Chapter 84: A Heart as Serene as Still Waters, Unmoved by Contention

Shallow Melody took the slip of paper, glanced over it quickly, and said nothing. With a meaningful smile, Burning Grace opened all the tightly shut doors and windows for ventilation before taking her leave.

After Burning Grace departed, Shallow Melody tucked the slip into her sleeve and, looking at the sky through the window, rose and headed to the kitchen. She had not forgotten that she was now merely a third-class maid tasked with tending the fires.

The kitchen was thick with greasy smoke and stifling heat. Shallow Melody split firewood and, holding it in her arms, fed the stove piece by piece. Though she had been doing this for over forty days, it still felt exhausting. Yet for all the strain, she never uttered a complaint, nor did she seek help without cause.

At last, when the firewood was burnt, Shallow Melody retrieved the slip from her sleeve, read it one final time, then tossed it into the stove. The delicate flame of orchid-orange instantly devoured the slip, reducing it to black ash; sparks danced briefly before fading to nothing, as if it had never existed.

Without betraying emotion, Shallow Melody finished her day’s work, returned early to her room, and lay down to sleep. Another third-class maid shared her room, and noticing Shallow Melody’s early retirement, asked curiously, “Sister, you usually toss and turn, unable to sleep, always resting late and rising early. What’s so unusual tonight?”

Her fingers gripping the corner of the quilt turned pale, half her face concealed in the bedding. She replied in a muffled voice, “I’m tired today, not feeling well.” With that, she turned over and closed her eyes.

Thus the night passed swiftly and without incident. When Shallow Melody awoke the next morning, dawn was already breaking. She had expected a restless night, but unexpectedly, it was the most peaceful sleep she had had since her demotion.

There was a peculiar atmosphere in Knowing Words Pavilion. Early in the morning, as she went about splitting firewood, the kitchen manager came over and instructed, “You may cut less wood today. Madam will not be dining in the garden this morning.”

Not dining in the garden? Ever since the Grand Madam had exempted the morning and evening greetings, Emerging Mist always ate breakfast on schedule. It was logical that today should be different, but Shallow Melody chose to feign ignorance and nodded, “I understand, thank you for the reminder, Madam.”

Despite the instructions, she worked steadily, splitting wood, fetching water, and doing her tasks as usual—never shirking. After a busy morning, when it was time for lunch, the kitchen manager and the third-class maids gathered around a table. Shallow Melody had just taken a few bites when she heard one maid whisper,

“I went to the back gate for vegetables this morning and heard from the maids in the Eldest Miss’s garden that last night the inner garden was haunted. Burning Grace was possessed by a ghost and has lost her wits.”

“The inner garden haunted? The rumor has spread to the Eldest Miss’s garden?” another maid quickly chimed in.

“You don’t know, the haunted spot is behind the rockery in the inner garden. The east and west corridors connect directly to the Second Master’s and the Eldest Miss’s gardens, so news travels fast.”

“Hmph! If you do no wrong, you need not fear ghosts knocking on your door. Burning Grace was fine—why would she be frightened to madness?”

“You’ve hit the mark. She’s a maid of Knowing Words Pavilion; what was she doing sneaking into the inner garden at midnight? Something’s off.”

“They say ghosts love to possess the wicked, for they lack upright spirit. When Lady Xia was alive, Burning Grace relied on being a dowry maid of the Xia family, looking down on us, always arrogant and climbing higher at others’ expense. She must have been improper in conduct!”

...

For a while, the maids at the table debated lively, even the kitchen manager listened with relish, not bothering to scold them. All their talk, aside from surprise and concern, carried a tone of schadenfreude regarding Burning Grace’s madness; none offered sympathy.

Burning Grace had only been at Cloud Manor for just over seven months, yet her reputation was so poor—it was clear her character was lacking.

Shallow Melody ate in silence, not joining in the discussion. She set her bowl down with a clatter and said, “Enjoy your meal, I’ll go ahead.” With that, she got up and left.

Just as she turned away, she heard someone mutter behind her, “What are you talking about? Don’t you know Shallow Melody is close with Burning Grace?”

Shallow Melody acted as if she hadn’t heard, not even pausing her step as she drifted out the door...

The next day, Steward Cloud Loyalty arrived at Knowing Words Pavilion to deliver a warning: Burning Grace had gone mad overnight and, to prevent her from harming others, she had been temporarily confined in the punishment hall.

Hearing this, Shallow Melody felt nothing; only one thought occupied her mind—

Madness? The excuse was exactly the same as when she herself had been locked in the punishment hall.

*****

For the following half month, Cloud Manor was shrouded in a strange, uneasy silence. That tranquility made those at the heart of the storm feel a chill down their spines. It was not true peace, but the calm before the storm.

The mountain wind foretold rain, and on the fifth day of the fifth month, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived. In Misty Smoke City, the annual dragon boat races were held. Though called races, they were not on rivers or lakes—Misty Smoke City was built around mountains, with only one river running through it, swift and clear, the source of drinking water for the townsfolk.

The races took place on this river. Early that morning, the Grand Madam gave instructions: aside from necessary attendants, everyone in the households could go watch the lively event.

Thus, many off-duty and resting servants hurried out of Cloud Manor to see the dragon boat races. Yet most of the household masters, except for Second Master Cloud Rise and a few maids, remained indoors.

