Chapter 12: Xiangling Learns Poetry
Xiangling was a servant girl in the Xue family, brought to the Jia mansion when Baochai arrived. She had been stolen from her parents as a young child and sold into slavery. Despite her hard life, she had a gentle nature and a love for beautiful things.
One day, Xiangling heard the young ladies of the house writing poems in the garden. She stood quietly behind the trees, listening to their words. Something in her heart began to wake up. She approached Daiyu with shy eyes and asked, "Could you teach me to write poetry?"
Daiyu was touched by Xiangling's sincere desire to learn. "Of course," she said warmly. "Poetry belongs to anyone who loves it." She gave Xiangling a collection of famous poems and told her to read them carefully. "First, learn from the masters. Then find your own voice."
Xiangling studied the poems day and night. She carried a book with her everywhere, reading while she worked and thinking about words while others slept. At first, her own poems were simple and awkward, but she did not give up. She asked Daiyu for advice and practiced again and again.
Slowly, her writing improved. Her poems began to show feeling and beauty, surprising everyone who read them. Xiangling's story proved that talent and passion could rise above any circumstance. Even in the hardest life, the love of art could bring light and hope.