Against the Current - Chapter 114
Chapter 114 - Manumission
On the second morning, while the sky was still shrouded in the dim light of dawn, Xianglan rose early. After washing her face and hands, she arranged her hair into a neat round bun, pinned a small golden phoenix hairpin along with two or three ordinary hairpins, and dug out a three-colored satin jacket of jade, red, and grey-green from the wardrobe to wear. She paired it with a light red skirt and slipped a pair of jade bracelets onto her wrists. The overall look was festive yet without a hint of ostentation.
Xue Shi pushed the door open to call her for breakfast, and upon seeing her attire, she smiled and said, "Oh my, why are you wearing that outfit? We prepared several fine pieces for you during the New Year, including some with tapestry weave and others with sheared velvet—any of them are much more costly than what you have on."
Xianglan smiled and said, "I'll be going over to kowtow and pay my New Year greetings to Madam and the young miss shortly, so dressing like this is much more appropriate."
Xue Shi nodded in quick agreement. "Indeed, you should certainly go kowtow to them. I'll have your father go hire a carriage for you in a moment."
After eating a piece of pastry and finishing a bowl of soup, Xianglan donned Xue Shi's brown cloak and finally stepped out the door.
Aunt Song and Song Tanchai were currently still staying at the quarters of the second branch's madam in the Southern Courtyard of the Lin estate. Xianglan instructed the driver to pull over at a secluded corner gate of the Southern Courtyard, pulled a handful of copper coins from her pouch to shove into the driver's hands, and said, "Just wait here for a brief moment; you can take me back later." With that, she went forward to knock on the door.
The gatekeeper old woman opened a crack of the door and asked, "Who goes there?"
Xianglan hurriedly put on a smile and said, "I am a maid from the Song residence, here to visit Madam and the young miss. Could I trouble you, Mother, to pass a word inside?" Seeing the woman's face plastered with impatience, Xianglan quickly slipped her another handful of coins. Noticing Xianglan's refined attire and generous tipping, the old woman's expression softened considerably as she asked, "What is your name?"
Xianglan hastened to reply, "Just tell our family's Madam and young miss that Xianglan has come to kowtow to her mistresses."
The old woman then motioned Xianglan inside the gate and went off on her own. It was only after a short while that she returned and said, "Follow me." With that, she led Xianglan further in.
Keeping her head lowered, Xianglan walked swiftly forward. After passing through the hanging flower gate, another maid took over leading the way, guiding her to a courtyard named "Verdant Floating" and announcing, "The Song family's Madam and young miss live in this courtyard. They've just finished their meal right now."
Repeating her thanks, Xianglan stepped into the courtyard, headed straight for the main room, and called out respectfully from the doorway with her hands folded, "Madam, Xianglan has come to kowtow and wish you a Happy New Year."
Aunt Song was currently sitting on the heated brick kang by the window, wearing a long outer jacket of peacock-blue interwoven with auspicious medallion embroidery, holding a purple-copper octagonal hand warmer in her hands while Juanhua attended to her side.
Aunt Song was still in the middle of saying, "Read the eldest young master's letter to me one more time later. Ah, with the New Year being what it is, him staying all alone up in the capital must feel terribly bleak and lonely..." Hearing Xianglan's voice, she cut herself short, her expression turning rather awkward.
Knowing Aunt Song's deep-seated prejudice, Juanhua—who had previously listened to her constantly complain that Xianglan was no good, that she was as beautiful as a siren, that she had caused a death the moment she entered the Song household, and that there was no guarantee she wouldn't harm the eldest young master in the future—saw Aunt Song's face darken and hastened to persuade her. "Madam, since it's the New Year and she's come to kowtow to her mistresses, it's at least a token of filial piety on her part. Even if you don't care for the monk, you should respect the Buddha; please humor the eldest young master and let her come in to kowtow."
Thinking of how Song Ke had specifically instructed her to treat Xianglan well before his departure, Aunt Song softened her expression once more and said with reluctance, "Let her in, then."
Juanhua personally welcomed Xianglan inside and laid out a kneeling mat on the floor. Xianglan prostrated herself and recited, "May Madam enjoy supreme peace and boundless fortune."
Aunt Song said indifferently, "You have a thoughtful heart." With a glance at Juanhua, Juanhua immediately pulled out a red envelope and handed it over.
