Zheng Baichuan said with a stern face, "The imperial examinations serve to select talents for the Son of Heaven—a matter of grave national importance. Especially in our dynasty, the rigor of examination discipline is unprecedented. Do not speak such foolish words!"
Zheng Jingxian was instantly left in an awkward position. Song Ke interjected, "The venerable Duke is absolutely right. Though I am untalented, I still wish to rely on genuine ability and learning to take the exam. Your daughter is intelligent—how could she not understand the seriousness of this matter? Her earlier remarks were merely lighthearted jest." With a faint smile and amiable demeanor, his words deftly eased the tension in the room.
Zheng Baichuan nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "Song Fang was a gentle scholar in his lifetime, and now his son carries on his legacy. So young, yet he already knows how to read situations and speak tactfully. Though he currently lacks foundation, if he proves promising, I might as well offer some guidance—cultivating connections is never a bad thing." His attitude warmed noticeably as he smiled and asked, "The autumn examinations are approaching. You must have thoroughly mastered the Four Books and Five Classics by now?"
Song Ke replied modestly, "I wouldn’t dare claim thorough mastery, but I have long pondered the sages’ teachings."
Zheng Baichuan pressed, "Share some of your insights."
Song Ke elaborated, "Since ancient times, mere rote learning has never sufficed. Without grasping the essence, it remains empty theorizing—even decades of diligent study would prove futile. The key lies in enlightenment. Take the Doctrine of the Mean—one must engage heart, mind, and soul to verify, experience, and comprehend it. Logical analysis alone falls short. Once true understanding dawns, logic naturally follows. In my youth, I often struggled with texts due to limited life experience and shallow perception. Only through worldly wisdom and profound self-awareness does the Way reveal itself."
As Song Ke spoke eloquently, Zheng Baichuan stroked his beard with a faint smile. He posed several more questions, all of which Song Ke answered fluently. Zheng Jingxian stood quietly serving tea, ignoring her father’s repeated subtle gestures for her to withdraw. Watching Song Ke discuss scholarship with such grace, she felt increasingly captivated, rooted to the spot as if her feet had grown anchors.
Zheng Baichuan sighed inwardly but let her be, resolving to discuss his daughter’s upbringing with Wei Shi later. He decided to engage a palace matron upon returning to the capital to properly instruct her in etiquette.
Impressed by Song Ke’s erudition and eloquence, Zheng Baichuan shifted the conversation: "It has been over a decade since I last visited my hometown. This return stirs nostalgia, yet I find myself 'gray at the temples though my accent remains unchanged.'"
Song Ke responded warmly, "The venerable Duke is in his prime—why speak of age? Jiangnan is a land of prosperity, its splendor distinct from the capital’s. Where the heart settles becomes home. I’ve recently acquired some properties here—a few shops, some even more profitable than those in the capital."
Zheng Jingxian chimed in, "Cousin Tan mentioned you’ve been working tirelessly—both studying and managing household affairs. Should you encounter difficulties, do not hesitate to seek our aid. As old family friends, we’re glad to assist."
Though well-intentioned, her words displeased both Zheng Baichuan and Song Ke. The former thought, "The Song clan may be prominent, but it was Song Fang who once relied on Duke Xian’s household. How does that constitute 'old family ties'?" The latter reflected, "Before Duke Xian’s rise, our Song family never depended on anyone and lived peacefully. Though Miss Zheng means well, her implication that I should seek Duke Xian’s patronage needlessly undermines my dignity."Yet her face betrayed nothing, merely maintaining a faint smile. Zheng Baichuan picked up his teacup in a gesture of dismissal, and Song Ke rose to take his leave.
Once Song Ke had departed, Zheng Jingxian immediately pestered her father, asking, "Father, what do you think of him?"
Zheng Baichuan shot her a stern look. "You were the one who couldn't stop talking earlier!"
Zheng Jingxian frowned. "Who told you to treat him so coldly?" She persisted in questioning her father about his opinion of Song Ke, praising his learning, capability, and amiable nature, insisting that she saw him as a responsible man, and so on.
Though Zheng Baichuan thought Song Ke was decent, he considered the Song family's financial standing too meager and thus had no intention of humoring his daughter. Yet, unable to endure her incessant chatter, he evasively replied, "Let's wait until he achieves success in the imperial examinations."
Zheng Jingxian frowned again. She was clever enough to perceive her father's dissatisfaction with Song Ke and was aware that Song Ke's current courtesy toward her was merely perfunctory. Secretly, she thought, "Since childhood, Father has never refused any of my requests. I'll just wear him down gradually. As for Song Ke... I must make him see me in a new light. The Song family may be in decline now, but once he passes the exams, I'll insist that Father secure him a promising official post. That way, he'll understand the benefits of marrying a woman like me. Even if he feels indebted to me, he can't remain so lukewarm!"
Meanwhile, after leaving the Zheng ancestral residence, Song Ke took a deep breath in the autumn breeze. Duke Xian had earned his title through military achievements, though initially of low rank, and later gained imperial favor by supporting the Eighth Prince in a critical endeavor. Song Ke had never liked Zheng Baichuan as a person. In the past, their families had been on good terms with the Duke Xian's household, sharing a cordial relationship. However, after his father's death, while many friends came to offer condolences and assistance, the Duke's family merely sent perfunctory funeral gifts. On the day of the burial, they only dispatched a lesser-born son, and thereafter, all contact ceased. When Song Ke sought to establish his own branch of the family, he faced covetous relatives vying to seize his family's assets. He had submitted requests for help to Duke Xian, but after several fruitless visits, he was consistently turned away by the gatekeepers with the excuse, "The master is occupied with court affairs and has not returned home."
