Guo Mama had already been sent away. Song Tanchai returned to report to Song Yima, saying, "Guo Mama has changed her mind and wants to go to Yangzhou to join her nephew. I thought it would be good for her to have family to take care of her in her old age, given her lonely and helpless situation. Our family can also send her some silver every year as a token of our regard. We’ve already arranged Fang Si’s funeral, held the Buddhist Mass, and treated Guo Mama well. By now, even the greatest debt of gratitude should be repaid."
Song Yima sighed and said, "That’s just as well." Noticing Xianglan standing at the door, she recalled what Guo Mama had said before leaving. She scrutinized Xianglan and indeed found her face as lovely as peach blossoms, which made her heart sink. She thought to herself, "Ever since she arrived, because of her, my eldest son has driven away the two most reliable people by my side. Guo Mama was absolutely right—isn’t this just bringing poverty and ruin to our household?" Her dislike for Xianglan grew, and she waved her hand dismissively. "You may go now. I need to rest."
Song Tanchai and Xianglan then withdrew, and for the time being, nothing more was said.
After this incident, however, Song Tanchai found Xianglan to be steady and reliable and gradually grew closer to her. They often worked and joked together, getting along quite well. Song Tanchai said to Song Yima, "At first, I thought Xianglan was merely pretty, but now that I’ve seen her in action, I realize she’s gentle and dependable. Her speech and insight are even better than those of noble young ladies."
Song Yima snorted. "What kind of insight could someone from a humble background possibly have?"
Song Tanchai replied, "Mother, don’t say that. A while ago, I discovered that a kitchen maid had been stealing household items to sell for gambling and embezzling funds meant for purchases. I was furious and wanted to drive her out immediately. But Xianglan stopped me, saying, ‘I know you, miss, are someone who can’t tolerate wrongdoing, but this servant has already shown remorse. Her mother-in-law has served the Song family for decades and has come to plead for mercy. If we drive her out like this, we might alienate the hearts of many old servants. It would be better to reassign her. If she offends again, we can send her to the Manor.’ I thought it made sense, so I transferred her to laundry duty. Xianglan then added, ‘Laundry is a thankless and exhausting job. If she takes it seriously and perseveres, it won’t be a waste of your kindness, and she can still be useful later. If she can’t handle it, you can easily dismiss her from the household without anyone finding fault.’ She also advised me not to publicize the matter. Before I even understood why, the servants were already talking about how lenient I was, giving such a wrongdoer a chance to repent and showing compassion to subordinates. After a few days of laundry duty, the maid couldn’t take it and claimed illness, so I sent her to the Manor. Without much effort, I gained a reputation for kindness and rid the household of a troublemaker. Isn’t that insight? You doubted her character and told me to check my brother’s belongings, but not a single thing was missing from his room. Even the small amounts of silver he used were meticulously accounted for. What more is there to worry about? When Guo Mama left, she took so many things from the house. If not for Xianglan, that old thief might have gotten away with everything.’"
Song Yima turned her back, clearly unwilling to listen, so Song Tanchai dropped the subject.
Time flew like a shuttle, and as summer drew to a close, autumn arrived in the blink of an eye.Xianglan carried a pot of jasmine into the room, lowered the window, and quietly brought a bowl of soup to Song Ke, placing it on his desk. Song Ke, who was working on an essay, set his brush on the blue-and-white porcelain brush rest, picked up the soup, and sniffed it. "Is this pork rib soup today?" he asked.
Xianglan replied, "Wolfberry and pork rib soup. It's been simmering on low heat since this morning, and the meat is tender." She deftly stacked the books neatly.
Song Ke asked, "Has some been sent to Taitai's room?"
Xianglan said, "Yuexi took it over... Ah, I don’t know what I’ve done to displease Taitai. She always seems unwilling to see me." She sighed.
Song Ke frowned. Recently, Song Yima had repeatedly complained to him about Xianglan’s poor character. Later, she stopped mentioning character and instead claimed Xianglan had the "face of poverty and ruin," insisting she shouldn’t stay in the household. He had brushed it off at first, but after hearing it too often, he retorted, "Mother, where did you hear such nonsense? I know Xianglan’s character better than anyone—she’s never touched a single coin or scrap of silver in this room. If you don’t believe me, ask Yuexi or Junxi. As for this talk of facial fortune, it’s nothing but charlatanry. When I was a child, some even claimed I wouldn’t live past two, yet here I am, grown and well."
Song Yima had dropped the matter after that, and he thought it was over. But clearly, she still harbored resentment. Reflecting further, Song Ke realized his mother was indeed superstitious. He decided to take the family to Sweet Dew Temple in a few days to pray. There, he would slip the monks some silver to praise Xianglan’s fortune in front of his mother, hopefully easing her suspicions. He said lightly, "It’s nothing. She’s just unsettled since Guo Mama left. Don’t overthink it."
Xianglan sighed silently again. How could she not overthink it? She was slowly weaving plans for a future with Song Ke, but her humble origins already placed her at a disadvantage. If Song Yima disliked her too, the path ahead would be even harder.
