As the final note faded, the crowd erupted in applause. Liu Xiaochuan praised, "That was truly captivating. What other skilled tunes do you have? Sing them all for us!"
Lin Jinlou laughed, "Since everyone is so fond of listening, pick another song to sing."
From behind the screen, Luanr sang: "I see the palace maids crowding around, guarding the new makeup with round fans. Mistaking it for that first night of passion, entering the orchid chamber. How can it be so desolate, sitting alone in this painted silk tent!"
Xie Yu, with a smile playing on his lips, winked at Lin Jinlou and whispered, "Look, she's singing 'The Palace of Eternal Life.' Seems you've often left the beauty alone in an empty room, haven't you?"
Lin Jinlou smiled without responding.
Liu Xiaochuan shook his head and said, "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, well, look who's showing off! You actually know how to use refined phrases like 'neglect the orchid bed.' It seems you've been reading lately. If your father finds out, he'll surely kowtow to our ancestors in gratitude."
Amid the laughter, Luanr finished another song. Then Xie Yu and Liu Xiaochuan took turns requesting songs for Luanr to sing, each praising her profusely. When she was done, Lin Jinlou said, "You may go back now. You sang well today, and I'll reward you handsomely later."
Behind the screen, Luanr let out a long sigh of relief. Overjoyed by his words, she said, "This humble girl thanks the Eldest Master." As she gathered her things to leave, her pipa accidentally fell to the ground. She hurried to pick it up, inadvertently revealing half her face, a slender wrist, and fingers as delicate as spring onions from behind the screen. The men craned their necks to catch a glimpse. Luanr's heart pounded in fright, and she quickly sat back down. Just then, Chu Dapeng remarked, "Brother, you are truly fortunate to have such a talented and charming one hidden away."
Lin Jinlou glanced sideways at Chu Dapeng and said, "Just hearing that tells me you're up to no good. What scheme are you plotting?"
Chu Dapeng laughed, "Brother, you know me well. Then I'll speak frankly... I lack someone skilled in singing and playing by my side. I've bought young actresses before and raised a couple of maids, but either their voices deteriorated with age, or their looks became less appealing as they grew up. I've also asked others to look for me, but those bought often have hidden flaws. It's rare to find someone both beautiful and talented at singing. My family doesn't allow Yangzhou 'thin horses' into the household. I've searched dozens of times but never found anyone satisfactory. If you're willing to part with her, I'll trade you that precious Western Regions dagger."
Liu Xiaochuan teased, "Oh, you've got some nerve, daring to scheme against our brother and covet the treasure in his chambers."
Xie Yu also laughed, "No wonder they call you a romantic talent. You're really going all out—that Western Regions dagger you never wanted to part with before, and now you're willing to trade it."
Lin Jinlou stroked his chin in thought.
Behind the screen, Luanr trembled in terror. She fell to her knees with a thud and wept bitterly, "I beg the Eldest Master not to send me away! I would rather dash my head and die than leave this mansion!" She broke into loud sobs behind the screen.
Lin Jinlou had never intended to give away a maid he had taken into his service, but Luanr's wailing somewhat embarrassed him. Frowning, he said, "Stop crying. I never said I was sending you away."
Luanr had been nursing grievances all this time and resented Lin Jinlou's fickleness. His words, far from comforting her, only stirred up more sorrow, and she cried even harder.Seeing the situation turning sour, Jixiang quickly slipped behind the screen, grabbed Luanr's arm, and whispered, "Miss Luanr, stop crying now. Let's go back, alright?"
But Luanr only wept more bitterly.
Jixiang nearly slapped her in frustration, yet she forced herself to remain patient and said softly, "My dear young mistress, can't you see the Eldest Master's expression? If you keep crying like this, are you trying to provoke his anger? If this goes badly, he might send you away immediately!"
Hearing this, Luanr's sobs subsided. Jixiang quickly coaxed her a few more words and hastily helped Luanr up to escort her out.
The room fell into silence, and everyone felt awkward. Chu Dapeng gave an embarrassed laugh and said, "It seems the beauty's affections run deep. I won't steal another's love, then."
Lin Jinlou smiled and replied, "A maid skilled in singing and playing instruments isn't hard to come by. I'll keep an eye out for a good one for you and have her trained properly."
Xie Yu quickly changed the subject, and the matter was set aside for the time being.
Meanwhile, Luanr, still shaken and fearful that Lin Jinlou might give her away, couldn't help but cry again upon returning. Cunxin had no choice but to summon Shu Ran. After hearing the whole story, Shu Ran grew anxious and said, "How could you go to such an occasion? Even though you were behind a screen, it was still improper. You should have bribed Lianxin and Jixiang to report to the Eldest Master that you weren't in your room or that you had gone home with me. Why did you have to take on this trouble?"
Luanr sobbed between tears, "I... I went because... because I wanted the Eldest Master to hear my singing and remember my merits... Ever since he returned, he's been with that little enchantress... How can I possibly get pregnant like this?... Without a child, how can I gain any respect..." With that, she collapsed onto the bed, weeping.
