Qin Shi said, "Take her to the Flower Hall." She then closed her eyes and resumed chanting scriptures while striking the wooden fish. Wu Mama dared not disturb her and quietly withdrew. She understood perfectly well that Qin Shi intended to first humble Xianglan's pride. Among the women in the Master's household, two had departed just the previous night, leaving only Ying Ge, who was not favored, while Xianglan was the most beloved. Qin Shi had resolved to subdue Xianglan, and showing a stern face was merely a minor gesture. Naturally, Wu Mama had no desire to provoke her mistress's displeasure. She went out and whispered to Xianglan, "Taitai is still chanting scriptures. Please wait a moment."
Suppressing a slight unease in her heart, Xianglan gave a slight nod. She glanced around and noticed that Qin Shi's residence was furnished with extreme simplicity and solemnity, devoid of any extravagance. The chair covers and table skirts were all made of the same indigo blue brocade with gold thread, slightly worn but not shabby. Upon closer inspection, however, one could discern the essence of a noble family. The wall hanging "Early Spring" was a renowned work by Guo Xi, and the couplets on either side were authentic pieces by Du Huan. On the long table stood a "Longevity" gemstone plum tree bonsai, small yet dazzling, illuminating half the room.
Wu Mama led her to a small side Flower Hall. Xianglan took a seat, and Lu Lan personally brought her a cup of tea, smiling as she said, "Taitai usually chants for a while. Please wait here, Miss; it won't be long." Xianglan curved her lips in response. She had no prior acquaintance with Lu Lan, and the smiling face now was likely due to the effect of the silver.
Xianglan sat idly for a while when she faintly heard laughter and chatter from outside. The door curtain was lifted, and Lin Dongling and Lin Dongxiu walked in talking, stopping in surprise upon seeing Xianglan in the room.
Lin Dongling frowned and demanded loudly, "What are you doing here?"
Xianglan raised an eyebrow and pretended not to hear. Wu Mama, still in the room, hurriedly explained, "Taitai asked Miss Xianglan to come."
Lin Dongling snorted, entered the room, and sat down at a distance. Lin Dongxiu followed closely but turned her face to Xianglan with a smile, exuding warmth.
Xianglan was taken aback, wondering if she had misseen.
Lu Lan busied herself brewing tea for the two Lin family young ladies and brought out a mother-of-pearl inlaid foreign lacquer eight-treasure box, inviting them to pick candied fruits from it. Once seated, Lin Dongxiu smiled at Xianglan and said, "I haven't seen you in so long! You look even more beautiful today. No wonder Big Brother hides you away from everyone!"
Hearing this, Lin Dongling was greatly astonished and immediately glared at Lin Dongxiu, who pretended not to notice, maintaining her cheerful smile.
Xianglan thought to herself, "Hasn't Fourth Young Lady always disliked me? Why the sudden change?" Remembering the saying, "One does not strike a smiling face," she curved her lips and replied, "Fourth Young Lady, you jest. I'm just lazy and don't like to go out, and you seldom visit the Knowing Spring Pavilion, so we rarely see each other."
Lin Dongxiu, holding her tea bowl, laughed and said, "Then I'll come find you to play every day from now on. You mustn't get annoyed and chase me away."
Lin Dongxiu was the most scheming among the Lin family girls, always inciting others to take the lead while she reaped the rewards. Unwilling to form a deep connection with her, Xianglan merely smiled faintly and said, "As long as you don't find me dull."
Before she finished speaking, they heard Lin Dongling say to Wu Mama, "I heard your eldest son has been doing well lately, freed from his status to serve by the Master's side. Aunt said he might be promoted to an official position after the New Year, and then she'll take you back to enjoy a life of ease."Wu Mama smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the blessings of Taitai and the Master that my son has achieved some success. I originally came from the Lin Family, so I dare not forget my roots. Even if Taitai were to drive me away, I wouldn't leave."
