Zheng Baichuan said with a stern face, "The imperial examinations are a matter of selecting talents for the Son of Heaven, a crucial affair of the state. Especially in our dynasty, the strictness of examination discipline is unprecedented. How dare you speak such nonsense!"
Zheng Jingxian was instantly left in an awkward position. Song Ke interjected, "The venerable Duke Zheng speaks wisely. Though I may lack talent, I too wish to rely on genuine ability to take the examinations. Your daughter is intelligent—how could she not understand the gravity of the matter? Her words just now were merely spoken in jest." His tone was amiable, his smile gentle, and with these two sentences, he diffused the earlier tension.
Zheng Baichuan nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "Song Fang was a gentle and cultivated man in his lifetime, and now his son carries on his legacy. For one so young, he knows how to speak and observe. Since he has no foundation yet, if he proves promising, I might as well lend him a hand—it wouldn’t hurt to cultivate a connection." His attitude warmed slightly as he smiled and asked, "The autumn examinations are approaching. Have you thoroughly mastered the Four Books and Five Classics?"
Song Ke replied with a smile, "I wouldn’t dare claim thorough mastery, but I have pondered the words of the sages for quite some time."
Zheng Baichuan said, "Share some of your insights with me."
Song Ke responded, "Since ancient times, reading should never be done blindly. Without grasping its essence, it’s merely empty theorizing. Even ten years of diligent study—let alone thirty or forty—would be futile. The key to reading lies in comprehension. Take The Doctrine of the Mean , for example—one must use their entire being to verify, experience, and reflect upon it to gain anything. One cannot simply chase its logical threads. Once you comprehend it thoroughly, the logic will naturally reveal itself. When I was young and ignorant, there were many things I didn’t understand in my studies, largely because I had not yet experienced enough of the world or grasped the depths of life. But once one sees through worldly affairs and understands life, the truth becomes clear."
As Song Ke spoke eloquently, Zheng Baichuan stroked his beard, a faint smile appearing on his face. He asked Song Ke a few more questions, to which Song Ke responded fluently. Zheng Jingxian remained quiet, standing by to serve tea. Though Zheng Baichuan shot her several glances signaling her to leave, she pretended not to notice. Watching Song Ke discuss scholarly matters only deepened her admiration, and her feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Zheng Baichuan sighed inwardly but could only let her be. He resolved to speak with Wei Shi about Zheng Jingxian’s upbringing—once they returned to the capital, he would request a palace governess to properly teach her etiquette.
Song Ke’s scholarly prowess was evident in his eloquent speech, and Zheng Baichuan soon changed the subject. "It’s been over a decade since I last returned to my hometown. Now that I’m back, I’m filled with nostalgia, though I’m afraid it’s a case of 'the hometown accent remains, but the hair at my temples has thinned.'"
Song Ke smiled and said, "The venerable Duke Zheng is in the prime of life—why speak of aging? The Jiangnan region is prosperous, with a different kind of splendor compared to the capital. If one’s heart is at peace, anywhere can be home. I’ve recently acquired some property in Jiangnan—two or three shops—some of which are even more profitable than those in the capital."
Zheng Jingxian chimed in, "I’ve heard from Sister Tan that you’ve been working hard, not only studying but also managing household affairs. If you encounter any difficulties, don’t hesitate to ask. As old family friends, we’d be happy to assist."
Though her words were well-intentioned, they displeased both Zheng Baichuan and Song Ke. Zheng Baichuan thought to himself, "The Song family may be a prominent clan, but back then, it was Song Fang who relied on Duke Xian’s household. How can she speak of 'old family friends'?" Song Ke, meanwhile, thought, "Before Duke Xian’s rise, our Song family never sought favors from anyone and lived peacefully enough. Though Miss Zheng means well, her words make it seem as though I must 'beg' Duke Xian for help, which is rather demeaning."His face, however, betrayed nothing, maintaining only 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 glare. "You were the one who wouldn’t stop talking earlier!"
Zheng Jingxian frowned. "Who told you to treat him so coldly?" She pressed on relentlessly, asking what her father thought of him—how he was learned, capable, and amiable, and how she believed him to be a man of responsibility, and so on.
Zheng Baichuan, though he found Song Ke decent, 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 deflected, "Let’s wait until he achieves some rank in the imperial examinations."
Zheng Jingxian’s brow furrowed. She was clever enough to discern her father’s dissatisfaction with Song Ke. She also knew that Song Ke’s current courtesy toward her was merely perfunctory. Silently, she thought, Since childhood, Father has never denied me anything. I’ll just wear him down gradually. As for Song Ke… I must make him see me in a new light. The Song family is in decline now, but once he passes the exams, I’ll insist Father secure him a promising position—so he understands just how advantageous marrying a woman like me would be. Even if he’s grateful to me, he can’t remain so lukewarm!
Meanwhile, Song Ke, having left the Zheng ancestral residence, exhaled deeply into the autumn wind. Duke Xian had earned his title through military exploits in his early years, though it was of the lowest rank. Later, his support for the Eighth Prince’s uprising won him considerable imperial favor. Song Ke had never liked Zheng Baichuan’s character. In the past, his family had been on friendly terms with Duke Xian’s household, sharing a degree of camaraderie. But after his father’s death, while many of his father’s friends came to offer condolences and assistance, Duke Xian’s family merely sent perfunctory funeral gifts and dispatched a lesser-born son on the day of the burial. After that, all contact ceased. When Song Ke sought to separate from the clan, the wolves within the family circled, vying to seize his branch’s assets. He had submitted petitions seeking Duke Xian’s help, only to wait in vain several times. The gatekeepers invariably dismissed him with the excuse, "The master is occupied with court affairs and has not yet returned."
