Xianglan's face flushed crimson as she struggled desperately, but Lin Jinlou impatiently pressed her against his chest and glared at Nuanyue, roaring, "Fool! Can't even hold a tray properly? Get out now!"
Nuanyue's face instantly turned scarlet, tears welling in her eyes as she tremblingly gathered the tray 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, bowing her head. She reached up to tidy her loosened hair, then let her hand drop, feeling somewhat at a loss. Nowadays, intimacy with Lin Jinlou wasn't as painful as the initial times, yet it 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 wished for it to end quickly. Though Lin Jinlou occasionally visited Huamei and Yingge's rooms, he mostly stayed with her. She felt resentful but dared not show it. Staring blankly at the silver chopsticks on the table, Xianglan suddenly realized that since Luanr last went out to sing for those young masters from noble families, Lin Jinlou hadn't visited her room again.
After finishing his meal, Lin Jinlou ordered the remnants cleared away and returned to his desk to attend to official matters, which we'll set aside for now.
Meanwhile, Nuanyue, having been scolded by Lin Jinlou, returned to her room in tears. The room was silent—she shared it with Tinglan and Rushuang, but both were absent. On the table sat an open mirror case. Nuanyue approached, and the mirror reflected an oval face with slender arched eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, fair complexion, and a full figure—a fresh, delicate beauty with her own charm. She stared into the mirror for a long while before tears began streaming down her cheeks.
After some time, the door creaked open as Rushuang entered. Since Nuanyue had her back turned, Rushuang didn't notice her tears and chattered on, "Amituofo! The Eldest Master finally cracked a smile today. The past couple days he's been glowering like a soul-summoning judge from the underworld—enough to make anyone nervous... Why are you sitting here all listless? Lianxin was just asking about you, saying it was your turn to bring in water during cleanup earlier." She removed her outer garment and changed into a blue satin sleeveless jacket, continuing her ramble, "The Eldest Master will likely rest in the main chamber tonight. Tinglan's taking the later watch—we need to decide who's taking the first shift."
After speaking for a while without getting a response, Rushuang approached and nudged her, "Hey, are you listening?"
Suddenly, Nuanyue collapsed over the table, weeping. Startled, Rushuang hurried to sit beside her, asking, "What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Nuanyue had always been as close as sisters with Rushuang. Hearing her concern, she sat up, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, and said, "The Eldest Master is so heartless... He's probably forgotten all about that day already. Just now he yelled at me for dropping a tray, but when Luanr shattered a jade bracelet worth dozens of taels, he said it was fine! It shows I have no face left in the Hall of Knowing Spring..." She buried her face in her arms again, sobbing bitterly.
Rushuang sighed deeply.It turned out that before Lin Jinlou left for the capital, he had once returned from a banquet heavily intoxicated, supported by his servants, and it happened to be Nuanyue who attended to him. As the saying goes, "Since ancient times, the moon goddess has favored young men." Nuanyue, who already had feelings for Lin Jinlou, spoke softly and served him with great attentiveness. Lin Jinlou, already stirred by desire, ended up having an affair with her. Nuanyue believed she had succeeded and saw a promising future ahead, feeling overjoyed. Yet, to her surprise, the very next day, Lin Jinlou acted as if nothing had happened, still treating her as an ordinary maid. When Nuanyue tried to act coy or intimate, he merely teased her a few times before brushing her off.
Her heart sank, but she clung to hope. However, when Lin Jinlou returned from the capital, he elevated Luanr 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. But as she observed coldly over time, Xianglan seemed honest and uninterested in competing for favor, even avoiding Lin Jinlou at every turn. Nuanyue felt she could take a chance, only to be scolded by Lin Jinlou again. Watching her youth fade, her heart grew more desolate.
Rushuang advised, "You know the Eldest Master’s temper. Look at Luanr—once the novelty wore off, wasn’t she cast aside? Be patient. Once Xianglan loses his interest, your time will come." As she spoke, she realized her words rang hollow and fell silent, thinking to herself, "The Eldest Master has no shortage of beauties around him. Those he elevates are not only lovely but also skilled in music and singing—Xianglan is the only exception. But one look at her appearance explains his fascination. Though Nuanyue is pretty, she’s only average in every aspect, excelling in nothing. If not for that night when the Eldest Master was drunk and she happened to be on duty, this would never have happened." Feeling a twinge of jealousy, she secretly rejoiced that Lin Jinlou had not promoted Nuanyue. She and Nuanyue were similar in looks and stature, and she constantly compared herself, afraid of being outshone. Though she sighed along with Nuanyue’s plight, deep down, she felt a hint of schadenfreude and smug satisfaction.
