Page 42 of Silk and Sensibility

Meilin asked Begonia to stop combing. Captain Bai and the temple trip was one thing, but the health of Meilin’s one and only zither student was a cause of real concern. “How did Sandy get sick? She was fine at dinner last night.”

Ming­ming shuffled her feet under her skirt. Without bindings, they had grown even larger than Meilin’s. “There might have been an incident with Treasure and Fortune and some stolen rice cakes after dinner.”

Meilin groaned. Of course her youngest cousins were the source of the trouble. Since Ming­ming knew about the issue before anyone else, she must have been involved too. There would be time to deal with her later.

Right now, however, Meilin had more urgent business to attend to. She was experienced with upset stomachs, and she wasn’t going to let Sandy suffer. Nor was she going to let the trip be cancelled because Captain Bai could not guard them.

“Begonia, let’s go to the kitchen and make some ginger soup for Sandy.”

In the end, the visit to Hanshan Temple continued as planned, not because of Meilin’s efforts to heal Sandy, though she responded well to her ginger soup, but because Madame Pang appealed to Aunt Meng, who talked to Uncle Meng, who persuaded his head guard, Tian, to forgo his holiday break and escort the group instead of Captain Bai.

Meilin felt cheerful even when Shen Lusi boarded the carriage and sat next to Ailin. Outside the window, Begonia was chatting with Tian, a favorite of hers since he accompanied them on the move from Nuolan Garden. Further up ahead, Master Wei rode on horseback, looking extremely dashing.

Looking out the window kept Meilin’s stomach settled, but she was soon drawn into conversation.

“Did you all find my Enze handsome and charming when he visited Nuolan Garden?” Shen Lusi asked. “Sometimes I’m amazed at how lucky I am.”

Meilin raised her eyebrows, but Ailin somehow maintained her calm despite Shen Lusi’s obvious provocation.

“Master Fan is a fine scholar,” Ailin said politely.

Meilin felt sick. Was this how Shen Lusi always spoke to Ailin? Meilin didn’t know how her sister could put up with it.

She smiled innocently at Shen Lusi. “Enze got along so well with our family in Nanjing that I already see him as a brother. His only weakness is that he’s too nice to everyone, whether they’re worthwhile or not.”

Ailin didn’t react.

Shen Lusi kept a saccharine smile pasted to her face, but one of her eyes twitched. “I agree with you. He’s so purehearted that he sometimes needs reminders of who to stay away from. I was so glad to set him straight when he came back to Hangzhou. He had grown quite confused in Nanjing.”

“Only a desperate woman holds on to a man who doesn’t love her.”

“Only the vilest people look down on others’ promises.”

“Did Enze really promise to marry you? Somehow, I find that hard to believe.” Meilin had been wondering about that for a while, but Ailin always discouraged her from asking. Now, trapped in a carriage with Shen Lusi, Meilin didn’t see any reason to hold back.

“Do you have any particular reason to doubt my Enze’s devotion to me?” Shen Lusi asked as she leaned in. The overpowering fragrance of her herb sachet triggered Meilin’s nausea.

Meilin wanted to tell Shen Lusi about Enze’s promise to propose to Ailin, but opening her mouth meant her breakfast was more likely to come out than words.

Ailin nudged her with her foot, as if warning her not to respond. Reluctantly accepting Ailin’s secret message, Meilin pulled the window curtain wide to get more fresh air. She still wanted to confront Shen Lusi, but for now, she had to get her stomach to settle down.

Meilin’s frustration remained as the party arrived at Hanshan Temple. Aunt Meng took the women to a prayer hall while the men went to see the temple’s famous bell. The reverence expected while praying meant Meilin couldn’t talk to Shen Lusi or Ailin, and being separated from the men meant she barely even exchanged a glance with Master Wei before they went their separate ways.

The kneeling mats were thin, and Meilin had a hard time cleansing her mind. Though the incense of worshippers permeated the temple grounds, it was hard to feel faith or even goodwill toward humanity near a two-faced snake like Shen Lusi.

Meilin was so upset, both emotionally and physically, that she didn’t have an appetite for the midday meal provided by the temple. Even rice porridge and pickled vegetables felt too rich.

Ever the devout believer, Aunt Meng wanted to pray more after lunch, but Meilin had reached her limit. As the rest of the women returned to the prayer hall, she snuck away for a moment of solitude, leaning against a camphor tree in a quiet courtyard.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Master Wei asked, suddenly walking toward her. His hair was combed into a neat topknot, and his blue-green coat was embroidered with bamboo, a symbol of steadfastness that suited him.

“What makes you think I’m unwell?” Meilin pushed herself away from the tree and brushed her hands off on her skirt.

“Perhaps because you seem to be hiding from everyone.” With his hands behind his back, he bent over so low that he looked up at her through long, dark eyelashes. “Unless you’re hiding from me?”

“Of course not,” Meilin said as her heartbeat grew louder in her ears. Unlike Ailin, who had pressured her to keep quiet even that morning, Master Wei always wanted to hear her thoughts. He was a sympathetic listener who was perpetually curious. She felt like she could tell him anything.

“Why are you here and not with the other ladies?” he asked.