Melancholy Youth

The Young Master in Red approached them, his crimson robe accentuating his slightly gaunt face, tinged with a sickly pallor. He cast a fleeting glance at Wu Wei, then turned to Lingran and unexpectedly asked, “Did I frighten you yesterday?”

What a bewitching man, Lingran thought. If she hadn’t witnessed his depravity, she would have taken him for the gentlest and most noble of young lords. Remembering that shocking scene, she flushed scarlet, unable to find words, and could only shake her head repeatedly.

The Young Master in Red gestured casually ahead. “If there’s something you wish to discuss, let’s talk in the waterside pavilion.”

Lingran noticed he neither pursued the matter of her pretending to be cross-eyed, nor questioned Wu Wei’s reason for summoning him, giving the impression of someone easy to negotiate with. Her curiosity piqued, she followed them toward the pavilion.

By the water, the Young Master in Red leaned against the railing, gazing at the surface in silence.

Wu Wei, awkward and abashed, stepped forward and bowed.

“Speak. What is it?” The Young Master in Red seemed already to know that Wu Wei had falsely invoked the Prince of Xiang’s name. Judging by their manner, the two seemed to share a long-standing familiarity, though now they purposely kept their distance.

Only moments before, Wu Wei had been fired up about rescuing someone, but now, faced with the Young Master in Red, his cheeks turned bright pink and he stammered, speechless.

Lingran grew anxious. If not for his reputation as a womanizer, one might have suspected he harbored other inclinations! Fearing delay might bring trouble, she stepped forward, knelt before the Young Master in Red, and pleaded, “Young Master, the little immortal said you are a good man, so… so we dared to come and ask for your help. Please, let my sisters leave the Minister’s side and serve elsewhere.”

He slowly withdrew his gaze, fixing it on her face for a moment. “Last night your face was a mess, I didn’t see you clearly—turns out you’re not bad looking.”

Lingran was dumbfounded. What kind of answer was that?

He turned away again, gazing at the green waves, and spoke in a cool, distant tone, “A good man? I’ve never thought myself one. You’re probably still naive. In this world, pure-hearted good people don’t survive. There’s no point trying to save others. As for your sisters, they might not even want to leave the Minister’s side.”

His voice was ethereal and detached, like a monk gently tapping a wooden fish while reciting sutras—completely devoid of emotion, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to the lake.

“No, no, I don’t mean to take Miss Xu away. But there are three among them who truly do not wish to serve the Minister…” As soon as the words left her lips, Lingran grew uneasy, blaming herself for speaking too hastily, but it was too late to take them back.

Wu Wei quickly stepped forward, saying nothing, but bowed deeply to the Young Master in Red.

After a moment’s silence, the Young Master in Red suddenly asked, “If you had to exchange your own freedom for theirs, would you?”

“How… how would that work?” Lingran stammered, thinking this couldn’t be as simple as running a race—was he going to test her, as Peng Lun had?

“You would serve the Minister, and Wu Wei would take them to the Prince of Xiang’s manor.”

“I refuse.” Lingran stood up abruptly, thinking she wasn’t so charitable as that. If he truly meant to take her, it would be troublesome; she had to make her position clear.

He gave a hollow laugh, his smile reaching only his voice. His face, smooth as jade, remained expressionless, sending a chill through her.

“So much for the deep bonds of sisterhood—it’s all just talk and nothing more.” He rose, brushed his sleeve, and looked ready to leave at once.

Lingran, still unwilling to give up, pressed on, “Young Master, your terms aren’t fair. Even if I stay and they go to the Prince of Xiang’s manor, what difference does it make? Isn’t it all the same?”

Wu Wei finally interjected, “Of course it’s different. In the Myriad Images Garden, the Prince’s wives are nearly starving—there’s no room for new women vying for favor.”

“But the Prince can marry a thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth wife,” Lingran protested, feigning ignorance.

“You don’t understand. I’ll explain it to you later.” Wu Wei stepped in front of the Young Master in Red, forcing a polite smile. “Please, have a heart. I know you’re not that sort of person. Why should saving a few girls cost this one so dearly?”

The Young Master in Red cast Lingran a sidelong glance. “I would only have her serve as my maid. If she won’t even agree to that, how can I let the others go?”

“Only as a maid?” Lingran’s eyes brightened.

“What else? You’re barely grown—do you think I’d have you warm my bed?” A hint of mockery curled his lips at last, lending his face a touch of melancholy, like a prince cloaked in gloom whose bitter words one could almost overlook.

Lingran realized he was testing her. Puffing out her cheeks, she was at a loss for words. These ancients were all sharper than the next! Who said a modern girl could outwit them? They all seemed to take her for a fool.

The Young Master in Red looked at Wu Wei and said coldly, “This girl is truly simple-minded. I’m by the Minister’s side every day—do you think I lack for maids? Only a dolt like you would keep the company of a fool.”

Wu Wei, overjoyed, turned to Lingran, “Hurry and thank the Young Master in Red!”

Lingran finally understood he’d agreed to let the others go. Barely able to believe it, she cried out, “Thank you, Young Master! Thank you!”

The Young Master in Red shot Wu Wei a glance, lifted his foot, and left.

Lingran thought, meeting with the Young Master in Red was surely no easy feat. Judging by his rapport with Wu Wei, she seized the moment to ask, “Young Master! I’m serving at Lanze Cottage now—how much will my monthly wages be? Madam Li said it only counts when you settle it! Since we’ve met by chance, why not decide it now?”

Wu Wei was stunned, unable to believe her boldness.

The Young Master in Red was clearly surprised as well. He paused, slowly turned his head, and as a breeze swept by, his crimson robe billowed and a few strands of hair brushed his pale, handsome face. In the depths of his dark eyes, a trace of confusion seemed to flicker.

Lingran was dazed by his ethereal, solitary bearing. Wu Wei mocked, “You’re quick to curry favor, aren’t you? The moment you see the Young Master in Red, you forget all about me. In such a hurry to cozy up to him?”

Lingran retorted inwardly, “What nonsense is this?” It was merely a pragmatic question—why drag romance into it?

Looking back, she saw the Young Master in Red had already gone, saying something to the servant at the gate of the Hall of Virtue, tossing him a small token, and drifting away.

That servant hurried over. “Young Master Wu, the Young Master in Red orders me to take you to the Mirror Garden to fetch the girls. He said to send three maids to the Myriad Images Garden for the Prince of Xiang.”

Lingran saw a wooden token with a black tassel dangling from his hand.

Worried the Minister of Chu might awaken and create complications, the two hastened with the servant toward the Mirror Garden.

The steward on duty was still Chief Steward Yu. Seeing the Young Master in Red’s token, he looked at Wu Wei and Lingran, surprise flickering across his wrinkled face, but he asked no questions and sent a lackey to fetch the girls.

At this moment, Lingran regretted she’d only asked for three. Had she known the Young Master in Red would be so obliging, she would have taken Luo Xianghong and Wu Yunxian as well. One was gentle and compliant, the other honest and dull—leaving them here meant they would surely suffer, and she feared in the future they’d resent her for saving some while neglecting others…