Several servants from Knowing Words Pavilion also left, leaving the main garden empty and quiet. Shallow Melody finished her tasks as usual, then carried bundles of fresh sweet flag and mugwort, placing them on each door. It was a festival custom: before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, the entire manor must be adorned with freshly picked mugwort every day.

She went from room to room, and as she reached Bamboo Shadow’s quarters, Shallow Melody hesitated. Then, thinking he should be attending to Emerging Mist at this hour, she relaxed and drew some mugwort from her bundle, fixing it to his door.

Just as she finished, the door swung open, knocking the mugwort loose. Pale Heart, her eyes red, stepped out from the room. Seeing Shallow Melody, she was startled, lowering her head in confusion. “Sister Shallow Melody.”

Since her demotion, Shallow Melody had kept her distance from Pale Heart, though Pale Heart herself remained unchanged—it was Shallow Melody who chose to withdraw. Partly because she was now a third-class maid, creating a sense of distance; partly because of... Bamboo Shadow.

Thinking of him, Shallow Melody’s eyelids twitched. She nodded gently to Pale Heart. Pale Heart noticed the fallen mugwort and quickly bent to pick it up, forcing a smile: “I was just speaking with Bamboo Shadow, had a bit of a quarrel, forgive me for making a scene.”

Shallow Melody shook her head, about to reply, when a voice called from inside, “Shallow Melody?” At that moment, Bamboo Shadow strode out, his expression a bit awkward.

Shallow Melody glanced at Pale Heart, then spoke first: “It’s Dragon Boat Festival, I’m placing mugwort. I’ll leave you two be.”

“Not at all,” Bamboo Shadow quickly explained, frowning as he spoke, “Don’t misunderstand, Pale Heart and I are—”

“Sister Shallow Melody!” Suddenly, Pale Heart interrupted, saying, “Madam still has tasks for me, I won’t keep you both, I’ll go ahead.”

Shallow Melody nodded, her gaze lingering on Pale Heart’s retreating figure, and sighed to Bamboo Shadow: “Pale Heart is a good girl.”

A shadow crossed Bamboo Shadow’s face. “You know my feelings— even the master saw through them. Before he passed, he said—”

“What the master said is one thing; marriage is my own affair.” Shallow Melody turned her gaze to Bamboo Shadow, her voice flat and calm: “Before the master died, he told Young Marquis to take Emerging Mist away, but she insisted on staying. Clearly, not every last wish of the master must be obeyed.”

“Shallow Melody, why must you...” Bamboo Shadow, usually silent and reserved, spoke with rare candor: “If it were before, I’d have let you remain by the master’s side. But now he’s gone, you’re demoted—if you married me, Madam would show mercy for the Marquis’s sake, sparing you from hardship. Besides, we grew up together—”

“You and Pale Heart are childhood sweethearts. I have served the Grand Madam since I was young; you always followed the Marquis.” Shallow Melody resolutely denied, finally steeling herself: “Since the Grand Madam assigned me to Knowing Words Pavilion, I’ve considered myself the master’s. That’s what she taught me. Now the master is gone, I am... vowed never to marry.”

Never to marry! Bamboo Shadow was shocked: “Shallow Melody! If you don’t love me, I won’t persist, but you needn’t use such an excuse—it’s too... cruel.”

“No, it’s not an excuse.” Shallow Melody’s distant eyes suddenly filled with sorrow. “I know, I was foolish. The master loved Emerging Mist... I thought if I could serve him always, and occasionally receive his favor, it would be the greatest blessing... Now my heart has died with him. Even without the title, I am resolved never to marry.”

The reason for her vow was simple: in her heart, she had already married. The day she first stepped into Knowing Words Pavilion, the immortal in white had smiled and asked her, “From now on, shall you be called ‘Shallow Melody’?” From that moment, she revered him as a god, offering him her whole being.

“Shallow Melody...” Bamboo Shadow felt a sharp ache inside—all for those words, “never to marry.” He had loved this cold, aloof woman for years, suppressing his feelings, hoping one day to ask the master to let him marry her.

Who could have guessed her devotion would be so unyielding! Never to marry—for a woman, what agony!

“It’s my fault, I’ve let you down.” Shallow Melody sighed softly, looking once more in the direction Pale Heart had gone. “I can see Pale Heart loves you. Even without the master, for the sake of our sisterhood, I could never marry you and break her heart.”

“So you want to push me to Pale Heart?” Bamboo Shadow flared with irritation, frowning, “If Pale Heart likes me, must I accept her? If I like you, must you refuse me? For your sisterhood, you want to push me away?”

Hearing this, Shallow Melody lowered her gaze, as if the scent of mugwort in her arms stung her eyes to tears. She forced herself to say, “Pale Heart is only one reason. The main one is that I do not love you.”

A bitter laugh escaped Bamboo Shadow as he shook his head and sighed, “Do you know why Pale Heart came to me today?” He opened his left hand, revealing a finely woven red string in the shape of a lover’s knot, brilliant and exquisite. “She gave me this, wishing you and me everlasting union.”

“Pale Heart...” Shallow Melody stared at the lover’s knot, her throat dry, unable to speak.

Bamboo Shadow sighed again: “You and she are deeply bonded as sisters, but is she not proud as well? You are cold to others, and she is no less proud. Pale Heart—her name means gentle, but her pride is as strong as yours, if not stronger...”

Slowly, Bamboo Shadow clenched his fist around the lover’s knot, finally managing a bitter smile. “Pale Heart will not accept your kindness, nor will she love me again... You two need not push each other anymore.”