Chapter 6: It Was Xiangling

This morning, He Yun went to Wang Dian’s house to propose the purchase of servants.

By the afternoon, Wang Dian had already arrived at Jiang Nian’s residence, accompanied by Wang Mao’an, leading the six servants he had prepared, among whom was a young girl from Suzhou.

Jiang Nian was practicing martial arts in the backyard—or, more precisely, swordplay. A short, heavy blade, radiating a biting chill, whirled and slashed in his hands, casting a dizzying array of shadows. He Yun, serving as his martial arts instructor, stood by to provide guidance.

Upon learning of Wang Dian’s arrival with the six servants, He Yun led the group into the study to meet Jiang Nian.

"Greetings, Young Master Nian!" The fifty-year-old Wang Dian wore a fawning smile and bowed respectfully to the fifteen-year-old Jiang Nian.

"Greetings, Master Wang, Master Wang the Third," Jiang Nian replied with polite formality before inspecting the six servants.

Aside from the girl from Suzhou, the group included a family of four: Dong Liang, who could serve as a coachman; his wife, who could work as a cook; their teenage son, a page; and their young daughter, a maid. There was also a twenty-two-year-old muscular man named Meng Xiong, who could serve as a bodyguard. The Dong family had fled to Jiangning to escape a famine. Meng Xiong had been raised by the Wang family for years; his parents were deceased, he was unmarried, and he was known for his loyalty and courage. Wang Dian had personally selected Meng Xiong to win favor with Jiang Nian and He Yun.

Jiang Nian was satisfied as he listened to Wang Mao’an’s detailed introductions. Then, his gaze fell upon the girl from Suzhou. She was remarkably beautiful, with a fair face and delicate, arched brows. Most striking of all was a small, grain-sized cinnabar mole between her brows.

The moment Jiang Nian saw that mole, he felt a sudden suspicion: *Could this be Xiangling?*

In the original story, it was written that Xiangling had a cinnabar mole the size of a grain of rice between her brows, a natural mark. With this doubt in his heart, Jiang Nian asked Wang Mao’an, "What is this girl’s background?"

Before Wang Mao’an could speak, Wang Dian smiled and said, "I shall explain the details to Young Master Nian; please, let us ask the others to withdraw."

Understanding, Jiang Nian signaled for everyone in the room to leave, including the girl from Suzhou, leaving only He Yun, Wang Dian, and Wang Mao’an behind.

Wang Dian then began his introduction: "When Brother He asked me to select a head maid for Young Master Nian, I dared not be the least bit negligent; I was determined to find the best. However, my agency did not have any superior girls at the moment. Although I had two beauties, one was a bit too old, and the other was timid and sickly—neither was fit for the Young Master. Fortunately, a man nicknamed 'Gu the Lame' had a girl who was exceptionally beautiful and well-mannered—the very one the Young Master just saw. To ensure the satisfaction of both the Young Master and Brother He, I purchased her from Gu the Lame."

Having said this, Wang Dian glanced at He Yun and continued, "I dare not deceive the Young Master or Brother He. This Gu the Lame is a kidnapper. He abducted this girl from Suzhou seven years ago. She is quite pitiable and has often suffered abuse from him, enduring insults and beatings regularly. I thought that if this girl were to become the Young Master’s head maid, it would be a great stroke of fortune for her, granting her a peaceful life hereafter. It would also be a virtuous act of charity for the Young Master and Brother He."

*It really is Xiangling!*

After hearing Wang Dian’s words, Jiang Nian was almost certain that this girl was indeed Xiangling. He was both pleasantly surprised and struck by the coincidence. He was happy, of course, that Xiangling would be his head maid, but he was amazed at the timing. Only yesterday, when He Yun and his wife proposed getting him a head maid, he had thought of Xiangling, and today she had arrived!

*I must truly possess some kind of 'luck' cheat code,* Jiang Nian thought to himself quietly. *This must be that luck taking effect.*

He turned to He Yun and said, "Steward He, let us purchase all six of these servants."

He Yun nodded and said to Wang Dian, "Master Wang has gone to great trouble. It seems my master is satisfied with these six. May I ask what the price is?"

Wang Dian replied, "By the usual rates of our agency, the girl from Suzhou alone could fetch a thousand taels of silver, and a guard with such skills as Meng Xiong could fetch several hundred. Since it is for the Young Master and Brother He, I will certainly offer a deep discount. For all six, a thousand taels of silver will suffice. I wish to build a lasting connection with you both."

He had been tempted to offer the servants for free to better curry favor, but his heart ached at the thought; a thousand taels was no small sum. While this price was indeed a discount, he was still making a profit—it was merely a question of how much.

He Yun felt that a thousand taels for these six, including the girl and the guard, was worth it. Seeing Jiang Nian nod, he said to Wang Dian, "Very well, one thousand taels it is."

The two parties immediately finalized the contracts and the payment. Once the transaction was complete, Wang Dian said to Jiang Nian and He Yun, "I have one favor to ask of you."

"What is it?" asked He Yun.

Wang Dian explained, "Brother He knows that my eldest son, Maozhen, currently serves as a fifth-rank garrison commander at the Tongzhou Camp in the capital. I would like to ask for your address in the capital so I may write to him and have him pay you a visit. I hope the Young Master and Brother He will remember our friendship and, as fellow natives of Jiangning, will look after one another in the capital."

He Yun looked toward Jiang Nian upon hearing this.

Jiang Nian knew Wang Dian was currying favor, and he reflected that the man was quite shrewd; it was no wonder he could run such a thriving business in a city like Jiangning, where the powerful and influential gathered. Jiang Nian was actually willing to get to know Wang Maozhen, as he had heard of his reputation—a man of both literary and martial talent who had reached the rank of fifth-rank commander in his early thirties. However, Jiang Nian did not yet know where he would be living in the capital.

Consequently, Jiang Nian had Wang Dian give him Wang Maozhen’s address in the capital instead.

...

Wang Dian and Wang Mao’an took their leave. He Yun also stepped out.

In the study, only Jiang Nian and the girl from Suzhou remained. The girl, with her fair face and delicate brows, stood before Jiang Nian, looking constrained. She kept her head bowed and her hands clasped tightly, like a fresh leaf that had not yet dared to unfurl.

Jiang Nian deliberately sipped his tea in silence for a few moments to let her ease her tension. Then, he set down his cup, gazed into her watery, limpid eyes, and asked softly, "Were you abducted in Suzhou seven years ago by a kidnapper?"

The girl shook her head. "I don’t remember."

Jiang Nian asked again, "What were your father’s and mother’s surnames?"

The girl shook her head once more. "I don’t remember either."

Jiang Nian paused. "You were about four or five when you were taken; you should have some memories. How could you forget everything? Is it because you were so afraid of the beatings and abuse from the kidnapper that you dare not speak of your early childhood?"

The girl twisted the hem of her garment, her eyes growing moist.

Jiang Nian said gently, "You have met me now, and it is a great stroke of luck for you. If you tell me truthfully whatever you remember of your hometown and your parents, I am willing to send people to Suzhou to find them, so that you may be reunited with your family."

Hearing this, a spark of light suddenly appeared in her tearful eyes, and she looked up in joyful surprise to meet Jiang Nian’s gaze.