Xiang Lan was unaware that Lin Jin Lou had nearly turned Jinling upside down searching for her. She was pushing open the window of her meditation room, hooking up the curtains on small silver hooks to gaze into the distance.
She saw mountains far away in the dusk, tired crows returning to their nests, and clear streams flowing through rocks. A cold wind blew past, crisp and refreshing. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as if expelling all the frustration that had built up in her chest over the days. Turning back to her writing desk, she picked up a brush and added a few touches of flowing clouds to her painting.
The “Village at Dusk” immediately came alive with color. Satisfied, Xiang Lan dated it and pressed her small stone seal with red ink in the lower right corner. After wiping her hands with the small towel on the table, she turned to look outside. This quiet and peaceful life was what she had wanted – free from the political intrigue and scheming of the mansion, without forced pleasantries or trampled dignity. It felt like a dream to her.
That day when she had stumbled out of the temple, she had begged the young monk to alert the guards. Only after seeing everyone enter the temple did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. After resting briefly, she heard sounds of fighting and saw black-clothed men fleeing the temple in panic.
Supporting herself against a tree trunk as she stood up, she thought to herself, “Lin Jin Lou’s guards are all skilled fighters – they should be able to rescue Madam and Fourth Young Miss.” Then another thought occurred to her, “Lin Jin Lou has saved me twice, and now I’ve saved his mother and sister – let’s consider these debts settled. He probably won’t let me go and will try to imprison me back in the Lin family… Perhaps… perhaps I should take this chance tonight to leave for good?”
Once this thought took hold, she couldn’t stop it. She reasoned, “There’s a small temple nearby called Lotus Nunnery. I visited there a few years ago. My Master Aunt, Abbess Ding Su, is the head there. She watched me grow up and cared for me deeply. I should go to her first and then make further plans.”
Taking advantage of the dim moonlight, she carefully made her way down the mountain. Fortunately, she had often played on this mountain in her childhood and knew the paths well. After walking for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, she finally saw the small temple. The nuns were conducting morning prayers at the time.
Abbess Ding Su was greatly surprised to see Xiang Lan and quickly led her to her quarters. Xiang Lan told Abbess Ding Su about her experiences over the past two years. The abbess felt great sympathy, repeatedly sighing and clasping her hands in prayer. She asked, “What are your plans now?”
Hearing this question, Xiang Lan immediately knelt, tears in her eyes, and said, “I’ve reached this point now, and I’m shamelessly begging Master Aunt to save me. I never want to return to the Lin family. Please hide me first – I’ll find a way to get to Yangzhou to find Master. If my parents come looking for me, please quietly tell my family. I could never fully repay Master Aunt’s great kindness even if I were ground to dust.” She kept kowtowing as she spoke.
Abbess Ding Su quickly helped her up, saying, “Hiding you isn’t difficult, but going to Yangzhou alone… Ai, a beautiful young girl traveling alone could meet who knows what trouble. If you’re kidnapped by traffickers or meet some other misfortune, that would be even more dangerous.” After thinking for a moment, she said, “How about this – there’s a wealthy local gentry surnamed Yu nearby, known for his charity and kind nature. As it happens, his daughter is being sent to marry in Yangzhou. I’ll ask him a favor, saying you’re my niece from my secular family who needs to go to Yangzhou to join relatives. You can disguise yourself as a maid and go along with them.”
Xiang Lan was overjoyed. She stayed at the Lotus Nunnery, successfully avoiding several searches by Lin’s family soldiers. Two days later, she disguised herself and hurriedly boarded a boat, traveling down the cold Grand Canal to Yangzhou. Upon reaching Yangzhou territory, Xiang Lan took out silver to thank the Yu family. When she had planned her escape, she had sewn some silver and jewelry into her monk’s robe, and when leaving Lotus Nunnery, she had secretly left some silver by Abbess Ding Su’s pillow. She still had quite a bit left. The Yu family refused to accept it and instead hired a large carriage, ordering servants to escort Xiang Lan to Xian Sheng Nunnery where Abbess Ding Yi resided.
Abbess Ding Yi showed no surprise at seeing Xiang Lan and simply kept her there, ordering her to clean a second-floor meditation room for herself to stay in. Each day, Xiang Lan joined the nuns in morning and evening bells, chanting sutras and practicing cultivation. During the day, she carried water, worked in the vegetable garden, helped in the kitchen, and in her spare time painted in her room, living a leisurely life. Chan Su, who served Abbess Ding Yi, occasionally joked with Xiang Lan, “Sister, you’ve become like a different person in such a short time. Before, though you were steady, you had a spirited and colorful nature, always laughing and talking. Now you’re much more reserved, though also more sensible.”
