Aunt Song rambled on: “Ah, what terrible timing! Had I known you were interested in this girl, I would have sent her to you earlier. Or if you had come just a moment sooner, you would have caught her.” After a pause, she asked curiously, “How did you come to know about this girl?”
Lin Jinlou’s displeasure had already faded from his face as he smiled and said, “To be honest, this girl originally served in my household. I had intended to elevate her position. Who would have thought that after returning from battle, I’d find she had been sold? Upon inquiry, I learned that Yifei had purchased her, so I came here, thick-skinned as I am, to make this request.”
These words left Aunt Song thunderstruck, cold sweat rolling down her face. She thought to herself: “That little vixen Xiang Lan was actually from Lin Jinlou’s household! Not content with seducing the Lin family’s master, she came to seduce my son. If my son had taken her in, wouldn’t that have created enmity with Lin Jinlou? Amitabha Buddha, thankfully she’s already gone, otherwise, this would have truly brought chaos to our household!” With a forced smile, she quickly said, “I had no idea about this, otherwise I would have made that rascal Ke return her to you with apologies. I’ll keep an eye out for you, and if I see any good maids in the future, I’ll surely buy one and send her to you.”
Lin Jinlou smiled and said, “Aunt Song, you’re too kind. It’s not as if my household lacks maids.” After exchanging a few more casual words with Aunt Song, he left the room.
Lin Jinlou felt stifled in his heart. Upon returning home, his face showed not even a trace of a smile. Even Xiao Cuiqiao didn’t dare approach too closely to attend to him. After some brief pleasantries, everyone dispersed. In the following days, Lin Jinlou was occupied with receiving guests and social obligations, leaving him no time to think about Xiang Lan. After the Lantern Festival, news arrived from the capital with an imperial edict summoning Lin Jinlou to an audience with the emperor. Lin Jinlou hurriedly made preparations and departed northward on the seventeenth day of the first month, accompanied by his personal guards and trusted followers.
As for Xiang Lan, she spent several anxious days at home, only relaxing slightly when she saw no movement from the Lin family. Later, upon hearing that Lin Jinlou had gone to the capital, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, she realized that although she had bought her freedom, living under Lin Jinlou’s nose wasn’t a long-term solution. Who knew when that tyrant might remember her and cause trouble again? She began considering moving to another province. She broached the subject indirectly with her parents. Chen Wanquan glared and said, “What nonsense! Moving isn’t that simple. In an unfamiliar place, how would we make a living? Besides, we’re living well in Jinling, why should we move?”
Xiang Lan hesitated before saying, “The young master of the Lin family said he wanted to take me as a concubine. I refused, but I fear he might use his power to force me.”
Mr. and Mrs. Chen were stunned and quickly asked for details. After hearing the full story, Chen Wanquan’s face lit up with joy, grinning from ear to ear as he slapped his thigh: “Ah-ya-ya! No wonder the young master came to our home during the New Year and brought many gifts! Heavens above, heavens above, perhaps our Chen family ancestors’ graves will emit green smoke! When you were at the Lin household before, there were rumors that the young master had taken a liking to you, but I didn’t believe it. Who knew it was true? My child! If you become Young Master Lin’s concubine, you’ll have much more prestige than at the Song household!”
Xiang Lan sprang to her feet in anger and said, “What are you saying, Father? I would rather die than become someone’s concubine. Now that I’m free, I will marry properly as a principal wife!”
Chen Wanquan frowned, pointed at Xiang Lan, and stamped his foot, saying, “Foolish, foolish! What does a child like you understand? Being Young Master Lin’s concubine would bring you a hundred times more glory than being the principal wife in some insignificant household. Though you’d be a concubine, the meaning is vastly different! The emperor’s concubines are called ‘Imperial Consorts,’ high officials’ concubines are respectfully addressed as ‘Madame,’ only those concubines of men who merely have some money but no status are considered lowly. You can read and write, how can you not understand this principle?”
Xiang Lan smiled coldly and said, “Father, do you think the Lin family’s inner courtyard is a game? How many people die there each year? Do you want to send me to such an unspeakable place?”
Chen Wanquan fell silent upon hearing this, then gritted his teeth and said, “Previously it was just because his principal wife was fierce and jealous, but I hear she’s ill now, so she probably can’t throw her weight around anymore…”
Xiang Lan slammed her teacup onto the table and said coldly, “Father, your vision is so narrow, there’s nothing more to discuss. I’ll tell you just one thing: if you dare agree, or if the Lin family tries to force me to become a concubine, I’d rather die by smashing my head against a wall.” With that, she turned and left.
Chen Wanquan trembled with rage and shouted, “Listen! Listen! What nonsense are you speaking? Could I possibly harm you? When have you ever gone wrong by listening to me?”
Xiang Lan turned back and said coldly, “If I had listened to you, I would have already married that fool of a son of the Lin family’s hereditary servant, and generations of our descendants would be servants. Would you have today’s dignity?”
Chen Wanquan was momentarily speechless.
Xiang Lan left without looking back, while Chen Wanquan continued cursing behind her with words like “doesn’t know what’s good for her” and “foolish nonsense.” Xiang Lan returned to her room and sat quietly on the bed, lost in thought.
Madam Xue pushed open the door, sighed at Xiang Lan, and said, “Your father means well to you. If you don’t want to be a concubine, then don’t…”
Xiang Lan called out “Mother,” and her eyes reddened, feeling half-hearted.