Accepting the token, Xianglan sat down on the small stool by Aunt Song's feet and said with a radiant smile, "Coming to kowtow to Madam is nothing more than my duty." She exchanged warm pleasantries, rattled off a list of the household's various affairs over the New Year, and noticing that Aunt Song remained somewhat unresponsive, she paused briefly before smiling anew. "A few days ago, the eldest young master sent people to deliver some local specialties from the capital, and in his letter, he specifically instructed me to make sure all the fine fabrics and pastries from the capital were reserved for Madam. He said Madam is sensitive to the heat, and since those fine fabrics are soft and cool, they're best suited for making undergarments in the summer. He also mentioned that Madam has a fondness for sweets, and since she never tires of the white-crust pastries from the capital and would inevitably miss them now that she's down in Jinling, he bought extra packs and entrusted people to bring them back. Both Yuexi and I were deeply moved by the eldest young master's filial piety; with every bolt of cloth and every single pastry, the very first person he thought of was Madam."
As Xianglan spoke, she kept a careful watch and indeed saw smiles gradually emerge on Aunt Song's face. Thinking to herself that Xianglan had a silver tongue and could melt the madam's frosty expression with just two or three sentences, Juanhua chimed in, "Indeed so. The eldest young master is studying diligently up in the capital entirely to ensure Madam has someone to rely on in her later years."
Aunt Song nodded slowly. "True, true. The eldest young master has been a deeply filial child since he was small."
Buoyed by this, Xianglan chimed in with numerous stories of how Song Ke missed Aunt Song, fabricating a good deal of them along the way. Her voice was inherently melodious and pleasing to the ear, and her words always struck the right chord, successfully coaxing Aunt Song into high spirits. Warmed up to the conversation, Aunt Song launched into a glowing, comprehensive praise of Song Ke from beginning to end. At the end, she remarked, "Since ancient times, filial piety has always been placed above all else. The eldest young master was raised reading the classics of the sages, so naturally he understands everything thoroughly and shows filial respect in every way. When his father passed away that year, I was bedridden and sick for a full three months. How old was the eldest young master back then? Yet he knew enough to stay by my sickbed attending to me day and night without even changing his clothes, until he lost two full circles of weight. They say 'there are no filial sons before a long-bedridden patient,' but our eldest young master is genuinely, truly filial. On the strength of this accumulated virtue alone, he ought to earn the degree of a jinshi in this spring's imperial examinations."
Xianglan and Juanhua echoed her sentiments in eager chorus.
Seeing that the moment was right, Xianglan said, "For Madam to have a son as filial as the eldest young master is the blessing you accumulated over past lifetimes, and for the eldest young master to have a birth mother who cares for him so deeply is his blessing as well..." Dropping to her knees once more, she continued, "To speak the truth is to feel ashamed: today I came here first to kowtow and wish Madam a Happy New Year, and second to beg a favor of Madam. My parents have only me as their sole daughter, and seeing them grow older by the day, I truly cannot set my mind at ease. I've come specifically to implore Madam's grace, begging you to grant me permission to redeem my own freedom."
Aunt Song and Juanhua were instantly struck dumb, never expecting that Xianglan would utter such words. Song Ke's deep affection for Xianglan was plain for all to see, and Aunt Song had originally assumed Xianglan would cling stubbornly to the Song household, waiting for Song Ke to elevate her status. Suspicion clouding her mind, she asked, "You want to redeem your indenture?"
Kowtowing, Xianglan replied, "I beg Madam's mercy and grace, to release this maid so I may return and wait upon my parents for a few more years."
Aunt Song felt a surge of secret delight. How wonderful! If she redeems her freedom and leaves, she won't be by the eldest young master's side anymore. Besides, if the eldest young master places high in the examinations, he will inevitably remain in the capital or be appointed to an official post elsewhere—how could he ever cross paths with her again? I'll just find someone to buy an absolute beauty blessed with the physiognomy of bringing sons and prosperity to the family to place in the eldest young master's quarters, and then select a high-born young lady as a wife; how could the eldest young master possibly keep missing a little seductive minx of such humble origins? Furthermore, this manumission is something she asked for herself, not something I forced her into! Her face blossomed into a wide smile, and she even reached out personally to pull Xianglan up from the floor, saying affectionately, "My child, it is admirable of you to have such filial intentions; how could I refuse? After all, you've served diligently in the household, and you're a loyal soul. The Song family has always been generous—you won't need to pay the silver for your redemption."
