The next day, Xianglan went early to pay respects to Qin Shi. First, she presented a sachet she had personally made, saying, "As the weather grows warmer and mosquitoes become more numerous, I took some leisure time to do this needlework. Inside are several medicinal herbs and dried flowers that soothe the nerves and repel mosquitoes. It can be tied to the corner of the bedding or placed beside the pillow to ensure a restful night's sleep."
Qin Shi took it and examined it—a gourd-shaped sachet embroidered with gold thread lotus flowers on sandalwood-colored fabric, slightly larger than ordinary sachets. The pattern was exquisite, the stitching meticulous, and it was filled to the brim. As she held it, a subtle fragrance immediately wafted to her nose. Before Qin Shi could utter a word of praise, Xianglan also handed over the household account books and tally tokens, saying, "I am young and inexperienced, rather foolish too. These past few days, I’ve barely managed with Shuran and the others helping me. Now that Taitai has returned, I dare not show off my meager skills before an expert."
Qin Shi was taken aback and couldn’t help but study Xianglan closely. She saw only a face full of gentle, bashful smiles, without a trace of displeasure. Qin Shi’s gaze grew complex—this Chen Xianglan was indeed clever. She had only hinted at her displeasure yesterday, and Xianglan had immediately understood. Qin Shi had always believed that concubines should be beautiful yet simple and honest—too clever ones tended to cause trouble. But looking at Xianglan’s peony-fresh, rain-moistened face, she couldn’t help but feel pity. This girl lived with such clarity—was it fortune or misfortune? Yet, a weight lifted from Qin Shi’s heart, and she smiled, saying, "It’s all that child Lou Ge'er who has caused you so much trouble. If he bullies you in the future, just tell me."
Xianglan merely pursed her lips in a smile and slightly lowered her head. inwardly, she scoffed—managing the Lin Family’s Inner Chambers had been overstepping her bounds. Yesterday, she could tell from Qin Shi’s expression that she was unhappy. Lin Jinlou would inevitably remarry, and no one would want a concubine holding real power at home—otherwise, what noblewoman from a prestigious family would be willing to marry into the household? Even though she had once saved Qin Shi, and Qin Shi was genuinely grateful, such great favors fade with time, and human debts eventually settle. She naturally understood Qin Shi’s thoughts, so she had promptly handed over these troublesome matters early in the morning. These were never what she wanted—why shoulder them and attract attention? She lifted her head and saw Qin Shi’s face full of affectionate smiles, instructing Lu Lan to bring a plate of vividly red cherries for her to enjoy.
After some casual conversation, an old woman announced, "Second Mistress is here." Tan Luhua entered the room, and Xianglan stood up. Tan Luhua first paid her respects, and Qin Shi offered her a seat. Madam Tan sat on a chair, deliberately pulling it an inch forward so she was slightly ahead of Xianglan. She inquired after Qin Shi’s well-being, then pulled a sachet from her sleeve and presented it, saying, "Your daughter-in-law’s needlework is coarse, but it comes from the heart."
Lu Lan, who was waiting nearby, thought, "What a coincidence—Xianglan gives a sachet, and Madam Tan gives one too." She craned her neck to look and saw a purse-shaped sachet in slate blue, embroidered with butterflies playing among yellow peonies, though it lacked the refinement and elegance of Xianglan’s. Lu Lan mused, "If given to an elder, this sachet would be acceptable, but since Xianglan gave one first, it makes Madam Tan’s seem shabby—not to mention Taitai gave such generous rewards yesterday."
Tan Luhua smiled and said, "Inside is high-quality musk, borneol, and clove—the most precious ingredients. Initially, I packed so many herbs that the sachet couldn’t close, so I had to remove some."Lu Lan curled her lips inwardly, thinking that such a skimpy sachet would probably lose its scent in half a month, yet they still boasted that the herbs were "so plentiful the opening couldn’t even be closed properly at first."
