In the evening, the Old Master sent an old woman to summon one of Lin Jinlou's attendants. Seeing that Shuran was absent, Xianglan instructed Xue Ning to go. Shortly after, Qin Shi arrived in person and, finding Lin Jinlou asleep, conversed with Xianglan in the adjoining room. Not long after, Lin Jinlou awoke. Xiao Juan, after consulting Xianglan, ladled some soup from the small stove and attempted to feed it to him. Lin Jinlou frowned, pushed the bowl aside after just one sip—nearly spilling it—and said with a dark expression, "Do you even know how to serve? This soup has a strange taste, and you dare bring it to me? Are you all so useless that you only know how to eat the food I provide?"
Xiao Juan had been apprehensive about this task from the start, and seeing Lin Jinlou's fierce demeanor, she grew timid and stood with her head bowed. Lin Jinlou barked, "Are you standing there like you're announcing a funeral? Get out!" Hearing this, she hastily picked up the bowl and left. Qin Shi and Xianglan, hearing the commotion, prompted Qin Shi to say to Xianglan, "Don't mind me, go check on him." Xianglan hurried out and found Xiao Juan standing outside the bedroom, her eyes red. She asked, "What happened?"
Xiao Juan, looking utterly wronged, said, "The Master disliked the soup, saying it had a strange taste. It's a medicinal tonic—an energy and blood-nourishing soup—that's just how it smells—"
Xianglan gave her hand a comforting squeeze and, noticing Qin Shi wasn't around, whispered, "He's just in one of his moods. Didn't you see how Ling Qing and Ling Su were scolded harshly earlier? There's some boneless eight-treasure chicken simmered in the small kitchen—tender and soft. I shredded some leg meat earlier and cooked it with eight-treasure fruits and vegetables into a porridge for the Master. There's plenty left; you can take some later and share it with the others." She added, "Go ladle another bowl of soup, but don't let him see you. Have Hua Shan bring it over." With that, she entered the bedroom and found Lin Jinlou lying listlessly on the bed, picking at the tassels on the quilt with a sullen expression. Xianglan approached, felt his forehead, leaned in, and asked, "Where are you feeling unwell?"
"Where have you been? Why weren't you here earlier? You left that round-faced maid to serve me—don't you know how clumsy she is?"
"Taitai was here earlier, and I was speaking with her."
"There are plenty of others to keep Taitai company. Next time, send Shuran, and you stay here with me."
"——"
"Why aren't you saying anything? I'm talking to you!"
"——How old are you? Even De Ge'er wasn't this fussy when he was sick last time."
Lin Jinlou sulked and didn't respond, his expression softening slightly but still dark. Xianglan pretended not to notice, wringing out a towel from the silver basin. This basin had been specially sent by the Old Master—crafted from large silver sheets cut and riveted together, with a wooden core to keep the water warm longer during winter washings. It contained a specially brewed medicinal liquid. Xianglan first wrung out a towel to wipe the bruised areas on Lin Jinlou's body, then another to apply to his affected spots. She then used a separate porcelain basin with clear water to wring out a towel and wipe his face. Just then, Hua Shan entered carrying a gold-inlaid vermilion lacquer tray with mother-of-pearl inlay, on which rested a white, shallow lotus-patterned porcelain bowl with cloud motifs.Xianglan sat by the bedside and took the bowl, blowing on the steam rising from it. She said to Lin Jinlou, "Would you like some soup? It's brewed with premium medicinal herbs, added with lily bulbs, bamboo fungus, and specially prepared tofu from Juwenzhai. It smells wonderful. How about having a little?"
"What's so good about it?" Lin Jinlou grumbled. "I'm lying here unable to move. It was fine earlier—not too painful—but now that I'm awake, even breathing hurts. I'm sick of being stuck in bed—it's hot and exhausting. I want—"
Xianglan examined the wound on his chest again and said, "It looks better, no sign of festering. The pain is probably because the medicine has worn off. I'll have the imperial physician come check on you shortly." With that, she fetched clean fine cloth and reapplied the medicated cream for him. Picking up the bowl, she urged, "Drink it now, or it'll get cold. Finish this soup, and later there's meat congee for you."
Lin Jinlou watched Xianglan in the candlelight. Her expression was gentle and serene, her complexion like jade, her eyelashes thick as fans. Though her face still showed some purple swelling and bruises, he softened his tone after a moment and said, "Have you applied any medicated cream to your face? There are several boxes of high-quality cream in the bedside cabinet, from the imperial palace, still with their pale yellow labels. If we were in Jinling, I have an even more precious one there—a cream not even available in the palace."
Xianglan thought for a moment and replied, "I know that one. When I first came here as a maid, Zhao Yuechan splashed hot tea in my face, and the Master rewarded me with a box."
Lin Jinlou fell silent then, allowing Xianglan to feed him the soup spoon by spoon. Though he found the medicinal taste nauseating, he endured it. Just then, Ling Qing and Ling Su brought in a heated brick bed table set with a bowl of congee and four side dishes. Xianglan fed him a bowlful and had the leftovers cleared away. Hearing him complain repeatedly of the heat, she moved the brazier away from the bedside and added two pieces of charcoal with silver tongs, saying, "The imperial physician will be here soon to examine your injury again. I know you're uncomfortable, but you mustn't scowl or shout at him—" She stood up, poured a cup of tea for him to rinse his mouth, and held a spittoon as he tilted his head to spit it out. Then she added, "Master, your temper—you should change it. As the saying goes, 'Teeth are hard, the tongue is soft; in old age, the teeth fall out, but the tongue remains.' This shows that softness endures, while hardness brings loss. A thousand merits can sometimes be ruined by a single remark—" She glanced covertly at Lin Jinlou and, seeing no anger on his face, felt relieved. She continued persuading, "When you're angry or upset, it's because your heart is like a runaway horse. Taming this heart is more victorious than leading thousands of troops. Speaking harshly in anger hurts the most. As the proverb says, 'A kind word warms in winter, a harsh word chills in June,' and 'A good heart with a sharp tongue wastes wealth and honor.'"
