Ning Muyan emerged from the academy. Most students had already left. Rarely did he get to taste Bai Lan’s cooking, so he was filled with anticipation.
When he arrived at the medical hall, Jiang Zichun hadn’t returned yet. While waiting, Ning Muyan noticed the freshly opened white camellias on Bai Lan’s examination table.
Winter flowers were uncommon, but camellias, like plum blossoms, bloomed regardless of the cold. He remembered Bai Lan had little interest in flowers without medicinal value, so he approached to take a closer look.
Bai Lan set the table and, seeing Ning Muyan’s gaze on the flowers, said, smiling: “I’ve kept them in water and sprinkled a little nutrient solution. Camellias don’t wilt easily; they should bloom for quite some time.”
After speaking, Bai Lan looked up at Ning Muyan with a gentle smile. “What made you suddenly think of buying flowers?”
Ning Muyan raised an eyebrow at Bai Lan’s words.
“Hm?” Bai Lan tilted his head. Seeing Ning Muyan silent, he asked, “Didn’t you buy them?”
Ning Muyan smiled and ruffled Bai Lan’s hair. “I was afraid you wouldn’t like them. As long as you approve, that’s enough.”
Bai Lan’s face lit up with a smile. “I like whatever you buy for me.”
Then he added deliberately, “I like it even more if I don’t have to pay for it myself.”
Ning Muyan chuckled. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”
After a few more words, Jiang Zichun returned. Bai Lan called out, “Come inside, wash your hands, and let’s eat.”
Ning Muyan replied and carried Jiang Zichun’s medical box inside. “Father-in-law, you go wash up first.”
“All right. You come quickly too, Muyan.”
Watching the two of them enter, Ning Muyan’s gaze lingered on the camellias on the table, his eyes darkening with unspoken thought.
“I’ve cooked your favorite winter bamboo shoots,” Bai Lan said as he filled water for washing hands.
“Has Muyan come for a proper meal today? You didn’t make a special dish?”
“I’ve made fish soup and prepared a portion of good venison,” Bai Lan replied.
“That’s excellent,” Jiang Zichun said, just as a sudden crash rang out outside. Bai Lan’s shoulder jolted as he glanced toward the sound.
Ning Muyan’s calm voice followed: “Bai Lan, I’ve broken the vase.”
“Ah, so clumsy, can’t do anything right,” Bai Lan muttered.
Jiang Zichun chuckled. “Muyan, it’s fine. Come in and eat first.”
“Yes,” Ning Muyan answered.
…
From that day on, Bai Lan noticed Ning Muyan visiting the medical hall more frequently than before, sometimes two or three times a day. Often there was nothing important, and Bai Lan, busy with patients, barely noticed him. Ning Muyan never grew impatient; if Bai Lan was occupied, he would sit quietly for a while and then leave. Yet, whenever he went, he always left a small bundle of camellias—several times—making Bai Lan feel slightly embarrassed.
Bai Lan repeatedly told him it wasn’t necessary to come so often, especially now, when they were soon to be married. Daily flowers were unnecessary; a gesture or two would suffice. Ning Muyan, however, never responded, and Bai Lan let it go.
As the Minor New Year approached, snow finally fell. It was later and lighter than previous years—just enough to enjoy the scenery.
In the eastern part of the city, wealthy households held their customary snow-viewing gatherings, inviting esteemed ladies and gentlemen. Normally Bai Lan wouldn’t have any business there, but this year, Madam Shi had returned. As the wife of the Grand Tutor, the city’s elite naturally competed to send invitations.
News of Madam Shi’s return spread, and invitations arrived incessantly. Yet, with her health fragile and her mind on Bai Lan and Ning Muyan’s marriage, she declined them all under the pretense of convalescence.
Now, with the wedding preparations mostly complete, she deemed it proper to accept a gathering invitation and brought Bai Lan along.
Bai Lan could not refuse. Upon hearing that Gu Weiyan would also attend, he felt even more at ease.
“Has Muyan come to see you lately?” Madam Shi asked from the warm sedan chair, holding Bai Lan’s hand.
“The academy keeps him busy. This is its first year under his management, and many eyes are on him. If he doesn’t achieve something, both inside and outside the school, he would appear negligent. His responsibilities are heavy,” she said.
