In the Knowing Spring Pavilion, two more maids who did rough work had fallen ill. They originally shared a room with Zhi Cao, and then three or four others fell sick one after another. For a time, everyone was fearful, and the pavilion was shrouded in gloom and despair. However, Lin Jinlou remained calm and composed, seemingly unconcerned about the situation. Instead, he ordered people to pack up and send the Old Master, Old Mistress, Qin Shi, Wang Shi, and the young masters and misses to the Manor to stay. All affairs of the Lin Family were now handled by him alone. He strictly forbade anyone from going out or moving about freely; only servant boys and old women who had already had the pox were allowed to run errands. With him in charge, the entire Lin Family settled into quietude.
Yet Lin Jinlou had kept Xianglan behind. After their nightly intimacy, sweaty all over, he pinched her cheek and said with a grin, "I kept you here. Are you scared? I thought, even if we die, we’ll hold hands and go down to the underworld together. I adore you so much—aren’t you happy?"
Xianglan, exhausted from being tormented by Lin Jinlou half the night, could barely keep her eyes open. Hearing this did not make her happy at all. She thought about how she was already wronged, imprisoned by Lin Bawang, and now he wouldn’t even let her go in death? But she had grown wiser and no longer provoked Lin Jinlou, simply staring at him with her bright, sparkling eyes.
Lin Jinlou had intended to tease her, but seeing Xianglan wide-eyed and silent, he found it somewhat dull and said, "I’ve experienced outbreaks of pox before. If those infected are dealt with early, it shouldn’t spread widely. Besides, those who entered the household as servants since childhood were all inoculated with smallpox. Only the frail ones like Ying Ge can’t withstand it. The Knowing Spring Pavilion has long been quarantined—no one from outside can enter, and no one inside can leave. In ten days or half a month, if no one develops a fever, this disaster will pass." Having said that, he lifted the bed curtain and called for tea.
There was a sound from outside, and surprisingly, it was Zidai who entered carrying a copper pot. She refilled the tea bowl, carefully brought it to the bedside, and handed it over.
Lin Jinlou sat up, the sheet slipping down to his lower abdomen, revealing his lean, muscular body as he lifted the curtain to take the tea and drank it in one go. Zidai saw his tall figure, broad shoulders, and strong back, the muscles on his tea-holding arm bulging, a drop of sweat rolling down his neck. She was instantly stunned, her limbs went weak, her face flushed bright red, her heart raced, and a wave of heat rushed through her.
Since only a dim lamp was lit in the room, Lin Jinlou knew a maid had entered but assumed it was Lianxin or Chun Ling, so he paid no mind and didn’t look closely. After finishing one bowl, he ordered another. Zidai, snapping out of her daze, hurriedly refilled it. Lin Jinlou took the tea and shook Xianglan, saying, "Get up and have a sip."
Xianglan was so tired she couldn’t even lift a finger. Lin Jinlou, aroused, had plenty of tricks and techniques. At first, Xianglan was too ashamed to comply, but later she was too exhausted to care about shame, merely closing her eyes in a daze.
Lin Jinlou shook her a few times and, seeing Xianglan play dead, said, "Hurry up and take a sip. Do you want me to feed you mouth-to-mouth?"
Remembering that a maid was still in the room, Xianglan quickly opened her eyes, propped herself up, and reluctantly took a sip before lying back down. Lin Jinlou chuckled softly, drank the remaining tea himself, reached out from the curtain, and handed the tea bowl out.
Zidai hurriedly took it and stood outside for a long while, listening to Lin Jinlou’s low murmuring from behind the curtain and Xianglan’s drowsy, intermittent responses. Only then did she blow out the candle and quietly retreat.As soon as she stepped out, she saw Xue Ning standing at the door, glaring at her with knitted brows. Since Lin Jinlou disliked Zidai, despite being a first-class maid, she wasn't even allowed to enter the bedroom. Only Lianxin, Tinglan, Xue Ning, and Chun Ling were assigned to night duty. That night, it was Xue Ning's turn. In the latter half of the night, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and went to the latrine. Coincidentally, Zidai, thirsty in the middle of the night, went to the tea room to fetch water and happened to hear Lin Jinlou calling for someone. She immediately entered the room.
Xue Ning vaguely saw Zidai carrying a pot into the room and grew frantic with worry. Afraid of angering Lin Jinlou, she anxiously waited by the door. When Zidai emerged, Xue Ning suppressed her anger and said, "You're quite diligent, sister. Next time, there's no need to trouble yourself."
Zidai, however, smiled warmly and whispered, "Little sister, I don't know where you were running off to earlier. I only went in because I heard the Master calling. There's no need to thank me." With that, she pushed Xue Ning's arm aside and walked away gracefully.
Xue Ning gritted her teeth in fury.
For a while, nothing happened.
