Lin Dongwan smiled at Xianglan and said, "I was just thinking of having a word with you, but in the blink of an eye, you disappeared. The banquet is about to start, come with me." She took Xianglan by the hand and led her inside. By then, the opera had ended, and maids and serving women carried large tiered boxes into the room. The tea, pastries, fruits, melon seeds, and candied treats that had been on the tables earlier were cleared away and replaced with bowls, plates, and spoons. The maids brought out two dishes of cold appetizers from the boxes and arranged them on the tables, while older women handed out warm towels for washing hands—everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Several tables were set up in the hall. Xianglan sat back down at her original corner table. Up front, the Lu family’s Old Madam had already raised her wine cup to propose a toast. Everyone’s faces were radiant with joy, exchanging pleasantries and auspicious words amid laughter and cheerful chatter.
To Xianglan, the lively crowd felt distant and muffled. Though she had vented her frustrations on Zhao Yuechan earlier, the initial satisfaction had faded, leaving a sudden void in her heart. She mechanically raised her cup and drank along with the others, but the food on the table tasted like sawdust. She poured herself drink after drink—something she had never been fond of before—but now, with her heart heavy, she clung to the wine pot, sipping aimlessly.
Her slightly drunken eyes scanned the room, taking in the noblewomen and young ladies adorned in gold, silver, and fine silks. She thought of the familiar faces she had encountered that day: Song Ke, thriving and triumphant in every way; Zheng Jingxian, blissfully united with her beloved, their child a source of joy; Zhao Yuechan, remarried to an esteemed husband, basking in her own glory; and Lin Jinlou, wielding immense power, turning clouds and rain with a flick of his hand, indulging in wealth, fine wine, and beautiful women. Even Xiao Juan seemed carefree, content in her role as a servant. It seemed everyone lived in splendid prosperity, while she alone struggled in confusion, as if standing alone in a vast, gray fog, unsure of where to go. Her clearest thought was that she could not spend her life trapped in the Lin household as a concubine. Yet, how to escape? No one could lend her a hand or show her the way. Lin Jinlou kept her under tight surveillance, and she had her aging parents to consider. All she could do was endure, bide her time, and wait for her opportunity—making the days feel endlessly long, with no relief in sight.
Xianglan drank cup after cup, recalling the old saying, "A single drunkenness dispels a thousand worries." Perhaps drowning in intoxication could help her forget all her misfortunes. For now, she refused to think, seeking only momentary relief.
Suddenly, a hand reached from behind and pressed down on her wine cup. Lin Dongwan said with concern, "Goodness, how much have you had to drink? Your face is flushed red."
Xianglan, already seventy percent drunk, giggled at Lin Dongwan and said, "I’m not drunk at all. My mind is perfectly clear." She reached for the wine pot again.
Lin Dongwan quickly stopped her. "That won’t do. If Eldest Brother were here, I wouldn’t mind how much you drank. But he entrusted you to my care today. If you cause any trouble while drunk, I’ll be the one to suffer the consequences. You know how he is." She forced a smile, took the cup from Xianglan’s hand, and handed it to Qiuye. Coaxing Xianglan, she said, "Come with me. I’ll find you a place to rest, have a bowl of sobering soup. It’s not proper to reek of alcohol, is it?" She then signaled Qiuye and Xiao Juan with her eyes, and the two helped Xianglan to her feet.After stepping out into the garden, passing through the rockery gate and circling around a low wall, she arrived at an exceptionally tranquil spot. Surrounded by emerald bamboo groves stood a three-room dwelling—one main chamber flanked two smaller ones—with a plaque above the lintel inscribed "Emerald Pavilion." Lin Dongwan pushed the door open and said with a smile, "This was originally where the eldest young lady of the family lived. It has been vacant since her marriage, but the maids clean and maintain it regularly, so it's spotless inside and out. The main residence is crowded and full of prying eyes, but this place is the quietest. Dear sister, have some tea to sober up, and the maid will bring the medicine shortly."
Xiao Juan asked, "What medicine?"
Lin Dongwan replied cheerfully, "Elder Brother specifically sent his servant to remind me that Xianglan needs to recuperate and must take medicine twice daily without interruption." As he spoke, he led the mistress and maid into Emerald Pavilion.
The room was impeccably clean but sparsely furnished. Though furniture remained, decorative objects were entirely absent, save for a pair of vases on the long table in the main hall holding feather dusters and peacock plumes.
After settling Xianglan in, Lin Dongwan departed, leaving only a young maid to attend to her. Xiao Juan sent the maid to the kitchen to fetch sobering soup while she went to the small tea room to boil water and brew tea. Xianglan, still flushed and warm from drinking, refused to rest in bed. Seizing the moment when the room was empty, she rose unsteadily, slipped on her shoes, and stumbled outside, intending to return to the banquet to fetch more wine.
Just as she reached the low wall, she spotted Song Ke leaning against it with his back to her. Her heart immediately began to pound violently, and she froze in her tracks.