Bai Lan nodded, thinking to himself that Ning Muyan didn’t seem burdened at all, considering how often he came to see him.
“He’ll find time to come to the medical hall for meals,” Madam Shi added.
“That’s excellent,” Bai Lan said.
She smiled. “Today I brought you along partly to keep me company, partly to introduce you. As you and Muyan are to be married, the city’s elite—our peers and relatives—will all extend invitations. It’s best to spread the news properly.”
“Understood,” Bai Lan replied obediently.
The gathering was held in the north of the city at an elegant hall, not a tavern. Unlike taverns, the hall was spacious, two stories tall, and fully equipped—comparable to a wealthy family’s three-courtyard residence. These halls were designed for refined social gatherings.
Bai Lan had never visited before. When the sedan chair arrived, six or seven carriages were already there. Snow fell gently outside, and everyone hurried indoors.
Bai Lan helped Madam Shi with a thick cloak, and attendants held large oiled-paper umbrellas, guiding them inside.
Inside, the house was warm, with heated pans throughout. Bai Lan barely felt the cold. The hall soon filled with ladies and gentlemen, young masters, young ladies, and some teenage boys moving gracefully through the pavilions.
“Madam Shi, you’ve returned! Is your health improved?” several women greeted warmly.
“Much better. Today, I was invited out, so I came for a stroll,” she replied.
Before further greetings could be exchanged, a pregnant lady entered. Bai Lan smiled upon seeing her.
“Bai Lan has come too.”
He nodded quickly.
“Oh, Weiyan, you must take care of yourself.”
“No worries. The baby is stable.”
Madam Shi smiled at Bai Lan. “This gathering is relaxed. Walk with Weiyan, and take care of her. I’ll call you over later.”
Bai Lan obediently followed, supporting Gu Weiyan as they walked in, both bowing to elders along the way.
“How is your health?” Bai Lan asked.
“Very well. I’ve been taking your prenatal medicine, truly grateful to you,” she said.
Bai Lan scratched his head.
A lady standing with Madam Shi whispered in surprise, “The young master accompanying Madam Shi looks unfamiliar. Whose child is this?”
Madam Shi smiled. “He’s from our household. The Grand Tutor likes him and has taken him as his adopted son.”
“Oh! That truly is delightful news.”
The elegant hall was large. Bai Lan, accompanying Gu Weiyan, arrived at the Snow Lake Pavilion—a long corridor and pavilion built around a lake. Screens and drapes were placed around, keeping the cold at bay. Many noble ladies and gentlemen had already gathered.
Here, one could enjoy snacks, chat, admire the snow, play archery games, or compose poetry—everything was convenient.
The two of them entered a pavilion where a few family members were already seated.
Bai Lan immediately noticed two familiar faces: Tan Yun, whose expression was rather sour, and Lady Bian, who seemed to draw attention wherever she went. He thought it odd that the two were seated in the same pavilion; the atmosphere was slightly tense.
However, Gu Weiyan’s arrival quickly broke the awkwardness. Everyone warmly greeted her and inquired after her and the child’s health.
Ning Muyan had given up the imperial examination, while Qi Zhuo had been appointed this year’s top scholar by the emperor and had now joined the Hanlin Academy. Qi family’s prominence meant that when Gu Weiyan arrived, they were all exceptionally cordial. Lady Bian was the most enthusiastic in her greetings.
Previously, it was said that Lady Bian and Bian Daiyun had gone to the capital, so she had only returned now for the New Year.
Bai Lan, knowing his place, found a seat. Only beside Tan Yun was a vacancy, so he sat there.
Perhaps because no one spoke to her, Tan Yun cast Bai Lan a glance and asked, “What brings you here?”
“Madam Shi invited me to accompany her,” Bai Lan replied.
Tan Yun’s expression softened slightly and she pushed a small plate of pastries toward him.
Bai Lan’s brow twitched—this was unprecedented.
After some polite greetings and seating, others noticed Bai Lan quietly blending into the gathering. As they were about to ask Gu Weiyan whose household he belonged to, Lady Bian frowned and looked at him. “The young doctor is here too?”
When she first saw Bai Lan, he had been dressed plainly in his physician’s attire. Now, tidied up, Lady Bian did not immediately recognize him, mistaking him for a young master from some family. Upon a closer look, she realized who he was.
