When Si Shunr saw Xianglan, it was as if joy had descended from heaven. His whole body tingled with excitement, his grin stretching from ear to ear. He scurried over and said, "Oh... Xianglan, my dear, you've finally come. I've been waiting so long for you."
Xianglan had urgent matters on her mind and had no patience for his nonsense. She entered Cao Lihuan's room and immediately began rummaging through the dressing table drawer for the small pouch. Si Shunr, already burning with impatience, gazed at Xianglan's snow-white profile and swallowed hard. He rushed forward and embraced her, babbling "dear sister" and "sweet sister" incoherently. "Miss Huan has already given her permission," he said. "Let your brother show you some affection today." His alcohol-laced breath washed over her as he pressed his mouth against hers, kissing her fiercely.
Xianglan was terrified. She struggled desperately and tried to scream, but Si Shunr's large hand clamped over her mouth and nose, dragging her toward the bed. Though she kicked and thrashed, she was no match for a man's strength. Just as she was about to be pinned down on the bed, her blouse was torn open. Seeing that strip of snow-white skin, Si Shunr's eyes glazed over, and the hardness between his legs stood erect like a pestle. Eager to have his way, he ripped her garment apart with a tearing sound. Consumed by hatred, Xianglan mustered all her strength and lunged forward, clawing viciously at Si Shunr's eyes. He failed to dodge in time and let out a howl as four bloody scratches appeared on his face. His head slammed against the bed frame. Seizing the opportunity, Xianglan dashed outside, screaming, "Help! Help!" But the courtyard remained eerily silent. Just as she reached the gate, Si Shunr caught up with her, cursing, "You little whore!" He grabbed her by the waist, and as her feet slipped, she fell to the ground. Si Shunr then seized her legs and began dragging her back inside.
Overwhelmed by despair and fear, Xianglan let out several piercing cries. As she was being pulled toward the steps, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. In the midst of her desperate struggle, a furious roar erupted from the entrance: "Stop! Have you lost your mind?"
To Xianglan, that shout was like heavenly music. She lifted her tear-blurred eyes and saw a man striding in from outside. When Si Shunr looked up and recognized the tall, robust young master in splendid brocade robes—none other than Master Lin, Lin Jinlou—he was horrified. "This is bad!" he thought, his grip on Xianglan involuntarily loosening.
Xianglan's limbs went limp, sapped of all strength. She crawled with effort to Lin Jinlou's feet, clutching his boots and sobbing. Lin Jinlou's face was dark, his eyes seething with fury as he glared at Si Shunr. A chill ran down Si Shunr's spine, and cold sweat broke out. When he thought to flee, he realized Lin Jinlou's figure blocked the only exit. As he hesitated in panic, Lin Jinlou beckoned to him and said, "Come here." Si Shunr had no choice but to shuffle forward a few steps. Lin Jinlou gave a cold sneer. "In broad daylight, what do you think you're doing?"
Si Shunr's lips twitched involuntarily. Forcing a smile, he stammered, "N-nothing... Eldest Master... This... this maid was given to me by Miss Huan... No, I mean, she tried to seduce me, but then she denied it... She, she, she..."Before he could finish speaking, a sharp "smack" echoed—the forceful slap sent Si Shunr reeling, his head spinning and ears ringing as if he were going deaf. He collapsed to the ground with a "thud." Sensing danger, Si Shunr knew a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him. As soon as he regained some strength, he scrambled to his feet and bolted toward the main gate in panic. Lin Jinlou lifted his leg and delivered a fierce kick, sending Si Shunr tumbling head over heels until he slumped against the wall, vomiting violently and moaning, unable to get up. No one could have imagined that a man who appeared so refined could strike with such brutality. Shuangxi, Lin Jinlou’s servant guarding the courtyard gate, clicked his tongue in dismay. Those familiar with the Eldest Master’s temperament knew he was boiling with rage, and it was best for others to stay far, far away.
Shrinking his neck, Shuangxi stood by the gate pretending to be invisible. When a few matrons and maids tried to gather and gawk, he straightened his face, planted his hands on his hips, and barked, "What are you all staring at? What’s there to see? Scram, all of you! Get out of here!"
Everyone recognized Shuangxi and knew that he and his twin brother, Jixiang, were trusted aides of Lin Jinlou. Not daring to approach further, they stuck out their tongues, ducked their heads, and slunk away in disgrace.
Lin Jinlou bent down and pulled Xianglan to her feet. Unsteady, she nearly collapsed to the ground again. Her clothes were disheveled, revealing glimpses of the rouge-colored undergarment beneath. Her hair was in disarray, the once-neat twin buns now undone, the loose strands framing her small, pale face, which looked exquisitely delicate. At that moment, however, she was weeping like a rain-drenched pear blossom, clearly terrified, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her misty, wide eyes gazed at him timidly. Lin Jinlou felt a pang of tenderness, but his anger surged anew. Suppressing his rage, he asked in a soft, low voice, "Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere? Should I call a physician to examine you?"
Xianglan felt as if she had narrowly escaped death, her nerves still shattered. Weak and trembling, she broke into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.