His visit today, though prompted by Zheng Jingxian's insistence, was also driven by a desire not to be looked down upon by Zheng Baichuan—to show that the son of an old friend once shut out was now living respectably and would never again have to humble himself to seek favors. Yet, unexpectedly, Zheng Jingxian had repeatedly complicated matters with her interference.
He had discerned Zheng Jingxian's youthful infatuation. Were she not the daughter of Zheng Baichuan and of noble birth, he might have weighed the prospects carefully... He had once been fond of the Lin family's Second Miss, Lin Dongqi, and had even hinted as much to his sister, Song Tanchai. However, Qin Shi, being astute, had other plans in mind. After an ambiguous exchange, the matter was quietly dropped. Moreover, nowadays, he suddenly found Chen Xianglan by his side...
Xianglan reminded him of his deceased wife from a previous life, Shen Shi, evoking a deep sense of familiarity within him. In that former life, he and his wife had respected each other profoundly. Though their time together was brief due to exile and hardship, their bond was unforgettable. He had originally admired his cousin, but Shen Shi secretly saved her own rations to feed him, sold all her jewelry to seek medicine and care for his family, filling his heart with gratitude and an indescribable tenderness. Over time, his cousin became a vague memory. Now, upon meeting Xianglan, he felt a compelling urge to compensate her with all the affection he had owed Shen Shi.He had thought that in the future, he would release Xianglan from her servitude and elevate her to the position of a high-ranking concubine, so they could be together, accompanying each other for a long, long life. Who would have thought Xianglan would be unwilling? During these days, when he grew frustrated, he sometimes thought, "Why not just let go?" But the moment this thought arose, it felt as if a sharp knife were stabbing his heart over and over, making him unbearably sad. At other times, he would grow fierce: "I’ll just keep her firmly in my grasp—what can she do even if she doesn’t want to be a concubine?" But thinking of Xianglan’s inherently fiery nature extinguished this idea, and besides, he truly did not want to make her sad.
And today, with the matter of Zheng Jingxian, Song Ke suddenly felt a sense of clarity—in his previous life, when he married Shen Shi, he had secretly caught a glimpse of her from behind a screen and felt she was dignified, elegant, and carried the grace of a noble family, which was why he consented. After marriage, Shen Shi indeed proved to be gentle, considerate, steady, and magnanimous, so he felt that marrying a noble lady brought immense benefits. But what if it were Zheng Jingxian? Song Ke shook his head slightly.
Unconsciously, he rode his horse to the back street of the Song residence again, stopping in front of the Chen Family’s door, and looked up at the window. Remembering how a scholar had stood below the building yesterday, secretly peeping into Xianglan’s boudoir, Song Ke’s heart burned with anger. He hadn’t slept well all night, and today he was determined to question Xianglan properly.
Just as he was about to dismount, the door creaked open, and Xue Shi stepped out carrying a bamboo basket. Seeing Song Ke, she froze as if a living dragon had descended from the sky, hurriedly inviting him inside: "Eldest Master Song, please come in! Please come in!" As she entered, she called upstairs: "Xianglan! Eldest Master Song is here!" With a beaming smile, she said to Song Ke, "Eldest Master Song, please sit inside. The house is messy and hardly fit for a distinguished guest."
Song Ke dismounted and handed the reins to Shimu. Suddenly, he remembered he had come to Xianglan’s home empty-handed without any gifts. Shimu guessed his thoughts and whispered, "There’s a package of pastries in the saddlebag, originally prepared in case you got hungry on the way."
Song Ke chuckled softly, "You clever monkey, I’ll reward you when we return." He then carried the pastries inside.
Meanwhile, Xue Shi was already bustling about, swiftly wiping the tables and chairs with a cloth and rearranging the fruit platter. Song Ke smiled and said, "Aunt Xue, there’s no need to trouble yourself. I came on business and thought I’d drop by to see Xianglan." As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the staircase.
Xue Shi replied with an apologetic smile, "Yes, I was just saying she ought to return to the residence for her duties." She then hurried to the back to boil water and make tea.
Just then, footsteps were heard, and Xianglan descended gracefully. Her hair was styled in a tilted chignon, adorned with two or three jadeite hairpins. She wore a Suzhou-style jacket embroidered with white plum blossoms over a crimson jacket and skirt, and a sweat towel, her slender waist so delicate it seemed it could be held in one hand. Her expression was serene as she bowed to Song Ke and said, "I wish you peace and prosperity, Eldest Master."
Song Ke felt that in just two or three days, Xianglan seemed to have grown more distant from him, and his heart soured. The words that burst out were: "Today, I’ve come to take you back." Immediately, he regretted it—he was still hesitant and uncertain; how could he explain bringing her back like this? Yet his heart was uneasy, as if if he didn’t keep her by his side, Xianglan would slip away from him.
Xianglan looked at Song Ke quietly for a moment and said softly, "Have you thought it through?"
Song Ke smiled bitterly, as if unable to meet her gaze, and shook his head. "Not yet."
Xianglan said, "Then why have you come..."Song Ke stared fixedly at Xianglan and said, "I can't bear it anymore!"
Xianglan was taken aback.
Song Ke continued, "I can't endure this any longer. These past two days, I haven't been able to focus on my studies, nor sleep peacefully. I keep wondering what you're doing and whether you've been thinking of me in your heart. As for what you mentioned... I haven't figured it out yet, but if I'm not allowed to see you, I feel like I'm going to go mad."
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