Xiangling, a secondary member of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling

"Roots and lotus blossoms share a single fragrance, a life's encounters truly lamentable.

Since two lonely trees grew in different places, her fragrant soul returned to her homeland."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 — Prophecy.

When discussing the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, most people would likely think of Daiyu, Baochai, Yuanchun, Tanchun, and other exceptionally talented, charming, and beautiful women—the twelve most outstanding women of Jinling. In the past, the Twelve Beauties of Jinling were a favorite among New Year's paintings, as their beauty was pleasing to the eye, and few paid attention to their fates. Since the TV series adaptation of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, the Twelve Beauties of Jinling have become even more famous, and people know them intimately. However, few people know about the secondary register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling. Chapter 5 of *Dream of the Red Chamber* states that the Twelve Beauties of Jinling are divided into the main register, the secondary register, and the supplementary register, meaning there are thirty-six people, not twelve. The normal understanding is that the Twelve Beauties of Jinling refer to the main register. The secondary and supplementary registers mostly consist of maids and concubines. Xiangling is listed first in both the secondary and additional registers of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, as evidenced by the poem: "

Roots and lotus share a single fragrance,

her life's encounters are truly heartbreaking.

Since two lonely trees grew in different places,

her fragrant soul returned to her hometown.

　　" This poem was seen by Jia Baoyu in the "Register of Ill-fated Beauties" in the "Register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling" during a dream while taking a nap in Qin Keqing's bedroom. The lotus flower, also known as the water lily, symbolizes Xiangling's original name, Yinglian. Cao Xueqin wrote about her as the first female character in *Dream of the Red Chamber*, demonstrating his deep affection for her. She was born in Suzhou, a wealthy and elegant city. Her mother, Lady Feng, was virtuous and well-mannered, while her father, Zhen Shiyin, was upright, honest, and of a tranquil nature; they were a prominent local family. She was Zhen Shiyin's only daughter, and as a child, she was beautiful, clever, and adorable, the apple of her parents' eye. One would think that being born into such a family should have been fortunate, but Xiangling's life was extremely tragic. Yinglian was abducted by human traffickers when she was five years old. Raised to her teens, she was first sold to the wealthy Feng Yuan. Later, the tyrannical Xue Pan killed Feng Yuan and forcibly took Xiangling as his concubine, renaming her Xiangling. Later still, Xue Pan married Xia Jingui, a shrewish and ruthless woman who was greedy, jealous, cruel, and vicious. She was extremely jealous of Xiangling's beauty and talent, subjecting her to all sorts of humiliation and abuse. She not only changed Xiangling's name to Qiuling but also tried to poison her with arsenic. However, Xiangling miraculously escaped, while Xia Jingui poisoned herself. After entering the Xue family, Xiangling lived in the Pear Fragrance Courtyard of the Rong Mansion and studied poetry with Daiyu in the Grand View Garden. She was graceful and delicate, gentle and quiet in her conduct. After Xue Pan was released from prison for murder, his aunt arranged for him to marry Xiangling, but she later died in childbirth.

　　Before Xiangling was abducted, a bald-headed, barefoot monk hinted at Xiangling's fate to Zhen Shiyin. Zhen Shiyin adored Yinglian. Once, while carrying Yinglian in his arms, he watched a spectacle in the street when a monk and a Taoist priest passed by. Seeing Shiyin holding Yinglian, the monk burst into tears and said to Shiyin, "Benefactor, why do you hold this ill-fated child, who brings only trouble to her parents, in your arms? Let her go! Let her go!" Shiyin, thinking it was madness, ignored the monk. The monk continued, "Let her go! Let her go!" Zhen Shiyin was displeased and tried to leave with Yinglian. The monk pointed at him and laughed, reciting four lines: "

Spoiled and pampered, you laugh at my foolishness;

the mirror reflects the snow in vain.

Beware after the Lantern Festival,

for she will vanish like smoke."

　　The bald, barefoot monk was hinting at Xiangling's fate to Zhen Shiyin. He said that although she was born into a wealthy family and was the apple of her parents' eye, naturally spoiled, don't be fooled by your current affection; one day she will leave you. You are truly a fool. "Linghua" refers to Xiangling, and "Xuesi" refers to Xue Pan. Yinglian was abducted on the Lantern Festival. The Zhen family fell into ruin in a fire, and finally, Master Zhen became a monk. Naturally, everything changed, and all was lost. The rise and fall of the Zhen family may reflect the rise and fall of the Jia family, and Xiangling's fate is also an allusion to the fate of the beauties in the Grand View Garden. Who could imagine that the pampered darling of the Zhen family would become a maid? Who could tolerate such a clever and beautiful girl being paired with a fool like the rogue Xue Pan? Xiangling's fate is tragic.

　　In "Dream of the Red Chamber," Cao Xueqin clearly favored Xiangling, endowing her with a special charm, causing a subtle fragrance to permeate the Grand View Garden. She was charming, innocent, pure, and gentle, and lovable. Perhaps to reveal Xiangling's scholarly family background, Cao Xueqin also arranged the story of Xiangling learning poetry. There's a saying that if you learn three hundred Tang poems, you can recite poetry even if you can't write it. Daiyu used this method to teach Xiangling. Initially, Xiangling found Lu You's lines, "The heavy curtains remain unrolled, the fragrance lingers; the ancient inkstone, slightly concave, gathers much ink," interesting. But Daiyu said that to learn to write poetry well, one must start from the basics. She required Xiangling to read one hundred five-character regulated poems from Wang Wei's complete works, one or two hundred seven-character poems from Du Fu, and one or two hundred seven-character quatrains from Li Bai. With this foundation, she could then read the poems of Tao Yuanming, Ying Yang, and others. Daiyu said, "In less than a year, you'll be a master!" Later, she also read Wang Wei's five-character regulated poems. After a period of effort, she finally learned to write poetry. Her first poem was: "

　　 The moon hangs high in the cold night, its clear light shining brightly, casting round shadows.

　　 Poets often find pleasure in its beauty, while rustic guests find it unbearable to behold.

　　 A jade mirror hangs beside the jade pavilion, an ice plate hangs outside the pearl curtain.

　　 Why burn silver candles on this fine night? The bright light reflects on the painted railing."

　　Daiyu wasn't very satisfied with this poem and demanded more study. Xiangling, obsessed with writing poetry, became increasingly skilled, producing lines like "It's hard to conceal her essence, her shadow is graceful, her spirit is cold," and "Even Chang'e would ask, 'Why not let them be forever reunited?'" These lines won her widespread praise, and she was added to the Begonia Poetry Club. Learning is a process of self-improvement, enriching oneself and one's spiritual world, ultimately enhancing personal cultivation—this is the purpose of learning. If everyone acted like Xiangling did with learning poetry, there would be nothing they couldn't accomplish.

　　Gao E also had a special affection for Xiangling, echoing Cao Xueqin's sentiments. At the end of the book, he devoted considerable space to her being elevated to the position of Xue Pan's official wife. She ultimately gave birth to a beautiful and clever child, ensuring the Xue family line continued. However, she herself suffered a difficult childbirth, struggling in the blood-soaked bed before passing away. The poem by the bald, barefoot monk already indicated that Xiangling's fate was tragic. Whether the author himself held a fatalistic view that "human destiny is predetermined" is unknown.