1 – Zhi Lan
The magistrate wasskinnier than Zhi Lan expected.
Ma and Ba always said the rich had ten courses for every meal—it was a luxury only money could afford. Up until now, Zhi Lan had pictured everyone in the upper class to be plump and well-fed.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me!” Magistrate Bu raised his wine cup with a scrawny hand to the guests scattered across his expansive courtyard.
In addition to his wiry frame, he had a thin mustache and a pasty complexion, exacerbated by his midnight blue robes. In short, he wasn’t handsome at all. What a shame for Lady Bu, who sat beside him in elaborate robes, exuding beauty and elegance.
Zhi Lan shifted in her seat as her stomach growled. She had been far too nervous to eat that morning, and the sheer amount of food in her proximity seemed to taunt her. Before her was a perfect pyramid of colorful fruit and steaming pork buns dyed pink to resemble peaches. Porcelain dishes of savory meat, pickled vegetables, and white, pillowy rice peppered each low table where the banquet guests sat in the courtyard, shaded by the lilac wisteria trees swaying gently in the evening breeze.
Zhi Lan had never seen so much food or so much beauty at once. And to thinkthiswas the place she was to live...
“I feel it a duty of mine to bolster new talent in Zhu City,” the magistrate said. Zhi Lan hadn’t registered when he’d begun to speak. “I have recently taken under my patronage the up and coming scholar painter, Dan Li Chen. He is here this evening to present us with his most recent masterpiece.”
The guests applauded, murmuring amongst themselves.
Master Dan sat serenely beside Zhi Lan, his snowy white scholar’s robes the same shade as his trimmed beard and neat top knot. He was as old as Zhi Lan’s grandfather, perhaps older, but he had recently made a name for himself as one of the greatest mountain and river painters across several counties. Zhi Lan had been under his tutelage for nearly a year and had grown quite fond of the old man. She couldn’t have been more proud of him—and herself. After all, his wins were her wins.
Ma always said that a young woman was never taken seriously. The more time Zhi Lan spent in the city, the more she realized that was true. Without Master Dan, her passion for painting was a mere feminine hobby, not a serious pursuit. She only had respectability as Master Dan’s student. For the time being, she cherished this. One day, when her master reached the heights of fame, she’d be able to pursue her own path and make a name for herself with his illustrious recommendation.
“Ready, Zhi Lan?” Master Dan asked in a low voice.
Zhi Lan clutched the heavy silk scroll in her hands and nodded. The evening was warm as it was late spring easing into early summer. Beads of sweat coated the back of her neck, though she couldn’t entirely blame it on the balmy weather.
Together, they stood and made their way to the center of the courtyard. Master Dan clasped his hands before him and bowed low to the magistrate. Zhi Lan followed suit, holding the scroll out before her with both hands. Her arms trembled. This was the start of something monumental—the first step on the path of being a self-sustaining painter like her master. She hoped her parents would be proud.
“It is my honor to unveil my newest painting for your guests, my lord,” Master Dan said.
Magistrate Bu waved a hand. “Yes, yes! Do not keep us in suspense. Bring it up.”
Zhi Lan stepped forward, keeping her head lowered, and let the magistrate’s young steward take the painting from her hands.
Magistrate Bu of Zhu City was known to be a great collector of art. Every few years, he would take a new artist under his wing and commission a piece for his private collection. Zhi Lan was thrilled Master Dan had been singled out this year. She hoped they’d be allowed to see the magistrate’s famous collection. If the art was anything like Master Dan’s work, his lordship had good taste.
“They say Zhu City has known no other painter so accomplished,” Lady Bu said, her voice soft and melodious. “I look forward to seeing your work.”
“You flatter this humble servant, your ladyship,” Master Dan said. “I cannot take all the credit—my student has been of great help to me.”
Zhi Lan bowed even lower, blushing. But the stone-paved ground did not keep her interest for long, and she couldn’t help but peek up at the dais. She was surprised to find Magistrate Bu staring at her.
Zhi Lan flicked her gaze to the ground again and shuffled backwards until she was safely behind Master Dan.
