Chapter 29: His Floral Note

The birthday banquet for Jiang Nian concluded after only two hours.

Xue Pan, having consumed a significant amount of wine, returned to the Xue family’s grand vessel with unsteady, faltering steps. Though his vision was blurred by intoxication, a shred of sobriety remained. He first met with Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai. Upon seeing his disheveled state, Aunt Xue’s brows furrowed, yet she proceeded to question him meticulously.

"Did that Jiang Nian reveal anything about his extraordinary background to you?"
"What is the true purpose of his journey to the capital? Did he not even mention that to you?"
"He must have brought up the matter of taking your sister as a concubine, surely? What did he say?"
"..."

However, Aunt Xue was destined for disappointment. Although Jiang Nian and Xue Pan had spoken at length during the banquet, the conversation had centered mostly on the affairs of the Xue family. As for his own matters, he had disclosed very little, and the specific points Aunt Xue was anxious about remained unaddressed.

Pressed by his mother, Xue Pan could only sway unsteadily, mumbling with a mouth full of wine fumes, "He didn't say... he didn't mention that either... still nothing on that..."

Seeing him in this state, Aunt Xue’s temper flared. "You muddled fool!" she spat. "You sat there drinking with him, and yet you let yourself get so drunk that you failed to probe for any details! It seems you were only intent on drowning yourself in spirits!"

Xue Baochai, standing nearby, pursed her lips in silence, sighing inwardly: *Mother is muddled as well. She knows full well that brother is a simpleton. Though he is the same age as Master Jiang, how could he ever hope to match his cunning and depth?*

She would never voice these thoughts aloud, for to do so would be to insult both her mother and her brother. She simply stood by, a flicker of helplessness passing through her eyes.

Aunt Xue sighed, shifting her focus. "Where is Jiang Nian now? Has he returned to his boat? Don't tell me you don't even know that?"

Xue Pan habitually shook his head, then, realizing his mistake, hurriedly nodded. "Brother Jiang saw me back, so he must have returned to his ship by now. But he asked me to tell you and sister that since sunset is only an hour away, we should not press on today and should rest here at the water post for the night."

Watching him shake his head again, Aunt Xue nearly reached out to strike him, but thankfully, his frantic nodding followed.

Suppressing her irritation, Aunt Xue immediately ordered the maid, Tongxi, to fetch a set of clothes and a pair of shoes and socks. With clear reluctance, she said to Xue Pan, "That overbearing young man is celebrating his birthday today; I have prepared a gift for him. You are to deliver it."

She added a stern instruction: "You must tell him that these garments and shoes were purchased by my servants from the clothing shop at the water post."

This was indeed the truth. Aunt Xue insisted on this clarification because she did not want Jiang Nian to mistakenly believe that she or Baochai had made them by hand. *I am sending a gift, but it is merely a formality. Do not get any wrong ideas, Jiang Nian, and especially do not dare to harbor any misconceptions regarding my Baochai...*

Xue Pan pulled a long face. "Mother, why must you send me? I've had too much to drink, my head is spinning, and I was just about to lie down for a while."

Aunt Xue’s anger surged again. Just as she was about to lash out, Xue Baochai intervened. "Mother, brother is quite drunk; it is not strictly necessary for him to go. I shall ask Nanny Xie to deliver them instead; it will not be considered a slight."

Nanny Xie was the wife of Xie Jixing and had been Xue Pan’s wet nurse. After speaking, Xue Baochai took the clothes and shoes from Tongxi.

Aunt Xue nodded at her daughter, glared at Xue Pan, and snapped, "Fine, fine! I won't send you then. Go and rot on your bed!"

Xue Pan glanced at Xue Baochai before staggering out of the cabin.

Baochai carried the items, following him out with the intention of finding Nanny Xie in another cabin. Unexpectedly, Xue Pan blocked her path. He winked and whispered with a sly smile, "Sister, come to my room for a moment. I have something for you."

Baochai was highly sensitive and far more cunning than her brother; she knew his temperament well. Seeing his furtive behavior, she immediately surmised, *Could it be that Jiang Nian has sent something for me through brother?*

At this thought, her heart tightened. She subconsciously glanced back to see that her mother was still in the cabin and had not followed them, then gave a slight nod to Xue Pan.

Seeing her agreement, Xue Pan’s smile widened as he turned to lead her toward his quarters. Baochai followed, feigning composure, though her fingers tightened involuntarily around the clothing she held. She wondered, *What is Jiang Nian planning? What could he have possibly sent me through my brother?*

***

The siblings entered Xue Pan’s cabin. He hastily shut the door, looking increasingly suspicious, before pulling a piece of ornate stationery from his person and handing it to Baochai. He whispered, "Brother Jiang asked me to give this to you. Keep it safe—don't let Mother know, for she is quite displeased with him."

*It was as I suspected!*

Baochai felt a surge of anxiety mixed with a wry sense of helplessness. She sighed to herself, *That man is already demanding I become his concubine, yet my brother treats him with such goodwill, even helping him smuggle this note!*

She bit her lower lip and took the stationery, her fingertips trembling slightly. As she unfolded it, she read:

"Since you have pledged your heart to me, you are already, in my mind, the lady of my inner chambers. Today being my birthday, I wished to celebrate with you, yet it was inconvenient for you to join me. I went ashore with your brother to drink at the city tavern. It is the end of spring; the weeping willows lining the banks are shedding their catkins, dancing like scattered snow—a truly marvelous sight. Moved by the scene, I composed a short lyric. Hearing from your brother that you are fond of poetry and calligraphy, I have recorded it here as a token of our shared bond."

"Lin Jiang Xian: Willow Catkins."

"The lyric reads:
*Before the white jade hall, spring spirits dance,*
*The east wind curls them into uniform shapes.*
*Swarming bees and butterflies drift in chaotic clouds.*
*When have they ever followed the passing stream?*
*Must they inevitably surrender to the dust?*
*Ten thousand threads and a thousand strands, unchanging to the end,*
*Let them gather and part as they please.*
*Do not mock the glory of youth for having no roots.*
*With the help of a favorable wind,*
*I shall rise to the azure clouds.*"

"My brush lingers; I shall write more when we meet again."

After reading it, Baochai felt a mixture of shame and annoyance. She could not help but mutter to herself, "Bah! He is truly thick-skinned! To write such a note to me! And he is truly overbearing—even the tone of his writing is so forceful! He actually claims I am already the lady of his inner chambers! And he doesn't even use the proper humble phrases like 'I respectfully present this' or 'I bow my head.' Hmph!"

Amidst her agitation, she gripped the stationery tightly, her knuckles whitening as if she might crush it.

Yet, far from destroying it, she found herself compelled to read it a second time. This time, her gaze did not merely skim the surface; she savored every word. As she read, she became inadvertently entranced, sighing softly to herself, "This Master Jiang’s calligraphy is truly excellent, and this *Lin Jiang Xian* is marvelous indeed—every word is a gem, the imagery profound. I am quite fond of it."