In the evening, the Old Master sent a maid to summon one of Lin Jinlou's attendants. Seeing that Shu Ran was absent, Xianglan instructed Xue Ning to go instead. Shortly after, Qin Shi arrived in person and, finding Lin Jinlou asleep, conversed with Xianglan in the adjoining room. Before long, Lin Jinlou awoke. Xiao Juan, after consulting Xianglan, ladled some soup simmering on 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 snapped with a dark expression, "Do you even know how to serve? This soup reeks of some foul odor, 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 already been apprehensive about this task, and faced with Lin Jinlou's menacing glare, she grew timid. She stood with her head bowed until he barked, "What are you standing there for, waiting to announce a funeral? Get out!" She hastily grabbed the bowl and fled. Hearing the commotion, Qin Shi said to Xianglan, "Don't mind me, go check on him." Xianglan hurried out and found Xiao Juan outside the bedroom, her eyes red-rimmed. "What happened?" she asked.
Xiao Juan, utterly aggrieved, replied, "The Eldest Master complained the soup tasted strange. It's a medicinal tonic—the nourishing blood soup—it's supposed to have that flavor..."
Xianglan gave her hand a comforting squeeze and, noting Qin Shi wasn't nearby, whispered, "That's just his temper. Haven't you seen how Ling Qing and Ling Su were scolded harshly today? The small kitchen prepared boneless eight-treasure chicken, tender and sticky. I shredded some leg meat earlier and simmered it with eight-treasure fruits and vegetables into a porridge for the Eldest Master. There's plenty left—take some later and share it with the others." She added, "Fetch another bowl of soup, but don't let him see you. Have Hua Shan bring it in." With that, she entered the bedroom and found Lin Jinlou lying listlessly on the bed, picking at the tassels on the quilt, his face stormy. Xianglan approached, felt his forehead, and leaned in to ask, "Where are you feeling unwell?"
"Where have you been? Why weren't you here earlier? You left that round-faced maid to attend to me—don't you know how clumsy she is?"
"Madam came earlier, and I was speaking with her."
"There are plenty of others to keep Madam company. Next time, send Shu Ran instead. You stay here with me."
"..."
"Why aren't you answering? 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 slightly easing though still gloomy. Xianglan pretended not to notice, wringing a towel from the silver basin. This basin had been specially sent by the Old Master—crafted from large silver sheets riveted around a wooden core to keep wash water warm longer in winter. It contained a specially brewed medicinal liquid. Xianglan first used one towel to wipe the bruises on Lin Jinlou's body, then another to apply a compress to the affected areas. She then wrung a clean towel from a porcelain basin with fresh water to wash his face. Just then, Hua Shan entered carrying a gold-inlaid vermilion lacquer tray adorned with mother-of-pearl, on which rested a shallow white 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, "Have some soup? It's brewed with premium medicinal herbs, with added lily bulbs, bamboo pith, and specially prepared tofu from Jiuwei Zhai. 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 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 gauze and reapplied his medicine. Picking up the bowl again, she urged, "Drink it now, or it'll get cold. After this soup, you'll have some meat congee."
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 asked, "Did you apply ointment to your face? There are several fine boxes in the bedside cabinet, from the palace, still with pale yellow labels. If we were in Jinling, I have an even more precious ointment there—one not even found in the palace."
Xianglan thought for a moment and replied, "I know the one you mean. When I first entered as a maid, Zhao Yuechan splashed hot tea on my face, and you rewarded me with a box."
