Shuran smiled again and said, "Now that you understand, stop crying. You don’t know this, but Master also asked me to save some good things for you... Just wait a moment." With that, she stood up and left, returning shortly with a pink bundle. Sitting beside Xianglan, she unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing hair oil, rouge, face powder, and sachets inside. She smiled and said, "These were all specially left for you by Master—the same as what the young ladies from each household receive. Even your Concubine Lan doesn’t have this privilege... Also, there’s a fine piece of cloth. Master instructed me to have a nice dress tailored for you. Once it’s ready, I’ll send it over."
Xianglan’s heart sank deeper and deeper. She lowered her head and remained silent. Seeing that Xianglan was still sullen and showed no trace of bashfulness, Shuran thought, Oh no, could it be this little girl has no interest in Master? Not daring to press further, she covered the items in her hands and said, "Little sister, your hair is such a mess, and your face is streaked with tears. You should freshen up. If you don’t mind, you can use my things." As she spoke, she ordered the young servants to fetch hot water and personally brought over her own dressing case, propping up a polished mirror with floral designs.
After Xianglan washed her face, Shuran took out a small round enamel box inlaid with purple and gold. Unscrewing it, she revealed a creamy yellow ointment inside. "This is a fragrant balm to nourish the skin. It contains flowers, herbs, and medicinal ingredients—different from the ointment Master gave you. You can apply this to your face daily." Then she picked up an ebony comb and helped Xianglan smooth her hair into a glossy bun, preparing to pin in the jeweled hairpin Lin Jinlou had given her.
Xianglan quickly stopped her. "No, please use my old silver hairpin instead."
Shuran smiled. "This was a gift from Master. You should wear it without worry."
Xianglan said, "Such a precious thing—I’m not worthy of it. Wearing it would only make me uneasy. Sister, perhaps you could ask Master to keep it for now—"
Before she could finish, a voice sounded at the door. "Why do you keep saying you’re not worthy? It’s tiresome. If I say you’re worthy, then you are." Lin Jinlou strode in leisurely.
Xianglan was startled, thinking to herself, Why is this demon still haunting me? She was genuinely frightened and quickly stood up, hiding behind Shuran.
Seeing Xianglan’s fear, Lin Jinlou was displeased, yet he also found her timid demeanor rather endearing. He stopped and studied her.
Shuran, observing the situation, understood everything clearly. Making an excuse to fetch water, she picked up the basin and left.
Xianglan kept her head bowed desperately, watching as a pair of black court boots drew closer. She retreated step by step until her back hit the wall, with nowhere left to go, yet still not daring to raise her head.
Lin Jinlou’s lazy voice sounded above her. "How dare you refuse what I’ve given you, hmm? And you still don’t want to follow me?" He then lifted Xianglan’s chin, his eyes fixed intently on her.
Those eyes were cold and mocking, carrying a predatory chill that was impossible to decipher. Xianglan shivered from discomfort, a cold sensation creeping from her feet to the top of her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks onto Lin Jinlou’s hand. She choked out, "This servant... is afraid of the madam..."
Lin Jinlou exhaled softly. Ah, so that’s the reason. The anger in his chest dissipated considerably. His face softened into a smile as he gently wiped the tears from Xianglan’s cheeks. She trembled but clenched her teeth, not daring to pull away.Lin Jinlou said, "Why are you afraid of her? I'll divorce her tomorrow." As he spoke, he leisurely pinned the golden hairpin back into Xianglan's hair, tilting his head to admire it. "There's a set of eight of these. When I take you in as my concubine tomorrow, I'll give you the whole set to wear." He then planted a kiss on her left cheek.
Xianglan wanted to slap him, but she didn't dare. She could only stand there with her head bowed, gripping the hem of her clothes so tightly that her nails turned pale.
Just then, someone knocked lightly at the door, and Ji Xiang's voice came softly from outside: "Master, Master, Commander Fang from the camp is here to see you. He says there's urgent business requiring your instructions."
Lin Jinlou called out, "Understood!" Then, looking at Xianglan, he pinched her cheek and said, "Go back now. They won't dare do anything to you. If anyone bullies you, just tell me, and I'll deal with them." At the door, he beckoned Shuran over, gave her a few instructions, and then hurried off.
Xianglan secretly sighed in relief, her whole body going limp. She quickly pulled the hairpin from her hair. Shuran came in, insisting on escorting Xianglan back personally. Despite Xianglan's repeated refusals, Shuran paid no heed, simply picking up a lantern and walking beside her.
