“No one has ever tied an auspicious knot for me before.” Jiang Changyi’s face was red, his expression earnest. But Bai Xiang detected a hint of bitterness in his words, and her heart unexpectedly softened. Her throat went dry as she looked up at Jiang Changyi and smiled, “Your future is bright. Soon, many people will be tying knots for you. When your wife arrives, you’ll become more and more…”
“Don’t mention that,” Jiang Changyi interrupted with a bitter smile. “She’s from a noble family. How could I be worthy of her?”
His young, handsome face looked so sorrowful that Bai Xiang’s maternal instincts surged. Feeling pity for him, she consoled him, “You’re a young master of the Duke’s household. You’ve already become an official at such a young age. You’re a talented youth…”
Jiang Changyi looked up at the sky, his expression neither happy nor sad, and said quietly, “She calls me a grey rabbit. She says it’s her great misfortune to be paired with me. If only I could… I don’t want to make her unhappy…” He trailed off, sighed, shook his head slightly, and turned to leave with heavy steps. After about ten paces, he stopped under a crape myrtle tree in full bloom and turned back to Bai Xiang with a sincere smile. “Bai Xiang, you’re a good person. Thank you, truly.” A gentle breeze blew, scattering a few crape myrtle petals onto his shoulders. The slender young man looked even more fragile, yet so handsome.
Long after Jiang Changyi had gone, Bai Xiang still stood staring at the crape myrtle tree. The sky was blue and vast, the wind gentle and soft, the flowers on the branches in full bloom. Yet she was no longer young, her future still uncertain.
“Sister Bai Xiang, Sister Bai Xiang!” A young maid with hair in double buns came running, skipping as she approached. She handed Bai Xiang a small white jade-like porcelain bottle. “You dropped this.”
Before Bai Xiang could say she hadn’t dropped anything, the little maid had run off. She opened the bottle, and a faint, fresh fragrance wafted out. She sniffed it closely and recognized it as an expensive ointment for bruises. She looked at the bottle for a moment, then smiled slightly and tucked it away preciously, reluctant to use it. She knew it must be from Jiang Changyi. What a considerate and kind person he was.
A crape myrtle flower quietly bloomed in Bai Xiang’s heart.
Jiang Changyi watched her secretly from afar, filled with excitement. A weed called ambition struggled and grew wildly in his heart. He couldn’t control it, nor did he want to.
After crying and making a scene, the Old Madam finally calmed down and fell asleep under the effects of medicine. Jiang Zhong tiredly rubbed his forehead, too exhausted to move. Madam Du leaned against the window, silent for a long time before saying softly, “I heard that Fang Bohui is particularly close to a Tibetan king. He also loves to drink all night with Turkic and various city-state nobles. He’s quite daring.”
Jiang Zhong started, glaring at her. “Don’t spread baseless rumors!” He then got up and left, his sleeves swishing.
Madam Du watched his retreating figure expressionlessly. She knew clearly that the person Jiang Zhong hated most now wasn’t Wang Ayou or Jiang Changyang, but Fang Bohui. Those private matters greatly embarrassed Jiang Zhong, yet he couldn’t show it openly or even mention it. If he wanted to take revenge on Fang Bohui and remove Jiang Changyang’s support, he’d have to find another way. Whether Jiang Zhong would act or not, she only knew that the Old Madam’s illness should worsen, and the Censorate seemed quite idle. They couldn’t just collect salaries for nothing; they needed some action.
Mudan prepared to make her first meal as a new bride. She finely chopped fresh lamb, shrimp, and winter bamboo shoots and mixed them with egg whites, sesame oil, and salt for the filling, ready to make fresh dumplings. Jiang Changyang was curious about her culinary skills. He coaxed Madam Wang and Fang Bohui to play with Shuaishuai while he snuck into the kitchen to see what Mudan was doing, worried she might mess up this meal.
Seeing him peeking in, Mudan pointed proudly at the dozens of white dumplings on the bamboo tray and boasted, “Fresh ones, very delicious.”
“I wondered what you were making. So it’s crescent-shaped wontons. They’re wrapped quite neatly,” Jiang Changyang said, pinching a dumpling and looking at the filling. “I’ve never seen this kind of filling before.”
Mudan happily shook her head. “Of course you haven’t.”
“It must be very tasty.” Jiang Changyang, like a child, stayed by her side, not leaving. He pulled off a piece of dough and kneaded it in his hand. “Make more. I can eat four or five bowls, and Father can eat four bowls too.”
Publicly demonstrating knife skills and slicing fish was one thing, but for a grown man to linger in the kitchen watching his wife and playing with dough, how would that look to the servants? No matter how much he loved being with his wife, this wasn’t appropriate. Mama Lin strongly disapproved and tried to tactfully shoo Jiang Changyang away. “Young Master, don’t you have other matters to attend to? It’s dusty in here, and the smoke is quite irritating.”
