His strokes were elegant and unrestrained; one could tell his foundation was exceptionally solid.
On the wide desk, more than half was already covered with his calligraphy copies.
Small standard script. The ink was dry in some places and wet in others—clearly all freshly written today.
I went over as told to grind the ink, while he took a fresh sheet of paper and continued copying.
The room was quiet, with only the sound of the ink stick against the inkstone. I ground the ink unhurriedly, waiting for him to speak of important matters, yet he seemed entirely absorbed in his copying.
I had originally been somewhat curious, but by now I had decided he was merely playing mysterious, so I waited patiently.
If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move.
But I still couldn't help wondering: what could it be?
He appeared to have been busy writing all along, not like he was teasing me. Could it be... there was news of Xing'er?
That didn't seem likely either. Before, he had been eager to tell me even the slightest bit of news. If there were any now, how could he resist telling me?
A resolute, cold, and stern face suddenly flashed through my mind, and my heart immediately fluttered with anxiety.
He had always been on good terms with that cold-faced Young Master Fan. Could he have heard something?
I stole a glance at him. He wore a pale green robe, his features clear and handsome, a smile playing at his lips, like bamboo dew and a fresh breeze.
It seemed, at the very least, it wasn't anything bad.
Just as I was lost in thought with my head bowed, I suddenly heard a stifled laugh. I turned my head to see him setting down his brush, leaning back in his chair, and looking at me with a smile.
That triumphant smile spread from the corners of his mouth to his eyes.
I knew he meant no ill will—in fact, he treated me with extreme kindness—but for some reason I couldn't explain, seeing him laugh at me like that made me furious. I made as if to jab the ink stick at his fair face.
He scrambled up awkwardly to avoid it, laughing. "All right, all right. I truly shouldn't be fooled by your pretty young lady appearance. Your younger brother has been found. I was afraid you'd be too agitated upon first hearing it, so I had you grind ink to steady your temper first..."
"Xing'er has been found?" My heart nearly leaped out of my chest from excitement. I wanted to laugh, but tears welled up instead. Remembering that he was still present, I covered my mouth with both hands, revealing only my eyes.
Seeing my state, he shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Earlier, we searched all the surrounding counties. Everywhere we went, we posted reward notices for a missing person. After so long without clues, we had stopped hoping. Who would have thought the county magistrate of Gaoyou had remembered this matter all along? He just sent word that Xing'er was seen in his jurisdiction."
I nodded forcefully, still covering my mouth.
"Before you arrived, I already sent someone to set out immediately for Gaoyou. If all goes well, your brother can be brought back in a few days."
Once the initial surge of emotion calmed, I hurried to the open space to kowtow, but he quickly stepped forward to stop me. "Why so many empty formalities? Hurry up and stand."
I stood up, sniffled, unable to hide my joy, and smiled as I curtsied. "Many thanks, Second Young Master!"
He smiled. "What I did for you is but a small matter, easily accomplished. The one you should thank most is Brother Fan. After Third Sister spoke to him of your background, he learned that you were separated from your family while fleeing to Hangzhou. So he used an official trip to Hangzhou as an opportunity, saying he would help you search for your relatives. However, even you didn't know the exact address of your family's ancestral home in Hangzhou. Brother Fan could only do his best. He said that if he gave you hope only for you to be disappointed, it would be better not to tell you first and wait until he found them. But today, your brother happened to have been located as well, so I thought, good things come in pairs; I might as well tell you everything at once and let you rejoice properly."
I stared at him in shock, my smile stiffening uncomfortably on my face.
Like an impossibly distant dream suddenly coming true, for a moment I couldn't tell if it was real. In a daze, I felt as though I were in a dream. Before my eyes, his smiling lips opened and closed. My ears buzzed, yet I could still hear the words "Hangzhou" and "searching for relatives."
I even seemed to see Young Master Fan before me, riding a great horse, silently traversing the streets of Hangzhou.
A hand waved before my eyes. "Why so stunned?"
I lowered my head to look at my skirt, ignoring his teasing. Taking a deep breath, I raised my head again and had already composed myself. Very seriously, I said, "Second Young Master, you treat me so kindly. How am I to repay you? You already have everything. It seems I can only serve you like an ox or a horse in the next life."
