Volume 2, Step by Step to Victory, Chapter 14: The King of the Ginkgo Tree
"This is Ruan Bi, the granddaughter of Wenxiao Gong of the Ruan family in Jingxi."
After Xie Mingzhu finished speaking, she looked at Shen Zhen with great interest.
A hint of doubt flashed in Shen Zhen's eyes, but she still smiled and said, "So you're also surnamed Ruan. The one just now was the Second Miss Ruan, and this one must be the Fifth Miss Ruan..."
Xie Mingzhu was stunned. The past between the Ruan family and the Shen family was not a secret among the prominent families in the capital. She thought Shen Zhen would know, which was why she specially brought Ruan Bi over to embarrass her. However, she did not expect that Shen Zhen seemed to know nothing at all.
Shen Zhen asked curiously, "Miss Xie, you said you could not know other people, but you had to know Fifth Miss Ruan. What is the reason for that?"
Xie Mingzhu and the second young lady exchanged a glance. After all, they were both young ladies from respectable families. They could play a little trick on each other, but they couldn't lose their dignity. Immediately, the second young lady said seriously, "Actually, there's no reason. It's just that my fifth sister has long admired Miss Chen's name and wanted to get to know her. Mingzhu was generous and said she would take care of it."
Shen Zhen blushed slightly and said, "What famous name do you have? Sisters, please don't joke around."
The second daughter gently nudged Ruan Bi and said, half-jokingly, "I hear you talking about it every day, but now that I've actually seen it, you've turned into a block of wood again?"
Ruan Bi said with a smile, "My sisters have already said everything that needs to be said, so I can only stand there like a wooden statue to keep up the atmosphere. Blame it on my sisters for being too good with their mouths."
Hearing this, another girl standing nearby exclaimed "Eh!" and looked at Ruan Bi carefully.
Ruan Bi looked at her; it was the girl who said she owed Xie Mingzhu a pot of Wei Zi. She had delicate eyebrows and round eyes, but Ruan Bi didn't know who she was, so she nodded and smiled. The girl was even more surprised and stared at her intently, saying, "Sister Qi, why is your Fifth Miss so different from before?"
This wasn't just something one person said; the second young lady's heart stirred, and she turned to look at Ruan Bi.
Ruan Bi smiled and said, "Sisters, we came here today to admire the lotus flowers, not to admire people. Besides, if we're going to admire someone, it should be Miss Chen. Why are you looking at me? I won't keep you company; it would be a waste of this beautiful scenery." With that, she bowed and left the pavilion. The woman named "Wei Zi" exclaimed in surprise, "When did she become so eloquent?"
After walking about ten steps along the winding corridor, I heard a soft, melodious voice behind me: "Miss Ruan, please wait for me."
Ruan Bi stopped and turned to look at Shen Zhen. She was walking a little fast, which made her clothes look even more fluttery, as if she was about to take off.
"What does Miss Shen want with me?"
Shen Zhen looked at Ruan Bi and pondered for a moment before asking, "Fifth Miss... what did they mean just now? Why did they insist on introducing you to me? Is there some connection between us?"
"Didn't my second sister just tell you that?"
Shen Zhen laughed and said, "Why does Miss Ruan need to fob me off with such empty words?"
Ruan Bi said, "If I said that even I don't know, would Miss Shen believe me?"
Shen Zhen looked at her, slightly puzzled.
Ruan Bi bowed to her and left with Xiu Zhi. Although Shen Zhen seemed to be of a good nature, their backgrounds meant they could never be friends, and Ruan Bi didn't want to waste her time on her.
Strolling along the winding waterfront corridor, a gentle breeze blew, causing the lotus flowers and leaves in front of, behind, to the left and right to sway incessantly. The green water stretched like endless waves, and Ruan Bi felt a sense of exhilaration. What did it matter if she was a legitimate daughter or a concubine's daughter, what did it matter if she was from a noble family, what did it matter if she was busy with her own affairs, what did it matter if she was scheming and plotting? All of it was just a passing cloud.
Xiuzhi sighed and said, "Girl, how wonderful it would be if we could live here every day."
Ruan Bi smiled and said, "I have no hope. If you want, I will ask Miss Xie to let you stay by her side."
Xiuzhi knew she was joking, and replied with a smile, "Okay, you'd better remember that later, young lady."
It was almost noon, and the sun was quite strong. Ruan Bi was slightly sweating and said, "Let's go find a shady place to rest for a while."
Xiuzhi's eyes lit up, and she said, "Miss, shall we go see the King of Ginkgo Trees?"
Ruan Bi paused for a moment, then asked, "What Ginkgo Tree King?"
"My mother said that to the west of the lotus pond, there is a ginkgo tree king that is a thousand years old and has become a spirit. It is said that any wish made to it will come true..."
Ruan Bi became increasingly puzzled as she listened, and asked, "How did your mother know?"
“My mother used to work as a cook in the Liang Prince’s mansion for a few years. After she became pregnant with my brother, she quit her job. She told me how beautiful and wonderful the Liang Prince’s mansion was when I was little. At that time, I thought that when I grew up, I would work in the Liang Prince’s mansion. Then, the Liang Prince passed away and the mansion was sealed off. I thought I would never see it again. I didn’t expect that you would bring me here.”
Ruan Bi thought for a moment. The back garden had been cleared out, so there shouldn't be any trouble. But staying with the second young lady and the others might cause problems. "Alright then, let's go make a wish too."
