Lin Zhaoxiang pondered for a moment before speaking, "When I first received the family letter detailing the incident where you sisters administered poison, I could scarcely believe it. At that time, a trusted old servant happened to inform me of something he had heard about you. Originally, you had two maids gifted by your legal mother—both cunning and disobedient. Though you wished to dismiss them, you feared offending your elders. So you turned a blind eye to their wanton behavior and even facilitated their troublemaking, until finally provoking your legal mother's wrath. One was severely beaten and died within days; the other was sold to an unsavory place. From this incident alone, I understood that your scheming and calculated maneuvering to let your sister administer poison was entirely within character."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiyun's chest heaved violently, her entire body trembling. Old wounds torn open, she couldn't discern whether she felt anger or fear, shame or resentment. A cold sweat drenched her back, her fingers digging deep into her palms until her vision blurred. A suffocating lump seemed stuck in her chest—unswallowable, unspittable—nearly driving her to scream aloud. Unaware that her eyes had already turned crimson, she jerked her head up to stare at Lin Zhaoxiang. No longer able to restrain herself, her lips quivering so severely she could barely form words, she raised her voice: "What choice did I have? I'm just a Daughter of a Concubine! Despite excelling in everything, I'm forced to humble myself constantly. Since childhood, I've had to play the fool through countless grievances and unwilling compromises—always cautious, always ingratiating myself. Even toward those I detest and loathe, I must force smiles and feign courtesy. Had I been born legitimate, would I have needed such methods to deal with two maids?! I never wanted to marry into the Lin Family, yet my family insisted. I'd resigned myself to fate, but now with a Favored Concubine present, I'm expected to become a decorative fixture for the rest of my life—pretending to enjoy what I despise! What could I do? I only wanted to live comfortably in my later years. I—I—" A stream of tears rolled down her cheeks as she murmured, "I had no choice... no choice at all—" Her voice choked into incoherence.
Lin Zhaoxiang watched Jiang Xiyun and slowly asked, "Finished?" He then let out a light laugh, the previously stern expression revealing a hint of pity: "Xiyun, you're sharp as ice and snow. Everyone says you possess remarkable depth, yet your breadth of vision ultimately falls short. No wonder your cleverness becomes your own trap."
Jiang Xiyun stared blankly, her eyes widening. Since childhood, she had prided herself on surpassing others in insight and knowledge—never expecting Lin Zhaoxiang to say such a thing.
Lin Zhaoxiang continued, "You knew exactly what fate awaited those two maids given your legal mother's temperament, and you knew they didn't deserve death. Yet you proceeded because they inconvenienced you. Superficially, they brought ruin upon themselves, but your instigation was indispensable behind the scenes. Two bloody lives—have you ever felt remorse? Unable to overpower Xianglan, you resorted to ruthless measures fearing a future rival, simply because she stood in your way. For your own comfort, you repeatedly betray your conscience, yet still believe yourself righteous and justified?"
Jiang Xiyun stood dumbfounded, left with only soft sobs.Lin Zhaoxiang said, "This year, the Bureau of Personnel Oversight submitted a memorial directly to the Emperor. It stated that there is a group of refined egoists in the officialdom today. These individuals are exceedingly clever, worldly, sophisticated, skilled at acting, adept at cooperation, and even more proficient at manipulating others to achieve their own goals. Once they gain power, they become a cancer to the court, more terrifying than ordinary corrupt officials. Some use tactics for the sake of the common people, but these people use tactics solely for their own selfish interests." After speaking, he looked at Jiang Xiyun, his gaze seemingly reproachful: "Xiyun, how have you become such a person?"
The room fell into silence.