As they entered the courtyard of Knowing Spring Pavilion, everything was eerily quiet. The lights in the main rooms were all out, but the east and west wings were brightly lit. Ying Shuang stood at the courtyard gate and, upon seeing Xianglan return, hurried inside.
After bidding Shuran farewell, Xianglan entered the room and saw that Xiao Juan and the others hadn't returned yet. Only Yin Die's bed had its curtains drawn, with someone vaguely lying inside. Dragging her heavy steps to the bed, she collapsed onto it. After lying there for a moment, she suddenly took out a handkerchief and vigorously wiped the spot Lin Jinlou had kissed. She was terrified of Lin Jinlou—mortally afraid—and even more afraid of truly becoming the Lin family's concubine.
Her heart felt as heavy as a thousand-pound weight, pressing down on her until she could barely breathe. All she wanted was to leave servitude and live an ordinary, peaceful life with her parents. Even if her existence had already been ground into the dust—serving her masters, enduring insults and beatings—her spirit remained proud and unyielding. Being a servant was just something she endured for now, constantly telling herself these days would pass. But if she could never escape the mark of a slave, living a life of swallowed humiliation, she would rather die.
Just then, Chun Ling walked in, sat on the bed, and nudged Xianglan. "Hey, I heard Shuran escorted you back? Where did you go? Why would she be the one to bring you back?"
Xianglan forced a smile. "It was nothing. She was just heading this way."
Chun Ling clearly didn't believe her, scrutinizing Xianglan's face suspiciously. "Really? Shuran just went in to talk to the Concubine and couldn't stop praising you..."
This only made Xianglan more agitated. She sat up and said, "If you don't believe me, go ask Shuran yourself." She then excused herself to wash up.
A derisive laugh suddenly came from Yin Die's bed, followed by her voice: "Look at her, putting on airs already. Can't even handle a couple of questions."
Chun Ling's face darkened, and she flung her handkerchief aside before storming out.
Xianglan walked into the courtyard, crouched behind an ornamental rock, and weakly covered her eyes with her arm. She whispered to herself, "It's alright, don't panic. There must be a way out. These unbearable days will pass eventually..."No matter how Xianglan tried to console herself, Ying Shuang had already rushed back to report to Zhao Yuechan the moment she saw Xianglan return to the eastern wing: "Madam, that little wretch Xianglan is back. Shuran escorted her, so it seems the Master hasn't..."
Zhao Yuechan slammed the table furiously, her voice dripping with venom: "He may want to, but we're still in the mourning period for Old Madam Zeng! If he dares do such things, I'll make sure he loses his official position! The old master would break his legs with a rod too!"
Ying Shuang hurriedly patted Zhao Yuechan's back to calm her: "Madam, don't be angry. It's not worth ruining your health over such a worthless creature. You know the Master's temperament - today he fancies this, tomorrow that. Remember how he doted on Hua Mei like treasure? Then Qing Lan came along and she was forgotten. Now Qing Lan's pregnant and he was doting on her just days ago, yet the moment he returns, he's already eyeing some maid."
Zhao Yuechan took a sip of tea to moisten her throat: "And whose maid is Xianglan? Wang Qinglan's! I prepared Qiongzhi for him, but he wouldn't touch her. Instead he sets his sights on that little seductress Qinglan's maid. Don't you think this is Qinglan's scheme? Now that she's heavy with child and can't serve him, she's pushing forward a maid to rival me in the future."
Ying Shuang hesitated: "Surely... surely not? Is she clever enough for that?"
"Tch, haven't you seen how perfectly she runs that Poetry club? I'm starting to think her usual foolishness is just an act."
"I don't think she's that cunning, Madam. Don't overthink it." As she spoke, Ying Shuang removed a hairpin to adjust the candle wick brighter.
Zhao Yuechan fell silent, reclining on the kang with a dark expression. Recalling Lin Jinlou's words in the study earlier sent chills down her spine. If Lin Jinlou truly intended to divorce her and marry another girl from the Zhao family instead...
She shuddered violently and said to Ying Shuang: "Tell the gatekeepers to prepare horses at dawn tomorrow. I'm returning to my family home."
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Thank you Cherry Koukou, Hua Xiyuexi, Jingxi, and Bergamot & Kiwi for the Peace Talismans, much appreciated=3=
This book will be available on July 5th. Your support would mean the world - please consider saving some of your July pink votes for us^_^
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