La lluvia escarlata inunda la ciudad

Capítulo 9

Chapter Eight

When I woke up on a clear early summer morning, the dazzling snow outside the window made it hard to open my eyes.

Overcome with excitement, she put on her coat, leaned over the bed, and peered outside.

Standing beneath the Linjiang Pavilion, the Cangjiang River rushes eastward. Snowflakes the size of a palm fall like scattered cotton from the horizon. In this vast expanse of heaven and earth, only a lone boat sails downstream, fishing alone in the cold river wind and snow.

As I was engrossed in admiring the snow scene in early summer, someone behind me said, "If you're looking at the snow scene, why aren't you dressed properly?"

The young master's voice was right behind her. Chu Xia turned around and blurted out, "Young master, I had a very strange dream last night."

"What dream?" the young master asked lazily.

"Hmm, I dreamt that..." Chu Xia suddenly leaned closer to the glass window, exclaimed "Eh?", and pointed to several round holes smaller than a fingernail, "What are these?"

"The glass is airtight, but there are some small holes at the top for ventilation," the young master said casually.

Chu Xia was still somewhat skeptical, but then she saw that the young master had already left. Thinking about how she had served him since then, and how he had always gotten up earlier than her, she felt a little ashamed and got up as well.

The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and the kitchen is bustling with activity.

Since the young master and his guests were discussing matters in the front hall, Chu Xia had nothing to do. A few days ago, a batch of wild game and grains were delivered from the Jun family's estate, so she followed the cook and busied herself with preparations, treating it as a way to buy New Year's goods.

"These are the corn kernels from the farm, and they're really chewy," the old woman said as she scraped the kernels off the corn. "You can't buy these in Cangzhou."

In early summer, I was stringing chili peppers, my hands were all red, and when I looked up, there was someone at the door.

Bai Xue held a hand warmer in her hands, smiling as she looked at the busy servants in the kitchen. The brim of her hood was made of soft raccoon fur, which complemented her small face, making her seem to radiate a gentle glow.

"Miss Baixue, what brings you here?" Chuxia quickly stood up. "Are you looking for something?"

Bai Xue walked in and said with a smile, "I'm a little hungry and I'd like to find something to eat."

“What would you like to eat, young lady? Just tell the servants to make it. Why come here yourself?” The cook said, putting down her servants’ work.

“Auntie, you go ahead with your work.” Bai Xue smiled. “I’ve always loved finding my own food since I was little, and it seems like… the food tastes extra sweet that way.”

“Alright. Miss, the pastry shop is next door, and the soup shop is next door. You can go and take a look yourself.”

After a while, Bai Xue ordered a bowl of egg custard and several delicate pastries, and went off with her personal maid.

The old woman lowered her voice and said to Chu Xia, "This Bai Xue girl is really beautiful."

Early summer nodded repeatedly.

"She can eat a little more," the old woman said, shaking her head. "She comes here every day looking for something to eat... Chu Xia, do you think... this girl might be pregnant?"

Chu Xia was taken aback, slowed down her work a little, and thought for a moment before saying, "Auntie, you should be careful what you say."

The old woman realized what she meant and laughed, "Yes, yes. Chu Xia, you're quick-witted, just joking."

I went to the study to work on an early summer afternoon.

Just then, a large group of guests filed out of the front hall. Chu Xia stepped aside, but overheard someone saying, "Young Master has become obsessed with the painting... He's spending a fortune on it..."

She waited for a while, then looked up and saw an unfamiliar boy of about seventeen or eighteen standing in front of her, curiously looking her over: "You're Chu Xia?"

"Yes." Chu Xia glared back at the handsome young man, not to be outdone. "Who are you?"

"I'm the young master's servant. Hmm, you can just call me Brother Long." The servant smirked smugly. "The young master wants you to go to the study quickly."

Chu Xia burst out laughing: "Brother Long? I don't think you're even as old as me!"

"How old are you?"

Sixteen. And you?

"eighteen."

Chu Xia scoffed, "Young Master is older than me, am I supposed to call him 'Young Master Brother'?"

