Lin Jinlou was already angered by Xianglan's refusal to appreciate his favor when Zhao Yuechan barged in unexpectedly, causing his expression to darken further. He still held Xianglan without letting go, glaring coldly at Zhao Yuechan.
Zhao Yuechan trembled with rage, rushing forward to grab Xianglan's hair and face as she cursed, "You whore! How dare you seduce my husband!"
Xianglan had known trouble was coming the moment Zhao Yuechan entered. Seeing her attack, she quickly retreated backward. Lin Jinlou had already stretched out his arm to shove Zhao Yuechan back, making her stagger.
Zhao Yuechan's eyes instantly reddened. Not daring to confront Lin Jinlou, she directed all her hatred toward Xianglan, pointing and shouting, "Heaven-cursed slut! Flaunting yourself before your master's husband! If I don't kill you today, I won't go on living!" Without another word, she charged at Xianglan, grabbing her hair.
Xianglan cried out in pain as her hair came loose from its bun. Filled with grievance and injustice, she thought to herself how this was truly an undeserved calamity—first harassed by the young master, now hated by his jealous wife. If she weren't a servant of the Lin family, she would have fought back against such insults long ago. Now she could only shield her face with her arms, weeping in frustration.
Zhao Yuechan viciously pulled Xianglan's hair and scolded, "How dare you cry!" She struck her several times with her other hand.
Lin Jinlou seized Zhao Yuechan's wrist and roared, "Haven't you had enough!"
Zhao Yuechan trembled weakly with rage, her voice shaking as she said, "Fine... just fine! You actually take her side... What potion has this little slut given you to make you scold your own wife..." Her hatred intensified, and she continued to claw at Xianglan. Xianglan burst into loud sobs, and the room descended into chaos.
Jixiang stood by the door, not daring to intervene. Fortunately, Shu Ran heard the commotion and hurried over, asking, "What's happening?"
Jixiang threw a glance into the room and whispered, "What else? Da Nǎinai interrupted the Eldest Master's... activities. Now it's chaos inside. Good sister, please go mediate. If this escalates and the master and madam find out, we'll all suffer the consequences."
Shu Ran quickly entered the room and grasped Zhao Yuechan's hand, smiling as she said, "What's the matter, Madam? Let's talk properly—don't harm your health with anger."
Zhao Yuechan's eyebrows shot up in fury. She spat at Shu Ran and snapped, "Who do you think you are? Get out of my way! Are you so pure yourself? Don't think I don't know you're all in this together, scheming against me! The Eldest Master has been completely corrupted by your influence!"
Lin Jinlou hadn't originally intended anything when he brought Xianglan to the study—he'd only planned to give her some gifts, stir some affection, and then make his intentions clear, planning to elevate her status after Old Madam Zeng's mourning period ended. Thus, he hadn't been particularly discreet. But upon seeing Xianglan's delicate beauty, he couldn't resist, especially since he'd been abstaining during the mourning period. Now that Zhao Yuechan had burst in, his shame had turned to rage, and seeing her hysterics only angered him further. He seized both of Zhao Yuechan's wrists and snarled, "You dare run wild in front of me? You've grown bold!" With a forceful grip, Zhao Yuechan cried out in pain and had to release her hold.Xianglan's heart swelled with a mixture of hatred and fury. She thought to herself, "Since things have come to this, the more chaotic it gets, the better. If Qin Shi finds out and becomes enraged, she might just sell me off. Then I can beg Song Ke to take me in." So she wailed and wept dramatically, crying out, "This is a grave injustice! If the Eldest Master orders me here, how dare I not come? What can I, a mere servant, do against my master's wishes? If that makes me a whore, then... I'd rather die!" Sobbing, she made a dash for the wall as if to end her life.
Shu Ran panicked and hurriedly pulled Xianglan back. Zhao Yuechan shrieked, "How dare she! How dare she play the victim! Let her die!" She rushed forward to strike Xianglan, which provoked Lin Jinlou's temper. He kicked Zhao Yuechan and roared, "Shut up!"
Though he had held back his strength, Zhao Yuechan was as delicate as a flower and could not withstand the blow. She crumpled to the ground, wailing at the top of her lungs, "Heaven has abandoned me! Every slut wants me dead, and now my foolish husband wants to kill me too! I have no face left to live..."
Lin Jinlou crouched down beside Zhao Yuechan and whispered softly, "If you want to make a scene, I'm not afraid. Keep crying, and tomorrow I'll make her my Concubine and divorce you for jealousy. Let's see how your parents and uncles dare plead for you then."
Zhao Yuechan's eyes flew open, tears streaming down, but her gaze was icy. She gritted her teeth and hissed, "You wouldn't dare..."
Lin Jinlou smiled faintly. "There's nothing I wouldn't dare."
Zhao Yuechan spat bitterly, "If it weren't for our Zhao family, do you think the Emperor would have spared the Lins? You ungrateful, heartless wretch..."
"Do you think the Zhao family has only one daughter?" Lin Jinlou curled his lip. "If you weren't somewhat pretty, do you think I would have married you? Rest assured—without you, your grandfather has plenty of granddaughters eager to become the Da Nǎinai of the Lin family. If I divorce you, he’ll send another in your place immediately. Believe it or not." He glanced at her sideways with a mocking smile and added softly, "If you don’t voluntarily step down, then behave yourself. That maid meant nothing to me—I was merely amusing myself. But you’ve grown bold, daring to show me attitude? Listen carefully: I’ve taken a liking to that girl. If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off! If you stop causing trouble, life can go on peacefully. Think it over." With that, he released her and walked away without another glance.
