Luanr sighed and said, "I fell ill a few days ago and have just recovered, but I still feel listless, and everything tastes bland."
Taoist Cui sighed repeatedly, closed her eyes slightly, murmured incantations, formed a sword gesture with her fingers, pulled out a roll of yellow spirit paper from her sleeve, circled it twice around Luanr's head, then took it outside to burn. Returning indoors, she said, "I've just dispelled the misfortune and sickness from you, miss. A good night's sleep and you'll be fine. It's an unlucky year for you—a calamity star shines upon your fate, which is why your health is weak. You've also encountered petty people and faced disputes. The first half of the year brought some good fortune, but the latter half has been full of setbacks and unforeseen disasters."
Every word struck a chord with Luanr, who nodded eagerly and said, "Exactly! You truly are a divine immortal!"
Taoist Cui sighed again and said, "Fortunately, you are a person of great fortune and noble destiny, which is why you've been able to endure this. If it were someone else, who knows what might have happened!"
Luanr leaned forward slightly and asked urgently, "Then, immortal, can you tell me how to resolve this?"
Taoist Cui sat cross-legged on the kang and said, "It's not difficult. In the next couple of days, the Taoist temple will hold a ritual to exorcise evil spirits and dispel misfortunes. If you donate some incense oil money, your merit will be doubled, the calamity star will naturally recede, auspicious stars will shine upon you, and blessings, prosperity, longevity, and happiness will all follow."
Luanr asked, "How much is the incense oil money? I must donate."
Taoist Cui replied, "Two taels of silver is not too much, and one copper coin is not too little—it all depends on your intention. However, donations of one tael or more will be recorded on a merit plaque and burned. In the evening, I will also perform rituals to report it to the attendants of the Queen Mother of the West."
Luanr thought for a moment and said, "Lately, petty people have been causing trouble around me, and it's been anything but peaceful. I should donate more and beg you, immortal, to put in a good word for me with the celestial beings." She then instructed Cunxin to fetch the key, unlock the chest at the head of the kang, and retrieve a brocade pouch from the bottom. From it, she took out a piece of broken silver weighing two taels and handed it to Taoist Cui. Taoist Cui quickly exclaimed, "Infinite blessings! You are truly benevolent and righteous, miss!"
Luanr sighed and said, "It's just a few taels of silver—I can afford that much. If this ritual can truly rid me of calamities and troubles, it will be my good fortune."
Taoist Cui smiled and said, "Why say such things, miss? Look at Eldest Master Lou—so young and already a third-rank official. Who knows, he might be enfeoffed as a marquis or become a chancellor someday. You are undoubtedly destined for nobility. If you bear a noble son in the future, you'll enjoy a lifetime of blessings."
Luanr scoffed and said, "What noble destiny? Right now, I'm like a fan after autumn—tossed aside and trampled upon. It's one thing for Eldest Master to favor Huamei—after all, she was sent by his superior and has some face. Her father and brother are both officials, so it's not excessive to elevate her to the status of a concubine. But..." She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had said too much.
Taoist Cui, being clever and observant, remarked, "Is it Xianglan you disapprove of?"
Luanr had not intended to say more, but with Taoist Cui's prompting, her pent-up resentment overflowed. She sneered and said, "Who else could it be? She's a genuine fairy, isn't she? Since Eldest Master acquired her, everyone else has been treated like dirt. She's just a bit prettier, but she's timid and awkward, reeking of a low-class upbringing. What about her is worthy of high society?"Taoist Cui remarked, "She doesn't strike me as a decent sort either. I'd heard the Eldest Master had taken in a new favorite, so I came straight to this courtyard hoping to pay my respects. To my surprise, that little maid blocked the doorway and wouldn't even let me in! Forget about a cup of hot tea—she didn't spare me a shred of dignity! My Buddha and Jade Emperor, not even Madam puts on such airs!"
Luanr snorted, "Exactly! The Eldest Master has lost his senses to fancy someone like her."
Taoist Cui said, "As the saying goes, 'No man is always fortunate, no flower blooms forever.' Those who rely on beauty to please others won't last long. Once the Eldest Master's infatuation fades, he'll remember your virtues, miss."
Luanr sighed deeply, "What else can we do but wait?"
Taoist Cui countered, "Why sigh like this, miss? Isn't there still Miss Shu Ran? She has the Eldest Master's ear and speaks most effectively on his behalf."
Luanr's temper flared again. She sneered, "Her? When I fell ill days ago, she visited just once and sent some token gifts. Now that she sees that little enchantress gaining favor, she's rushing to flatter her instead! How could she still think of me?Taoist Cui sneered, "I've observed Shu Ran too. You're her own cousin—she ought to plan everything for your benefit. If she'd only exerted a bit more effort, that little enchantress wouldn't be so insolent! But since you lack support, miss, you should scheme for yourself. Why resign yourself to being trampled? If you don't fight for your position now, how will you ever rise later?"
Luanr said, "I want to fight, but I'm powerless. Such schemes don't come easily. I wonder if the bodhisattvas and immortals would intervene in such matters? Tomorrow, could you make extra prayers for me, immortal? If they prove effective, I'll reward you handsomely."
Taoist Cui scoffed, "Man proposes, Heaven disposes. If you don't even propose, how can Heaven assist you? I see you're clever, miss, with a noble destiny and sharp wits. I've taken a liking to you and wish to help. You've been confined to the inner quarters and don't know—out there, many nobles have had their paths smoothed by me traversing both realms. But if you won't strive yourself, there's nothing I can do."
