Chapter Six: The Gift of Flowers

Jing Hu took Ke Mingxu’s hand and led him all the way into the small garden behind Fangshixuan.

The young county lady’s smile was as radiant as blooming flowers, her robes fluttering as she flitted about like a joyful little butterfly. Ke Mingxu, afraid of hurting her, felt uneasy but did not pull away.

Though April was drawing to a close, the little garden at Fangshixuan was still ablaze with blossoms. The flowers that did not compete for spring bloomed with vibrant intensity.

It was nearly the season when the coral blossoms would bloom. The single pot of coral flowers from years ago had been carefully nurtured by a devoted gardener, now divided into many pots.

Jing Hu released Ke Mingxu’s hand and crouched before one pot of coral flowers. “Brother Ke, do you recognize this flower?”

Ke Mingxu bent slightly and gently stroked the petals with the hand Jing Hu had just led over.

This was not yet the peak bloom season for coral flowers; when Jing Hu had come yesterday, only the first bloom had just opened. But these flowers would continue to bloom for two more months, accompanying her until the end of summer.

“I believe I’ve seen something like this in a book before. It’s called... coral flower, isn’t it?”

Jing Hu was both surprised and unsurprised. “This flower is indeed a coral flower. Brother Ke, you are truly remarkable.”

Ke Mingxu smiled faintly and modestly said, “It’s nothing exceptional, I merely happened to have read about it.”

Jing Hu retorted, “You are exceptional.” Her tone took on a playful coaxing note. “I’ve brought many to see this flower, but aside from Brother Ke, no one else recognized it.”

“This flower originates from beyond the northern borders. It’s no wonder the people of Yanjing do not know it. The young county lady is truly blessed to have several pots of such rare flowers in her garden.”

Ke Mingxu stood upright again. Seeing Jing Hu turn to look at him with narrowed eyes, he stepped aside to shield her from the early May sun, already somewhat scorching.

Jing Hu rose as well. “Then, Brother Ke, guess why I brought you to see this coral flower?”

Ke Mingxu did not need to ponder. “I misspoke earlier. Actually, the coral flower is your name, isn’t it?”

Jing Hu smiled sweetly, revealing two shallow dimples. “I knew Brother Ke was the smartest.”

Perhaps infected by her smile, Ke Mingxu could not help but smile as well. “Young county lady flatters me.”

***

Jing Hu turned around and, with some effort, lifted a pot of coral flowers—her favorite pot. “Brother Ke guessed correctly. This pot is a gift for you, a reward!”

Seeing her struggle, Ke Mingxu took the flowers from her hands. “Young county lady, you need not be so formal. I’m not very good at tending flowers, and with my many duties, I’m afraid I won’t care for it properly.”

“It’s okay. I can teach you!” Jing Hu hurried to assure him. “Coral flowers are not difficult to grow. They are very hardy and only need occasional care.”

She softened her voice and spoke cautiously, “This is the only time I’ve ever given away my most beloved coral flower. If you refuse, I’ll be very sad.”

The radiant, confident young lady, like a peony in full bloom moments ago, suddenly transformed into a delicate white flower, fragile and drenched by rain.

Apart from his sister, Ke Mingxu had rarely interacted with such young girls. His sister was always decisive and had never shown such vulnerability.

His heart softened involuntarily. “If that’s the case, I won’t refuse. I’ll also need to trouble the young county lady to teach me how to care for the flower.”

Jing Hu became cheerful once more, bright and beautiful like a national treasure peony. She had personally tended to these pots of coral flowers and knew exactly how to care for them.

She spoke at length, peppering her explanation with many trivial asides. Finally, she asked Ke Mingxu, “Brother Ke, have you ever grown any flowers before?”

Whether it was her imagination or not, Ke Mingxu’s eyes darkened for a moment. Although he was standing right beside her, his words seemed to come from a distant place.

Perhaps it was not the place that was distant, but the years themselves.

“I used to grow orchids. Now that I have the young county lady’s coral flowers, I will send a pot of orchids to you someday.”

Jing Hu did not probe his sudden moment of melancholy but instead exclaimed excitedly, “Brother Ke intends to send me orchids? Why not deliver them personally?”

Feeling her request was abrupt, she hastened to add, “I mean, it’s a good excuse to come see sister-in-law. My brother is seldom home, and sister-in-law is often lonely.”

It was not only the loneliness caused by her brother’s absence. Even when he was home, he rarely visited her sister-in-law’s chambers. Thinking of their household, with its many wives and concubines, it did not seem as clean or refined as the Qingliu family’s.

She wondered what Ke Mingxu thought of this.

Ke Mingxu quickly replied, and even if he refused, it was hard to take offense at him. “Today is my day of rest; my next day off will be ten days from now.”

***

“The pot of orchids I intend to send will bloom in a day or two. If you wait for me to deliver them in person, it will no longer be their best season.”

Jing Hu was not truly concerned about the orchids. She simply wanted an opportunity to meet him. Hearing this, she only felt saddened that it would be some time before she saw him again.

He was the newly appointed top scholar and had been granted the rank of Hanlin compiler of the sixth grade. No matter how capable the young county lady was, she could not simply enter the Hanlin Academy, which was entirely male.

Jing Hu resolved to behave more obediently. “Then Brother Ke, send it with a servant. I will take good care of it.”

Ke Mingxu smiled. He had heard rumors that the Princess of Jingling County was headstrong and unreasonable—his sister had said as much—but after meeting her a few times, he found her rather cunning and endearing.

“I will write down how to care for orchids on a note and send it along. You can follow it and won’t fail.”

She trusted he would care well for her coral flower, and when his orchids arrived, she would tend to them carefully, too.

Today was the second day of the lunar month; his next day off would be the twelfth. Then she could find a way to see him under the pretext of the orchids.

Maidservants passed through the garden, carrying calamus to decorate the entrance. The Dragon Boat Festival was just two days away.

The young county lady suddenly became spirited again and tried to pull Ke Mingxu toward her residence at Fangshixuan.

This time Ke Mingxu refused. “Wherever the young county lady wishes to go, I shall follow.”

Jing Hu then made a pitiful expression. “Then may I hold just your sleeve, Brother Ke, and not your hand?”

Her brothers and father no longer fell for such tricks, as they had become almost ineffective, like when her mother feigned illness. But Jing Hu still had some confidence with Ke Mingxu.

Since childhood, she had known she was fortunate, and the small vermilion mole beneath her left eye only added a touch of delicate charm whenever she spoke in such a manner.

After all, she was still a child—she might as well be treated as a little sister. Ke Mingxu reached out his hand toward Jing Hu.