At three quarters past the hour of You, Xianglan returned to the mansion in a small sedan chair. Dinner had just concluded in the household, the garden gates were about to be locked for the night, lanterns were lit in every room, and silence enveloped the surroundings. Xianglan chose a cool, secluded path to walk along. As she approached the rear gate of the Zhichun Hall courtyard, she faintly glimpsed two figures conversing behind an oddly shaped rock. Drawing closer and peering through the twilight, she realized the two were none other than Yingshuang and Yindie.
Startled, Xianglan hurriedly quickened her pace and hid around a corner, cautiously peeking out. Yingshuang was whispering instructions to Yindie, who nodded intermittently. Finally, Yingshuang drew some loose silver from her sleeve and pressed it into Yindie’s hand. After a few polite refusals, Yindie compliantly tucked the silver into her own sleeve.
Xianglan thought to herself, "Is Yingshuang trying to win Yindie over? I must be more wary of her from now on."
Contemplating this, she took a longer detour and entered through the main gate, heading to the eastern wing to express her gratitude to Qinglan. Qinglan, fanning herself, was dressed in a white silk blouse and a floral-patterned silk skirt, reclining on a daybed by the window with her eyes closed, resting. She casually inquired about Xianglan’s family circumstances. Noting that Qinglan seemed weary, Xianglan kowtowed and took her leave.
Upon returning to her room, Xianglan found Yindie already inside, sitting on the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly into the distance. Xiao Juan, spotting Xianglan, bounded over cheerfully and asked, "You’re back! Is everything well at home?"
Xianglan smiled and replied, "Thank you for your concern, all is well at home." As she spoke, she distributed the sweet preserves she had bought from the shop for everyone to share.
Just then, Chunling entered the room and greeted Xianglan. Turning her head, she caught sight of Yindie and immediately scowled, pointing an accusing finger and scolding, "I told you earlier that the Concubine wanted to bathe and asked you to hurry the hot water. And here you are, sitting on the bed like a mistress—should we set up an incense burner and worship you too?"
Yindie, startled, scrambled off the bed and rushed out to hasten the water. Chunling chased after her, berating, "You shameless, clueless wretch! Do you really think you’re a lady?"
Seeing the commotion was becoming unseemly—a few young maids from the main residence were already peering into the courtyard from their doorways—Xianglan pulled Chunling back inside and said soothingly, "Sister, please don’t be angry. Let me pour you a bowl of tea."
Chunling, fanning herself with a small handkerchief, fumed, "The sight of her attitude infuriates me! You weren’t in the mansion today, so you didn’t see—that little hussy boldly attached herself to the Eldest Master. She made a pouch to cozy up to him and even said she’d adjust his clothes, reaching out to touch him. But just as she stretched her hand, the Concubine happened upon them. Thankfully, our Concubine is even-tempered and didn’t embarrass her on the spot. She waited until the Eldest Master left before disciplining her, docking three months’ worth of her rice allowance."
Xianglan gasped in astonishment. "She... she’s far too audacious..."
Chunling snorted, "Audacious? She’s downright mad. She’s been privately complaining of injustice, telling uninformed people, ‘I was punished just for adjusting the Eldest Master’s clothes.’ She even dragged Xiao Juan and me into her grumbling." Lowering her voice, she added, "I’ll tell you this in confidence—don’t spread it around—but I heard from Wu Mama that the Concubine plans to summon Yindie’s parents to the mansion soon and have them take her back home."
Xianglan remarked, "If that really happens, it would be a tremendous humiliation for her."
Chunling covered her mouth and giggled, "Exactly. With her gone, we’ll have some peace and quiet." Humming a tune, she turned and walked out.That evening, Lin Jinlou went to the east wing for dinner. Qinglan promptly ordered two additional dishes he favored and had a fresh pot of soup prepared, causing a flurry of activity throughout the east wing. Qinglan warmed a pot of wine for Lin Jinlou using a colorful glazed petal-shaped wine set, while she herself kept him company with tea, creating a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere.
Chunling eagerly took charge of serving at the front, so Xianglan seized the chance to avoid the bustle. She stayed in the tea room, tending to the stove while doing needlework. Suddenly, she heard movement at the door, and Wu Mama entered, settling on a small stool beside Xianglan. Fanning herself with her hand, Wu Mama remarked, "This room feels like a steamer, yet you can sit here so calmly."
Xianglan smiled and said, "It’s quiet here. A little heat doesn’t bother me." As she spoke, she picked up the copper kettle from the stove and poured a cup of tea for Wu Mama.
Wu Mama’s smile smoothed the wrinkles on her face. "It’s lively in the east wing today. The Eldest Master has been staying here for several days in a row, completely ignoring the main residence. Judging by how things are going, he’ll likely rest here again tonight."
Xianglan asked, "What if Da Nǎinai gets angry?"
Wu Mama snorted. "Who cares if she’s angry or not? Madam uncovered several issues while checking the accounts and is furious with her. The Eldest Master can’t be bothered with her either. Aside from Second Madam, who has a soft heart and occasionally sends people over with gifts, no one in the entire household pays her any mind." Leaning closer to Xianglan, she lowered her voice. "I once overheard the Concubine mention that the Eldest Master is considering... a divorce after the mourning period ends."
