zuo Zhuan, so I think she's a strong-willed woman. Flowers like this are beautiful, but unfortunately they have thorns. It must take a lot of effort to pick them. Besides, it's not like I haven't picked them before—" He deliberately stretched out the last word, causing everyone to laugh and feign scolding. He said casually, "That big pink one is different. It's innocent, without any scheming, but also a little self-important. I'm a painter, and I love to draw and depict on plain paper. Don't you think the game of taming the proud and unruly autumn chrysanthemums and white plum blossoms into gentle and docile ones is a bit boring? What if we could grow the already beautiful and delicate peach blossoms into large peaches? When you take a bite, they're fresh and juicy, with both the gorgeousness of immature flowers and the sweet charm of ripe ones? Wouldn't it be wonderful?"

Friends embraced the singer and sighed that even though the great painter Ji was middle-aged and had been married for decades, he still had the charm of a young man. No wonder he had made so many young girls fall in love with his tenderness and competed to be with him.

Painter Ji prepared the tea and just stared at the cup with a smile. It was unclear whether he was admiring the delicate and white tea foam in the cup or imagining the taste of peaches in the future.

Qiushui Academy? Interesting.