A burst of autumn rain brings a layer of chill. The boat traveled north for half a month, leaving behind the dividing line of the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River, and the bleak coldness grew day by day.
Before one knew it, the fifteenth day of August had arrived.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a major holiday even in modern times, let alone in ancient times, where it carried even richer symbolic meaning.
Yan Hongzhi was both a literatus and a passionate lover of mountain climbing. The day before, on the boat, he gazed at the golden expanse atop a distant mountain peak. The autumn wind carried the rich fragrance of osmanthus, and he immediately decided to go ashore and climb the heights to admire the osmanthus.
Cheng Danruo could truly be said to have witnessed his free-spirited impulsiveness. While she found it somewhat amusing, she also felt a touch of anticipation.
That day, the heavens were favorable – clear autumn air, crisp and refreshing, with the fragrance of osmanthus filling the cabin.
Cheng Danruo wore a white silk front-buttoned long jacket, the cuffs trimmed with a ring of water-blue interchangeable cuffs (that is, an attached ring of cuff), and below, a blue satin skirt of the same color. Because the weather was growing colder and she also needed to go out, she added a long sleeveless overcoat on the outside.
Zi Su frowned deeply. “This is too plain.”
Cheng Danruo was helpless. People of the time considered splendor and luxury beautiful – red clothes and green skirts, and preferably everything covered in gold. In any case, the more vivid the colors and the more intricate the patterns, the better looking.
But beautiful fabrics were difficult to dye, and the woven patterns were even more difficult. All of them were terribly expensive.
Among the several autumn garments given by Madam Lin, there were indeed some with vivid colors, but she thought that once she arrived in the capital, there might well be occasions requiring dressing up, so it was better to be casual on the road.
“Let it be like this.” She comforted Zi Su, “Young Master Xie is here; no one will look at me.”
Zi Su burst out laughing. “Miss, you are so mischievous.”
Cheng Danruo said, “It is the truth.”
She simply tied up her hair and put on a veil hat that covered down to her neck, then met up with Yan Hongzhi and his disciple.
The master and disciple’s attire perfectly matched the current fashion.
Yan Hongzhi wore an ivory Daoist robe with azurite borders, a Haoran scarf on his head tightly bound to prevent catching cold, a large sash of the same color at his waist, and at the very bottom, a pair of scarlet cloud-toed shoes.
Xie Xuanying wore a cyan brocade traveling garment woven with gold everywhere-cloud satin, slit on both sides for ease of riding, with a cyan large sash at the waist fastened by a jade lotus button of excellent water quality, and at the very bottom, a pair of common pink-soled black boots.
Cheng Danruo, relying on wearing a veil hat, carefully examined this fabric and found that it was indeed woven with real gold. When the sunlight shone on it, the gold gave off a gentle and luxurious treasure-like aura.
What a beautiful sight.
Yan Hongzhi sized her up for a few moments, then shook his head and sighed. “You are dressed far too plainly.”
Cheng Danruo said, “With pearls and jade at my side, I am content to serve as a foil.”
Yan Hongzhi could not help but laugh.
He rather appreciated Cheng Danruo’s attitude of teasing Xie Xuanying. It was clear that she was not frightened because he was the son of a marquis household, nor did she lose composure because of his beauty.
Natural and poised, neither servile nor overbearing – only thus was it comfortable and easy to get along.
“Then let it be so.” He gathered his sleeves and stepped forward. “Let us set off. Autumn days grow dark early; we should go early and return early.”
The three disembarked. A small sedan chair was already prepared at the dock. Yan Hongzhi and Cheng Danruo got into the sedan chairs, while Xie Xuanying rode a horse. The party followed the winding path up the mountain to climb the heights.
The guide they had hired on the spot told them about the origins of this mountain.
“This mountain is called Tiangui Mountain. It is said that in those years when Wu Gang was felling the osmanthus tree, one branch fell into the mortal world and took root and sprouted here. Several hundred years later, it grew into this grove of osmanthus…”
Although the story was old and conventional, having someone chattering along the way to explain the customs and local conditions was still rather good entertainment.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Mo Dian rewarded the man with two taels of silver, delighting him so much that he hastily kowtowed, wishing he could escort them all the way to the summit.
But this place’s osmanthus was so famous that it was not some wild or desolate mountain. Wealthy households had long ago funded the construction of stone steps, so one merely needed to ascend step by step.
Yan Hongzhi loved mountain climbing and did not want a bamboo sedan. Cheng Danruo reckoned that her own stamina was not too poor, so she also politely declined the kind offer of a sedan and climbed the mountain herself.
“Admiring osmanthus at Mid-Autumn – one cannot but compose poetry.” Yan Hongzhi assigned the task. “When we reach the summit, you two must each have a poem. Hmm, to accommodate Dan-niang, you need not be bound by tonal patterns; so long as the rhyme fits, it will do.”