Considering the effort it must have taken for him to attend such a refined gathering, she couldn’t help but feel a slight reproach toward Gu Weiyan. Even if she didn’t care about his status, bringing someone here was unusual.
Bai Lan politely bowed.
Upon hearing he was a doctor, some ladies lost interest, though one still asked, “Is this the young Dr. Jiang from the medical hall beside Qingshan Academy?”
“The very same.”
“I’ve heard his medical skills are exceptional. He’s treated many delicate ailments,” one said.
Gu Weiyan rested a hand on her waist. “The prenatal medicine I’ve been taking was prescribed by Bai Lan. It truly is excellent.”
“Then perhaps, when Dr. Jiang has the time, he might visit our home,” another suggested.
Lady Bian did not wish to participate in the conversation, having previously invited Bai Lan to examine Bian Daiyun. She remained silent.
“Madam Ning, try this snow fruit—it’s crisp and delicious,” a lady offered.
Lady Bian glanced at the young lady sitting beside Tan Yun, who was attentive and polite, and seeing her mother flattering her, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Miss Qin is truly thoughtful. Has she been spoken for?”
Beside Lady Bian, Miss Qin’s mother brightened. “She is still young, not yet matched with a suitable family.”
Lady Bian’s tone became cheerful as she looked at Tan Yun, whose expression remained sour. “Madam Ning’s eldest son is talented and now runs the academy. Is there a family he favors?”
Tan Yun’s face darkened further. In the past, the Bian family had tried to approach the Ning family, and the city’s elite assumed a match would occur. But when Ning Muyan’s official career seemed uncertain, the Ning family rejected them outright. Meeting Lady Bian’s mother now, Tan Yun felt displeased that she showed no shame over past events.
Now, mentioning the Qin family alongside the Ning family was clearly an attempt at matchmaking. Tan Yun could only sneer internally. The Qin family were merely merchants who had purchased minor positions with family wealth. Were it not for the emperor’s recent leniency toward merchants, they wouldn’t even be able to attend such gatherings.
Although Ning Muyan was not yet an official, the emperor favored the Ning family. Qingshan Academy bore an imperial plaque, designated for cultivating talent. The Bian family’s suggestion was a thinly veiled affront to Tan Yun.
Unabashed, she said, “What a pity. Muyan’s marriage is already arranged and will take place early in the new year.”
Only three at the table were aware of the details. The rest were shocked. Most astonished was the young lady from the Qin family, who had admired Ning Muyan for years. This sudden revelation nearly made her faint. She hurriedly wanted to speak, while others at the table were equally curious.
Miss Qin’s mother, fearing her daughter’s loss of composure, asked first, “Which family is he betrothed to? We had not heard of such joyous news.”
Tan Yun slowly explained, “Muyan has been busy establishing the academy by imperial order. Previously, no formal arrangements were announced. Only now has the marriage been finalized quietly.”
“Today, we also introduce him to everyone—it is this young man before you,” Tan Yun said. “Bai Lan, please greet everyone.”
Bai Lan had not expected to one day stand alongside Tan Yun like this. Yet, knowing this outing was for introductions as Madam Shi intended, he smiled graciously and rose to bow.
For a moment, the table fell silent, as if thinking the Ning family had lost their minds.
Lady Bian’s mother chuckled first. “Madam Ning, surely you jest.”
“Not jesting. It is indeed true,” Tan Yun replied confidently.
Seeing Tan Yun speak with such assurance, Lady Bian’s mother thought her a bit crazy, but teased, “No wonder she is so discreet. Indeed, the Ning family, a lineage of refinement, is admirable in its purity.”
Everyone at the table understood Lady Bian’s mother’s implication. Marrying a low-profile young physician was certainly surprising.
Naturally, those with no stakes in the Ning family merely watched for amusement, while those with vested interest felt uneasy. They assumed the Ning family were aloof, yet had chosen such an obscure young man—hardly something to make anyone comfortable.
The Qin family’s expressions were the most unpleasant. Miss Qin glared at Bai Lan so hard she nearly clawed through her skirt and grit her teeth, saying, “Surely this young master must possess some extraordinary talent to gain the favor of Ning Muyan. I recall Ning Muyan’s learning is exceptional, so Master Jiang’s abilities must be no less impressive.”
