Since that day, Xianglan continued to do her work conscientiously, but her pace had noticeably slowed. Tasks that used to take half a day to complete now stretched over one or two days before she handed them in; cleaning the room, which previously took just over half an hour, now leisurely filled a full hour. When running errands outside, she no longer hurried back and forth but instead walked slowly, taking the opportunity to admire the garden scenery. Because she worked more slowly and always appeared busy, Cao Lihuan found it hard to assign her additional tasks and instead turned to Huairui and Huier. If someone asked Xianglan for help with trivial matters, she would assist, but if they tried to push extra work onto her, she would immediately refuse, saying, "I still have tasks on hand and can't manage right now, I'm truly sorry."
By declining these requests, her days became somewhat easier, though Cao Lihuan grew increasingly displeased with her and often scolded her. Xianglan listened without retorting, maintaining a respectful attitude, while inwardly planning how to find time to paint a couple more pieces to sell for money.
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 entire household was immediately draped in plain white mourning clothes, and even the cats and dogs had to wear white cloth. Lin Changzheng, the eldest master of the Lin family, returned to Jinling with his wife and children to attend the funeral. With the eldest branch of the family returning, the household buzzed with discussion.
"The eldest master and madam are coming back, so the second young master, third young master, eldest young lady, second young lady, and third young lady will be returning too," Huier said, taking a small patterned ceramic jar from the cabinet. She scooped out a spoonful of tea leaves with a tiny silver spoon, brewed it with hot water, and cradled the cup in her hands.
"That tea is tribute tea given to Miss Huan by Da Nǎinai—just this little bit. You greedy thing, if you sneak a taste and Miss Huan finds out, be careful! Last time you stole two osmanthus glutinous rice balls, I had to cover for you," Huairui scolded with a laugh, reclining on a rattan cooling bed. "Besides, whether they return or not has nothing to do with us."
"How can it have nothing to do with us? I heard the First Madam is a formidable woman and has never gotten along with Da Nǎinai. Once she returns, it'll be a fierce battle between her and Da Nǎinai! And there's Lin Jinting, the third young master—the only son of the second branch, born to Second Madam. He went to the capital with Lin Changzheng a couple of years ago to study and is coming back for the funeral this time. They say he's exceptionally handsome and quite a looker."
Huairui snorted, "Shameless girl, so you're thinking about men!"
Huier lifted her chin, "So what if I am? Can't I even think? Lin Jinxuan, the second young master from the eldest branch, though born of a concubine, is said to be an extremely refined and talented scholar. But he's been frail since childhood and often falls ill. This time, he stayed in the capital and couldn't return. With just Third Master Ting coming back, all the maids in the household are already stirring. They're all 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 allowed. What kind of tricks can they possibly pull off?"Huier giggled and said, "There's a saying, 'To look pretty, wear mourning white.' The other day I saw Yinzhan and Jinzhan embroidering patterns with violet thread on white garments, and some even wanted to have silver jewelry made to wear during the mourning period. When they showed me the designs, my, they were truly novel and lovely. I felt like having a couple made myself." Raising her voice, she called out, "Xianglan, are you getting any jewelry made? I asked Jinzhan—if we order four hairpins together, we can save sixty coins. How about we split the order and each get two?"
Xianglan had been eavesdropping on their conversation in the hall. Hearing Huier call her, she emerged holding her embroidery hoop, smiling. "This silver hairpin I'm wearing still serves me well."
"How can that compare? That hairpin of yours has long turned dull, and the style is outdated and worn. It's a wonder you still polish it with fine cloth over and over. If it were me, I'd have tossed it long ago." Huier scoffed, grabbing a handful of melon seeds to crack. "Forget the hairpin—even your clothes are all old, looking shabby and rustic. Isn't it embarrassing to go out like that, tarnishing our young lady's reputation?"
