Explore Chapter 20 of 'Spring Ming Outer History' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
After Li Yun's death, Yang Xingyuan had been in low spirits. He buried himself in work every day to dispel his melancholy. One day, his colleague He Jianchen, seeing him in such a state, dragged him out to relax at a friend's gathering.
The gathering was held at a newly opened luxurious restaurant named 'Zuihua Hall'. The interior was extravagantly decorated, with bright lights and a lively atmosphere. Most guests were literati, artists, and political figures. During the banquet, there were song and dance performances. The singing girls performed gracefully, drawing applause from the crowd. However, Yang Xingyuan had no heart to appreciate it. He simply drank silently.
At that moment, a singing girl named Hu Xiaomei stepped forward to perform. She was beautiful with a melodious voice, but Yang Xingyuan felt that though she was lovely, she couldn't compare to Li Yun's purity. After her song, Hu Xiaomei approached Yang Xingyuan to toast him. Yang Xingyuan responded half-heartedly. He Jianchen teased from the side, saying that Yang Xingyuan was fortunate to have such attention, but Yang Xingyuan only smiled wryly.
Midway through the banquet, someone suddenly brought up recent political changes, sparking discussions among the guests. Yang Xingyuan had no interest in such topics, so he excused himself and stepped out to the balcony for some fresh air. The night breeze was gentle. Gazing at the distant lights, he recalled the moments he had shared with Li Yun at the Pine and Bamboo House before her passing, feeling a pang of sorrow in his heart.
Then, Hu Xiaomei followed him out and struck up a conversation. She said she had heard of Yang Xingyuan's reputation, knowing he was a talented scholar, and expressed her admiration. Yang Xingyuan responded politely, but his heart remained unmoved. Hu Xiaomei invited him to visit her home sometime, and Yang Xingyuan gave a vague promise.
Returning to the banquet, everyone continued drinking and reveling until late at night before dispersing. After returning home, Yang Xingyuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He picked up his brush and wrote a poem in memory of Li Yun. The poem read: 'Phantoms dance in the gilded hall, the flower wilts, the river flows on the shore of the sea of love. After the dance ends and the crowd disperses, the returning raft carries only memories of bygone days.'
The next day, Yang Xingyuan received a letter from Li Yun's mother in the south. The letter stated that Li Yun's funeral arrangements had been completed and thanked him for his previous assistance. After reading it, Yang Xingyuan felt a sense of loss, knowing that everything was truly over. He treasured the handkerchief and photograph left by Li Yun as eternal mementos.