Now this is a tale of two branches from the same tree.
Shu Ran had just stepped out of the room and was walking behind the house when someone suddenly called out, "Sister!" Startled, she turned to see Luanr standing behind a cluster of banana leaves, clutching a handkerchief, her face stern and clearly unhappy.
Shu Ran approached and said, "It's time for lunch. Why are you standing here?"
Luanr gestured toward the room with her chin and asked, "Has that little fox spirit moved in?"
Shu Ran's expression immediately darkened. "Nonsense! What little fox spirit?"
Luanr sneered, "Isn't she just a little fox spirit? The moment she arrived, she slipped right into the main chamber—that's a place reserved for the future Da Nǎinai. Is she even worthy?"
Shu Ran explained, "That was arranged by the Eldest Master. She's to serve closely and stay in the side room." Rubbing her temples, she stepped forward and took Luanr's hand. "Dear sister, please mind your words. Last time you angered the Eldest Master, and he still won't pay you any attention. I don't dare plead your case too strongly. The Eldest Master's temper—when he's in a good mood, everything is wonderful. If you act a little spoiled, he'll patiently coax you. But when he's truly angry, not even the King of Heaven can rein him in. Why bring trouble upon yourself? Quickly put away that prideful attitude of yours."
Luanr felt somewhat uncomfortable. She was well aware of everything Shu Ran said, but in the past, whenever she acted a little willful, Lin Jinlou would soften his words and coax her, making her feel that he cared for and adored her. Once she had tasted that sweetness, she found it hard to let go. Yet Lin Jinlou was notoriously fickle; once the novelty wore off, he no longer paid her any mind. How could she bear it? So she couldn't help but act spoiled again, hoping to draw his attention, but instead, she had only made things worse. Too proud to admit her mistake, Luanr stubbornly held her ground, and thus they remained at an impasse.
Shu Ran sighed and patted Luanr's hand. "Oh, you... you're still too young. Listen to your sister: later, take some soup to the Eldest Master and apologize. You won't lose anything by it. And stay away from Xianglan. Huamei is a proper concubine, and even she hasn't said a word. Why must you be the one to make a fuss?"
Luanr's eyes reddened. "I just can't accept it. The Eldest Master only favored me for less than three months before he found someone new..."
Shu Ran said coldly, "What did I tell you back then? I said to choose your path carefully and never regret it later. But you wouldn't listen, insisting you had already made up your mind. Who can you blame now?"
Luanr paled and remained silent.
Shu Ran sighed, knowing her cousin was stubborn to the bone and would never admit she was wrong, even if beaten to death.
It turned out that after Luanr was born, her parents had someone read her fortune. The fortune-teller immediately declared that this girl was no ordinary child—she was the reincarnation of a mythical luan bird. Even if she didn't become an imperial consort, she was destined to be a lady of high status, enjoying boundless wealth and honor. Whether the fortune-teller was spouting nonsense was unknown, but Luanr's parents believed it wholeheartedly and spoiled their daughter from a young age. Next door to their home lived an opera troupe, and the masters there taught Luanr a few skills. Over time, she became proficient in playing the pipa and singing melodies. She also learned to read a few characters and memorized some Tang poems and Song lyrics, her demeanor and bearing gradually setting her apart. As she grew older, she blossomed into a beauty—delicate eyebrows, slender eyes, an elegant nose, rosy lips, flawless skin, and a slender, graceful figure. Everyone praised her, saying, "Look at that girl—her speech and manners are so refined. I hear she's accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She doesn't seem like the child of servants at all—she carries herself like a young lady."Luanr, having grown up amidst constant praise from others and repeatedly hearing her parents boast about her extraordinary birth chart and future wealth and nobility, increasingly saw herself as refined and extraordinary, destined to be a cut above the rest. Unconsciously, she became arrogant, looking down on ordinary people. After reading some romantic tales of gifted scholars and beautiful ladies, she became convinced that she was a phoenix unfortunately fallen among commoners and servants, waiting only for a young master as handsome as Pan An and as wealthy as Fan Li to recognize her worth, rescue her from hardship, and thereafter live as an inseparable couple, envying no immortals.
The moment Luanr laid eyes on Lin Jinlou, her heart instantly raced. She felt he was the true hero who could recognize her worth and was determined to play out a grand romance with him. Little did she expect that Lin Jinlou would not reciprocate her feelings at all, merely treating her as a maid who could sing for amusement. Soon after, he turned his attention to bringing Xianglan into the household.
Shu Ran paused and said, "You should go back now. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Eldest Master. Say a few soft words, and I'll help smooth things over. From now on, speak less, and whatever you do, don't provoke Xianglan at this critical time. Learn a thing or two from Huamei."
Luanr snorted, "Learn from her? Hiding like a turtle all day—I don't see what's so remarkable about her." Her voice, however, had softened considerably. Shu Ran knew Luanr had already relented and sighed inwardly once more. She gently advised Luanr a few more words before they parted ways.
That evening, long after the lamps were lit, Lin Jinlou had yet to return. Xianglan felt restless and uneasy, unable to eat properly. She merely picked at her dinner before putting down her chopsticks.
Chunling brightened the candle and sat with Xiao Juan, chatting and joking to distract Xianglan. Noticing her distracted state, they soon had a young maid bring in water for washing up. After extinguishing the lamp, they quietly withdrew.