Jiang Xiyun stared at Lin Zhaoxiang in disbelief, her lips trembling but unable to utter a single word. She wanted to say that she had done nothing wrong—isn't everyone in this world looking out for themselves? If one isn't harsh to others, one only creates trouble for oneself, so why bother? She had a conscience, but she was no saint. When interests clash, she had no leisure to pity others. Everyone wants to be upright and honorable, but how many can truly live with unblemished integrity? Everyone reads the classics of sages, but which line compares to the comfort of a pleasant life? She merely wanted to live a little more comfortably—Jiang Xiyun remained silent, her eyes brimming with tears as she slumped into her chair.
Lin Zhaoxiang took a sip of tea and continued as if to himself: "There was once a young lady whose maid was exceptionally beautiful. Originally the daughter of a disgraced official, she was given to the lady’s father as a concubine by the elders of the clan. Now serving as a maid, she naturally felt resentful, spending her days flirting and showing off, weeping and wailing, being lazy and gluttonous, and even stealing the lady’s jewelry. The entire household watched eagerly for drama: punishing the maid would offend the elders; not punishing her would make her increasingly difficult to manage. Some suggested seizing this mistake to make a scene and have the elders personally discipline and sell her off. If it were you, what would you do?"
He glanced at Jiang Xiyun but did not wait for her answer before continuing: "That young lady, however, did not make a public fuss. She simply summoned the maid to her room, ordered a trusted old woman to give her ten strokes with a paddle, and then surprisingly took out five taels of silver and gave it to her. She said, 'I am punishing you because you broke the rules, and without discipline, I cannot command respect. A public punishment might be too much for you to bear, so I am disciplining you here in private. I am giving you these five taels because I know you are alone and struggling. You fell ill recently and likely spent all your savings on extra soup and meals from the kitchen, leaving you penniless and in urgent need of silver—otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken my jewelry. Now that you are recovering, the remaining ten strokes are temporarily withheld until you are fully well. I sympathize with you, and I hope you will not repeat this offense.' The maid broke down in tears and gradually improved. Later, she married a wealthy landowner as a concubine. Some time after, the young lady’s family fell into misfortune, and she disappeared without a trace during exile. Unexpectedly, the following year, a tombstone for the young lady appeared beside her family’s ancestral graves. A woman was seen paying respects there, and upon inquiry, it was revealed that the maid, grateful for her kindness, had chosen a burial spot and erected a cenotaph in her memory." Lin Zhaoxiang lifted his eyes to look at Jiang Xiyun and said slowly, "That young lady was the eldest granddaughter of the former Grand Secretary Shen."Jiang Xiyun’s heart skipped a beat as Lin Zhaoxiang stared into her eyes and spoke with deliberate slowness: "They are both maids who cannot be dismissed—one relies on schemes, the other on benevolence. The nuances are for you to discern. Whose life is entirely smooth and free of troubles? You are still young and do not yet understand. You may think that to navigate the world with ease and comfort, one must rely on slickness or cunning tactics. But in truth, what ensures one remains unshaken is virtue grounded in tolerance and compassion. To understand the ways of the world yet remain untainted by them—that is the mark of a true noble character."
Having spoken these words, Lin Zhaoxiang rose, leaning on his cane as he slowly made his way out. Halfway there, he suddenly turned back and said to Jiang Xiyun, "Your brother, Jiang Shangxian, came to plead on your behalf. He knelt for half a day, begging me to resolve this grievance in light of the longstanding friendship between the Lin and Jiang families, to restore your reputation so that you may secure a good marriage. I have agreed. From now on, this matter shall vanish like smoke—as if it never happened, and no one will speak of it again."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiyun felt a wave of relief, but it was quickly followed by confusion and disarray. She stood up, uncertain whether to express gratitude, only to see Lin Zhaoxiang turn away again, refusing to look at her. His voice weathered with age, he continued, "You are a girl born of a concubine, who lost your mother at a young age and never quite won your parents’ affection. You wore hand-me-downs and ate leftovers from your siblings, yet you never resented it. You were considerate to your elders, filial and well-behaved. Even when bullied by your siblings, you remained silent, showing tolerance in all matters, always wearing a smile and bustling about to please others. That is why your grandmother held a special fondness for you. As the saying goes, 'At three, one’s character is formed; at seven, one’s future is foreseen.' From childhood, your generosity was evident, and it was clear you would grow into a fine person. That is why, when considering a bride for my eldest grandson, you were my first choice—" He paused for a long moment, then shook his head gently. "What a pity, what a pity. The ways of the world are like a knife—sometimes, instead of carving one into greater beauty, they cut and disfigure. I hope you will tread carefully from now on." The door creaked open, then slammed shut with a loud clang.