His visit today, though prompted by Zheng Jingxian’s insistence, was also driven by a desire not to let Zheng Baichuan look down on him— The son of an old friend you once shut your doors on is now living respectably. From now on, I’ll never have to lower myself to beg at your doorstep again! Yet, to his dismay, Zheng Jingxian had repeatedly undermined him instead.
He had already discerned Zheng Jingxian’s girlish infatuation. Were she not Zheng Baichuan’s daughter, a noblewoman by birth, he might have weighed the pros and cons… In the past, he had taken a liking to the Lin family’s second daughter, Lin Dongqi, and had even discreetly hinted as much to his younger sister, Song Tanchai. However, Qin Shi, being shrewd, had other plans in mind. After an ambiguous exchange of veiled words, the matter was quietly dropped. Moreover, at this point in his life, Chen Xianglan had unexpectedly entered the picture…
Xianglan reminded him of his late wife, Madam Shen, from his previous life, evoking a deep sense of familiarity and affection. In that lifetime, he and his wife had shared mutual respect and harmony, enduring life and death together during their exile. Though their time together was brief, the bond was unforgettable. He had once admired his cousin, but when Madam Shen secretly saved her own rations to feed him, sold all her jewelry to seek medicine for him, and cared for his family, his heart swelled with gratitude and an indescribable tenderness. Over time, his cousin became but a vague shadow in his memory. Now, upon meeting Xianglan, he found himself wishing to pour all the love he had failed to give Madam Shen into her.He had thought that in the future, he would release Xianglan from her servitude and elevate her to the status of a noble concubine, so they could be together in lifelong companionship. Yet, to his surprise, Xianglan was unwilling. During these days, when frustration arose, he sometimes thought, "Perhaps I should just let go." But the mere thought of it felt like being stabbed repeatedly by a sharp knife, leaving him in unbearable pain. At other times, he grew stubborn: "I’ll keep her firmly in my grasp—what can she do if she refuses to be a concubine?" But recalling Xianglan’s inherently fiery temperament, he dismissed the idea. Moreover, he truly did not wish to sadden her.
Today, with the matter of Zheng Jingxian, Song Ke suddenly felt a sense of clarity—in his past life, when he married Madam Shen, he had secretly glimpsed her from behind a screen and found her dignified, refined, and bearing the grace of a noble lady, which had made him willing. After marriage, Madam Shen indeed proved to be gentle, considerate, and composed, leading him to believe that marrying a noblewoman brought immense benefits. But what if it were Zheng Jingxian instead? Song Ke shook his head slightly.
Unconsciously, he rode his horse to the backstreet of the Song residence and stopped in front of the Chen family’s door, lifting his gaze to the window. The thought of a scholar standing below yesterday, peering up at Xianglan’s chamber, made his heart burn with anger. He had not 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. At the sight of Song Ke, she froze as if a living dragon had descended from the heavens, hastily ushering him inside. "Master Song, please come in! Come in!" she called out while turning toward the upstairs, "Xianglan! Master Song is here!" With a beaming smile, she said to Song Ke, "Master Song, please have a seat. The house is a mess, hardly fit for a distinguished guest."
Song Ke dismounted and handed the reins to Shimu. Suddenly, he realized he had come to Xianglan’s home empty-handed. Shimu, guessing his thoughts, whispered, "There’s a package of pastries in the saddlebag, originally packed in case you got hungry on the way."
Song Ke chuckled softly, "You clever monkey, I’ll reward you later," and carried the pastries inside.
Meanwhile, Xue Shi was already bustling about, swiftly wiping the tables and chairs with a cloth and rearranging the refreshments. 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, "Indeed, I was just saying she ought to return to the mansion for her duties." She then hurried to the back to boil water for tea.
Footsteps were heard, and Xianglan descended gracefully. Her hair was styled in a tilted bun adorned with two or three emerald hairpins. She wore a Su-fang-colored BeiZi embroidered with white plum blossoms, paired with a crimson-lined jacket, skirt, and sash, her slender waist delicate and seemingly too small to grasp. Her expression was serene as she curtsied to Song Ke and said, "I wish you Golden Peace, Master."
Song Ke felt that in just these few days apart, Xianglan had grown somewhat distant from him, stirring a pang of discomfort in his heart. The words that escaped his lips were, "Today, I’ve come to take you back." Immediately, he regretted it—he was still undecided, so how could he explain bringing her back now? Yet his heart was restless, as if he feared that if he did not keep her close, Xianglan would slip away from him.
Xianglan gazed at Song Ke quietly for a moment before speaking softly, "Have you made up your mind?"
Song Ke gave a bitter smile, as if unable to meet her eyes, and shook his head. "Not yet."
Xianglan said, "Then why have you come..."Song Ke stared intently at Xianglan and said, "I can't take it anymore!"
Xianglan was taken aback.
Song Ke continued, "I can't bear it any longer. These past two days, I couldn't focus on my studies, couldn't sleep peacefully, constantly wondering what you were doing and whether you've been thinking of me. That matter you mentioned... I haven't figured it out yet, but if I can't see you even once, I feel like I'm going to go mad."
Ah, finally updated~
OpenNovel