When Xianglan returned, Junxi and Yuexi were already asleep. She quietly adjusted the candle to make it brighter, picked up her needlework, and after working for a while, went to bed. She tossed and turned until midnight before finally falling asleep. The next morning, she went in with the maids to serve hot water. Song Ke was already dressed. Yuexi went to fold the bedding while Junxi opened the windows. Song Ke cupped water to wash his face, brushed his teeth with green salt, and took a sip of warm tea. Noticing the dark circles under Xianglan’s eyes, he asked, "You look tired. Did you not sleep well last night?"
Xianglan smiled faintly. "It was just some insects crawling in through the gauze window—a bit annoying, that’s all."
Song Ke quickly said, "I remember we still have some insect-repelling incense at home. Tomorrow night, light a pellet in the censer."
Xianglan nodded in agreement. Soon after, Junxi brought breakfast, and Song Ke invited Xianglan to eat with him again. After a few spoonfuls of porridge, Xianglan glanced at Song Ke’s expression and cautiously said, "There’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I wanted to bring it up, but I was afraid it might be inappropriate."
Song Ke set down his chopsticks. "Just say it."
Xianglan said, "A while ago, Madam Zhao beat me severely and sold me off. Thinking back on it still feels like a nightmare. It’s my bad luck—as a servant, I naturally have no freedom or say in anything. Everything depends on the master’s mood. If I weren’t a servant..."
Before she could finish, Song Ke frowned and said, "Don’t worry. Nothing like that will ever happen again. As long as you stay by my side, no one can mistreat you."
Xianglan’s heart sank. From his tone, it seemed Song Ke had no intention of releasing her from servitude. Quick-witted as she was, she shook her head and said, "It’s not about me. But if my parents were to suffer because of me, I’d never forgive myself even if I were torn to pieces. So I’ve been thinking hard about this, and today I’m shamelessly asking you—my family has some savings, and I’d like to redeem my parents’ freedom."
Halfway through her words, Song Ke already understood her intention. His heart had been in his throat, fearing she would ask to redeem herself—something he absolutely could not allow. To him, Xianglan was like a wisp of faint smoke, sometimes close, sometimes distant. He wanted to grasp her, but she slipped through his fingers. If he let her go now, he might never catch even a trace of her again. Hearing that she only wanted to free her parents, he relaxed. He had already considered releasing Xianglan’s parents and supporting them, so that when Xianglan stayed with him, her family would be of commoner status—a more respectable background.
After a moment’s thought, he asked, "If your parents are freed, how will they make a living?"
Xianglan’s eyes brightened at this, sensing success. She hurriedly said, "My father could work as a manager in an antique shop or a pawnshop. My mother can do some needlework—they’ll manage somehow."
Seeing her sparkling eyes, eager expression, and slight nervousness, Song Ke found her utterly charming and couldn’t help smiling. He picked up a bite of fresh greens for her and said gently, "Freeing your parents isn’t difficult. Between us, why use the word 'beg'?"
Xianglan’s eyes widened in delight. "How much silver would it take?"
Song Ke laughed. "Originally, your parents were brought here by Xiu Hong from First Madam Lin. It didn’t cost much—he gave them to me as a favor. I can release them anytime."Xianglan was overjoyed, feeling as if her heart had suddenly brightened. She was so happy she couldn’t speak, only listening as Song Ke continued, “Since your father has the skill to appraise antiques, after being freed from servitude, he could work at my family’s pawnshop. The shop’s manager is seriously ill and retiring, so we’re in need of someone. The annual salary is fifty taels of silver, with additional rewards during festivals—it’s a good opportunity.”
Xianglan was taken aback. Her intention in freeing her parents from servitude was to no longer rely on the Song family. Yet now, with Song Ke offering such generous terms, she hesitated. Then she reconsidered: “My father earns his living by his own abilities. Why should I be narrow-minded and stubbornly cling to principles? Besides, our family savings aren’t enough to start a decent business. It’s better to take this opportunity at the Song family’s pawnshop and plan for the future later.” She rose to kneel and bow, saying, “Master’s great kindness is something I could never repay, even if I were to knot grass or hold a ring in my mouth.”
Song Ke quickly supported her arm, delighted to see Xianglan’s smile. “There’s no need for such formalities between us,” he said. “Today, I’ll have the steward go to the magistrate’s office to process the manumission documents.”
Xianglan nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with gratitude.
Song Ke laughed again, his heart feeling as if it were filled with honey. He piled several kinds of pastries and dishes into Xianglan’s bowl and said cheerfully, “Eat up.”
Xianglan hurriedly served Song Ke some dishes and ladled soup for him. After the meal, she busily prepared the Four Treasures of the Study for his trip to the academy. Song Ke gave her a few more instructions before leaving with a smile.
Xianglan stood at the doorway, lifting the curtain to watch Song Ke walk away. She let out a long breath, her lips curling into an involuntary smile. Even if she remained a servant, securing her parents’ freedom was a tremendous blessing.
By noon, Song Ke’s steward indeed arrived with the manumission papers. Xianglan examined them joyfully, carefully storing them away. She said to Yuexi, “I’ll go home for a bit and return soon—it won’t delay preparing dinner for the Master.” She packed a few things and left the Song residence through the small back gate, heading straight to the backstreet where her parents lived.
Upon arriving home, she found Chen Wanquan and his wife both there. The couple was naturally overjoyed, showering her with affectionate concern. The Chen couple were honest, simple folk with little cunning or worldly insight. Seeing their daughter sold by the Lin family and beaten to a pitiful state had filled them with helpless anxiety. Fortunately, moving to the Song household, though less prestigious than the Lin family, provided decent food and shelter, easing their worries somewhat.
