Matron Liu didn’t let either boy off, escorting both to the main hall. The moon hung over the willow trees, and the lit lanterns cast a dim glow, which did little to dispel the heavy shadows below the rafters and pillars. Inside, Lady Xiao and Xie Bingfeng sat at the head of the room. The shadows obscured Xie Bingfeng’s face, obfuscating his expression.
Xie Jinglan knelt and bowed his head. “I’ve come to confess my wrongdoings, Father.”
Xie Bingfeng’s voice was disappointed. “I thought you were a good and studious child, but it seems you’re just as unruly as the rest. Where were you planning to go?”
“To the temple fair,” Xie Jinglan said meekly, his face the picture of chastened obedience. “I know I was wrong. Please punish me severely. I won’t do it again.”
Watching his son’s meek and docile apology, Xie Bingfeng relented. “Fine. You’re young, and it’s normal to want to play. Go back to the library and study hard. I’ll let it go this time.”
Xie Jinglan bowed again and was about to leave when Lady Xiao spoke up. “Wait, my lord. Our Jinglan has always been diligent. You’re rarely home, so you wouldn’t know, but I’ve seen how hard he studies. He’s never done anything like sneaking out to a temple fair before. Someone must’ve led him astray.”
Xie Bingfeng’s gaze shifted to Xiahou Lian, his eyes filling with anger. “Xiahou Lian, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Before Xiahou Lian could speak, Xie Jinglan interjected, “Father, Xiahou Lian did mention the temple fair to me, but it was my decision to go. I’ve always wanted to go to festivals, but the mistress kept me home out of concern for my health. Still, I wished very much to go but was too afraid to ask. That’s why, today, I made the foolish decision to sneak out. I know I was wrong. Punish me if you must.”
Xie Bingfeng glanced at Lady Xiao and coughed. “Your mother meant well. If you wanted to go, you should just have asked. We wouldn’t have kept you confined.”
Lady Xiao, caught off guard, was furious. She cast a meaningful look at Matron Liu, who stepped forward.
“My lord, there’s something else you don’t know,” Matron Liu said cryptically.
Xie Bingfeng frowned. “Speak plainly. We don’t tolerate nonsense here.”
Matron Liu replied quickly, “Xiahou Lian not only encouraged the young master to go to the temple fair but also took him to listen to songs at the Wanxiang Tower brothel. Who knows how much money they spent? The young master was always well-behaved, but Xiahou Lian has been using up his monthly allowance. Just the other day, while cleaning the young master’s bed, I found…”
Xie Bingfeng tamped down on his anger. “Found what?”
Matron Liu pretended to hesitate. “I found a handkerchief embroidered with words—something about ‘your heart’ and ‘bedrock.’”12 She sighed. “I’ve never read or studied, so I don’t know what they meant.”
Lady Xiao covered her crimson lips with a fan, her eyes gleaming with predatory delight. “My lord, just look at this Xiahou Lian. He’s a true scourge. He not only refuses to study, he’s also leading Jinglan astray.”
“You’re lying!” Xiahou Lian shouted. “I’ve never been to Wanxiang Tower!”
“If you don’t believe me,” said Matron Liu, “search his room for leftover money. And search the young master’s person. He carries that handkerchief with him daily.”
“Father,” said Xie Jinglan, “we’ve never been to Wanxiang Tower, and the only person who cleans my room is Xiahou Lian. When did Matron Liu ever set foot inside it? She’s lying. You can summon the servants from Qiuwu Courtyard to confirm that.”
Xie Jinglan was starting to panic. Damn it, he thought. Lady Xiao was clearly after Xiahou Lian. Xiahou Lian had spent his entire monthly allowance on snacks, so how could he have money left? Matron Liu must have planted the handkerchief somehow, so they absolutely couldn’t let themselves be searched.
And how come she brought up Wanxiang Tower? There were countless brothels along Jinling’s Qinhuai River. Why fixate on Wanxiang Tower?
Lady Xiao raised her voice. “We’ll question the servants but check you as well. Servants, search them!”
Maids immediately stepped forward and began thoroughly searching Xie Jinglan. In the course of doing so, one maid reached into the lining of his jacket and pulled out a bright-red handkerchief. To the onlookers, she appeared to have taken it from near Xie Jinglan’s chest, though it had really been hidden in the jacket’s lining.
At the sight of the handkerchief, Xie Jinglan and Xiahou Lian went pale.
Lady Xiao feigned sorrow. “You’re so young, and you’ve already picked up such vile habits. Whatever will become of you? Xiahou Lian, Dai-xiansheng freed you from servitude and took you in. The lord has even allowed you to stay by the third young master’s side as a schoolmate. And this is how you repay us? By leading the young master astray? What were you thinking?!”
Xiahou Lian was speechless. He could only panic silently.
Xie Bingfeng took the red handkerchief, the overwhelming scent of perfume nearly making him sneeze. In the corner was a short poem, signed Liu Xiangnu. The sight made his blood boil.
