Lin Zhaoxiang pondered for a moment before speaking, "Earlier, when I received a letter from home and learned about the incident where you sisters administered poison, I could scarcely believe it. Coincidentally, a trusted old servant then told me something he had heard about you. You originally had two maids given by your legal mother—both cunning and disobedient. You wanted to dismiss them but feared offending your elders. So, you turned a blind eye to their reckless behavior and even facilitated their troublemaking, eventually provoking your legal mother's anger. One was severely beaten and died within days; the other was sold to a disreputable place. From this incident, I realized that your scheming and calculated maneuvering, allowing your sister to administer poison, was entirely within reason."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiyun's chest heaved violently, her entire body trembling. The old wound had been torn open, and she didn't know whether she was more furious or terrified, humiliated or resentful. A cold sweat drenched her back, her fingers digging deeply into her palms. Her vision blurred as if a hard lump were stuck in her chest—something she could neither swallow nor spit out. She felt an overwhelming urge to scream, unaware that her eyes had already turned bloodshot. She abruptly raised her head, glaring at Lin Zhaoxiang, unable to contain herself any longer. Her lips quivered, nearly rendering her speechless, and she raised her voice, "What choice did I have? I'm merely a concubine-born daughter. Despite excelling in everything, I'm forced to lower myself at every turn. Since childhood, I've had to feign ignorance through countless grievances and unwillingness, always treading carefully, constantly trying to please. Those I despise and loathe, I still have to smile and humor them. If only I were legitimate-born, would I have resorted to such methods to deal with two maids?! I didn't want to marry into the Lin family, yet my family insisted. I had resigned myself to fate, but with a favored concubine in the picture, I'm expected to become a mere ornament for the rest of my life. I don't like it, yet I'm forced to pretend I do! What choice do I have? I just want to live comfortably in my later years. I... I..." A stream of tears rolled down her cheeks as she murmured, "I had no other way... I had no other way..." Her voice choked, the words barely coherent.
Lin Zhaoxiang looked at Jiang Xiyun and said slowly, "Are you finished?" He then let out a light laugh, the tension on his face giving way to a hint of pity. "Xiyun, you're clever and sharp-witted. Others say you have depth and vision, but your breadth of mind and insight fall short. No wonder your cleverness has become your downfall."
Jiang Xiyun was stunned once more, her eyes widening in disbelief. Since childhood, she had prided herself on her exceptional perspective and insight, never expecting Lin Zhaoxiang to say such a thing.
Lin Zhaoxiang continued, "You knew what would happen to those two maids given your legal mother's temperament, and you knew they didn't deserve to die. Yet you still acted this way, simply because they were a nuisance to you. On the surface, it seemed they brought misfortune upon themselves, but behind the scenes, you were fanning the flames. Two lives, drenched in blood—have you ever felt remorse? You couldn't overpower Xianglan, and fearing a formidable rival in the future, you resorted to ruthless measures simply because she stood in your way. For the sake of your comfort, you repeatedly betray your conscience, yet still believe yourself to be righteous and justified?"
Jiang Xiyun stood dumbfounded, only able to sob softly.Lin Zhaoxiang said, "Earlier this year, a censorial memorial reached the Emperor's attention. It stated that there exists in officialdom a group of refined egoists—individuals of exceptional intelligence, worldly sophistication, and theatrical prowess, adept at coordination and skilled in manipulating others to serve their own ends. Once in power, they become malignant growths upon the court, more pernicious than common corrupt officials. Some employ stratagems for the welfare of the people, yet these individuals deploy them solely for personal gain." Having spoken, he looked at Jiang Xiyun, his gaze tinged with reproach. "Xiyun, how have you become one of them?"
The room fell into silence.