Xue Shi had privately discussed with Chen Wanquan: “I think Master Song is a kind-hearted man. Why don’t we save up to buy our daughter’s freedom? If she has to endure daily beatings and curses, I’d rather strangle myself with a rope.” Originally, their poverty had left them with no other options, but now that Xianglan had brought home a considerable sum, Xue Shi began considering her daughter’s emancipation.
But Chen Wanquan was shortsighted. Hearing Xue Shi’s words, he said, “Our daughter has just moved to a kind household, wearing fine silks and eating delicacies every day. Would she enjoy such luxuries if freed? Besides, haven’t you noticed Master Song’s intentions? He’s taken a liking to our Xianglan. If she’s fortunate enough to become his long-term companion, living as a lady of the house, I could close my eyes in peace.”Xue Shi said with deep concern, "If only that were true. I'm afraid Master Song might marry a wife like an Ogress, just like the one in the Lin household. Then our Xianglan would suffer endlessly."
Chen Wanquan thought it over and found Xue Shi's words reasonable. However, he was not a man of clear thinking by nature, living his life aimlessly and avoiding troubles whenever possible. He replied, "Who knows? Master might marry a gentle and kind-hearted lady. Why do you always worry so much?" So whenever Xue Shi brought it up again, Chen Wanquan would lose his temper. Every day after returning from his work at the shop, he would buy a few ounces of wine, drink his fill, and collapse onto the bed to sleep. Otherwise, he would engage in loud discussions with the shop assistants, completely dismissing the matter from his mind.
Only Xue Shi secretly fretted. Whenever Chen Wanquan was not around, she would quietly take out the gold, silver, and various pieces of jewelry Xianglan had given her to count, planning to discuss and make a decision with her daughter when she returned.
Now that Xianglan was back, Chen Wanquan was naturally delighted. He ordered Xue Shi to prepare a few dishes, and the family of three sat around the table together. Xianglan poured herself a cup of wine and said with a smile, "Today brings great news. This morning, I mentioned to Master Song about releasing my parents from servitude, and to my surprise, he agreed immediately." She then took out the document from her bundle.
Xue Shi exclaimed joyfully, "Really?" and carefully held the document in her hands.
Xianglan smiled, "Of course."
But Chen Wanquan's face darkened with anger. "Foolish! Why did you ask for such a thing? Without a master, where am I supposed to find work? Moreover, by making such a request, the Song family might think you have ulterior motives. What if they grow to dislike you and decide to cast you out?" He continued to rant and scold incoherently.
Xianglan was taken aback. Knowing her father was short-sighted, she sighed inwardly and said, "Master Song said he would invite you to be the resident manager at his pawnshop, with fifty taels of silver a year and year-end bonuses." She added calmly, "Unless Father is eager to remain a servant? If I were to be foolish in the future and offend the master again, leading to being sold off, at least I could turn to my family for help. Unlike this time, when I was nearly sold to a brothel, and the family suffered along with me."
Xue Shi nodded in agreement and sighed, "Exactly. We all saw how Lu Ershenzi's family was dragged out and sold off, torn apart. Who knows if they'll ever see each other again?"
Upon hearing "resident manager" and "fifty taels of silver," Chen Wanquan fell silent, his face breaking into a wide smile. He thought to himself that Song Ke must have taken a liking to Xianglan to grant him such respect. If Xianglan played her cards right and bore Song Ke a child or two, he would become Song Ke's father-in-law, earning admiration wherever he went. The thought pleased him immensely, and he drank several more cups of wine before collapsing onto the bed to sleep.
Xue Shi quietly pulled Xianglan aside and asked, "Silly child, why didn't you ask Master Song to release you as well?"
Xianglan smiled, "I'm afraid it might not be possible right away. Let's take it one step at a time."
Xue Shi pressed further, "Does Master Song really... does he have feelings for you?"Xianglan thought for a moment, then said resolutely, "Since you're asking me, Mother, I won't hide it. He does have that intention, but I'm unwilling to be someone's concubine. Originally, I planned to wait a while longer before bringing up the matter of freeing you and Father from servitude, but now I feel we can't wait any longer. If he had refused today, I intended to plead with him again, but to my surprise, he agreed readily. That makes things easier. The work at the Song household is light, so I've painted a few pictures and asked Father to sell them through acquaintances. We'll save the silver earned and have Father work harder to explore more antique trading opportunities. Combined with our previous savings, little by little, we'll eventually have enough to buy property and start a business. I'll delay for two years, but I'm determined to find a way to gain our freedom. If Song Ke is truly serious, he can send betrothal gifts to marry me properly. If he only wants a concubine, then he's miscalculated—I'll find someone else to marry as a proper wife."
Upon hearing this, Xue Shi felt a surge of energy but hesitated, "This... is this really possible? I'm afraid it won't be so easy, will it?"
Xianglan replied, "We won't know unless we try. And Mother, you should also persuade Father to drink less and focus more on serious work."
Xianglan nodded repeatedly, and the mother and daughter quietly discussed their plans.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and a voice called out, "Is Uncle Chen here? It's Xia Yun—I've brought something."
Xue Shi hurried to open the door, and Xianglan looked up to see a tall, slender scholar of about eighteen or nineteen standing outside. He had a fair and refined appearance, with bright, spirited eyes, a straight nose, and slightly thick lips. His demeanor was elegant and courteous, and though his clothes were old, they were neatly laundered.
Thank you to Junxi812 for the Peace Talisman O(∩_∩)O~~ Everyone, please continue to give me your pink votes to encourage me to finish all the bonus chapters soon! ~~
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