Xianglan's face flushed crimson as she struggled desperately. Lin Jinlou, growing impatient, pressed her firmly against his chest and glared at Nuanyue, roaring, "You fool! Can't even hold a plate steady? Get out of here now!"
Nuanyue's face instantly turned red, tears welling in her eyes as she tremblingly gathered the plate and scattered pastries from the floor before retreating.
With this commotion, Lin Jinlou lost his mood. He kissed Xianglan's cheek and said, "We'll continue tonight."
Xianglan quickly broke free and sat back down, lowering her head as she reached to tidy her loosened hair, then letting her hand drop, appearing somewhat at a loss. By now, intimate relations with Lin Jinlou weren't as uncomfortable as initially, yet they still filled her with dread. Lin Jinlou was too robust and insisted on complete satisfaction every time, while Xianglan's delicate constitution made it difficult to keep up. Combined with her inherent resistance toward him, she always hoped these encounters would end quickly. Though Lin Jinlou occasionally visited Hua Mei and Ying Ge's rooms, he mostly stayed with her. She felt disgusted but dared not show it. Staring blankly at the silver chopsticks on the table, Xianglan suddenly realized Lin Jinlou hadn't visited Luan'er's room since the latter went out to sing for those young masters from noble families.
After finishing his meal, Lin Jinlou ordered the remains cleared away and returned to his desk to handle official matters, which we'll set aside for now.
Meanwhile, Nuanyue returned to her room crying after Lin Jinlou's scolding. The room was silent—she shared it with Tinglan and Rushuang, both of whom were absent. An open mirror case sat on the table. Approaching it, Nuanyue saw her reflection: an oval face with slender arched eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, fair complexion, and full figure—a fresh flower and tender willow of notable charm. She stared at the mirror for a long while before tears began streaming down her face.
After some time, the door creaked open as Rushuang entered. Not seeing Nuanyue's tears since her back was turned, Rushuang chattered, "Amituofo, the Master finally smiled today! The past couple days he's been gloomier than the soul-summoning judge from the underworld, enough to make anyone nervous... Why are you sitting here so listlessly? Lianxin was just asking for you, saying you were supposed to bring water in earlier while cleaning." She removed her outer garment and changed into a blue satin sleeveless jacket, continuing, "The Master will probably rest in the Main House tonight. Tinglan's taking the second watch—we need to decide who'll take the first."
When Nuanyue remained silent after this speech, Rushuang approached and nudged her, asking, "Are you listening to me?"
Suddenly, Nuanyue collapsed over the table weeping. Startled, Rushuang quickly sat beside her, asking, "What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Nuanyue, who regarded Rushuang as a sister, stood up and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, saying, "The Master is so heartless... he's probably forgotten that day completely. Just now he scolded me for dropping a plate, but when Luan'er broke a jade bracelet worth dozens of silver taels, he said it was fine! Clearly, I have no dignity left in Knowing Spring Pavilion..." She then buried her face in the table, sobbing bitterly.
Rushuang sighed deeply.It turned out that before Lin Jinlou left for the capital, he had once returned from a banquet heavily drunk, supported by servant boys, and it happened to be Nuanyue who attended to him. As the saying goes, "Since ancient times, the moon goddess has favored youth." Nuanyue had already harbored feelings for Lin Jinlou, so she spoke softly and served him with great attentiveness. Lin Jinlou, already stirred with passion, ended up sleeping with her. Nuanyue believed she had succeeded and that her future prospects were bright, making her overjoyed. Yet who could have predicted that the very next day, Lin Jinlou acted as if nothing had happened, still treating Nuanyue as an ordinary maid. When Nuanyue tried to act coy and intimate, he merely teased her a few times before brushing her off.
Half of Nuanyue’s hopes were dashed, but she still clung to her foolish longing. Unexpectedly, after returning from the capital, Lin Jinlou elevated Luan'er to the position of Bedchamber Attendant and later brought Xianglan into the household, causing all the women in the inner quarters to step back in deference. Nuanyue grew increasingly desperate, weeping secretly every day. However, after observing quietly over time, she noticed that Xianglan was honest and avoided competing for favor, even going out of her way to evade Lin Jinlou. This made Nuanyue feel she could take a risk, only to be scolded by Lin Jinlou again. As she grew older, her heart grew more desolate.
Rushuang advised, "You know the Master’s temper. Look at Luan'er—after the novelty wore off, wasn’t she cast aside? Be patient. Once Xianglan loses the Master’s interest, your chance will come." As she spoke, she realized her words rang hollow and fell silent, thinking to herself, "The Master has no shortage of beauties around him. Those he elevates are not only beautiful but also skilled in music and singing—Xianglan is the only exception. But just look at her appearance, and it’s clear why the Master is captivated. Though Nuanyue is also a beauty, she’s only average in every aspect—nothing stands out. If not for that one night when the Master was drunk and it was her turn on night duty, such a thing would never have happened." Feeling somewhat sour, she secretly rejoiced that Lin Jinlou had not elevated Nuanyue. She and Nuanyue were similar in looks and stature, and she had always compared herself, afraid of falling short. Now, despite outwardly sympathizing with Nuanyue’s plight, inwardly she felt a hint of schadenfreude and smugness.
Nuanyue continued to weep by herself. Rushuang offered a few more words of comfort before blurting out, "Maybe... maybe you should just give up!" At this, Nuanyue cried even harder. Seeing that she wouldn’t calm down, Rushuang grew tired of consoling her and returned to her duties at the front.
