Shuran gritted her teeth in fury, grabbed Luan'er and struck her twice, scolding, "You ungrateful little wretch bent on courting death! Who do you think you are? Just slightly more respectable than a maidservant, yet you carry on as if you were a mistress!"
Cun Xin hurried over to mediate, saying, "Sister, don't be angry. Let's talk this through calmly."
Luan'er threw herself onto the Golden Python Large Striped Mat, weeping. Shuran looked weary and sighed, "I've warned you repeatedly—stop provoking Xianglan, but you refused to listen. This humiliation is entirely your own doing. Who can you blame? If you truly anger the Master and he drives you out, what then?"
Luan'er scrambled up, wiping her tears, and retorted, "I don't believe it! The Master may have a temper, but he genuinely cares for me. If he ever gets angry at me, it's only because that ** is scheming against me behind my back."
Shuran felt a surge of anger choke her throat. Trembling, she pointed at Luan'er and stammered, "You... you... you... truly... truly drive me mad!"
Cun Xin quickly stepped forward to soothe Shuran, whispering, "Sister Shuran, she's just not thinking clearly right now. Please be patient and guide her slowly."
Shuran frowned, "What 'patience'? How old is she already! Before, we could excuse her as 'foolish and willful,' but if she keeps indulging her temper like this, she'll inevitably face serious consequences! Xianglan is relatively tolerant and only retorted a few times. If she encounters someone who refuses to let things go and provokes the Master to dismiss her in a fit of rage, I wouldn't even have the face to beg the Master to take her back!" Glaring sternly at Luan'er, she added, "Think carefully—isn't that the truth?"
Startled by Shuran's severity, Luan'er pondered for a moment, then clutched Shuran's hand, pleading, "The Master wouldn't treat me that way! You've said yourself he's only fond of Xianglan out of novelty. I play and sing so well—the Master holds me in high regard! I..."
Shuran irritably shook off Luan'er's hand and snapped, "Think carefully! What else do you have to offer besides playing and singing? Are you more beautiful than Xianglan? More eloquent than Hua Mei? Or more honest and perceptive than Ying Ge? From now on, behave properly! Don't put on airs and throw tantrums over trivial matters."
Hearing this, Luan'er grew even more aggrieved, wailing, "What's wrong with me? Am I some ugly monster, deaf or mute? How am I inferior to anyone? Get out! Get out! When I rise to glory someday, don't come begging to me!"
Shuran raised her hand and struck Luan'er twice harshly, her expression severe. "It's all your parents' fault—pampering you since childhood, claiming you're the reincarnation of some noble lady destined for wealth and a bejeweled crown, indulging you without limits. Not long after you entered the mansion, while serving in the old mistress's quarters, I befriended Xue Zhan and spent silver to smooth your path. No one provoked you, and during festivals, you were even allowed to sing longevity songs before the old mistress for rewards. The old mistress admired your musical talent and assigned you to the Master's chambers. I thought your minor flaws would fade as you matured, but instead, they've worsened! I was negligent—I should have disciplined you earlier. Had I known you'd turn out like this, I would never have let you become the Master's chamber maid!"
Overwhelmed with shame and still somewhat in awe of Shuran, Luan'er collapsed onto the bed, sobbing helplessly.Cun Xin was about to persuade further, but Shuran waved her hand to stop her, her face stern as she said, "Look at your state—disheveled hair, acting like a madwoman. You don’t resemble a respectable young lady at all, but rather a lowly servant. How dare you meddle in the Master’s affairs? Know your place! You’ve truly brought shame upon me. If you continue like this, I’ll beg the Master to marry you off to some servant boy. Don’t wait until you cause a disaster beyond repair!"
Luan’er knew full well how favored Shuran was in Lin Jinlou’s eyes, and her face turned pale with fright. She wanted to plead with Shuran but couldn’t bring herself to swallow her pride. Tears streamed down her face like rolling melons. Shuran shot Cun Xin a meaningful glance, and understanding, Cun Xin said, "I’ll fetch some hot water for the young lady to wash her face," before stepping out.
Shuran untied the light green handkerchief from her waist and wiped Luan’er’s face, speaking calmly, "Dry your tears. I have something to say to you..." Seeing Luan’er sit up, still sobbing, she continued, "If we weren’t relatives, I wouldn’t bother telling you this. I entered the mansion at eight years old—I’ve endured all kinds of injustices and witnessed countless schemes. Later, I served the Master. You know his temper—he’s not an easy man to deal with. I stumbled and fumbled my way to where I am today, working hard to earn this bit of respect. Now, I have a few words for you."
Luan’er’s crying softened. She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and pricked up her ears to listen.
Shuran said, "You’re just a Bedchamber servant, a home-born slave. If you think yourself above your masters, you’re courting death. But though you’re a servant now, who knows what the future holds? Do you really intend to remain a Bedchamber servant for life?"
Luan’er’s eyes widened instantly. "Of course not! What kind of life would that be?"
Shuran nodded. "Exactly. The Master will surely remarry a lady eventually, and in the future, he’ll have no shortage of wives and concubines. If you mind your words and actions, learn from Hua Mei, sweeten your tongue, and please the Master, you might bear him a child or two and become a Concubine. With children by your side, even if you’re not the Main Wife, you could stand on equal footing."
