Lin Jinlou stroked her hair, thinking she had suffered an injustice today and witnessed Luan'er's suicide attempt, so it was natural for her to be frightened and panicked. He decided to find some fine calligraphy and paintings for her later, along with new clothes and jewelry. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Chun Ling enter timidly with a teapot to pour tea, so he fell silent. After drinking tea and rinsing his mouth, he lay down with Xianglan to sleep, and for now, no more need be said.
Chun Ling retreated from the room and glanced furtively at the Luohan bed outside where the night watch was supposed to sleep. Tonight, it should have been Nuanyue on duty, but now she saw Lianxin sitting there. Chun Ling approached and refilled the teacup by Lianxin's hand. Lianxin thanked her, pursed her lips, and asked in a low voice, "How are things inside?"
Chunling also lowered her voice, "They've quieted down and are asleep now. I was the one who drew the bed curtains."
Lianxin finally breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "Amitabha, may those two Buddhas sleep well tonight."
The two exchanged glances, both sticking out their tongues and making helpless grimaces before Chun Ling tiptoed away. She refilled the pot with cold water and placed it on the small stove in the outer tea room. The flame in the stove was faint but could burn all night, ensuring the masters inside had hot water whenever needed. Chun Ling let out a sigh, then fetched half a pot of hot water from another stove, poured it into a copper basin, and carried it back to her room to wash up.
She and Xiao Juan served Xianglan, so they shared a small side room. Pushing the door open, she saw Xiao Juan wrapped in a quilt, holding a plate of pastries and stuffing them into her mouth.
Seeing her eat so contentedly, Chun Ling rolled her eyes and said, "You have the biggest heart in the whole courtyard, still able to eat at a time like this."
Xiao Juan rolled her eyes back, chewing as she spoke, "Who says I have a big heart? Just now, when Taitai swept her eyes over us, my liver trembled, and I nearly lost half my life from fright. Now I'm having a few pastries to calm my nerves." She held the plate out to Chun Ling, "Have a couple—they're sweet."
Chun Ling pushed it away, "I can't eat." She removed her remaining makeup, then turned to look at Xiao Juan and the pastries on her plate. "You..." She pursed her lips and said, "Never mind."
Xiao Juan scoffed, "Chun Ling, I know what you want to ask. You're wondering if I really went with Xianglan to the backyard to see the chrysanthemums that day, right? Whether I did or not, from today onward, it's true."
Chun Ling was letting down her hair and combing it when she turned around and sneered, "You know perfectly well where you were that day. I don't know who it was who didn't tend the stove or water the flowers early in the morning but went running wild in the garden instead."
Xiao Juan set the plate down and retorted coldly, "What? These days you've been rushing over early and late to serve, and now you're jealous because Xianglan gave me pastries and not you?" She jumped off the bed and said, "I may not be as diligent as you, nor as sharp-eyed, good at serving, flattering, or pleasing. But the elders always say that offering help in times of need is rarer than adding flowers to brocade. That's the truth. Xianglan and I entered the household together, and she often looked after me back then—even did my needlework for me, always saved me a share of treats and fun things. Now that she's prosperous, she even recommended my second brother to be an apprentice at her father's pawnshop. She treats me well, so naturally, I'll be loyal to her in return. That's how hearts are exchanged." With that, she went to wash her face on her own.
Chun Ling's face stiffened. She set down the peachwood comb carved with peonies and walked over to Xiao Juan. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm not sincere?"Xiao Juan unhurriedly washed the soap from her face and dried it with a towel, saying, "You're sincere too, of course, but not as sincere as I am. You're single-mindedly climbing the social ladder, putting effort outside the Knowing Spring Pavilion. You've been making quite a fuss over Taitai's side, haven't you? Running over there every few days. No wonder, since you originally came from Taitai's room, your heart naturally lies with your mistress."
Chun Ling's face flushed red then pale, wanting to retort but unable to speak.
Xiao Juan rinsed her teeth, spat water into the spittoon, and said, "If you don't want others to know, don't do it. Chun Ling, you're not a bad person and have treated me fairly well. I'm just giving you a warning. Straddling two boats is most likely to lead to falling in the river. Just because we didn't speak up before doesn't mean we're blind. But everyone has their own ambitions - if you think following Taitai has prospects, I'm determined to follow Xianglan. She has good character and treats people genuinely, just this alone makes her incomparable to all those masters and half-masters in the mansion."
Chun Ling's face turned crimson: "What do you take me for? It was Taitai who summoned me for questioning - could I have forced my way there? I've never spoken a single negative word about Xianglan. I'm not a fool - if I said anything wrong, Master wouldn't spare me."
Xiao Juan covered the remaining snacks with a gauze cover, took off her clothes, lay down on the heated brick bed in a spread-eagle position, and staring at the ceiling said, "Sometimes I really can't understand what goes through your minds - currying favor with this one, flattering that one, thinking three times before speaking a word. Isn't it exhausting?"
Chun Ling glared at her: "You think everyone is like you, doing things single-mindedly without considering the future? Even the sage's books say 'He who gives no thought to difficulties in the future is sure to be beset by worries much closer at hand.'"
Xiao Juan sneered: "Oh my, dear sister, you really think highly of yourself, don't you? People like us - what difference can we make even if we break our necks? In the end, who's really that much better than whom?"
Chun Ling also climbed onto the heated brick bed, placing the candle on the windowsill: "But for people like us, if we don't strive, we'll be trampled deeper into the mud. Tell me, what future path do you want to take?"
Xiao Juan shifted aside: "I don't have ambitions as grand as yours, sister. I know my own limitations. There's a saying 'The greater the power, the greater the trouble.' Those who appear impressive and enjoy grandeur might be crying under their blankets in private! I'm content with a plain, happy life."
Chun Ling blew out the lamp with one breath: "You're still young and don't understand life's hardships."
The room fell silent for a moment. Just as Chun Ling was about to fall asleep, she suddenly heard Xiao Juan say: "I know everyone has their own destiny. Having a clear conscience is enough."
This statement woke Chun Ling completely. When she turned to look, Xiao Juan was already breathing deeply, clearly fast asleep.
Chun Ling tossed and turned for half the night before finally drifting into fitful sleep, which needs no further elaboration.
Similarly unable to sleep was Qin Shi. Because of the commotion lasting until midnight and nearly costing a life, Qin Shi returned still somewhat unsettled. She took a calming pill and began reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Since Qin Shi wasn't sleeping, the maids and old women didn't dare rest either. When Qin Shi finished one recitation, Mama Han approached and said: "Taitai, it's late night. You should rest now, you need to rise early tomorrow."Qin Shi set down the Buddhist scriptures and let out a sigh, saying, "I can't sleep, my mind is in turmoil." After a pause, she continued, "Why is it that Lou Ge'er never gives me peace? First, he married that vixen-like wife, and they had a falling out right after the wedding. Then, when we planned to bring Furong in as a concubine, she passed away as soon as it was settled. Ying Ge lost her child, and just when Qing Lan finally became pregnant, it ended with both mother and child gone. We’d just driven out Zhao Yuechan, thinking we could finally have some peace, and now this happens."
Thank you to Luoyue Mixiang, Ming Zixi, and bubu8915 for the Peace Talismans, and thanks to everyone for the pink votes! ^_^
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