Encountering Yingtai at the Grass Bridge Pavilion

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was no place called "Hangzhou". There was only Qiantang County, which belonged to Wu Commandery. It was not even called Qiantang County.

There was no West Lake in Qiantang County during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Instead, there was a lagoon connected to the Qiantang River, also known as "Qiantang Lake," which was not yet a fully enclosed lake. Hills such as Shizeng Mountain and Wu Mountain were directly adjacent to the water, and there were many marshes in the low-lying areas. The tides of the Qiantang River crashed directly against the foot of the mountains.

Qiantang County was a medium-sized county town, nestled against the mountains and bordering the river, with a dense network of waterways. The city walls were made of rammed earth, and the population consisted of several thousand households, mainly descendants of the local Yue people and prominent families who had migrated south from the north. Buddhism had been introduced, but Lingyin Temple was still in its early stages and limited in scale.

The eastern gate of the county town is called Caoqiao Gate, named after the many grass bridges outside the gate.

So-called grass bridges are not bridges made of grass, but rather temporary bridges made by driving wooden stakes into the water and then binding them with grass ropes for reinforcement, with the bridge surface covered with wooden planks and thatch.

This area is crisscrossed by waterways and canals, and formal bridges are rare, but thatched bridges are everywhere. The government is too lazy to build stone bridges in these remote places, letting the people make do with whatever materials they have on hand.

Outside the grass bridge gate, there is a grass bridge pavilion.

The pavilion was small, with four wooden pillars supporting a thatched roof. It had no walls, only a few horizontal beams for people to sit on. Inside stood a stone tablet, its inscription blurred and illegible. It was said to have been erected by an official of a previous dynasty, but due to years of neglect, the characters had been almost completely eroded by wind and rain. However, this was a major thoroughfare in and out of the county town, and many travelers stopped here to rest; though simple, the pavilion was quite practical.

When Liang Shanbo arrived outside Qiantang County, it had already started to rain.

He carried his luggage and ran into the grass bridge pavilion to take shelter from the rain.

The rain was neither heavy nor light, but it wove a dense net that fell from the sky.

Liang Shanbo moved a little closer to the center of the pavilion. Although the thatched pavilion still had a roof, it was drafty on all sides, and rain was blowing in at an angle, soaking the crossbeams along the side.

Just then, he heard hurried footsteps and voices.

"My lord, quickly go into the pavilion!"

"I saw it, I saw it! Slow down, don't fall."

The two of them jogged over.

One of them was a rather sturdy pageboy carrying a bag.

The other was a young scholar, his hair tied up in a bun with a bamboo hairpin, wearing a moon-white cross-collar wide-sleeved robe that reached his knees, with a blue silk sash around his waist, and crimson trousers. The fabric of his clothes was of fine quality, light and breathable. He wore black leather shoes, and although his steps were quick, his demeanor was composed.

As soon as the page entered the pavilion, he placed his baggage on the crossbeam and quickly took out a handkerchief for the young man: "Young master, your face is all wet, wipe it off quickly."

The boy took the handkerchief, casually wiped his face a couple of times, and tidied his wind-blown hair before raising his head and surveying the pavilion. His gaze lingered on Liang Shanbo, then he nodded slightly in greeting.

Liang Shanbo nodded in acknowledgment and carefully examined the young man.

The young man was handsome, with clear eyes, a straight nose, thin lips, and fair skin. He exuded a gentle, scholarly air.

If it were someone else, they would probably think he was a very handsome and wealthy young man.

But Liang Shanbo was no ordinary person.

He clearly remembered the story of "The Butterfly Lovers" and the "sworn brotherhood at the grass bridge," so he felt that the young man in front of him might be Zhu Yingtai. Although the page was somewhat sturdy and had dark skin, his frame, gestures, and tone of voice also revealed a hint of femininity.

When the boy saw Liang Shanbo staring at him intently, he turned around and faced away from Liang Shanbo.

The pageboy couldn't help but speak up, a hint of reproach in his voice, saying to Liang Shanbo, "Why are you staring at my young master the moment we meet? How rude of you!"

Liang Shanbo stood up, cupped his hands to the young man, and said, "Excuse me. I had no intention of offending you, but I just thought you were so handsome that I couldn't help but take a second look."

To be honest, most of the people I've seen on my journey have been ordinary-looking. But today, seeing you for the first time in this pavilion, I was immediately struck by your striking appearance; you are truly handsome and refined.

Compared to your elegant bearing, my humble appearance makes me seem like a country bumpkin. It was this contrast that prompted me to look at you more closely. If you find this offensive, I apologize.

The boy found this amusing, thinking Liang Shanbo was being overly modest. He had come from Shangyu County and had seen many people along the way, most of whom were unremarkable in appearance. In his eyes, Liang Shanbo, though simply dressed, was handsome.

Liang Shanbo then introduced himself, saying, "My name is Liang Shanbo, and I am from Shanyin County. I am here to study at Wansong Academy. May I ask how I should address you?"

The young man smiled and, adopting the demeanor of a gentleman, returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "My name is Zhu Jiuling, and I am from Shangyu County. I am the ninth child in my family, hence the name Jiuling. I am also on my way to study at Wansong Academy, and I did not expect to meet a fellow traveler here. It is quite a coincidence."

Upon hearing this, Liang Shanbo immediately realized that the other person was Zhu Yingtai!

He then turned to the pageboy and asked with a smile, "May I ask how you are addressed?"

The pageboy looked at Zhu Yingtai, who said, "He is my pageboy, and his name is 'Sijiu'."

