Now let us speak of Lin Jinlou. Today, several of his friends from the capital had arrived, all scions of noble families who had long maintained good relations with the Lin family. Naturally, Lin Jinlou played the host, inviting Lin Jinting along, and the two brothers held a banquet at the Quanfu Restaurant. They even summoned a few skilled courtesans from the brothel who could sing and play instruments to enliven the occasion, making it quite a lively affair.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes, the company grew increasingly unrestrained. Among them was a young master named Liu Xiaochuan, grandson of the Valiant General. Old General Liu’s family had few descendants, and Liu Xiaochuan was the only grandson of the third generation to survive to adulthood. Doted on like the apple of his eye, he was inevitably spoiled. Liu Xiaochuan and Lin Jinlou had grown up together in the capital, practically bare-bottomed playmates. Having recently stirred up trouble in the capital, Liu had come south to seek refuge with Lin Jinlou and lie low.
Liu Xiaochuan, swaying slightly, raised his cup and said in fluent Mandarin, "The Jiangnan region is a fine place—I only realized it after arriving. The mountains are beautiful, the waters are beautiful, but the people are even more beautiful! I say, brother, I’ve taken a fancy to your favorite, Little Cuixian, at the Yihong Court. Since I’ve come all this way, won’t you part with her as a favor to me?"
The other young masters immediately joined in with cheers and teasing.
Lin Jinlou laughed and scolded, "You certainly have an eye for the best! Out of all the courtesans in Jinling, she’s the most charming and perceptive. I was originally reluctant to let her go, but since you’ve asked, I can’t very well refuse."
Xie Yu, the fourth son of the Vice Minister of War Xie Zuo, roared with laughter and clapped Liu Xiaochuan on the shoulder. "Well, well, brother, you originally fled here because you got into a fight over a courtesan in a brothel. If you go back with another one in tow, won’t your old man drop dead on the spot from anger?"
The entire company burst into laughter.
Liu Xiaochuan rolled his eyes and said, "To die under the peony, even as a ghost, is to be romantic—do you understand? What would you vulgar lot know about such sentiments!"
Lin Jinlou laughed, drained his cup, and rang a bell to summon the servant Shuangxi, who was waiting by the door. "Take three thousand taels of silver to the Yihong Court. Tell the madam to redeem Cuixian’s freedom and have her delivered by sedan chair to Liu Xiaochuan’s residence."
Xie Yu raised his cup again, laughing heartily. "Come, come, let’s congratulate Brother Liu on becoming a bridegroom today!"
Another round of laughter erupted from the group.
But Lin Jinting’s mind began to stir. He personally refilled Lin Jinlou’s cup and said with a smile, "Since you’re in such a generous mood today, brother, I’d like to boldly ask you for someone as well."
Liu Xiaochuan exclaimed in mock surprise, "Oh ho, listen to that! So the young master of the Lin family is finally learning about pleasure and asking for someone too. I always thought he was still a greenhorn."
Lin Jinlou smiled and asked, "Go on, which one?"
Lin Jinting replied, "It’s Xianglan, the one who serves in your Concubine’s quarters."
Lin Jinlou’s hand paused, and he narrowed his eyes at Lin Jinting. "You’ve taken a fancy to her?" Though he was smiling, his expression had turned cold.
Lin Jinting was startled. When he looked again, Lin Jinlou seemed as genial as ever, so he licked his lips and said, "It’s not for me—it’s for Brother Yi Fei. He wants to ask for that maid."
Lin Jinlou downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. The courtesan sitting beside him hurriedly refilled it. Lin Jinlou asked, "Him? How could he have seen the maids in my household?"Lin Jinting laughed and said, "Brother, you don't know this, but that Song Yifei lost his soul the first time he saw that girl. He even went out of his way to gift her a fan. Initially, he absolutely refused to live with me in the Woyun Courtyard, but later, for some reason, he moved in anyway. It was only afterward that I found out: Concubine Lan was starting a poetry club, and Xianglan was overseeing the arrangements at the Longcui Residence. He moved in just to catch a few more glimpses of the beauty each day, and he even sends her soups and snacks, always coming up with new ideas. Once, I secretly saw the two of them gazing at each other from afar, like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl—oh, it gave me goosebumps!"
