Xianglan narrowed her eyes and slowly straightened her posture further. Cao Lihuan approached, fanning herself with her hand, her expression haughty as she said, "Oh, it's you. What are you doing here? Could it be that someone from your family has been locked up?"
Xianglan pretended not to hear, adjusting the hair at her temples and checking the bundle hanging from her arm.
Cao Lihuan raised her voice, "I'm asking you a question, did you hear me?"
Only then did Xianglan look up, replying calmly, "Madam Cao, I am no longer a maid. Show some respect and courtesy. You've always prided yourself on coming from a noble family, but have you forgotten the upbringing of a lady? Shouting and making a scene is the behavior of a shrew. You haven't lived in the common streets for long, yet you've already forgotten all decency?"
Never having been challenged like this before, Cao Lihuan flushed with rage. But seeing Xianglan's slightly reddened eyes, clearly from recent tears, she felt a sense of satisfaction and sneered, "You and I have a deep-seated enmity. Why bother with hypocritical bows and formalities? Chen Xianglan, your father has been thrown into prison, hasn't he?" She took two quick steps forward, widening her eyes and contorting her face into a fierce expression, "When you framed me back then, did you ever imagine you'd have a day like this? A day when you'd fall into my hands? Chen Xianglan, you ruined my prospects and wealth, and I will certainly not let you off easily."
Xianglan was inwardly startled but maintained a composed expression. Leaning close until their noses nearly touched, she raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems Madam Cao has quite the talent. After not seeing you for years, you're now capable of passing judgments on behalf of the county magistrate."
Cao Lihuan gave a faint, cold smile, "If you offer more silver, you might still save your father's wretched life." With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.
Xianglan, unsettled and suspicious, had no time to dwell on it. She took out three taels of silver and handed it to the jailer, begging him to summon a physician for Chen Wanquan. The jailer, however, refused to accept it. Xianglan added another two taels, but the jailer clicked his tongue and said, "You must have had a bad dream to cross Madam Cao. As the saying goes, 'Take money and resolve troubles,' but I can't interfere with the prisoners here, so naturally, I can't take your silver either."
Xianglan pressed him, "Why can't you, sir?"
The jailer picked his teeth and replied, "Everyone knows that in this Government Office, Madam Cao is like half the county magistrate. If she gives an order, how can we intervene..." He trailed off, shook his head, and walked away without finishing.
Xianglan stood still for a moment, feeling as if her heart were clogged and heavy, like a wandering spirit, she slowly made her way out. Just as she exited through the side gate, she heard someone calling her name, "Xianglan, Xianglan!"
Turning her head, she saw a woman in a blue cotton gown hiding at the corner of the wall, beckoning to her. When the woman noticed Xianglan looking her way, she called out again softly, "Xianglan!" Following the voice, Xianglan approached and realized the person calling her was none other than Siqiao!Siqiao was now dressed as a married woman, with a green scarf wrapped around her head. Her face had turned sallow, the flesh on her cheeks had sunken, and she looked considerably haggard. Though not yet twenty, she already bore the marks of hardship. The moment she spotted Xianglan, she immediately pulled her behind the wall, peering left and right. Only after confirming no one was around did she turn back, her voice trembling as she said, "I came with Cao Lihuan. I spotted you from afar and secretly followed... Xianglan, Cao Lihuan is Magistrate Han's mistress. He dotes on her and grants her every wish. Last night, I overheard her plotting with Hui'er to drain your family of all its wealth. They even said within a day or two, they'd have your father beaten to death, leaving your family ruined and destitute!"
Xianglan was utterly shocked, her face instantly turning pale.
Siqiao, frantic with fear of being seen, glanced around again and said, "Xianglan, your father... is probably beyond saving. At least try to protect your silver..." With that, she turned to leave but paused, hesitating as she looked back. "I'm taking a risk coming here... consider it repayment for what I owed you before. Please don't hate me anymore..."
Xianglan parted her lips but found no words, only giving a slight nod.
Siqiao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and hurried away.
Xianglan felt her legs go weak. The phrases "Magistrate's mistress," "beating your father to death within days," and "family ruined and destitute" echoed relentlessly in her ears. Leaning against the wall for support, those words transformed into a deafening roar in her mind.
Under the scorching sun, Xianglan grew dizzy and slid down the wall to the ground, covering her face with her hands. What could she do now? A mere commoner like her had nowhere to turn for help—heaven wouldn't answer her cries, nor would earth. She couldn't stand by and watch her father die, but what could she possibly do? She wished she could die in Chen Wanquan's place and longed to tear Cao Lihuan to pieces. Tears streamed through her fingers.
Just then, she heard someone call, "Miss Xianglan? Miss Xianglan?"
Xianglan looked up to see Shuangxi standing before her, wearing an ingratiating smile as he bent slightly to look at her.
Noticing Xianglan's tear-filled eyes and delicate, pitiable appearance—like raindrops on pear blossoms—Shuangxi silently marveled. No wonder the Master was so captivated by such beauty. Smiling obsequiously again, he said, "Miss Xianglan, my Master invites you for a word." He pointed behind him. Following his gesture, Xianglan saw a two-horse carriage with an oilcloth cover parked at the end of the alley.