Heading west, past the lotus pond and winding corridor, a row of willows sways gently along the bank. Behind the willows, a pebble path leads to artificial hills and bamboo groves, several rows of rose trellises, their branches and leaves lush and their blossoms like brocade. Further on, there are low shrubs, behind which the eaves and pink walls of buildings are faintly visible. There isn't a single ginkgo tree sapling, let alone a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree.
"Xiuzhi, where is the King of Ginkgo Trees?"
Xiuzhi was also puzzled and said, "Miss, I don't know either."
The two slowly searched along the flower trellis when they suddenly heard a deep male voice: "Who's there?"
Ruan Bi and Xiu Zhi immediately stopped in their tracks, and then they heard a hoarse female voice: "Prince Jin".
A male voice asked in surprise, "Aunt Wan, what are you doing here?"
The female voice said, "I was sent by the Imperial Concubine to stay at the Marquis's residence for a while to teach Miss Xie etiquette. I just heard that the Prince of Jin has arrived, but he doesn't allow anyone to follow him, so I guessed that you came here."
The male voice paused for a moment, then asked, "When was the King of Ginkgo Trees cut down?"
"It was cut down five years ago on the day the mansion was sealed."
The male voice chuckled coldly a few times and said, "You're really picking a fight with a tree."
"Since it's just a tree, why should the Prince of Jin be so bothered by it?"
"Even if Uncle Wang really buries my elder brother's remains here, so what? My elder brother's entire family has been executed. Can the White King still become emperor?"
“Prince Jin,” the woman’s voice rose slightly, “His Majesty is your own brother, born of the same mother. As for the existence of spirits, it is better to believe in their existence than to disbelieve in their non-existence.”
“If there truly are gods, the wish I made here back then was for brothers to live in harmony and for there to be no trouble within the family. Why is it that now my eldest brother and Uncle Wang are dead, my second brother is under house arrest, my fourth brother has been demoted to a commoner, and my seventh brother has gone mad…” The man’s voice gradually choked up as he spoke, and after a long silence, he said, “Aunt Wan, you should go now. Let me stand here for a while.”
The woman's voice paused for a moment, then said, "Prince Jin, the palace has invited young ladies from various families to admire the lotus blossoms here today. If we happen to bump into each other, it could easily lead to misunderstandings..."
The male voice said, "Understood."
"Then, this servant will take her leave."
A sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Ruan Bi also wanted to leave, but was afraid of disturbing the Prince of Jin, so she had no choice but to stand there.
After a while, a faint sobbing sound could be heard, very suppressed. But it only lasted a moment, and then the sobbing disappeared, followed by the sound of footsteps fading into the distance. Ruan Bi peeked out and saw only a tall figure in a purple robe disappear behind the rose trellis.
Xiuzhi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Girl, let's hurry up and go."
Ruan Bi nodded, and just as she and Xiuzhi stepped onto the gravel path, a burst of laughter drifted over on the wind. A dozen or so girls were walking towards them in twos and threes, with Xie Mingzhu and the second girl leading the way. Seeing Ruan Bi, the second girl paused, then said, "You're quick! You were clearly behind us, how come you're ahead now?"
Ruan Bi went up to her and asked, "Second sister, where are you going?"
She still doesn't understand why the second young lady insisted on dragging her here.
"I'm tired from walking. I'm going to play some card games at the Rose Garden up ahead. Why don't you come too?" The second young lady's tone was unusually kind as she spoke, taking Ruan Bi's hand. This sudden enthusiasm startled Ruan Bi. Turning to look at her, she saw the second young lady looking at her with a questioning gaze.
After passing through the maze-like rose trellis and turning several times, a small courtyard appears before you.
This is a small courtyard shaped like the Chinese character "回" (hui). The three rooms facing south are the flower hall, with wooden floors and small low tables. The east and west wing rooms have many chaise lounges, all separated by screens. It seems that this courtyard is a place for guests to rest when they are tired. Sure enough, Xie Mingzhu said, "If you are sleepy or tired, go to the wing room to rest for a while. If you want to play cards, go to the hall."
The second daughter pulled Ruan Bi along and said, "Why don't you come and play for a while too?"
Ruan Bi said, "No, Second Sister, I'm very tired. I'll rest for a while."
The second young lady didn't force her, and led Xiuyun, Xie Mingzhu and the others into the hall with great interest.
Ruan Bi and Xiu Zhi had only been in their room for a short while when they were awakened by laughter coming from the hall. Unable to fall back asleep, they got up and went to the hall. There were four tables set up, seemingly for gambling, with copper coins placed in front of each person.
Xie Mingzhu, the Second Miss, Shen Zhen, and "Wei Zi" sat at the same table. Xie Mingzhu had a big smile on her face and a pile of copper coins in front of her, while the Second Miss's table was empty and her face was ashen, indicating that she had lost badly.
As for the other tables, most of the losers showed their emotions, some silent, some frowning, and one in particular, whose face turned red and whose eyes became sharp. Among them, there was a girl who, although her table was empty, remained calm. Ruan Bi couldn't help but glance at her, thinking that she would get to know her later, so she went behind her to take a look.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze fixed on him. He looked up and glanced around the hall, only to see a maid in blue standing among a group of maids in the corner.
Ruan Bi's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this time, they were observing her attitude towards money?
(Leaf cards were popular during the Tang and Northern Song dynasties and were a favorite gambling game among aristocratic women.)
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