Chapter 4: They Are Delicate, Soft, Like Flowers

In the Danyue Pavilion, Baoxian was overjoyed. The matter of the young lady being punished to copy texts wasn’t really a big deal after all. She laid out the rice paper for her mistress, smoothing it repeatedly with a paperweight, and said with a smile, “I was wondering why you went over there in wet clothes. You’re usually so meticulous, but today, when meeting guests, you were rather casual.”

Qingyuan tied up her sleeves, dipped her brush in the inkstone, and began writing in delicate small script, her strokes steady and graceful. She only smiled and didn’t reply.

Chuntai clicked her tongue. “I know what you’re thinking, miss. We’re not hoping to curry favor for a marriage alliance. If you didn’t behave perfectly in front of the magistrate’s wife, they’d just say you’re young and newly returned, unfamiliar with the rules. Even if a marriage proposal skips over you, you wouldn’t care. In the end, it was the old madam who decided to add more maids and servants—so really, we came out ahead.”

Indeed, she didn’t care for marriage alliances, nor did she intend to compete with Qingru. She only wanted to achieve her own goals, speaking frankly from the heart. Even the honor or disgrace of the Xie family didn’t matter much to her. When she first returned, Madam Hu didn’t treat her the same as the other sisters. In this courtyard, aside from Baoxian and Chuntai, there were only two old servant women managing the grounds. But even with just these few people, life was still manageable. Now, wanting to add more staff was purely to bring back the old servants who had once served her mother.

Without pausing her writing, she lowered her eyes and said, “Baoxian, you’re familiar with Yuejian. Quietly speak to her and have that old maid from the lower quarters transferred back.”

Baoxian agreed, peeked outside, and saw that it was nearing dusk. Through the carved window in the courtyard wall, she noticed lanterns being lit in the small western wing. In the misty, rain-washed world, a faint light began to glow. She turned back and said, “Better to wait a bit longer. Once it’s dark, Yuejian will be making her rounds to check the gates. That’ll be a better time to talk.”

Qingyuan nodded. As she continued writing, she noticed a stray hair in the brush and leaned over the desk, carefully picking it out.

As twilight deepened and the sky hovered between light and dark, Baoxian took a lantern and stepped out of the Danyue Pavilion. The rain had stopped, and the air carried the earthy scent of damp soil. The small yellow lantern she carried had a hollowed-out base, casting a bowl-sized circle of light on the ground. The Xie family was a prominent household in Shengzhou. The master served as a military governor in Jiannan Circuit and had left his family behind in Hengtang. This estate had been managed for over twenty years, with one courtyard added to another, now spanning dozens of acres. With such a large household, there were many people. As she walked, near or far, she would always come across a few maids or old servants.

Further ahead was the Huifang Garden, the old madam’s private garden, all under Yuejian’s management. At this hour every day, she would be patrolling the area. Baoxian stood on tiptoe to look and, sure enough, saw her scolding a young maid at the gate. She followed the covered corridor over and greeted her with a smile, “Sister Yuejian, always so busy.”

Yuejian saw her and immediately understood without needing an explanation. She instructed the maid beside her, “Go find Nanny Li and ask if the accounts for the sedan chair ropes have been settled. It’s the end of the month, and the old madam wants to review the books. If it’s still unclear, I’ll have to report it.”

The little maid acknowledged the order and quickly headed down the western alley.

Baoxian teased her, “Sister, you’re getting more and more authoritative—almost like a housekeeper now.” They had entered the household at the same time, shared meals, endured the same training and scoldings from the governesses, and had always gotten along well, so their bond was special.

Yuejian replied, “Don’t make fun of me. I’d rather be like you, serving the young lady. That’s better than rushing around all day. You know how the old madam is—serve her well and you still won’t hear a kind word. Serve her poorly…” Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head.

Baoxian understood well that serving in the household was no easy task. There weren’t many people in the entire estate who had it easy. But she didn’t dwell on that now—she had more pressing matters to discuss with Yuejian. She pulled her aside and whispered, “Today the old madam gave orders to assign a maid to Fourth Young Lady’s courtyard. Have you decided who it will be?”

Yuejian said she hadn’t. “Ever since the magistrate’s wife left, I’ve been swamped. Haven’t had a moment to spare. I was planning to handle it tomorrow… Why? Do you have someone in mind?”

Baoxian smiled. “Since it’s not decided yet, how about assigning Tao Momo from the lower quarters to serve Fourth Young Lady?”

Yuejian hesitated. She knew Baoxian wouldn’t come asking for someone without a reason. Tao Momo was usually quite unremarkable, doing odd chores in the lower quarters. Yuejian had never paid her much attention. But now that Fourth Young Lady had specifically asked for her, it was clear there was some history there.

She thought for a moment and asked, “Does Tao Momo have a connection with Fourth Young Lady?” Then she caught on, “Ah, she must have served Concubine Jin in the past?”

They weren’t born into the household and hadn’t been around ten years ago, so they didn’t know the full backstory. Baoxian looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then nodded. “Fourth Young Lady doesn’t have many allies in the household. She finds comfort in the old servants, so she asked me to come to you.”

Yuejian let out a long sigh and said, “Fourth Young Lady must be missing her mother. I heard that Concubine Jin passed away shortly after giving birth to her, so she grew up without a mother. Now that she’s back at the Xie household, living in her mother’s old courtyard, it’s only natural she’d want the old servants who once cared for her to be with her again.”

Baoxian replied, “Exactly. No matter what mistakes Concubine Jin may have made, Fourth Young Lady herself did nothing wrong. If we can get someone transferred into the garden, that would be ideal. But if it doesn’t work out, it’s not a big deal—she’s not the stubborn type. Once it’s past, she’ll let it go.”

