As for Xianglan, she worried about Song Ke every day, yet was helpless to assist, making her extremely concerned. However, she couldn’t frequently visit the Song family. Fortunately, Yuexi had already married and occasionally shared news with her. Upon learning that Song Ke’s matter had been resolved, Xianglan repeatedly clasped her hands and chanted Buddha’s name, thinking to herself, “The divination slips at Still Moon Temple are truly accurate. Hasn’t Song Ke’s misfortune turned to joy?” Noticing Yuexi hesitating and stammering, she asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something still unresolved? Is the Wu family causing trouble again?”
Yuexi forced a smile and said, “How would the Wu family dare to make more trouble? Wu Liang’s leg was broken by those twenty strokes—he’s too busy crying to cause any more fuss.” She cautiously watched Xianglan’s expression and added, “Actually… the young lady from Duke Xian’s household is quite easy to get along with—straightforward and adorable, without any malicious intent…” Realizing she had spoken out of turn, she quickly stood up and said, “I’ve been out for so long; I should head back. I’ll come talk with you another time.” With that, she took her leave.
Xianglan found it odd that Yuexi had inexplicably praised Zheng Jingxian, but upon reflection, remembering that Zheng Baichuan had worked tirelessly to resolve Song Ke’s affair, her heart sank as she began to understand. Unable to sit still, she paced around her room, then immediately retrieved a set of clothes from the cabinet, changed into them, placed a conical hat on her head, and hurried out, catching a ride on a neighbor’s carriage.
She soon arrived at the Song residence. The gatekeeper, Old Man Wang, assumed Xianglan had come to see Song Tanchai and, without announcing her, simply opened the gate to let her in, saying, “Noble guests have just arrived today. Please wait in the side room for now, miss.”
Xianglan glanced into the central courtyard and indeed saw two sedan chairs parked there, both made of blue silk with tassels hanging from their tops. She thought to herself, “Since there are guests in the inner courtyard, I won’t go there first. I’ll head straight to find Song Ke.” She bypassed the screen wall and went directly toward the front study. After just a few steps, she spotted a woman emerging from the inner gate, walking briskly toward the study courtyard. From behind, she appeared slender with slightly broad shoulders, dressed in a peach-red jacket with gold embroidery and a soft pink skirt. Her hair was styled high, adorned with pearls and jewels, clearly the attire of a respectable young lady.
Xianglan paused, slowing her steps. The woman entered the courtyard, hesitated in front of the study, then pushed the door and went in. Hiding behind the moon gate, Xianglan saw clearly—it was Zheng Jingxian. Her heart sank further as she tiptoed to the window to eavesdrop quietly.
At that moment, Song Ke was in his room, staring blankly at Xianglan’s old silver hairpin. Startled by the sound of the door opening, he looked up to see Zheng Jingxian walking in with a smile. He rose quickly, frowning, and said, “Why have you come, Miss Zheng?”
Zheng Jingxian glanced around, then sat down boldly in a chair, smiling as she replied, “Strange, why shouldn’t I come?”
Song Ke frowned and said, “This is highly improper!”
Zheng Jingxian’s heart raced at the sight of Song Ke, but she feigned nonchalance, saying, “All those rules and etiquette are so tiresome! They’re just ridiculous nonsense made up by vulgar people. Since you and I are about to be engaged, why bother with such rigid conventions?”
Song Ke’s frown deepened as he responded, “Even so, a man and a woman alone together is inappropriate. It could harm both our reputations if word gets out. If you refuse to leave, Miss Zheng, I will step out to avoid any impropriety.” With that, he turned to leave.Zheng Jingxian quickly stopped him, saying, "Ah, ah, ah, don't go, don't go! I have something extremely important to tell you!"
Song Ke halted his steps, his face dark as he looked at her. Zheng Jingxian felt displeased. Having been raised in luxury, she had always been given whatever she desired since childhood—no one dared to show her a sour face. Yet this Song Ke, whose family her own had helped so greatly, ought to have treated her gently. Instead, she had come eagerly only to be met with cold indifference. Just as she was about to lose her temper, her eyes fell upon Song Ke's handsome features—his brows, eyes, nose, and lips—and her anger gradually subsided. Softening her stance, she said, "Look at you. I've managed to steal a moment to see you, and you don't even offer me a cup of tea. Is this any way to treat a guest?"
Song Ke, already impatient, restrained himself and said, "What matter brings you here, Miss Zheng?"
Zheng Jingxian replied, "I came to tell you that when you come to propose tomorrow, remember to ask Lord Wu, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, to act as matchmaker. He is a good friend of my father's and will surely agree. That way, my father will be honored and will treat you even better."
Song Ke lowered his eyelids and said, "I understand."
The room fell silent for a moment. Zheng Jingxian was gazing intently at Song Ke when she heard him say, "Why trouble yourself to come and tell me such a matter in person?" You could have informed my mother and sister. Now that I am aware, please return, Miss Zheng."
Zheng Jingxian had not expected Song Ke to be so unromantic. Reluctantly, she stood up. These past days, she had missed Song Ke terribly. Sometimes, waking from dreams at midnight, she would think about actually marrying the one she loved and feel as if it were all a dream. Today, she had eagerly seized an excuse to slip out and see him, imagining that their meeting would at least carry some of the shy, sweet affection described in storybooks, if not the full tenderness. She never anticipated that Song Ke would treat her with such cold detachment.
