Chun Ling lowered the embroidered bird-patterned bed curtains on the carved wooden bed. A pale hand emerged from behind the drapes, which Chun Ling promptly covered with a handkerchief, concealing even that slender white wrist before stepping aside. Wu Mama led the physician in to examine Qing Lan's pulse.
After taking her pulse, the physician said, "The lady's condition stems from pent-up frustration and phlegm clouding her mind, causing her to faint. Her health is otherwise unharmed, and the fetus remains stable. She'll recover after taking two doses of medicine to calm her nerves and regulate her qi." With that, he went out to write the prescription and left.
Wu Mama walked to the outer chamber and said to Xianglan and the others, "The physician says Concubine Lan is fine." Chun Ling immediately clasped her hands in prayer, while Xianglan let out a long sigh of relief.
Just then, a maid at the door announced, "Taitai is here!" Qin Shi had already stepped inside. Wu Mama hurried forward to greet her. Qin Shi's face was dark as she demanded sharply, "How is Concubine Lan?"
Wu Mama thought to herself, "Who could have been so loose-lipped to report this to Taitai so quickly?" Glancing behind Qin Shi, she spotted Zhao Yuechan following and understood the situation better. Forcing a smile, she replied, "By your grace, Concubine Lan is unharmed. The physician advised rest and prescribed medicine, which is already being brewed."
She then ushered Qin Shi into the room and lifted the bed curtains, saying, "Concubine Lan, Taitai has come to see you."
Qing Lan struggled to sit up, but Qin Shi quickly stepped forward to stop her, sitting by the bed and saying, "Lie down—getting up too quickly will make you dizzy." She studied Qing Lan's pale face and slightly swollen, reddened eyes, as if she had been crying, and softened her voice. "You really must take better care of yourself. How could you faint out of nowhere?"
Qing Lan parted her lips and forced a weak smile. "It's my fault for worrying you, Taitai."
Before Qin Shi could respond, Zhao Yuechan took out a handkerchief to dab at her tears and said, "This is all my fault. If you must blame anyone, Mother, blame me."
As it turned out, Yin Liu had gone back to report to Zhao Yuechan, who was delighted to hear that Qing Lan had fainted from anger upon learning that Lin Jinlou intended to elevate Xianglan's status. Seizing the opportunity, she devised another scheme. She immediately took two boxes of tea to Qin Shi's quarters, claiming she had just returned from her family home and brought some premium new tea for Qin Shi to enjoy. Before she could say much, Yin Liu came running in breathlessly, announcing that Concubine Lan had fainted. Qin Shi, alarmed, hastily gathered her attendants and rushed over.
Already concerned about Qing Lan's condition, Qin Shi frowned at Zhao Yuechan's words. "What does this have to do with you?"
Zhao Yuechan replied, "Yesterday, I thought to myself that since the Master had just returned home and barely touched his dinner, and with his heavy workload at night, I worried for his health. So I went to the kitchen to prepare some food and brought it to his study. There, I happened to see Xianglan from Concubine Lan's quarters attending to him. The Master then told me he intended to elevate that maid. I had already been thinking that since Concubine Lan is further along in her pregnancy and burdened by her condition, the Master ought to have another clever girl by his side. It was perfect that he took a liking to one himself. The Master repeatedly instructed me not to mistreat Xianglan, so I selected some jewelry and cloth, sending them over..."Qin Shi had already grasped most of the situation by now, her brows furrowing even tighter. Zhao Yuechan continued, "Perhaps Concubine Lan has been exhausted from managing the poetry club these past few days and should have been resting quietly. It was thoughtless of me to send people over with such commotion today, disturbing her peace. Moreover, Xianglan is her maid—I should have consulted Concubine Lan first before acting." She dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. "Thankfully Concubine Lan is unharmed, otherwise my fault would have been grave..."
Xianglan, eavesdropping from the side room, paled instantly. Zhao Yuechan was making her the scapegoat! These words quietly implicated both her and Qing Lan. "Just happened to see Xianglan from Concubine Lan's quarters serving the Master"—this clearly insinuated that she had been secretly seducing the master, while Zhao Yuechan appeared virtuous, "selecting some jewelry and sending over cloth." Who would have thought Concubine Lan would be so jealous as to faint from anger! It was Zhao Yuechan who had stirred up trouble and sowed discord, yet now she was posing as the most magnanimous one.
Wu Mama thought to herself that Zhao Yuechan was trying to kill with a borrowed knife and quickly interjected to Qin Shi, "This old servant is also at fault. Seeing the Master constantly busy and Concubine Lan with her delicate condition, I suggested to the Master that after Old Madam Zeng's mourning period, we could add another attendant. These days, I noticed Xianglan was honest and reliable, so I mentioned her to the Master, who then took an interest. Last night, he called Xianglan over to ask a few questions, but the Mistress happened to see..."