Xiang Lan was startled, then smiled, “We grow older year by year – how can we always act like children, running around making trouble for Master and our senior sisters?” After Chan Cheng left, Xiang Lan sat in her room staring blankly out the window. These past two years had been more bitter and desperate than when the Shen family fell from grace when her husband died during their exile and she nearly died of illness. Back then, no matter how difficult things were, she felt she had someone to live and die with her. Gritting her teeth to endure, she believed she could always fight her way to survival, carrying a weak flame in her heart, and maintaining her dignity and hope with fierce courage. She died of illness less than half a year into the exile before her proud spirit could be completely crushed underfoot.
But in this life, she was first forced to be a servant, enduring all kinds of bullying. Later, when she finally saw a glimmer of hope, she was abandoned by Song Ke. Then, to save her father, she became Lin Jin Lou’s concubine. Everyone said she was fortunate, but she knew how difficult it was to serve Lin Jin Lou, how precarious her position in the Lin household was, and the unspeakable pain in her heart. Step by step, sigh by sigh, she had been kneaded and flattened, her face ground into the dirt for others to trample, all her sharp edges worn almost completely away. Only in her heart did a single bone remain, telling her in the deep of night that she had never truly bowed her head. Looking back now, though she had walked this path with a bowed head, stumbling and bleeding, it had caused her originally somewhat proud and arrogant heart to settle, making her more understanding of life’s myriad flavors and more tolerant of others than before.
The temple’s monks and nuns also liked Xiang Lan. At first, seeing her beauty and believing she wasn’t from an ordinary family, they didn’t know why she wanted to stay in the temple and kept their distance. Later, seeing her friendliness, greeting everyone with a smile, willingness to work hard, and readiness to do any task – washing clothes in the courtyard in the dead of winter with hands frozen red, carrying water against the cold wind trip after trip, not complaining even when her shoulders were rubbed raw, doing everything in perfect order – as time passed, everyone grew fond of her. When someone curiously asked where she came from, Xiang Lan would say she was originally Abbess Ding Yi’s disciple but had worked as a maid in a wealthy household for several years, and now that she had bought her freedom, she had returned to serve her master.
Later, Xiang Lan received a letter from Abbess Ding Su saying her parents still didn’t know she was missing, as the Lin family seemed to be keeping it secret, so Abbess Ding Su hadn’t said anything either. The letter also mentioned that the Lin family had sent extremely generous New Year’s gifts, shocking Chen Wan Quan’s eyes nearly out of his head. He wanted to go to the mansion to express his gratitude but was stopped by Ji Xiang who had delivered the gifts. After his shock wore off, Chen Wan Quan became proud, boasting to everyone about his face and status, how many things the Lin family had sent him, and how well his daughter was doing in the Lin family. This attracted many people trying to curry favor, and even Magistrate Han Yao Zu, who had once beaten Chen Wan Quan, made a special visit. His son Han Guang Ye spent a fortune buying several of Xiang Lan’s paintings, praising them as unequaled in heaven or on earth, making Chen Wan Quan even more pleased with himself.
Knowing her parents were safe put Xiang Lan’s mind at ease, and she continued her peaceful daily life. Though she had some silver, she realized she couldn’t just deplete her savings. Planning to earn some money to eventually bring her parents to Yangzhou, she took her calligraphy and paintings to sell at a nearby stationery and antique shop.
Three months passed in a flash. One day, Xiang Lan carefully carried two rolled paintings to the shop, quietly entering through the back door. The shopkeeper, now familiar with her, first invited her to rest in the private room used for honored guests while he went to get money from the front. Xiang Lan had just sat down when two people entered. One wore a green gold-threaded jacket and sandalwood-colored satin skirt, with an alluring figure, cloud-like hair adorned with emerald pins, a spring-like complexion, heavy makeup, gold and silver ornaments, and six gold stirrup rings on her spring onion-like fingers. At first glance, she looked like a noble lady from some ducal mansion, with a haughty expression and wandering gaze, but her gestures betrayed a hint of courtesan air. The other was a handsome young man with a fair face and flirtatious peach blossom eyes, tall and wearing blue silk clothes, holding a folding fan – every inch the wealthy young master with his frivolous, romantic manner.
Seeing the woman, Xiang Lan was greatly shocked – this beautiful woman was none other than Chun Yan, who had been driven from the Lin household! Her eyes darted to the side, noting the unfamiliar man with his oiled hair and powdered face. Xiang Lan quickly covered her head with her nun’s hood and lowered her head as she stood to leave. Just then, an attendant came in with tea and fruit. Seeing Xiang Lan hurriedly leaving the room, he apologized with a full smile to the two, “Sorry, sorry, we didn’t know someone was in this room. Please, have some tea.” He placed the tea on the small table.
