What’s the most bustling place in the capital? Qianmen Avenue tops the list. Everyone knows it’s a place where dragons lurk and tigers crouch—workshops, merchant stalls, and antique shops abound. Where there’s entertainment, there are teahouses and taverns for people to rest. Fengya Residence stood at the corner of Cherry Slant Street, east to Dashilan, west to the Glazed Tile Factory—a feng shui treasure spot with views in all directions.
The Seventh Prince had long-term reserved a private room there to discuss bird lore with fellow bird enthusiasts. Fengya Residence gradually developed until it became not just a restaurant but a small bird market of sorts. For instance, if I acquired a mountain rosefinch and liked your singing rooster, we could negotiate an exchange. Today, the Seventh Prince brought his newly acquired orchid-patterned bird, hoping to exchange it for Heng Prince’s pigeon tiger. With a thin chain tied to the bird’s leg and held in his hand, allowing the bird to perch on his shoulder, he set out.
That Jin had prepared a cool sedan chair waiting at Aspen Gate. While serving the Prince into the chair, he didn’t forget to remind him, “Master, the Fourth Prince is coming to your mansion today. Won’t you wait before leaving?”
Hong Tao scratched his scalp with his fan, “I won’t be home. If he comes, tell him to arrange another time. Don’t delay my bird exchange.”
“What about the guards? You should approve the people close to you. This time many people are accompanying…”
He waved his hand dismissively, “Whoever.” With that, he entered the sedan chair and kicked the side, causing the curtain to drop from the vibration.
The Seventh Prince was rather unconventional. Working under him, as long as one devoted oneself to entertaining him, there was nothing else to worry about. Jin cheerfully acknowledged and clapped his hands to signal departure. The sedan chair moved forward, followed by two small eunuchs carrying bird cages, heading grandly toward Fengya Residence.
Upon entering, he saw all the familiar faces were present. The Liang Beile had found a mynah bird somewhere, was leaning on the table with two fingers raised, asking the bird, “Look, how many is this?”
The bird paused, rather disdainfully, “Isn’t it two?”
The Liang Beile spread his thumb and index finger, gesturing to it, “How many is this?”
This time the bird’s wings fluttered as it squawked loudly, “Eight horses, nine attendants, all opened up…” Someone had made finger-guessing gestures in front of it, and the clever bird had remembered everything.
Everyone in the hall laughed. Hong Tao grinned, “Well, well, it has a Sichuan accent. You got it from a Sichuanese.”
Seeing him arrive, the shop assistant hurriedly came forward, bowing deeply and smiling, “Prince, please come in. Following your esteemed orders, we’ve changed the chef. Today’s steamed cake has plenty of vinegar, both sour and cool. The osmanthus syrup on the almond tofu was also freshly cooked with honey—the sugar threads can stretch two feet without breaking. Everything is prepared for you.”
Hong Tao grunted in acknowledgment, “The new chef is good. Bring me a bowl of spinach puree soup to test his skills.”
“Certainly!” The assistant smiled with a flattering expression, “This time we’ve invited a chef from Tianjin. First-class official bird’s nest, shark’s fin cap, and osmanthus fish bone are all his specialties. Would you like to try them?”
Hong Tao lifted his robe to sit on the Arhat couch, his hands rapidly spinning two iron balls, snorting with laughter, “What do you know? The simpler the dish, the more it tests one’s skill. If he can’t even make spinach puree soup properly, he’d turn shark’s fin into vermicelli in his hands.”
The assistant agreed countless times, “Then please rest for now. This humble one will wait outside for the Heng Prince and bring him to you as soon as he arrives.”
So they waited. Hong Tao invited several regular companions to sit with him and analyze his orchid-patterned bird from beak to claws. Those people, cautious because he was a prince, would praise even a chicken if he placed it there.
Those who could sit together must have brought birds. Hong Tao glanced around and saw that Tong Four had brought two cages, both covered with black cloth. He raised his chin, “What worthless trinket have you acquired now? Since you’re not eager to show me, it must be something good.”
Tong Four laughed, “Listen to yourself, when have I ever forgotten you when I got something good? These are two red birds sent from my estate yesterday. If you like them, Prince, pick one as my tribute to you.”
