"...Third Young Miss said she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be coming, but I just saw her at Pruning Autumn Pavilion with a table full of fruits and pastries, eating and drinking while admiring flowers and feeding fish, looking utterly content. She's not ill at all—she simply doesn't want to come." As she spoke, Shutong rolled up her sleeves to grind ink for Lin Dongxiu.
Lin Dongxiu was copying an inventory list with a brush. Upon hearing this, she raised an eyebrow and sneered, "That's just like Third Sister—foolish in appearance, lacking perception and good temper. She spends her days eating gluttonously and sleeping soundly, incompetent in both household management and needlework, and equally useless in reading and writing. There isn't a single redeeming quality about her."
Shutong replied, "Exactly! Just yesterday, I was discussing you with Sister Qiang Wei from Taitai's household. We agreed that although you appear delicate and gentle, you're actually extremely strong-willed inside—a truly proper young lady with remarkable spirit. You handle all matters Taitai assigns with perfect thoroughness, far surpassing ordinary girls. Only Second Young Miss, being Taitai's own daughter and personally trained by her, could possibly compare. Yet you, without such guidance, are hardly inferior to Second Young Miss—we privately think you even surpass her! Not to mention the married Eldest Young Miss or the lazy Third Young Miss—among the young ladies now, you're truly the finest." This Shutong was originally a second-tier maid serving Lin Dongxiu, constantly suppressed by Han Zhi above her, always feeling her talents went unrecognized. Fortunately, Han Zhi had recently been beaten on Lin Jinlou's orders and couldn't leave her bed, leaving Lin Dongxiu without a personal attendant and allowing Shutong to shine. Knowing Lin Dongxiu adored flattery and pomp, Shutong had been meticulously ingratiating and respectful these past days, greatly pleasing her mistress.
Lin Dongxiu indeed beamed with smiles upon hearing this. She set her brush on the stand, picked up her teacup, and laughed, "You! How could you gossip about me with Taitai's people? And even compare me to Second Sister! If this reaches Taitai's ears tomorrow, who knows what might happen!"
Shutong chuckled, "What could happen? Second Young Miss is about to marry, leaving Taitai without any capable young lady by her side. Won't she have to rely on you then? Besides, we're all family—you call Taitai 'Mother' yourself. When you rise to greatness in the future, your maternal family will surely benefit too."
These words struck right at Lin Dongxiu's heart. Swelling with pride, she smiled and said, "You're truly clever and understand what's what, grasping such reasoning." She glanced at Shutong, noting her blue satin jacket and pink cotton-ling skirt, her round-square face with large eyes and wide mouth, slightly sallow complexion touched with powder—though no great beauty, she appeared proper and sharp. Lin Dongxiu added, "I originally thought you were a simpleton, but it turns out you have insight beneath the surface."
Shutong smiled, "You're absolutely right, miss—I am indeed a simpleton, but you've taught me well. Lately, we've all been heartbroken seeing you leave early and return late, studying and practicing diligently, even working the abacus after returning home. I thought, if someone as intelligent as you works so hard, how much more should us fools strive?"Lin Dongxiu smiled and took a sip of tea, then suddenly sighed and said, "What's the use of working hard? It's all bad fate—not being born from Taitai's womb. Someone like me, with no one to care for, has to strive and be strong in everything. Look at Third Sister—she doesn’t need to lift a finger, her mother naturally handles everything for her. I heard her father is planning to arrange an excellent marriage for her, all very glamorous. My father’s idea is to match me with a scholar, saying it doesn’t matter if the family is less wealthy."
Shutong then smiled and said, "I don’t see what’s so good about that. No matter how prestigious the family, there’s a whole household to deal with—mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, young sisters—no peace at all. With your looks and character, if you marry a scholar, wouldn’t he treat you like a goddess? That would be more comfortable than all that glamour."
These words pleased Lin Dongxiu, and she suppressed her delight, casually changing the subject with a few light remarks.