Cheng Danruo replied, “…Yes.”
The mountain was not high; by the time the sun reached its zenith, they had already passed the mountainside. Yan Hongzhi was somewhat tired and ordered someone to find a flat place to rest briefly and eat lunch.
So the guards cleared the wild grass, the young servants lit a charcoal stove, drew water from the mountain stream and boiled it, first brewing a pot of hot tea, then taking out several kinds of mooncakes to let the masters fill their empty stomachs.
After drinking the tea, the fatigue accumulated from climbing the mountain eased considerably.
Then taking up a skewer, one picked up a piece of pre-cut mooncake, and the fragrance of nuts and kernels immediately filled the mouth.
For this trip up the mountain, they had also brought the boat’s cook and kitchen helper. Using the charcoal stove, they began preparing the dishes readied in advance. Before long, they served four cold dishes, four kinds of dried fruit, four kinds of pastries, and four bowls of hot dishes. Then they quickly rinsed the pot and stir-fried two fresh seasonal vegetables, all bought from people at the dock – just out of the fields, crisp and tender.
The staple food was freshly made noodles; both mixed noodles and soup noodles could be prepared.
Cheng Danruo asked for a bowl of shredded chicken soup noodles.
Yan Hongzhi ate comfortably and then said, “Heat a pot of yellow wine.”
Cheng Danruo’s hand, lifting her chopsticks, immediately paused, and she looked at him.
Xie Xuanying noticed and cleared his throat. “Sir, your gout…”
“Today is Mid-Autumn; how can there be no wine?” Yan Hongzhi waved his hand vigorously. “Today you are not allowed to stop me.”
Xie Xuanying looked at Cheng Danruo. She understood and said, “Drinking once may not trigger an attack, but small amounts add up. Once, twice – sooner or later there will be a time.”
Yan Hongzhi argued forcefully and insisted. “That is all a matter for later. Not being able to reunite at Mid-Autumn is already a great regret. If I cannot drown my sorrows in wine, how could I bear it?”
Since he had spoken to this point, it was naturally hard to stop him further, and the heated yellow wine was allowed to be brought up.
Xie Xuanying could only drink along with him.
Cheng Danruo slightly raised her eyelids and covertly looked at the person opposite her.
Because it was a picnic, and Yan Hongzhi had also said, “There are only three of us, and we still must separate seats – would that not imply separation?”, today men and women had not been seated separately. Yan Hongzhi sat at the head, while she and Xie Xuanying sat respectively at the left and right lower positions.
He was directly opposite her.
Xie Xuanying had just set down his wine cup when he met her gaze.
Their eyes touched lightly, and she immediately gave him a look.
Xie Xuanying was stunned for a moment, then followed her gaze and saw the small wine jar. In an instant he understood.
For the trip up the mountain they had traveled light, and the wine was only a small jar; once finished, there would be nowhere to buy more. If Yan Hongzhi was to drink less, then he need only drink a few more cups himself.
So he took up the pot and poured the wine – seven parts full for his teacher, but nine parts for himself.
Yan Hongzhi’s eyelid twitched, and his mood suddenly became peculiar.
That he could allow a young man and young woman to spend time together in the same room was by no means due to a lack of consideration. On the contrary, he had actually examined the matter carefully.
If he were to say whom he paid more attention to, it was naturally still the young lady. After all, Xie Xuanying’s appearance and background were there for all to see. Even if Cheng Danruo had developed feelings, he would not blame her – it is only human nature to admire the young and beautiful. But understanding was one thing; what needed to be done would still be done.
Therefore, when he first learned that the female physician Xie Xuanying had found was her, Yan Hongzhi immediately inquired about it, worried that during the days when he had been bitten by the snake, some “accident” might have occurred.
Yet Xie Xuanying said that he had indeed only conceived the idea of engaging a female physician after meeting Miss Cheng. However, the person had been chosen by Madam Gu; none of the others were suitable, and he had also had someone assess her to confirm that she could treat women’s illnesses. Only then did he agree.
Yan Hongzhi was half doubtful and half believing, and thereafter observed all the more.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, Cheng Danruo acknowledged Xie Xuanying’s beauty and had more than once been struck by it, but she had never revealed any expression of admiration, nor had she shown any calculation to marry into the Xie family and thus rise to prominence from then on.
Yan Hongzhi found it deeply inconceivable.
A person could refrain from coveting the powerful and noble, but how could a young girl not think of a fine husband?
It was only a few days earlier, when they spoke of reading history, that he suddenly understood: she indeed had no improper designs, yet she also had the greatest improper design of all.
I am born into this world – what can I do for the common people, what can I leave to later generations?
– This is a man’s aspiration, not a daughter’s proper duty.