Jiang Changyang pretended not to understand. “I don’t have much to do these days, and I’m not so delicate. I’m not afraid of dust and smoke.”
Helpless, Mama Lin had to turn to Mudan and say softly, “People will laugh if they see a grown man hanging around the kitchen, always by his wife’s side.”
Although she didn’t agree, this was the way of the world, and she had to consider his reputation. Mudan found something for Jiang Changyang to do. “Go keep Mother company. Didn’t you say they’re returning to Kucha in two months? And there’s Maya’s matter to handle. You need to act quickly; we can’t go back on our word. If the timing is right, she could return with Mother.”
Jiang Changyang smiled and didn’t insist further. He washed his hands and obediently went outside. Mama Lin smiled, “What a good man. Danniang, your suffering has finally paid off.”
Mudan laughed, “People will say I’ve jumped from a chaff basket into a rice basket. I just heard Madam say that in a few days, the Princess of Fen wants to rent my garden for a banquet. There will be many guests, and I’m sure many will say such things. But I don’t mind.”
Mama Lin frowned at her. “Rent the garden? Danniang, you still plan to charge money?”
Mudan shook her head. “The Princess of Fen isn’t just anyone. Of course, I won’t charge her.” Even when the Princess of Fen first led the way in renting Fang Garden, Mudan accepted her kindness and money but later sent her a rare brocade as a thank-you gift. In the end, everyone was happy and felt appreciated.
But Mama Lin had a different view. “What about others?”
“That depends on who it is. After all, I built this garden to make money…” Before Mudan could finish, Mama Lin objected, “You’re not who you used to be. If you still use this garden to make money, what will people think of you? Of the Young Master? If someone wants to use the garden for entertainment, just lend it to them.”
Married to an official, would it be shameful for her to do business? Not only would it shame her, but also Jiang Changyang. Mudan felt a lump in her throat and frowned. “So you’re saying all my hard work over the past year and more has been for nothing? Should I just give away my prized peonies to whoever asks? Is it shameful to charge money? Even if I don’t rely on this for income, Craftsman Zheng and many others still depend on it to earn extra money for their families.”
“Selling peonies is different,” Mama Lin said, softening her tone when she saw Mudan’s displeasure. She spoke earnestly, “Danniang, it’s not like that. You need to think of the Young Master. You can’t let people gossip about him, can you?”
Mudan sighed. “Mama, you know very well that everyone in the capital does some business. Not to mention the estates, many shops are owned by princesses and princes. No one who buys things says they’re borrowing, or that they’re too embarrassed to charge money for fear of gossip. Even the Young Master, his salary alone isn’t enough for the gifts he gives his friends.”
Mama Lin urgently replied, “That’s different! Their backgrounds are different from yours, to begin with. No one can criticize them! Besides, they don’t do it openly, unlike you. Everyone knows it’s yours, and you’re using it to make money… Think about it, renting your garden for a banquet should be an elegant affair, but you…”
Elegant? How could one be elegant without money? Although Jiang Changyang was generous with rewards, many gold and silver items couldn’t be sold. Even when he tried to help Yuan Shijiu, he had to pool money with several friends; he couldn’t produce so much cash at once. Even Madam Wang still took advantage of her trips between Kucha and the capital to sell rare goods. Mama Lin had never mentioned these things before; where did this sudden idea come from? Mudan looked at Mama Lin seriously. “I haven’t forgotten my origins, but I don’t feel inferior in any way. I can’t pretend to be something I’m not. I’ll make my own decision on this matter. Please don’t interfere anymore.”
Mama Lin saw that although Mudan spoke thus, her expression was indifferent. She knew Mudan hadn’t really taken her words to heart and wanted to say more, but Yuhe gently tugged at her sleeve, signaling that she shouldn’t continue or Mudan might lose her temper.
Mama Lin pressed her lips together and said no more. She was also angry. She was wholeheartedly looking out for Mudan, wanting the best for her, but Mudan wouldn’t listen and told her not to interfere. Mudan had grown up, and she was old now, useless. Thinking of this, she felt sad.
The atmosphere in the kitchen became tense. Mudan wrapped a few dozen more dumplings with her head down. Seeing Mama Lin wiping her eyes in the corner, she softened. After some thought, she went to lift the pot lid, ready to cook the dumplings. As the dumplings cheerfully entered the pot, she suddenly cried out, “Ouch! I’m scalded!”
Yuhe hurried over to look. Mudan glanced secretly at Mama Lin and continued, “It hurts!” Mama Lin wiped away her tears and quickly came over, grabbing her hand. Seeing a small red spot, she called for goose fat to apply and said, “If you don’t know how, don’t meddle. Look what’s happened now.”
Mudan took the opportunity to grasp her hand and said softly, “Mama, I know you mean well, but we must be practical. Don’t be angry. I’ll consider it carefully and discuss it thoroughly with the Young Master to find the best solution.” Seeing Mama Lin’s expression soften, she asked, “How did you suddenly come up with this idea, Mama?”