Page 61 of Silk and Sensibility

“Not at all, Miss Duan. Both your skills and your talent are very apparent. It is your spirit that I would like to see more of. Is there something you’re afraid of that is preventing you from painting more boldly?”

Ailin tried to parse through Madame Qiu’s question. Below the surface of her words on art, she could have been inquiring about Ailin’s political intentions. She needed to provide an answer that could address both layers of questioning without being too obvious, in case her supposition was incorrect.

“I paint familiar subjects because I am a simple girl who has seen very little of the world outside my home. I am afraid of offending people with my ignorance if I am too bold.” This statement was both objectively true and an allusion to Meilin’s recent blunder at West Lake.

“If you didn’t worry about offending others, what would you paint?”

Ailin considered the question carefully. She had never been good at refraining from worry, so it was challenging to imagine a situation in which she was free from constraints. Furthermore, her answer needed to refer back to the problem of Magistrate Gao and the help she needed for the Jiang family.

“If I were to follow my heart and do as I please, I would paint people living in the mountains, peaceful and free from politics.” Ailin’s heart thumped. Was her answer too blunt?

Madame Cai, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, gripped a silk handkerchief tightly, looking as tense as Ailin felt.

Madame Qiu finally spoke. “You remind me of your father, Miss Duan. He was a scholar known for loving peace.”

Ailin was barely able to hide her shock. “You knew my father?”

Madame Qiu smiled. “Prefect Yao worked under your father at the Hanlin Academy many years ago. He was excited to learn that one of his late mentor’s daughters was actively creating and selling paintings. That was why I was looking out for your work.”

Ailin choked back unexpected emotion. “It’s an honor to meet people who knew my father. I hope I’m not a disappointment to his legacy.”

“Not at all. You have great potential. I want to see what you could do if you pushed yourself beyond the boundaries in your mind. With your skills, you could paint works grander than The Riverside at Qingming Festival.”

Since Madame Qiu had complimented her, it was Ailin’s turn to be a little braver, despite her nervousness. “Making waves attracts negative attention.”

“Are you talking about your younger sister, Miss Meilin?”

Since Madame Qiu had broached the topic, everything was now out in the open, and Ailin felt freer as a result. “My sister behaved inappropriately, but the consequences of her actions have been unduly harsh.”

Madame Qiu waved her hand as if swatting at a gnat. “Magistrate Gao was looking for excuses to persecute the Jiang family.”

“You’ve heard about our family’s troubles?” Ailin was not surprised that Madame Qiu was well-informed, but the question of whether she would help remained.

“The Jiangs are not the first family Magistrate Gao has tried to extort. Prefect Yao has suspected him of corruption for a long time, but the old fox has always been good at covering his tracks. If you have evidence of his misdoing, the prefect’s office would be happy to investigate.”

Ailin glanced at Madame Cai, who was incapable of holding back her joy. “Do you really mean it? Our family has plenty of evidence.”

Madame Qiu poured another cup of tea. “I’m glad our interests are as aligned as our taste in art.”

Ailin couldn’t believe this turn of events. Not only did Prefect Yao know her father, but he also needed help from the Jiangs, and Madame Qiu was willing to facilitate the exchange. Ailin’s family might be able to solve the issue of Magistrate Gao without accruing social debt! They still had to deal with the corrupt magistrate, but now they had allies. Ailin was so happy that she could cry.

“Thank you for everything, ma’am. I will work harder than ever so I can one day bring you and Prefect Yao a painting worthy of your esteem.” Her resolve was as firm as her gratitude was deep.

Madame Qiu smiled. “I look forward to your future work, Duan Ailin.”

因愛而卑微，因愛而奮發。

Perhaps I’ve done enough moping. I know you wouldn’t respect me if you knew how low I’ve been. As the seasons change, nothing between us has improved, but I can’t keep drifting like I have been. I need to become a man you can be proud of, don’t I? Even if we can’t be together, I need to be better, braver, nobler.

—Unsent letter from Fan Enze to Duan Ailin

Chapter 24

Meilin

Meilin hid in her room not because she didn’t know what was happening outside, but because the outside world was more than she could handle. The thought of facing all her mistakes was overwhelming, as if she had fallen off a cliff and into the sea, with wave after wave crashing down on her. As she was pushed lower and lower, what she found was not the dragon palace of legends but only frigid darkness.

She held the jade tiger pendant limply in her hand, unable to summon the energy to dispose of it. Everything she ever believed about romance, courage, and ideals had turned out to be false. She thought Master Wei loved her, only to learn she had imagined his affection. Zì zuò duō qíng.