Before Xianglan could speak, she saw Xiao Juan approaching with a garment in hand. "Chun Ling mentioned the wind was picking up and worried you weren't dressed warmly enough, so she sent me with this," said Xiao Juan, handing the clothing to Xianglan before draping it over her shoulders.
Everyone looked over and saw it was a brilliant red gauze robe embroidered with gold-threaded multicolored borders. The fabric was exquisitely refined, far superior to the ordinary silks and brocades they typically wore—it was clearly material reserved for imperial use. Hua Mei's expression turned slightly uncomfortable as she lifted her tea bowl to conceal it; Luan'er's eyes instantly reddened with envy; Ying Ge gazed with admiration and unconsciously drew closer to Xianglan, offering the playbill: "We've all chosen plays already, sister. Why don't you pick one as well?"
Xianglan declined, "You all choose—I'm happy with any performance."
Luan'er sneered, "Sister Xianglan is the Master's favorite. Even though Taitai invited everyone to watch the opera, you dared to arrive late. If we don't let you pick a play, what if the Master gets angry and comes to wring our necks? We wouldn't dare risk that."
Xianglan slowly put on the garment, picked up her tea bowl, and smiled faintly. "Sister Luan'er has always been quick with words. From what you're saying, it seems you resent the Master for wringing my neck and are speaking sarcastically about him behind his back."
Luan'er widened her eyes, sprang to her feet, and pointed at Xianglan. "You're slandering me! What nonsense are you spouting!"
The commotion drew frequent glances from Wang Shi and others. Hua Mei quickly stood up with an appeasing smile. "It's nothing, nothing—I was just clumsy and spilled tea on Luan'er."
Wang Shi then said, "The weather's turned cold—she should go change her clothes immediately," and didn't pursue the matter further.
Hua Mei hastily pulled Luan'er back to her seat, thinking to herself, "Last time Luan'er suffered a loss because of Xianglan—why hasn't she learned her lesson? That one isn't someone to be trifled with." Aloud, she said, "Sister Luan'er was just teasing you—she didn't mean it that way."
Xianglan took a sip of tea, her face still wearing a pleasant smile as she graciously replied, "Is that so? It's just that I'm not good with jokes—I tend to take everything people say seriously. Perhaps it's best not to tease me in the future. If word accidentally reaches the Master and the 'joke' becomes reality, whose fault would that be?"
Luan'er flushed with anger, glaring fiercely at Xianglan, who remained unperturbed, leisurely sipping tea from her bowl.
Ying Ge hurriedly pushed the playbill forward to smooth things over. "Let's choose a play! There's one called 'The Valiant Official' with exciting fight scenes—the actor can turn multiple somersaults." She chattered on about which young performers sang well, which had excellent stage presence, which had clear voices, and complimented the embroidery pattern on Xianglan's handkerchief.
Though Ying Ge was usually honest, she had always kept a respectful distance from Xianglan and had never been this friendly before. Xianglan knew Tinglan had given silver and clothing to Ying Ge, making her feel grateful. Returning the kindness, Xianglan said to Ying Ge, "I drew this embroidery pattern myself. If you like it, come to my place after the opera, and I'll give you a stack of them."
Hua Mei, cracking melon seeds, remarked with a faint, mocking smile, "Oh, I'm afraid that won't be possible. Sister Xianglan lives in the Main House—someone of our status isn't fortunate enough to enter there, don't you all agree?"
Xianglan hadn't expected Hua Mei to suddenly challenge her and looked at her in surprise.Luan'er suddenly perked up, following Hua Mei's lead: "But who knows how long this good fortune will last? The Master will eventually marry a proper wife. Sister Xianglan should enjoy her time in the Main House while she can. Once you move out, it'll be hard to get back in."
Ying Ge wasn't skilled in verbal sparring, nor did she want to offend anyone. Though she wanted to speak up for Xianglan, she didn't know what to say. Xianglan smiled and said: "So both sisters want to move into the Main House. No wonder you've been throwing barbs at me since you arrived. That's easily arranged - I'll mention it to the Master when he returns. If he agrees, I'll move to the east wing tonight and let Sister Hua Mei 'enjoy' the Main House for a few days first." At these words, both Hua Mei and Luan'er visibly changed expression.
Xianglan had no desire to make enemies, but all the women in Lin Jinlou's inner quarters saw her as a thorn in their side, pressing aggressively and deliberately trying to squeeze her out. Normally she avoided confrontation whenever possible, but when truly cornered, she couldn't just let herself be bullied. Currently she had nothing in the Lin Family - the only thing she could borrow prestige from was Lin Jinlou's "favor." So she raised this banner, not entirely without support.
Hua Mei and Luan'er, afraid Xianglan would actually complain to the Master, immediately fell silent.
Xianglan set her teacup down with a "clang" on the table, her expression turning serious as she said solemnly: "Today let's speak frankly. All of you sisters arrived at Knowing Spring Pavilion before me. When I was still a cleaning maid, you were already young mistresses. Hua Mei goes without saying - your family holds official positions, and now you're a proper lady, far beyond what I could hope to match. Both Luan'er and Sister Ying Ge come from highly respected servant families, with parents and siblings who all have the Master's favor. Not like me - born from servants, though my family recently obtained commoner status, it's not much use. In our household, how many commoner girls have been bought separately to serve as maids? Even though I'm a commoner now, when I entered the household, I wasn't carried in with the Grandeur like Concubine Lan was back then. I have no name or status, and I'm clumsy, always displeasing the Master - as you've all witnessed."