Soon, people from various households came to collect their cloth. Lin Dongxiu instructed Shutong to read out the names while she checked them off with a brush. For Knowing Spring Pavilion, Shuran arrived with two maidservants. Lin Dongxiu quickly stood up, took Shuran’s hand, and said with a smile, "Oh, for such a small matter, why trouble you to come personally?" She then called out repeatedly, "Hurry and bring out the share for my elder brother’s household."
Shuran smiled and said, "I had nothing to do, so I thought I’d come for a walk and also to see Fourth Young Lady. Yesterday, Master had someone bring back two boxes of fine pastries from outside, all from Sufang Zhai. I saved one of each for you and put together a plate to bring over. Try them, Fourth Young Lady—they might not be as good as what our family’s cooks make, but it’s just for a taste of something new." As she spoke, she lifted a small food box.
Originally, these pastries had been brought back by Lin Jinlou’s servant boy for Xianglan, but Xianglan couldn’t possibly eat them all. After some thought, she picked out a few exquisite ones, placed them in a colorfully painted box, and asked Shuran to come over, personally giving them to her to enjoy. During this time, Xianglan often sent Shuran small gifts—sometimes a hairpin, sometimes an embroidered half-sleeve garment, sometimes two bowls of delicate dishes—all fine items, but each time just a little, so they didn’t seem overly valuable. Shuran occasionally reciprocated with a gift or two, which Xianglan accepted, only to send something even more precious next time. When inviting Shuran over to chat, Xianglan only discussed topics like whose embroidery was best, whose clothes were prettiest, which maid had been matched with a servant boy, or which young lady had married into a prominent family—never mentioning anything else. Shuran inwardly admired Xianglan’s cleverness; though each gift was small, they came frequently, and as the saying goes, "acceptance shortens the arm"—over time, she owed Xianglan a great deal of favor. Yet she couldn’t say anything, especially since Xianglan was Lin Jinlou’s favorite, and Shuran had to carefully flatter her. Xianglan, however, seemed to have no ulterior motives, acting as if she genuinely wanted to be close sisters, holding Shuran’s hand and urging her to visit often, always sending her off with more gifts. After a few days, Shuran couldn’t sit still anymore and took the initiative to go to Xianglan’s room, deliberately bringing up matters related to Lin Jinlou. Xianglan merely smiled faintly, listening to Shuran’s anecdotes about him, occasionally praising Shuran subtly, and only now and then asking follow-up questions. Shuran had been on guard at first, but Xianglan was so beautiful and kind that she gradually let down her guard, unknowingly revealing things she shouldn’t have. By the time she realized it, it was too late, yet Xianglan acted as if she had forgotten everything upon hearing it, not holding any of it in mind.Shuran couldn't quite figure out what kind of person Xianglan was. If she said Xianglan was clever, she frequently provoked Lin Jinlou's anger; if she said Xianglan was foolish, she clearly understood reason and knew what was important. Yet she could see that Xianglan was a generous person and intended to let Luan'er get close to her. However, Luan'er stiffened her neck and said, "What? You want me to put on an act with that bastard-born wench? I'd rather slit my throat!" Any further persuasion would only make her angrier, so Shuran had no choice but to shake her head and leave.
Meanwhile, Shuran had received a box of pastries from Xianglan and had tasted a couple herself. Coincidentally, a maid came to summon them to the storeroom to collect some items. Shuran thought to herself that it had been a long time since she had seen Lin Dongxiu. Being naturally sociable and adept at building goodwill everywhere, she decided to bring the remaining pastries along.
Lin Dongxiu smiled and said, "How thoughtful of you to remember me." She ordered Shutong to take the pastries and, holding Shuran's hand, sat down with her on the edge of the heated brick bed. They exchanged pleasantries and chatted warmly for a while.
Lin Dongxiu asked, "How is Big Brother? Is he still away at the barracks?"