Lady Bian, wanting to see some drama, chimed in, “Indeed! Today’s gathering is for poetry and leisure. Since it’s Master Jiang’s first time attending, why not have him lead with a verse?”
Tan Yun’s expression darkened further at this, her annoyance at the Bian family deepening. She was about to speak when Gu Weiyan intervened first: “Bai Lan is skilled in medicine. As the saying goes, each profession has its specialty. He hasn’t focused on poetry or literature, so please don’t intimidate him.”
Miss Qin, however, refused to yield: “That’s fine—I’ll offer the first line.”
Without waiting for anyone else, she wrote a couplet in the snow.
Bai Lan thought to himself that events like this were inevitable, but he had long prepared his mind. When he agreed to be with Ning Muyan, he knew such challenges would arise.
If he could withstand the pressures of his family and society, forgoing an official career and enduring ridicule, he could certainly navigate the hostility here for Muyan’s sake.
He responded lightly with the next line.
Miss Qin, frowning in dissatisfaction, countered again. Bai Lan matched her line for line.
They went back and forth for twelve rounds.
Miss Qin’s face turned pale. No one expected a young physician to possess such literary knowledge.
Bai Lan raised his eyebrows. As Ning Muyan’s very first student, even if he wasn’t exceptional, handling a few elite ladies like this posed no problem.
Just as Miss Qin was about to challenge him further, a gentle laugh came from outside the pavilion: “I feared you might not be used to this, but it seems you fit in well with these young ladies and gentlemen.”
Everyone turned to see Madam Shi entering. All rose and bowed respectfully.
Even Lady Bian, who usually prided herself in front of others, immediately showed deference. Shi Zizhan was now a senior minister; in the capital, no one dared show disrespect.
With Madam Shi present, no one dared act out of line.
Bai Lan stepped forward to support her. “Mother,” he greeted.
Gasps spread among the guests.
Madam Shi smiled warmly, patting Bai Lan’s hand. “This is my adopted son. I brought him along for a little outing today.”
Lady Bian’s face flared, and Miss Qin’s mother nearly wanted to throw herself into the lake.
“Please, Madam Shi, take a seat. Your health must always be considered.”
Tan Yun, observing the sudden change in expressions from amusement to awe, quickly helped Madam Shi sit.
Everyone immediately showered Bai Lan with compliments—praising his medical skill, his literary knowledge, noting he was truly a child of the Shi family.
Even Lady Bian, who had earlier tried to provoke, began speaking of Bai Lan’s previous medical feats, such as his miraculous treatment of Bian Daiyuan.
Bai Lan smiled politely, inwardly amused at the irony. The disdainful looks from before were far more entertaining.
By the end of the gathering, Bai Lan was now familiar to the elite ladies, and many wished to invite him to their homes—some out of respect for the Shi and Ning families, others hoping to request his medical care.
“You surprise me with your poetry skills,” Madam Shi remarked on the way home, laughing.
Bai Lan did not hide it: “Muyan taught me.”
Madam Shi’s brow softened. “He truly intended to marry you from the start. When Zizhan taught me many things, it was one of the pleasures of their marital life.”
“I didn’t care much for literature when I was young. Zizhan was the top scholar; many thought we were mismatched. When he taught me poetry, I wondered if he thought me ignorant. We even argued over it. Over time, I realized he had put much thought into it.”
“Zizhan wanted to protect me as best he could. But he knew we couldn’t always be together; a woman cannot remain forever behind closed doors. Eventually, she must attend gatherings. While he can protect me now, there will be times he cannot. It is better, then, to be wise myself.”
Bai Lan smiled. “I understand your meaning.”
“That’s excellent,” Madam Shi said, patting his head. “In fact, you surpass many already.”
When Bai Lan returned to the medical hall, it was late. He felt a sense of ease—another major matter had been successfully handled.
The academy would rest tomorrow, and today’s session had ended early. He wondered if Ning Muyan would come to the academy the next day.
As he walked through the alley toward the medical hall, a young man suddenly appeared, leaning one hand against the wall to block his path, holding a bundle of camellias in the other hand to obscure his face. “I’ve been waiting here for the fair lady for quite some time.”
Bai Lan shivered. “Who are you?”