Xianglan returned to Gauze Snow Dock and stood at the main gate, peering inside. The hall was quiet, with only faint murmurs coming from the bedchamber. Granny Liu stood beneath a cluster of banana trees, beckoning to her. Xianglan ran over, and Granny Liu motioned toward the house with her lips, saying, "She was chasing the dog around to beat it earlier, but then Miss Qi from the eldest branch sent a little maid over with an invitation. It seems Miss Qi is hosting a tea party tomorrow and has invited this Ogress from Gauze Snow Dock. After the little maid left, the Ogress calmed down and started rummaging through her wardrobe to pick out clothes."
Xianglan nodded. Cao Lihuan loved to show off, and she wouldn’t miss such an opportunity to mingle with the young ladies of the Lin household. Just then, Hui'er called Xianglan’s name from the window, summoning her to alter the clothes Cao Lihuan planned to wear the next day. Xianglan composed herself and went back to make the alterations, which need not be detailed here.
The next day, Cao Lihuan rose early, preoccupied with her attire, determined to outshine all the other young ladies. After breakfast, she busied herself with preparations inside and out. Xianglan secretly rejoiced—on such occasions, Cao Lihuan would surely take Hui'er with her, and once the mistress and maid were gone, Huairui wouldn’t stay cooped up in her room either; she’d surely slip out to meet her friends. A few days earlier, Xianglan had asked Granny Liu to buy her paper, brushes, ink, and rouge. Once Gauze Snow Dock was empty, she could finally take them out and paint.
Sure enough, Cao Lihuan, freshly adorned and holding a small fan, swayed off with Hui'er. Not long after, Huairui also disappeared. Xianglan spread out her paper and brushes, calming her mind and closing her eyes to meditate for a long while before finally painting a peach blossom in one bold stroke. Just as she was about to add birds and butterflies beside the blossom, a little maid with unbound hair came in and said, "Miss Huan wants you to fetch the box of gauze flowers from her dressing table drawer and bring them over."
Xianglan had no choice but to hurriedly put away her brushes and ink. She went to the dressing table, pulled open the drawer, and found a black lacquered box painted with golden phoenixes. Inside were five hair ornaments. Though they were from a common workshop, the craftsmanship was exquisite, and the gauze was of the finest quality.
With Gauze Snow Dock temporarily empty, Xianglan called Granny Liu from the tea room to keep watch. She tucked the box of flowers into her sleeve and followed the little maid. Lin Dongqi lived in Huifeng Studio. The area was planted with peach, apricot, pomegranate, pear, and osmanthus trees, offering beautiful scenery in every season. Not far ahead was a pond, its banks adorned with jagged rockeries that connected to the stones onshore, creating a uniquely charming view.
This was Xianglan’s first time visiting this part of the garden, and she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. Suddenly, the maid led her to the entrance of a cave in the rockery. Passing through it, the view opened up before her—covered corridors stretched on either side, leading straight to Huifeng Studio’s three main rooms and four side chambers. The windows were rose-red, the tiles green, and the lush trees lent an air of refined elegance.
Xianglan silently praised the beauty of it all as she followed the maid to the door. A maid in a brown sleeveless vest lifted the curtain and announced, "Miss Huan, the things have arrived."Xianglan kept her head slightly lowered, not daring to let her eyes wander. From the guest reception room came sounds of conversation and laughter as Cao Lihuan held forth in a loud voice: "...Last time I went to Xianni Zhai, I spent fifty taels of silver on a cloak and a jacket. Even at that price, the shopkeeper said he gave me a discount because I'm a regular customer. All told, I've spent over two hundred taels at Xianni Zhai..."
Hearing Cao Lihuan boasting again, Xianglan pursed her lips and entered the room with downcast eyes. Six young ladies were seated inside. Cao Lihuan was drinking tea at the octagonal table when she noticed Xianglan's entrance. Her expression darkened as she asked, "Why are you here? Where's Huairui?"
Xianglan replied, "Huairui wasn't in the room, so I came instead. I asked Mother Liu to watch the door before leaving." She then presented the box of flowers.
Remembering she had just sent Hui'er to Zhao Yuechan's place with some items and currently lacked capable help, Cao Lihuan said to Xianglan, "Wait before leaving." She took the box, opened it, and selected one flower, holding it up with a smile. "This is what I mentioned earlier—Palace Flowers my brother specially had sent from the capital. The Imperial Household Department commissioned their purchase, and my brother managed to save a whole box of the latest styles for me. Here, each of you pick one to wear." She extended the box toward Lin Dongqi first. Though neither the eldest nor youngest, as Qin Shi's only legitimate daughter, Lin Dongqi received this preferential treatment as Cao Lihuan sought to curry favor.
Lin Dongqi appeared about fourteen or fifteen, with delicate features—phoenix eyes slightly upturned, a slender waist, and straight back. Her demeanor mirrored Qin Shi's shrewd competence. She wore a proper white satin jacket and silk skirt, her hair adorned only with a silver hairpin, and her snow-white wrists accentuated by a pair of silver bracelets engraved with symbols of prosperity, longevity, and happiness. Holding a teacup, she smiled graciously at Cao Lihuan. "Since these flowers are so precious, elder sister should keep them for yourself. I already have some."