The servant was naturally unconvinced, and the two bickered all the way to the study door before finally falling silent.

The servant knocked on the door, his earlier playful expression vanishing, and said, "Young master, early summer has arrived."

"Come in."

Chu Xia pushed open the door and entered, but Xiao Long didn't go in; he just stood at the doorway.

Upon seeing Chu Xia's angry expression, the young master smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Young master, that new servant is so infuriating!" Chu Xia pouted, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. "One day, I'll make him call me 'sister'!"

The young master smiled faintly, his fingers lightly stroking his chin; his features were truly exquisite.

"Girl, come here." He casually unfolded a scroll on the table. "Look at this painting."

Chu Xia stepped forward and looked at the table with curiosity.

It is an old silk painting, about three feet in height and three feet in width, but it is a landscape painting.

She carefully examined the inscription, which consisted of five characters: "Ink Play, Landscape Ballad".

Chu Xia's heart stirred, and she looked at the young master: "This... is 'Ballad of Mountains and Rivers'?"

The young master did not deny it.

Upon closer inspection in early summer, one sees towering mountains, strange pines, and flowing springs in the painting; winding cliffs and swirling clouds and moving water. Thousands of mountains and valleys are captured in the brushstrokes, truly deserving of the name "Landscape Ballad".

"Who painted this?" Chu Xia asked curiously as she looked at the painting. "Gu Kaizhi, Wu Daozi, or Lu Tanwei and Zhang Sengyao?"

The young master said from the side, "Girl, judging a painting solely by its market value is rather narrow-minded."

Chu Xia looked up, unconvinced, and said, "Young master, this 'Landscape Ballad' is the third great gift, and its value should far exceed that of the fox fur coat. I've thought about it, and I've realized that among all the famous paintings in the world, if they weren't personally painted by Gu, Wu, Lu, and Zhang, how could they be so priceless?"

The young master smiled faintly: "These four are all masters of Chinese painting, and their brushwork characteristics have been thoroughly studied by later generations. This painting is obviously not the work of any of them. Furthermore, is there a painting called 'Landscape Ballad' recorded in the 'Record of Famous Paintings Through the Ages'?"

Chu Xia was somewhat bewildered: "Then... how could this painting be so precious?"

The young master stood beside her and pointed out, "The spirit and structure of this painting are superb. The landscape is all from the artist's heart. The only slight shortcoming is that the mountain peaks are like hooks and sharp swords, too menacing. Look at this brushstroke, completed in one stroke, with a continuous flow of energy—the person who painted this must also be a martial arts master."

Chu Xia frowned and examined it closely, then nodded and said, "Now that you mention it, young master, this style of painting does resemble sword dancing."

“During the Tang Dynasty, General Pei Min presented Wu Daozi with gold and silk, requesting a painting. Mr. Wu refused the gold and silk, but only asked that General Pei perform a sword dance to inspire his brushstrokes. After General Pei finished his dance, Mr. Wu completed the painting, as if divinely inspired.” The young master sighed, “The charm of the painting and the spirit of the sword are exactly the same in essence.”

Chu Xia nodded and said softly, "This servant has learned something."

The young master smiled slightly: "These are all irrelevant. Chu Xia, starting today, you no longer need to be on duty here. I need you to do something."

"Please speak, sir."

"You have a photographic memory, and you read books a hundred times faster than others. If I gave you ten thousand paintings, and you looked at them one by one, could you find a painting that resembles the scenery depicted in this 'Landscape Ballad'?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xia paused for a moment, then looked back at the painting, saying with difficulty, "This... it's not that difficult. But if the painter's perspective is different, the result will be very different. Moreover, young master, the Central Plains is a vast and resource-rich land with countless beautiful landscapes. How can you be so sure that someone else could paint the same scenery?"

The young master smiled confidently: "Look at this mountainside, there's a pavilion halfway up the mountain, which shows that people used to walk on it. Since people used to walk on it, it naturally became known. Literati and poets all love to express their feelings through landscapes, so how could they resist painting such a beautiful scene?"

