Ling Qing and Ling Su were tidying up in the side room. As Ling Su untied the bundle and placed the clothes into the cabinet, she suddenly sighed and said, "I truly never expected the Lin Family to be like this."
The two of them had secretly discussed it on the road, thinking the Lin Family would merely be a larger estate than the Yangzhou residence. Yet upon arrival, the sight of the two large stone lions crouching outside the three beast-headed gates alone left them stunned. Seeing the magnificent buildings within the estate, its imposing atmosphere, and the servants' extraordinary food, clothing, and daily necessities only deepened their astonishment.
When they entered Knowing Spring Pavilion and saw Xianglan surrounded by seven or eight maids—all sharp-tongued and aggressive—they realized they might not be able to intervene. Fortunately, Xianglan later decided to keep them by her side to manage affairs, which allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief. However, when Chun Ling brought them to the side room earlier, she had frowned and glared, her face cold as frost, treating them with indifference. Recognizing Chun Ling's status as a respected maid favored by Xianglan, and being newcomers themselves, they had no choice but to endure it and respond meekly.
Ling Qing exchanged a glance with her, both sharing the same silent frustration as they quietly continued tidying. The initial excitement they had felt about coming to the Lin Family had long since vanished like a wisp of smoke.
Ling Su tugged at Ling Qing’s sleeve and whispered, "Tell me, should we call her 'Madam' or follow the others and call her 'Miss'?"
Ling Qing frowned. Before Xie Yu sent them to the Lin Family, he had instructed them to serve a noble lady and to address her as "Madam." Seeing Lin Jinlou’s attentiveness and Xianglan’s dignified manner, they had assumed she was the official wife. But after hearing Liu Xiaochuan and others call her "sister-in-law," they began to sense something amiss and speculated that Xianglan might be a favored concubine. Now, hearing everyone in the estate refer to her as "Miss," they realized Xianglan wasn’t even a concubine. Yet, observing the crowd of attendants around her and her residence in the Main House, she seemed even more esteemed than the official wife.
The two looked at each other and sighed in unison.
Xianglan had been napping in the warm chamber and woke at dusk. Xiao Juan, who was sitting by the heated brick bed sewing shoes, noticed her stirring and quickly set down her work, asking, "Miss, you’re awake? Would you like some tea?" She then handed over a cup of warm tea from the small table.
Xianglan took a sip, got up to change her clothes, and, noticing only Xiao Juan was present, asked, "Why are there only two of you? Where are the others?"Xiao Juan said, "Taitai is busy preparing for Third Master and Fourth Miss's weddings and couldn't handle everything, so she asked Lianxin and Tinglan to help. Xue Ning said Ling Qing and Ling Su just arrived and aren't familiar with the place, so she's taking them around to see the sights. Chun Ling is in the back sorting out the young lady's luggage." Xiao Juan opened the mirror case and writing tools, holding an ivory comb in her hand as she deftly styled Xianglan's hair, chattering away: "You just returned, so you don't know about the changes in the mansion. That little minx Zidai was driven out by the Master, leaving a first-class vacancy in Knowing Spring Pavilion. Not only are the second-class maids in our courtyard eyeing it, even the maids from the Old Taitai and Taitai's quarters are envious, all trying to squeeze in here! At that time, the Master was away all day, and Taitai was ill for a while. After recovering, she focused entirely on preparing for Second Master's wedding—how could she have time to manage this? You wouldn't know, but Chun Ling was glaring like a Black-eyed Chicken. When rumors spread that Qiang Wei from Taitai's room was coming over, Chun Ling even quarreled with her. They used to be close, but now they've fallen out."
Xianglan thought to herself: "Chun Ling has always been unwilling to fall behind others, striving to excel in everything. Back when we were maids together, she wanted to be a Secondary Miss. It's only natural she'd fixate on this now. But her temperament is still too impatient, and her tongue is sharp—though such a nature is hard to change after all."
Xiao Juan held a Red Gold Inlaid with Pearls cloud-foot hairpin against Xianglan's hair, decided it didn't look right, and swapped it for a larger enameled coral hairpin, using delicate smaller pins to secure the stray hairs. She continued chattering: "Sister Shuran also felt leaving the matter unresolved was improper. She thought Sister Tinglan was kind-hearted, reserved, and always diligent, so she recommended her, and the Master agreed. Amitabha! It turned out to be a case of 'when the snipe and clam grapple, the fisherman profits'—Chun Ling's face was dark for half a month, and who knows how many people gnashed their teeth behind her back, watching the spectacle. Chun Ling has been brooding over it ever since—ah, why bother?" After saying this, she stuck her tongue out at Xianglan's reflection in the mirror and added, "With Tinglan promoted to first-class, I benefited too. Sister Shuran promoted me to second-class, so now I'm on the same level as Chun Ling. If she tries to put on airs and lecture me again, I'll just ignore her."
Xianglan couldn't help but laugh, saying, "She's not a bad person, just has that temperament."
Xiao Juan pouted and said, "Young lady, you're too gentle—that's why she acts like this. Next time she dares to be disrespectful, you should teach her a lesson." As she spoke, she finished styling the hair. Xiao Juan then clipped three apricot blossoms from the branch in the nearby vase and tucked them into Xianglan's hair.
Xianglan said, "Setting aside that Chun Ling once did me a great favor, just think—when I left the mansion and returned to Knowing Spring Pavilion, as you know, I had no one to rely on. Besides you, Chun Ling, and Tinglan, there was no one who could sincerely help me. But you were still young then, and Tinglan is honest. It was only thanks to Chun Ling's boldness that she handled everything for me. If she's a bit quick-tempered, it's not a major fault. Considering her loyalty to me, what couldn't I overlook?"
Xiao Juan opened her mouth, sighed, and said, "Ah, if only she knew young lady's intentions."
Just as they were speaking, Lin Jinlou strode in and said, "I came back earlier and you were still asleep—you're up already?" He turned slightly and said, "Look who's here."
Xianglan looked closely, suddenly stood up, and exclaimed with delight, "Father! Mother!"The ones who had arrived were none other than Chen Wanquan and his wife. Seeing Xianglan was like witnessing a dragon descending from the heavens. Xue Shi rushed forward several steps, pulled Xianglan into her arms, and hugged her tightly while repeatedly calling her "my darling." Chen Wanquan's eyes reddened; he wanted to step forward but hesitated, standing awkwardly to the side.
Xianglan had not returned home for some time. During the New Year, when Xue Shi tried to visit her daughter at the Lin residence, she was stopped by the servants. Only Qin Shi met with her briefly, bestowed some gifts, and mentioned that Xianglan had accompanied Lin Jinlou to the Manor. Seeing everyone speak vaguely, Xue Shi grew increasingly anxious but could do nothing. The New Year passed unhappily. Chen Wanquan went out to inquire and heard whispers that Xianglan had gone missing at a temple. The couple's hair turned white with worry, yet they clung to a sliver of hope. Now that they saw Xianglan again, their hearts finally settled, and they couldn't hold back tears as they embraced their daughter.
With red-rimmed eyes, Xue Shi said, "My good daughter, let me take a close look at you." She held Xianglan's arms and examined her from head to toe, then hugged her again, weeping, "My child, as long as you are safe, it is my greatest blessing."
Acknowledgments for the rewards will be made in the next chapter. I returned too tired yesterday and lay down to rest, unexpectedly falling asleep and missing the update. My apologies.
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