The Scent of Lilies

Qingqing and Yuanzheng both froze. Drawing a deep breath, Qingqing slowly released her hold on Yuanzheng's tunic, taking her time to turn round. She already knew who she was going to see.

"This surely must be my unlucky day," she muttered to herself. "Of all times to bump into this accursed woman again, right at this moment. What on earth is she doing here?"

Yuanzheng flinched, flushing sensitively when he saw the bystanders ogling them curiously, and Mao Xiang's triumphant face. He straightened his tunic hastily and stood motionless, fixing his eyes on an invisible object in the distance.

"A little late to be feeling embarrassed, isn't it, Mr Woodcutter," remarked Mao Xiang sweetly.

She put up a hand to touch the smooth wings of her hair, as if to reassure herself that she was untouched by their presence, then folded her hands demurely. Dressed daintily in a silk gown the colour of a tender mandarin, she was feeling especially good about herself today, due to the pleasant fragrance of a new perfume she particularly liked. The delicate notes of lily hung about her clothes; her maid had dutifully sprinkled her robes with the fragrance, so that every movement released a gentle breath of scent that hovered lightly around her. Mao Xiang was enjoying the sense of luxury, and how it made her feel pleasingly distanced from the unsavoury smells of the marketplace. What was more, there was a new necklace she was wearing for the first time today--a pendant of rare jade gifted by her father, a deep lovely green which glowed faintly on her bosom.

She had been on her way to view a new shipment of textiles in her favourite shop, but when she passed by and recognized them she could not resist stopping to gloat over the uncomfortable situation.

Qingqing rolled her eyes and turned to her impatiently. "I say, do you really have nothing better to do than to strut around and put me in a bad mood? Move along. Neither of us are interested in your opinion, and your presence is giving me indigestion."

Sniffing ostentatiously, she added, wrinkling up her nose, "Is that the odour of bad temper? Or the smell of stupidity? I'm really not sure, but you're reeking of both."

Mao Xiang looked at her coldly. "I wouldn't expect a peasant like you to appreciate a fine perfume like this," she retorted haughtily. "Do you even know how much a bottle of this cost?"

Qingqing shrugged. "Do I look like I care? Take it away from here before I gag."

Unperturbed, Mao Xiang glanced keenly at Yuanzheng. "The two of you seem to be very close with one other," she said cattily. "Come to think of it, I've always seen you together." She slapped her forehead in an exaggerated motion. "Ah, how stupid of me to forget, you're married, aren't you? And you're pining with love for this lout?"

Qingqing's eyes narrowed. So Mao Xiang had found out that little charade long ago was a ruse, and was trying to embarrass her.

Mao Xiang coughed delicately behind her hand. "Maiden, let me give you a word of advice, as based on the--ahem--compromising position everyone saw you in just now it seems clear that your infatuation for him is not reciprocated, and that you have absolutely no sense of propriety or decorum. What self-respecting woman would throw herself on a man like that, and--" she lowered her voice sensationally, "--try to take off his clothes? Oh, how shocking. How very shameless. It just goes to show how serious the lack of good breeding is." "

Infuriated, Qingqing's eyes widened in disbelief. She blinked, speechless. The flatulent bitch was actually trying to play her own game against her?

There were titters from the crowd and a man's voice called out with nasty mockery, "Ah hussy, if you'd tried a little harder you'd have torn his clothes right off! The man who marries you would do better to share his bed with a tigress. Who would want such an aggressive woman?"

There was rough laughter, and a few off colour jokes from the bystanders. Yuanzheng's cheeks deepened.

Mao Xiang was enjoying herself. It gave her a deep sense of satisfaction to see Qingqing speechless for once. She touched her jade pendant lightly for reassurance of her superiority. "You obviously have never studied what decorum for women should be like, so let me educate you. According to the Analects for Women--"

Qingqing found her voice then. She bounced forward so aggressively Mao Xiang instinctively stepped back hastily, and trod on the edge of her fine gown. She would have tripped and possibly fell, but her maid quickly supported her.

"Please, if you're going to quote some stuffy texts to me, tell me if the scholars say anything about conceited busybodies. That I would have interest in." Her chin had never looked sharper.

Mao Xiang raised her eyebrows in mock horror. "Why, look at how rough and uninhibited she is! How frightening. There's not a trace of womanliness or modesty in her at all. No wonder even that woodcutter is embarrassed of her. Who knows what disgraceful things she would lower herself to do, such that even a man like him is ashamed." She fanned herself languidly. "This is simply too nasty and vulgar for me. Xiaojun, let's go. A virtuous maiden like myself must not be associated with people like this, it would taint my reputation."

Xiaojun hurriedly took her hand and Mao Xiang swept off gracefully without a backward glance. The bystanders started to disperse, realizing there was not much left to see except Yuanzheng's crimson face and Qingqing's outraged gasp, but a few of the rowdier men lingered, unable to resist making sly jokes and loud remarks. They hooted and egged each other on, feeling elated at how clever they were, until Qingqing roused herself suddenly.

"A tigress, did you say?" she said coolly, coming up to them without blinking. The men backed away slightly, suddenly wary now that she confronted them.

"Obviously you've never seen one, or you would know that tigresses bite. I'm considering if I should bite your head off. That mouth of yours is really too filthy to exist. I think I'd be doing the world a favour."

She smiled, showing teeth that suddenly looked uncomfortably white and sharp. The men tried feebly to retaliate.

"The bitch is acting tough," one of them called.

Qingqing widened her eyes, this time in surprise. "Oh no, I'm not acting. I'm actually like this--unhinged, unpredictable, and like you said, fearsomely aggressive. I thought you were so quick to call me that just now. What's wrong, why are you changing your tune now?"

Relentlessly advancing, she made a sudden movement and they jumped visibly. Muttering names under their breath, they retreated, looking gingerly back at her, half scared and half embarrassed they were scared.

Qingqing watched them go with her lip drawn back over her teeth.

"Pigs," she said shortly and viciously, her voice heavy with contempt.