Hearing this implied promise, Luanr's heart leaped. She hurriedly refilled Taoist Cui's tea herself and said, "You've traveled widely and visited many great households, immortal—you must have vast experience and insight. We've always gotten along well, understanding each other perfectly. Now that I face such difficulties, I beg you to guide me."
Taoist Cui demurred, "I dare not claim to 'guide' you—I simply can't bear seeing you suffer such indignities. But helping you would require great effort... perhaps even cost me a decade of cultivation and five years of my lifespan!"
Luanr smiled, "If you exert yourself for me, I'll surely repay you generously. When I become a Concubine and bear a son, we'll claim our share of the Lin family's vast fortune—I'll never forget your kindness, remembering it my whole life! Even now, I won't shortchange you." So saying, she opened a chest and took out a package wrapped in red silk. Unwrapping it revealed a pair of gold earrings inlaid with red coral and a gold necklace with a coral pendant, gleaming brilliantly.Luan’er handed them over and said, “These were brought back by the Eldest Master from outside—they’re goods not even found in Jinling. Look at this coral, red as blood. Take this set first, Taoist Aunt. There’s also a dark blue silk gown—I thought the color was too old-fashioned and never wore it—you take that too. And here are ten taels of silver, freshly rewarded by the Eldest Master. Take it for your expenses. As long as you can drive that little vixen out and make the Eldest Master turn his heart back to me, when you come again, I’ll repay you double.”
Taoist Cui had already reached out and snatched the jewelry and silver, stuffing them into her sleeve as she laughed, “You’re a straightforward girl, and I won’t mince words either. With this bit of silver, it’s easy to get rid of that little vixen, but to make the Eldest Master change his heart, I’m afraid it’s still…”
Luan’er immediately said, “That’s all negotiable.” She then pulled out a few hairpins and, seeing there were still some valuable pieces at the bottom of the chest, hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn’t bear to part with them. She only handed over the ones she had taken out to Taoist Cui and said, “These are the only valuable things left. If you truly prove effective, I’ll empty my savings and even borrow from home to give you all the silver.”
Taoist Cui smacked her lips without speaking. After a long while, she said, “This amount of silver really isn’t enough, but I can see you’re a sincere person. We two have a long-standing friendship, so how about this: write me an IOU, so we have proof for the future.”
Luan’er said, “That’s fine.” She then called for brush, ink, and paper. Taoist Cui swiftly wrote out a note, read it aloud to Luan’er, and after Luan’er pressed her fingerprint to it, Taoist Cui tucked the paper away. She then took out two cloth-wrapped bundles and handed them to Luan’er, saying, “The red cloth contains a ‘Change of Heart’ talisman. Take a strand of your hair and a strand of the Eldest Master’s, tie them into a knot, and place it together with this talisman under your pillow. It’s guaranteed to take effect within forty-nine days. The green cloth contains a ‘Fatal’ talisman. Take a strand of that little vixen’s hair, bind it to a paper figure, and on the fifteenth of next month, take it to a deserted place and burn it. Wait forty-nine days, and she’ll die without a burial place.”
Luan’er was startled and said, “I… I only want to drive her away. I never meant to kill her.”
Taoist Cui sneered, “You really are a fool. If she doesn’t die, how will you have a way out?”
Luan’er stammered, too afraid to take it.
Taoist Cui said impatiently, “Since ancient times, those who achieve great things are never so indecisive. Do you want it or not? If not, I’ll take it back.”
Only then did Luan’er take it. Taoist Cui spoke with Luan’er for a while longer before taking her leave. She then went to sit in Huamei’s room for a short while before finally departing.
The next day, the new official robe and jade belt were delivered, and a smile finally appeared on Lin Jinlou’s face. Everyone in the Hall of Knowing Spring breathed a sigh of relief. The Lin family had long kept young opera performers, and coinciding with Lin Jinlou’s promotion, they had learned to perform a few new plays. Lin Dongling, Lin Dongxiu, and the others, who were usually bored, seized the opportunity to set up a stage for an opera performance. Qin Shi readily agreed. By the afternoon, the stage had been set up in the Autumn-Clipping Pavilion, and all the women of the inner household went over.Xianglan naturally had no desire to go, yet she feared Lin Jinlou would be displeased if he found out, leaving her no peace. After delaying for a long while, she finally tidied herself up and went over. By then, Qin Shi had already grown tired of the opera and had returned, supported by her maids. Second Madam Wang Shi sat in the center, with Lin Dongling on her left and Lin Dongxiu on her right. Lin Jinyuan was running around with a large wooden sword, while several nannies anxiously hovered nearby to protect him. Wang Shi called out several times, "Good child, come here quickly, I'll peel some crab meat for you." But Lin Jinyuan paid no heed and continued his wild romping, creating more commotion than the performance on stage.
Xianglan quietly made her way to the back, where she saw Huamei, Luanr, and Yingge seated at a rear table, all dressed in dazzling finery. Huamei's eyes were fixed on the stage as if she hadn't noticed Xianglan's arrival. Yingge, however, promptly stood up, pulled out the round stool beside her, and said, "Xianglan's here, come sit quickly." She then bustled about instructing the maids to brew fresh tea, adding with a smile, "Why are you so late? The first two acts were wonderful—it's a shame you missed them."
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