Lin Dongling blinked her large eyes and said, "Mama truly is an old-timer who has served by Taitai's side. You know your origins and remember not to forget your roots." She then turned to Xianglan, tilting her head with a playful grin, "Xianglan, don't you think I'm right?"
Xianglan was taken aback. These words were clearly insinuating, reminding Xianglan of her origins as a female servant, using it as an excuse to belittle her. Yet, Lin Dongling wore a bright smile, making it difficult to find fault. Such veiled arguments were the most irritating—if she retaliated in kind, it would seem childish and undignified; if she ignored it, not only would she feel uncomfortable, but it might also give Lin Dongling the impression that she was easy to bully, leading to even worse behavior next time.
Xianglan smiled faintly and said, "Wu Mama is a thoughtful person, and Taitai is generous and virtuous. Everyone says Taitai treats people extremely well and understands their hardships. If it weren't for this, how could she inspire such unwavering loyalty? I'm just afraid that those who rely on their status as masters to casually mistreat others only end up losing dignity and becoming a laughingstock. Third Miss, don't you think I'm right?"
Lin Dongling, after all, lacked depth and immediately darkened her expression, sneering, "It seems you've gained favor now. How dare you talk back to your master even in Taitai's room? I wouldn't dare to say whether you're right or wrong. What if my elder brother feels his pride has been wounded and comes to take his anger out on me, disregarding sibling bonds? Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner, isn't that so?"
Seeing the situation escalating, Wu Mama quickly signaled Xianglan with her eyes and tried to change the subject. But Xianglan said slowly, "That's an interesting point. I am no longer a female servant of the Lin Family, so naturally, there is no such thing as a 'master.' From what Third Miss implies, if you bully me and the Master confronts you, it would mean he disregards sibling bonds. If he doesn't, it would mean he allows you to undermine his authority and lose face. Third Miss has certainly presented the Master with a dilemma."
Lin Dongling was left speechless by this response. She never expected that Xianglan, who had seemed like a pitiful victim the last time they met, would dare to confront her so directly. She suddenly recalled the confrontation with Xianglan at the Song Family and glared sharply, pointing at her and demanding, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Xianglan replied calmly, "Of course, I'm just talking nonsense. How could Third Miss possibly bully me or undermine the Master's dignity?"
Lin Dongxiu chose that moment to let out a perfectly timed chuckle and said, "You've seen through her—Third Sister loves to joke around the most." She discreetly tugged at Lin Dongling's sleeve and pushed the eight-treasure box toward her, adding, "These five-spice roasted melon seeds are incredibly fragrant. Have a handful and try them."
Lin Dongling had a fiery temper and always needed to vent her anger to feel satisfied. Xianglan's casual dismissal of the matter made her feel as though she had punched a cotton bale, leaving her pale with rage, her chest heaving violently. If they had been outside, she would have relentlessly argued with Xianglan. But now they were in Qin Shi's room, and she had always held a deep respect for her aunt, so she didn't dare to lose her temper recklessly. She simply froze in place.Xianglan knew when to stop and did not provoke Lin Dongling further, lowering her head to drink tea while secretly shaking her head. She thought to herself that Lin Dongling had such a fiery temper—once married, with parents-in-law and a husband above, and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law below, there would be countless conflicts. How would she manage such a life?
Lin Dongxiu acted as if she hadn’t noticed Lin Dongling’s anger and said to Xianglan with a smile, “I heard you’re excellent at drawing embroidery patterns. Next time, you must draw a few especially for me. The other day, Mother gave me a brand-new bolt of tribute satin—thick and finely woven. Such fine material shouldn’t be wasted. I plan to make a dress to wear for the New Year.”
Lin Dongxiu was clearly showing goodwill toward Xianglan, and Xianglan naturally appreciated it. Although she appeared to enjoy Grandeur in the mansion, her situation was actually difficult. Making one more friendly connection was always good. Besides, she had always regarded Lin Dongxiu as a young girl and never truly held grudges against her. So she smiled and said, “If Fourth Young Miss doesn’t mind, what patterns would you like? Peonies, plum blossoms, butterflies, or birds and insects? Just tell me, and I’ll draw several for you to choose from.”