Cao Lihuan's smile remained warm and ingratiating. "Why so modest, younger sister? There are four in the box—perfect for each of you. What do you think of this one I'm holding? The pistils are made of pearl beads the size of rice grains."
As Lin Dongqi prepared to decline again, a soft voice interjected, "This is her kind gesture after all. Among all us sisters gathered here, she specifically asked you, Second Sister, to choose first. Don't waste such goodwill." Having delivered the box, Xianglan had retreated to a corner. Following the voice, she saw a girl of about thirteen seated by the kang table—an oval face with delicate eyebrows and eyes, a cherry-like mouth. Though she looked frail and sickly, her delicate beauty and graceful posture were striking. She wore plain silver hair ornaments and a white quilted jacket with peony motifs over a white silk skirt, her attire even more eye-catching than Lin Dongqi's.
Xianglan thought to herself: "Tinglan mentioned that the eldest branch's illegitimate eldest daughter Lin Dongwan has already married, and there's a third illegitimate daughter named Lin Dongxiu—this must be her. Truly beautiful, but her words are rather cutting, publicly embarrassing Cao Lihuan."
Hearing this, Cao Lihuan's expression indeed flickered. Wanting to retaliate but constrained by the other's status, she suppressed her anger and pretended not to hear, instead beckoning to the other girls. "Come, Sister Ling, you choose next."Xianglan's gaze followed and took in the scene. A girl sat on the other side of the kang table, cracking melon seeds with a look of disdain. She appeared to be around the same age as Lin Dongqi, with striking thick eyebrows, large eyes, a delicate nose, and lips like sandalwood—her features bold and handsome. Her hair was gathered into a single bun at the top, the rest braided into a single plait adorned with tiny pearls. She wore a white satin-lined jacket and skirt embroidered with exquisite white flowers, and around her neck was a silver chain with a smooth white jade pendant. This was the legitimate daughter of the second branch, the third young miss of the Lin family, Lin Dongling.
Another girl sat to Lin Dongqi’s left, appearing about thirteen years old, with an oval face, skin like snow, delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, and gentle, reserved eyes. She wore a slightly worn BeiZi with a wide lilac collar embroidered with wild goose patterns, paired with a dark green skirt. Her hair was adorned with two or three gold ornaments—not overly lavish, but exuding the refined elegance of a wealthy family. Xianglan didn’t recognize which family’s young lady she was, but finding her beautiful, she couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times. In truth, this girl was Song Ke’s younger sister, Song Tanchai, visiting the Lin residence as a guest.
Cao Lihuan busied herself urging the young ladies to pick flowers. Lin Dongling, who had a grudge against Cao Lihuan, ignored her entirely. Song Tanchai, being introverted by nature and not particularly fond of socializing, was also observant. Glancing into the box, she thought to herself, There are only four flowers in the box—likely one for each of the Lin sisters, with Miss Huan keeping one for herself. There’s certainly none for me, so why should I rush to pick one and take someone else’s flower to wear? It would be rather awkward. So she merely smiled faintly and remained still.
After calling out several times with no response, Cao Lihuan’s expression soured. “These flowers are truly the finest,” she said. “I heard it takes a skilled craftsman an entire day to make just one. Only the noble ladies in the palace can afford to wear them—they’re impossible to buy outside. This whole box cost my brother a full twenty taels of silver…”
“If the noble ladies in the palace wore these flowers, it would disgrace the imperial family. Dear cousin, you’d better put them away,” Lin Dongling sneered, spitting out a melon seed shell. “Which palace flowers dare to bear a merchant’s mark? I clearly saw the characters ‘Ming Ji’ stamped on the back of yours. Some unknown little workshop’s flowers, and your brother paid twenty taels for them? Tsk, tsk—clearly, he was swindled.”
Lin Dongxiu smiled faintly, revealing a pair of dimples, though she lightly covered her mouth with a handkerchief. “Exactly. Among the famous jewelry makers in the capital—Yong Ji, Wanbao Lou, Yuan Fufang—I’ve never heard of one called ‘Ming Ji.’ Besides, we already have plenty of flowers. Last time, two boxes were bestowed from the palace, and each of us sisters received five. During the New Year, Mother even sent someone to deliver some especially to Third Sister—did you receive them?”
Lin Dongling beamed. “Of course I did, along with clothes and jewelry. Aunt is so thoughtful—she never forgets me when it comes to good things. Just opening the box made it clear those flowers were from the palace, so exquisitely made. No matter how fine the merchant’s work, it can’t compare to the dignity of the imperial household.”With every word these two spoke, Cao Lihuan's face darkened further. Ambitious by nature, she was always desperate to climb the social ladder and ingratiate herself with the upper echelons of nobility. Not only could she not bear to be looked down upon, but she also had to be first in everything. At this tea gathering, she naturally wanted to flaunt herself as a cultured young lady of refined tastes, yet no one seemed impressed. She had kindly brought out her treasured flowers to curry favor, only to end up humiliated. Lin Dongling had old grievances with her, but now even Lin Dongxiu joined in mocking her, publicly shaming her!
