On that day, a small sedan chair arrived through the side gate of the Lin residence in the capital. As soon as the chair stopped, seven or eight old women immediately gathered around. The curtain was lifted, and a woman in her thirties stepped out. She possessed dignified beauty, with her hair styled in a sleek bun. Though dressed plainly, she carried an air of nobility. Accompanying her was a young maidservant with twin buns in her hair, wearing a light green dress and carrying two bundles in her hands, her expression equally reserved.
The group led the two to Chun Tang Hall. Hua Shan stood at the entrance and quickly lifted the curtain, calling out, "The new concubine, Aunt Xia has arrived." Upon entering, Aunt Xia saw that the main hall was spacious and magnificent, with the table skirts and chair covers made of imperial-grade brocade silk, all slightly worn but elegant. A maid came in to serve tea. Before long, the sound of tinkling jewelry was heard, and a beauty emerged from the inner chamber. She wore a lotus-purple BeiZi embroidered with paired butterflies among flowers and a pea-green skirt with clustered floral patterns. Her hair was adorned sparsely with two or three kingfisher-feather hairpins. Seeing Aunt Xia, she smiled and greeted her, saying, "You must be weary from the journey. Thank you for your efforts." She then cordially invited her to sit.
It turned out that Lin Dongxiu’s marriage to Yuan Shaoren was considered a step up for her. Qin Shi, fearing that Lin Dongxiu might lack proper etiquette or act inappropriately, leading to ridicule and discord between the Yuan and Lin families, had taken her under her wing for daily instruction. However, this guidance inevitably bred friction between them. Qin Shi then wrote to her natal family, asking her parents and siblings to find an experienced and well-mannered matron. As Qin Shi’s family was a prominent clan in the capital, they soon located one. After the daughter of the late emperor, Princess Chongning, passed away at a young age following her marriage, several of her trusted palace maids were granted permission to leave the palace. Aunt Xia was one of them. Though still young, she had served as a female official in the palace and attended closely to Princess Chongning in earlier years. After leaving the palace, she married one of the princess’s guards. Since her husband was distantly related to the Qin family, the Qins sent for her. Her husband initially opposed her going, but Aunt Xia reasoned, "The princess is gone, and we have no one to rely on now. You’re only a minor official at the Nine Gates—we may not lack for food and clothing, but all our past grandeur is lost. Lin Jinlou is highly capable and influential in the military; his mere cough can shake the entire Jiangnan region. Now that we have this chance to connect with his family, only a fool would refuse. Moreover, his father is a high-ranking frontier official. Even if not for ourselves, we must think of our children. Establishing this goodwill could open doors for our son’s education or military career, or our daughter’s marriage prospects. Besides, the Lin family’s reward is generous—it’s equivalent to two years of your salary." Hearing this, her husband immediately changed his mind and urged her to go.
Aunt Xia had long heard that Lin Jinlou had a beloved concubine of exceptional beauty, whom he treated differently from others. The moment Xianglan appeared, she understood who she was and greeted her with a smile. Xianglan said, "Taitai emphasized four or five times in her letter that you are an honored guest and we must attend to you diligently. Taitai and the young lady will arrive in the capital in a few days. Your accommodations have already been prepared. Please settle in comfortably, and if you need anything, just let us know."Aunt Xia said, "I am honored by Taitai's regard and appreciate the new concubine's efforts." She then left with the young maid. Shuran personally escorted them to the Twin Roost Pavilion, smiling at Aunt Xia as she said, "This was originally prepared as the bridal chamber for Third Master. Since Third Master has taken his wife back to Jinling, this bridal chamber is now reserved for Fourth Young Lady, so she may share in the auspicious atmosphere. The masters intend for you to reside here as well, staying with Fourth Young Lady day and night to better instruct her."
Aunt Xia nodded slightly. Shuran led her to the room on the left, which was fully equipped with all necessary furnishings. A Luohan bed hung with lilac-colored double-embroidered grape-patterned curtains stood prominently. After explaining the household situation, Shuran left two maids for their use and took her leave. Aunt Xia sat down on the edge of the bed while the young maid Fangfei unpacked the bundle, storing the change of clothes in the wardrobe and arranging the toiletries on the table. Fangfei remarked, "This Lin Family is quite peculiar, letting a concubine manage household affairs. I thought we'd be meeting the Lin Family's Second Mistress when we arrived."