Lin Jinlou fell silent then, letting Xianglan 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 kang table set with a bowl of congee and four side dishes. Xianglan fed him a bowl and had the remnants cleared away. Hearing him complain repeatedly of the heat, she moved the brazier away from the bed and added two pieces of charcoal with silver tongs, saying, "The imperial physician will be here soon to check your wound... I know you're uncomfortable, but you mustn't scowl or shout at him..." She stood up, poured him a cup of tea to rinse his mouth, and held a spittoon as he tilted his head to spit it out. Then she added, "Eldest Master, your temper... you should change it. Let me say this—human teeth are hard, but the tongue is soft. In old age, teeth gradually fall out, yet the tongue remains. This shows that softness endures, while hardness brings disadvantage. A thousand virtues can sometimes be ruined by a single remark..." She stole a glance at Lin Jinlou and, seeing no anger on his face, felt relieved. She continued persuading, "When you're angry, it's because your heart is like a wild horse breaking free. Taming this heart is greater than commanding thousands of troops. Speaking harshly in anger hurts others the most. As the saying goes, 'A kind word warms in winter, but 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. One word from you can make my heart, liver, and lungs ache. Have you forgotten all that?"Xianglan stirred the fire basin, glanced back with a faint smile, then turned away and sighed: "When I left the nunnery to return to secular life, my master told me my only flaw was a 'stubborn temperament'. At the time I took it as praise and felt rather pleased with myself. Only now do I recall the worried expression on her face when she said those words. I suppose she already foresaw how much trouble this trait would bring me... Now I'm gradually learning to change."
Lin Jinlou watched Xianglan's profile, his lips moving slightly though no words came out. An inexplicable heaviness suddenly filled his chest. Being exceptionally perceptive, he understood that most of the hardships Xianglan had suffered 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 even blinking, his eyes following her every movement when she rose to attend to tasks.
Qin Shi let the curtain fall silently.
Soon the physician arrived, examined Lin Jinlou once more, prescribed a new formula with an additional topical ointment for the wound, assured them it was nothing serious, and took his leave. When Qin Shi entered to check on her son, Lin Jinlou said to Xianglan: "Have you had dinner? Go eat now. Your assistance isn't needed here for the moment."
Xianglan went out for her meal. Maids brought four dishes of soup and vegetables, a bowl of glistening rice, a plate of delicate milk-scented pastries, and a bowl of blood-nourishing tonic soup. She ate at the kang table and learned the others had already taken their quick meal. Another table was set below the kang where they gathered to enjoy boneless stuffed chicken. Xianglan shared her pastries with them while Ling Su brought the leftover soup from noon, creating 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 stood up saying: "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 depends entirely on you."
Xianglan replied: "Don't worry, Madam."Qin Shi shook her head, holding Xianglan's hand as she stared distractedly at the flickering candle shadows on the foreign-lacquered 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... Given our circumstances now, why don't we mother and daughter speak a few honest words from the heart? At first, I didn't care for you. You're beautiful, but too proud and aloof. Since Lou Ge'er took a fancy to you, I feared there'd be no peace in the household. 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 I could just give you more silver and treat you well later. Those who harbor ill intentions can't hide it forever, no matter how sincere they appear on the surface. I never expected that over time, you'd truly prove the saying, 'Adversity reveals strong grass, turmoil shows loyal ministers.' You know well how others treat you, yet it's rare to remain self-disciplined and put others first despite that... Ah, you child..." Qin Shi stroked Xianglan's hand, genuinely moved, her eyes slightly moist as she dabbed them with a handkerchief. "I heard what you said to Lou Ge'er earlier—all good advice. He never listens to anyone except the Old Master, yet he heeds your words. You must continue advising him for me in the future." She tucked a loose strand of Xianglan's hair behind her ear and said, "Let my words stand here today: Lou Ge'er values you, and in my heart, I regard you as a daughter. If he ever mistreats you, I'll stand up for you." With that, she slipped a pair of bracelets from her own wrist onto Xianglan's.
Xianglan hurriedly declined, "This won't do."
Qin Shi smiled, "Why not? These are from my dowry. Giving them to you shows you my sincerity."
Wu Mama, standing nearby, quickly signaled Xianglan with her eyes, beaming as she said, "Congratulations, Madam! I always thought Xianglan resembled someone, and now that you mention it, I really see the resemblance between you and Xianglan—like mother and daughter. It must be fate from a past life." She tugged at Xianglan, adding, "Hurry and thank Madam."
Xianglan had no choice but to bow in gratitude. Qin Shi offered a few more words of encouragement before taking her leave. Wu Mama lingered a moment, smiling at Xianglan, "Congratulations, Concubine! Madam is such a shrewd person—it's only because of you that anyone could earn such favor." With that, she followed Qin Shi out.
Xianglan returned to the bedroom, where Lin Jinlou lay on the bed and asked, "What did Madam say to you?"
Xianglan smiled without answering, lowering her gaze to the bracelets, feeling as if her wrist weighed a thousand pounds.
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