The clear, crisp sound of a flute floated out from the theater building. Everyone who had been chatting or whispering quietly fell silent.
Even the uncomfortable gaze from Third Miss Xia, which had made Xie Lanqi feel so uneasy, was finally withdrawn.
“Mother, what play are they performing now?”
Xie Lanqi had little interest in opera and rarely listened to it. She quietly asked Madam Liang.
“It’s the scene ‘The Scholar Drunkenly Wields His Brush’ from The Record of the Startled Swan,” Madam Liang replied with great enthusiasm. “It’s performed by the famous Jiangnan Daya Troupe in the delicate Shuimo tune. I’ve heard for a long time that their performances are excellent, but I never managed to catch one. This time it’s all thanks to Grand Princess Baotai. The actor playing Li Taibai is Yu Feiquan — he’s extremely popular right now. His singing, stage movements, and bearing are all impeccable.”
“Li Taibai? Is this a story about the Immortal Poet?” Xie Lanqi asked since she didn’t understand.
“Here, read it yourself. The play has already started — listen carefully.” Madam Liang stuffed the libretto pamphlet into her hand and then ignored her completely, fully absorbed in the performance.
Xie Lanqi held the libretto and stared in astonishment. She had never seen Madam Liang look like this before — exactly like those middle-aged women from her previous life who chased after celebrities.
Not daring to disturb her mother again, Xie Lanqi quietly read through the lyrics. It turned out this scene told the famous story of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei admiring peonies at the Fragrant Pavilion. The emperor found the old music and lyrics unsatisfactory, so he summoned the Immortal Poet Li Taibai to compose new verses. Drunken, Li Taibai entered the palace, playfully ordered the powerful eunuch Gao Lishi to grind ink and remove his boots, and then swiftly wrote three poems of Qingping Yue in a burst of inspiration.
The story was very familiar to Xie Lanqi. Listening to it now, she finally began to appreciate its charm.
The actor portraying the Immortal Poet Li Taibai had an impressive appearance. To show the drunken state, he deliberately walked with a swaying, floating gait — yet he still looked like a jade tree in the wind, free and elegant, truly capturing the transcendent, otherworldly aura of the exiled immortal poet.
Before she realized it, Xie Lanqi had become completely drawn in. By the time the scene ended, it was already noon.
A maid from the princess’s residence softly announced, “Madam, Miss, if you wish to have a meal, you may go to the outer hall. Or you may have some light refreshments here. In a quarter of an hour, the full performance of The Jade Hairpin Record will begin.”
The opera-obsessed Grand Princess Baotai remained firmly seated. Madam Liang naturally stayed as well — the complete Jade Hairpin Record would take half the afternoon. Xie Lanqi, however, kept very regular mealtimes. “Mother, I’m going to eat.”
Madam Liang knew her daughter’s quirks and didn’t force her. “Go ahead. Be careful in everything you do.”
She gave Die Meng several more instructions before letting them leave.
As soon as Xie Lanqi stood up, the other young ladies who had come with their elders also rose one after another.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry and follow them.” The current matron of the Xia family — Third Miss Xia’s aunt — pushed her niece and urged her on.
Third Miss Xia swayed slightly, her eyes red-rimmed. Several nearby madams cast discreet glances her way, quietly feeling sympathy for this girl who had lost her parents early and now lived under her uncle and aunt’s control.
“How long has it been since the Heir of Marquis Anyuan last visited? Your brother has already boasted so much at school. If he can’t produce fine swords and good horses when the time comes, won’t he lose all face?” Her aunt hated how poor the Xia family had become. She had long treated the Heir of Marquis Anyuan as her future nephew-in-law. Now that the “cooked duck” was about to fly away, how could she bear it? “It must be because of the Jing’an Earl Manor — truly hateful. That girl from the Xie family is said to have a soft personality and can’t even bear children. You go over first and find a way to make her lose face. Even if the formal title is settled later, she won’t dare act superior in front of you.”
Her aunt had almost openly suggested sending her to become a concubine. Third Miss Xia’s fingernails dug into her palms. Zhao Jin had clearly promised to marry her properly as principal wife — she refused to believe he would let her become a concubine.