Qin Shi smiled and said, "It’s thoughtful of you to remember." She then handed the sachet to Lu Lan. Tan Luhua wanted to praise the sachet further, but Qin Shi straightened her skirt and spoke: "In the next few days, the Dowager’s younger sister from her maternal family will be staying with us for a couple of days. You must address her as ‘Concubine Dowager.’ Her eldest son holds the position of Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and has now been ordered to leave the capital to serve as a Counselor in Zhejiang. The entire family is relocating. However, the Concubine Dowager is getting on in years, and with the hot weather, there are concerns about her health during the journey. So she will remain in the capital temporarily until their residence in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is fully prepared. Their house in the capital has already been sold. Considering we are all family, I’ve invited them to stay with us for a while. The Concubine Dowager is accompanied by her youngest granddaughter, who is around your age. In the future, when you spend time together, be sure to take good care of her."
Xianglan and Luhua both assented.
After a few more words, Qin Shi dismissed them. Tan Luhua left before Xianglan, not bothering with any polite farewells and walking off on her own. Xianglan hurried after her and called out, "The account books and tallies have all been handed over to Taitai. From now on, Second Mistress should request any medicinal herbs from Taitai."
Tan Luhua paused, glanced back at Xianglan with a hint of surprise in her eyes, then nodded coolly before lifting her chin and walking away. Shuran, who had been waiting outside for Xianglan, approached and asked, "What’s gotten into her? She’s so full of herself she can’t even be bothered to acknowledge people." Watching Tan Luhua’s retreating figure—dressed in a peach-red narrow-sleeved jacket and a silver-red skirt embroidered with gold, accentuating her slender waist, fanning herself and leaning on her maid as she swayed along—Shuran waved her handkerchief disdainfully and sneered, "A few days ago, Concubine Yin complained to me, saying this Second Mistress demands the finest food and drink every day, ordering whatever is most expensive. She insists on the best clothing and jewelry too. Even though the household has already had clothes made for her, she spends large sums of silver on additional outfits, always dressing in such a flashy, coquettish manner. She splurges extravagantly on herself but acts as if spending a single coin on others is like tearing out her heart and liver. Every time she tips the maids, it’s just one or two coins—it’s downright laughable. When Concubine Yin wanted to make a pair of shoes and asked for some decent silk, Second Mistress casually gave her a pile of scrap fabric instead, claiming it was all high-quality material, then boasted about it in front of Second Master. Concubine Yin considered telling Second Master about it but was afraid it would upset him and harm his health, so she had to swallow her anger. Even if Concubine Yin can be sharp-tongued, she’s known her limits over the years and has always been devoted to Second Master. For Second Mistress to treat her this way is truly disrespectful."
Xianglan frowned slightly, thinking to herself, "Tan Luhua may have her faults, but Concubine Yin isn’t entirely blameless either. Both of them are difficult characters, and with neither willing to yield, it’s no wonder they’re constantly at odds. Shuran has always been treated like half a mistress in the Lin household—even Taitai shows her some respect. Yet Tan Luhua puts on airs every time they meet—no wonder Shuran is annoyed." Aloud, she asked, "Why would Concubine Yin suddenly gossip to you about this?"Shuran said, "She came to me asking for fabric to make shoes. I remembered there was half a bolt of old material in the storeroom that had gone moldy and partially ruined, so I thought I might as well give it to her. I even reported it to the mistress at the time. She was busy managing the wedding banquet and said to give it all to her. Concubine Yin was extremely grateful and vented these complaints to me. I’ve heard she’s also been spreading plenty of sarcastic remarks about the Second Mistress behind her back—some are tolerable, but others are downright unspeakable." Seeing no one around, she lowered her voice and said, "She called the Second Mistress a loose woman, saying she’s worn out the Second Master’s health."
Xianglan was startled. Seeing her wide-eyed expression, Shuran covered her mouth and let out a soft chuckle.
Xianglan slowly shook her head. Shuran asked, "Mistress, why are you shaking your head?"
