Qin Shi said, "Take her to the flower hall." She then closed her eyes and focused on chanting scriptures while striking the wooden fish. Wu Mama dared not disturb her and quietly withdrew. She understood perfectly well that Qin Shi intended to first humble Xianglan's pride. Among the women in the Eldest Master's household, two had departed just the previous night, leaving only Yingge, who was not favored, while Xianglan was the most beloved. Qin Shi had resolved to subdue Xianglan, and showing a stern face was hardly significant. Naturally, Wu Mama had no desire to provoke her mistress's displeasure. She stepped out and whispered to Xianglan, "Madam is still chanting scriptures. Please wait a moment."
Suppressing a slight unease in her heart, Xianglan gave a slight nod. She glanced around and noticed that Qin Shi's quarters were furnished with extreme simplicity and solidity, devoid of any extravagance. The chair cushions and table skirts were all made of the same indigo-blue, gold-threaded brocade, slightly worn but not old. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could discern the essence of an aristocratic family: the wall hung with Guo Xi's renowned painting "Early Spring," flanked by genuine couplets by Du Huan. On the long table stood a "Longevity" gemstone plum tree bonsai, small yet radiant, illuminating half the room.
Wu Mama led her to a small side flower hall. Xianglan took a seat, and Lulan personally brought her a cup of tea, smiling as she said, "Madam always chants scriptures for a while each day. Please wait here, Miss; it won't be long." Xianglan curved her lips in response. She had no prior acquaintance with Lulan, and the smiling face now was likely due to the effect of silver.
Xianglan sat idly for a while when she faintly heard laughter and chatter from outside. The door curtain was lifted, and Lin Dongling and Lin Dongxiu walked in, talking. They paused in surprise upon seeing Xianglan in the room.
Lin Dongling frowned and asked loudly, "What are you doing here?"
Xianglan raised an eyebrow and pretended not to hear. Wu Mama, still in the room, hurriedly explained, "Madam asked Miss Xianglan to come."
Lin Dongling snorted, entered the room, and sat down at a distance. Lin Dongxiu followed closely but turned her face to Xianglan with a smile, exuding warmth.
Xianglan was taken aback, wondering if she had misseen.
Lulan busied herself brewing tea for the two Lin sisters and brought out an eight-treasure box inlaid with mother-of-pearl and foreign lacquer, inviting them to pick candied fruits from it. Once seated, Lin Dongxiu smiled at Xianglan and said, "I haven't seen you in so long! You look even more beautiful today. No wonder Eldest Brother hides you away from everyone!"
Hearing this, Lin Dongling was greatly astonished and immediately glared at Lin Dongxiu, who pretended not to notice, her face still beaming.
Xianglan thought to herself, "Hasn't Fourth Miss always disliked me? Why the sudden change?" Remembering the saying "One does not strike a smiling face," she curved her lips and replied, "Fourth Miss, you jest. I'm lazy and don't enjoy going out, and you seldom visit the Hall of Knowing Spring, so we simply haven't crossed paths."
Lin Dongxiu, holding her tea bowl, laughed and said, "Then I'll come see you every day from now on. You mustn't get annoyed and shoo me away."
Among the Lin family girls, Lin Dongxiu was the most scheming, often inciting others to take the lead while reaping the rewards. Unwilling to form a deep connection, Xianglan merely smiled faintly and said, "As long as you don't find me dull."
Before she finished speaking, Lin Dongling addressed Wu Mama, "I heard your eldest son has been doing well lately, freed from his status to serve by the Eldest Master's side. Aunt said he might be promoted to an official position after the New Year, and then you can go back and enjoy your life."Wu Mama smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the blessings of Madam and Eldest Master that my son has achieved some success. I originally came from the Lin family and dare not forget my roots. Even if Madam were to drive me away, I couldn't leave."
Lin Dongling blinked her big eyes and said, "Mama truly is an old servant who followed Madam from the start, knowing her origins and remembering not to forget her roots." She then turned to Xianglan, tilting her head with a playful smile, "Xianglan, don't you think I'm right?"
Xianglan was taken aback. These words were clearly veiled barbs, reminding Xianglan of her servant origins as an excuse to provoke her, yet Lin Dongling wore a beaming smile that made it hard to find fault. Such bickering was most vexing—if she retaliated in kind, it would seem like childish squabbling and beneath her dignity; if she ignored it, aside from feeling uncomfortable, it might lead Lin Dongling to think she was easy to bully and escalate next time.
Xianglan smiled faintly and said, "Wu Mama is a thoughtful person, and it's also due to Madam's generosity and virtue. Everyone says Madam treats people exceptionally well and understands their hardships. If it weren't for that, how could she inspire such unwavering loyalty? I just fear those who, relying on their status as masters, casually mistreat others—it truly loses them respect and only invites ridicule. Third Miss, don't you think I'm right?"
Lin Dongling, after all, lacked deep cunning, immediately darkened her expression and sneered, "It seems you're favored now, daring to talk back to your master even in Madam's room. I dare not say whether you're right or not, lest Eldest Brother later feel slighted and come after me without regard for sibling affection. Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner, isn't that so?"
Seeing tensions flare, Wu Mama quickly signaled Xianglan with her eyes and tried to change the subject. But Xianglan said slowly, "That's an interesting point. I'm no longer a servant of the Lin family, so naturally there's no such thing as a 'master.' From what Third Miss implies, if you bully me and Eldest Master confronts you, it would mean he disregards sibling affection; if he doesn't, it would mean he allows you to disrespect him and lose face. Third Miss has certainly posed a dilemma for Eldest Master."
