From that day onward, Xianglan continued to do her work dutifully, but her pace slowed noticeably. Tasks that used to take half a day, like needlework, now stretched leisurely over one or two days before completion. Cleaning the rooms, which previously took just over an hour, now filled a full hour without any rush. When running errands, she no longer hurried back and forth but strolled slowly, taking in the scenery of the garden along the way. Because she worked more slowly and always seemed occupied, Cao Lihuan found it difficult to assign her additional tasks and instead turned to Huairui and Hui'er. If Xianglan was asked to help with minor chores, she would oblige, but if someone tried to offload extra work onto her, she would immediately refuse, saying, "I still have tasks at hand and can't manage more at the moment. My apologies."
With this strategy, her days became somewhat easier, though Cao Lihuan grew increasingly displeased with her, often scolding her. Xianglan listened in silence, maintaining a respectful demeanor while secretly planning how to find time to paint a couple more pieces to sell.
A few days later, Old Madam Zeng passed away. Since she had lived to a ripe old age, her death was considered a "happy funeral." The household was draped in mourning white, even the cats and dogs wrapped in white cloth. Lin Changzheng, the eldest master of the Lin family, returned to Jinling with his wife and children for the funeral. With the imminent arrival of the main branch of the family, the household buzzed with gossip.
"With the return of the eldest master and Taitai, the second master, third master, eldest young lady, second young lady, and third young lady will also be coming back," Hui'er said, taking out a small patterned ceramic jar from the cabinet. She scooped a spoonful of tea leaves with a silver spoon, brewed it with hot water, and cradled the cup in her hands.
"That tea is tribute tea given to Miss Huan by First Madam—just a tiny bit of it. You greedy thing, stealing a taste! Be careful Miss Huan notices. Last time you sneaked two osmanthus cakes, I had to cover for you," Huairui scolded with a laugh, reclining on a rattan daybed. "Besides, whether they come back or not has nothing to do with us."
"How is it unrelated? I heard Taitai is a formidable woman and never got along with First Madam. Once she returns, it'll be a battle of titans! And Lin Jinting, Third Master Ting, is the only male heir from the second branch, born to Second Taitai. He went to the capital two years ago with Lin Changzheng to study and is returning for the funeral. They say he's quite the handsome young man."
Huairui snorted. "Shameless girl, so you're thinking about men now!"
Hui'er lifted her chin. "So what if I am? Can't I even think about it? Lin Jinxuan, the second master from the main branch, is said to be an elegant and talented scholar, though he's a child of a concubine. But he's always been sickly and stayed behind in the capital this time. With just Third Master Ting returning, all the maids in the household are already stirring, finding ways to make new clothes and jewelry, secretly competing with each other."
Huairui scoffed. "During Old Madam Zeng's mourning period, everyone has to wear plain clothes—no flowers or makeup. What kind of tricks can they possibly pull off?"Hui'er giggled and said, "There's a saying that goes, 'To look pretty, wear mourning white.' The other day, I saw Yinzan and Jinzan working together, embroidering patterns with lilac thread on white clothes. Some even wanted to wear silver ornaments during mourning. When they showed me the designs, my, they were truly novel and beautiful! I felt like getting a couple made for myself." Then she called out loudly, "Xianglan, are you getting any jewelry made? I asked Jinzan—if we order four hairpins together, we can save sixty coins. How about we split it and each get two?"
Xianglan had been eavesdropping on the conversation in the hall. Hearing Hui'er call her, she walked out holding her embroidery hoop and smiled, "This silver hairpin of mine still serves me well."
"How can that compare? That hairpin of yours has long lost its shine, and the design is outdated and old-fashioned. I can't believe you still polish it with fine cloth over and over. If it were me, I’d have tossed it long ago." Hui'er scoffed, grabbing a handful of melon seeds to crack. "Not just the hairpin—your whole outfit is old and shabby, looking worn and dowdy. Isn’t it embarrassing to go out like that? It reflects poorly on our young lady."