“Ling’er will listen to Aunt.” No matter what she felt inside, in front of her aunt, Third Miss Xia always appeared gentle and obedient.
……
After lunch, Xie Lanqi yawned. Sleepiness overwhelmed her. She had the habit of taking an afternoon nap — at this hour she always felt drowsy. In this state, she couldn’t possibly return to the performance.
To shake off the drowsiness, Xie Lanqi took Die Meng and the two of them walked out of the hall. Just outside was the vast garden of Grand Princess Baotai’s residence — trees, flowers, rockeries, pavilions, everything one could wish for.
“Miss, that pavilion over there isn’t too remote, and there’s no one inside. Let’s rest there for a while.”
Xie Lanqi looked over. It was indeed a good spot — backed by a rockery, screened by flowers and trees in front, with open views to the left and right. Anyone could see clearly into the pavilion, so nothing suspicious could easily happen. She walked in.
“Miss, look — so many butterflies!”
No one knew what plants had been grown around this pavilion, but they especially attracted butterflies. Several pale pink-and-white butterflies fluttered slowly past, their wings trailing two long, ribbon-like tails — truly beautiful.
Because her name contained the character for “butterfly,” Die Meng had always loved them especially. Her eyes followed the butterflies without stopping.
Xie Lanqi watched the butterflies flying freely and joyfully. Zhuangzi’s dream of the butterfly came to mind, and a trace of melancholy appeared in her eyes. She simply closed them.
A warm breeze blew, the sun shone warmly. Her eyelids grew heavy. Resting her head on Die Meng’s shoulder, Xie Lanqi fell asleep.
“Ah — missed again.” A girl’s voice complained.
Five familiar-looking young ladies, chasing after the drifting butterflies, arrived at the pavilion chattering noisily.
In her dream, Xie Lanqi had turned into a butterfly. She flew and flew, and finally saw a two-story building — that was her home! She was so excited. Just a little farther and she would be home.
Just as she was about to reach it, a loud shout rang out. Her body jerked reflexively. The world spun. Xie Lanqi’s eyes half-opened; she was still half in the dream, dazed.
“Oh my — so Second Miss Xie is hiding here sleeping.”
Die Meng watched as those butterfly-chasing girls entered the pavilion.
Xie Lanqi woke up fully. Her sweet dream had been interrupted, and her mood soured. Hearing the sarcastic tone, she glanced over coldly.
The round-faced girl who spoke seemed to be from some earl’s family — they had never met. But standing beside her was a petite beauty who looked very familiar. It was none other than Third Miss Xia — the one who had been staring at her the whole time.
“This young lady really has sharp eyes and a clear voice,” Xie Lanqi said slowly, glancing at her with a smile. “I’m sure many people have praised you for it.”
“Of course,” the round-faced girl replied proudly, lifting her chin, thinking it was a compliment.
After she answered, her hand was tugged by Xia Zhenling. Seeing the others’ expressions turn strange, she finally realized. “Are you mocking me?”
In the past, Xie Lanqi would never have bothered arguing with this kind of girlish squabble, but right now she was in a bad mood. “I was peacefully napping in the pavilion. The moment you opened your mouth, you said I was ‘hiding’ — if that’s not sharp eyes, what is? And when you saw me sleeping, your voice was so loud it startled the birds into flight — if that’s not a clear, crisp voice, what is? Every word is true. Where does the idea of ‘mocking’ come from?”
“You… sharp-tongued little wretch…”
Xia Zhenling quickly held back the round-faced girl, whose face had turned bright red. “Don’t stoop to her level. This is Grand Princess Baotai’s residence.”
The two girls behind them also joined in urging her to stop. The round-faced girl glared a few times, then put on an air of magnanimity, pretending to be the bigger person and let it go.
“Miss, that one is Miss Yuan of the Yuan family, and that one…” Die Meng whispered. By coincidence, the round-faced girl was indeed surnamed Yuan.
Xie Lanqi watched them coldly. It was actually rather amusing. She gave a light laugh and waited for them to leave.
The group realized that Second Miss Xie was no pushover. Afraid of making a scene and losing face themselves, they decided not to cause more trouble and prepared to go.
