As the final note faded, the audience erupted in applause. Liu Xiaochuan praised, "That was truly captivating! What other signature tunes do you have? Let's hear them all."
Lin Jinlou chuckled, "Since everyone's enjoying it so much, pick another song to sing."
From behind the screen, Luan'er began singing: "I see palace maids crowding round, guarding new makeup with round fans. Mistaking it for that first night of passion, entering the orchid chamber. But why must I sit alone in this painted silk tent, so cold and desolate!"
Xie Yu smiled meaningfully, winking at Lin Jinlou as he whispered, "Look at this - performing 'The Palace of Eternal Life' now. Seems you've left many a beauty languishing in empty chambers, haven't you?"
Lin Jinlou smiled without responding.
Liu Xiaochuan shook his head dramatically, "Then you shouldn't have, brother! Such a beauty - even without seeing her face, just hearing her voice makes one's bones melt. How could you let her guard an empty chamber and neglect the orchid bed?"
Lin Jinlou burst out laughing, "Well now, you've improved! Actually using refined phrases like 'neglect the orchid bed' - clearly you've been reading lately. Your father would kowtow to our ancestors if he knew."
Amid the laughter, Luan'er finished another song. Then Xie Yu and Liu Xiaochuan took turns requesting songs from Luan'er, each praising her performance extravagantly. When the singing concluded, Lin Jinlou said, "You may retire now. You sang well today - I'll reward you handsomely later."
From behind the screen, Luan'er let out a long breath, then exclaimed joyfully, "This humble maid thanks the Master." As she gathered her things to leave, her pipa accidentally fell to the floor. She hurried to retrieve it, inadvertently revealing half her face behind the screen, along with a slender wrist and delicate fingers like spring onions. The men instinctively craned their necks to look. Luan'er's heart pounded in fright, and she quickly settled back down.
Chu Dapeng remarked, "Brother, you're truly fortunate to have such a talented beauty who can both play and sing hidden away."
Lin Jinlou glanced sideways at Chu Dapeng, "Just from that comment, I know you're up to no good. What scheme are you plotting?"
Chu Dapeng laughed, "Brother knows me too well. Since that's the case, I'll speak frankly... I've been lacking someone skilled in music around me. I've purchased young performers before and raised two maids, but either their voices deteriorated with age, or their looks became less appealing as they grew up. I've sent people to look elsewhere, but those bought often have hidden flaws. It's rare to find someone both beautiful and skilled in singing. My family won't allow Yangzhou 'thin horses' through the door. After dozens of viewings, I still haven't found anyone satisfactory. If brother would be willing to part with her, I'd exchange that precious Western Regions dagger for her."
Liu Xiaochuan teased, "Oh, you've got some nerve! Daring to scheme against our brother, coveting the treasure in his chambers."
Xie Yu also laughed, "No wonder they call you the romantic scholar - you're really investing heavily. That Western Regions dagger he never wanted to part with before, now he's willing to exchange it."
Lin Jinlou stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Behind the screen, Luan'er trembled uncontrollably. She dropped to her knees with a thud, weeping pitifully, "I beg the Master not to give me away! I'd rather dash my head and die than leave this mansion!" She broke into loud sobs behind the screen.
Lin Jinlou hadn't originally intended to give away a maid he had taken into his service, but Luan'er's loud wailing somewhat embarrassed him. He frowned, "Stop crying. I never said I was giving you away."
Luan'er had been nursing grievances all this time, resenting Lin Jinlou's fickleness. Fresh sorrow welled up in her, and instead of calming her, Lin Jinlou's words only stirred greater heartache, making her cry even more bitterly.Seeing the situation turning sour, Ji Xiang quickly slipped behind the screen, grabbed Luan'er by the arm, and whispered, "Miss Luan'er, please stop crying now. Let's go back, alright?"
Luan'er's sobs grew even more pitiful.
Ji Xiang wished she could slap Luan'er twice, but had no choice but to patiently coax her in a low voice, "My dear young mistress, can't you see the Master's expression? If you keep crying like this, are you trying to make him lose his temper? If this goes badly, he might send you away immediately!"
Hearing this, Luan'er's crying subsided. Ji Xiang quickly comforted her with a few more words and hastily helped Luan'er up to escort her out.
The room fell into silence. Everyone felt rather awkward. Chu Dapeng gave an embarrassed laugh and said, "It seems the beauty is deeply cherished. I won't deprive you of what you love."
Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "Maids who can sing and play instruments aren't hard to find. I'll keep an eye out for a good one for you and have her trained properly."
Xie Yu quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation elsewhere for the time being.
Meanwhile, Luan'er was still trembling with fear, worried that Lin Jinlou would give her away. She couldn't help but cry again after returning. Cun Xin had no choice but to summon Shuran. After hearing the whole story, Shuran anxiously said, "How could you go to such an occasion? Even though there was a screen, it was still improper. You should have bribed Lianxin and Ji Xiang to report to the Master that you weren't in your room or had gone home with me. Why did you have to get involved in this?"
Luan'er sobbed, "I... I went because I wanted the Master to hear my singing... and remember my talents... Ever since he returned, he's been with that little goblin... How can I get pregnant like this?... Without a child, how can I have any status..." She collapsed onto the bed, crying.