After crying for a while, Nuanyue felt listless. Not wanting the younger maids to see her tear-streaked face, she wiped it with a handkerchief and went to fetch hot water herself.
Leaving her room and entering the tea kitchen, she found Xi Que inside, who greeted her with a beaming smile. "Our new concubine was just mentioning you, Sister Nuanyue. How fortunate to run into you here."
Nuanyue forced a smile. "What does the new concubine need from me?"
Xi Que said, "Nothing much. She heard you’re skilled in Xiang Embroidery and would like to invite you over later to teach her a little."
Nuanyue was reluctant to go, but Xi Que showered her with flattery and auspicious words, praising her to the skies. Since Hua Mei had always been on good terms with her, Nuanyue had no choice but to agree. After fetching water and washing her face, she went to the east wing. As soon as she entered the room, she was greeted by a sweet, fruity fragrance emanating from a lotus-shaped incense burner on the table. The room was serene, adorned with pomegranate-red curtains and chair covers, and a cage held a chirping bird that flapped its wings incessantly.Hua Mei had not yet removed her makeup, but half of her hair had come loose. She wore a casual dark blue gown embroidered with peonies and crimson silk trousers, reclining on a Xiangfei couch while stroking a white cat. Her starry eyes were half-closed, and her fair face was adorned with a rosy, full mouth, making her utterly enchanting.
Hearing footsteps, Hua Mei slightly opened her eyes and saw Nuanyue entering. She quickly sat up, smoothing her hair as she smiled and said, "Look at me—I said I’d rest for a moment and nearly fell asleep. I didn’t even hear you come in." She called out in a flurry, "Xi Que, hurry and brew some tea." She personally took Nuanyue’s hand and sat with her on the Xiangfei couch.
Nuanyue quickly replied, "New concubine, there’s no need to trouble yourself. May I ask what pattern you’d like to embroider?"
Hua Mei laughed, "What’s the rush? You rarely visit. Let’s chat for a bit, and then I’ll ask you about needlework."
Xi Que served tea, placing it on the small side table before quietly withdrawing.
Hua Mei chatted with Nuanyue about idle gossip in the mansion, carefully following Nuanyue’s inclinations while subtly flattering her. She said, "I’ve noticed that among the maids in the Main House now, you’re the standout. Lianxin is as dull as wood, Tinglan is too honest, and Rushuang has some cleverness, but her eyes show she’s not one to settle down. Looking around, it’s only you—not just in looks and temperament, but also with your skilled needlework. Who knows who will be fortunate enough to enjoy a beauty like you in the future?"
These words struck a chord with Nuanyue, stirring her sorrows. She sighed and said, "What use is being clever? It only makes others grow tired of you."
Hua Mei said, "Dear sister, why say such things? You’re in the prime of your youth..." Her eyes shifted, and she leaned slightly closer to Nuanyue. "I naturally know what’s on your mind. A woman’s concerns are no mystery to me. The reason I’ve invited you here today is precisely for this matter."
Nuanyue was startled and looked up at Hua Mei. "New concubine, your words puzzle me."
Hua Mei chuckled dismissively, "What’s there to puzzle over? Just by the way you look at the Master, I understand everything. I’ve heard you were once close to him, weren’t you? I might... be able to help you."
Nuanyue’s face flushed crimson, and after a long pause, she said, "New concubine, you see everything. But the Master is so fickle—once he found someone new, he forgot all about me."
Hua Mei sneered coldly, "Men are all the same. As long as you possess a few qualities, none can resist falling for you. First, you must have the looks of a Celestial Maiden; second, you must have captivating charm and conversation; third, you must know how to read situations and serve others; fourth, you must endure patiently and withstand loneliness; fifth, you must know how to play hard to get—never give him everything at once, always leave him wanting more, so he can’t let you go."
Nuanyue bowed her head and said, "Your insight is profound, but though I have some looks, I’m no Celestial Maiden, and the other qualities are beyond me... How can you help me, new concubine?"
Hua Mei replied, "It’s not hard to make the Master change his mind—just use some tactics." She beckoned Nuanyue to lean in and whispered a plan into her ear. Then, holding Nuanyue’s hand, she said softly, "It’s as simple as that. If it succeeds, you’ll get what you desire... I have no choice either. Seeing the Master spending all his time with that little minx Xianglan, I’m anxious too, aren’t I? If we join forces, we can protect both you and me."Nuanyue moved her lips and said, "Can this really work? This..."
Hua Mei smiled and replied, "Of course it can. It's not like we're asking you to kill or set fires—just a small, simple task that won't harm anyone. Besides, only a few respected maids like you can enter the Main House, right?" She patted Nuanyue's hand and added, "Good sister, think about your future."
When Nuanyue left the east wing, she couldn't help but feel weighed down with worry. Xi Que watched her retreating figure and said to Hua Mei, "New Concubine, will this work? She won't tell anyone, will she?"
Hua Mei closed her eyes and said, "Don't worry, she won't. She's at the end of her rope now. We're just coaxing her into handling a small matter—she'll agree sooner or later."
That night, Nuanyue was on duty outside the Main House. Faint sounds from within kept her tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Lin Jinlou called for water twice during the night. When Nuanyue brought it in, she caught glimpses of intimate scenes behind the gauzy curtains, which only added to her distress. She lay awake until dawn. The next day, she went to knock on the east wing's door.
Thank you to 05111039283 for two brocade pouches, Tian Wan Yu Yu, Ma Xi Ban Xiao, Qian Ruo Qingfeng Guo, and Lao Xuanxuan for the Peace Talismans, and also thank you to everyone for the pink votes^_^
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