Chun Yan snorted and sat in a chair. She picked up the tea for a sip but found it too hot, frowning as she set down the cup, complaining, “I’m thirsty and tired, my throat is hoarse, and now I can’t even drink the tea.” She took a piece of flaky pastry from the plate. Earlier, she hadn’t recognized Xiang Lan – she had entered the Lin household early, while Xiang Lan had grown up in the temple, so they had rarely met. By the time Xiang Lan entered the household, Chun Yan had soon been sold off.
The handsome young man also sat down, but his eyes followed Xiang Lan’s figure until it disappeared from view, still craning his neck. Chun Yan caught this and grew angry, throwing the pastry at his face, saying acidly, “What are you looking at? What are you looking at? I ought to gouge out those wandering eyes of yours!”
The young man jumped in fright, and seeing Chun Yan’s knitted brows, smiled and said, “You’re jealous now? You entertain men all day long, but I can’t even look at someone else?” Seeing Chun Yan about to glare and curse again, he quickly apologized, “Alright, my dear, I was wrong, okay? Since you find the tea too hot, I’ll ask the attendant to bring some warm tea instead.” He picked up the tea and walked out.
As they say, there are no coincidences in this world that don’t make a story – this handsome young man was Qian Wen Ze, who had barely escaped from Lin Jin Lou’s hands that day. Knowing he had provoked death itself, he had fled Jinling like a dog-chased rabbit, taking a winding path and using various deceptions to reach Yangzhou. The matter with Zhao Yue Chan had been a scandal, and Lin Jin Lou, having gotten rid of that headache, had no interest in pursuing it further, which gave Qian Wen Ze a chance at survival. He had hidden for a while at first, then gradually became bolder when he saw no one was looking for him.
Qian Wen Ze had always been accustomed to mixing in the markets and streets. Here, under a new name, he returned to his old trade in Yangzhou city. Once he had money, he naturally indulged in wine, women, gambling, and entertainment. Having experienced someone of Zhao Yue Chan’s exceptional beauty, he couldn’t settle for ordinary women. He spent fortunes at Yi Cui Tower, asking for the popular Yan Er to sing. Shortly after, Chun Yan came carrying her zither. Seeing such a handsome young master as Qian Wen Ze, Chun Yan was also delighted. They exchanged flirtatious glances, and that night they consummated their relationship. In bed, Qian Wen Ze asked about Chun Yan’s background, and she claimed she was a maid from a wealthy Jinling family who had been sold to the brothel after angering her masters, though she refused to say which family in Jinling.
Privately comparing, Qian Wen Ze couldn’t afford the more famous beauties than Chun Yan and looked down on those less attractive. Among courtesans of her rank, Chun Yan was at the top, so he frequently visited Yi Cui Tower. When flush with money, he would keep Chun Yan for a month or two, earnestly promising to save money to buy her freedom. After two years of this, Chun Yan believed she had hope and became completely devoted to him. In private, they lived like husband and wife.
Today, Qian Wen Ze and others had invited some gentry’s sons to drink and had brought Chun Yan to sing and entertain. On their way back, Chun Yan said the painting hanging in her room had been torn by a drunk customer, and she wanted to buy another one. She came to choose one herself, arriving at this shop. Seeing Chun Yan arrive in a small silk-curtained sedan chair and Qian Wen Ze dressed elegantly, the attendant thought they must be from some wealthy family and naturally didn’t dare slight them, so he led them to the private room, unexpectedly encountering Xiang Lan.
Qian Wen Ze walked outside with the teacup and saw the shopkeeper slip a small money pouch into Xiang Lan’s hand. Xiang Lan curtsied in thanks and turned to leave, though her face couldn’t be seen clearly because of the nun’s hood. Qian Wen Ze quickly stepped forward and asked the shopkeeper, “Who was that girl who just left? I found a handkerchief, it might be hers.” He indeed pulled out an embroidered peach blossom handkerchief from his sleeve.
The shopkeeper looked at it and smiled, “This certainly isn’t hers. She’s a novice nun from Xian Sheng Nunnery who keeps her hair. She only uses coarse cloth, not such fine things. She wears plain clothes, and even her hairpin is wooden.”
Qian Wen Ze put the handkerchief away while saying, “A nun? Tsk tsk, what a waste – she’s quite beautiful. What was she doing at this shop?”
The shopkeeper replied, “Some masters at the nunnery paint in their spare time and send her to sell the paintings here.” As he spoke, he picked up a painting from the counter and slowly unrolled it.