It was nearly noon, and the grand hall was already filled with various delicacies, fruits, and pastries. The room was adorned with vibrant decorations, and a stage had been set up in the courtyard. The young performers of the Blue Cloud Troupe sang and played music, their voices and melodies drifting incessantly through the air.
Old Madam Lin sat on the large Arhat bed in the center of the hall, selecting a few of her favorite finely shredded vegetables and exquisite pastries, which were arranged on a small kang table in delicate, gold-trimmed white porcelain dishes. She ate and drank at her leisure, reclining against a pillow to listen to the opera, keeping Jiang Xiyun close by her side. Jiang Xiyun sat on a stool next to her, attending to her every need. Naturally, she was eager to please—now serving Old Madam Lin pastries, now refilling her tea, now massaging her legs—busying herself with utmost diligence. She was already strikingly beautiful, and today she had taken extra care with her appearance. She wore a set of red gold kingfisher feather inlay hair ornaments, a lotus-root-colored satin jacket embroidered with golden peonies, and a multicolored skirt. With light makeup, her delicate face appeared even more charming and lovable, radiating an air of obedience. Her clever tongue knew just how to flatter, and Old Madam Lin smiled contentedly, clearly enjoying the attention.
Qin Shi and Wang Shi sat at a high table on the ground floor, while Lin Dongwan, Lin Dongqi, and Lin Dongxiu, the three sisters, were seated further ahead. Bao Yiniang, Lin Changzheng’s concubine, sat under the corridor, eating and drinking. Li Miaozhi stood beside Wang Shi, waiting on her, while Xianglan stood behind Qin Shi. Su Meiru was nowhere to be seen, and Old Madam Lin did not inquire about her. Wang Shi, for her part, was glad not to have to lay eyes on her.
Xianglan found herself unconsciously watching Jiang Xiyun, feeling as though a thorn had lodged in her heart, making it impossible for her to sit still. Thanks to this seemingly sweet and charming girl, she might never become a mother! And yet, after fleeing in disgrace, Jiang Xiyun could now so calmly enter their home as if nothing had happened, showing no remorse whatsoever, only flattering and currying favor with endless smiles. Xianglan had thought she had already let go of the past, but every time she saw Jiang Xiyun—whether it was her ingratiating behavior, her radiant smiles, or her attentive efforts to win others’ affection—a wave of bitterness surged within her. Resentment swelled in her chest, nearly overwhelming her, threatening to drag her into an abyss.
Jiang Xiyun sensed someone watching her. She knew it was Xianglan, but she refused to look and dared not meet her gaze. With a fleeting glance out of the corner of her eye, she quickly averted her gaze, her heart in turmoil. It would be a lie to say she felt no guilt, but she quickly reminded herself that if not for that incident, she might have already married into the Lin family. In that case, Xianglan would have been a fierce tiger sleeping beside her day and night, tormenting her endlessly. A lifetime of rivalry with Chen Xianglan would have meant a lifetime of suffering. Her grandmother had once said, “How many people can live a spotless life?” As a woman, one must be ruthless for one’s own sake. The saying went, “Better for others to die than for me to suffer.” She had no energy to sympathize with others, so how could she be in the wrong? She had been unwilling to come to the Lin family this time, yet she had no choice. The Jiang family’s fortunes were declining due to the Second Prince’s affairs. Jiang Danyun had only managed to marry into a moderately respectable landowning family, and for Jiang Xiyun, the situation was even more difficult and humiliating. She had to come here to win Old Madam Lin’s favor and regain her dignity in front of others to resolve her current predicament.
With this thought, Jiang Xiyun straightened her back, ignoring Xianglan completely, and focused on peeling fruit and serving it to Old Madam Lin.Xianglan turned her head back, silently reciting three times in her heart: "Resentment is poisoned wine. Do not hate, forgive. Hatred only harms oneself." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she saw Qin Shi turning to beckon her over. Approaching, she heard Qin Shi whisper: "After the opera, there will be storytelling and acrobatics—it likely won’t end anytime soon. Don’t just stand here idly. Go inside and rest for a while, have something to eat and drink to settle your stomach."
Xianglan forced a smile and said, "It’s all right, I’ll stand for a bit longer." Looking up, she noticed Lin Dongxiu signaling to her with her eyes. Xianglan excused herself and followed Lin Dongxiu out to the corridor. There, they saw winding paths, elegant latticed windows, embroidered curtains faintly veiled, and a gentle, soothing breeze—everywhere the colors of spring had returned.
Lin Dongxiu walked toward the Covered Corridor, saying, "Let’s take a stroll outside to avoid seeing that little vixen’s arrogance—no need to add to our frustration. Old Madam has grown muddleheaded, inviting that Jiang woman into our home." Xianglan hadn’t expected Lin Dongxiu to speak up for her like this. Ever since Xianglan had saved Lin Dongxiu once at the mountain temple, the latter had treated her with a degree of sincerity. Though their relationship wasn’t particularly deep, it had been harmonious, and over time, some genuine affection had developed. Yet Xianglan, well aware of each person’s temperament, knew her place and carefully gauged the boundaries—no matter how close they became, she never overstepped or acted presumptuously. Now that Lin Dongxiu had become the Marquess’s wife, in just a short time, her whole demeanor had changed dramatically. Her words and actions carried an imperious air, a stark contrast to her former self, and she looked down on almost everyone. Xianglan recalled the delicate, frail Fourth Miss of the Lin family, who would frown before speaking and whose words were often sharp and tinged with a sickly weakness. Comparing that memory to the now authoritative, somewhat haughty, and decisive Marquess’s wife, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Lin Dongxiu took Xianglan’s hand and stopped walking, slightly frowning as she said, "Oh, why are your hands so cold? And your face is so pale—are you angered by that Jiang woman? It’s just as well you have a clay-figurine’s patience. If it were me, even if I had to save face for Old Madam, I’d still fling my sleeves and speak my mind!"