Xianglan lay on the bed in the eastern chamber, her heart feeling as if scalded with oil—anxious and agitated. She stared blankly at the bed canopy, lost in thought. She had no idea how much time had passed when, in her drowsy state nearing sleep, she suddenly heard a commotion in the courtyard. Someone burst open the door with a bang, and Shuangxi's voice rang out, "Quick! Bring the Eldest Master some sobering soup and a hot towel for his face!"
Startled, Xianglan sat up in bed, her palms sweating. She quietly parted the bed curtains a crack and saw that the outer room was already brightly lit. Maids and older servant women had gathered, and the sounds of fetching water, urging Lin Jinlou to drink the sobering soup, and his own shouts and commands blended into a cacophony.
Xianglan initially had no intention of going out, but she feared that hiding in bed pretending to be asleep might anger that tyrant and lead to further troubles, making life even harder. Gritting her teeth, she thought to herself, "Face it or hide from it, it's all the same. You can't avoid fate forever!" She got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, threw on an embroidered cloak adorned with butterflies and flowers, and quietly stepped out.
Leaning against the curio shelf, she saw Lin Jinlou slouched in the master's chair at the head of the hall, surrounded by several maids. Shuangxi had already left. Among them stood a young woman in a pomegranate-red silk embroidered skirt with gold thread, who seemed to stand out from the rest. Xianglan took a closer look: the girl had delicate eyebrows and eyes, and though her features were not striking individually, they held a unique charm when combined on her face. Paired with her slender figure, she stood out among the Lin family's maids.Xianglan thought to herself, "This must be Luanr."
She saw her holding a bowl of soup, clearly full of concern yet wearing a cold expression, as if Lin Jinlou were a misbehaving child. Luanr chided, "You should drink less at social gatherings outside. Coming back so drunk—what if you fell off your horse?"
Lin Jinlou frowned impatiently.
Luanr handed him the soup and said, "This is chicken broth. Drink it while it's hot."
Luanr's maid, Cunxin, quickly added, "Miss simmered this soup for two full hours to bring out the flavor. The meat is so tender it melts in your mouth, and she kept it on a low flame to prevent it from cooling. She added many medicinal herbs—it's very nourishing for the body... Eldest Master, you can see how much effort Miss has put into this."
Luanr scolded Cunxin, "Must you talk so much!" Then she eagerly offered the soup bowl again.
Luanr thought that if Lin Jinlou drank the soup, their previous disagreement would be forgotten. To her surprise, Lin Jinlou sneered and said, "Who told you to come here? You're becoming more and more unruly. Do you think you can just barge in here whenever you want? Get out!"
The smile on Luanr's face instantly froze. Lin Jinlou glared at her and said, "I said get out. Can't you understand human speech?"
Tears welled up in Luanr's eyes. Cunxin, quick-witted, immediately set the soup bowl on a small side table and hurriedly pulled Luanr away.
Lin Jinlou rubbed his temples. He had spent the entire evening dealing with a group of cunning old foxes—men with white beards who still dared to meddle in the affairs of canal transport and salt inspection, without even asking for his approval. That banquet was nothing but a battlefield without swords. Though he returned triumphant and ambitious, he felt exhausted and had no patience for the clever, flirtatious women in the mansion trying to outsmart him.
Lin Jinlou drank a cup of hot tea from the side table, stood up, and stretched. Turning his head, he noticed a faint figure standing by the curio cabinet, her long hair cascading down, framing a delicate, snow-white face. Lin Jinlou was momentarily startled, then felt his mood lift slightly as he strode over.
Xianglan was startled and instinctively took two steps back, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, her body pressed against the wall, trembling timidly.
Lin Jinlou reached out and stroked Xianglan's cheek, then lifted her chin, gazing into her eyes as he smiled and said, "I almost forgot—I sent someone to fetch you this morning. It's so late and you're still awake. Were you waiting for me?"
Xianglan didn't know how to respond. Her eyes fluttered briefly before she lowered her gaze.
The maids and older servants, sensing the situation, tactfully withdrew. Xianglan heard the soft "thud" of the door closing and felt her heart tighten. Before she could collect herself, Lin Jinlou leaned down and kissed her cheek, planting two gentle kisses before his lips met hers in soft, teasing pecks.
Xianglan caught the scent of wine, perfume, and a fresh, intense masculine aura. Her eyes widened, and she trembled like a leaf clinging to a branch in autumn, not daring to move a muscle. Her hands clenched into tight fists, nails digging into her palms.
Lin Jinlou found the girl in his arms sweet, soft, and smooth—the sensation was so delightful that he was captivated from the moment he kissed her. He chuckled softly, then kissed the base of her ear and whispered, "Don't be afraid." As he spoke, his hand slipped inside her clothing.Xianglan bit her lip and closed her eyes to endure, yet found it even more unbearable with them shut, so she quickly opened them again. Lin Jinlou, feeling she was dressed too heavily, rasped, "Didn't I have two chests of new clothes made for you? Why aren't you wearing them?"
Xianglan widened her eyes.
Lin Jinlou kissed her mouth, then with a flex of his arm, swept her up horizontally and carried her into the bedroom.
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