"You have the nerve to lecture me? As if your temper isn't stubborn too. You're as foul-tempered as a stone in a latrine, wasting that pretty face. A single word from you can make my heart, liver, and lungs ache—have you forgotten all that?"Xianglan poked the brazier, turned her head with a faint smile, then sighed as she looked away. "When I left the nunnery, my master told me my only flaw was a 'stubborn temper.' At the time, I took it as praise and felt rather pleased with myself. Only now do I recall the worry etched on her face when she said those words—she must have foreseen how much hardship this trait would bring me. I've been slowly reforming myself since."
Lin Jinlou watched Xianglan's profile, his lips parting slightly though no words emerged. A sudden heaviness pressed upon his heart. Being astute, he recognized that most of her hardships likely stemmed from his own actions.
Qin Shi had been standing by the doorway, quietly holding the curtain aside to observe. She noticed her son staring fixedly at Xianglan without so much as a blink, his eyes trailing her every movement. Qin Shi let the curtain fall silently.
Soon the imperial physician arrived. After examining Lin Jinlou, he prescribed a new formula along with a topical ointment, assuring them it was nothing serious before taking his leave. When Qin Shi entered to check on her son, Lin Jinlou said to Xianglan, "Have you eaten dinner? Go ahead—your help isn't needed here for now."
Xianglan went to have her meal. The maids brought four dishes of soup and vegetables, a bowl of glistening polished rice, a plate of delicate milk-scented pastries, and a bowl of blood-nourishing qi-tonifying soup. She ate seated at the heated brick bed. Upon learning the others had already hastily finished their meals, she had another table set below the bed where they gathered to enjoy boneless eight-treasure chicken and other dishes. Xianglan shared her pastries with them, and Ling Su brought the leftover soup from the morning, making for a lively second round of dining.
After the meal, Xianglan rinsed her mouth and washed her hands before returning to Lin Jinlou's room. Qin Shi rose and said, "It's late—I should be going." Xianglan followed to see her out. At the doorway, Qin Shi took Xianglan's hand and said, "Good child, Lou Ge'er now relies entirely on you."
Xianglan replied, "Don't worry, Taitai."Qin Shi shook her head, holding Xianglan's hand as she gazed absently at the flickering candle shadows on the Foreign Lacquer side table. After a moment, she said, "We're both straightforward people, so let's skip the empty pleasantries. Lou Ge'er has already told me how much we've relied on you this time—I hardly know what to say—since things have come to this point, why don't we mother and daughter speak a few honest words from the heart? At first, I didn't take to you. You have a lovely appearance, but your spirit was too strong, too aloof. When Lou Ge'er took a fancy to you, I feared there would be no peace in the rear courtyard. Later, when you saved me and Fourth Girl, I was grateful and thought more highly of you, but still considered you merely a servant—thinking to give you more silver and treat you kindly in the future. Those who harbor deceit may act sincere on the surface, but it can't be hidden forever. I never expected that over time, it would truly prove the saying, 'Adversity reveals strong grass, turmoil shows loyal ministers.' You know well how others treat you, and it's rare to find someone who, aware of it, can still restrain themselves and benefit others. Ah—you child—" Qin Shi stroked Xianglan's hand, this time genuinely moved, her eyes slightly moist as she dabbed the corners with a handkerchief. "I heard what you said to Lou Ge'er earlier—all good advice. Ordinary people's words, except for the Old Master's, he never listens to, yet he heeds yours. In the future, you must help me advise him more." As she spoke, she tucked a loose strand of Xianglan's hair behind her ear and said, "Let these words stand here today: Lou Ge'er values you, and in my heart, I acknowledge you as a daughter. If he ever mistreats you, I will stand up for you." With that, she slipped a pair of bracelets from her own wrist onto Xianglan's.
Xianglan quickly declined, "This won't do."
Qin Shi laughed, "Why not? This pair was part of my dowry from my maiden home. Giving it to you is to show you my heart."
Wu Mama, standing nearby, hurriedly signaled Xianglan with her eyes, her face beaming with a smile. "Congratulations to Taitai! I always thought Miss Xianglan resembled someone, and now that Taitai mentions it, I really see the resemblance between you and Miss Xianglan—truly like mother and daughter. It must be a predestined bond from a past life." She then pulled Xianglan and said, "Hurry and thank Taitai."
Xianglan had no choice but to bow in gratitude. Qin Shi offered a few more words of encouragement before taking her leave. Wu Mama deliberately lingered for a moment, smiling at Xianglan. "Congratulations, new concubine! Taitai is such a shrewd person, and it's only because of you—anyone else wouldn't have earned such favor." With that, she followed out.
Xianglan returned to the bedroom, where Lin Jinlou lay on the bed and asked, "What did Taitai say to you?"
Xianglan smiled without answering, lowering her head to look at the bracelets, feeling as if her wrist weighed a thousand pounds.
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