Chapter 30: Exchanging Tokens of Affection

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Jiang Nian had never known calligraphy in his previous life. Fortunately, the original owner of this body in his present life had been highly skilled at it, and that talent had passed to him along with the body.

Moreover, calligraphy held considerable importance in this era, and proficiency in it brought many advantages. Ever since arriving in this world, he had not only studied and practiced martial arts diligently, but had also devoted himself to calligraphy.

Thus, Xue Baochai felt that his handwriting was excellent.

The lyric “Immortal by the River: Willow Catkins” astonished her even more. She considered it exquisite and was deeply enamored of it—indeed, she felt it was the poem she had loved most among all the verse she had encountered thus far.

For one thing, it was truly a superb composition, worthy of taking its place among the immortal lyrics handed down through the ages.

For another, although it appeared on the surface to describe willow catkins, it was in fact using the object to express the poet’s feelings, with profound meaning beneath its delicate imagery. Xue Baochai greatly admired the sentiments conveyed by the lyric.

And Jiang Nian knew she would love it.

It would have been strange if she did not.

In *The Dream of the Red Chamber*, this was the lyric Xue Baochai wrote in the Grand View Garden. It expressed her temperament, her attitude toward life, and her ambition to rise above others by relying on a favorable wind.

“I never imagined that Jiang... despite being so young, he could possess such astonishing talent in poetry and lyrics, and even compose something I would love so deeply.”

“He excels in martial arts, and he is skilled in calligraphy and poetry as well. He truly is accomplished in both the civil and martial arts!”

Xue Baochai could not help praising him inwardly once more.

Seeing that Xue Pan had noticed her daze, he reminded her, “Sister, have you finished looking? If you have, put it away quickly. It would be best if Mother didn’t discover it.”

Xue Baochai came to herself with a start and hurriedly put away the flower paper. Deliberately, she spat at Xue Pan, “What sort of elder brother are you? You actually helped him deliver this to me!”

Xue Pan laughed. “After drinking together today, I’ve grown much closer to him. Besides, since you’ve already been promised to him as a concubine, he and I may as well be considered relatives.”

Aunt Xue intended to ask Wang Ziteng to suppress Jiang Nian and have the betrothal of her daughter as a concubine revoked. At present, only Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai knew of the matter. Mother and daughter had kept it from Xue Pan because he was notoriously loose-lipped; had they told him, Jiang Nian might have learned of it before even reaching the capital.

Xue Baochai flushed with anger and embarrassment. “What relative? Don’t talk nonsense! You’re becoming less and less like an elder brother. The way you speak, one would think you’re eager for me to become his concubine. Do you have any idea how aggrieved and humiliated I feel because of this?”

Xue Pan gave an awkward laugh, then said, “Sister, actually... actually, I think Brother Jiang is quite a good man. He has a fine appearance, is skilled in martial arts, and though I couldn’t make much sense of the flower paper he wrote for you today, even I could tell that it was beautifully done. He truly is accomplished in both the civil and martial arts, and his family background is probably extraordinary as well... The matter of you becoming his concubine has already been settled, and even the written agreement has been drawn up. What good will come of dwelling on your grievance? You might as well think more about his merits. That way, you’ll feel better inside...”

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Before he could finish, Xue Baochai interrupted him in even greater embarrassment and annoyance. “Enough! I don’t want to hear any of that. Just like the flower paper you brought me today—I don’t care to look at it, hmph!”

She quickly turned and opened the cabin door, but then glanced back and reminded him with a frown, “You must keep today’s flower paper a secret. You absolutely cannot let Mother find out. Otherwise, she’ll scold me—and you as well.”

Only after saying this did she leave the cabin.

Xue Pan stared blankly for a moment, then muttered, “You don’t care to look at his flower paper? Hah! From what I saw, you were quite fond of it. You were so absorbed that you even hurried to put it away!”

...

...

After leaving Xue Pan’s cabin, Xue Baochai stood by the door in a daze, lost in thought for a while.

When she had finished pondering, she bit her lower lip and quietly made her way to the cabin where she and Aunt Xue stayed. The door was open only a crack—just wide enough for her to see Ying’er standing inside.

In a low voice, she called, “Ying’er.”

When Xue Pan had secretly brought her the flower paper earlier, she had thought him furtive and suspicious.

In the blink of an eye, she herself had become just as furtive.

Ying’er, standing inside, heard her voice and looked toward the crack in the door. Upon seeing Xue Baochai outside and noticing her signaling with her eyes, Ying’er—her mistress’s personal maid—immediately understood that the young lady had some secret matter to discuss. Taking advantage of Aunt Xue’s inattention, she slipped outside.

“What is it, Miss?” Ying’er asked softly.

“Go into the room and quietly bring out the pair of shoes I made recently. Don’t let Mother discover them. I’ll wait here by the door.”

Ying’er murmured her assent and went back into the cabin.

After a while, taking advantage of Aunt Xue’s inattention, Ying’er brought out a pair of shoes. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, “Why have you suddenly ordered me to fetch these shoes, Miss? Are you planning to give them to Master?”

She knew that Xue Baochai had made the shoes for Xue Pan.

Xue Baochai glared at her. “Don’t ask questions. This is a secret. Only you and I are to know.”

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Ying’er acknowledged this, though her confusion only deepened.

Only then did Xue Baochai turn and head toward the cabin where Nanny Xie was staying. As she walked, she quietly exchanged the pair of shoes Aunt Xue had ordered a servant to buy from the ready-made clothing shop at the water station for the pair she had made with her own hands.

Ying’er witnessed the entire scene.

Her eyes widened in astonishment. She thought to herself, “The young lady actually intends to give those handmade shoes to Master Jiang! How can this be? Master Jiang has forced her to become his concubine, and she has been terribly aggrieved by it. Why, then, would she give him shoes she made herself?”

After much hesitation, Xue Baochai had originally decided not to give Jiang Nian a birthday present.

But the flower paper he had suddenly sent her had caused her to change her mind despite herself. She found herself wanting to give Jiang Nian a gift of her own.

Naturally, she could not let Aunt Xue know about it.

Xue Baochai also felt that Jiang Nian ought not to know. If that overbearing Master Jiang learned that she had given him a birthday present—and that the shoes had been made by her own hands—he would think of her even more insistently...

Thus, Xue Baochai secretly exchanged the shoes she had made herself for the purchased pair.

That way, when Nanny Xie delivered clothing, shoes, and socks to Jiang Nian, she could say that they had all been bought by servants at the ready-made clothing shop at the water station on Aunt Xue’s orders.

Her own feelings would remain hidden among them. Even if he never knew, it was enough that she herself did...

Soon afterward, Xue Baochai arrived at the cabin where Nanny Xie was staying and handed everything over properly. As she watched Nanny Xie walk away, a thought suddenly began to trouble her:

“Today, he sent me a piece of flower paper with a lyric I love dearly written upon it, and I secretly gave him a pair of shoes I made with my own hands. This... doesn’t this make it seem as though we’ve exchanged tokens of affection?”

At the thought, Xue Baochai’s heart tightened, and her cheeks grew hot. She wanted to ask Nanny Xie for the handmade shoes back, but it was already too late. Nanny Xie had left the Xue family’s vessel.

“Xue Baochai, Xue Baochai—how could you have become so foolish today? How did your mind suddenly go blank, leading you to do something so absurd...?”

Xue Baochai stood rooted to the spot, secretly reproaching herself.

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