Zhao Yuechan trembled all over, her teeth grinding audibly. She lay on the floor with her eyes tightly shut, large teardrops rolling down her cheeks.
Lin Jinlou stepped outside and saw Shu Ran comforting Xianglan and settling her in a side room. He beckoned Shu Ran over and, after a moment’s thought, said, "Zhao Shi won’t cause any more trouble. Once she’s washed her face, send her back. As for that young maid... comfort her properly. I’ll go see her later."
Shu Ran nodded and turned to leave, but Lin Jinlou called out, "Wait."
Shu Ran hurried back. Lin Jinlou pondered for a moment and said, "Later, send someone quietly to the east wing to inform Wu Mama that Xianglan has been wronged. Tell her to console Xianglan tonight and have the kitchen prepare a soothing soup to calm her nerves."Shu Ran, with her sharp perception, understood the situation perfectly. She thought to herself that the maid named Xianglan was likely about to rise in status. The Eldest Master had dismissed Da Nǎinai with a few words but showed concern for Xianglan. Even Qinglan, who was once the most favored, had never received such attention from Lin Jinlou. Unconsciously, Shu Ran added more weight to Xianglan's importance and resolved to be extra diligent and ingratiating.
After finally settling Xianglan in the inner room, Shu Ran came out and saw Zhao Yuechan still lying on the floor. She couldn't help but feel a headache coming on and hurried over to help her up, saying, "My dear Madam, why are you lying on the ground? Even in summer, there's a chill—don't let it harm your health. Get up quickly, get up quickly."
Zhao Yuechan was no fool and knew when to take an opportunity. She allowed Shu Ran to help her up without resistance, covering her face with a handkerchief as she wept bitterly. Shu Ran seated her in a chair and quietly instructed a young servant boy waiting in the corridor to fetch hot water for Zhao Yuechan to wash her face. Once she had cleaned up and calmed down a bit, Shu Ran tentatively advised, "Why must Da Nǎinai provoke the Eldest Master? If this escalates and Madam finds out, not only will it anger the superiors, but it will also worry them. Besides, today Concubine Lan just gained significant favor... You know the Eldest Master's temperament well. No matter what he does outside, isn't the inner household still under your control?"
Tears welling in her eyes, Zhao Yuechan said, "I understand, but why is a woman's fate so bitter..."
Shu Ran inwardly scoffed, "Your bitterness is of your own making. If I were you, I'd let that Eldest Master indulge in his pleasures as he pleases. As the legitimate wife of the Lin family, with property and a crowd of servants at your disposal, why bother meddling in unnecessary troubles?" Outwardly, however, she wore a worried expression and sighed, "Isn't that the truth? But Madam, don't overthink it. Life is just about enduring day by day."
After exchanging a few more comforting words, she finally saw Zhao Yuechan off. As she was leaving, Zhao Yuechan took Shu Ran's hand and said, "Dear sister, I was out of my mind earlier and said many unpleasant things. Please don't be angry with me. I apologize."
Shu Ran quickly stepped aside and said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Zhao Yuechan chided, "What is there for you to not dare about?" Then, frowning slightly, she sighed softly, "When you have the chance, do try to persuade the Eldest Master to take better care of his health..." But inwardly, she thought, "That sly little wench Shu Ran is as slippery as an eel. Yingshuang tried to bribe her several times—she took the gifts but never lifted a finger to help. Just wait until I get the chance to deal with her!"
Shu Ran nodded repeatedly and smiled, "I will definitely convey your concern to the Eldest Master, Da Nǎinai. Truth be told, from what I've observed, the Eldest Master still holds you in his heart..." But she thought to herself, "A legitimate wife who can't even bear a child might be divorced by the Eldest Master any day. What airs is she putting on? She might end up worse off than a servant like me!"
Each harboring their own schemes and disdain for the other, they smiled with genuine-looking affection, parting as if they were dear sisters.
After seeing off the formidable Zhao Yuechan, Shu Ran sighed and lifted the curtain to enter the inner room. There, she found Xianglan sitting on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. She stepped forward and patted Xianglan's back gently, saying in a soothing tone, "Dear sister, stop crying now. Hold back your tears and let me see—you've cried yourself into a little tear-streaked kitten."Xianglan recalled Zhao Yuechan's ferocity and Lin Jinlou's influence, her heart trembling with genuine fear, unable to compose herself. She merely shook her head, weeping incessantly, and said, "Whom have I offended? I've been dutifully serving the Concubine, how could I have provoked that ancestor and suffered such unjust abuse?"
Shu Ran chuckled and said, "As the saying goes, 'No cross, no crown.' The hardships and suffering you endure today will turn into sweet nectar tomorrow. You're a sensible one—don't think our master treats you poorly just because Da Nǎinai threw a tantrum. Didn't you see how he shielded you earlier? If it were any other maid, Da Nǎinai would have scratched her face to shreds."
Xianglan understood clearly that Shu Ran had come to speak favorably of Lin Jinlou. She lowered her head in silence, secretly resolving to leave this den of trouble before Old Madam Zeng's mourning period ended.
Then Shu Ran continued, "You saw today's situation—the Eldest Master was willing to confront Da Nǎinai rather than let you be wronged. You should acknowledge this kindness and keep it in your heart. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Xianglan thought to herself, "Lin Jinlou and Zhao Yuechan's marital discord isn't new. When these two clash, I become the punching bag. Now I'm supposed to feel grateful for my misfortune—ah, this is truly the worst of bad luck." Aloud, she could only say, "I understand."
Lin Jinlou, eavesdropping outside the door, heard Xianglan say she "understood" and nodded imperceptibly to himself.
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