Huamei and Luanr were standing beneath the corridor waiting for Xianglan's reply. Huamei was chatting warmly with Tinglan at the doorway, but Luanr grew rather impatient. Waving her handkerchief, she sneered coldly at Huamei, "A newly arrived servant girl actually putting on such airs—making the two of us stand here waiting at the door! I might tolerate it, but you're a Concubine! How can you endure her climbing all over you like this?"
Huamei was dressed as flamboyantly as ever, wearing a purple silk jacket embroidered with eight peony clusters, a satin-red skirt that revealed the tips of her water-green embroidered shoes. Her hair was adorned with gold hairpins, Kingfisher Feather Inlays, and pearl earrings. With a face full of makeup, she fanned herself while covering her mouth in a tittering laugh. "She's someone the Eldest Master had his eye on long ago—not some newcomer. Sister, you should mind your words. Haven't you noticed she was lodged in the main quarters the moment she arrived? As for me, I'm just an 'autumn cattail fan'—unwanted when the season changes. Now I must keep my distance even more. Why trouble yourself to provoke her?"
This only stoked the fire in Luanr's heart. She had always been jealous of Xianglan and resented Lin Jinlou's fickleness—how he had favored her only to take a new concubine shortly after. Having bottled up her grievances all night with no outlet, she burst out angrily, "I never took you for a coward, yet now you've lost all authority before that little slut! As a newcomer, she ought to pay you a visit. We come to her door, and she puts on airs—pah! Does she truly think herself the legitimate wife?"
Huamei merely fanned herself, a faint smile playing on her lips, but she said nothing. Tinglan had long fallen silent.
Feeling increasingly emboldened, Luanr stepped toward the door, declaring, "I refuse to believe this! Let me confront that little slut once—then she'll learn her place!"
Before she finished speaking, Chunling emerged and blocked the doorway, sneering, "My, such temper so early in the morning! Who dares charge into the main quarters? It seems someone has forgotten the rules our master established years ago: without the owner's permission, no concubines or maids may set foot beyond the threshold. Didn't someone get scolded by the Eldest Master just yesterday for this very offense? Have you no memory?"
Luanr's face flushed crimson. Pointing at Chunling, she snapped, "You impudent slave! Who do you think you're talking to?"
Chunling planted her hands on her hips and retorted scornfully, "Who am I talking to? I'm talking to a slave's spawn—aren't you one? You've only just been promoted to 'Miss' and aren't even a Concubine yet—no better than the rest of us—and already you act like a true mistress, disregarding all rules while calling others 'slaves'! Don't make me blush for you!"
Chunling had always been sharp-tongued. Luanr clenched her fists, wanting to argue back, but upon reflection, she realized Chunling's words were justified. Being not particularly articulate herself, she stood speechless, her face purpling with rage.
Tinglan hurriedly tugged at Luanr's sleeve, urging, "Enough, enough. It's nothing serious. Let's all go to my room for some tea."
Luanr shook off Tinglan's arm forcefully. After several attempts, Tinglan gave up. Pointing at Chunling, Luanr hissed, "You wretched slave! This isn't over between us!"
Chunling sneered, "Even if you report this to Sister Shu Ran, I'm not afraid! Or go ahead and seek judgment from the Eldest Master!"
Huamei, of course, watched the drama unfold from a safe distance, fanning herself, her eyes shifting between them, a subtle smirk on her lips, without uttering a single word.Chunling had just said to Huamei, "Our young lady appreciates the Concubine's kindness, but she truly isn't feeling well today. She took some medicine and has just lain down to rest. Let's wait until she's recovered before making plans."
Huamei smiled warmly and said, "Ah, how thoughtless of me! This is just as well. We sisters can gather another day." With that, she swayed gracefully away.
Chunling then shot Luanr a glance, snorted, and turned back into the room.
Xiao Juan approached and said, "Won't offending Luanr like this cause trouble?"
Chunling replied, "What is there to fear? Xianglan has just returned. If we remain silent now, they'll all think she's easy to bully. You know perfectly well what these people are like." After speaking, she peeked into the inner room and saw Xianglan still gazing at the orchid plant. She sighed deeply.
Meanwhile, Luanr, smarting from Chunling's scorn, was fuming. She immediately went to Shu Ran to complain. Shu Ran tapped Luanr's forehead and said, "You! You! Give me less to worry about! Just last night you brought displeasure upon yourself, and the Eldest Master hasn't even recovered from that yet. Now with a new arrival, what will happen if you stir up more trouble?"
Having failed in her complaint and instead earned a scolding, Luanr muttered discontentedly as she left.
Huamei, however, was more cunning. After returning and pondering for a while, she discreetly sent a young servant from the corridor to deliver a message to Lin Jinlou. She proposed using her own silver to host a banquet for Xianglan "to celebrate sisterly bonds" and requested that Lin Jinlou return early that evening to join them for drinks. Lin Jinlou was naturally pleased and returned from the military camp even before lantern-lighting time.
As he entered the courtyard, Huamei came forward to meet him, wearing a troubled expression. "I must apologize, Eldest Master," she said. "Xianglan isn't feeling well, so I'm afraid tonight's banquet may not proceed. It's all my fault for not considering things carefully." She glanced at Lin Jinlou's face before continuing, "I had only the best intentions, thinking that with a new sister joining us to serve you, eating and sleeping together, we'd become closer than family. I wanted to use my silver to host a feast, inviting Yingge and Luanr to enjoy ourselves in the rooms, so I sent word to you. But when we went to invite Xianglan, she never appeared, and wouldn't even let Luanr and me enter her room. She must truly be unwell. Luanr, being straightforward, even exchanged some sharp words with Chunling... Ah, it's all my fault..."