Jiang Xiyun stared at Lin Zhaoxiang in disbelief, her lips trembling but unable to form a single word. She wanted to argue—what had she done wrong? Wasn't everyone in this world simply striving for their own interests? If one didn't act decisively against others, one would only invite trouble upon oneself—why endure such hardship? She had a conscience, but she was no saint. When interests clashed, she had no leisure to pity others. Everyone aspired to integrity, but how many could truly live with unblemished purity? The classics of sages were read by all, yet which of their teachings could compare to the tangible comfort of a well-lived life? She merely wished to live with ease and tranquility, she... 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 had been sent by her clan elders to serve the lady's father as a concubine. Now reduced to a maid, she naturally felt aggrieved—flirting and posturing all day, weeping and wailing, indulging in idleness and gluttony, even pilfering 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 unmanageable. Some suggested seizing upon her faults to escalate the matter, forcing the elders to 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 reply before continuing, "Yet the young lady did not publicize the affair. She simply summoned the maid to her chamber, had a trusted matron administer ten strokes of the cane, and then presented her with five taels of silver. She said, 'I punish you because you have broken the rules, and without discipline, I cannot command respect. A public flogging might have been too much for you to bear, hence the private chastisement. I give you these five taels because I know of your hardships—you fell ill recently and likely spent all your savings on extra broth and meals from the kitchen, leaving you penniless and desperate, or else you would not have taken my jewelry. Now that you are recovering, the remaining ten strokes are deferred until you have regained your health. I show you mercy, and I hope you will not err again.' The maid broke down in tears and gradually improved. Later, she married a prosperous landowner as a concubine. And later still, when the young lady's family fell into disgrace and she vanished without a trace during exile, who would have thought that the following year, a tombstone bearing the young lady's name would appear beside her family's ancestral graves? A woman was seen paying respects there, and upon inquiry, it was revealed to be that very maid—grateful for her kindness—who had selected a burial site and erected a cenotaph in her memory." Lin Zhaoxiang lifted his eyes to Jiang Xiyun and said slowly, "That young lady was the eldest granddaughter of the former Chief Grand Councilor, Grand Academician Shen."Jiang Xiyun’s heart skipped a beat as Lin Zhaoxiang stared into her eyes and spoke with deliberate slowness: "These are maids who cannot be easily 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 cunning or numerous stratagems. But in truth, what ensures one remains unshaken is virtue embodied in tolerance and compassion. To understand the ways of the world yet refrain from becoming worldly—that is the mark of a true noble character."
After speaking 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 and restore your reputation for the sake of the longstanding friendship between the Lin and Jiang families, 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."
Hearing this, Jiang Xiyun felt a wave of relief, but it was quickly replaced by fluster and confusion. She stood up, uncertain whether to express gratitude, only to see Lin Zhaoxiang turn away once more, refusing to look at her. His voice, weathered with age, continued, "You are a child born of a concubine, orphaned of your mother at a young age, never quite winning your parents’ favor. 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, enduring mistreatment from your siblings without complaint. In all matters, you showed forbearance, always wearing a smile and bustling about to please others, earning your grandmother’s particular affection. As the saying goes, 'At three, one’s character is formed; at seven, one’s future is foreshadowed.' Even as a child, your magnanimity was evident, and it was clear you would grow into a fine person. That is why, when considering a match 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 one into greater ugliness. 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 some inexplicable reason, 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 outside, Ruizhu immediately came forward to support him. Squinting slightly at the sunlight, he let out a sigh. On the stage, the young actors resumed their singing, their voices rising and falling in a melodious drone. Lin Zhaoxiang entered the main hall, and everyone present rose to their feet. He seated himself alone by the Arhat Bed and motioned for the others to resume their seats and enjoy the performance. Qin Shi hurried over to offer him tea, then whispered, "The physician has just been here. He examined Second Sister-in-Law and diagnosed her with liver stagnation and qi blockage—a temporary fainting spell caused by emotional distress. She is now resting in bed and should be fine. Sister-in-law of Ting Ge’er has gone to attend to her." After a pause, she added, "As for Yuan Ge’er..." She lifted her eyes cautiously to glance at Old Madam Lin.
Old Madam Lin cleared her throat and said, "Yuan Ge’er has admitted his mistake. I’ve sent him to copy texts as punishment. He is still young—everyone has their mischievous moments. What matters is to teach him earnestly, not frighten him unnecessarily."
Lin Zhaoxiang snorted and muttered under his breath, "Indulgent mothers raise wayward sons! It was your excessive doting back then that made our second son turn out useless and embroil us in so many scandals. Yuan Ge’er has talent. Let me make this clear today: no one is to spoil him and lead him astray!"
Knowing Lin Zhaoxiang’s temperament well, Old Madam Lin showed no offense and fell silent. Qin Shi, too, stood by quietly, her 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, creating a picturesque scene. He suddenly felt a pang of emotion and wondered to himself: having lived to this 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 endured hardships, with extraordinary composure and breadth of mind—no wonder she could repeatedly rescue others despite her own dire circumstances. Leaning closer to Old Madam Lin, he whispered, "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?"
Old Madam Lin pondered for a moment before smiling. "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 the Shen family despite her being four years older than Lou Ge'er—though her younger sister Jialian was actually closer in age." She then sighed. "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 life."
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