Chu Xia nodded and asked, "Where did you find so many paintings for comparison, young master?"

“Someone will naturally bring it over.” The young master then instructed, “When you are looking at the painting, have the servant outside the door follow you so he can help you.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xia almost jumped up: "Young master, I don't want to."

"It's not up to you whether you want it or not." The young master didn't look at her, but only tapped the table. "Aqing, come in."

The servant pushed open the door and bowed to the young master.

The young master then instructed, "From today onwards, you will follow Chu Xia."

Aqing glanced at Chuxia's few words and lazily replied, "Yes."

Chu Xia endured for a long time before finally saying, "Young master, could we please choose someone else?"

"how?"

"This servant is too noisy. I can't concentrate on anything if he stays next to me."

Aqing was furious and retorted, "You think I'm noisy? I think you're stupid! Clumsy!"

The young master did not stop the two from arguing. Suddenly, he heard Chuxia stop looking at Aqing and say to the young master, "Young master, I have a request."

The young master smiled faintly: "Tell me about it."

Chu Xia suppressed her anger, repeatedly reminding herself that the important matter was paramount. After taking several deep breaths, she said, "If you, young master, want me to select the paintings, I will do my best. But after it's done... could you return my indenture?"

The young master raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips: "What if I don't grant you your freedom?"

"This servant may be slow at looking at paintings... If there are as many as ten thousand scrolls, it would take three to five years to finish looking at them all," Chu Xia said confidently.

Before the young master could speak, Ah Qing said, "You dare threaten the young master? You're so stupid, why do you insist on leaving the manor? If you leave, you might starve to death or fall to your death..."

The young master simply smiled, gave Chu Xia a deep look, and readily agreed, "Alright, I promise you."

After she left, the young master left only Aqing behind. Before he could speak, Aqing interrupted, "Young master, where did you find such an ill-mannered maid?"

The young master smiled and said, "Qinglong, now only Chuxia and I have seen the original 'Ballad of Mountains and Rivers.' You know why I'm keeping you by her side, don't you?"

Azure Dragon suppressed his playful expression and said in a deep voice, "Azure Dragon knows."

The young master hummed in agreement, then added casually, "This girl is timid. If you have no choice but to take action, try not to let her see it."

At the beginning of the new year, over a thousand retainers of the Jun family returned to the manor with landscape paintings they had collected from various places. This continued for several days in a row, with several carriages filled to the brim arriving daily and heading straight to the painting studio.

The studio was tucked away in a corner of Shu Garden, beneath the Riverside Pavilion, and consisted of two courtyards. The front courtyard was filled with landscape paintings collected from all over the country, while the back courtyard was where Chu Xia lived. One afternoon, Chu Xia took a stroll around the garden and noticed that Shu Garden was becoming increasingly deserted. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Ah Qing, don't you think... there are fewer and fewer people in the Jun residence?"

Aqing followed behind her and said lazily, "The young master dismissed many of the old master's concubines a few days ago, and even many of the servants were dismissed."

Chu Xia exclaimed "Ah!" but then heard A Qing say, "Young master is incredibly loyal to his friends and kind to his servants as well. Everyone got a contract of servitude and a hefty severance pay."

Chu Xia's face flushed and paled in turns as she murmured, "This isn't fair."

Ah Qing laughed and said, "Young Master is not letting you leave for your own good... You're so stupid, you'll probably be kidnapped before you even take three steps outside."

Chu Xia glared at A Qing, about to retort, when she suddenly noticed something floating on the lotus pond behind A Qing.

Seeing that her expression was strange, Aqing couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Chu Xia screamed, pointing towards the lotus pond, her voice trembling, "A Qing...A Qing...What's that?"

Aqing turned around and saw two corpses floating on the lotus pond. His expression remained unchanged, but he subtly shifted his position to block Chuxia's view, and without saying a word, he pulled her forward.

Behind them, several more figures emerged from beside the two black-clad corpses in the lotus pond, crashing through a pool of broken ice.

Chapter Nine