The Twelve Beauties of Jinling – Amidst the splendor of fiery blossoms and tranquil beauty, alas, Yu

　　 For twenty years, she discerned right from wrong; pomegranate blossoms illuminated the palace.
　　The three springs cannot compare to the early spring scene; when tiger and rabbit meet, the grand dream ends.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　—Judgment

　　The first line, "For twenty years, she discerned right from wrong," describes Yuan Chun's more than twenty years in the palace, during which she gained a new understanding of the joys and sorrows of human life, feeling that she had truly reached "a place unseen by others," and "ultimately devoid of interest." The second line, "Pomegranate blossoms illuminated the palace," describes Yuan Chun's rise from a lady-in-waiting to a high-ranking official in the Fengzao Palace, and finally to a virtuous imperial concubine, a period of great glory, as fiery as pomegranate blossoms in full bloom. To outsiders, a woman in feudal society should have been content, but Yuan Chun's conclusion was that she had learned to "distinguish right from wrong," recognizing the darkness and corruption within the palace, and adopting a negative attitude towards her own life path.
　　The third line, "The three springs cannot compare to the early spring scene," refers to Yuan Chun's three younger sisters, Ying Chun, Tan Chun, and Xi Chun. The phrase "early spring" in the line "competing with the early spring scenery" alludes to Yuan Chun, meaning that Ying Chun, Tan Chun, and Xi Chun cannot compare to Yuan Chun's wealth and glory. The final line, "When the tiger and rabbit meet, the great dream ends," refers to the transition between the Year of the Tiger and the Year of the Rabbit. Yuan Chun died in December, which was both the end of the Year of the Tiger and the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. Therefore, the phrase "when the tiger and rabbit meet" signifies that the rabbit was eaten by the tiger, a fitting end for Yuan Chun's entry into the palace as a concubine. Here, the author directly criticizes the imperial power, which is generally considered "sacred" and inviolable!
　　The imagery of "a bow" in Yuan Chun's judgment poem points to the character "言" (speech), and "a censer" points to the character "元" (Yuan), depicting Jia Yuan Chun's life in the palace. Yuan Chun lived in the harem for over twenty years... From the annals of women's history to the imperial records, and finally to the virtuous imperial concubine, Yuan Chun enjoyed a period of glory, as fiery and vibrant as pomegranate blossoms in full bloom. To outsiders, a woman in feudal society should have been content, but Yuan Chun's conclusion was that she had learned to "distinguish right from wrong," recognizing the darkness and corruption within the palace, and adopting a negative attitude towards her own life path. She lacked freedom and happiness, her heart empty and bitter; the line "When tiger and rabbit meet, the great dream ends" foreshadowed her inevitable fate as a concubine. Here, the author directly targets the imperial power, generally considered "sacred" and inviolable! Cao Xueqin, who claimed to be indifferent to worldly affairs, is clearly lamenting and criticizing the times here.