Shuran poked Luan'er's head sharply and said, "You're killing the goose that lays the golden eggs! Going out to sing like a Sing-song girl, providing entertainment for gentlemen—you'll ruin your reputation. Haven't you considered that even if you went to sing, the Master might not necessarily come? There's plenty of time ahead; why must you fight for momentary satisfaction? You're going to be the death of me!"
Luan'er cried even harder, "Then what should I do? I'm already heartbroken enough. Nothing I do is right, and now the Master wants to give me away. I might as well die!"
Hearing this, Shuran couldn't sit still any longer. She turned and went out to the front corridor, calling for Shuangxi to inquire about the matter. Shuangxi, who had always been on good terms with Shuran, smiled and said, "It wasn't really a big deal. A few young gentlemen heard that the Master had taken in a new concubine and insisted on seeing her. The Master said the new concubine was just an ordinary woman and not worth looking at, but mentioned that he had a concubine in his quarters who was excellent at singing and playing. So he asked Miss Luan'er to come out and sing a couple of songs. Later, Young Master Chu wanted to take Luan'er, which frightened her so much she cried. The Master didn't agree and instead plans to give Chu Dapeng one of the newly purchased opera performers named Yanguan, given their families' long-standing friendship."Shuran sighed inwardly, thinking, "Luan'er has always been simple-minded, but she ought to know that she belongs to the Master's household. Given the Master's temperament, how could he ever give her away? She shouldn't have cried in front of the guests—it made her seem petty." Then she reflected, "The Master does treat Xianglan differently. In such a situation, he pushed Luan'er out as a shield, likely because Xianglan was at odds with him. Gentlemen are all like this—fickle and stubborn, always clinging harder to what they can't have." Slowly mulling it over, she returned to the room and offered Luan'er a few words of comfort, along with some advice.
Just then, Cun Xin called out by the window, "The Master is back." Shuran looked and indeed saw Lin Jinlou walking in from outside. She immediately stood up and said to Luan'er, "I'll go ask the Master to come see you now. Remember what I just told you—what to say and what not to say." With that, she rose and went out.
Luan'er scrambled off the bed in a flurry, hurriedly smoothing her hair before the mirror. Seeing her face streaked with tears, sniffles, and smeared makeup, she realized there was no time to redo her appearance. She grabbed a handkerchief and wiped frantically, her hands trembling with urgency, while stealing glances out the window.
She saw Shuran approach Lin Jinlou and say something. Lin Jinlou paused, replied a few words, and glanced toward her room. Luan'er's heart leaped into her throat, but then Lin Jinlou gave Shuran some instructions, waved his hand, and strode off toward the Main House. Shuran stood still for a moment before slowly turning back. Luan'er bombarded her with questions: "What did the Master say? Is he coming after changing clothes? He's been drinking—I'll send Cun Xin to the kitchen for some sobering soup..."
Shuran seemed deflated, murmuring faintly, "Don't bother. The Master isn't coming. He told me he won't be over today. He said you sang well and will reward you properly later. He also mentioned that you'd asked him for a pair of bracelets—he acquired a set on this trip and will have them sent to you."
Luan'er felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head. Stunned and wide-eyed, she slumped onto the bed. She had sacrificed her dignity and reputation, exhausting herself to sing those songs, yet Lin Jinlou couldn't even spare her a visit—dismissing her with nothing more than a pair of bracelets, as if she meant nothing to him.
Luan'er sat rigidly, as if entranced. Shuran and Cun Xin exchanged uneasy glances, pulling and coaxing her, when suddenly Luan'er let out a piercing, mournful cry. She swept the lute from the bed onto the floor with a crash, shattering the fine instrument into pieces.
Meanwhile, Hua Mei stood by the window, teasing a yellow oriole in its cage. Xi Que came in carrying a quilt and said, "The autumn wind is growing chilly—shall we change to a thicker quilt for the new concubine tonight?" Noticing Hua Mei leaning against the windowsill, gazing outside with a meaningful smile, she peeked out and asked, "What are you looking at, new concubine, that has you so pleased?"Hua Mei took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and said, "What a grand drama unfolding, absolutely riveting." As she spoke, she walked into the room, settled onto the Imperial Concubine Couch, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip. "That little minx Luan'er tried to be clever but ended up worse off—just look at how she flounced out all dolled up with her pipa earlier, heading to entertain the gentlemen in the front with songs and music. Even though the guests Master is hosting up front are childhood friends he's always been familiar with, it's utterly improper to let someone from his household go out and amuse others. Clearly, Master doesn't give a fig about her. Tsk tsk, pitiful her, still thinking she's some prized dish. She's always been so high and mighty, but today she got her comeuppance. As soon as Master returned, Shuran went to intercept him, but Master just turned and headed straight to the Main House. Hah, she threw away her pride for nothing and didn't even get to see Master—I almost feel sorry for her."
Xi Que laughed, "If she had even half the shrewdness of the new concubine, she wouldn't have ended up like this."
Hua Mei leaned against the cushion, propping her head on her hand, and sneered coldly, "Master is still in the throes of novelty right now. Crying or making a scene to win favor won't work. You have to wait patiently, gentle and understanding, without fuss—it's all about who can endure the longest." Hua Mei spoke each word deliberately, a faint chill gleaming in her charming eyes.
Thank you to Fat Wanghua001 for the sachet, and to Fleeing9125, Qianruo Qingfeng, Mu Xing, and Yu21yu21 for the Peace Talismans. Also, thanks to everyone for the pink votes ^_^
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