Shu Ran smiled again and said, "Now that you understand, stop crying. You don't know this, but the Eldest Master also asked me to save some nice things for you... Just wait a moment." With that, she stood up and went out, returning shortly with a pink bundle. Sitting beside Xianglan, she unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing hair oil, rouge, face powder, and a scented sachet inside. She smiled and said, "These are all specially left for you by the Eldest Master, the same as what the young ladies of each household received. Even your Lan Yiniang doesn’t have this honor... Additionally, there’s a fine bolt of cloth. The Eldest Master instructed me to have a nice dress tailored for you, and I’ll send it over once it’s finished."
Xianglan’s heart sank deeper and deeper. She lowered her head and said nothing. Seeing that Xianglan remained sullen and showed no sign of bashfulness, Shu Ran thought, "Oh no, could it be that this young girl has no interest in the Eldest 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 tear-stained. You should freshen up. If you don’t mind, you can use my things." As she spoke, she instructed the young servants to fetch hot water and personally brought over her own dressing case, setting up a polished lozenge-shaped mirror.
After Xianglan washed her face, Shu Ran took out a small round enamel box in purple and gold, unscrewing it to reveal a creamy yellow ointment. She explained with a smile, "This is a fragrant cream to moisturize the skin, made with flowers, herbs, and medicinal ingredients. It’s different from the ointment the Eldest Master gave you—this one can be applied to the face daily." Then, picking up an ebony comb, she helped Xianglan style her hair into a glossy bun and was about to secure it with the eight-treasure hairpin Lin Jinlou had given her.
Xianglan quickly stopped her, saying, "No, please use my old silver hairpin instead."
Shu Ran chuckled and said, "This was a gift from the Eldest Master. You should wear it without worry."
Xianglan replied, "Such a valuable thing—I’m not worthy of it. Wearing it would make me uneasy. Sister, why not ask the Eldest Master to keep it for now..."
Before she could finish, someone at the door interjected, "Why do you keep talking about being worthy or not? 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 tyrant still haunting me?" She was genuinely frightened and quickly stood up, hiding behind Shu Ran.
Seeing Xianglan’s fear, Lin Jinlou felt somewhat displeased, yet he found her timid demeanor rather endearing. He stood still and watched her.
Shu Ran, understanding the situation perfectly, excused herself to fetch water and left with the basin.
Xianglan kept her head bowed stubbornly. She saw a pair of black court boots approaching step by step and retreated backward until she reached the corner, with no way to escape. Still, she dared not look up.
Lin Jinlou’s lazy voice sounded above her head, "How dare you refuse what I’ve given you, hmm? And you still don’t want to follow me?" As he spoke, he lifted Xianglan’s chin, his eyes fixed intently on her.
Those eyes were icy and mocking, carrying a predatory chill that was hard to decipher. Xianglan shuddered with discomfort, a cold sensation shooting from her feet to the top of her head. A few tears welled up in her eyes, trickling down her cheeks and dripping onto Lin Jinlou’s hand. She choked out, "This servant... is afraid of Da Nǎinai..."
Lin Jinlou let out a soft sigh. So that was the reason. The anger in his chest dissipated mostly. A smile returned to his face as he gently wiped the tears from Xianglan’s cheeks. Xianglan trembled, gritting her teeth, but ultimately did not dare to pull away.Lin Jinlou said, "Why are you afraid of her? I'll divorce her one of these days." As he spoke, he leisurely reinserted the golden hairpin into Xianglan's hair, examining it from left and right before remarking, "There are eight pieces in this set. When I take you into the household, I'll give you all of them to wear." With that, he 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, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes until her fingernails turned pale.
Just then, someone knocked lightly on the door. They heard Jixiang's soft voice outside: "Eldest Master, Eldest Master, Lord Fang from the camp is here to see you. He says it's urgent and seeks your instructions."
Lin Jinlou called out to the door, "Understood!" He turned to Xianglan, pinched her cheek, and said, "Go back now. They won't dare do anything to you. If anyone bullies you, tell me, and I'll deal with them." At the doorway, he beckoned Shu Ran over, gave her a few instructions, and then hurried off.