Liu Xiaochuan, hiccupping from drink, laughed and said, "Well, isn't he a devoted one? Quite the style of your Lord Liu here."
The crowd erupted into another round of teasing.
Lin Jinlou chuckled and said, "If he wants that maid, he can come to me himself." After saying this, he swayed as he went to relieve himself.
The moment he stepped outside, his smile vanished, and his face turned cold and grim.
Wu Mama, holding a bowl of medicine, peeked into Qinglan's room and saw that Huamei was still there, chatting and laughing with Qinglan. Wu Mama shook her head. Today, she had completely lost respect for Qinglan and couldn't be bothered with her affairs anymore. She would simply wait for Qinglan to safely give birth to the child, and then she could retire with her duty done. So, she shoved the medicine into Chunling's hands and said, "Take this to the Concubine and have her drink it while it's hot."
After watching Chunling leave, Wu Mama sighed. Suddenly, she noticed Lin Jinlou walking in with an angry expression. He asked her, "Where is Xianglan?"
Wu Mama sighed again and said, "Ah, does the Eldest Master not know yet? Madam was here earlier. It's all because this old servant spoke out of turn, praising Xianglan to you and catching your interest. Da Nǎinai then made a grand show of sending gifts—glittering gold jewelry, silks, and satins—and even talked of preparing a room and maids for Xianglan. When Concubine Lan heard this, she fainted. The physician checked her pulse and said it was nothing serious. I had planned to console her once she felt better, but somehow, Madam got wind of it and came over to settle the matter."
Lin Jinlou was taken aback. He was displeased by Zhao Yuechan's actions and also unhappy that Qin Shi had interfered in his personal affairs. He said, "I took a liking to that girl myself. What does it have to do with anyone else?"
Wu Mama replied, "Madam is only concerned about you, Eldest Master. But the one who suffers the most is that child Xianglan. Madam took her away, and she hasn't returned yet. Who knows what punishment she might be facing?"
Lin Jinlou's expression darkened. Just then, Huamei, hearing Lin Jinlou's voice from outside, hurried out with Qinglan to greet him. "The Eldest Master is back!" they said.
Qinglan said gently, "It's almost noon. Have you eaten yet, Eldest Master?"
To their surprise, Lin Jinlou turned around, lifted the curtain, and left without a word.
In the main room of the Zhuoshou Garden, the courtyard was tranquil, with lush, elegant trees.
Qin Shi sat upright in the master's chair in the hall, carefully examining Xianglan, who knelt before her. It was the first time she had looked at Xianglan so closely. In recent days, Xianglan had grown taller, and her features had blossomed. Qin Shi saw that she was exceptionally beautiful—her face radiant and lovely, her hair like a misty cloud, her demeanor graceful and elegant. Though she wore plain, slightly worn clothes, they could not conceal her striking beauty. She appeared timid, yet there was no trace of the awkwardness of someone from a humble background.
Qin Shi narrowed her eyes slightly. No wonder Lou Ge'er was so captivated by her—she was truly a peerless beauty, outshining all the ladies and young misses in the mansion.
But just how cunning was this little vixen? Qin Shi's grip on her handkerchief tightened abruptly.
She really has remarkable skills!First, she stirred up trouble without making a sound, caught Cao Lihuan's weakness, and then put on a good show in front of the master, driving Cao Lihuan away. Now she has made Lou Ge'er take a fancy to her, causing discord between wife and concubine. What if Qinglan's fainting this time harms the child in her womb?