“How could I? I’ve long heard that red birds have good voices. I’ve wanted one but never had time to go to the bird market…” He said, reaching out to lift the cover cloth. The hibiscus cage, thin bamboo branches brushed with tung oil, two jade perches across the middle—everything exuding refinement. Inside were two birds in separate cages, one large and one small, one with fine plumage and one with rough, both crouching on the perches without making a sound. He lowered the cover cloth and licked his lips, “I don’t know much about red birds. Since you said you’d give me one, I’ll just go with what the host chooses.”
Tong Four was panicking inside. For someone who loves birds like life itself, parting with one is more painful than cutting flesh with a knife. What could he do? This was a prince—one couldn’t curry favor fast enough, and one couldn’t offend him over a bird. However, this Seventh Prince wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about birds, just a bit of half-baked knowledge that could be bluffed. So he brought both cages up, lifted half the black cloth to examine them, and squinted, “If the Prince likes it, I’ll give it without a word. Let me pick a good one for you, to save face for myself too. Let me tell you, red birds are divided into southern and eastern routes. Eastern route songs are fast and deep—not good. Southern route songs are slow and crisp—all bird keepers prefer southern route birds. Look at this one…” He pointed to the grayish-white feathered one, “A genuine southern route specimen, a Xingtai red bird. Its call goes ‘chamber-chamber stick, chamber-chamber red’—extremely vibrant…”
“For red birds, southern route ones are better. Yours is indeed the southern route, but it’s not a Xingtai red bird—it’s a Handan red bird.”
The private room was filled with people talking when suddenly someone at the door chimed in. Looking up, they saw a small person with a fair face. Everyone was startled, but the Seventh Prince laughed, “You little fellow know about birds?”
Ding Yi entered and made a deep bow, “In reply to Your Highness, I used to live near the bird market with my master. I saw people selling birds every day. I dare not say I can identify them with certainty, but I can get it seventy to eighty percent right.”
Hong Tao glanced at Tong Four, “Well, well, you dare to deceive me!”
Tong Four was startled but of course, couldn’t admit it. Looking over the newcomer, he cupped his hands and said, “Young man, what makes you think this is a Handan red bird?”
“Look at the size,” Ding Yi smiled. “I spoke rashly, but please see if I’m right. Handan red birds are large with gray feathers; Xingtai red birds are small with white feathers. Handan red birds have fewer notes and don’t sing fluidly; Xingtai red birds sound good but have many flaws, easily using impure notes…”
This tongue-twister-like explanation made everyone dizzy. Hong Tao slapped the table and said, “Enough, no need for so many explanations. Look at these two birds and tell me which one is better. Just keep that one.”
Ding Yi responded with an obedient “yes” and glanced at the other cage. The bird was unremarkable, smaller than the other by a head, with less vibrant plumage and white claws. She bowed slightly to the Seventh Prince, “In my humble opinion, that one isn’t a Xingtai red bird either—it’s a Jiangnan red bird. Don’t be fooled by its unimpressive appearance; it has a good voice—fine, melodious, and fluid. If I were you, I’d rather keep that one. If you don’t believe me, lift the cloth and let them sing. Compare them, and you’ll see the difference.”
The Seventh Prince went to lift the cloth. As soon as the birds saw light, they began to sing. The larger one wasn’t bad, but placed side by side, it was inferior to the smaller one. The small one sang crisply, making listeners feel comfortable all over. The Seventh Prince was delighted and slapped Mu Xiao Shu on the shoulder, pushing him down half a notch in height, “Good, good lad! Your character may not be much, but you know birds—that’s a skill too. Tong Four, you’re infamous for cunning, but today you’ve met your match at my doorstep. Believe it or not, I’ll skin you alive!”
“Oh,” Tong Four quickly bowed repeatedly, “I was also deceived. They said it was Xingtai, so I thought it was Xingtai. I originally wanted to give you the smaller one but feared you wouldn’t like it. Look at its appearance—if I had recommended it to you, you might have thought I was being stingy… You’re a prince; if the bird looks mediocre, it would lose face for you.”
The Seventh Prince was in a good mood and didn’t quibble too much. He kept both cages, “I know you’re reluctant to part with them. I won’t take them for nothing. I have a shrike nestling in my mansion; I’ll have someone send it to you one of these days.”
Tong Four wiped sweat and rose, repeatedly expressing his gratitude before retreating with the others.
Now it was Hong Tao’s turn to look at Ding Yi. He touched the cage, then glanced at the person before him, “Surprising, you have this skill. Do you only know red birds, or can you recognize other birds too?”
