When Xianglan returned, Junxi and Yuexi had long since fallen asleep. She quietly trimmed the candle wick, took out her needlework, and after working for a while, went to bed. She tossed and turned until midnight before finally closing her eyes. The next morning, she went in with the other maids to serve with hot water. Song Ke was already dressed. Yuexi went to fold the quilts, while Junxi opened the windows. Song Ke scooped water to wash his face, brushed his teeth with green salt, took a sip of warm tea, and then looked at Xianglan’s face, asking, “There are dark circles under your eyes—did you not sleep well last night?”
Xianglan smiled and said, “It was just some insects crawling in through the screen window, a bit annoying, that’s all.”
Song Ke quickly replied, “I remember there’s still some insect-repelling incense at home. Tomorrow evening, light a stick and put it in the censer.”
Xianglan smiled and agreed. Soon after, Junxi brought breakfast, and Song Ke once again asked Xianglan to eat with him. After taking a few bites 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’ve wanted to bring it up, but I was afraid it might not be appropriate.”
Hearing this, Song Ke set down his bowl and chopsticks and said, “Just say it.”
Xianglan said, “A while ago, I was severely beaten by Zhao Shi and sold off. Thinking back on it now still feels like a nightmare. It’s just my bad luck. As a servant, I naturally have no freedom and no say in anything. I have to watch my master’s expression in everything. If I weren’t a servant…”
Before Xianglan 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 bully you.”
Xianglan’s heart sank. From his tone, it seemed Song Ke had no intention of releasing her from servitude. Despite her quick wit, she shook her head and said, “It’s not about me. I just worry that if my parents suffer because of me, I wouldn’t be able to atone even if I were crushed to pieces. So I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and today I’m shamelessly asking you—my family has some savings, and I’d like to buy my parents’ freedom.”
Halfway through Xianglan’s words, Song Ke understood her meaning. His heart had been in his throat, fearing she would ask to buy her own freedom—something he absolutely could not allow. To him, Xianglan was like a wisp of faint smoke, sometimes close, sometimes distant. He wanted to hold onto her, but she slipped through his fingers. If he let her go again, he might never be able to keep her at all. Now, hearing that she only wanted to free her parents, he relaxed. He had already considered releasing Xianglan’s parents from servitude and helping them establish themselves. If Xianglan were to stay with him in the future, having parents of commoner status would be more respectable.
After a moment’s thought, he asked, “If your parents gain their freedom, how will they make a living?”
Xianglan’s eyes lit up at these words, knowing the matter could be settled. She quickly replied, “My father could work as a manager in an antique shop or a pawnshop, and my mother can do some needlework. They should be able to make ends meet.”
Seeing her bright eyes, eager expression, and slight unease, Song Ke found her adorable and couldn’t help but smile. He picked up a bite of green vegetables for her and said gently, “Freeing your parents isn’t a difficult matter. Between you and me, why use the word ‘ask’?”
Xianglan widened her eyes in surprise and hurriedly asked, “How much silver will it cost?”
Song Ke laughed and said, “Back then, Xiuhong got your parents from First Madam Lin without spending much silver. He gave them to me as a favor. I’ll just release them.”Xianglan was overjoyed, feeling as if her heart had suddenly brightened. She was so delighted she couldn't speak, only hearing Song Ke continue: "Since your father has the ability to appraise antiques, after being freed from servitude, he might as well work at my family's pawnshop. The shop manager is seriously ill and retiring, so we're short of someone. The annual salary is fifty taels of silver, with additional rewards during festivals—it's a good position."
Xianglan was taken aback. Her original intention in having her parents freed from servitude was to no longer depend on the Song family, but now Song Ke was offering such generous compensation, making her hesitate. Then she thought: "My father is earning his keep through his skills. Why should I be narrow-minded and stubbornly cling to principles? Besides, our family savings aren't much, and we can't start any decent business. It's better to work at the Song family's pawnshop for now and make other plans later." She stood up to kneel and bow, saying: "Your great kindness is something I could never repay, even if I had to knot grass and hold rings in my mouth."
Song Ke quickly supported her by the arm. Seeing Xianglan's smiling face, he felt delighted too and said: "We don't need such formalities between us. Today, I'll have the steward go to the magistrate's office to exchange the documents for your freedom."
Xianglan nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick, her beautiful eyes gazing at him gratefully.
Song Ke laughed again, feeling as if his heart was filled with honey. He picked several kinds of pastries and dishes for Xianglan's bowl, smiling as he said: "Eat quickly."
Xianglan hurriedly served food to Song Ke and went to fetch soup. After the meal, she busily prepared the Four Treasures of the Study needed for the academy. Song Ke gave her a few more instructions before leaving with a smile.
Xianglan stood at the doorway, lifting the door curtain to watch Song Ke walk away. She let out a long sigh, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth. Even though she remained in servitude, being able to have her parents freed first was still a tremendous blessing.
By noon, the steward from Song Ke's side indeed brought the manumission documents. Xianglan delightedly examined them over and over, carefully storing the papers away. She said to Yuexi: "I'm going home for a bit and will return soon, so I won't delay preparing Eldest Master's dinner." She packed a few things and left the Song residence through the small back gate, heading straight to the back street where her parents lived.
Returning home, she found Chen Wanquan and his wife both there. The couple was naturally overjoyed, inevitably exchanging warm greetings and concerns. The Chen couple were honest, simple people with little cunning or insight. Having witnessed their daughter being sold by the Lin family and beaten miserably, they couldn't help but worry and sigh, yet felt powerless to change the situation. Fortunately, they had all come to the Song family together. Though not as prestigious as the Lin family, the food and accommodation weren't bad, which gave them some peace of mind.