Liu Xiangnu was the full pseudonym of Lady Liu, Wanxiang Tower’s top courtesan. She was notoriously selective and rarely entertained guests. Even Xie Bingfeng had gone to considerable effort composing countless poems in the hopes of winning her favor. He also had a handkerchief embroidered with her name, though the poem on his read, May I be the star, and you the moon, shining brightly together every night.13
Was Lady Liu mass-producing such handkerchiefs? Handing them out to every patron, each with a different poem?
Xie Bingfeng didn’t know whether to be angrier at Xie Jinglan for visiting brothels at such a young age, at Lady Liu for her mass-produced handkerchiefs, or at the knowledge that he and his son had unwittingly shared the same courtesan. He picked up a teacup and hurled it at Xie Jinglan, drenching him in tea. The cup shattered against the floor.
The room fell silent. Xie Bingfeng threw the handkerchief to the ground. “You little brat! What have you done?!” he roared. “Why do you have Lady Liu’s handkerchief?”
Though the teacup had struck Xie Jinglan, he remained expressionless. He picked up the handkerchief, examined it, and tossed it back to the ground. “This handkerchief isn’t mine.”
Xiahou Lian leaned in to look as well. Seeing the name “Liu Xiangnu” in the corner, his expression grew complicated.
Lady Xiao fixed her hair and sighed. “Remember how grand the Xie family’s gathering at Yanbo Lake was, my lord? Yet only this boy caught Dai-xiansheng’s eye. You thought the Xie family had finally produced a promising seedling, someone to bring more glory to our ancestors. But in the end, he’s still young and easily led astray.” Glancing at Xiahou Lian, she added, “This matter mustn’t reach your friends, or they’ll mock us.”
Xie Bingfeng had always valued his reputation over his life. Even if his insides were rotten, he could gild them with a gold-and-jade veneer. Dai Shengyan’s recognition of Xie Jinglan had initially brought Xie Bingfeng great pride; scholars and the literati praised him as a “mighty father who begot a talented son” and lauded the Xie family as “the epitome of scholarly refinement.” The emptier the pretenses that propped up his reputation, the more fiercely he guarded it. He was now accustomed to chasing fame and prestige, and he would not tolerate those things being even slightly blemished.
In a fit of rage, he pointed at Xie Jinglan and shouted, “You’re a disgrace to the family! This filthy thing was found on your person, and still you dare to deny your actions? If this handkerchief isn’t yours, it must belong to that wonderful schoolmate of yours! I raised you, and this is how you repay me? By engaging in such despicable behavior?!”
Seeing Xie Jinglan expressionless and unmoving, Lady Xiao felt a surge of loathing and added fuel to the fire. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. If the hen falls short, how can the egg be any better?”
Xie Jinglan suddenly looked up, glaring at Lady Xiao.
Xie Bingfeng coughed awkwardly. “What does this have to do with his mother?”
“What? I can’t bring her up?” Lady Xiao sneered. “You were the one who got drunk and lost your wits. Not only did you sire this disgraceful brat, you were demoted three ranks, and your once-promising future was ruined. You reap what you sow.”
“How many times have I told you not to speak of that despicable woman?” Xie Bingfeng said impatiently. As soon as the words left his mouth, he remembered that Xie Jinglan was still present. He glanced at his son, whose head hung low, revealing a hint of pale chin identical to his mother’s. He quickly suppressed his flicker of fresh guilt, and irritation crept like vines through his heart. He closed his eyes. “Enough. Xie Jinglan, go kneel in the ancestral hall and reflect on your actions. From now on, you’re confined to the courtyard. You may not leave except to attend Dai-xiansheng’s lessons. As for Xiahou Lian, the Xie family can no longer risk keeping you. When Dai-xiansheng returns, he can take you away!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Xiahou Lian retorted angrily, “The dead are gone, yet you’re still so spiteful toward them. How can you call your family prestigious?!”
“You brat!” Xie Bingfeng roared. “Who gave you permission to speak?”
Inwardly, Xiahou Lian spat. Then he glanced at Xie Jinglan. Kneeling behind him, Xiahou Lian could only see his back.
Xie Jinglan’s head was still bowed. His pale face was hidden in shadow, his expression inscrutable. He could hear the servants whisper around him, their voices like the rustle of an insect’s fine wings as it moved across a table. The candle on the table flickered with a popping sound, and the shadows on the floor swayed. Beyond the wall, the night watchman struck his temple block, each thud echoing in Xie Jinglan’s dully throbbing heart.
Suddenly, Xie Jinglan spoke. His voice was soft, but everyone heard it clearly.
“The handkerchief isn’t mine.”
“Oh? You’re saying it belongs to Xiahou Lian?” Lady Xiao’s red lips curled as she smiled.
Lifting his head slowly, Xie Jinglan stared directly at Lady Xiao. His eyes were dark and shadowed, and for a moment, Lady Xiao thought she saw something demonic lurking within them.
“If I’m not mistaken, it belongs to Xie Jingtao, your son.”