Seeing Aunt Song in such high spirits left a somewhat complicated taste in Xianglan's heart, but keeping a smile on her face, she persisted, "The silver must still be given. The eldest young master saved me in the past and provided me with food and clothing; this immense grace is something I could never repay even if my body were pulverized." Pulling fifty taels of silver banknotes and a pouch containing twenty taels of loose silver fragments from her sleeve, she presented them forward. "The silver isn't much, but at least it represents my humble share."
Juanhua gave her a subtle tug, whispering, "Didn't Madam just say the Song family is bestowing this grace upon you and won't require your redemption silver?"
Insisting on her course, Xianglan pushed the silver forward, her eyes as clear and bright as the boundless autumn waters.
Aunt Song was stunned once more. Even though she disliked Xianglan, in her heart she couldn't help but inwardly praise her for being thoughtful. Reaching out, she nudged the silver back toward Xianglan and said, "Consider this silver as my reward to you, to be used for adding to your dowry in the future."
Seeing that further refusal was pointless, Xianglan kowtowed once again and said, "I thank Madam for your grace."
By this point, Aunt Song looked upon Xianglan with growing favor and hurriedly dispatched someone to fetch Song Tanchai home to retrieve Xianglan's deed of indenture. As if terrified that Xianglan might change her mind, she anxiously rushed the steward off to handle the manumission paperwork. By the time the certificate of manumission was brought back, it was already past one o'clock in the afternoon. Because it was the New Year, the yamen was closed with no regular officials on duty, leaving only a duty clerk; consequently, they had to pull strings and spend some silver through intermediaries before the matter could be properly and securely settled.
Clutching the manumission certificate tightly in her hands, Xianglan inspected it repeatedly before hurrying home in eager haste. She had pondered half the night yesterday before ultimately deciding to beg Aunt Song for her freedom. For one thing, Lin Jinlou's threat was still fresh in her ears; if he were to track her down at the Song household and demand her, Aunt Song would undoubtedly agree on the spot. For another, if Song Ke placed high in the spring imperial examinations, he would inevitably arrange a match with a high-ranking family; should Song Ke change his mind while her indenture remained gripped in the hands of the Song family, she would have no autonomy. Thirdly, this freedom was the very thing she yearned for with all her heart and soul; feeling an immense sense of relief and joy, she suddenly felt that yesterday's bullying and abuse by Lin Jinlou were of no consequence at all. Earlier, she hadn't dared to make this request—first, because she feared Aunt Song wouldn't dare agree due to Song Ke's instructions, which might cause trouble if word drifted back to him; and second, because she was still tied down by a shred of tender affection for Song Ke, harboring a secret wish that as long as she remained his maid, she could spend a little more time by his side.
Tying her cloak securely, Xianglan stepped out of the courtyard. Even though she was in the second branch, she feared running into acquaintances, so she pulled her hood over her head and kept her eyes downcast as she walked along the covered corridor. At that moment, midday dinner had concluded in the front courtyard, where the young masters had gathered to watch plays, gamble, play pitch-pot, and play mahjong in a bustling uproar, the faint sounds of noise drifting over. Xianglan thought to herself, It was fine when I came to pay my morning greetings last night, since those young masters would all have been drinking and certainly wouldn't have woken up so early. But now it's midday; I don't know whether that Young Master Lou has gone out to pay New Year visits. If I bump into him, it'll spell disaster. Better take a secluded footpath; even though it's longer, it's safer after all. So she diverted onto a quiet, solitary path. Except for a few guards or maids left on duty, the rest of the servants were either huddled together joking around or out visiting relatives and sharing New Year tea, rendering the grounds all the more tranquil.
After hurrying along for a short stretch and turning past a cluster of pines and cypresses, she suddenly caught sight of movement by the rockery ahead, where a man and a woman appeared to be locked in an embrace.
Taken aback, Xianglan abruptly halted her steps, darted behind an old pine tree to hide, and peered out cautiously. At that moment, the young woman suddenly turned her head, her cloak hood being removed by the man to reveal a face like white jade, right before the man leaned down and kissed her.
Xianglan was so shocked she clapped both hands over her mouth—that young woman turned out to be none other than Lin Dongling!