Cao Lihuan had a fiery temper, and her face flushed crimson with rage, ready to explode at any moment. Lin Dongqi smiled and said, "These flowers are lovely, but we're still in mourning for our great-grandmother. Red and purple blossoms shouldn't be worn—we appreciate your kindness, Sister Huan. Besides, you'll soon be married, so you should keep these pretty flowers for yourself."
Seeing Lin Dongqi trying to give Cao Lihuan a way out, Lin Dongxiu snorted and turned to speak to Song Tanchai instead, her tone sweet and gentle: "Sister Tanchai, if we're talking about rare and beautiful Palace Flowers, I have a few branches at home. Since we can't wear them during the mourning period, they're just gathering dust. I'll have someone send them to you later—there's one in pale lotus pink that would perfectly match the dress you're wearing today."
Song Tanchai smiled and replied, "I really shouldn't decline your kindness, Sister Wan, but I don't care much for flowers or powder. You should keep them for yourself."
Lin Dongxiu said warmly, "Why stand on ceremony with me? Even if you don't like wearing them, keep them anyway—there'll be a time for them."
Lin Dongling immediately cut in, "I have flowers too—gauze ones, silk ones, satin ones, with agate and crystal inlaid stamens. They're exquisitely beautiful, made by the most famous craftsman in Jinling. You should take them as well, Sister Tanchai. I'll have Dianxi deliver them to you later."
This exchange only stoked Cao Lihuan's fury further. She seethed inwardly: I'm the legitimate cousin of the Lin family, while Song Tanchai is nothing! Just the daughter of the second branch Taitai's sister, from some impoverished household. Look at her shabby clothes—the fabric might be decent, but who knows how long she's been wearing them. Lin Dongwan and Lin Dongling are despicable, deliberately propping up that Song family pauper just to spite me! Her anger spilled over, and her words turned barbed: "Sister Tanchai is so fortunate, with two sisters competing to give you flowers. Why refuse? Unlike me, so unwelcome that even when I offer gifts, people scorn them. If you turn down free gifts, people will think you're a fool."
Lin Dongling retorted instantly, "We give because we want to—what's it to you? You'd better keep an eye on your own flowers and belongings, lest you start shouting about thieves again and slap me. I'm delicate, not like some wild, violent creature who throws punches—I can't take rough treatment."
Lin Dongxiu feigned shock, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. "Sister Ling was struck? Someone as precious as you—even Second Aunt wouldn't dare lay a finger on you. How could anyone else hit you?"
Lin Dongling sneered. "There have been so many fights since she came to our house, she even dares to disrespect Old Madam's face—"
"Fourth Sister," Lin Dongqi suddenly interjected, gesturing to the floor. "A pearl fell from your braid."
Lin Dongling glanced down and saw a perfectly round pearl lying on the ground. She touched her braid and said carelessly, "The maids can pick it up later."Lin Dongqi's head maid, Tashuo, who was quick-witted, picked up the pearl and personally placed it back into Lin Dongling's pouch. Lin Dongqi chided, "Fourth Sister, you still haven't fixed your habit of being careless."
Lin Dongling laughed and said, "It's just a pearl. If it's lost, it's lost—no big deal."
Lin Dongxiu retorted, "Tsk, only you would say that. Losing such a large pearl without a care."
"I'll take these pearls off my hair later and have a hairpin made for each of our sisters," Lin Dongling said with a smile as she sipped her tea, glancing at Song Tanchai. "Cousin Tanchai will get one too."
The implication was that Cao Lihuan was excluded. Xianglan inwardly shook her head, thinking how shameless this cousin was. The Lin sisters clearly couldn't stand her, yet she insisted on lingering. She also mused on the difference between a fake noble lady like Cao Lihuan and the real ones. How had Cao Lihuan boasted about the flowers on her hands before?—"The stamens are even strung with pearls the size of rice grains!" Yet she had been so proud of those tiny pearls, while Lin Dongling didn't even bat an eye at losing a pearl the size of a fingernail and even offered to make hairpins for her sisters. The contrast was stark, and surely the cousin couldn't take it anymore.
Sure enough, Cao Lihuan flew into a rage, leaping to her feet and glaring as she shouted, "You—you're going too far! What do you mean by constantly picking on me like this?"
Lin Dongqi quickly stood and went to Cao Lihuan's side, taking her arm with a placating smile. "What's wrong, Sister Huan? Don't be angry, please don't. They were just teasing you—don't take it to heart."
Lin Dongling drawled, "Oh my, what's this? Are you going to hit someone again?"
Just then, a voice came from outside: "You all seem lively. Who's hitting whom?"
Thanks to Huaxiyuexi for the two votes =3= Also, thanks to everyone who voted and left comments—much appreciated!
Rolling around begging for votes, comments, and bookmarks
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