Liang Shanbo was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself, "In some movies and dramas from my past life, 'Sijiu' was Liang Shanbo's pageboy. But now, I, Liang Shanbo, don't have a pageboy, so 'Sijiu' has become the alias of Zhu Yingtai's maid? But it makes sense. Zhu Yingtai's alias is 'Zhu Jiuling,' and the maid's alias is 'Sijiu.' The aliases of master and servant correspond, both containing the number 'nine.'"

The page in front of him was actually Zhu Yingtai's maid, named "Yinxin". However, since she was now dressed as a man with her mistress, she needed an alias, so she adopted the alias "Sijiu".

……

……

The rain is still falling.

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai sat facing each other on the crossbeam in the pavilion, while Yin Xin sat beside Zhu Yingtai, listening to their conversation.

"You just said you're from Shanyin?" Zhu Yingtai lowered her voice, trying to imitate the man's steady tone.

"That's right." Liang Shanbo nodded. "In Shanyin County, on the north bank of Jinghu Lake, there's a small place called Liu Village."

"Mirror Lake!" Zhu Yingtai's eyes lit up. "I've heard of Mirror Lake. It's said to have clear blue waters and a vast expanse of misty waves, a scenic wonder of Kuaiji Prefecture. It's a pity I've never been there. Although Shangyu has the Cao'e River, it can't compare to the fame of Mirror Lake."

Liang Shanbo smiled slightly: "If you have the opportunity to come to Shanyin, I will treat you to a boat trip on Mirror Lake. In spring, peach blossoms line the banks, and in autumn, the lake is filled with the songs of water chestnuts. There is something to see in every season."

Zhu Yingtai simply replied, "If I have the opportunity in the future, I will visit you."

The two of them started talking back and forth like that.

Zhu Yingtai then asked, "What books do you read at home?"

"I don't have many books at home, just a few dozen old volumes," Liang Shanbo replied. "The Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Changes, the Book of Rites, the Spring and Autumn Annals, a few volumes of the Analects, the Classic of Filial Piety, a fragment of the Records of the Grand Historian, and two or three volumes of the poems of Qu Yuan and Song Yu. I can recite them all."

"You can recite dozens of books?" Zhu Yingtai's eyes widened slightly.

Liang Shanbo smiled and said, "It's strange, but I was sick three months ago and had a fever for two days and two nights. When I woke up, my memory was much better than before. My mother said that I had turned misfortune into blessing."

Zhu Yingtai clicked her tongue in amazement: "That is indeed a strange thing. I've heard my mother say that some people suddenly become enlightened after a serious illness. Books they couldn't understand before suddenly become clear, and articles they couldn't remember before suddenly become memorable. The ancients said, 'Those who survive a great calamity are sure to have good fortune later.' I suppose that's what happened to you."

She paused, then tentatively asked, "Since you have memorized so many books, what are your insights into the classics? For example, the phrase 'to learn and at due times to practice what one has learned' in the Analects has been interpreted differently in various commentaries. Zheng Xuan's commentary says 'to practice at due times' means 'to recite and practice at appropriate times,' while He Yan's 'Collected Explanations' quotes Wang Su as saying 'to recite and practice at appropriate times.' What do you think is the correct interpretation?"

Liang Shanbo secretly admired her. This Zhu Yingtai was indeed no ordinary woman; she immediately asked about the differences in the interpretation of the classics, which showed that she had a solid foundation of knowledge.

He thought for a moment and replied, "The two schools of thought are not actually contradictory. Zheng Xuan emphasizes the word 'time,' saying that learning should be done according to the time, for example, reciting in spring, playing stringed instruments in summer, learning rites in autumn, and reading books in winter, each with its own time. Wang Su emphasizes the word 'practice,' saying that learning requires repeated review and should not be interrupted. One emphasizes the order of time, and the other emphasizes effort; together they form a complete principle. If one can learn according to the time and repeat it, then naturally 'is it not a pleasure?'"

Zhu Yingtai's eyes lit up after hearing this. She had thought Liang Shanbo would simply choose one side, but she hadn't expected him to be able to integrate the two sides so clearly.

"You are absolutely right." She leaned forward, her expression becoming more eager. "When I read this chapter of the Analects before, I also felt that Zheng and Wang's interpretations each had their own merits, but I didn't know how to connect them. Today, after hearing your words, I suddenly understand. Your talent and learning are truly admirable."

Liang Shanbo waved his hand: "You flatter me. I merely parrot others' words; I have no real talent or learning to speak of. But your question just now—only someone with in-depth knowledge of the classics could answer that. I'm curious, which teacher did you study with at home?"

Zhu Yingtai's heart tightened, thinking to herself that she must not give herself away.

She said casually, "My family has a tutor named Chen, an old scholar with solid knowledge. I also study on my own. I'm slow-witted, and no matter how much I read, I always feel there are many things I don't understand, so I thought of coming to Wansong Academy to study."

Actually, she was initially taught several books by her mother, and later she hired a female teacher.

Liang Shanbo laughed and said, "You are too modest. With your knowledge and foundation, when you arrive at Wansong Academy, I'm afraid many of your classmates will feel ashamed of their own."

Zhu Yingtai blushed slightly at his praise and changed the subject: "Besides studying the classics, what else do you wish to learn at the academy?"

Liang Shanbo thought for a moment and said, "Studying the classics is certainly necessary, but it's not limited to that. I also want to read more history books to understand the reasons for the rise and fall of previous dynasties; I also want to learn practical knowledge such as government affairs, people's livelihood, water conservancy, and agriculture. The ancients said, 'Learning is for practical application.' If you read a lot of books but cannot apply them to benefit your hometown, what's the difference between that and not reading at all?"

These words shocked Zhu Yingtai.

She felt that she had met a like-minded person today!