Though Qin Shi disliked Huamei's heavy makeup and gaudy attire, she held some favor for her due to her clever speech, straightforward manner, and flattering attentiveness, as well as her ability to read the room. Recalling that Huamei had gone to the temple to seek a talisman for fertility softened Qin Shi's heart further. Seeing Huamei weep for Lin Jinlou also raised her esteem.
Witnessing this display, Xianglan couldn't help but inwardly admire Huamei's silver tongue. Meanwhile, Wu Mama, Chunling, Tinglan, Lianxin, and others who were close to Xianglan felt intense resentment and worry for her.
To everyone's surprise, Xianglan let out a soft laugh and shook her head, saying, "Huamei, there's a saying: 'One who schemes too much outsmarts oneself.' You may have a glib tongue, excel at performance, and know how to ingratiate yourself, transforming from a minor concubine gifted by the Eldest Master's superior into a full-fledged Concubine. But don't think you're so clever, treating everyone else as fools. Do you really believe no one knows about the things you've done behind their backs?"
At these words, Huamei's face changed, though she quickly resumed her sorrowful expression, crying out in exaggerated grievance, "Sister! Just because I exposed your plot against the Eldest Master, are you now slandering me like this?"
Xianglan replied, "First, in the dead of night, you disregarded Madam's orders and barged into the master's bedroom with ulterior motives. Second, you claimed, 'Sister told me you only entered the household reluctantly because the Eldest Master forced you, that you resent him and dream of leaving.' When did I ever say such a thing to you? Every time we met, three or four maids were present as witnesses. You're framing me, spreading lies, and stirring up trouble."
Huamei was stunned, about to retort, when Xianglan cut her off: "Just now, you and Nuanyue performed a duet, pressing aggressively with every word like a sharp blade, trying to destroy me. And yet you claim you wanted to plead for me? Anyone with eyes can see through your tricks. You've never been a kind-hearted person. Previously, Lan Yiniang, trusting your incessant urging, agreed to organize the poetry club, and you stirred discord between her and Zhao Shi—all while wearing the mask of a 'good sister' who had her best interests at heart. Don't you know Lan Yiniang is naive, simple-hearted, and unsuited to worldly affairs? Moreover, she's heavily pregnant and should be resting peacefully. Even if you care nothing for Qinglan, if you truly had the Eldest Master's interests at heart, you should have considered the child in her womb and not provoked her whims."
Qin Shi listened intently, her brow furrowing.
Huamei clenched her hands inside her sleeves, snapping a fingernail over an inch long, yet maintained her pitiful demeanor, whining, "Sister, your words make me wish I were dead! I merely mentioned the poetry club to Lan Yiniang—when did I ever incite her?" She then turned to Qin Shi, pleading, "Madam, Madam, you must uphold justice for me!"
Xianglan sneered, "The departed are gone, and it's pointless to dwell on it. But I want Madam to know that you've always been this sinister and vicious."
Though Huamei wore a wounded expression, a cold smile tugged at her lips as she said, "Sister, are you truly angry with me, or are you shifting focus onto me to divert attention from your own guilt? We're discussing the talisman cursed to kill the Eldest Master—what does that have to do with Lan Yiniang?"Xianglan gave a light laugh. Huamei's delicate and frail appearance was indeed an act, and now she had been pushed to the brink of revealing her true self. She then said, "Of course it concerns me. Among the Eldest Master's people, Yingge is honest, Luanr is straightforward—whether good or bad, it's all written on their faces. Only you, with a smile as warm as the spring breeze, are fiercely competitive at heart, determined to rise above everyone in the inner household. I know your character and have always kept my distance from you. I never expected that today you would still join forces with Nuanyue to frame me."
Xianglan then turned to look at Qin Shi, her voice softening as she said, "I am ignorant and lack proper manners, having never paid my respects to you, Madam. It is only natural that you do not like me. I come from a humble background, merely a drifting weed, and returning to the Lin family was not my wish. But the Eldest Master has shown me kindness, and such despicable acts are beneath me, Chen Xianglan!"
At that moment, someone at the door said, "Enough, stop talking." Before the words had fully faded, Lin Jinlou strode in, went straight to Xianglan, and grabbed her arm, forcibly lifting her to her feet. He said, "Hey, hey, I'm helping you up, why are you still sliding back to the ground? It's freezing cold—kneeling on the floor like that, aren't you afraid of falling ill?" He then looked up at Qin Shi and said, "I heard everything from outside just now." After speaking, he glanced at Huamei.
Though his gaze was calm, it was piercingly cold, like the frost on a blade. Huamei shuddered instantly, her whole body trembling as she collapsed to the floor, her heart filled with shock and fury. The fact that Lin Jinlou had personally helped Xianglan up made his stance clear. Out of the corner of her eye, Huamei saw Nuanyue already slumped on the ground and thought to herself, "In this situation, I have no choice but to sacrifice a pawn to save the king."
Xianglan did not want to struggle with Lin Jinlou in front of everyone, so she resisted slightly but was still lifted up by him as he held her arm. She stole a glance upward and saw Lin Jinlou looking directly at her, so she quickly turned her face away. As soon as he released her, she lowered her head and took a quick, light step backward, standing properly with her body slightly turned.
Lin Jinlou thought to himself, "When I was peeking from the doorway just now, she seemed quite formidable, with a bit of presence. Why does she look like a frightened little rabbit now that she's seen me?"
Now, that Changfa's wife was a woman who loved to play petty tricks. Seeing Huamei at a disadvantage while Xianglan had turned the situation around, she regretted backing the wrong horse. Moreover, Xianglan was currently the most favored person in Lin Jinlou's eyes. If Xianglan truly held a grudge against her, she feared she would face retaliation. Although she had often heard of Lin Jinlou's fearsome reputation, she had rarely witnessed it firsthand. She also considered herself a favorite of the Old Madam and felt that even Qin Shi treated her with some respect, let alone Lin Jinlou. So, the moment Lin Jinlou entered, she resolved to curry favor with her master, flaunt her status, and make Xianglan think twice before acting against her. She stepped forward, a smile plastered on her face, and said, "The Eldest Master has returned. Is it cold outside?" She then glared at Xianglan, poked her shoulder with a finger, and said, "Are you deaf or blind? Didn't you see the Eldest Master just come in? Don't you know to pour a cup of hot tea? Worthless creature."
Xianglan was furious and was about to rebuke Changfa's wife for laying hands on her when she saw Lin Jinlou kick the woman without hesitation, cursing, "Where did this dog come from, barking nonsense! What kind of trash are you? Who gave you the nerve to order my people around!"
The kick sent Changfa's wife stumbling backward several steps before she fell to the ground, clutching her stomach in pain and moaning loudly.Lin Jinlou pointed at Changfa's wife and said to Qin Shi, "I know a thing or two about the stewards' wives with face in the mansion, but I've never even laid eyes on this one. How is she fit to enter my rooms? By tomorrow, the Hall of Knowing Spring might as well turn into a marketplace, with all sorts of riffraff coming to shout and clamor—that would be just fine!"
Qin Shi, also fearing Lin Jinlou's anger, scolded Changfa's wife, "You must have drunk too much tonight! How dare you speak out of turn, with no regard for rank or propriety? Who gave you the right to speak? Get out of here at once!"
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