A few days later, Zhi Cao's body was carried out of the Knowing Spring Pavilion. Two more people had died in the Lin Family, but no further cases of pox appeared. Xianglan recited sutras morning and evening, praying for blessings, and found servant boys who had already had pox to deliver food and drink to Yingge and the others. Outside the second gate, there happened to be a servant boy, nicknamed Little Piggy due to his round build. Having survived pox but left with a pockmarked face, he was assigned only rough tasks to avoid displeasing the masters. With this situation arising, he was summoned to wait under the corridor. Hearing that Xianglan needed someone for an errand, he eagerly stepped forward and took on the task. Upon returning, he reported, "When Sister Yingge heard that you had sent her things, she wept. She specifically asked me to stand outside by the window and told me that you have a kind heart. In all her years in the mansion, you are the only one she truly trusts. She said she has twenty taels of private silver and some jewelry, all stored in a small box under her bed. After she's gone, the Lin Family will give some silver to her family. She begged you to take the silver and jewelry and find a way to deliver them personally to her younger brother. She fears that someone with sticky fingers might steal her belongings, or that the silver might fall into her sister-in-law's hands, leaving her father without money for treatment and her brother without food."
Xianglan felt a pang of sorrow. She had noticed Yingge's deliberate flattery and ingratiation in the past, which made her uncomfortable. But they were all pitiable souls—Yingge had her hardships, and Xianglan had hers. If they could get along, why make things difficult for each other? Thus, maintaining a lukewarm relationship, though not deeply intimate, they had grown quite congenial. Now, hearing Yingge's words as if arranging her final affairs, Xianglan couldn't help but sigh several times. Through the curtain, she said to Little Piggy, "Go back and tell her I agree to this." She then instructed Chun Ling to give him a red envelope as a reward.
That evening, past the third watch, Lin Jinlou was still working by lamplight on official matters. Xianglan lay on the bed, half-asleep, when suddenly, the cloud-shaped board at the second gate sounded. An old woman reported at the door, "Miss Yingge is gone."
Xianglan was startled and immediately sat up. Lin Jinlou rose and left. Shortly after, Shuran returned and said, "Since she died of pox, the body couldn't be kept and was hastily taken away to be cremated. The ashes will be kept for the funeral. The Master, remembering her service, honored her by promoting her to Concubine. The coffin was prepared earlier, and everything necessary is provided."
Xianglan then relayed Yingge's entrusted words and added, "Good sister, I can't go over there. I'll have to trouble you to keep this in mind for me."This was the first time Xianglan had entrusted Shuran with a task, and Shuran immediately pounded her chest in assurance, praising Xianglan for her compassionate heart and so on. Before long, she indeed returned with a bundle of silver and jewelry, adding, "Ying Ge's family has already arrived and is kneeling before the Master to express their gratitude."
Xianglan asked, "Who from her family came?"
Shuran replied, "Her elder brother and sister-in-law, along with her younger brother. Her brother is ten years old and serves under the Second Master. His name is Zhao'er."
Xianglan added forty taels of silver to the bundle and had Zhao'er summoned. She said to him, "Your sister and I shared a bond, and before her passing, she entrusted me to give her savings to you. This bundle contains her belongings. Keep it safe, and if you ever face difficulties in the future, come to me."
Zhao'er, who bore a strong resemblance to Ying Ge, had cried until his eyes were red. He knelt and kowtowed to Xianglan, saying, "Bodhisattva Grandmother, Zhao'er kowtows to you and will forever remember your great kindness." Wiping his tears, he left, and for now, no more need be said.
After Zhao'er departed, Xianglan lay on the bed fully clothed, drifting in and out of sleep. Suddenly, she saw Ying Ge enter and say to her, "Xianglan, my dear sister, I am leaving. You have shown loyalty and righteousness, fulfilling my request. In the future, my family will surely repay you."
Xianglan jolted awake and opened her eyes to see Lin Jinlou walking in from outside—there was no trace of Ying Ge.
More than ten days later, no one in the Lin Family showed signs of fever or pox. As the New Year approached, Lin Zhaoxiang ordered his sons, daughters-in-law, and others to move back into the Lin residence. The first thing Qin Shi did upon returning was to arrange for the entire family to go to Qixia Temple to hold a Buddhist Mass for peace and safety.
"We've been on edge all this time. This time, seven or eight people in the household died, and who knows how the rumors are spreading outside. I had already made a vow at the temple earlier, and now that it has been fulfilled, we must hold a grand Buddhist Mass to complete it. Even the old lady will attend this time," Qin Shi said. "Ling Jie'er has been complaining to me, saying the last temple visit was boring and she couldn't even watch any operas. This time, there's a tall building at Qixia Temple where we can set up a stage and put on a performance."
Wang Shi remarked, "What does a child like her understand? With lives at stake in the family, all she cares about is mischief and excitement."
Qin Shi teased, "She's almost betrothed and is already a young lady. Ling Jie'er has become much more dignified and refined lately, even speaking less. It shows she's ready for marriage."
Lin Dongling immediately flushed red, and everyone laughed. Lin Dongling, however, quietly turned her head away and let out a soft huff.
Qin Shi then sent Qiang Wei to the Knowing Spring Pavilion to inform Xianglan that she would be taken along. Qiang Wei said with a smile, "Taitai also said she wants the young lady to ride in the same carriage as her!"
Chun Ling quickly asked, "Is Zidai going?"