Luan’er hesitated. "Fortune-tellers all say I’ll live a life of comfort, with servants at my beck and call, and that I’ll become an Imperial Lady someday. If I’m not the Main Wife, how could I ever be an Imperial Lady?"
Shuran’s anger flared. "A toad lusting after swan’s flesh! Pah! How dare you aspire to be the Main Wife? Aren’t you afraid everyone will spit in your face and mock your shamelessness? What is the Master’s status? The eldest son of the Lin Family, a dignified fourth-rank general, soon to be promoted to third-rank after the Mid-Autumn Festival. With such power and stature, he could even marry an emperor’s daughter. Why would he choose a slave like you? You’re delusional! If you keep dreaming, I’ll report you to the Master and Taitai immediately and have you thrown out, to spare us further disgrace!"
Tears welled in Luan’er’s eyes. "We’re both of slave origin. Why must you humiliate me like this?"
Shuran sneered. "We may share the same background, but I have dignity, unlike you, who knows no shame! If word of this gets out, people will laugh themselves silly!"
Luan’er, who valued her pride above all, had never been so harshly scolded and humiliated. Covering her face, she collapsed onto the Heated Brick Bed, weeping loudly and kicking her legs. "Go away! Get out!"Shuran stood up and said, "I'm certainly leaving, you shameless little wench. If you continue being this deluded and fail to recognize your place, I'll report your words directly to the Master! Better that than having them spread through others' gossip, dragging me down into disgrace and ridicule. Dreaming of becoming the proper mistress? Look at yourself—from head to toe, do you carry the dignified bearing of a Main House wife? What karmic retribution brought a calamity like you into the Knowing Spring Pavilion!"
Upon hearing this, Luan'er wept even more bitterly, as if the sky had fallen.
Shuran took several deep breaths to compose herself before pushing the door open and stepping out. She found Cun Xin waiting outside, who approached and said, "Sister, don't be angry. Miss Luan'er is still young, and with Xianglan's sudden arrival—coupled with the Master's tendency to discard the old for the new—she just lost her temper in a fit of jealousy."
Tears welled in Shuran's eyes as she replied, "My dear, if only she had half your cleverness."
Hearing faint sobs still emanating from the room, Cun Xin asked, "What about the young lady..."
Shuran frowned sharply. "Let her cry! If only weeping could bring her clarity! This fool will surely cause endless trouble in the future." She shook her head and added, "Ambition isn't a bad thing, but delusions of grandeur are. To speak bluntly, even as a Concubine, once the Master's novelty with Luan'er fades, he might not glance her way again, let alone consider anything higher. You're young—you never saw the several women who served the Master before Madam Zhao drove them out. Each surpassed Luan'er in looks and temperament. Never mind the past; even Xianglan, whom the Master pines for, is exquisitely beautiful—next to her, Luan'er is like a wild weed. With all her fussing, isn't she just inviting humiliation? She means no harm, but her foolishness will leave her vulnerable in the household once her youth and beauty fade. She'd be better off leveraging her current charms to earn more favor and bear a child or two—at least she'd have something to rely on in her later years."
Cun Xin nodded in earnest agreement, pressing her lips into a smile. "Sister, you truly understand how to navigate situations—no wonder the Master values you so."
Shuran sighed. "This wisdom comes from hard lessons. The Master may have a temper, but he's undeniably capable and takes responsibility. In earlier years, if I claimed I never had feelings for him, I'd be lying. But watching women cycle through his life without permanence, and knowing he has countless lovers outside... my heart long grew cold. Luan'er covets wealth and status, but she lacks both the cunning and the destiny for it!" Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she said to Cun Xin, "Fetch your young lady's dressing case. I need to redo my hair and freshen up."
Cun Xin replied, "Sister, your hair is perfectly fine. Why bother?"
Shuran sighed again. "I must go to the Main House to apologize to Xianglan on that little wench's behalf." She cautioned Cun Xin, "Don't underestimate her—the Master treats her exceptionally well. She doesn't seem the troublemaking type, but if Luan'er ever offends her, you must step in to smooth things over and mediate."
Thereupon, Shuran washed her face, rearranged her hair, and after making herself presentable, returned to the Main House. Xianglan was leaning on the windowsill, gazing absently at the courtyard flowers. Shuran found a seat but had yet to speak when Xiao Juan's voice carried from outside: "The Master has returned."Xianglan didn't even turn her head, thinking to herself: Why has this Living Yama returned again? Wasn't he always away from home before, never staying in for days? Lin Jinlou entered without glancing at Xianglan either, merely saying with a stern face, "I need to change clothes."
Just then, Xiao Juan called from outside again: "Third Master, Second Young Lady, Third Young Lady, and Fourth Young Lady are here!"
Before her voice faded, Lin Dongling had already walked in, covering her mouth as she laughed: "Everyone says Big Brother has a new beauty in his room, so we've all come to join the excitement."
Lin Dongxiu said: "We've come all this way eagerly—Big Brother must treat us to a meal."
Thank you yu21yu21 for two Peace Talismans, z1225574470 for the Peace Talisman, and also thank you everyone for the pink votes~~
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