Hearing Wu Mama speak up for her, Xianglan felt slightly reassured and quietly peeked through a gap in the curtain. She saw Qin Shi sitting upright on the bed, her expression unreadable.
Qing Lan, who had intended to exaggerate her illness to gain Qin Shi's sympathy, could no longer stay still. Struggling up, she said tearfully, "The Mistress didn’t disturb me. I’ve been feeling unwell these past few days from the poetry club affairs and was already lightheaded, which is why I fainted."
Zhao Yuechan quickly responded, "Don’t say that, sister. It was my fault."
Qin Shi spoke up, "What did Yuechan send over? Bring it here for me to see." Wu Mama promptly presented the hairpins, jewelry, and cloth for Qin Shi’s inspection. After silently examining them, Qin Shi set them aside and said, "Where is Xianglan? Bring her here."
Xianglan’s heart pounded as she steeled herself and stepped forward, kneeling properly before Qin Shi. Qin Shi narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her from head to toe, then glanced at Zhao Yuechan and Qing Lan before suddenly raising her voice sharply, "Have I been too lenient with you all, making you think I’m a fool to be deceived? Now you’re putting on a show for me?"
The room fell deathly silent. Zhao Yuechan and Wu Mama immediately knelt, murmuring "We wouldn’t dare," while Qing Lan hastily tried to rise. Qin Shi forbade her from leaving the bed, so she knelt there instead, though Qin Shi paid her no attention.
Qin Shi fixed her gaze on Zhao Yuechan. "Daughter-in-law, you said today’s incident was all your fault—that Lou Ge wanted to promote a maid, and you sending gifts to the east wing caused Concubine Lan to faint. Is that correct?"Zhao Yuechan sniffled twice, shedding a few tears as she said, "It's all my fault. I was only concerned that there wasn't anyone proper to take care of the Master now, and I remembered him saying not to let Xianglan feel slighted. Last night, the Master even had Shuran personally escort Xianglan back. Seeing this, I knew the Master had taken her to heart, so I rushed to send some things over... Who would have thought I'd overlooked Concubine Lan's condition, forgetting she had also been overworked recently."
These words filled Xianglan with deep resentment, while Qing Lan bit her lips so hard they nearly bled. Qin Shi, however, gave a soft laugh and said to Zhao Yuechan, "Yuechan, you'd better put away those little tricks of yours. Do you take me for a fool?"
Zhao Yuechan's heart immediately sank, and the handkerchief she had been using to wipe her tears froze in place. She quickly bowed her head and kowtowed, saying, "I don't understand what Taitai means by that."
Qin Shi adjusted the hem of her skirt and spoke with an air of indifference, "First, as the lady of the main household, you are responsible for all its internal affairs. You knew Qing Lan was heavily pregnant and had been overworked recently—why didn't you send someone to check on her? When sending things to this girl, why didn't you think to prepare something for Qing Lan as well? The child in Qing Lan's belly is the bloodline of our Lin family. When it's born, it will call you 'Mother.' If you neglect her, it shows your lack of virtue."
This heavy accusation left Zhao Yuechan momentarily stunned, and she could only reply meekly, "This daughter-in-law was thoughtless."
Qin Shi continued, "Second, you secretly schemed to play tricks. She's just a girl who hasn't even been formally elevated yet. If you wanted to send her something, you could have done so quietly in private. Was it really necessary to send several people to deliver things so ostentatiously? And even if you sent them, why make it so extravagant, flaunting it for everyone to see? Were you afraid people wouldn't know the young master favors a maid? We're still in mourning for Old Madam Zeng—if word gets out, are you waiting for someone to use this against the young master?"
Zhao Yuechan wept and prostrated herself on the ground, saying, "This daughter-in-law would never dare."
Xianglan inwardly praised Qin Shi for her clear reasoning and sharp insight. She lifted her eyes slightly to glance upward and saw Concubine Lan kneeling beside Qin Shi, her complexion already much improved after Qin Shi's words.
Qin Shi sighed and added, "There are other things I'd rather not say too plainly. As women, we all live our lives within these inner chambers. I understand what's in your heart. But some things should be done, and others should not—you must discern this clearly. Once you entered the Lin family, you became one of us. As I said before, you are the principal wife, fundamentally different from a concubine. Why must you compete at every turn? Your words and actions should uphold the dignity of the Lin family. If you only think of yourself, where is the grace and bearing befitting a matriarch of an esteemed household?"
Every word Qin Shi spoke struck at Zhao Yuechan's conscience. Unable to respond, she felt as if Qin Shi had seen right through her. She could only kowtow repeatedly, weeping, "Taitai, I was wrong. Please forgive me this once."
Seeing Zhao Yuechan humbled, her usual imposing demeanor completely gone, Qing Lan felt a surge of satisfaction and nearly allowed herself a smirk. But suddenly, Qin Shi turned sharply, her piercing gaze fixed on Qing Lan as she enunciated each word, "And you—do you know your mistake?"
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