Nuanyue continued to weep quietly. Rushuang comforted her a little 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 Xique inside, who greeted her with a beaming smile. "Our Concubine was just mentioning you, Sister Nuanyue. How fortunate to run into you here."
Nuanyue forced a smile. "What does the Concubine need me for?"
Xique said, "It’s nothing much. She heard you’re skilled in Hunan embroidery and would like to invite you over later to teach her a little."
Nuanyue was reluctant to go, but Xique showered her with flattery and auspicious words, praising her to the skies. Since Huamei had always been on good terms with her, she had no choice but to agree. After fetching water and washing her face, she went to the eastern wing. As soon as she entered, she caught a whiff of sweet, fruity fragrance emanating from a lotus-shaped incense burner on the table. The room was serene, adorned with pomegranate-red curtains and chair cushions, and a bird chirped noisily in a cage, flapping its wings incessantly.Huamei 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 the Xiangfei daybed while stroking a white cat. Her starry eyes were half-closed, and her pale, powdered face was adorned with a lush, crimson mouth—truly enchanting.
Hearing footsteps, Huamei slightly opened her eyes. Seeing Nuanyue enter, she quickly sat up, smoothing her hair as she smiled and said, "Look at me—I said I’d rest my eyes for a moment and nearly fell asleep. I didn’t even hear you come in." She immediately called out, "Xique, quickly brew some tea." Then she personally took Nuanyue’s hand and sat with her on the daybed.
Nuanyue hurriedly replied, "Concubine, there’s no need to trouble yourself. May I ask what pattern you’d like to embroider?"
Huamei laughed. "What’s the rush? You rarely visit—let’s chat a bit first, and then I’ll ask you about the needlework."
Xique brought the tea, set it on the small side table, and quietly withdrew.
Huamei chatted with Nuanyue about idle gossip concerning the household, carefully following Nuanyue’s inclinations while subtly flattering her. "In my eyes," she said, "you’re the finest among the maids in the main residence now. Lianxin is as dull as wood, Tinglan is overly honest, and Rushuang may be clever, but her eyes betray a restless nature. Looking around, it’s only you—not just in appearance and temperament, but also skilled in needlework. Who knows who will be fortunate enough to enjoy such a beauty in the future?"
These words struck a chord in Nuanyue’s heart, yet also touched upon her sorrows. She sighed and said, "What use is being clever? It only makes others weary of me."
Huamei responded, "Dear sister, why say such things? You’re in the prime of your youth..." Her eyes shifted thoughtfully, and she leaned slightly closer. "I naturally understand 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."
Startled, Nuanyue looked up at Huamei and said, "Concubine, your words leave me puzzled."
Huamei chuckled dismissively. "What’s there to be puzzled about? Just by observing how you look at the Eldest 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 murmured, "Concubine, you see all. But the Eldest Master is too fickle—once he found someone new, he forgot all about me."
Huamei sneered coldly. "Men are all the same. If you master a few things, none can resist falling at your feet. First, you must have a beauty like a celestial maiden; second, possess captivating charm and conversation; third, understand subtle cues and know how to serve others; fourth, endure patiently and withstand solitude; fifth, learn to play hard to get—never give everything at once, always leave him wanting more, so he can’t let you go."
Nuanyue bowed her head. "Your insight is profound, but though I may have some looks, I’m no celestial beauty, and the other qualities are beyond me... How does Concubine plan to help me?"
Huamei replied, "Making the Eldest Master return to you isn’t difficult—it just requires some strategy." 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 have your heart’s desire... I have no choice either. Seeing the Eldest Master spend all his time with that little minx Xianglan, I’m anxious too, aren’t I? If we join forces, we protect both your interests and mine."Nuanyue moved her lips and said, "Can this really work? This..."
Huamei 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 respectable maids like you can enter the main room, 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. Xique watched her retreating figure and said to Huamei, "Concubine, will this work? She won't tell anyone, will she?"
Huamei 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—sooner or later, she'll agree."
That night, Nuanyue was on duty outside the main room. 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 a glimpse of the amorous scene behind the gauze curtain, which only made her more distressed. She lay awake until dawn. The next day, she went and knocked on the door of the east wing.
OpenNovel