Now, Wang Shi returned to her room, her mind still unsettled. She hastily ordered servants to pack Lin Jinting's luggage and sent him off to stay at Song Ke's house that very evening.
Wang Shi's trusted matron, Mama Qian, whispered, "It's just as well for the young master to go and avoid trouble for now. Once the main branch deals with that little hussy, he can return without delay."
"Remind Suju to pack a couple more sets of clothes, and wrap up several portions of the snacks Young Master Ting usually likes," Wang Shi instructed loudly. Only after hearing the maids' acknowledgment from outside did she relax, leaning back on the chaise longue and rubbing her temples. "I understand what you're saying, Mama. But with this matter, I just feel so vexed."
Mama Qian said, "Young Master Ke studies well and is a fine boy. What is Madam worried about? To my eyes, he and our Miss Ling would make a good match. Jokingly speaking, if they were to become in-laws, it would strengthen family ties."
Wang Shi waved her hand dismissively. "Ke'er is indeed good, but his family has fallen on hard times. Although there's a saying 'a starved camel is still bigger than a horse,' our Ling'er grew up surrounded by wealth, never having fewer than eight maids attending her. I can't bear to let my darling suffer hardships with the Song family."
Mama Qian sighed. Her mistress's vision was always so narrow. If she had just a fraction of Qin Shi's cleverness, she wouldn't have suffered so many losses over the years, both openly and covertly. "Young Master Ke is ambitious. If he passes the spring imperial examinations next year..."
"What if he does? Without connections or silver to maneuver, he might not even get an official post." Wang Shi shook her head. "Mama Qian, let's not speak of this again. Ke'er is a good boy. I'll keep an eye out for suitable young ladies from other families for him. Our Ling'er can't endure such hardships."
Mama Qian said, "Since that's Madam's decision, I won't say more. But Miss Ling is growing up and starting to have her own thoughts. These past few days, she's been pestering her brother about Young Master Ke, running to the Woyun Courtyard every day hoping to meet him. She even said she wants to properly learn needlework to make a pair of shoes for Young Master Ke. The other day, I heard her complaining that she can't wear bright clothes during the mourning period, so she wants to order a set of silver jewelry with fashionable patterns."
"Oh, my little ancestor!" Wang Shi nearly jumped up. "Tell me, why can't either of my children give me a moment's peace!"
Mama Qian said, "Madam, please calm down. It's just that Miss Ling has these thoughts, so you should be aware." She glanced at Wang Shi with concern. Her mistress was often muddle-headed, rushing about when she shouldn't and dragging her feet when she should act quickly. Over the years, she had relied entirely on her loyal servants for guidance. So when she told Wang Shi to "be aware," she wondered if her mistress truly understood.
Wang Shi rubbed her head again and ordered Shanhu to bring her a calming pill. As she broke the wax seal and was about to swallow the pill, Lin Dongling whisked the curtain aside and dashed in. She looked around searchingly, checking the main room, then the inner chamber, and even lifting the curtain to the side room.
Already irritated, Wang Shi put half the pill in her mouth and asked indistinctly, "What are you looking for?"Lin Dongling’s temperament resembled Wang Shi’s—impetuous and unrestrained. “Where is Yi Fei? When I entered the courtyard earlier, I overheard the maids saying Yi Fei had come. Where is he now?” Ever since she learned that her cousins addressed Song Ke as “Brother Song,” she felt displeased and resolved to adopt a distinctive form of address—one that sounded more intimate. Thus, she began using Song Ke’s courtesy name, calling him “Yi Fei.”
Upon hearing the name “Yi Fei,” Wang Shi nearly choked on her medicine pill and broke into a violent cough. Nanny Qian hurriedly patted her back to ease her breathing and said to Lin Dongling, “Young Master Song has already left.”
Lin Dongling pouted. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone back to change my clothes. I might have run into him.”
Wang Shi was so furious she nearly fainted. “You are a young lady from a respectable family! How can you shamelessly pine after a man? Is this what I taught you?”
Lin Dongling rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “Yi Fei isn’t an outsider. What’s wrong with missing him?”