Lin Dongling was stumped by this. She never expected Xianglan, who had seemed like a pitiful victim last time, to dare confront her so directly. She suddenly recalled Xianglan standing up to her at the Ren family and immediately glared sharply, pointing and demanding, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Xianglan replied calmly, "I'm naturally talking nonsense. How could Third Miss possibly bully me or slight Eldest Master's dignity?"
Lin Dongxiu chose that moment to let out a perfectly timed chuckle and said, "You've seen through her—Third Sister loves joking the most." She discreetly tugged Lin Dongling's sleeve and pushed the eight-treasure box toward her, adding, "These five-spice fried melon seeds are incredibly fragrant. Have a handful and try them."
Lin Dongling had a fiery temper and needed to vent her anger to feel satisfied. Xianglan's casual dismissal made her feel as if she'd punched a cotton bale, leaving her pale with rage, her chest heaving violently. If they were outside, she would have entangled herself and argued with Xianglan relentlessly, but they were in Qin Shi's room, and she had always held her aunt-in-law in awe, so she didn't dare lose her temper freely. She simply froze in place.Xianglan knew when to stop and did not provoke Lin Dongling further, lowering her head to sip tea while secretly shaking her head. She thought to herself that Lin Dongling had such a fiery temper—once married, she would have to navigate relationships with in-laws above, a husband, and younger sisters-in-law and elder brothers' wives below. With so many potential conflicts, how would she manage her life?
Lin Dongxiu acted as if she hadn't noticed Lin Dongling's anger, smiling at Xianglan instead. "I heard you excel at drawing embroidery patterns. Next time, you must draw a few specifically for me. The other day, Mother gave me a brand-new bolt of tribute satin—thick and finely woven. Such fine material shouldn't be wasted. I plan to make a dress to wear for the New Year."
Lin Dongxiu was openly extending goodwill to Xianglan, who naturally appreciated it. Though she appeared to be living well in the estate, her situation was actually precarious. Making one more ally was always beneficial. Besides, she had always viewed Lin Dongxiu as a young girl and never held any real grudges against her. Thus, she smiled and said, "As long as Fourth Miss doesn’t mind my humble skills. What patterns would you like? Peonies, plum blossoms, butterflies, or birds and insects? Just tell me, and I’ll draw several for you to choose from."
Lin Dongxiu beamed, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "Then I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll have extra fabric from making my dress, so I’ll have a skirt made for you as well—consider it payment for your efforts."
Lin Dongling, her face dark with anger, sneered, "Enough! Put away your tribute satin. Can’t you see what she’s wearing? That gold-embroidered jacket is made of 'Flowing Cup Brocade'—a rarity even the palace can’t easily obtain, with less than half a bolt woven in a year. And here you are, treating tribute satin like treasure. That vulgar, common stuff probably isn’t even to her taste!"
Lin Dongxiu, who prided herself on being refined and ambitious, felt as if Lin Dongling had slapped her across the face. Despite her usual composure and social grace, she was so enraged that her eyes widened, her face flushed crimson, and she clenched her fists tightly, barely restraining herself from lashing out.
Xianglan acted decisively, addressing Lin Dongling, "Third Miss, you’ve mistaken. This dress of mine was tucked away at the bottom of a chest in the Hall of Knowing Spring—who knows who wore it before? It still looked new, so I couldn’t bear to discard it and wore it here instead. Tribute satin is the real rarity. If it weren’t exceptional, why would Madam have gifted it to Fourth Miss?"
Lin Dongxiu felt a surge of gratitude. Anyone could see that Xianglan’s dress was brand-new and tailored to her measurements. Most people who received such a garment would flaunt it everywhere, boasting of the Eldest Master’s favor. That Xianglan was willing to sacrifice her own pride to preserve Lin Dongxiu’s dignity was no small gesture. She pondered whether to add more gifts besides the skirt—perhaps a pouch, a fan sheath, or something else—and decided to have Hanzhi prepare an extra set. Smiling, she said, "Exactly. Madam is most generous. Everything she gives me is precious. Last time, she gave me a pair of red coral earrings set in pure gold. Everyone who’s seen them says they’ve never seen coral so vividly crimson. Third Sister, you should watch your words—don’t drag Madam into this." She shot a triumphant glance at Lin Dongling.
Lin Dongling, however, glared furiously at Xianglan, who turned her face away and ignored her. If Lin Dongling were the type to quit while ahead, Xianglan wouldn’t mind yielding—avoiding trouble was better than stirring it, as she was never one to seek conflict. But Lin Dongling was precisely the sort to push her advantage. Moreover, they were in Madam’s quarters, surrounded by her eyes and servants who judged people by their status. If Xianglan appeared weak, she would only invite contempt and disdain. She never acted without reason, but she would never allow herself to be humiliated at will.Xianglan's indifferent attitude only infuriated Lin Dongling further. She sprang to her feet and was about to slam the table and curse when someone at the door announced, "Madam is here."
Before the words had fully faded, Hongjian lifted the curtain, and Qin Shi glided in gracefully. She wore a sea-blue jacket embroidered with chrysanthemums and wild geese carrying reed patterns, paired with a pleated skirt edged with a foot-wide border of sea horses, tidal clouds, and gold-thread trim. Her hair was styled in a gold-wire eight-treasure bun, adorned with small phoenix hairpins and kingfisher-feather hair ornaments, complemented by a silver forehead ornament with dangling pearls. Her face was lightly powdered, exuding an aura of noble elegance and commanding authority.
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