Shu Ran poked Luanr's head sharply and scolded, "You're killing the goose that lays the golden eggs! Going out to sing for entertainment, like some Rouge powder for the gentlemen's amusement—your reputation will be ruined! Don't you realize that even if you sang, the Eldest Master might not have come? There's plenty of time ahead, yet you're only fighting for a moment's pride. You've truly infuriated me!"
Luanr cried even harder, "Then what am I supposed to do? I'm already heartbroken enough. Nothing I do is right, and now the Eldest Master wants to give me away. I might as well die!"
Hearing this, Shu Ran grew restless. 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 Shu Ran, smiled and said, "It wasn't really a big deal. A few young masters heard that the Eldest Master had taken in a new concubine and insisted on seeing her. The Eldest Master said she was just an ordinary woman and not worth looking at, so he mentioned he had a concubine in his quarters who was excellent at singing and playing. He had Miss Luanr come out to sing a couple of songs. Later, Young Master Chu wanted to take Luanr, and she got so scared she cried. The Eldest Master didn't agree and ended up deciding to give Chu one of the newly purchased young opera performers—a girl named Yanguan. After all, their families have been close friends for generations."Shu Ran sighed inwardly, thinking, "Luanr has always been simple-minded, but she ought to know that as someone belonging to the Eldest Master's household, with his temperament, how could he ever give her away? She absolutely shouldn't have cried in front of the guests—it made her seem petty." Then she reflected, "The Eldest Master does treat Xianglan differently. In such a situation, he pushed Luanr out as a shield, probably because Xianglan is at odds with him. Men are all like this—foolishly stubborn, the more unattainable something is, the more they cling to it." Slowly pondering this, she returned to the room and offered Luanr a few words of comfort, along with some advice.
Just then, Cunxin called out by the window, "The Eldest Master is back." Shu Ran looked and indeed saw Lin Jinlou walking in from outside. She immediately stood up and said to Luanr, "I'll go ask the Eldest Master to come see you now. Remember what I told you earlier—what to say and what not to say." With that, she rose and went out.
Luanr scrambled off the bed in a flurry, hurriedly tidying her hair in front of the mirror. Seeing that her face was a mess of tears, sniffles, and smeared makeup, and there was no time to redo her appearance, she frantically wiped it with a handkerchief, her hands trembling with anxiety. She stole a glance out the window.
She saw Shu Ran approach Lin Jinlou and say something. Lin Jinlou stopped and replied briefly, then glanced toward her room. Luanr's heart leaped into her throat, but then Lin Jinlou said something to Shu Ran, waved his hand, and strode off toward the main residence. Shu Ran stood for a moment before slowly turning back. Luanr bombarded her with questions: "What did the Eldest Master say? Is he coming after changing clothes? He's been drinking—I'll send Cunxin to the kitchen for some sobering soup..."
Shu Ran seemed deflated, murmuring listlessly, "Don't bother. The Eldest Master isn't coming. He told me he won't be visiting today. He said you sang well and will reward you properly later. He mentioned that you once asked him for a pair of bracelets—he acquired a set on this trip and will have someone send them to you."
Luanr 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 thrown away her dignity and reputation, exhausting herself to sing those songs, yet Lin Jinlou couldn't even spare her a visit—just dismissing her with a pair of bracelets as if it meant nothing.
Luanr sat rigidly, as if in a trance. Shu Ran and Cunxin exchanged uneasy glances, pulling and coaxing her, when suddenly Luanr let out a piercing, mournful scream. She reached out, swept the pipa from the bed to the floor, and with a sharp "crack," the fine instrument shattered into pieces.
Meanwhile, Huamei stood by the window, teasing a yellow oriole in its cage. Xique came in carrying a quilt and said, "The autumn wind is getting chilly—shall I change to a thicker quilt for you tonight, Concubine?" Noticing Huamei leaning against the windowsill, gazing outside with a meaningful smile, she peeked out and asked, "What are you looking at, Concubine, that has you so pleased?"Huamei took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and said, "What a grand spectacle, truly riveting." As she spoke, she walked into the room, settled onto the chaise lounge, and took a sip of tea. "That little minx Luanr tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice—just look at how she flounced off all dolled up with her pipa earlier. She went to play the pipa and sing for the gentlemen up front. Even if the guests Eldest Master is entertaining are childhood friends he's always roughhoused with, there's no reason to send an intimate servant out to amuse others. It's clear Eldest Master doesn't give a fig about her. Tsk tsk, pitiful how she still thinks she's some prized dish. She’s always strutted about so high and mighty, but today she got her comeuppance. The moment Eldest Master returned, Shu Ran went to intercept him, but he just turned and headed straight for the main wife’s quarters. Hah, she humiliated herself for nothing—didn’t even manage to catch a glimpse of Eldest Master. I almost feel sorry for her."
Xique laughed. "If she had even half the shrewdness of the Concubine, she wouldn’t have ended up like this."
Huamei reclined against the headrests, propping her head on her hand, and sneered coldly. "Eldest Master is still in the throes of novelty. Crying and making a scene to win favor won’t work. You have to wait without fuss or complaint, gentle and attentive—outlasting everyone else." Huamei enunciated each word deliberately, a faint glint of frost lurking in her enchanting eyes.
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