Agitated, Wang Shi stood up and strode over, jabbing Lin Dongling’s forehead several times. Through gritted teeth, she scolded, “You foolish girl! If word gets out, how will you ever hold your head up? Even if Song Ke is your cousin, he is still an unrelated man. As you both grow older, I’ve already instructed your brother Ting to move to the outer residence. From now on, you are forbidden to see Song Ke. If he visits our household, you are not to approach him! Otherwise, I’ll report this to your father!”
Lin Dongling was stunned. She paid no attention to the prohibition against seeing Song Ke, focusing instead on the fact that if Lin Jinting moved to the outer residence, it would become nearly impossible for her to encounter Song Ke. Anxiously, she protested, “But Brother was perfectly content living in the House of Reclining Clouds! Why must he move?”
Nanny Qian interjected, “The young master is growing older. It is only proper for him to relocate farther from the inner gardens.”
Infuriated, Lin Dongling widened her eyes abruptly and pointed at Nanny Qian, rebuking her sharply, “Hold your tongue! I am speaking with my mother—how dare you interrupt!”
Nanny Qian stood frozen in shock. Wang Shi’s rage surged, and she shoved Lin Dongling, shouting, “How dare you speak like that! Even your brother treats Nanny Qian with respect! If you utter such words again, you will face household discipline!” Noticing that Lin Dongling wore a brand-new plain satin skirt embroidered with golden-blue chrysanthemums, yet had deliberately chosen a rose-red undergarment that peeked out at the collar—its embroidered trim standing out starkly against the white, accentuating its allure—and that her hair was adorned with jeweled silver hairpins while her face was heavily made up with rouge and powder, Wang Shi’s anger intensified. Pointing at Lin Dongling, she cried, “We are still in mourning for your great-grandmother! Look at your attire—flaunting bright colors, applying rouge and powder! Are you trying to become a seductress? If others hear of this, they will scorn you behind your back!”
Wang Shi, with her tender maternal heart, had always indulged her youngest daughter. Coupled with her mild disposition, her attempts at discipline were often loud in threat but feeble in execution. Lin Dongling, accustomed to defying her mother, felt no fear. Wang Shi’s earlier admonitions fell on deaf ears as Lin Dongling tugged at her sleeve, pleading anxiously, “Mother, how can you let Brother move away? If he leaves, how will Yi Fei ever visit our household?”
Wang Shi harshly shook off Lin Dongling’s hand, but the girl stubbornly clung on, her cheeks flushing crimson. Suppressing her embarrassment, she insisted, “Mother, Yi Fei… he is truly exceptional. His talent, character, and appearance—is there any area in which he does not excel? Aunt adores me, and Yi Fei treats me with kindness. I… I…”"You—you—you, what are you 'you'-ing about? Are you trying to drive me to my grave?" Wang Shi pointed at Lin Dongling, so furious she could barely speak. "Let me tell you, Song Ke is merely your cousin! You'd better rein in those unspeakable thoughts of yours immediately!"
Lin Dongling flew into a rage, stamping her foot viciously as she retorted, "I knew it! I knew it! You all look down on him now that his family has fallen into poverty! You're all snobs who despise the poor and fawn over the rich!"
Nanny Qian scolded sharply, "Hold your tongue! How dare you speak so disrespectfully to your elders, Miss Ling!"
Lin Dongling sneered, "What's the matter? Flying into a rage because I've hit a nerve? I never imagined Mother would become so vulgar, fixating solely on the other party's wealth."
Wang Shi's face flushed red and then pale with rage. Never one for sharp retorts, she burst into tears at these words. Just as she raised a handkerchief to wipe them away, an angry roar came from the doorway: "You wretched creature! What nonsense are you spouting?" Immediately after, someone stormed in like a whirlwind and slapped Lin Dongling across the face, pointing and shouting, "If you dare embarrass us like this again, I'll break your legs!"
Seeing that the newcomer was Second Master Lin Changmin, Wang Shi gasped in shock. Lin Dongling was also stunned. She had always feared her father the most, and her defiance instantly evaporated. Clutching her stinging cheek, she stood there dumbly as tears streamed down her face.
Lin Changmin glared, his dark face flushed crimson with fury. "Marriage has always been arranged by parents since ancient times! You are a dignified young lady from a respectable family, yet you shamelessly throw yourself at a man? If this gets out, people will laugh their heads off! I might as well beat you to death, you wretched creature!" He raised his arm to strike again.