This was all true, and everyone's expressions softened slightly, falling into silent thought.
Xianglan continued: "For women like us, at the very most, after enduring to the end, we might become nothing more than a concubine..." As she spoke, she carefully observed their reactions - Luan'er showed scorn on her face, Hua Mei concealed melancholy, while Ying Ge slowly nodded. She added: "The Master values me somewhat now, but which of you sisters hasn't been valued by him before? The Master is known for his wandering eye. Even if I fall out of favor now, perhaps when someone new comes tomorrow, I should step aside even further. Actually, we're all the same - why must you sisters make things difficult for me?"
These words stirred everyone's personal concerns. Ying Ge let out a long sigh, Luan'er snorted, and Hua Mei's gaze flickered as she stared intently at Xianglan. She had examined Xianglan closely many times before, knowing how beautiful she was, enough to inspire pity. But today, sitting solemnly upright, she carried a subtle authority quite different from her usual delicate appearance.Xianglan slightly lifted her face and met Hua Mei's gaze. Hua Mei let out a sudden chuckle, glanced at her fingernails, and said carelessly, "What act are you putting on, sister? Firstly, we've never made things difficult for you; secondly, you're Master's favorite—that 'new concubine' is still just a shadow. I see you're blessed with good fortune. With Master backing you up, you might even get to live in the Main House for a lifetime!"
Luan'er, whose hostility had somewhat faded, couldn't help but sneer upon hearing Hua Mei's words.
Xianglan knew Luan'er was simple-minded, wearing her emotions on her sleeve, and not someone to fear. Hua Mei, however, was shrewd inside and out. Hearing this, Xianglan smiled and said, "How could I have such fortune? I'm merely enjoying a moment of 'novelty.' Though we're all in Master's household, Sister Hua Mei is now a proper new concubine with a powerful family and the support of her father and brothers. As for Luan'er, her cousin is someone Master relies on—need I say more? My parents are just simple, honest commoners—how could I compare? Moreover, you sisters excel in music, needlework, gentleness, and reading people's moods. I can't play any instruments, my needlework is rough, and I'm not sweet-tongued enough to please anyone. Right now, I may seem somewhat glamorous, but if I were truly living in such grandeur, I probably wouldn't have been beaten. I have no desire to compete or win—I just want to live my days in peace. If you don't believe me, then on the days Master is home, feel free to come to the Main House and say I invited you."
These words stirred the hearts of Hua Mei, Luan'er, and Ying Ge. When Lin Jinlou returned to the estate, he was either in his study or the Main House, and they could hardly get near him. If not for waiting at the Hanging Flower Gate, they might not even catch a glimpse of him. If they could enter the Main House, they might see him more often, and perhaps their luck would turn. Even if there were no opportunities, just letting Master see them a few more times might keep them in his thoughts, preventing him from forgetting them entirely.
Upon hearing this, Hua Mei immediately picked up her teacup and offered it to Xianglan, her face breaking into a wide smile. "Dear sister, I didn't realize your sincerity! I spoke wrongly earlier—I deserve a slap on the mouth! You're magnanimous and shouldn't hold it against me. Let me offer tea in place of wine as my apology."
Xianglan inwardly sneered but raised her teacup in acknowledgment. Their gazes locked for a long moment before Xianglan smiled faintly and took a small sip. Hua Mei, however, drained half her cup in one gulp.
Luan'er's emotions churned, but she sneered and said, "Sister Xianglan, I hope you're not just saying pretty words now only to turn your back later? From our past dealings, I know you're quite formidable—you never take even the slightest disadvantage!"
Xianglan smiled. "I'm reasonable, but I won't let others bully me either. Sister Luan'er came at me with intimidation from the start. No matter how much I want to be friends, I still have to protect my own dignity. I've said it—I just want to live peacefully."
Ying Ge laughed. "We didn't know Sister Xianglan was like this before. Now that everything's out in the open and misunderstandings are cleared, we should get along well for a long time to come."
Hua Mei quickly agreed and changed the subject, creating a surface appearance of harmony and joy.Xianglan merely smiled and offered a few perfunctory responses as the conversation flowed. She had deliberately released this information for two reasons: first, to make Hua Mei and the others feel indebted to her, so they might at least refrain from acting like fighting cocks whenever they saw her, sparing her further annoyance; second, with them in the Main House, they could serve as a buffer between her and Lin Jinlou. Who knows—Lin Jinlou might rekindle an old flame with one of them, and she could finally find some peace.
Xianglan turned her gaze away, taking in the vast sky with its scattered clouds and the half-lake of lotus leaves that remained lush and green despite the tightening autumn breeze. Xiao Juan and a few young maids were gathered in the covered corridor, watching a bird bathe in its cage, while the stage continued to hum with operatic tunes. Xianglan tightened her robe—as long as interests were at stake, the women in the inner quarters would never cease their scheming. She didn’t need to form deep bonds with them; it was enough to maintain surface harmony.
Since returning to the Lin Family, she had resisted everything about it, but now it was time to adopt a new approach.
Thank you to qian20051978 for the Peach Blossom Fan, Wuweizi2007 for the Peace Talisman, and to all for the pink votes. Special thanks to Yueyueaiyueyue for the detailed review and support ^_^
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