Madam Xue sat beside Xiang Lan and sighed, “I came from the Lin family, so I know about the dirty business in those mansions. Especially since Young Master Lin doesn’t have a good temperament. You’re my only daughter, how could I bear to see you suffer?” After a pause, she asked, “Are you… still thinking about Young Master Song?”
Xiang Lan was startled, lowered her face, and after a while said, “I do think of him, but even if he wanted me as a concubine, I wouldn’t agree.”
Madam Xue sighed again, and somehow remembered the opera line “Heart as high as heaven, fate as thin as paper.” Looking at Xiang Lan’s bright eyes and fair complexion, like misty autumn fruit, she stroked her glossy black hair and said softly, “My child, your beauty is outstanding, and your skill with painting surpasses any young lady I’ve seen, but unfortunately you were born into the wrong family… I worry that with such high aspirations, you might end up with nothing.”
Xiang Lan also began to cry. How could she not know? As they say, “Deep feelings lead to a short life, and strength leads to extreme humiliation.” Sometimes she thought she should just accept her fate – she had already been a maid, so what good would come from being strong-willed? Since both lives’ fates were tied to Song Ke, what would be wrong with being a concubine? She could just live day by day, turning a blind eye to things, but there was that stubborn pride and unwillingness in her heart, thinking that if she fell into such a state, she might as well die. Sometimes she thought about simply marrying someone of equal status and living a companionable life, but time and years were so long – if she extinguished her heart’s lamp like this and lived a mere existence, it made her especially desperate. Now she could only take a gamble, and even if things didn’t work out, she would accept the consequences.
Thinking of this, Xiang Lan dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. The fear of recent days had passed, and she became calm, saying, “Mother, there’s no need to speak of this. We’ve overcome so many hardships before, we can get through even the Flame Mountain in the future.” She then took out her private savings and said softly, “I have seventy taels of silver in total, from selling paintings, monthly allowance from the Song family, and selling jewelry. If we gather these together, should Lin Jinlou return and still try to force me, our family can move to the outskirts of Jinling and hide for a few days, then quietly move away.” She thought to herself, “The only reason to linger in Jinling now is to wait for news from Song Ke. If our fate is truly over, then the whole family can move out of Jinling. Whether to Yangzhou or Anhui, there will always be a place for us.”
Madam Xue didn’t think the situation was so serious, but seeing Xiang Lan’s serious expression, she could only agree.
From then on, Xiang Lan devoted herself even more to painting, carefully creating an album of twelve plum blossom paintings that sold for quite a sum, which she diligently saved for unexpected needs.
Leaving aside unnecessary details.
The first month passed, and on the ninth day of the second month came the provincial examinations, followed by the palace examination in the fourth month. News arrived that Song Ke had placed in the second rank of successful candidates, was granted the title of “Advanced Scholar,” and entered the Hanlin Academy as a seventh-rank Editor. When Xiang Lan heard this, she also clasped her hands and prayed continuously.
One evening, Xiang Lan was tidying the courtyard and arranging some newly bought flowers under the eaves. Seeing the jasmine blooming fragrantly, she planned to pick a few flowers to put in her sachet.
At this moment, someone knocked on the door. Xiang Lan called out several times but received no response. She walked forward and peeked through the door crack, seeing someone outside wearing blue satin clothes with an eight-treasures belt at his waist, his hair tied up with a jade hairpin, which enhanced his handsome face – who else could it be but Song Ke?
Xiang Lan was overjoyed and quickly opened the door. Before she could speak, Song Ke squeezed in, pushed the door behind him, and embraced Xiang Lan, burying his face in her shoulder saying, “Don’t move, let me hold you for a moment…”
Xiang Lan blushed crimson and pushed him slightly, saying, “Are you trying to get us killed? What if someone sees?”
Song Ke chuckled softly and said, “Your father is at the shop right now, and your mother just went to visit neighbors. I watched carefully before coming to knock.”
Xiang Lan smiled with a red face and said, “You shameless one, you dare to say such things.” She broke free from Song Ke’s embrace.
Song Ke knew Xiang Lan was shy and proper, so he released her, staring at her without blinking. They looked at each other wordlessly, then both smiled simultaneously.
Song Ke couldn’t help but quietly take Xiang Lan’s hand and ask, “Have you missed me these days?”
Xiang Lan smiled with pursed lips but didn’t answer, only asking, “When did you return?”
Song Ke said, “I came back this morning, and when I found you weren’t at home, I asked and learned that my mother had let you go. I was too tired and took a nap at home, and as soon as I woke up, I came to find you… I brought you many things from the capital, but I came in a hurry this time, I’ll bring them to you next time.”
Xiang Lan smiled and said, “No need to trouble yourself.” Then she bowed and said, “So I have now met Editor Song.”
Song Ke waved his hand, his eyes curving in a smile: “A mere seventh-rank official, worth nothing in the capital. Initially, I thought I would surely be posted elsewhere and had prepared money to seek a position, who knew I would be kept at the Hanlin Academy.”
Xiang Lan said, “The Hanlin Academy is the best place. Many Grand Secretaries came from there. Though it may be more modest, it’s known as the ‘Reserve of Ministers,’ so an outside posting would be inferior.”
Song Ke was startled and asked with surprise, “How do you know all this?”
Xiang Lan also started, hesitating whether to tell Song Ke about her previous life. She bit her lip and after a long silence, the words that came to her lips became: “Have you made up your mind about us?”