After hiding for a while, Xianglan quietly returned to find the Pavilion of Joyful Abandon empty and deserted, letting out a sigh of relief. By then, the poetry gathering was nearly over. Qin Shi stood at the garden entrance with the Lin family's young ladies, bidding farewell to the guests. Once everyone had departed, she gave a few instructions before retiring to her quarters.
At Gathering Jade Residence, the crowd gradually dispersed. Qinglan, claiming fatigue, leaned on Chunling and left. Eventually, only Wu Mama, Xianglan, and Xiao Juan remained. Wu Mama grumbled angrily, "Look at her—first to snatch credit, yet nowhere to be found when it's time to work!" She then raised her voice, calling, "Yindie! Where's Yindie? Where has that little wench run off to?"
Xiao Juan pouted and said, "Who knows where she went? When it's time for work, she's nowhere to be seen. But if you shouted, 'Silver's being handed out!' she'd be the first to jump out."
Wu Mama couldn't help but laugh, tapping Xiao Juan's forehead lightly. She then went out to summon a few maids and older women to tidy up Gathering Jade Residence. After everything was put in order, Wu Mama took Xianglan aside to a quiet spot, pulled out a small silver ingot weighing two taels, and pressed it into her hand, saying, "This is for you—you've earned it."
Xianglan was startled. "Why so much? I thought you said it would be an extra month's allowance?"
Wu Mama smiled warmly. "You've done well, so you deserve a little extra. Take it—you've worked so hard these past days you've grown thinner. This silver is rightfully yours. Later, I'll speak with the Concubine and arrange half a month's leave for you."
Xianglan stopped refusing and thanked her repeatedly. Following Wu Mama's instructions, she first delivered some items to Huifeng Studio. On her way back, as she passed through a lush bamboo grove, she suddenly heard faint sobbing. Stopping in her tracks, she peered through the bamboo and saw Yindie weeping bitterly on her cousin Hanfang's shoulder.
Hanfang, a second-tier maid serving Lin Dongling, held some status. Tall and fair-skinned, she was not as beautiful as Yindie but still had her charms. Dressed in a jade-colored embroidered jacket and wearing a gold droplet hairpin, she looked quite elegant.
Yindie sobbed, "...Who would have thought the Eldest Master would slap me without a word? How can I face anyone now... Waa..."
Hanfang lifted Yindie's face and sighed. "You brought this on yourself. Why provoke the Living Yama of all people?" She glanced around and added, "He really hit you hard. The swelling won't go down for three or four days. Let's find some ointment to apply later—maybe it'll help a bit." Mentioning "ointment" reminded her of something. "Didn't the Xianglan in your room receive a box of Crystal Jade Orchid Snow Balm from the Eldest Master? They say it works wonders. Ask her for some—the marks will fade faster."
This only made Yindie cry harder. "I'd rather die than beg that little wench! Ever since she got that balm, she acts so superior. As if I'd use her things—ugh! Have you seen how she flatters Wu Mama? It makes me sick! Sister, she's no good. She's clearly ambitious but puts on a modest act. What does the Concubine's poetry gathering have to do with her? She insists on bustling about—she just loves showing off! She's only trying to stand out so the Eldest Master will notice her more. What a piece of work!"When Hanfang heard this, she immediately raised her eyebrows and said, "Xianglan may have delicate features, but I can tell she’s no decent sort—just as expected! A maid should know her place. The mistress hasn’t even received any ointment, yet she got a box. I heard Lan Yiniang has been keeping her distance lately. With such arrogance, it’s no wonder she’s so unpopular!"
Listening to the two of them trading barbs, Xianglan curled her lips into a faint, cold smile. What use was helping the concubine with the poetry club? It was more useful than they knew!
Her father, a timid and honest third shop manager, relied solely on his meager stipend from the Lin household, often having to bribe the head manager just to keep peace. Her mother earned a pittance by sewing and washing clothes for others. Xianglan was determined to free her family from servitude, but that required money for their redemption! And even if they shed their humble status, how would they make a living? Whether her father wanted to open a shop or her parents needed support in their old age, they would need capital. Now that she was in the mansion and couldn’t paint freely, she had lost a source of income. She hadn’t wanted to take on the poetry club responsibilities, but when Wu Mama mentioned an extra month’s allowance, she was tempted. Though she now enjoyed fine food like chicken, duck, and fish in the mansion, her parents still lived frugally, only eating meat when she visited. She noticed it all, said nothing, but her heart ached. With that extra silver, her mother could take on fewer sewing jobs and wash fewer clothes, and her parents could afford better, nourishing food. Yindie and Hanfang came from well-off servant families—their allowances were spent on rouge powder, hair oil, and a few bright new outfits. How could they understand her worries and struggles?
Moreover, ever since the Eldest Master had given her that box of ointment, the east wing had turned strange. She faced sneers and collective attacks, and even Qinglan treated her coldly. Only Xiao Juan remained innocent and friendly toward her; no one else spoke up on her behalf. Even Yindie, a mere third-rank maid, dared to talk back and act wild. Why? Simply because Yindie’s family were longstanding servants of the Lin household, with influence! Qinglan had repeatedly tried to drive Yindie out of the east wing but never dared to act.
Though Xianglan was kind-natured, that didn’t mean she would tolerate being bullied. Back when she served Cao Lihuan, she had no choice but to tread carefully every day. Putting up with her mistress was one thing, but should she now endure insults from a third-rank maid? Yindie only bullied her because Xianglan had no backing in the Lin mansion. Without someone to rely on, staying meek and low-key would only lead to her downfall. So Xianglan found herself a patron—Wu Mama.
Wu Mama was an old retainer of the Lin family, originally a dowry servant of Qin Shi, and unlike the others, Lin Jinlou had been nursed by her. She held the highest respect among the old servants yet never put on airs—cheerful and easygoing, but her words carried weight. Recently, Xianglan had worked diligently, earning Wu Mama’s approval. With Wu Mama speaking up for her, Qinglan had grown warmer, and Yindie had toned down her behavior. Besides, everyone thought the poetry club was organized by Wu Mama assisting Lan Yiniang; for Qinglan’s sake, Wu Mama wouldn’t reveal the inside story.
This poetry club affair had not only earned her silver but also secured her an ally and protector—killing two birds with one stone.But today, Lin Jinlou came looking for her again, and Xianglan felt uneasy. She calculated in her heart that she would later ask Wu Mama for leave and return home for half a month to avoid the trouble and cool Lin Jinlou's interest. Moreover... she still faintly held onto hope—that Song Ke might take her away. If that happened, it would be much easier to shed her lowly status later—perhaps Song Ke might even release her with a single command.
In the Lin residence, she carefully plotted her future like playing a game of chess, thinking three steps ahead with each move. Such foresight was something that narrow-minded fools like Yindie could never comprehend.
Xianglan overheard Hanfang vaguely saying about her, "She's not a likable sort," and couldn't help but shake her head. She had never thought about how to be a clever, smooth-talking servant who pleased her masters on all sides. She simply tried to make her life in the Lin family as comfortable as possible, earn more silver, and leave her status behind as soon as she could.
Let whoever wants to be a likable servant do so—Chen Xianglan would have no part in it!
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