Song Ke watched as Xianglan stood beside him, gathering discarded sheets of paper one by one. Her slender hands, with their translucent, glossy nails and pale wrists, caught his eye. He took her hand, pulling her closer, and stole a kiss on her soft cheek. Seeing her ears flush red, he deliberately held her back, gently pinching her nails. "Others dye their nails with balsam flowers. Why don’t you?"
Though they had grown close over time, Xianglan still felt shy. She tried to pull her hand away, but Song Ke held firm. "Why bother with such gaudy things?" she murmured.
Song Ke smiled. "They’re lovely either way." He turned her hand over, admiring it. "Your hands are so clever. That sachet you made me last time, embroidered with maple leaves and a cicada, was exquisite. Xiu Hong tried to snatch it the moment he saw it—I barely managed to keep it. He demanded to know who made it, and when I said I bought it, he insisted I get him one too."
He untied the sachet from his waist and examined it. "The design is splendid, almost like something from 'The Recluse of Orchid Fragrance.'"
Xianglan paused, surprised. "You know of The Recluse of Orchid Fragrance?"Song Ke laughed, "Who doesn't know? His painting skills are renowned, and the artistic conception is quite intriguing. There are people selling his works at high prices in the market, but many who've seen them say they resemble the form but not the spirit. I heard your father had some dealings with him and owns a few of his paintings. Some have even approached me, wanting to buy a couple."
Song Ke's smile was like the spring breeze in March or the summer drizzle. Watching his eyebrows lift slightly, his eyes and lips curving into crescent moons, Xianglan's worries instantly dissipated with that smile.
As if talking to himself, Song Ke mused, "Your name is Xianglan, and his is Lan Xiang Ju Shi (The Recluse of Orchid Fragrance). Xianglan, Lan Xiang—could this person be you?" He had meant it as a joke, but when he looked up and saw Xianglan smiling without a word, as if hinting at something deeper, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "It really is you, isn't it?"
Xianglan leaned close to Song Ke, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and with a few swift strokes on the paper, a tiny insect sprang to life beside Song Ke's signature, its long antennae raised, vivid and lifelike.
Song Ke was astonished. He picked up the paper and examined it over and over, as if he no longer recognized Xianglan, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
Xianglan chuckled, "What? Don't you know me anymore?"
After a long pause, Song Ke gasped, "It really is you?"
Xianglan sat down beside him and said, "I learned it as a child from the abbess at Still Moon Temple. Nowadays, my paintings fetch a good price not because of any exceptional skill but because they're amusing. Now that I've told you, you must keep it a secret. If others find out these paintings are done by a maid, they probably won't sell for much."
Song Ke shook his head. "If those literati and connoisseurs knew these paintings came from a beauty's hand, the price would likely multiply several times over. Your paintings blend the refined with the rustic in a way few can match. No wonder your family is buying property. Lan Xiang Ju Shi now paints large-scale works, each fetching fifty taels of silver—equivalent to a shop manager's annual salary." He looked at Xianglan with delight, yet somehow, his heart was also filled with unease.
Xianglan, however, slowly straightened her expression and posture. "Since I've revealed the truth to you, I must make things clear. You saved my life—a debt I could never repay in a thousand lifetimes. During our time together... I..." Before she could finish, her face flushed red. Gritting her teeth, she continued, "I do have feelings for you, but I refuse to be someone's concubine. Your family is noble, while I'm just a lowly servant, my indenture still in your hands. I shouldn't even speak of such things, but today I'll dare to say it: if you have no intention of marrying me properly, I'll repay you double the silver you spent to redeem me and ask for my freedom. I will always remember the great kindness of saving my life and will find a way to repay it someday."
Song Ke pressed his lips together and remained silent.He had genuinely grown fond of Xianglan. The girl was gentle and composed, yet possessed an inner resilience, always quietly caring and considerate, thoughtfully attending to every detail for him. Initially, he had admired her beauty and temperament, but now he couldn’t bear to be without her, longing for a future where they could stay together forever. He had always felt that someone of Xianglan’s character and appearance would be wronged as a concubine, and now, with her talents revealed, he feared she would never willingly submit to being beneath another. Xianglan’s looks and nature were impeccable—if only she had a slightly more respectable background, even as the daughter of an official’s secondary wife or a landlord’s daughter, he would have gone to great lengths to marry her. But now, though her parents were registered as commoners, they were still of servant origin. Moreover, he had ambitions—to restore his family’s standing, it would be best to marry a wife with influential connections...
Song Ke silently watched Xianglan, then suddenly reached out to touch her hair and cheek. His hand trembled slightly, as if yearning to touch her yet hesitating in torment.
Xianglan said nothing, her clear eyes fixed steadily on him. Then she stood and walked to the door, saying, “My mother happens to be unwell these days. I’ll ask Master for leave to go home and tend to her for a couple of days.” With that, she opened the door and left.
Song Ke remained alone in the room, staring blankly at the lifelike little insect on the paper, motionless.
Thanks to Hua Xiyuexi, Zoeyhl, and Roxy Zousifang for the Peace Talismans. This update is a bonus for Bantai’s log reward of Langyuan Xianpa, and because this one is quite expensive, Xiaohe feels a bit guilty and will make up for it with another update later—consider it temporarily owed. Also, it’s the end of the month, so please vote for me more!
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