Song Ke held a folding fan in his hand and seemed taller than she remembered. His demeanor was elegant and graceful, his presence radiant like a luminous pearl. Xianglan shook her head, thinking she must have drunk too much and was now dreaming. The world fell into utter silence, as if only the two of them remained. Her head swam dizzily, and she thought how wonderful this was—earlier she hadn't dared to scrutinize him closely, but now she could take a good look and etch his features firmly in her heart.
Her heart thundered, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
Seeing Xianglan, Song Ke also froze, as if unable to believe his eyes. He slowly turned around, and after a long silence, he asked hoarsely, "Xianglan, have you... have you been well?"
His words shattered the tranquility, and Xianglan jolted awake as if from a dream. Immediately, an indescribable shame surged through her. She had imagined reuniting with Song Ke countless times—she ought to have married a respectable scholar, gentle and ambitious, who would cherish her. Even if she wore simple clothes and came from a modest family, she could hold her head high, smile faintly at Song Ke, and say, "I am doing well now." But not like this—draped in silk and adorned with jewels, kept as Lin Jinlou's caged songbird, especially when her vow never to become a concubine still echoed in her ears. This made the moment unbearably humiliating.
Clenching her teeth to endure it, she gave a slight curtsey and whispered, "Thank you for your concern." She wanted to ask if Song Ke was well, but something seemed stuck in her throat, impossible to dislodge.
Thus they stood in silence facing each other, neither speaking another word.A single stem bears two blossoms, each with its own tale to tell. Now, Xianglan's words had so infuriated Zhao Yuechan that she felt as if one Buddha had departed this world and another ascended to heaven. Her hatred for Xianglan grew fiercer, yet she feared Xianglan might truly spread the disgraceful deeds she had committed before. Swallowing her anger, she had no choice but to subtly praise Xianglan in front of others. By mealtime, she was still so enraged she couldn't swallow a single bite. Already prone to stomach ailments, she now felt even more bloated and uncomfortable. Reaching out to feel for her medicine pouch, she realized she hadn't brought it with her, so she went out to find her maid Qiongzhi and fetch two pills.
As Zhao Yuechan stepped outside, she saw several tables set up under the corridor, where some prominent maids were seated. She scanned the area but didn't spot Qiongzhi. Her eyes blurred, and she vaguely glimpsed Qiongzhi heading forward. Lifting her skirt, she followed stealthily, catching shadowy glimpses of Qiongzhi frequently glancing around as she walked.
Zhao Yuechan thought to herself, "That girl has always been a cunning and peculiar creature, arrogant and empty-headed. I've brought her to the Lu family twice, yet I never realized she's so familiar with this garden. Where could she be going?" She quietly trailed behind and saw Qiongzhi approach a side gate in the garden, next to which stood a servant's quarters for the garden caretaker. Qiongzhi slipped inside in a flash.
After waiting a moment, Zhao Yuechan tiptoed forward, licked a hole in the window paper, and peered inside. There she saw Dai Rong pressing down on Qiongzhi, both already stark naked and locked in an intimate embrace. Zhao Yuechan was startled, then covered her mouth with a handkerchief and let out a muffled chuckle. She thought, "That little harlot Qiongzhi is truly shameless and treacherous, daring to carry on like this in someone else's home! If that ogress Jiao Shi finds out, she'll surely flay her alive!"
It turned out that Zhao Yuechan had previously gifted Qiongzhi to Zhao Gang as thanks for helping her marry into the Dai family. Zhao Gang, having acquired a stunning maid, was quite enthusiastic for a while. But before long, someone else presented him with a beautiful concubine, and he immediately forgot about Qiongzhi. To make matters worse, the new concubine was highly jealous and couldn't tolerate Qiongzhi vying for favor, so she urged Zhao Gang to sell Qiongzhi. Qiongzhi, being rather clever, tearfully begged Zhao Gang to let her return to Zhao Yuechan as a maid. Zhao Gang was reluctant to part with Qiongzhi but didn't want to offend his new favorite either. Thinking that if Qiongzhi stayed with Zhao Yuechan, he could still visit her from time to time—keeping her within his grasp—he agreed. However, Qiongzhi was a fickle woman by nature. Having tasted the sweetness of carnal pleasure, how could she resist? And Dai Rong, the third young master of the Dai family, was a handsome and flirtatious rogue. The two shared similar temperaments and had often exchanged flirtatious glances, but they dared not act due to Jiao Shi's tyranny. Lin Dongwan's husband, Lu Jian, who was one of Dai Rong's dissolute friends, provided a convenient place at the Lu residence. Dai Rong also used a trusted page to relay messages to Qiongzhi, luring her here. When the two met, it was like dry wood meeting fierce flames—they immediately shed their clothes and lost themselves in passionate lovemaking.
Seeing the pair at the height of their passion, Zhao Yuechan kicked the door open and stormed in, glaring furiously. "Outrageous! In broad daylight, what is this?" she shouted, terrifying the two so much that their souls seemed to flee their bodies. Trembling all over, they scrambled to find clothes to cover themselves.
