Hua Mei pressed her forehead against the cool stone floor, sobbing with choked resentment. She had meticulously laid this trap over many days—first using Nuanyue to plant the talisman as false evidence, then making Luan'er the scapegoat. Two days prior, she had sent a letter to her brother demanding he immediately silence Daoist Gu Cui, while coercing Rushuang to clear her name. With her silver tongue, she had been certain she could crush Chen Xianglan in one fell swoop. Yet who could have guessed Chen Xianglan would prove no easy target, instead dragging Hua Mei into the mire and leaving her in this wretched state.
Lifting her head, Hua Mei gazed at the full moon on the horizon and drew a deep breath. No matter how excruciating the pain on her face, it paled beside the torment in her heart.
She was, after all, the daughter of an official. Though her father held only a minor seventh-rank position, he commanded respect abroad. Though born of a concubine, her beauty and wit had secured her a favorable match with a local gentry family. But when her father fell from grace, he gave her away to serve Duke Zhenguo as a maid or concubine. She resisted bitterly, yet her timid, low-born mother could never protect her. For her family's prospects, she had no choice but to accept, swallowing all her grievances like a bitter draught. But then the old man sent her to Lin Jinlou—this young, handsome man of wealth and influence. Overjoyed, she poured her heart into pleasing him, feeling as if she had been reborn. She vowed to secure her footing in the Lin Family and achieve greatness, so no one would ever look down on her again. Zhao Yuechan, the Main Wife, and Qing Lan, the beloved concubine carrying Lin Jinlou's child—she dismissed them both. Yet she never imagined she would be tripped up by that little vixen Chen Xianglan!
Now, at this juncture, requesting to return home and remarry into a good family was her best prospect. But how could she go back? Her family had once nitpicked and sneered at her, only turning warm and respectful after she caught Lin Jinlou's eye. Later, when she became a Concubine, they treated her like a goddess, hanging on her every word. If she returned in disgrace, who besides her timid mother would even glance her way? Perhaps her heartless parents and brothers would sell her off again!
Shivering, Hua Mei turned her head toward the main chamber of Knowing Spring Pavilion. The hall was dark, but a light still glowed in the bedroom. Xianglan's profile was faintly visible against the window. Suddenly, Hua Mei gave a cold laugh, digging her nails deep into her palms, and muttered, "Chen Xianglan, don't think you'll have it easy from now on. If I fall, I won't let you off either!"
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou returned to his room, where silence reigned. After the night's upheaval—two favored maids dismissed, one Bedchamber servant expelled, and one new concubine demoted—everyone in Knowing Spring Pavilion was trembling with fear, not daring to utter a word.
Entering the bedroom, Lin Jinlou saw Xianglan lying with closed eyes on the Imperial Concubine Couch. After a glance, he called a maid to bring towels and a basin for washing. Once changed, he sat beside Xianglan, pinched her soft nose, and chuckled, "Why lie here? After such a tumultuous evening, shouldn't you be resting in bed?" Then he added to himself, "Never thought you'd be so sharp-tongued. I always took you for a quiet one and worried you'd be bullied."Xianglan secretly curled her lips, thinking that if he was truly worried, why hadn’t he come in earlier when she was being falsely accused, instead of eavesdropping by the door. Yet she couldn’t be bothered to question him. Sitting up, she said indifferently, "Everyone in your household is highly skilled. If I hadn’t spoken up, I might have been stripped and beaten, then strangled by the Master again. At that point, my life would truly be over."
Lin Jinlou’s expression darkened instantly, his thick eyebrows furrowing as he snapped, "You’re pushing your luck again, aren’t you?"
Xianglan lowered her head and remained silent.
Lin Jinlou grew irritated. He walked to the side table, picked up a cup of warm tea, and gulped it down angrily.
Xianglan sighed deeply, staring at the window lattice for a long while before whispering softly, "Master, when will you grow tired of this? When will these days come to an end? Why not just cast me out? Then both you and I could finally have some peace."
With a sharp "smack," Lin Jinlou slammed the tea bowl onto the table, the veins on his forehead throbbing violently. The entire night’s chaos paled in comparison to how Xianglan’s words stabbed at his heart. Turning around, he gritted his teeth and said, "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me again? Cast you out? Don’t even dream of it! Even if I grow sick of you, I’ll keep you here—if for no other reason than to spite you!" Fuming, he stormed out, shouting, "Servants! Servants! Where have you all gone? Can’t even get a cup of hot tea served? I’ll have every one of you skinned alive!"
Lianxin and Chun Ling were terrified, trembling as they rushed out.
Lin Jinlou, still seething, turned and went back into the room. There, he saw Xianglan still sitting on the Imperial Concubine Couch, her gaze fixed on the small patterned tiles on the floor. Her figure looked lonely and fragile, like a delicate, pitiable little flower. Unconsciously, the fury in his chest subsided slightly. He took a deep breath and walked over to sit beside her. When she shrank away from him, his anger flared up again. With a stern face, he said, "I know you were wronged today, and haven’t I already dealt with it for you? Why are you taking it out on me like this? Do you enjoy provoking me until I lose my temper and hit you? I’m even tired of it myself—are you addicted to it?"
Xianglan ignored him, sensing only the violence and chill emanating from Lin Jinlou. She didn’t dare look up, keeping her white jade-like face lowered and shrinking further into the corner.
Lin Jinlou glanced down and noticed her delicate green embroidered shoes peeking out from beneath her wide silk trousers. Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed one. Xianglan struggled briefly, but after her earlier impulsive outburst, she now regretted it and feared provoking him further. She didn’t dare move, allowing him to hold her foot. Then she heard him say, "Those maids will be sold off tomorrow morning. As for Hua Mei, she was sent by a superior and has some standing. Her brother is currently a trusted aide of mine and once took a knife for me. Dismissing her outright would dishearten my subordinates. But I’ve already confined her, and she won’t be wandering around in the future. She’s clever—she’ll leave the Lin Family on her own after a while… You needn’t be afraid. From now on, any new maids will surely not dare to cross you. If you ever find any maid here displeasing, just say the word, and I’ll have her thrown out immediately. How does that sound?"Seeing Xianglan remain silent, he continued on his own: "Alright, let's consider this matter closed. Tomorrow when you go to Taitai's place, be more alert. Later I'll speak with Mama Han and Wu Mama—if anything seems off, they'll keep an eye out for you... Hey, don't just stay silent. I've coaxed you and even given you a way out, are you still going to be difficult with me?"
Xianglan kept her face lowered, hugging her knees as she gently shook her head.
Thank you to fat wanghua001 for the Peach Blossom Fan, damima for two Peace Talismans, zoeyhl, 090222152449720, Jane and Rose for the Peace Talismans, and also thank you all for the pink votes~^_^
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