Lin Dongling instinctively dodged. Wang Shi panicked, throwing her arms around Lin Changmin's arm and kneeling as she wept, "Please take care of your health, Master! Ling'er is delicate—spare her the beating!"
Lin Changmin shoved Wang Shi away and pointed, roaring, "And you! Ignorant fool! Is this how you've been raising my daughter? She's more shameless than a rouge powder from the brothels!"
Wang Shi choked on her sobs, weeping bitterly. Lin Changmin had been drinking outside earlier. Returning home, he had overheard the commotion from the room and stood outside the door for a long while, piecing together most of what had happened. He had never liked Wang Shi, and now, learning the cause of the dispute, his disgust for her intensified. He slapped Wang Shi hard across the face and bellowed, "This is all thanks to your fine relatives! How wonderful! They come to the Lin family to freeload, and now they want to corrupt my daughter! That damned little bastard—tomorrow he packs his bags and gets out!" His eyes bulged as he pointed at Wang Shi and roared, "You are the Lin family's curse! Since I married you, there hasn't been a single day of peace! If you cause any more trouble, I'll divorce you and cast you out, you wretched woman!"Wang Shi, filled with grievance and shame, buried her head in the headrests of the Arhat Bed and burst into loud sobs. Lin Dongling, however, was utterly terrified; the arrogance she had displayed moments earlier had completely vanished. Covering her face, she stood dazed in the corner. Lin Changmin, having vented his anger, had sobered up considerably. He had returned merely to fetch some silver to gamble with outsiders. Snorting, he entered the room, went straight to Wang Shi’s dressing table drawer, took five taels of silver, and before leaving, pointed at Lin Dongling and scolded, "Let me tell you, I’ve already arranged a match for you—a respectable and honorable marriage. If I find out you have any other ideas, I’ll tear you apart!" With that, he flung the curtain aside and stormed off.
Wang Shi remained slumped on the bed, weeping bitterly. Nanny Qian tried to console her for a while, but seeing no improvement, she approached Lin Dongling, pulled her into a corner, and sighed deeply. She reached for Lin Dongling’s hand, which was covering her cheek, and said, "Let me see, young miss. If it’s swollen badly, we must apply some bruise ointment right away."
Lin Dongling, feeling utterly humiliated, simply cried and stubbornly refused to lower her hand from her cheek.
Nanny Qian said, "Miss Ling, don’t blame this old woman for speaking out of turn. You know full well our Madam’s situation—why must you willfully cause her more distress? Hurry and apologize to Madam."
At that moment, Lin Dongling’s mind was consumed by Lin Changmin’s words, "I’ve already arranged a match for you." Shocked and frightened, and with the sting of the slap reigniting her resentment, she had no mind to care whether Wang Shi lived or died. She cried out, "You all want to drive me to my death!" Stamping her foot, she covered her face and ran out.
Nanny Qian quickly ordered a young maid to chase after her, then turned back to comfort Wang Shi, saying softly, "Don’t be upset, Madam. The master had a bit too much to drink today and lost his temper. Usually, he’s not like this…" As she spoke, she realized even she didn’t believe her own words and fell silent.
Wang Shi wept until she was hiccupping, and it took a long while for her to calm down somewhat. Tearfully, she said, "Why is Ling’er so inconsiderate? I always thought she was just a child and indulged her a little, but now I see she’s grown up and still breaks my heart like this…" With that, she began sobbing again.
Nanny Qian shook her head repeatedly, patting Wang Shi’s back to soothe her. "The young miss is still young. If you guide her properly, she will come to understand your good intentions."
Wang Shi shook her head, shedding a few more tears. After a long pause, she instructed, "The master struck Ling’er earlier—she must be very upset right now. Nanny, tell the kitchen to prepare some of Ling’er’s favorite snacks later. I recall she wanted to make a few bright-colored dresses last time. There’s still a bolt of snow satin in my cabinet—send it to her later."
Nanny Qian couldn’t help but sigh again. Every time, it was the same: after scolding Lin Dongling, Wang Shi would fret that the child had been wronged and rush to send gifts to comfort her. Soon after, she would humble herself and indulge the girl all over again, rendering the earlier lesson utterly futile.
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