Luanr had always been hot-tempered. Though she initially intended to plead further, Lin Jinlou’s merciless words sent a wave of despair surging through her. Resigned to her fate, she lashed out: "The Eldest Master says I’ve disgraced myself, but how much sincerity have you ever shown me? After a few days of novelty, you became bewitched by Chen Xianglan, treating me like a stray cat or dog—a mere plaything to amuse yourself with when pleased and discard when displeased. Even a clay figure has some grit, let alone a living person like me! However flawed I may be, my devotion to you has never wavered. I dare swear on my heart that no other girl in this mansion has ever loved you as genuinely as I have. I’ve yearned and waited with all my soul, but when did you ever care for my sincerity? What does Chen Xianglan have that I lack? I refuse to accept this! Why should it be this way?"
Lin Jinlou looked down at Luanr’s tear-streaked face, let out two short laughs, and said softly, "You refuse to accept it? Then I’ll tell you why. Because I am the master, and you are a servant. Pretty maids who can sing and play the pipa are a dime a dozen—lose one, and there’ll be another. They, too, can be devoted, even more charming and skilled than you, and they understand their place as servants. Do you understand now?"
Luanr felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her. Stunned and speechless, she stood frozen, tears streaming down her face and splattering on the ground.
Lin Jinlou continued slowly, "For the sake of our past affection, you may keep all the gifts I’ve given you. If you wish, you can say you requested to leave to marry. This is also out of consideration for Shu Ran, who has served me diligently for years. Take care of yourself." With that, he ordered her dragged away.
Tears streaming down her face, Luanr suddenly broke free from the hands holding her, stood up, and desperately rushed to the side. Two matrons hurriedly grabbed her arms, but with a "thud," Luanr still collided with the wall. Xianglan gasped in shock, unable to suppress a cry. Wu Mama rushed out of the room and, upon seeing the scene, nearly lost her wits. Her legs weakening, she screamed, "Heavens! Miss Luanr has taken her own life!"
Her cry sent a shock through everyone. In the western chamber, Qin Shi stood up in a panic. Two or three experienced older matrons hurried over, and Xianglan also rushed to the scene. She saw the matrons crowded around the wall, where only a slender, pale hand extended from the ground. On its wrist was a gold-filigree agate bracelet, making the crimson nail polish appear even more vivid. The wall beside it was splattered with blood, like scattered peach blossoms—a horrifying sight.
Han Mama shouted, "She’s still breathing! She’s still breathing! Quick, fetch the physician! Fetch the physician!" As she yelled, she snatched a cotton-silk cloth from a chair’s seat cushion and pressed it against Luanr’s head. Everyone scrambled to carry Luanr to the Arhat Bed on the left side of the main hall—some fetching medicinal supplies, others summoning the physician—throwing the place into chaos.
Lin Jinlou ordered someone to retrieve medical supplies, then turned and saw Xianglan standing there, her face deathly pale. Frowning, he pointed at her and barked, "Who said you could come out? Get back inside at once!" His shout startled Xianglan.
Wu Mama tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "This is no place for you. Go attend to Madam."Xianglan had no choice but to return. She had never liked Luanr, yet she had never hated her either, merely considering her an insignificant figure. But today, witnessing her downfall, she didn't know what to feel—sighs, pity, sympathy, and self-pity all surged in her heart at once. When she turned to look again, she saw a pool of blood slowly spreading from where Luanr had fallen.
In the western side room, Qin Shi was trembling with fear. She had initially thought it was a matter of restless maids causing trouble, but she never expected it to escalate to this extent, now even involving a life. Fearing that a death during the ancestral worship would bring bad luck, she urgently ordered the kitchen to prepare ginseng soup to sustain life and replenish energy, and also commanded them to open the chest to find fine cloth to bandage Luanr's wounds.
After a while, the main hall quieted down. Han Mama entered and said, "The bleeding has stopped, and she has been carried back to her room. But she's still unconscious, and we can't get any soup into her mouth. The doctor has already been to see her and prescribed medicine. He said it's fortunate that someone pulled her back when she hit the wall. Although she bled, her life can be saved, but whether she'll suffer any lasting effects is uncertain."
Qin Shi clasped her hands and chanted "Amitabha." Then she asked, "What did the Eldest Master say?"
Han Mama replied, "The Eldest Master said that tomorrow morning, Luanr will be carried out on a plank and handed over to her parents to take away."
Qin Shi sighed and said, "Let it be, then. She harbored such ill intentions—it's no wonder the masters showed no leniency... She was foolish, after all."
Seeing Qin Shi's displeased expression, Han Mama hurriedly added, "You're right, Madam. After such an incident, she should be grateful the masters didn't punish her harshly. What more could she expect?"
Qin Shi sighed again, sat silently for a while, then stood up and went to the main hall. Xianglan, who had been standing at the door, followed behind her when she saw Qin Shi leave.
The scene had been tidied up—the blood on the floor had been washed away, though splatters still stained the wall. Lin Jinlou remained seated high above, with only Huamei kneeling before him.
Lin Jinlou tapped two fingers on the armrest, his gaze fixed on Huamei as he remained silent.
Huamei seemed to feel his piercing stare. Though she tried to stay calm, she couldn't stop trembling slightly, her heart pounding wildly. Suddenly, Lin Jinlou's voice came from above her: "Rushuang said the talisman was placed by Nuanyue, and I believe it.Huamei jerked her head up, meeting Lin Jinlou's sharp, gleaming eyes and his dignified face that commanded respect even without anger. Terrified, she quickly lowered her head.
Qin Shi was also astonished and turned to look at Lin Jinlou, about to say something, but Han Mama gently tugged at her, and she fell silent. Xianglan frowned slightly. Although Huamei had used Rushuang as a scapegoat to clear herself, anyone clever could see the dirty truth. Yet Lin Jinlou had dragged Rushuang away for a beating without a word, severely punished Nuanyue, and now declared he believed Huamei—clearly, he had no intention of pursuing the matter further.
Lin Jinlou said coldly, "But you were stirring up trouble behind the scenes, framing the innocent, and sowing discord. You even incited Qinglan before. It seems you've lacked discipline in the past. You are stripped of your position as Concubine. If you offend again, you will be expelled immediately. Initially, I had hoped Qinglan would bear the eldest son, which is why she was allowed to live in the east wing. For you to remain there now is unjustified. Starting tomorrow, you will move into the room vacated by Luanr. From now on, you are confined to your quarters and must kneel in the ancestral hall for an hour each day to burn incense. Later, go to the old matron to receive your punishment—fifty slaps on the face."Huamei's face was deathly pale, her heart heavy as if weighed down by a massive stone, yet she obediently kowtowed and said, "It was my fault. The Eldest Master's punishment is just. I beg the Eldest Master to calm his anger and take care of his health."
Lin Jinlou roared, "Stop cluttering up the room! Get out and kneel in the courtyard!"
Huamei's legs were already swollen and numb from kneeling, prickling as if pierced by needles. The pain was so intense she could barely stand. Yet the room remained silent, with no one stepping forward to assist her. Qin Shi could no longer bear to watch and ordered two matrons to drag her out of the room.
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