Xianglan shook her head. The two turned into the backyard, where several young maids were playing. Upon seeing them, the maids hurried over to attend to them, spreading large red Seat Cushions with green satin flashes on the stone benches. Lin Dongxiu asked Xianglan, "Shall I have the maids fetch you a shawl?"
Xianglan picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "No need." She felt as if the bowl of hot, light tea was slowly soothing the cold, gnawing hatred in her heart.
Lin Dongxiu said, "How about you feign illness and go back? I’ll make your excuses to Old Madam... Tsk, what a mess this is. Never mind you—even I feel sickened by it."
Xianglan felt a warmth in her heart and squeezed Lin Dongxiu’s hand, suddenly saying, "It’s fine. I still have to go back later. Today is Old Madam’s celebration. If I excuse myself due to illness, she’ll surely be displeased. There are also members of the Lin clan here today—who knows how this might be twisted if word gets out. Since I’ve promised Madam to consider the bigger picture, I must see it through to the end."
Lin Dongxiu was taken aback and after a long pause said, "Well... alright, alright. Ah, it’s not easy for you either. No matter how great your kindness to our family, the respect everyone shows you can’t outweigh a single word from the elders."Xianglan laughed upon hearing this: "These past few years I've stumbled along, experiencing the fickleness of human relationships and the harshness of the world. Though trapped by circumstances and having achieved nothing remarkable, I've developed thicker skin. Before, a single sarcastic remark would have made me fly into a rage and retort immediately. Now even the harshest bullying can be accepted calmly - holding onto grudges only hurts oneself in the end." She then made a funny face, adding, "After today's events, I'm afraid I'll become even more capable of maintaining peace amidst chaos."
Lin Dongxiu sighed: "You're truly hard to figure out. When you were just a maid looked down upon by everyone, you held your head higher than anyone. Now that you've gained some status with Madam and your brothers backing you, you're willing to endure humiliation instead. You really are a strange one."
After exchanging some casual conversation, Xianglan felt her restlessness had mostly dissipated and returned to the main hall. She noticed Lin Dongwan, Lin Dongqi, Li Miaozhi, and Jiang Xiyun were all absent. Xianglan went back to Qin Shi's side and refilled her wine cup. Old Madam Lin glanced at her briefly before looking away.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiyun had attended to Old Madam Lin before going to the inner room for dinner. There she found Lin Dongwan sleeping on the large heated platform - he had been plied with drinks by some familiar old nannies and soon felt dizzy with his heart pounding, so he had excused himself to rest in the inner room. Jiang Xiyun was eating by the window while watching the opera when she heard footsteps. Turning, she saw Li Miaozhi and Lin Dongqi chatting and laughing as they entered.
The three had been close since childhood. Jiang Xiyun stood up with a smile and said softly: "So it's you two."
Lin Dongqi, having heard some rumors about Jiang Xiyun and thinking of Xianglan, felt somewhat uncomfortable and responded perfunctorily. Li Miaozhi, having grown up with Jiang Xiyun and being closer to her, was delighted and pulled Lin Dongqi over. The three sat together in a circle, asking maids for additional cups to drink and chat.
After sharing a drink and some laughter, they reminisced about childhood antics, gradually warming to each other and creating a lively atmosphere. Just then, a maid entered and whispered to Li Miaozhi: "Third Young Mistress, Concubine Su says she'll come later to congratulate Old Madam on her birthday... We tried to dissuade her but she wouldn't listen. When she arrives, I'm afraid our Madam will lose face again..."
Li Miaozhi frowned and waved her hand: "I understand, you may go." After the maid left, she sighed repeatedly and told the other two: "Since we're all close sisters, I won't hide anything. Speaking of my father-in-law's newly taken concubine - she's truly something. That mouth of hers could make black seem white. My poor mother-in-law is an honest woman, bullied until she's bitter but can't speak out. And that woman, relying on her pregnancy, can stir up trouble over the slightest dissatisfaction. The worst is she always smiles sweetly at you, leaving no handle to grab. Nowadays, my mother-in-law trembles with anger just hearing her name. Who knows what will happen when they meet later."
Lin Dongqi said: "I've met her once. She has charming features and carries herself with grace, unlike those shrinking violets."Li Miaozhi remarked, "It's precisely those who've seen the world and are cunning that are the worst. They put on a better act than opera performers, yet my mother-in-law happens to be slow with words. Only after she's been provoked to tears does she realize what she should have said or done—always locking the stable after the horse has bolted. As a daughter-in-law, I can't say much, and that Su Meiru has repeatedly tried to scheme against me, looking for faults in my husband."
Lin Dongqi sighed and said, "Every family truly has its own troubles. I'd rather have a mother-in-law like Second Aunt—kind and honest. Mine is a stepmother, so she treats the children from the previous marriage worse. Putting up with her constant nitpicking is one thing, but she favors my third sister-in-law, finds fault with everything I do, always tries to push her maids into my household, and even secretly probes about the size of my dowry..."
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