Aunt Xia replied, "This is their family matter. Do not speak out of turn."
Fangfei stuck out her tongue and fell silent. In truth, Aunt Xia shared Fangfei's thoughts, but she had come with three purposes: first, to instruct Lin Dongxiu; second, to forge connections with the Lin Family; and third, to earn her silver. Thus, she resolved to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to all matters, big or small, within the Lin residence. The mistress and servant settled in, and for now, we shall leave them there.
Four or five days later, Qin Shi's carriage arrived. A crowd of attendants escorted her to Rongshou Hall, where Qin Shi seated herself in the place of honor. Hongjian laid out a kneeling cushion. Lin Jinlou and Lin Jinxuan came forward first to pay their respects, followed by Tan Luhua, then Concubine Yin and Xianglan. Lin Dongxiu separately greeted her elder brothers and sisters-in-law.
Xianglan stood by the door, observing the silent main hall where everyone stood with hands respectfully at their sides. Only Qin Shi sat upright, her commanding presence surpassing that of typical wealthy matrons.
Qin Shi first inquired after Lin Jinxuan's health, asking what medicine he had been taking recently, how he slept at night, and which physician was treating him. Lin Jinxuan answered with utmost reverence. Qin Shi smiled and said, "Good child, you poor thing. I see you have more energy than before—no doubt because you've taken a wife. Do not stop taking those tonic medicines. Recently, a prescription has been circulating from the imperial palace. I've been preparing and taking that medicine and find it beneficial. One of these days, I'll summon an imperial physician to examine you. If it suits you, we can prepare a dose for you to try."
Lin Jinxuan hurriedly replied, "Thank you, Mother, for thinking of me in all matters. I am endlessly grateful."
Qin Shi merely smiled without responding, turning her gaze to Tan Luhua. Tan Luhua had already performed the formal greeting earlier and stood to the side. Qin Shi looked her over once more and said with a smile, "What a well-put-together child. When you entered the family, the master and I were absent, which must have been a slight to you." She signaled to Lu Lan with her eyes, and Lu Lan immediately handed a sandalwood box to Tan Luhua. Qin Shi said, "This is just a small token from us elders."
Tan Luhua promptly knelt again to express her thanks, while Qin Shi maintained a faint smile. Soon after, the crowd dispersed. Qin Shi kept Lin Jinlou behind to speak with him privately in the room, instructing Xianglan to wait outside. After a while, Xianglan was summoned inside. She saw Qin Shi seated on the bed, holding a pale pink cup. Lin Jinlou lounged against the pillows on the Luohan bed, his posture careless. When he spotted Xianglan, he waved her over and said, "Go, attend to Taitai."Xianglan walked over, and Qin Shi instructed her to sit on the small stool beneath the bed. After studying her carefully for a moment, Qin Shi said, "I've heard from Lou Ge'er that you've been handling all sorts of matters in the household—not just Ting Ge'er's wedding banquet, but also the arrangements when Aunt Xia stayed here recently."
Xianglan couldn't gauge Qin Shi's mood, but she didn't particularly care. Still, she stood up respectfully, clasping her hands and said, "I've overstepped my bounds and haven't managed everything perfectly."
Lin Jinlou interjected, "Taitai is praising you. What are you afraid of?" He glanced at Qin Shi and added, "Isn't that right?"
Wu Mama, standing nearby, chuckled and said, "Listen to that. Taitai hasn't even said anything, and he's already defending her."
Lin Jinlou smiled without replying.
Qin Shi glanced at Lin Jinlou and turned back to Xianglan. "You've worked hard these days. I'll reward you properly later. I've also brought someone with me—see who it is." She pointed to the side, where Chun Ling stood, bowing to Xianglan from a distance and murmuring, "New concubine."
