A small red clay stove was heating a blue-and-white porcelain pot, from which a faint aroma of wine wafted. Xianglan sat by the stove with a small fan, occasionally wiping sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. Liu Pozi tiptoed in, sniffed the air, and said, "I was wondering where that wine scent came from—it’s from you."
Xianglan gestured outside with her chin and whispered, "Miss Huan invited Da Nǎinai over for a meal. She added half a tael of silver for the kitchen to prepare some dishes and asked me to heat some wine."
Liu Pozi snorted, "Just half a tael? That might be enough to send others away, but Da Nǎinai wouldn’t even glance at it. I heard that recently she ate Eight-Treasure Pearl Balls—a single bite of that dish could cost a tael of silver. She only took three bites before growing tired of it and gave the rest to the maids."
A single bite worth a tael? Xianglan stuck out her tongue in disbelief. Even in her previous life in the Shen family, she had never witnessed such extravagance. Silently lamenting Zhao Yuechan’s wasteful squandering of blessings, she deftly removed the warmed wine and placed it on a tray. Noticing Liu Pozi’s eager expression, she couldn’t help but smile faintly. She quietly took a small white porcelain cup, poured a serving of wine, and pressed it into Liu Pozi’s hand, saying, "Take this, Mama, but don’t let anyone see."
Liu Pozi beamed, "But the wine is short now..."
"Just this little bit—no one will notice," Xianglan replied, picking up the tray and heading to the main hall.
The Eight Immortals table was set with four cold dishes and eight hot ones, featuring chicken, duck, fish, and meat in abundance. Cao Lihuan was leaning in, whispering something to Zhao Yuechan, who listened with her head lowered but wore a faintly impatient expression. Suddenly, Zhao Yuechan raised her voice and interrupted, "You make it sound so simple, but it’s not that easy. You want to live in Emerald Gathering Residence? Although it’s vacant, it’s not an important place, but it’s too close to the Reclining Cloud Courtyard. How could Madam possibly let you move there?"
"Why not? Luoxue Courtyard is too remote. Emerald Gathering Residence is just right—it has lovely scenery and is closer to your Hall of Knowing Spring, making it more convenient for us to visit each other."
"No, no," Zhao Yuechan waved her hand irritably. "I can’t make that decision." She had no interest in where Cao Lihuan wanted to live. If it weren’t for the box of gem-studded gold hairpins Cao Lihuan had gifted her, she wouldn’t have come at all.
Xianglan curled her lips in silent mockery. This cousin was going to great lengths for Lin Jinting, even considering moving residences. She carefully set the wine pot on the table but slowed her steps as she retreated. Cao Lihuan eagerly picked up the pot and personally poured wine for Zhao Yuechan, her face wearing a gentle smile. "How could such a small matter be beyond your control, sister? Just say that my Luoxue Courtyard needs repairs and that I’d like to temporarily move to Emerald Gathering Residence. I won’t forget your kindness—and to match that box of gold hairpins, there are other jewelry pieces, also set with gems..."
Zhao Yuechan gave Cao Lihuan a cool glance, raised the wine cup to her lips, took a sip, and after a moment’s thought, said, "Well, there’s another vacant place in the garden—Mountain Moon Pavilion. How about—"
Cao Lihuan cut her off, "I only like the elegance of Emerald Gathering Residence."
Zhao Yuechan looked at Cao Lihuan suspiciously. "Why are you so set on Emerald Gathering Residence? That place isn’t large, and besides a bamboo grove nearby, there’s nothing special..." Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she exclaimed, "Don’t tell me you’re actually eyeing the Reclining Cloud—"Seeing that Zhao Yuechan had caught on, Cao Lihuan no longer concealed her intentions. She refilled Zhao Yuechan's cup, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said calmly, "Sister-in-law, regardless of what scheme I'm plotting, just give me a straightforward answer—can I move over or not? If this succeeds, my brother won't need to seek another position, and I'll gift you a pair of ruby-studded earrings as a token of my gratitude."
Zhao Yuechan clicked her tongue, leaned back in her chair, and fanned herself with a handkerchief, smiling at Cao Lihuan. "You little minx, such grand ambitions! Can you really swallow such a large piece of rich cake? Aren't you afraid of bursting your stomach?"
"In these times, the bold feast while the timid starve. Even if I die, I'd rather die with a full belly. So, sister-in-law, will you help me or not?"
Zhao Yuechan pondered for a moment and was about to speak when someone outside announced, "Madam from the main household is here." As the words fell, Qin Shi lifted her skirt and ascended the steps. Xianglan hurriedly lifted the curtain, and Qin Shi paused upon entering, glancing at the dishes on the table and then at the two standing behind the Eight Immortals table. A faint smile touched her lips. "Oh, what a lively gathering you have here."
Zhao Yuechan felt a twinge of fear at the sight of Qin Shi and quickly stepped forward to support her arm, forcing a smile. "I just had some free time and was chatting with my cousin, so we had a light lunch together."
Cao Lihuan also hurried over to pay her respects, smiling as she said, "Why has Auntie come?" She then raised her voice to order, "Quick, bring another set of bowls and chopsticks, and tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes..."
Qin Shi took the seat of honor, straightening her clothes as she said, "No need. I'm not in the mood to eat today."
Cao Lihuan's heart sank, and she exchanged a glance with Zhao Yuechan. Zhao Yuechan, ever sharp, sensed something amiss in Qin Shi's tone and immediately lowered her head, standing meekly behind her without another word.
Guilt-ridden, Cao Lihuan busied herself pouring tea and serving water, personally offering a cup to Qin Shi. Qin Shi ignored her and simply commanded, "Secure the doors and bring them in!"
Several stout matrons entered, escorting three people. Xianglan, peeking from behind the partition, recognized two of them: one was Wu San's wife, who tended the kitchen fires, and the other was Feng Shuang's wife, who looked after the garden. The third was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a jade-colored jacket—the typical attire of a maid. All three hunched their shoulders, trembling as they knelt before Qin Shi.
At the sight of them, Cao Lihuan's face turned ashen. Qin Shi gave her a cool glance and straightened her back. "Lately, some unsavory rumors have reached my ears. I initially thought it was just idle gossip among a few maids and servants, but it turns out there are vile, black-hearted scoundrels deliberately tarnishing their masters' reputations!" Qin Shi turned to Cao Lihuan and said, "Huan'er, this matter concerns you as well. I've heard these three have been close with your Huier lately, so I brought them here for you to see—proof that appearances can be deceiving."
Cao Lihuan stood pale and tight-lipped, unable to speak. But Wu San's wife wailed loudly, "Madam, please see the truth! I was only spreading those rumors because that little minx Huier put me up to it!"
Her wailing set off Feng Shuang's wife and the maid, who also burst into tears. Qin Shi said calmly, "She claims she was instigated. What about you two?"Feng Shuang's wife gritted her teeth and said, "That day, this old servant saw the Third Master and Miss Huan meet in the garden. They merely exchanged greetings and exchanged a few pleasantries. Huier gave me a gold hairpin and told me to say that I had seen the Third Master and Miss Huan strolling and laughing together in the garden... This old servant, this old servant..."
The maid was already crying so hard she could barely catch her breath, only able to repeatedly beg for mercy. Qin Shi's eyebrows shot up as she said sharply, "Who is Huier? Step forward!"
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