Lin Jinlou had originally been overseeing the arrangements for Qin Shi’s birthday banquet. Noting that the Autumn-Clipping Pavilion was filled with female guests, he had merely made a round of the kitchens before stepping out to assign twelve fresh, youthful maids—each holding an auspicious and precious item—to recite a birthday tribute in unison to Qin Shi. Delighted, Qin Shi exclaimed, "Reward them!" Lin Jinlou promptly ordered his servants to distribute monetary gifts. Amid the bustle, he caught sight of the young maid named Xianglan near the artificial rockery. Dressed in a pale, frost-colored jacket, her hair still styled in twin buns without a single piece of jewelry, she carried an indescribable air of elegant simplicity that captivated him. From that moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Xianglan seemed to notice him and turned to leave. As if bewitched, Lin Jinlou followed her but was delayed briefly when he encountered a steward. By the time he resumed his pursuit, he had lost track of her direction. It was then that he heard several piercing, agonized screams and hurried toward the sound, only to witness this horrifying scene.
Lin Jinlou felt his lungs might burst with fury. This was an outright attempt to assault a maid right in his own residence! Did the culprit not realize whose domain this was? How dare he run amok under Lin Jinlou’s very nose! Was he out of his mind? Moreover, this was the very maid who had caught his eye. Lin Jinlou was always the one causing trouble for others—how could some blind fool of a servant dare to provoke him? Glancing at Xianglan’s torn jacket, his rage peaked, yet his face grew eerily expressionless. He strode over to Si Shunr, bent down, and demanded coldly, "Where did you come from? Who gave you permission to enter the inner quarters?"Si Shunr watched as Lin Jinlou radiated murderous aura, trembling like a sieve yet still gritting his teeth in refusal to speak. Lin Jinlou raised his foot and kicked—crack!—accompanied by Si Shunr’s agonized scream. Lin Jinlou sneered coldly, “I’ll break one of your legs first. If you still don’t tell the truth, I’ll break both. If you remain stubborn, I’ll snap your fingers one by one. Let’s see how long that mouth of yours stays shut.” As he spoke, he kicked the broken leg again. “Speak!”
Si Shunr was a coward at heart. Lin Jinlou’s earlier kick had already broken several of his ribs, and this kick shattered his leg. The pain was unbearable, and he wailed, “I’m a servant from Miss Huan’s household. Miss Huan sent me in.”
“You and that girl—did she seduce you?”
“Yes… no, no, Eldest Master, Miss Huan gave her to me.”
Lin Jinlou grew impatient and delivered another kick. “Stop playing dumb. ‘Gave her to you’? Then why resort to such beastly acts?”
Si Shunr groaned, “It’s… it’s what Miss Huan said. Xianglan belongs to the Lin family, so she couldn’t decide for her. But if I slept with Xianglan, she’d have no choice but to follow me… On First Madam’s birthday, Miss Huan planned to find an excuse to send Xianglan out so I could gag her and get it done…” But he hadn’t expected Xianglan, who seemed delicate and weak, to be so difficult to handle, nor that someone would intervene halfway.
Lin Jinlou sneered and delivered another brutal kick. Crack! Si Shunr howled in agony—his other leg was now broken. Lin Jinlou said, “I’ve broken both your legs. Stay put here. If you dare run, I’ll skin you alive!” With that, he turned back, scooped up Xianglan, and pushed open the door to the small room on the left. A sharp gasp echoed—Si Qiao and Huier were hiding inside.
Lin Jinlou’s face darkened as he set Xianglan on the kang. He said to her, “Go pack your things. You won’t be working here anymore.” His gaze swept over Si Qiao and Huier, who shuddered under his scrutiny. Huier cowered in the corner of the kang, while Si Qiao stood frozen against the wall, holding her breath. Lin Jinlou asked coolly, “With all the commotion in the courtyard just now, you didn’t think to step out and see what was happening?”
Huier and Si Qiao dared not speak.
Lin Jinlou pointed at Si Qiao. “What’s your name?”
Si Qiao’s heart quivered as she stammered, “This servant is… is called Si Qiao.”
Lin Jinlou snorted coldly and strode out.
Xianglan’s hands trembled as she pulled a set of clothes from her trunk. She forced herself to change, hastily tied up her hair, and gathered her meager belongings—only four sets of clothing and a few daily items bundled into a small parcel. As she reached the door, she paused, glanced back at Huier and Si Qiao, and suddenly asked, “You both knew about Si Shunr’s plan from the start, didn’t you?”
The two avoided her gaze, too fearful to meet her eyes. A chill settled in Xianglan’s heart. She walked up to Si Qiao, raised her hand, and slapped her hard across the face, staring directly at her. “You know how I’ve treated you.” Si Qiao flushed with shame, covering her cheek as she bowed her head.
Xianglan wanted to say more, to vent her anger, but suddenly it all felt pointless. She only said slowly, “From now on… you’d better—watch—your—step!” Without another glance, she pushed the door open and left.Lin Jinlou stood at the courtyard gate. Seeing Xianglan emerge, he said to Shuangxi, "Guard the courtyard and don't let anyone in. Later, vaguely hint to the servants below that the wretched slave in the courtyard was having an affair with Cao Lihuan. He took advantage of the bustle of the birthday banquet to sneak in for a secret rendezvous, but ended up drunk, mistaking the maid Siqiao for his cousin and attempting to assault her. Fortunately, I happened to witness it."
Shuangxi broke into a cold sweat inwardly, thinking how foolish Cao Lihuan was to provoke their master's displeasure—wasn't she seeking death? Outwardly, he nodded repeatedly in agreement, patting his chest as he said, "My lord, you can rest assured!"
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