Hui'er had always been sharp-tongued. Xianglan suppressed her irritation, forcing a playful smile. "I joined the household late and missed the chance for new clothes. Unlike Sister Huairui, whose family is well-off and lacks nothing in food or attire, and certainly not as refined as Sister Hui'er, who always receives rewards from Miss Huan. I’m just a poor maid living off my monthly allowance—a single silver hairpin is treasure enough for me. I must seem laughable to Sister Hui'er. I know you have plenty of fine things. If you find me too shabby, why not spare me a few?" She sneered inwardly: Hui'er is known as 'plucking feathers from a passing goose'—hoarding all her own food and trinkets while freeloading off others and even stealing Cao Lihuan’s snacks. With what I just said, she must be fuming.
In her past life at the Shen residence, she had witnessed sisters vying for favor among the elders and even helped her mother strategize against concubines and power-hungry sisters-in-law. The covert battles, the hidden daggers, the whispers of intrigue—she had seen it all. Hui'er’s petty tricks were truly beneath her. Having just entered the Lin household, she wasn’t yet settled and didn’t want to stir trouble. Moreover, having lived two lives, she had long grown weary of pointless quarrels. So, she pretended not to hear Hui'er’s provocations, but she wouldn’t let herself be bullied or humiliated either.
Hui'er fell silent, her face flushing red and pale with anger. Xianglan smiled at her and said, "I was just teasing you, Sister Hui'er." Then she turned back to her embroidery, thinking: She really is just an inexperienced girl, silenced by a few words. If it were me, I’d have picked out a couple of trinkets to give away. With such narrow-mindedness, she won’t go far in life.
Hui'er, further irritated by Xianglan’s retort, was about to snipe back when she saw Cao Lihuan rush in from outside, exclaiming loudly, "Something terrible has happened!"
Huairui, who had been teasing a dog with a piece of smoked meat, quickly shooed the dog out and asked, "What’s happened?"
Cao Lihuan sat down behind the Eight Immortals table, panting, and said, "Ying Ge’s child was lost—Chunyan poisoned it!"Xianglan was so startled she nearly pricked her finger with her needle. She hastily stood up and walked out. Huairui and Hui'er were stunned, exclaiming, "Is it true? Who told you this?"
"Of course it's true. Eldest Master Lou himself handled the case, and Chunyan confessed. A while ago, the physician diagnosed Ying Ge with signs of a miscarriage and prescribed medicine to be brewed and taken. Chunyan had always been at odds with Ying Ge, so she seized the chance to dismiss the servant brewing the medicine and added a potent abortifacient to the potion. Perhaps the dosage was too strong—Ying Ge lost the baby after just one bowl and is still bleeding heavily. Tsk tsk, how pitiful." Cao Lihuan took the tea Hui'er poured for her and drank it in one gulp. "I went to Knowing Spring Pavilion earlier and found the gates tightly guarded. After pestering Granny Xu from the pavilion for a long time, she finally told me."
Xianglan couldn't help but ask, "What happened to Chunyan?"
Cao Lihuan sneered, "What else? The Master ordered her to be sold far away, and her family will suffer the consequences too. The Master said none of them are to be spared. Eldest Master Lou is already twenty-five and still childless. He finally had an heir, only for it to be murdered. If it were me, I'd have that wretched servant beaten to death."
Huairui said, "Perhaps he considered their past affection. After all, Chunyan did serve the Master once."
Hui'er curled her lip. "I think she had it coming. Several times when I went to Knowing Spring Pavilion to deliver things, I saw her standing in the courtyard scolding the younger maids, acting all high and mighty. None of Eldest Master Lou's other Bedchamber servants are like her. Chunyan only acted so arrogantly because Eldest Madam Lou favored her. Now that she's gone this far, even Eldest Madam Lou can't protect her."
But Xianglan felt the matter wasn't as simple as being "sold far away." She thought of Chunyan, once as fresh and delicate as a flower, now ruined by her own delusions. Despite all her scheming and striving, she had ended up like this, dragging her entire family down with her. Even if she and Lu Ershenzi didn't get along, it wasn't some deep-seated hatred—they were all just pitiful souls trying to survive in this world.
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