Yuejian nodded slowly, then added after a pause, “Getting someone into the Danyue Pavilion isn’t impossible, but with so many people in the household, gossip is inevitable. I just worry about rumors spreading.”

Baoxian smiled. “That’s exactly why I came to you. Just don’t mention it to outsiders—let’s treat it like a coincidence. As for gossip, even immortals can’t stop idle tongues. Who in this household hasn’t been talked about behind their back? Over time, people just get used to it.”

With that, there was nothing more to worry about. For Yuejian, this was a simple favor—foolish not to go along with it.

The next morning, she brought two older maids and two young servant girls over to the Danyue Pavilion.

The sun had just risen over the courtyard wall, and a light mist lingered from the night. Morning light spilled onto the steps of the main hall, wrapping the world in a soft glow. Bamboo blinds hung under the eaves—lacquered red with golden vines, woven with strips of bamboo and threads of gold and silver. They complemented the tender flowering peach trees in the courtyard, creating a vivid and mysterious beauty. Truly, a house needs people to bring it to life. This little courtyard had stood empty for over a decade, once rumored to be haunted. But now that Fourth Young Lady had moved in and tidied it up, who could even remember the overgrown weeds?

Fourth Young Lady stood under the eaves, facing the sun, squinting and smiling with a hint of childish innocence. The old madam rose early and held court in the main hall every morning at dawn, like an emperor receiving court officials. From the madams to the old concubines and younger concubines, then the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all came in turn to pay their respects. By the time the whole round was done, it was just past 7 a.m. Fourth Young Lady didn’t have the habit of going back to sleep afterward, so when Yuejian arrived with the servants, she was already neatly dressed in a green satin robe with floral trim and a small hairpin shaped like a crabapple blossom. Standing in the spring sunlight of March, she looked delicate and soft—like a flower herself.

Yuejian led the group to greet Fourth Young Lady and presented them for her inspection. “These are the most capable among the servants,” she said. “The old madam has spoken—since you’re still young and tender-faced, it wouldn’t do to let the servants get out of hand. If anyone disobeys or causes trouble, just send word to me. The old madam will send a matron to set things straight.”

Qingyuan replied politely, “Thank you, Sister.”

Yuejian smiled, gave a slight bow, and returned to Huifang Garden.

Qingyuan stood there, looking over each of them carefully. “Which one is Tao Momo?” she asked.

A woman in her fifties stepped forward. When she lifted her eyes and looked at Qingyuan, she froze in surprise—likely struck by how much she resembled her mother.

There was much the mistress wanted to ask, so Chuntai led the others out of the courtyard. Baoxian said, “Miss, don’t stand out here any longer. The mist hasn’t lifted yet, and the dampness could seep into your bones and give you a headache. Let’s go back inside.” Then she called to Tao Momo, “Bring a basin of water to help the young lady wash her hands.”

Tao Momo responded and quickly returned. Baoxian rolled up Qingyuan’s sleeves, and Tao Momo watched as those warm, jade-like hands dipped into the water. The longer she looked, the more dazed she became, as if time had turned back and she was once again in the world of fourteen years ago.

Qingyuan dried her hands with a towel and said, “You served my mother. It took me great effort to find you. Now that I’ve brought you back, let’s treat it as a reunion of old friends.”

Tao Momo’s knees gave way, and she knelt down, tears in her eyes. “I never imagined I’d see you again after fourteen years. It’s such a pity your mother isn’t here. If that incident hadn’t happened, just think how joyful your family life could have been.”

But in this world, the one thing most futile to say is “if.” The moment you say “if,” it only deepens the regret. Qingyuan had Baoxian help Tao Momo up and said wistfully, “My mother died not long after I was born. I don’t remember her face or her character at all. I brought you here today because I want to hear about her life from you. I’ve heard many rumors—like knives carving into flesh—and I don’t know what’s true.”

Tao Momo thought for a moment and said, “Miss, don’t listen to those people’s nonsense. Though I didn’t serve directly in your mother’s quarters, I saw her every day. I was in charge of her sedan chair and comings and goings. As for her temperament, she was always kind and gentle. In the three years she lived in the household, she never once quarreled with anyone, and she never put on airs in front of the servants. Then suddenly, there were rumors that she poisoned Concubine Xia—how could anyone believe that? But we were just servants; no one dared to speak up. After she was driven out of the household, the Danyue Pavilion was disbanded. Over the years, the old servants were either sent to the estates or passed away. Only I remained, relegated to the lower quarters doing odd jobs. I haven’t seen a master in years.”

Qingyuan nodded slowly. Before bringing Tao Momo back, she had investigated carefully. Tao Momo had been an ordinary servant at the time—not trusted, not close to her mother. After the collapse of the Danyue Pavilion, she was implicated but still allowed to remain in the household. Sometimes, it’s the most inconspicuous people who have the clearest view of shocking events. They hear whispers from all directions and form their own judgments.

Fingering the edge of her robe, Qingyuan said, “Now that I’ve brought you back, I consider you one of my own. From now on, you’ll stay by my side. That’s better than spending your life doing chores in the lower quarters.”

Naturally, that was true. No matter what, Fourth Young Lady was the master’s own flesh and blood. No matter how things turned out, the tragedy that befell Concubine Jin would not be repeated. When the young lady eventually married, Tao Momo could become her personal attendant. If she married well, the mistress would be honored, and her attendants would share in the glory.

A glimmer of light pierced through the long years of gloom, and Tao Momo immediately straightened up with renewed spirit. “I once served your mother. I’ve always belonged to the Danyue Pavilion. I will serve you with all my heart.”

Qingyuan smiled and said, “Then there’s no need to hold anything back. Tell me everything about what happened back then.”

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