But the youngest-looking girl, who was trailing at the very back and hadn’t said a single comforting word to the round-faced one, didn’t move. She kept staring straight at Xie Lanqi.
“Miss Deng, let’s go,” Xia Zhenling said, gently taking her arm and coaxing her.
“You all go ahead,” Miss Deng replied. She pulled her arm free. A faint blush rose on her face, as if she had made up her mind. She walked straight toward Xie Lanqi.
Xia Zhenling bit her lip, looking aggrieved. The round-faced girl stamped her foot and grabbed the other two. “Let’s go watch too.”
As the four approached, they heard Xie Lanqi say with a smile, “This phoenix hairpin — I drew the design myself and had it custom-made at the silversmith. If Miss Deng likes it, I’ll give you the pattern later.”
Miss Deng thanked her delightedly. She had always loved dangling tassels, ribbons, and anything flowing and lively. The moment she saw the phoenix hairpin with its pearl tassels hanging from Xie Lanqi’s hair, she had been captivated.
Hearing this, all four girls instinctively turned their eyes to Xie Lanqi’s head. The phoenix hairpin rested against her thick, jet-black hair. Its beak held a section of emerald-green paulownia branch, from which six strands of pearl tassels dangled, swaying gently against her fair cheeks — magnificent yet full of life.
Xia Zhenling secretly thought: If this hairpin were on my head, it would look even better. How unfair the heavens are — I’m a pitiful orphan who has suffered every hardship, while Second Miss Xie is the legitimate daughter of an earl’s household.
She was good at reading people’s expressions. From their faces she could tell that, to varying degrees, they all liked it. If Xie Lanqi were smart, she would offer each of them a copy of the pattern. Once they accepted a favor, they would likely stop ostracizing her — at least on the surface.
“Pure gold phoenix hairpin, emerald paulownia branch, perfectly matched pearls… The Jing’an Earl Manor really is wealthy,” Xia Zhenling said softly, her words carrying a pointed meaning.
The round-faced girl, who shared the closest understanding with her, immediately chimed in loudly and mockingly: “Wealthy? The Jing’an Earl Manor isn’t just wealthy — it’s extravagantly wasteful.”
She had heard from her mother that the imperial censor’s impeachment of the Jing’an Earl Manor centered on charges of “extravagant and boundless luxury.” After saying it, she looked smug.
Xia Zhenling, however, fell silent. She quietly stepped a few paces away from the round-faced girl, subtly reducing her own presence.
Xie Lanqi’s smile faded. She glanced at Third Miss Xia, who seemed ready to slip away now that her goal was achieved. Zhao Jin really had good taste — the girl he liked was clever and quick-witted to an excessive degree.
“Just one phoenix hairpin, and Third Miss Xia and Miss Yuan are already calling it ‘wealth’ and ‘extravagance.’ Lanqi feels quite uneasy hearing that.” Xie Lanqi deliberately paused, looking at each of them in turn. Then she patted her chest lightly as if relieved. “But after looking at Miss Deng and the other two young ladies, I can finally relax.”
Miss Deng burst out laughing. The three of them were also adorned with gold and jade. “Sister Xie, you’re teasing us. The hairpins on our heads aren’t as unique as yours. You still have to give us copies of the designs you drew yourself.”
Xie Lanqi smiled and agreed at once. “I have patterns for hairpins, dangling hair ornaments, earrings — everything. If the three of you don’t mind, your older sister will give each of you one.”
The other two girls glanced left and right, then quietly shifted closer to Miss Deng.
Having won over two neutral parties, Xie Lanqi ignored Miss Yuan entirely. Instead she fixed her gaze — with a half-smile — on the seemingly gentle and harmless Third Miss Xia.
Under her stare, Xia Zhenling lowered her head.
“What are you looking at?” Miss Yuan exploded. “No matter how many pearls and jewels you pile on your head, you’re still just vulgar. Sister Ling is elegant and pure all over — she doesn’t chase after wealth. That’s true lotus rising from clear water.”
“Doesn’t chase after wealth?” Xie Lanqi laughed out loud. “Third Miss Xia, that gold hairpin on your head…”
Xia Zhenling could no longer stay calm. Her eyes flickered with panic, and her face drained of color inch by inch.