Yan Hongzhi found it very interesting, and then thought: if a girl has no romantic fancies, and as an elder one still guards against her everywhere, would that not be the heart of a petty man? Only then did he relax his strictness and permit them to converse appropriately.
However…
“Master, the paper and brush are here.” Mo Dian brought over the traveling bag and took out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
“Yes, good.” The wine was rising to his head, and having been interrupted, Yan Hongzhi for a moment forgot his train of thought and gazed into the distance.
On the blue-bosomed river, osmanthus fell upon their lapels. Climbing high and gazing afar, heaven and earth were all taken in.
The literatus’s romance gained the upper hand.
“The wine has been drunk; now it is time to compose poetry.” He said with a smile.
Cheng Danruo gently supported her temple.
Mo Dian used a water vessel to scoop stream water and poured it into a golden toad-shaped water dropper, dripping water to grind the ink. Though he looked rough and burly, when it came to attending to brush and ink, he was quite careful and practiced.
“Master, would you like incense lit?”
“Light it.” Yan Hongzhi, flushed with wine, rose and paced about, incidentally aiding digestion. “One stick of incense as the limit.”
Mo Dian then opened the bamboo-and-wood incense tube and lit incense to mark the time.
Xie Xuanying took up the brush and set down ink, his brush moving as if flying.
Cheng Danruo, however, was troubled, her brows tightly knit as she strove to choose words and compose lines.
After a short while, Xie Xuanying stopped writing and glanced at her paper.
“The autumn wind blows into osmanthus wine, bits of shattered gold cling to sleeves.”
Too plain. He secretly shook his head and continued reading downward.
“Every household’s children on the night of reunion…”
The final line was long in coming and could not be set down.
Xie Xuanying glanced at the incense – it was about to burn out – and stole another look at her. She was biting her lip, thinking hard, with bits of osmanthus fallen in her hair, which actually added a touch of delicate charm to her overly plain attire.
But what concerned him most was still the injury on her cheek. Several days had passed; the wound had already healed and the scab had fallen off, but the scar was still obvious. Especially since she wore no powder, the dark mark stood out even more.
Xie Xuanying grew increasingly unable to bear it, and thought again that asking her to write a Mid-Autumn poem was really making things too difficult for her.
On a day when every family reunites, with whom could she reunite? He feared the scene would stir her emotions.
He pressed his lips together and softly prompted. “Tonight the bright moon keeps watch together.”
Cheng Danruo was stunned for a moment and looked at him in surprise.
But he did not look at her, lowering his gaze and letting it linger all the while on the inkstone.
Cheng Danruo accepted his kindness, smiled at him, and hurriedly filled in the last line, as if relieved of a heavy burden.
“Finished?” Yan Hongzhi had not gone far. Seeing the incense extinguished, he came to inspect the results. He first picked up Cheng Danruo’s poem and, after a long while, gave a reluctant comment. “The rhyme does indeed match.”
Apart from the rhyme, there was nothing to praise.
Cheng Danruo was instantly ashamed.
She was still not used to expressing emotion in poetic form and always forced things together stiffly. She could not bear to look at these four lines herself, so she could only say with a bitter smile, “I will write another one later.”
Yan Hongzhi nodded in satisfaction. “That is exactly right. Write more, and naturally you will have it.”
Then he went to look at Xie Xuanying’s.
“Why must reunion wait for Mid-Autumn’s moon?
Rock Guest and you drift together in a boat.
I bid the celestial Heng’e come drink with us –
One cup of autumn’s breath to toast our homesick woe.”
Yan Hongzhi liked it very much and said, “Not bad. Compared with the delicate, exquisite lines of Qixi, I prefer this open-mindedness.” He then handed it to Cheng Danruo and tested her. “In your opinion, where is this line best?”
Cheng Danruo’s skill at writing poetry was not good, but her appreciation was not too poor – after all, she had done countless reading comprehension exercises. “Toasting.”
“Why?”
“Open and straightforward. If it were ‘hiding,’ it would be petty.” She said.
“Exactly.” Yan Hongzhi clapped his hands and laughed, then suddenly said, “There is poetry, there is wine, there is osmanthus. The time has not been wasted. We may return when our pleasure is spent.”
He actually was not going to continue climbing the mountain and had decided to go back.
Nothing could be better.
Everyone packed their bags and leisurely descended the mountain. By the time they reached the dock, it happened to be sunset. The evening glow imprinted itself on the water’s edge – half the river shivering in shadow, half in red – truly magnificent and vast.
Cheng Danruo lifted her veil hat and gazed at the distant horizon.
If there was anything in ancient times that stirred the heart, it was this land not yet scarred by too many traces of humankind. Whether wind or water, all things kept their plain, unhurried appearance.
The taut strings of her heart finally slackened for a moment.
A fine festival, beautiful scenery, a good teacher and worthy friends – if one could have such a moment in life, it would not be lived in vain.