Lin Jinlou raised an eyebrow and asked, "Has the banquet been prepared?"
Huamei was momentarily taken aback before replying, "I've already had the small kitchen prepare your favorite dishes..."
Lin Jinlou nodded and said, "Excellent. Send someone to ask what Xianglan likes to eat and add a few more dishes. The silver will come from my account." With that, he glanced at Xique, who stood beside Huamei, and she hurried off to carry out the order.Lin Jinlou turned and entered the eastern wing. Huamei hurriedly followed behind to attend to him, serving tea and arranging fruits, then preparing hot water for him to wash his face. She chattered incessantly: "Sister Luanr is still young and too hot-tempered. Today she got angry just from waiting under the corridor for a while, then strode straight into the room. Chunling came out and said of her, 'She's only just been promoted to a lady, not even a Concubine yet, no better than us, but already acts like a proper mistress, disregarding all rules, calling us servants left and right.' I also think she puts on more airs than the previous Da Nǎinai. She even said I'm too weak and shouldn't indulge Xianglan's arrogance. Ah, I saw her arguing with Chunling but didn't dare intervene too much..."
In Huamei's heart, Luanr was her primary rival. Although Xianglan was someone Lin Jinlou constantly thought of, she had no backing in the mansion and was of a gentle disposition. Lin Jinlou was the type to lose interest after a couple days of novelty, so no matter what, Xianglan wasn't to be feared. But Luanr was different. She was personally given by Old Madam, which made her status superior—even Huamei had to yield to her. Moreover, Luanr's cousin Shu Ran was the most trusted person by Lin Jinlou's side, the chief steward of Hall of Knowing Spring. Although Luanr had a bad temper, she was pretty and skilled at playing and singing. Whenever Lin Jinlou drank, he would summon her to play and sing for entertainment, which made Huamei particularly jealous. Especially since Luanr was the type to dominate every situation—as soon as she arrived, she changed her name to stand above everyone else. If such a person wasn't dealt with and was allowed to rise and become a Concubine, where would Huamei have a place to stand?
Lin Jinlou waved his hand and said, "Come here, I have something to say to you."
Huamei giggled, darting to the base of the window, and said coyly, "Oh, with that dark face of yours, it's quite frightening. I don't dare go over."
Lin Jinlou's expression remained calm, his thick eyebrows slightly raised. "Come here."
Huamei, being perceptive, saw that Lin Jinlou wasn't in the mood for teasing and immediately suppressed her smile, walking properly to stand before him. Lin Jinlou said, "Huamei, you're the cleverest in the room. But don't be too clever and take me for a fool, ending up bringing trouble upon yourself."
Huamei's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and saw Lin Jinlou with a faint, ambiguous smile, but his eyes were like cold lightning. She couldn't help shivering and forced a smile, saying, "What are you saying, Eldest Master? I don't understand."
Lin Jinlou glanced at her indifferently, then picked up his tea bowl to drink, saying nothing more.
Huamei's heart pounded, and she couldn't help but serve him even more attentively. Before long, a maid brought in four small green dishes with delicate silver-thread vegetables, along with candied fruits and fine pastries. Yingge and Luanr arrived, both dressed in splendid attire, swaying as they walked.
Lin Jinlou sat on the kang, with Huamei on his right. Luanr immediately seized the left side, while Yingge sat to the lower right.
Lin Jinlou asked, "Why hasn't Xianglan come yet?"
Xique entered the room and said, "Miss Xianglan says she isn't feeling well and can't come."
Luanr sneered, "What grand airs! She just decides not to come?"
Lin Jinlou's face darkened. He stood up abruptly and went straight to the main room. There he saw Xianglan lying on the bed in the side chamber, covered with a brocade quilt, her eyes tightly closed.
Lin Jinlou yanked the quilt off and pointed at her, saying, "Pushing your luck, are you? Do I have to personally invite you?"Xianglan lay motionless. Chunling hurried forward and said, "Eldest Master, the young lady truly isn't well..." Her voice then dropped to a mosquito-like whisper, "She just had medicine applied..."
Lin Jinlou was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood the reason. He rubbed his nose and sat on the edge of the bed. After a long pause, he said calmly, "No matter how unwell you are, you still need to eat. A feast is set up in the east chamber, with stir-fried dishes you like."
Xianglan remained motionless, thinking, "How can this bandit tyrant be so detestable? He's already ruined me, and now I can't even hide away for some peace. What does his merrymaking with his concubines have to do with me? I'd rather starve tonight than eat with him."
Lin Jinlou let out a scornful laugh. Chunling and Xiao Juan exchanged glances. Just as Chunling was about to speak, Lin Jinlou said, "Both of you, withdraw." They had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
Lin Jinlou leaned down, close to Xianglan's ear, and said, "Your stubbornness is useless. Think of your parents. Don't think that just because you're freed from servitude, I can't control you anymore. You know very well what kind of temper I have."
Xianglan still kept her eyes closed, but tears streamed down her long eyelashes.
Suddenly, she felt someone lift her up. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw that Lin Jinlou had picked her up in his arms. He smiled at her and said, "I'm carrying you over—this is an immense honor for you. Wipe those tears away; don't spoil the mood with all this crying."
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