The steward unrolled the scroll, revealing the masterpiece she and Master Dan had painstakingly worked on for the past three months—and the sole reason why they were here now. This was the painting that caught Magistrate Bu’s eye when Master Dan had first showed it off at a local tea house.
He had painted it on site on Shui Jin Mountain, where the waterfalls had sparkled like quartz under the sun and the rocks had burst with flora and fauna. The scene depicted the great waterfall, framed by a foreground of bamboo and a background of misty mountains, washed with a greenish blue haze, evoking a sense of serene mystery.
Master Dan’s style was fine-lined and meticulous. Though each subject was carefully rendered, he occasionally let his brushstrokes bloom and bleed, bringing life and expression to an otherwise tight painting. Zhi Lan had prepared all the necessary pigments, and even helped Master Dan with the foliage in the foreground. She knew every line and mark that made this masterpiece. She couldn’t wait to apply that knowledge to her own work one day.
The courtyard exploded into a smattering of applause and exclamations.
“An excellent painting!”
“Magistrate Bu has impeccable taste.”
“His lordship certainly has an eye for talent!”
Master Dan turned to her, eyes glimmering, and whispered, “It appears they like it.”
Zhi Lan beamed.
The banquet went on, and the guests, including her and Master Dan, were encouraged to eat and drink their fill. She couldn’t believe this was going to be her new life. Traveling with Master Dan to paint stunning locales had been far more exciting than her days on the farm, but this! Sitting with officials and scholars, speaking with them and feasting with them, was beyond anything Zhi Lan had ever imagined.
She spent the evening in awed silence, content to just eat and observe.
When dusk came and the skies grew dim and hazy, Magistrate Bu approached their table. After exchanging pleasantries and toasting Master Dan with a cup of wine, he said, “Come, Li Chen. Let me give you a tour of the grounds. And afterward, I have treasures to show you.”
Master Dan and Zhi Lan were led across the main courtyard to the private courtyard behind the central hall, the murmurs of the banquet quieting the further they walked. The magistrate’s mansion was impeccably kept. The rock gardens were arranged artfully, the low shrubs well trimmed, and the verandas cleanly swept and polished. They stopped before the latticed double doors of a side room connected to the central wing.
Zhi Lan stood with her head lowered, her heart pounding and her cheeks flushed slightly from wine. She wondered what treasure Magistrate Bu spoke of. Were they going to see his legendary art collection?
She was so lost in her thoughts that she jumped when the magistrate spoke.
“Is this your student? What is her name?”
“Zhi Lan, my lord,” Master Dan said. “She has been with me for about a year now.”
“Indeed! Why does she cower so?” Magistrate Bu looked to her. “Do you speak, Miss Zhi Lan?”
“F-forgive me, my lord,” Zhi Lan stammered. She hadn’t expected to be addressed. Most people mistook her as a servant, and she was used to letting Master Dan do the talking. And she had to admit, speaking to a bureaucrat—especially a magistrate—made her break out in cold sweat. “This is all so extraordinary, I’m merely at a loss for words.”
Magistrate Bu chuckled. “A lovely voice to go with a lovely face.”
Zhi Lan smiled uncomfortably. She wished the magistrate could have praised her skill instead of her looks, as he did with Master Dan. There was merit to building a skill. There was no merit to how she looked—it wasn’t as if she had carved her face herself. And yet, Zhi Lan knew the polite thing would be to smile and accept the compliment demurely.
So she did.
“You mustn't be afraid,” Magistrate Bu said, leaning toward her. His voice lowered to a conspiratorial volume. “You may speak freely. This place is soon to become your home.” There was an odd glint in his eyes, and he seemed to stare at her with keen interest.
Zhi Lan ducked her head. “Thank you, my lord.”
“You were going to show us something, my lord?” Master Dan prompted.
“Ah, yes.” Magistrate Bu straightened and Zhi Lan breathed a little easier. “I have an extensive collection of treasures, as you may have heard. I hope that your paintings will grace these walls in the coming months.”
The magistrate threw open the double doors and stepped over the raised threshold.
Zhi Lan gaped at the room they entered. It was the size of a luxurious suite, filled with polished hexagonal shelves that displayed porcelain vases embellished with deep blue patterns, bronze statuettes, and exquisitely painted fans. Standing screens depicting dreamy mountain scenery were pushed against each wall. The scent of wood lacquer and paper lingered in the air, thick with artistic possibilities.
“Impressive!” Master Dan exclaimed. “How long have you been collecting?”
“Since I began studying for the imperial exams, twenty-five years ago. Art was like a balm to my soul back then. It still is now.” Magistrate Bu assessed the room with unveiled pride. Zhi Lan felt she would be strutting like a peacock too if she had such a collection. “Let me tell you of my most recent acquisition. Two days ago my men came across something peculiar while hunting—an abandoned chest in the river, quite aged. I knew at once it contained great treasure.”