Qiang Wei replied, "Taitai didn't mention her, but Mama Han pleaded on her behalf in front of Taitai, and Taitai agreed to take her along."
After Qiang Wei left, Chun Ling clapped her hands and laughed, "See? Adversity reveals true character. Taitai has finally seen what kind of vixen Zidai is. Now that Taitai specifically invites the young lady to join her, it means she intends to elevate her status."
Xianglan shook her head inwardly. She paid no mind to Qin Shi's tactics of managing people, but after being cooped up in the residence for so long, the chance to go out and relax was certainly welcome.On the day of the visit to Qixia Temple, the Lin residence bustled with carriages and horses. Xianglan rode in the same carriage as Qin Shi. The journey passed in silence, with Xianglan occasionally handing Qin Shi tea or adding plum-scented incense cakes to her hand warmer before quietly resuming her seat in the corner. Qin Shi, however, seemed much more approachable, occasionally asking Xianglan a few questions without her previous cold indifference. Xianglan secretly wondered at this change, unaware that Qin Shi had developed a newfound fondness for her after learning of her charitable assistance to Ying Ge. In truth, even Qin Shi herself admitted that during Xianglan’s earlier days in her courtyard, though the girl kept quietly to herself, her every gesture reflected the grace of a well-bred lady—perhaps even surpassing Qin Shi’s own daughter. Moreover, Xianglan was accomplished in literature and painting, with a gentle temperament, making her truly exceptional. Perhaps it was because the girl stood out too strikingly, or because her own son had forcibly brought her into the household as a concubine, that Qin Shi felt an underlying unease.
Lin Jinlou escorted them on horseback all the way to Qixia Temple, where the Abbot, accompanied by a group of monks, came out to greet them. Lin Jinting promptly led the stewards, managers, and clansmen to socialize with the temple’s hosts.
Setting aside for now how Qin Shi and her party performed their Buddhist rites and worship, Lin Jinlou made a round of the temple and ordered the family guards to secure the premises. He then went to Xianglan and instructed, “Take good care of Taitai. I’ll return first and pick you up in three days to go back to the residence.” Xianglan responded half-heartedly. After a few more words, Lin Jinlou departed.
Chun Ling watched Xianglan hesitantly, stammering, “Miss, you should show more concern for the Master… Right now, you don’t even have a formal status, and the Master has always been a philanderer…”
Xianglan smiled faintly. Ever since the pox had ceased spreading in the Lin residence, Lin Jinlou had resumed his habit of leaving early and returning late, sometimes staying out overnight. Whispers claimed he had found a new favorite outside—reportedly Yun Zhui from the Yihong Court, a girl renowned for both beauty and talent, blessed with a splendid voice. Xianglan had long heard these rumors, though Chun Ling and others assumed she was unaware.
Shuran, being shrewd, once joked with her, “You’re a fortunate one, Miss. I’ve noticed the Master is truly devoted to you—don’t believe the gossip. Before, he was constantly out and about, but now he only goes out occasionally for social engagements, returning home right after leaving the Government Office. You’re the only one in his courtyard these days. Just recently, a garrison commander offered him a girl as lovely as a Celestial Maiden, but the Master refused and sent her away.” Xianglan merely smiled at this.
Lin Jinlou’s flirtatious nature was nothing new. She was but a plaything in his chamber—too preoccupied with her own future to spare energy for trivial jealousy. If Lin Jinlou were to acquire a new favorite and cast her aside, she would only breathe a sigh of relief.Chun Ling saw that Xianglan wasn't responding and had no choice but to resign herself to the situation. Soon after, Qin Shi wanted to attend the religious ceremony, so Xianglan accompanied her. After participating in the chanting rituals for a while, Lin Dongling first complained of a headache and went back to rest. Lin Dongxiu waited a bit longer before quietly slipping away, thinking to herself: "They say the fortune sticks at Qixia Temple are the most accurate, I'll go draw one." She then went to the Hall of the Three Saints in the east, finding the main hall completely empty.
Lin Dongxiu stepped inside alone and was just about to pick up the fortune stick container from the altar table when she faintly heard voices of a man and woman speaking from behind the Buddha statue. Treading lightly, she hid behind a pillar and looked - to her astonishment, she saw Lin Dongling speaking with a tall, sturdy opera performer whose face was painted in colorful patterns.
Lin Dongling said: "...Du Lang, these past two days my right eyelid has been twitching constantly, and my heart keeps pounding... this matter... can it really succeed?"
The opera performer replied: "Of course it can succeed, would I lie to you? I've already prepared everything, just wait for tomorrow night and make sure you sleep lightly. The other day when you were at Sweet Dew Temple, you didn't stay overnight, so we couldn't take action then."
"...I'm still afraid... seven or eight people in the family have already died, whenever I close my eyes I think about whether they'll come demanding my life, especially Han Fang, after all she served me for so long..."
In this story, the little pig is played by Vegetarian Little Pig. Thank you to wanghua001 and qian20051978 for the Peach Blossom Fans, damima for two Peace Talismans, and Xiaoxiao66 for the Peace Talisman. Also thank you everyone for the pink votes. ^_^ It's too late, wrote this a bit drowsily, might not be very good, will revise it later.
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