Xianglan was shocked, her eyes widening. "Divorce? That’s no joking matter..."
Wu Mama sighed. "I agree. The Zhao family would never let it slide. Although Da Nǎinai’s immediate family only holds a sixth-rank position, the Zhao clan is a prominent one, with many officials in court. If this escalates, it could become quite messy. This is just what the Eldest Master has in mind... Ah, even if they do divorce, our Concubine may not necessarily be elevated to the principal wife." She then adopted a serious expression. "What I just told you must not be shared with anyone, not even Xiao Juan or Chunling. The Concubine holds you in high regard, which is why I confided in you."
Xianglan nodded. "Mama, don’t worry. I won’t breathe a word." Before she could finish speaking, Chunling rushed in, grabbed Xianglan’s hand, and said, "The Eldest Master sent me to deliver something to Madam. We’re short-handed up front. Hurry to the small kitchen and bring in the pastries."
Xianglan had no choice but to go to the small kitchen. She took four plates of pastries from the cook, arranged them on a tray, and entered the bedroom. Keeping her head lowered as she stepped inside, she glanced around discreetly. She saw Lin Jinlou and Qinglan dining on the large kang inside the Green Gauze Bed. A mother-of-pearl-inlaid vermilion lacquer kang table, adorned with gold, was laden with an abundance of fine dishes and wine. Lin Jinlou reclined on the inner side, leaning against an ink wash painting-inspired blue satin Headrest. His hair was already loosened, and he had changed into casual attire, his collar half-open to reveal his sturdy chest. He held a delicate porcelain wine cup decorated with auspicious treasures and golden blossoms, exuding an air of unrestrained ease. Qinglan sat beside the kang table, using her chopsticks to feed him bites of food. Whenever his wine cup emptied, she would pick up the pot and refill it.Xianglan cautiously stepped forward, placed the dessert plate on the table, and cleared away two untouched dishes. When Lin Jinlou saw Xianglan enter, his heart skipped a beat, and he narrowed his eyes. Ever since their brief exchange last time, for some reason, that radiant and delicate face had lingered in his mind. When he went to the east wing again, he couldn’t find the young maid. He had come several days in a row and even intentionally or unintentionally mentioned her to Qinglan. Unexpectedly, Qinglan was oblivious and failed to grasp his intentions, letting his words go in one ear and out the other. He remembered Xianglan saying she only did needlework in the back and never served tea or water upfront, so he deliberately went to the tea room to look for her but still couldn’t find her. Today, to his surprise, he finally saw her.
Lin Jinlou took a small sip of wine and said to Xianglan, "Stay here and serve. Don’t go anywhere else."
Xianglan was very reluctant but had no choice but to obediently stand about ten feet away from the Green Gauze Bed, ready to take orders. To her annoyance, Lin Jinlou was particularly vexing, complaining one moment that the wine was cold and the next that the dishes were too bland, ordering her to do this and that. Suddenly, Lin Jinlou called out again, "I’ve been running around these past few days, and my legs are sore. You, come here and massage them for me."
As soon as Qinglan heard this, she immediately moved to massage Lin Jinlou’s feet. Lin Jinlou quickly stopped her, took her hand, and said with a smile, "You’re with child—how could I bear to trouble you? Let a maid do the massaging."
Xianglan had no choice but to pick up a beauty mallet and stand by the kang to massage Lin Jinlou’s legs. Yet he still wasn’t satisfied, grumbling, "Use your hands. The beauty mallet is too hard—it doesn’t feel comfortable."
Lin Jinlou half-closed his eyes, watching Xianglan obediently clenching her fists to massage his legs. Her hands felt like two balls of cotton, touching him as lightly as a tickle, yet he found it strangely soothing. Especially when he ordered Xianglan to do this and that, keeping her busy and revolving around him, it gave him a sense of satisfaction.
Finally, after the meal was over, Xianglan shook her sore hands and picked up a tray to clear the table. Lin Jinlou pointed to two plates on the table and said, "These two plates of desserts, along with a bowl of congee, are yours to eat. Finish them and then come back to serve during washing up."
Xianglan thanked him for the reward and went outside to take a look. The plates were filled with lotus root honey cakes, glutinous rice chilled cakes, kidney bean rolls, pigeon glass cakes, cream pineapple jelly, and pork floss pastry rolls, along with a bowl of japonica rice and bird’s nest congee—all of the finest delicacies. Normally, even leftovers of such dishes were reserved for the masters to eat later.
Xianglan thought to herself, "These two plates of desserts were just ordered from the kitchen when he sent me there earlier, and now he hasn’t even touched them. I wonder if this Eldest Master is compassionate and enjoys rewarding his subordinates with fine things, or if he’s just wasteful and doesn’t know how to save, squandering money like this." It never crossed her mind that there might be another meaning behind it. Happily, she brought the desserts to the tea room, set aside two overly sweet pieces for Xiao Juan, and devoured the rest.
Suddenly, a maid at the door announced, "Da Nǎinai is here!"
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