Xianglan was taken aback. Back then, Chun Ling, relying on her slight favor, had acted willfully and put on airs with her. Xianglan never expected that even a clay figure has some temper—she had truly lost patience and left Chun Ling behind in Jinling. Looking at Chun Ling now, Xianglan felt particularly conflicted. She was someone who cherished past affections and genuinely appreciated Chun Ling's past kindness. Yet this person had used that gratitude to pressure her, even bullying her, and with her sharp tongue and fiery temper, she constantly stirred up trouble, causing Xianglan endless vexation.
Qin Shi merely smiled and said, "I know this girl has been with you for a long time, so your bond is special. On this trip, I happened to bring her along." She waved her hand. "I just got home and have been busy all morning. I'm tired now and need to rest. You may go."
After everyone had left, Qin Shi changed into casual clothes and reclined on the bed, instructing Hongjian to massage her legs with the beauty mallet. Half-closing her eyes, she asked Wu Mama, "What do you make of the current situation?"
Wu Mama thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "It seems the Master hasn't let go yet. Xianglan is extremely clever and cautious. When Taitai mentioned her efforts in managing household affairs, she neither took credit nor refused praise. Her first words were to acknowledge she had overstepped—showing she's a sensible person who knows her place."
Qin Shi closed her eyes as if drifting off to sleep. After a long while, she finally hummed in acknowledgment and waved Wu Mama away. Seeing Qin Shi growing drowsy, Hongjian set aside the beauty mallet, fetched a light blanket, and gently covered her. As Qin Shi turned over, she murmured as if to herself, "It's good she knows her place... Only then can she find a foothold in this household in the future..." For a while, all was quiet.
In the afternoon, Qin Shi met with Aunt Xia and entrusted Lin Dongxiu to her care. She also had the gifts brought from Jinling distributed to everyone. Xianglan was not surprised to receive rewards from Qin Shi, but what astonished her was that Lin Dongxiu had also prepared a gift for her—and not something perfunctory like two cans of new tea or a box of hair ornaments, but an embroidered screen depicting magnolias and butterflies, an exquisitely crafted piece. Staring at the screen, Xianglan pondered: either Lin Dongxiu intended to befriend her because she had once saved her, or she was trying to curry favor with Lin Jinlou through her. After some thought, she felt she shouldn't assume everyone was so calculating and decided to take it as Lin Dongxiu's gesture of gratitude. In return, she gifted a brand new gold-woven belt.Tan Luhua also received Qin Shi's gifts. Earlier in the Hall of Longevity and Joy, Qin Shi had rewarded her with a sandalwood box. When she returned and opened it, she found a pair of gold hairpins inlaid with jade, symbolizing blessings and prosperity. Later, Lu Lan delivered a bolt of cloth, two boxes of fine medicine, and a packet of small silver ingots. Overjoyed, Tan Luhua weighed each silver ingot before wrapping them up again, remarking, "This is how a proper Taitai should act—generous and dignified. Unlike some who disgust others, merely flaunting a half-baked status as mistress and daring to put on airs before real superiors, pretending to be a mother-in-law. They aren’t afraid of boasting so much that they’ll trip over their own tongues." Qian Luo, who was pouring tea nearby, frowned at these words and quietly tugged at Tan Luhua’s sleeve, gesturing discreetly toward the outer room where Qian Luo sat doing needlework. Tan Luhua raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "I meant for her to hear it—I was afraid she might miss it!" With a snort, she stored the silver away and locked it in a cabinet.
Sure enough, Qian Luo reported this to Concubine Yin, who was so enraged she lay in bed and skipped dinner. But that’s a story for another time.
(Xiao He has a Weibo account under "He Yanshan," and the QQ group joining method is in the pinned post in the Qidian book review section.)
With all the groundwork laid for the next plot development, I let out a long sigh of relief...
Aunt Xia is played by fatwanghua001, and Fangfei is played by I Hate Sashimi.
Thanks to I Hate Sashimi for the Peach Blossom Fan, Rongyu8163 for the sachet, Jiaxin Yining for two Peace Talismans, and the following for their Peace Talismans: Bookfriend 140317175303983, kmtk11011101, Rongyu8163, damuduck, Xiu Pang, flora9999, Book Sea Wanderer, Xunxun Yiyi, Bookfriend 130423212055532, Mingming Baobao Geda, and Ailan 2014. Also, thank you all for your pink votes.
OpenNovel