He turned to look at the desk. "There's no need to wait for the next life. If you truly wish to thank me, help me copy calligraphy models."
Master Cao served in court as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a veteran official of two reigns. Upright by nature, loyal to the sovereign and observant of propriety, though his official rank was not particularly high, he possessed immense prestige at court.
He was strict not only with himself but also with his eldest son, Cao Junlei—one could call it harsh. Though he was not in Yangzhou, he inspected his eldest son's academic progress every month.
One of these items was copying calligraphy models, requiring ten sheets a day, to be sent to the capital together at month's end.
Second Young Master sighed. "This month I was only preoccupied with going out with friends. There are still many characters left unwritten."
After returning, I first went to report back to Cao Yingshan.
When she heard that Young Master Fan had gone to Hangzhou on official business and wouldn't receive her letter for the time being, she was somewhat disappointed. But she quickly revived her spirits and had me change my clothes to go out with her.
I pleaded a chill and headache to ask for leave.
Returning to my room and closing the door, I began copying calligraphy models, imitating Second Young Master's handwriting.
At first I couldn't calm down, thinking now of when Xing'er would return, now of how great Young Master Fan's chances were of finding my family.
But as I wrote, my heart gradually settled. I didn't go out for dinner even in the evening, writing straight into the deep night until my hand could no longer hold the brush.
The next day, after breakfast, I planned to take the written sheets to Second Young Master.
Just as I reached his room, two servant women hurried over from the corridor and, without allowing me to speak, seized me and marched me away.
Madam Cao sat on a couch in a side chamber.
Morning light had not yet reached inside; the room was still somewhat dim. Only a slanted beam of white light fell by the doorway, and I knelt within that light.
An opened letter was thrown before me.
Madam Cao didn't speak to me. She only asked those below, "Have you investigated thoroughly? Was she carrying on a secret correspondence and seducing Lei'er?"
"It couldn't be clearer. It wasn't only Second Young Master—this letter of hers was addressed specifically to the Fan family's young master," one servant woman said.
"Our Cao family has always been proper and dignified, yet there is such a lowly creature among us. It is my fault for indulging these people too much."
"Madam, how should she be dealt with? Just hand her over to us quickly, lest we soil your eyes."
"Gather all the servants of the manor to watch. Beat her without restraint. Let's see who dares to do this again."
"Mother!"
Cao Yingshan's voice came from outside, and soon she hurried in. She knelt beside me and kowtowed. "I beg Mother to see clearly. I ordered Duo'er to deliver this letter. I know my own lack of talent, and having been on good terms with Young Master Fan since childhood, I occasionally discuss poetry and songs with him. Duo'er was merely following orders. I hope Mother will spare her."
I turned to look at her, unable to believe she would stand up for me.
Though I had done much for her these days and she treated me kindly, I was after all just a servant. How could she?
"Third Miss, you had best think this through. The contents of this letter don't seem like a discussion of poetry and songs. Even if you care nothing for your own reputation, you must consider the prestige of our Cao family."
Cao Yingshan said, "Mother's lecture is correct, but for Yingshan to have someone she admires is originally a matter of human nature."
"Hmph! If you were an uncultured wild girl, such behavior might be excusable. But now that you have done something to disgrace the family name, household punishment is absolutely necessary!"
"Yingshan is willing to accept punishment, but I beg Mother to release Duo'er." She knocked her head heavily against the floor.
"Miss...?" I was greatly shaken and was about to speak when Cao Yingshan said in a low voice, "Aren't you going to quickly kneel and thank Madam?"
"When a master makes a mistake, not only does the servant fail to offer a warning, but instead acts as a go-between. If we don't punish her this time, everyone will follow suit in the future. How would that do? You are you, but she cannot escape either. Someone come—take her out and beat her!"
"Wait!"
Second Young Master strode in. After paying his respects to Madam Cao, he said, "Mother, your son has an important matter to speak of."
"Last time, you pleaded for her. What do you intend to do this time?"
"Your son came precisely for this matter, for her—"
"Silence!"
A sharp shout rang out, and the jade ruyi scepter Madam Cao had been playing with flew straight at Second Young Master, shattering into pieces before him.