Xianglan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her entire body going limp. She quickly pulled the hairpin from her hair. Shu Ran entered and insisted on personally escorting Xianglan back. Despite Xianglan's repeated refusals, Shu Ran paid no heed, picking up a lantern and walking alongside her.
As they stepped into the courtyard of the Hall of Knowing Spring, everything was quiet and still. The lights in the main room were completely extinguished, but the east and west wings were brightly lit. Yingshuang stood at the courtyard gate and, upon seeing Xianglan return, hurried inside.
After bidding farewell to Shu Ran, Xianglan entered the room and saw that Xiao Juan and the others had not yet returned. Only Yindie's bed had its curtains drawn, with the faint outline of someone lying inside. Dragging her heavy steps to the bed, she collapsed onto it. After lying there for a moment, she suddenly took a handkerchief and vigorously wiped the spot where Lin Jinlou had kissed her. She was afraid of Lin Jinlou, terrified, and even more afraid of truly becoming a concubine of the Lin family.
Her heart felt as heavy as a thousand-pound weight, pressing down on her until she could hardly breathe. All she wanted was to be freed from her status and live a simple, peaceful life with her parents. Even though her existence had been reduced to the dust—serving her masters, being driven like cattle, enduring insults and beatings—deep down, she remained proud and unyielding. For now, being a servant was merely something she endured, constantly reminding herself that these days would eventually pass. If she could never escape the mark of a slave, living a life of swallowed humiliation, she would rather die.
At that moment, Chunling walked in, sat on the bed, and nudged Xianglan. "Hey, I heard Sister Shu Ran escorted you back? Where did you go? Why would she be the one to see you home?"
Xianglan forced a smile. "It's nothing. She was just heading the same way."
Chunling clearly didn't believe her, scrutinizing Xianglan's face with suspicion. "That can't be, right? Sister Shu Ran just went in to speak with 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 Shu Ran yourself." Using this as an excuse, she went to wash up.
A derisive laugh suddenly came from Yindie's bed, followed by her voice: "Look at her, putting on airs already. Can't even tolerate a couple of questions."
Chunling also left with a dark expression, flicking her handkerchief dismissively.
Xianglan walked into the courtyard, crouched slowly behind an oddly shaped rock, and weakly covered her eyes with her arm. Quietly, she whispered to herself, "It's alright, don't rush. There must be a way out. These unbearable days will eventually come to an end..."No matter how Xianglan tried to console herself, Yingshuang had already witnessed her return to the eastern wing and immediately rushed back to report to Zhao Yuechan: "Madam, that little wretch Xianglan is back. Shu Ran escorted her, so it seems the Eldest Master hasn't yet..."
Zhao Yuechan slammed the table fiercely, her voice dripping with venom: "He may wish to, but we're in the mourning period for Old Madam Zeng! If he dares commit such an offense, I'll make sure he loses his black gauze hat! The old master would break his legs with a rod!"
Yingshuang hurriedly tried to calm her mistress: "Madam, please don't anger yourself over such a worthless creature. You know the Eldest Master's nature - today he favors this, tomorrow that. Remember how he treasured Huamei like precious jade? Then Qinglan came along and he forgot all about her. Now Qinglan's with child, and just two days ago he was still doting on her, but the moment he returns home he's already seducing 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 eyes on that little wretch Qinglan's maid. Don't you think that vixen Qinglan put her up to this? Now that she's heavy with child and can't serve him herself, she's pushing forward a maid to rival me in the future."
Yingshuang hesitated, "This... surely not? Would she have the cunning for that?"
"Tch, didn't you see how perfectly she managed that poetry club? I'm starting to think her foolishness was all an act."
"I don't think she's that clever, Madam. You mustn't overthink it." As she spoke, Yingshuang removed a hairpin and adjusted the candle wick to brighten the flame.
Zhao Yuechan fell silent, leaning against the kang with a dark expression. Remembering Lin Jinlou's words in the outer study earlier, a chill ran through her. If Lin Jinlou truly intended to divorce her and marry another girl from the Zhao family instead...
She shuddered violently and said to Yingshuang, "Tell the servants at the second gate to prepare the horses first thing tomorrow morning. I'm returning to my parental home."
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