Xianglan knelt properly, and now that the moment had come, she was no longer panicked. Since ancient times, it has always been the masters who cause trouble while the servants take the blame. Qin Shi couldn't easily punish Zhao Yuechan and Qinglan, so it seemed this debt would be settled on her head. In that case, panicking would be useless.
Qin Shi pondered for a moment. Hongjian quietly brought a cup of hot tea and then silently withdrew.
"Eldest Master has taken a liking to you and wishes to elevate you," Qin Shi said very slowly, her tone betraying neither joy nor anger.
Xianglan quickly kowtowed and said, "This humble servant is not blessed enough to dare entertain such thoughts."
"Oh?" Qin Shi raised her eyebrows. "So you're saying Eldest Master is being presumptuous?"
Xianglan gritted her teeth and did not answer Qin Shi's question. Instead, she pressed her forehead to the floor and said, "All the faults are mine. Now I have made Da Nǎinai and the Concubines unhappy, and even troubled Madam to become angry. I beg Madam to punish me."
Qin Shi was taken aback. She had thought Xianglan would beg for her favor, asking Lin Jinlou to take her in. She never expected Xianglan to say such words, actually taking all the blame upon herself.
To be fair, she knew it wasn't entirely Xianglan's fault. Her eldest son was naturally flirtatious and lustful, and he wouldn't let go of a maid with such looks and talent. She had heard about Lin Jinlou's wild behavior outside, but she couldn't be bothered to intervene—her son worked hard outside, so what did it matter if he fooled around a bit?
Qin Shi looked at Xianglan and sighed silently. If it were an ordinary pretty maid, it would be one thing—Lin Jinlou could take her in, and if she had good fortune later, she might bear a child or two, be promoted to Concubine, and enjoy a lifetime of wealth. Every move in the inner household escaped her notice, and she had long known that the poetry club Qinglan ran was actually managed by Xianglan behind the scenes. This girl was too beautiful, too capable, and too cunning. If she stayed by her side, she feared the household would never know peace. Moreover, the charge she had leveled against her today was "seducing the master during Old Madam Zeng's mourning period." She had dealt lightly with the others, but if she didn't severely punish this maid to make an example of her, those with bewitching charms in the inner household would run wild.
Qin Shi said, "You are quite clever, but what use is punishing you?"
Xianglan's heart pounded wildly. She said, "This humble servant knows her sins and dares not serve in front of the masters again. I beg Madam, in your kindness, to release me. My parents will prepare the redemption money and send it. Even if I have to repay you by tying grass or holding a ring in my mouth, or even breaking my bones, I could never fully express my gratitude."
Qin Shi was startled again. Among the maids accustomed to a life of luxury in the Lin household, few were willing to leave the estate. This girl actually wanted to leave. But upon second thought, her expression darkened, and she sneered, "I said you were clever, and indeed you are shrewd. You're calculating well now, asking to leave so that after obtaining commoner status, you can marry in as a concubine like Lan Yiniang, isn't that right?"
Xianglan sighed inwardly and raised her face. "This humble servant has never thought of such a thing. Even if Eldest Master is perfect in every way, I only wish to marry an ordinary man and become his proper wife, so that his warmth and affection would be for me alone. If Madam does not believe me, send me to Tranquil Moon Temple to become a nun. I grew up in that temple since childhood, and returning there would bring me peace."Qin Shi widened her eyes, thinking this young maid actually possessed such thoughts. Gazing at Xianglan's delicate features, she felt a pang of pity—if the girl hadn't been born a servant but held a more respectable status, such beauty and cleverness wouldn't have been a curse. Yet she remained skeptical of Xianglan's claims. After a brief, thoughtful pause, she finally said, "Sending a delicate beauty like you to a temple to accompany dim lamps and ancient Buddhas—I truly cannot bear it in my conscience. Moreover, you previously saved Second Young Miss, and I'd never repay kindness with cruelty."
Xianglan's clear eyes met Qin Shi's gaze: "How does Madam intend to deal with me?"
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