Ding Yi said, “Not all, but I’m fairly knowledgeable about thrushes, orioles, and such.”
Hong Tao nodded, “Like this Jiangnan red bird—small but capable. Tell me, why have you come here? Does a little executioner like you also keep birds?”
He just kept on with his insults; since they’d met, he had never said anything nice. Ding Yi replied with a completely sincere expression that it wasn’t so, “I knew the Prince comes here every day, so I timed it right to come and serve you.”
“Has the sun risen from the west?” Hong Tao took a sip of the sweet rice wine on the table, turning his eyes to examine him, “Last time I said you should work in the garden, but you were unwilling. What have you come for today? I think you’re up to no good—still thinking about becoming a geshiha, aren’t you?” He leaned against the mother-of-pearl low table and bent his index finger to rub his nose bridge, “To be honest, your physique isn’t suitable. But today you’ve shown your skill in bird selection, and none of my geshiha have your ability. I don’t like people who serve rigidly by the book. Going north with a birdkeeper would look improper. But if I had a geshiha who was also a bird keeper, that would be perfect. Bearing the title of a guard while performing the duties of a bird keeper…” The Seventh Prince was moved by his idea, slapping his thigh with an exclamation, feeling it was an unprecedented innovation.
Ding Yi listened—was this a lucky accident? Living near the bird market was secondary. When she was around ten, she had followed her nanny’s husband to catch birds, setting up large nets in the woods. Birds that carelessly flew into them either died if unfortunate or were captured if lucky, then prepared and sent to places that specifically collected birds. The bird collectors would examine the birds’ “faces,” determining which were inferior and should have their necks wrung, skins peeled, and sent to restaurants as dishes; and which were superior and should be kept in cages for breeding, producing nestlings that would fetch high prices in the bird market. She was small then, watching from the side as people selected birds. People, seeing her pretty appearance, liked to tease her, saying, “Xiao Shu, which is more handsome, this bird or your bird?” Then they taught her how to distinguish males from females, and how to determine temperament.
Wandering outside, one sees and learns much, accumulating confidence. It didn’t seem significant at the time, but when it mattered, it came in handy—truly a good thing.
“It’s settled then.” The Seventh Prince pointed at her, “Can you ride a horse? If you can’t even ride a horse, you can’t serve the birds!”
Ding Yi quickly said she could, “I’ve been riding mules since I was small, then switched to horses. I ride very well.”
“Oh, not bad,” the Prince smiled, his eyes sparkling, “You refused to work in the cellar because you wanted to stay by my side! You should have said so earlier. We’re acquainted; I’m not unreasonable.”
Her mouth twitched as she bowed and said, “Previously, I was afraid of you. You’re a prince, and we’re just common folk. Standing close to you makes us tremble—we don’t dare make presumptuous requests.”
“That’s right,” he said, using a bamboo stick to tease the red bird while speaking, “Serve well, and you won’t be mistreated. Ask That Jin later about salary and such; let him introduce you to the guard quarters.”
After all her planning and scheming, it had finally succeeded. She felt indescribable emotions. She knelt, “Prince… thank you, Prince. I will certainly serve you well. But if you take the birds north, the weather there is cold. I fear southern birds won’t survive.”
Hong Tao clicked his tongue, “Isn’t that what you’re for? Have them make two cages the size of fists; you can tuck them in your clothes to keep them warm, right at your chest.” He cast a sidelong glance, “Taking good care of the birds is your job. Why else would I keep you?”
Two small cages, one on the left and one on the right, tucked inside her clothes… Ding Yi’s face reddened slightly. This Prince was wicked, never missing a chance to be nasty. For now, she’d endure his bullying. She was still concerned about how to explain this to her master, so she asked the Prince, “My master doesn’t know I’m coming to serve you. I need to go back and tell him. After explaining, I’ll go to the Prince’s mansion to find the steward. Is that acceptable?”
The Seventh Prince could be difficult to deal with when he was being troublesome, but he was also straightforward when in a good mood. He waved his hand, “That’s proper. Clean up loose ends before serving a new master. Don’t bring any complications to me—I’m not the Twelfth Prince.”
She responded with an obedient “yes,” “Then, Master, this servant will take his leave.”
The Prince’s narrowed eyes flashed a look, smiling, “You’re quite clever, adapting your speech so quickly. Alright, get out of here!”
Ding Yi made another deep bow and backed out of the private room.