By now, Xianglan and Shuran had grown quite familiar, their bond stronger than before. Xianglan no longer held back certain thoughts from her and said, "The Second Mistress is being unwise. Even though Concubine Yin is only a secondary wife, she is still the birth mother of the Second Master, having borne him a son and a daughter. She has contributed to the Lin Family and has been rooted here for so many years. No matter how poorly she’s treated, she still has her own ways and connections. The Second Mistress is newly married, and her own family isn’t particularly influential. Why rush to assert authority and offend Concubine Yin? Now that Concubine Yin is spreading rumors about her outside, if Taitai is willing to intervene, that’s one thing. But if Taitai ignores it, the Second Mistress will carry such a reputation, making it truly difficult for her to hold her head up in the future."
Shuran had initially assumed Xianglan only knew how to wield a brush for writing, drawing, and calculating—though aware of social niceties, not particularly adept—hence her usual quiet demeanor. But after spending more time together, she realized this wasn’t the case. The girl understood everything clearly in her heart, though she rarely showed it. Hearing Xianglan’s words, Shuran nodded and said, "The Second Mistress is still young and lacks patience." She then asked Xianglan, "What did Taitai instruct earlier in the room?"
Xianglan said, "She said relatives from the old lady’s maternal family will be staying with us for a few days."
Shuran was taken aback. "The Jiang Family? Who’s coming?"
Xianglan replied, "The Concubine Dowager and her youngest granddaughter."
Shuran was surprised again, her gaze at Xianglan turning somewhat complex. "The Jiang Family ancestors once enjoyed grandeur, but the Concubine Dowager’s husband died early, and most of the family wealth was seized by relatives. It was only thanks to our old lady stepping in back then that the ancestral property was preserved. The Concubine Dowager has had a hard time—a widow without support, raising two sons and a daughter. Her daughter didn’t live past twelve, and the younger son is rather mediocre. Fortunately, the eldest son studied diligently and became a respectable court official. Now, with His Majesty’s favor, the family fortunes are reviving."
As they spoke, they returned to Chun Tang Hall. Entering the room, they saw Lin Jinlou sitting on the daybed in a thin silk robe, holding a small clay teapot. Shuran quickly retreated upon seeing him. Xianglan sat at the dressing table and removed a few pieces of her jewelry. Lin Jinlou sidled up behind her, playing with the earring dangling from her ear, and asked, "What did Mother say?"
Xianglan dodged slightly, frowning. "Stop fooling around."
Lin Jinlou chuckled. "Oh, looking at that expression, did something upset you? Did Mother give you a hard time?"
Xianglan still avoided looking at him, lowering her head as she took off the bracelet from her wrist. "No, everything’s fine."
Lin Jinlou clicked his tongue. "Tsk, you can’t hide things well. Still trying to fool me?"Xianglan absentmindedly slipped the bracelet back onto her wrist, staring at her arm as she murmured to herself, "No, truly not—" Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her hand—Lin Jinlou had grasped it, then lifted her chin to study her face. After a moment, he said, "Don’t feel upset about handing the account books and tallies over to Taitai. I hadn’t thought much about it before, but after you brought it up last night, I realized you made a good point. If you’re worried about having nothing to do after relinquishing your duties, you can take charge of my accounts from now on. How about that?"
Xianglan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "It’s not about that. I’m willing to give them to Taitai—managing them was never really my place to begin with. Why cling to such a thankless task?"
Just as Lin Jinlou was about to ask more, they heard Ji Xiang’s voice call from the second gate: "Master, a guest has arrived and requests an audience!"
Lin Jinlou released her hand, changed his clothes, and went to meet the visitor. Xianglan sat before the mirror for a long while. She was, after all, a perceptive and clever person—ever since Qin Shi mentioned it, she had understood: the Jiang Family’s granddaughter coming to stay was Qin Shi’s way of keeping an eye on a potential marriage prospect for Lin Jinlou. Now, standing at the edge of a precipice, she gazed at her flower-like, jade-smooth face in the mirror and slowly clenched her hand into a fist.
(Xiao He has a Weibo account under the name "He Yanshan"; for QQ group details, please check the pinned post in the Qidian comment section.)
These past couple of days, I haven’t been in good health—constantly tired—and the story outline needed adjustments, including adding a new character, so the subsequent plot has changed. Sorry for the delay, everyone. I’ll try to be more diligent these next few days and make up for it.
Thanks to those who tipped and cast pink votes; acknowledgments will be in the next chapter. ^_^
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