As soon as the words left her mouth, both of them froze. Xianglan noticed the flicker of astonishment on Lin Jinlou's face and felt a pang of regret. Zidai had schemed against her reputation—it wasn't true that she didn't mind, but she hadn't intended to complain to Lin Jinlou either. Yet somehow, just now, she couldn't help uttering those words, faintly implying a grievance, as if she were sour or jealous, though that wasn't her intention at all. Feeling disheartened, she turned away, pretending to fetch her cloak, when she heard Lin Jinlou say from behind her, "Come here."
Xianglan pretended not to hear.
"Playing dumb, are you? I'm talking to you—come here."
Xianglan hung her head and slowly turned around, shuffling over while staring at the tips of her shoes.
Lin Jinlou had sat up and waved his hand at Chun Ling, who understood and immediately withdrew.
Xianglan shuffled to the bedside. Lin Jinlou took her small hand and had her sit on the edge of the bed, asking, "What's going on? What's this about 'learning from her' and 'learning from you'? Tell me about it."
Xianglan kept her head down, twisting the palace ribbon on her skirt with her other hand. Only after Lin Jinlou pressed her again did she say, "It's nothing. Taitai favors Zidai. She's Mama Han's niece, grew up in the mansion since childhood, so naturally she's good at everything. I ought to learn from her."
Lin Jinlou played with Xianglan's fingers lazily and said, "Favors? How so?"
Xianglan remained silent, head bowed, and after a long pause, she slowly said, "Taitai worries about you, Master, feeling that your quarters are too quiet."
Lin Jinlou paused his hand, raised his eyebrows, and scrutinized Xianglan from left to right. She glanced up at him, saw his thoughtful expression, and quickly lowered her head again. Lin Jinlou was unpredictable; she couldn't tell whether he was pleased or displeased at the moment.
Suddenly, Lin Jinlou said, "Alright, you may go."
Xianglan hurriedly stood up, took her cloak, and left.
Lin Jinlou took a sip of tea and called out, "Where is everyone?" Lianxin quickly entered, and Lin Jinlou said, "Not you. Call the round-faced girl who serves Xianglan." Lianxin acknowledged and hurried out to summon her.
Xiao Juan was tidying the trunks when she heard Lin Jinlou was calling for her. Her face instantly turned pale with fear, but she didn't dare refuse. She shuffled into the room step by step, not even daring to lift her head, and called out in a trembling voice, "Master."
Lin Jinlou tapped his fingers on the heated brick bed table and said, "I remember you're the most loyal to Xianglan. Tell me, what's been happening in the mansion while I've been away? Has Xianglan been wronged?"
Xiao Juan felt as if she couldn't even breathe properly in Lin Jinlou's presence. Her knees went weak, and she knelt down, stammering, "The young lady, she... she..." She was afraid of both Taitai and the Master, hesitating whether to reveal everything. But under Lin Jinlou's intense gaze, his imposing presence alone was overwhelming. Xiao Juan grew fearful and didn't dare conceal anything, so she recounted in detail how Zidai had come to the Knowing Spring Pavilion to meddle in affairs, how she had pushed Xianglan aside, and how she had schemed to tarnish Xianglan's reputation. Finally, she kowtowed with her forehead to the floor and said, "...The young lady said Zidai represents Taitai's face, so she endured everything and refused to speak up. If you don't believe me, Master, you can ask Chun Ling or Lianxin. If this female servant has spoken a single false word, may a festering sore grow in my throat."
Lin Jinlou remained silent for a long while. Xiao Juan broke out in a cold sweat, but then she heard Lin Jinlou say, "I know. You may go."
Xiao Juan felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She scrambled to her feet and dashed out like a gust of wind.Lin Jinlou's face instantly darkened. He knew Xianglan's temperament all too well—soft-hearted, stubborn, with a touch of impoverished pride and a streak of foolishness. She was too simple-minded to scheme against others, yet when others plotted against her and she suffered, she never uttered a word of complaint, as if speaking up and venting her grievances to him would cost her life. Sometimes he wondered how her servant-born parents had raised a daughter so imbued with the pedantic air of a scholar, reminiscent of those stiff-necked civil officials at court who stubbornly remonstrated with the emperor—utterly incorrigible. If she hadn't been pushed to the brink today, he probably wouldn't have even heard that "complaint" from her. Yet her very demeanor made her seem all the more pitiable, stirring an involuntary tenderness in him.
"Silly girl," Lin Jinlou stood up, muttering to himself, "Why can't you just say something to me? Do you think I can't stand up for you?" He let out a deep sigh. He understood Taitai's intentions—if Zidai were honest and well-behaved, taking her in wouldn't be an issue. After all, his mother's dignity was at stake, and supporting another person in the Knowing Spring Pavilion wasn't difficult. But Zidai's actions had left a bad taste in his mouth. So, Xianglan knows you represent Taitai's face and tolerates you in everything—but do you not realize Xianglan is my face? Trampling her ruthlessly and tarnishing her reputation—does that bring any glory to my face?
Lin Jinlou rubbed his temples. With his father currently in Shanxi, the Old Master advanced in years, and his second uncle being all talk and no substance, all household affairs, big and small, fell on his shoulders. After dealing with external matters and managing family affairs, he returned home only to face more turmoil. Annoyed, he lifted the curtain and strode out.
Meanwhile, Xianglan was in the side room of Qin Shi's quarters, copying the Four Books , transcribing passages in delicate zhanhua small regular script onto fine white paper. Lu Lan trimmed the sheets with a small knife and pasted them onto small floral tags with glue.