Xianglan struggled to her feet. Shuangxi moved to assist her but quickly withdrew his hand, as if remembering something, and merely urged, "Take your time, miss." When he saw Xianglan heading in the opposite direction, he hastily blocked her path and said with a flattering smile, "Where are you going, miss? Our Master is waiting in the carriage. You should know, as soon as he heard about your family's troubles, he set out immediately. If he speaks up, it'll carry more weight than an imperial decree—Han Yaozu would be scared out of his wits... Please go, won't you?"
Xianglan hesitated at Shuangxi's words, but then the sound of hoofbeats approached as Ji Xiang drove the carriage over. The curtain was lifted, revealing a handsome yet stern face. Xianglan felt her chest tighten. Though her expression remained calm, her hands secretly clenched into fists. Lin Jinlou raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Xianglan from head to toe twice, then simply beckoned before letting the curtain fall.Shuangxi immediately knelt on the ground, while Ji Xiang slightly bent forward and extended his arm with a smile, saying, "Miss, please board the carriage."
Xianglan had no choice but to support herself by Shuangxi's arm and step on him to get into the carriage. Lin Jinlou was leaning against a heart-shaped brocade pillow, a faint smile playing on his lips. Before him stood a small table set with tea and delicate snacks.
Xianglan sat far away at the edge and softly called out, "Master Lin."
Lin Jinlou nodded with a smile, pushing a tea bowl on the table toward Xianglan. "Half a year ago, you were still lively and daring enough to threaten me with a hairpin at your throat. How come today you look as wilted as frostbitten eggplant?"
Xianglan glanced at Lin Jinlou. This man appeared noble, dignified, and elegant, but in reality, he would stop at nothing and lacked the demeanor of a gentleman. Now that her family had fallen into hardship and she was at her most helpless, his arrival surely meant he intended to take advantage of the situation. She hid her hands in her sleeves, digging her nails into her palms.
Seeing Xianglan bow her head in silence, Lin Jinlou calmly drank his tea, composed and at ease.
After a long while, Xianglan, still with her head lowered, whispered softly, "My father has been wrongly accused and thrown into prison..."
Lin Jinlou had been waiting for these very words but showed no reaction, merely raising his tea bowl to take another sip.
Xianglan stole a glance at Lin Jinlou, licked her dry lips, and murmured, "Cao Lihuan has become the magistrate's mistress. She hates me to the core and is determined to ruin my family. My father has been beaten and lies in prison on the brink of death, with no one allowed to treat him..." Her voice choked with sobs, and she quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Lin Jinlou reached out a finger to lift Xianglan's chin, his voice low. "Want to get your father out, hmm?"
Xianglan uncomfortably moved away. Lin Jinlou lowered his arm, leaning back against the pillow as he chuckled softly. "That's not how you should act, little Xianglan. Count on your fingers how many times I've saved you. Now I've come to you again, and you, ungrateful little thing, not only fail to appreciate it but don't know what's good for you."
Xianglan was taken aback. It was true that Lin Jinlou had saved her before, and she ought to be grateful. But this man was too dangerous, his intentions too blatant, making her want to flee as far as possible.
Lin Jinlou shifted closer, leaning in beside Xianglan, his breath warming her ear. "Listen carefully. Before, I let you roam free and didn't bother with you, but this time is different. I'll get your father out of prison, and if there's anyone you can't stand, I'll take care of them to vent your anger. But if you act up or cause trouble again, I'll truly lose my patience and punish you severely. Understood?"
Though a smile lingered on his face, his expression and tone carried an undeniable authority. Xianglan wanted to say her father didn't need his help, but she truly had nowhere else to turn. The image of Chen Wanquan lying helpless in prison flashed before her eyes, yet Lin Jinlou demanded a heavy price. Her vision blurred again, and she bit her lip hard.
Lin Jinlou used his fingertip to wipe the tears from her face, laughing lightly. "Oh, crying again? Tears of joy?"
Xianglan wiped her face, composed herself, and looked up at Lin Jinlou again. "I won't be a concubine."Lin Jinlou was taken aback, then sneered coldly. Before he could speak, Xianglan continued, "If Master saves my father, I will naturally... offer myself in return. Whether as a maid or as a concubine, I only beg that after three to five years, when Master grows tired of me, you will let me go... I will not remarry. After seeing my parents to their final rest, I will shave my head and enter Still Moon Temple to cultivate my spirit, spending the rest of my life with the dim lamp and ancient Buddha."
Lin Jinlou narrowed his eyes, staring at the girl's delicate and beautiful face. She was indeed strikingly lovely, like a radiant flower reflected in water or moonlight shimmering on a cold pond. Despite facing such calamity, she still sat upright with her back straight, showing no trace of despondency. The women he had possessed—whether seductive and alluring, exquisitely charming, or as dazzling as peach blossoms yet cold as frost—none could match her elegant grace. She was like a quiet orchid blooming in solitude, making it difficult for him to let go time and again. Occasionally, he would forget her, but then she would come to mind once more. Other women, when favored by him, would act as if their ancestors had accumulated virtue to bring glory to their families. Yet this one was like an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. A surge of anger suddenly rose in Lin Jinlou's heart. He leaned forward until his nose almost touched Xianglan's and said indifferently, "Bargaining with me? Are you even worthy?"
Thank you to yu21yu21 and damima for the Peace Talismans, and also to everyone for the pink votes^_^
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