As she reached the door, she suddenly recalled that very study, where a maid named Xianglan had been bullied by the Lin family sisters, and how Song Ke had shown her endless care and consideration, his eyes brimming with affection like apricot blossoms blooming abundantly in a spring garden, impossible to conceal. Zheng Jingxian's heart tightened. That scene had become a thorn in her side. She had once confided in her mother about it, and Wei Shi had advised, "She's just a maid. If she offends your sight, you can send her away later. You are beautiful, from a good family, and can assist him in his career. That girl merely has some looks to please gentlemen. He should know what is important. Once you are married and have children, in a year or so, Song Ke will forget her." Comforted by her mother's reasoning, Zheng Jingxian had set the matter aside. But now, seeing Song Ke's cold demeanor toward her, the memory surged back. Abruptly, she stopped, turned around, and said, "That maid named Xianglan—you are not to take her as your concubine in the future!"
Song Ke sharply lifted his head, glanced at Zheng Jingxian, then turned away. At the mention of Xianglan's name, his heart felt as if pierced by ten thousand silver needles—guilt, pain, and helplessness all rushed over him at once. Though he knew this matter had nothing to do with Zheng Jingxian, her bringing up Xianglan and commanding him "not to" stirred an uncontrollable disgust within him. He said flatly, "Please leave, Miss Zheng."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Zheng Jingxian regretted them. She wanted to say something to smooth things over, but seeing Song Ke's turned back, she could only bite her lip and depart reluctantly.Xianglan emerged from behind the house only after Zheng Jingxian had left the courtyard. The moment she heard Zheng Jingxian utter the words "you and I are about to be engaged," it felt like a thunderclap had exploded in her ears. She nearly lost her balance, reaching out to steady herself against the cold wall as the world seemed to spin around her. Though she had vaguely sensed this outcome before, hearing those words now sent a chill through her entire body, leaving her trembling uncontrollably. She didn't register anything else the two inside the room said afterward, merely staring blankly at the lush, shadowy flowers and trees in the courtyard and the row of orchids swaying gently in the breeze beneath the eaves.
Like a walking corpse, she slowly made her way toward the courtyard gate, her face ashen. The sound of a door opening behind her broke the silence, and Song Ke stepped out. Spotting her ghostly figure in the garden, he froze for a moment before hurrying down the steps. He grabbed her arm and called out, "Xianglan..." but his voice caught in his throat, and he could say no more.
Xianglan turned her head to look at him with a dazed expression, like a lost child, devoid of any emotion. Seeing her lifeless eyes and pale face, Song Ke knew she had found out. His heart ached unbearably, and with tears in his eyes, he whispered, "Xianglan, Xianglan, say something... It's my fault, I've failed you... Hit me, curse me, do anything!"
Xianglan shook her head, pulled her arm free, and continued walking forward. Song Ke grabbed her again, wanting to explain that he had no choice, to describe his torment and dilemma, to tell her how he had gotten drunk the night he made his decision, clinging to Lin Jinting and sobbing while calling out her name. Even though his affairs were now settled, his heart remained joyless... But he couldn't utter a word. The shame and pain were so intense he wished he could slap himself or hand Xianglan a knife to stab him and be done with it.
"I understand, I know..." Xianglan spoke, her face wooden, her voice as faint as a wisp of dust. "Your success is all thanks to Duke Xian's support, and Miss Zheng holds affection for you. With such a powerful in-law family, your official career will surely flourish from now on..."
Song Ke's eyes reddened. "Xianglan..."
"I was born a servant, and even my family's emancipation relied entirely on your help. To aspire to be your lawful wife was nothing but a delusion and an overreach. I could never repay your kindness, so you needn't feel guilty toward me. Now that you have found a fine and virtuous match, I can only... only be happy for you."
Song Ke wanted to beg her to stop. The more reasonable and magnanimous she was, the more it tore his heart apart. Pleading, he said, "Can we... can we not be together forever in the future? Even without the title of wife, I swear on my life that I will treat you well forever. If you don't believe me, I can give you half of the Song family's land..."
Xianglan suddenly let out a soft laugh, cutting him off. She lifted her face to gaze at the faint clouds in the sky, her voice drifting. "In all my life, even if I've been trampled into the dust, battered and bruised, or lost my life, I cannot change one untimely flaw in my nature—call it pride if you will, or plain arrogance if you prefer. To become a concubine is absolutely impossible! Besides, if you gave me the Song family's property, what would your mother and sister think? And how would Miss Zheng feel about it?"She suddenly turned her head, her gaze burning as she looked at Song Ke: "Let me ask you, if I become a concubine and refuse to serve the legal wife like a servant—bowing to her rules, serving tea and water—what then? If I bear children and insist they call only me 'Mother,' refusing to acknowledge the legal wife as their mother, what then? If in the future your wife despises me and wants to drive me out or sell me off, what then? Fine, even if you indulge me in everything and yield to my wishes, what if the Zheng family uses their influence to force you to dispose of me? What could you do? Even if the Zheng family remains silent, what if the Censor and other officials impeach you for 'Favorite Concubine Usurping the Wife'? What then?"
This rapid barrage of questions left Song Ke momentarily stunned.
Xianglan reached out, prying open Song Ke’s fingers one by one as he gripped her arm, and said slowly, "These past ten-plus years, I’ve had my fill of being a servant. I never want to live even half a day as a female servant again—the bitterness is too deep, the torment too unbearable." She pulled her hand free from his grasp, her bright eyes fixed directly on Song Ke’s: "May you and Miss Zheng share a harmonious union for a hundred years."
Song Ke felt a chill run through his entire body, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, Xianglan had already turned a corner and vanished from sight. Only a white orchid remained, caught by the wind and twirling midair before settling into the mud, like a long, sorrowful sigh.
(Note: The final paragraph appears to be the author’s personal note and is not part of the novel’s narrative. It has been omitted from the translation as it is unrelated to the story content.)
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