"Tsk—" Xianglan paused, sucking in a sharp breath as her shoulders slumped.
Hearing the noise, Lu Lan peeked over and said, "Oh, you've made another mistake? That's the third time today." She took the paper from Xianglan and, seeing no one else around, teased in a low voice, "Why are you so distracted? Missing your man? He's already back, you know."
"Pah! You're the one missing a man!" Xianglan's cheeks flushed slightly as she spat the words.
Knowing she was easily embarrassed, Lu Lan chuckled and said, "Alright, alright. You've been at it for half the day—take a break. I'll bring you a nice cup of tea." With that, she climbed down from the heated brick bed.
Xianglan set down her brush. She was indeed distracted, her thoughts lingering on her earlier conversation with Lin Jinlou. She truly hadn't wanted to complain to him; she had long planned to leave the estate, and now it was better to avoid trouble. Besides, if Lin Jinlou took Zidai in, it would only benefit her. Yet, for some reason, she had harbored a faint hope that he would stand up for her. When he asked her a couple of questions but didn't press further, then sent her to Qin Shi's place, she felt relieved, yet deep down, a twinge of disappointment lingered.
As she sat in a daze, Lu Lan returned with a pot of flower and fruit tea, accompanied by a small plate of exquisite pastries. Setting them on the table, she smiled and said, "The tea was freshly brewed this morning, but Taitai took a sip and said it was too sweet, so she had us re-brew Lao Jun Mei. The pastries were taken down from the Buddha hall last night—let's have a couple and soak up some of the Buddha's divine aura."Xianglan smiled and complied, taking the white porcelain tea bowl from the table by the heated brick bed and pouring a cup for both herself and Lu Lan. Since she had come to serve in Taitai's quarters, the maids and old women had treated her quite well—likely owing to Lin Jinlou's silver. As Hongjian was Qin Shi's most trusted attendant, she maintained a certain distance from Xianglan, yet still treated her with courtesy and offered assistance when possible. Lu Lan, however, was exceptionally warm toward her and made no effort to hide it in front of others.
Just then, hurried footsteps pounded outside the door. The curtain was lifted, and a fluffy little head peeked in. Lin Jinyuan called out loudly, "Where's Mother? Isn't she here?"
Lu Lan quickly raised a finger to her lips, shushing him. "Taitai is chanting scriptures in the back hall's Buddhist chapel. Please keep your voice down, Fourth Master."
Lin Jinyuan gave an "oh" and sauntered in. He bore a striking resemblance to Qin Shi, with rosy lips, pearly teeth, and sparkling eyes. His cheeks were as tender as peach blossoms in March. Originally plump, after his sixth birthday, he had shot up like willow branches after a spring rain, growing noticeably taller and slimmer than his peers. At a glance, one might mistake him for a pretty little girl.
Kicking off his shoes, Lin Jinyuan scrambled onto the heated brick bed, snatched a pastry, and popped it into his mouth. Peering at the desk, he asked, "What are you writing?"
Lu Lan chuckled. "Preparing materials for your studies."
The moment he heard "studies," Lin Jinyuan deflated, collapsing into Xianglan's arms. "Studying again? How boring!"
Xianglan couldn't help but smile. Lin Jinyuan despised reading, preferring to run wild in the garden, play dice, and cricket fights. To engage him, Qin Shi had ordered passages from the Four Books copied onto paper slips to use as game tokens during dice games. "Lou Ge'er learned the Four Books the same way," Qin Shi had explained. "When he was five and couldn't sit still, the Old Master had the texts made into slips. They'd roll dice, and whoever drew a slip had to recite the passage aloud and explain its meaning—like a drinking game, but with chanting and dancing. In less than half a year, he'd mastered most of it. Pity we can't find those old slips, or we wouldn't need to make new ones."
Xianglan thought it a clever method. Gently stroking Lin Jinyuan's cheek, she whispered, "What's wrong with studying? It helps you understand principles and grow into a capable person."
Leaning against her, Lin Jinyuan gestured animatedly. "I don't want to study. I want to be a general like my eldest brother!"
Before he could finish, commotion erupted outside. The door curtain was swept aside as Lin Jinlou entered. He paused at the sight of Xianglan holding Lin Jinyuan, but the boy beamed with joy, leaping up with outstretched arms. "Eldest Brother! Quick, toss me up and spin me around!"
Lin Jinlou laughed. "Alright, little fellow, let me see if you've gotten heavier." He lifted Lin Jinyuan high, tossing him into the air several times. The boy burst into giggles, while his nurse and the maids gasped in alarm, pleading, "Master, be careful! Please, slow down!"
After a few more tosses, Lin Jinlou settled on the edge of the heated brick bed, cradling his brother. He turned to Xianglan. "Taitai is chanting scriptures inside. Why aren't you attending her?" Without waiting for a reply, he tickled Lin Jinyuan, who dissolved into helpless laughter, writhing on the bed and crying, "I surrender! I surrender!"Lu Lan was quick-witted and quietly slipped out of bed to brew tea. Just as she lifted the curtain, she bumped heads with Zidai. She thought to herself: "This little minx came at such a coincidental time. She was just serving Taitai during scripture recitation, and now she rushed over so quickly upon hearing that Master has arrived."
Many thanks to fatwanghua001 for the Peach Blossom Fan, yalleo for the sachet, xiaoxiao66, sosohuang, jidanyuan, and yulong7761 for the Peace Talismans, and also thank you all for the pink votes. ^_^
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