Xue Shi quietly discussed with Chen Wanquan: "I think Eldest Master Song is a kind-hearted person. Why don't we save some silver to redeem our daughter? If she has to endure daily beatings and scoldings, I'd rather strangle myself with a rope." Originally, due to their poverty, Xue Shi hadn't entertained other thoughts, but now that Xianglan had brought back considerable silver, Xue Shi began considering redeeming Xianglan's freedom.
However, Chen Wanquan was short-sighted. Upon hearing Xue Shi's words, he said: "Our daughter just moved to a kind household, wearing silks and satins every day, eating delicacies from land and sea. Would she enjoy such luxuries if she left? Besides, haven't you noticed Eldest Master Song's intentions? He has taken a liking to our Xianglan. If Xianglan is fortunate enough to live as a young mistress with Eldest Master Song from now on, I could close my eyes in peace."Xue Shi said with deep concern, "If only that were true. I'm afraid Eldest Master Song might marry a wife like an ogress, just like that one in the Lin residence. Then our Xianglan would suffer endlessly."
Chen Wanquan thought it over carefully and found Xue Shi's words reasonable. However, he was naturally muddle-headed by nature, living each day as it came and avoiding troubles whenever possible. He said, "Perhaps the master will marry a gentle and kind-hearted lady. Why do you worry so much every day?" Hence, whenever Xue Shi brought it up again, Chen Wanquan would lose his temper. After returning from his duties at the shop each day, he would buy a few ounces of wine, drink his fill, then collapse on the bed and sleep soundly. Alternatively, he would engage in lofty discussions with the shop assistants, completely disregarding the matter.
Only Xue Shi secretly worried. Whenever Chen Wanquan was away, she would quietly take out the gold, silver, and various pieces of jewelry Xianglan had given her to count, planning to discuss and devise a strategy with her daughter when she returned.
Now that Xianglan had returned, Chen Wanquan was naturally delighted and ordered Xue Shi to prepare a few dishes. The family of three sat around the table together. Xianglan specially poured herself a cup of wine and said with a smile, "Today brings tremendous good news. This morning, I mentioned to Eldest Master Song and begged him to release my parents from servitude. To my surprise, he agreed as soon as I asked." She then took the document out 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 will your father find work? Moreover, by making such a request, the Song family might think you have ulterior motives and despise you. What if they decide to drive you out?" He continued to ramble and curse incoherently.
Xianglan was taken aback. Knowing her father was short-sighted, she sighed inwardly and said, "Eldest Master Song said he would invite you to be the sitting manager at his pawnshop, with an annual salary of fifty taels of silver, plus year-end bonuses." She added calmly, "Is Father still eager to be a servant? If I were to be foolish in the future and offend the master, leading to being sold off, at least I could beg my family for help. Unlike this time, when I was nearly sold to a brothel and my family suffered along with me."
Xue Shi also nodded and sighed, "Exactly. We all saw how Lu Ershenzi's family was dragged away and sold off. A good family torn apart, who knows if they'll ever see each other again?"
Upon hearing "sitting 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 fancy to Xianglan to grant him such honor. If Xianglan proved capable and bore Song Ke a son or daughter, he would become Song Ke's father-in-law, commanding respect wherever he went. The thought eased his mind, and a smile appeared on his face. He drank several more cups of wine and fell asleep on the bed.
Xue Shi quietly pulled Xianglan aside and said, "Silly child, why didn't you ask Eldest Master Song to redeem yourself?"
Xianglan smiled, "I'm afraid I won't be able to leave anytime soon. Let's take one step at a time."
Xue Shi added, "Does Eldest Master Song truly... does he have intentions toward you?"Xianglan thought for a moment, then said resolutely, "Since Mother asks, I won't hide it from you. He does have such intentions, but I am unwilling to become someone's concubine. Originally, I planned to wait a while longer before bringing up the matter of releasing my parents from servitude, but now I feel we cannot delay any longer. If he had refused today, I intended to plead with tears, but unexpectedly he agreed readily. That makes things easier. The work at the Song residence is light, so I've painted a few pieces and asked Father to have his acquaintances sell them. We'll save the silver earned, and with Father working harder to explore more antique trading opportunities, combined with our previous savings, little by little we can accumulate enough to buy property and land to establish ourselves. I'll delay for two years and definitely find a way to gain our freedom. If Song Ke is truly sincere, he can send betrothal gifts to marry me as his principal wife. If he only wants a concubine, then he has miscalculated, and I'll find someone else to marry as a proper husband and wife."
Upon hearing this, Xue Shi felt reinvigorated but still hesitated, "This... can it work? I'm afraid it won't be that easy, will it?"
Xianglan said, "We won't know unless we try. Mother should also urge Father to drink less and focus more on proper work."
Xue Shi nodded repeatedly, and the mother and daughter quietly discussed their plans.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and a voice said, "Is Uncle Chen home? I'm Xia Yun, here to deliver something."
Xue Shi hurried over to open the door. Xianglan looked closely and saw a tall, slender scholar of about eighteen or nineteen standing outside. He had a fair and handsome appearance, with bright, piercing eyes, a straight nose bridge, and slightly thick lips. His demeanor was refined and courteous, and though he wore old clothing, it was neatly laundered and clean.
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