Jiang Xiyun’s legs gave way, and she collapsed into the chair. For reasons she could not explain, a sharp, indescribable sorrow welled up inside her. She let out a soft sob, resting her head against the back of the chair, her face already chilled by tears.
As Lin Zhaoxiang stepped out, Ruizhu immediately came forward to support him. Squinting slightly at the sunlight outside, he let out a sigh. On the stage, the young actors resumed their singing, their voices rising and falling. Lin Zhaoxiang entered the Flower Hall, and everyone stood up. He seated himself alone on the Luohan bed and instructed the others to sit back down and enjoy the performance. Qin Shi hurried over to offer him tea, then said in a low voice, "The physician has just been here. He examined Second Sister-in-law and said it was due to liver stagnation and qi blockage—a sudden emotional shock caused her to faint. She is now resting in bed and is not in serious condition. Ting Ge’er’s wife has gone to attend to her." After a pause, she added, "As for Yuan Ge’er—" She lifted her eyes, glancing toward Lin Old Madam.
Lin Old Madam coughed lightly and said, "Yuan Ge’er has already admitted his mistake. I’ve sent him to copy texts as punishment. He is still a child—who hasn’t been mischievous at that age? We must teach him with care and not frighten him unnecessarily."
Lin Zhaoxiang snorted and said under his breath, "Indulgent mothers raise wayward sons! It was your excessive doting back then that made Second Brother so useless and brought so much disgrace upon us. Yuan Ge’er has talent, and I’ll say this now: no one is to spoil him and lead him astray!"
Knowing Lin Zhaoxiang’s temperament well, Lin Old Madam did not take offense and fell silent. Qin Shi also stood to the side, head bowed without another word.Lin Zhaoxiang glanced outside and saw Xianglan standing in the covered corridor speaking with Lin Dongxiu. As the wind blew, the pearl drops in her hair and the hem of her skirt swayed gently, forming a picturesque scene. He suddenly felt a pang of emotion and reflected that despite having lived to such an age, weathered countless storms, and encountered numerous people, he still couldn't help but marvel at Xianglan. Though merely a girl of seventeen or eighteen, she carried herself like one who had experienced the trials of life, her speech and magnanimity far from ordinary—no wonder she could repeatedly rescue others despite being mired in adversity. He leaned over and whispered to Lin Old Madam, "Don't you think that Xianglan's demeanor, tone, and conduct resemble those of Shen Jia's eldest granddaughter, Shen Jialan, from back in the day?"
Lin Old Madam thought for a moment and couldn't help but smile. "Now that you mention it, there is some resemblance. Back then, you kept praising her for being both principled and compassionate, insisting on forming a marriage alliance with Shen Jia despite her being four years older than Lou Ge'er. In truth, her younger sister Jialian was closer in age." She then sighed and said, "Enough, enough. They're all gone now. Who knows what that girl would have been like if she had lived? She ought to have had children gathered around her knees by now. Alas, nothing can withstand the unpredictability of worldly affairs."
Meanwhile, Xianglan, having no interest in watching the opera, was chatting with Lin Dongxiu in the covered corridor when she noticed Lin Dongxiu's expression shift slightly. Pursing her lips into a smile, Lin Dongxiu said, "Oh my, look who's here."
Xianglan turned her head and saw Lin Jinlou striding over, covered in dust from his journey. She remembered he had official business outside today and had left early in the morning. His return now, still in his travel-worn clothes, showed he had rushed over without even changing.
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