Zhao Yuechan pointed at Qiongzhi and scolded, "You little harlot, so brazen as to sneak here for a tryst! You shameless wretch, beating you to death wouldn't be enough!" Then she pointed at Dai Rong and yelled, "Shameless turtle spawn, you worthless scoundrel! Daring to fool around right under my nose—you disgrace your own mother!"Qiongzhi was so terrified that tears streamed down her face. Without regard for anything else, she knelt on the bed and kowtowed repeatedly. When Dai Rong saw it was Zhao Yuechan, he instead calmed down and said with a grin, "Mother must care for her son. Bursting in like this has frightened me to death."
Zhao Yuechan retorted, "Pah! You wretched scoundrel, just wait until your father holds you accountable!"
Dai Rong quickly laughed and said, "Ancestor! Dear mother! This is a family matter and shouldn't be spread about." As he spoke, he glanced at Qiongzhi, who was still begging for mercy incessantly, her snow-white breasts heaving like rolling waves. He couldn't help but smirk flirtatiously at Zhao Yuechan and said, "Speaking of which, it's all because Mother knows how to train people so well that your son can't help but be captivated."
Hearing such shameless words, Zhao Yuechan couldn't suppress a sudden "pfft" of laughter but then immediately straightened her face and said, "You little bastard, your mouth is slick with honey. If your wife finds out, she'll come after me for revenge."
Dai Rong chuckled, "That's exactly why Mother should worry more about her son. If Mother helps me succeed, I'll sincerely and devotedly honor you in your old age."
Zhao Yuechan lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "You shameless little bastard, put on your clothes and come out to talk." With that, she went out and stood waiting by the door. Faintly, she heard movement from beyond the low wall. Peering through the carved window in the stone wall, she saw Xianglan and Song Ke gazing intently at each other at the far end of the wall.
Zhao Yuechan jolted alert and immediately narrowed her eyes. She recognized Song Ke—he had once stayed with the Lin family for a period, and she had quite a fondness for this handsome, elegant youth. He was as fresh and vibrant as morning dew on green bamboo, lush and verdant, completely different from Lin Jinlou's imposing and domineering aura. But how could that little slut Chen Xianglan be with Song Ke...
As someone well-versed in affairs of the heart, Zhao Yuechan could tell at a glance that there was something going on. Just then, Dai Rong and Qiongzhi came out dressed. Zhao Yuechan placed her index finger to her lips with a "shush" and whispered, "I'll settle accounts with you two troublemakers later. For now, help me with one thing." After giving them quiet instructions and sending them off, she gritted her teeth with a cold laugh and slipped away to hide, waiting to watch the drama unfold.
Song Ke felt dazed as he looked at Xianglan. He recalled their encounter earlier at the door. Xianglan had grown even more beautiful, but the vibrant liveliness she once possessed was completely gone. She stood meekly and gracefully by Lin Jinlou's side, like a pretty vase. He didn't dare look too long—this woman was no longer his. She would no longer tend to his study with her sleeves brushed red, meticulously care for his daily needs, be gentle and understanding, pore over his family's account books with an abacus until exhausted, shyly act coy with him, or lay her whole heart bare before him. He had once held a humble yet brazen hope in his heart, wishing Xianglan would be unable to resist changing her mind and come back to him. Earlier, when Lin Jinting had written to him, furiously accusing Xianglan of climbing to a higher branch, he couldn't bring himself to believe it. Only upon seeing her today did he realize she had truly become Lin Jinlou's concubine. His heart ached sharply, as if a hand were crushing his entire body to pieces. He hardly dared speak, afraid that opening his mouth would release the words of eternal ruin welling up from the depths of his heart. He could only barely maintain his composure, exchanging pleasantries with Lin Jinlou. But after leaving, he excused himself to use the restroom and leaned alone in a secluded spot, covering his face with his hands, unable to hold back the flood of tears.Earlier at the banquet, Lin Jinlou had repeatedly toasted him with wishes for "a harmonious union lasting a hundred years," "a blissful companionship like paired wings," and "the joy of bearing a noble son." He accepted every toast without refusal, drinking cup after cup. Though lacking any real capacity for liquor and despite others' attempts to intervene, he turned a deaf ear. A fire seemed to burn in his chest, an unbearable restlessness. The sight of Lin Jinlou stirred uncontrollable envy and resentment within him. On the verge of losing composure, he excused himself from the feast to clear his head and stumbled unintentionally into the garden, never expecting to encounter Xianglan there.
"Lin Jia's third son mentioned that Lin Jinlou treats you well. That's good, I..." Song Ke gazed at Xianglan's lovely face, struggling to form the words. "I..." He could not continue, his voice already choked with emotion.
Those few short steps between them now felt like an insurmountable distance spanning mountains and rivers.
Xianglan's eyes blurred with tears, and Song Ke became a hazy silhouette in her vision.
Song Ke felt as though life was worse than death. Unable to bear it any longer, he took a step forward, his lips trembling as he said, "There's one thing I must ask you. I heard from Junxi that when you were severely beaten and lay ill in bed, you spoke in your sleep... you mentioned 'Shen Jia'..."
Xianglan's heart leaped into her throat. Her hands clenched abruptly, nails digging deep into her palms. As Song Ke drew closer, she faintly heard earth-shattering words spoken beside her ear: "Are you Jialan? Are you... my wife?"
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