Lin Dongxiu beamed and said, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll have extra fabric from making my dress, so I’ll make an extra skirt for you as compensation for your trouble.”
Lin Dongling, her face dark, sneered, “Enough, put away your tribute satin. Can’t you see what she’s wearing? That jacket woven with gold thread is made of ‘Flowing Cup Brocade’—a rare treasure even the imperial palace can’t obtain, with less than half a bolt produced in a year. And here you are, treating tribute satin like a treasure. That tacky, common stuff probably isn’t even to her taste!”
Lin Dongxiu, always one to strive for the best and stand out, felt Lin Dongling’s words were a direct slap in the face. Despite her usual composure and social grace, she was so enraged that her eyes widened, her face flushed crimson, and she clenched her fists tightly, barely restraining herself.
Xianglan acted decisively and said to Lin Dongling, “Third Young Miss, you’ve mistaken. This dress of mine was originally stored at the bottom of a chest in the Knowing Spring Pavilion. I’m not sure who wore it before, but it still looked new, and I couldn’t bear to throw it away, so I wore it here. Tribute satin is the real rarity. If it weren’t something truly exceptional, why would Taitai have given it to Fourth Young Miss?”
Lin Dongxiu felt somewhat grateful. Anyone could see that Xianglan’s dress was brand-new and tailored to fit her perfectly. An ordinary person who received such an item would surely flaunt it everywhere as a sign of the Master’s favor and face. That Xianglan was willing to sacrifice her own dignity to preserve Lin Dongxiu’s face was truly remarkable. She pondered silently whether, in addition to the skirt, she should add something else—like a sachet or a fan case—and have Han Zhi prepare an extra set. With a smile, she said, “Exactly. Taitai is most generous. Everything she gives me is precious. Last time, she gave me a pair of red coral earrings set in pure gold. Everyone who’s seen them says they’ve never seen coral so vividly crimson and pure. Third Sister, you should watch your words and not drag Taitai into this.” She cast a triumphant glance at Lin Dongling.
Lin Dongling, however, glared furiously at Xianglan, but Xianglan turned her face away and ignored her. If Lin Dongling were the type to quit while she was ahead, Xianglan wouldn’t mind yielding and enduring—avoiding trouble was better than stirring it up, as she was never one to seek conflict. But Lin Dongling loved to push her advantage, and now, in Taitai’s quarters, surrounded by Taitai’s watchful eyes and maids who judged people by their status, showing weakness would only invite contempt and disdain. She never acted without reason, but she would never allow herself to be humiliated at will.Xianglan's indifferent attitude only fueled Lin Dongling's anger. She shot to her feet and was about to slam the table and curse when someone at the doorway announced, "Taitai is here."
Before the words faded, Hongjian lifted the curtain, and Qin Shi gracefully entered. She wore a sapphire-blue jacket embroidered with chrysanthemums and wild geese holding reeds in their beaks, paired with a skirt edged with a foot-wide border of sea horses, tidal clouds, and gold lambswool trim. Her hair was styled in a gold-wire bun adorned with eight treasures, small phoenix hairpins, and kingfisher-feather hair ornaments, complemented by a silver forehead ribbon with dangling pearls. Her face was lightly powdered, exuding an aura of noble elegance and commanding authority.
My sincere apologies for the slow update, as significant content adjustments were made. Additionally, a power outage at home yesterday made writing impossible. Updates should pick up pace slightly from now on. Thank you to 05111039283 for three Peach Blossom Fans, fatwanghua001 for two Peach Blossom Fans, 05111039283 for the sachet, 131208084919807 for three Peace Talismans, Bai Xi and Miantiao1986 for Peace Talismans (if I missed anyone, I bow in apology). Also, thank you all for the pink votes!
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