Shuran replied, "Indeed. I heard there's trouble brewing by the coast again, so the Master has gone to take command."
Lin Dongxiu said, "Big Brother is always so busy, never around." She leaned closer to Shuran and asked in a low voice, "What about that new one he took in? Is she still staying in the Main House?"
Shuran said, "Yes, she's still there."
Lin Dongxiu curled her lip and said, "That little vixen, all she has is a pretty face. She certainly knows how to work her charms."
Shuran said, "She has her difficulties too. She always manages to upset the Master. Before the Master left..." She paused here, feeling it inappropriate to discuss such matters with an unmarried young lady, and quickly stopped herself.
Lin Dongxiu pressed, "What happened before he left?"
Shuran evaded, "Well, she made the Master unhappy." To herself, she thought, "Xianglan was bedridden for several days and only managed to get up yesterday. What a tragedy..."
Lin Dongxiu snorted coldly.
After exchanging a few more casual words with Lin Dongxiu, Shuran took the maidservant and returned. Entering the courtyard, she saw Xiao Juan carrying a box of items toward the room and went up to her, asking, "What are you doing?"
Xiao Juan said, "Sister Xianglan said she wanted to paint and asked me to find some paper. I brought some, but she said it wasn't the right kind, going on about raw Xuan and Cooked Xuan Paper. Since when is paper divided into raw and cooked? And brushes—wolf hair, goat hair—how am I supposed to tell the difference? I found some in the small storeroom and brought them all."
Shuran looked them over and said, "These won't do. I'll find some better ones later." With that, she entered the room with Xiao Juan.
They saw Xianglan sitting properly behind the desk Lin Jinlou had set up in the Main House. She was wearing a peach-red jacket embroidered with golden bamboo leaves and multicolored floral patterns, and a moon-white Ling satin skirt. Her hair was tied up in a bun, dressed in casual home attire, with no makeup on her face, yet she looked more spirited than she had in previous days. In front of her was a spread-out sheet of paper with a flower already painted on it.
Shuran stepped forward and said with a smile, "Oh my, you have such refined interests. Let me see what you've painted."
Xianglan smiled gently and said, "I was just idling away the time, amusing myself."
Shuran picked up the painting, smacked her lips, and said, "You call this amusing yourself? It's so well done." She added, "If you need painting supplies, you should look in the chests at the back. They're all leftovers from what the Master used before, all good quality. About half should still be usable. Make a list of anything you're missing, and I'll have the boys under the corridor go purchase them."Xianglan exclaimed in surprise, "Leftovers from the Master?"
Shuran smiled and said, "When the Master was young, the Old Master said his temperament was too fiery, fearing he might cause major trouble in fits of anger. So he had him cultivate his mind through music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, hiring several masters to teach him. There were even people who came seeking his calligraphy and paintings. Later, as the Master became increasingly busy with official duties, he set these things aside."
Xianglan thought to herself, "The Lin Family is a lineage of high officials. Their descendants may not master poetry, couplets, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but they can certainly discuss them fluently. It's not surprising that people come seeking calligraphy and paintings. In my previous life, when my elder brother barely knew how to write characters and compose poems, all the hangers-on came seeking his works—actually just to curry favor with their master and latch onto the powerful. That brute Lin Jinlou doesn't have a single refined bone in his entire body."
In the previous chapter, some readers left comments, and many also mentioned in group chats that Xianglan was asking for trouble. I went back and reread it, reflecting that I wrote too hastily and didn't pay attention to depicting Xianglan's psychological state. So I went back and added a bit, making some minor revisions. Well, comrades, you can go back and take another look. Bowing in gratitude to everyone who offered suggestions to Xiao He^_^ Thank you zzzzaa222 for the He's Jade Disc, and 131009151019670, Qianruo Qingfeng, Muxing, 05111039283 for the Peace Talismans. Also, thank you all for the pink votes Well, the extra chapter is still pending, sorry about that, 555~~
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