Huier always spoke with a sharp tongue. Xianglan bit back her retort, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "I joined the household late and missed the new clothing allocation. I'm not as well-off as Sister Huairui, who lacks nothing in food, drink, or attire, nor as presentable as Sister Huier, who always receives rewards from Miss Huan. I'm just a poor maid living on my monthly allowance—this single silver hairpin is treasure enough for me. I suppose it must seem laughable to you, Sister Huier. I know you have plenty of fine things. If you find me too destitute, why not give me a few?" Internally, she sneered, "Huier, known as 'plucking feathers from a passing goose,' guards her own food and trinkets jealously while delighting in visiting others to freeload meals and sneak treats from Cao Lihuan. My words must have vexed her to death."
In her previous life at the Shen residence, she had witnessed sisters from various branches vying for elders' favor and even helped her mother scheme against concubines and competing sisters-in-law. The covert struggles and hidden daggers were all too familiar—Huier's petty tricks were hardly worth her notice. Having just entered the Lin household and still finding her footing, she wanted to avoid trouble. Moreover, having lived two lives, she had long grown weary of squabbling over trivial matters. Thus, she ignored Huier's deliberate provocations but refused to let herself be bullied or insulted freely.
Huier fell silent at once, her face flushing and paling with anger. Xianglan smiled at her and said, "I was only joking with you, Sister Huier." She turned back to her embroidery, thinking, "She really is an inexperienced young girl—stumped by just a few words. If it were me, I'd have picked out a couple of jewelry pieces to give away. With such narrow-mindedness, she won't go far in the future."
Stung by Xianglan's retort, Huier grew even more irritated and was about to snipe back when she saw Cao Lihuan bustling in from outside, exclaiming loudly as she entered, "Something terrible has happened!"
Huairui, who had been teasing a dog with a piece of smoked meat, hurriedly shooed the animal out and asked, "What's so terrible?"
Cao Lihuan sank into a chair behind the Eight Immortals table, catching her breath. "Yingge has miscarried—Chunyan administered the medicine!"Xianglan was so startled she nearly pricked her finger with her needle. She hurriedly stood and walked out. Huairui and Huier were dumbfounded, exclaiming one after another: "Really? Who did you hear this from?"
"Of course it's true. Cousin Lou personally handled the case, and Chunyan confessed herself. A few days ago, the physician diagnosed Yingge with signs of a threatened miscarriage and prescribed medicine to be decocted and taken. Chunyan, who had never gotten along with Yingge, seized the opportunity to send the maid tending the medicine away and added a dose of potent medicine to the brew. Perhaps the dosage was too strong—Yingge miscarried after just one bowl and is still bleeding nonstop. Tsk tsk, truly pitiful." Cao Lihuan took the tea Huier poured for her and drank it in one gulp. "I went to the Hall of Knowing Spring earlier and found the gates tightly guarded. I had to pull aside Granny Xu from the hall and question her at length before she told me."
Xianglan couldn't help asking: "What happened to Chunyan then?"
Cao Lihuan sneered, "What else could happen? The Eldest Master ordered her sold far away, and her family suffered the consequences too. The Eldest Master said not a single one would be spared. Cousin Lou is already twenty-five with no heir yet—finally there was a bloodline, but someone destroyed it. If it were me, I'd have that wretched maid beaten to death."
Huairui said, "Perhaps he still remembers some past affection. After all, Chunyan did serve the Eldest Master once."
Huier curled her lip and said, "I think she had it coming. Several times when I delivered items to the Hall of Knowing Spring, I saw her standing in the courtyard lecturing the young maids, putting on such airs. None of the Eldest Master's other bedchamber maids act like she did. Chunyan only acted so arrogantly because Da Nǎinai thought highly of her. Now that she's gone this far, even Da Nǎinai can't protect her."
But Xianglan felt this matter was far from being as simple as "selling her far away." She thought of how Chunyan—a fresh, willow-slender beauty—had been so bewitched as to ruin herself. For all her scheming and striving, she ended up like this, even implicating her entire family. Though Chunyan had conflicts with Lu Ershenzi, it was no deep-seated hatred. They were all just poor souls trying to survive in this world.
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