Xianglan drifted in and out of consciousness, dreaming she was back in her past life, clad in a bright red wedding gown. The bridal procession stretched grandly, stirring half the street as onlookers craned their necks to watch. Before stepping into the sedan, her mother clutched her hand, tears falling as she said, "My child, life away from home won't be the same. I fear you'll suffer hardships..."
Staring at her mother's face, Xianglan gripped her hand tightly but couldn't speak. Suddenly, the face morphed into Xue Shi's. The dream shifted—she saw Xue Shi and Chen Wanquan being sold off by Zhao Yuechan, her parents' muffled sobs echoing in her ears. Frantic, she struggled desperately to save them, then jolted awake.
Her vision filled with pale green bed curtains. Moving weakly, Xianglan felt utterly drained, a cloth band tied around her forehead. Her head still swam, though the fiery pain on her face had dulled since days prior. She touched her cheek, fingers brushing a layer of medicated cream. Struggling up, she pulled aside the curtains to see a maid seated on an embroidered stool by the bed, dressed in a silver-red lined jacket and dark green skirt, bent over her needlework.
Noticing movement, the maid set aside her work and hurried over. "Amitabha, you're finally awake! You've slept two full days," she exclaimed, pressing a hand to Xianglan's forehead. "Still feverish, but better than last night." Swiftly, she brought a bowl of warm water and fed Xianglan sip by sip with a small silver spoon, dabbing her lips with a handkerchief.
Before Xianglan could speak, the maid vanished like the wind. Soon, Song Ke entered and sat beside her, speaking gently, "Feeling better? The physician said external stagnation clogged your organs—overwrought mind, then catching chill—hence the illness. A few doses of medicine and proper rest will set you right."
Meeting Xianglan's bright gaze, he coughed lightly and added, "Your facial wounds are superficial. The doctor said luckily your assailant struck lightly, or your face might've been ruined." Observing her unwavering stare, he thought, Girls cherish their looks. She was beautiful—if disfigured, her heartache would hinder recovery. Aloud, he continued, "Two creams were applied: premium trauma medicine and Flesh Regeneration Cream from Qianjin Pharmacy. The swelling has eased—I reckon you'll heal soon."
Xianglan nodded but winced at the pain when trying to speak. Instead, she traced the character for "thanks" on the quilt. Song Ke deciphered it after two attempts and smiled. "No need. I'd planned to take you under my wing, but Lin Jinlou refused to release you."
Xianglan kept watching him, and Song Ke detected a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. Heart lifting, he said, "There's congee in the kitchen. Ask Yuexi to warm some if you're hungry."
Xianglan shook her head, fingers sketching "parents" on the covers.
Song Ke nodded, touched by her filial concern despite her plight. I wasn't wrong about her—kind and dutiful. "I'll secure your parents too," he assured. "I'll have Xiu Hong request them from the Lin Family's First Madam shortly."Xianglan finally felt relieved. Though her heart was brimming with gratitude, she couldn't voice it. Exhausted, she tilted her head onto the pillow and fell asleep.
Song Ke was startled. Having some medical knowledge himself, he checked her pulse and realized she had simply collapsed from exhaustion. He summoned the maidservants again, gave them some instructions, then quietly withdrew.
Xianglan settled into the side chamber adjacent to Song Ke's bedroom. There were only two maids in Song Ke's quarters—Junxi and Yuexi, sisters who appeared clever and refined, neither being the gossipy type. They attended to Xianglan diligently and occasionally shared news about the Song household.
The next day, Song Ke came specially to tell Xianglan, "I've already arranged for your parents. Your father is now the second shopkeeper at our family's antique shop, and your mother has gone with him. But since you're still unwell, meeting them now would only worry them. Once you've recovered more, I'll let you go home for a few days." He then presented a brand-new jacket, saying, "Your mother just made this and asked me to bring it to you."
Xianglan recognized it as Xue Shi's needlework at once. Tears welled in her eyes as she silently clutched the jacket to her chest. Struggling, she pushed herself up from the bed and kowtowed to Song Ke.
Song Ke hurried forward to stop her. "You're still ill—why torment yourself like this? Haven't you had enough medicine? Lie back down!" Just then, a servant from the front courtyard announced a visitor, forcing Song Ke to leave. Before departing, he instructed Junxi and Yuexi to keep a close watch.
Song Ke had assumed Xianglan would improve upon hearing about her parents, but the long-held tension in her heart had finally released, leaving her utterly drained. As the saying goes, "Illness strikes like a landslide, but recovery is as slow as reeling silk." Her condition brought forth all the ailments accumulated during her time in the Lin household. While the wounds on her face gradually healed, she remained feverish and lethargic. Growing anxious, Song Ke cycled through three physicians, yet none could cure her.
One evening, as Junxi and Yuexi tended to her, they suddenly heard Xianglan murmur, "The Crown Prince was forced to death by the Eighth Prince... our family will be executed to the last... Grandfather, Father, Mother, younger siblings... you must run quickly... don't let them catch you..." Then she mumbled, "Cousin... this servant was wrong... please stop beating me..."
The sisters froze at the words "executed to the last." They crept closer, gently shaking Xianglan and calling softly, "Sister Xianglan, Sister Xianglan." Finding her delirious and her forehead burning, they realized she was raving. Then Xianglan cried out, "Cao Lihuan, it's not that I fear you! If not for circumstances forcing my hand, why would I endure your abuse? Zhao Yuechan, your heart is vile—do you truly not fear retribution in the underworld?"
Junxi and Yuexi exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts pounding. They drew the bed curtains shut. Junxi remained by the bedside while Yuexi hurried to the study and knocked.
Song Ke, immersed in studying for the upcoming Imperial Examination, set his book aside. "What is it?"
Yuexi said, "Sister Xianglan isn't well—she's speaking nonsense. We fear the fever may harm her."
Song Ke rushed to the side chamber and pulled back the curtains. Seeing Xianglan lying with her eyes closed, seemingly in grave condition, his heart sank, his lips pressing into a tight line.
Junxi thought for a moment and suggested, "Master, perhaps you could send a request to Third Master Lin to have Divine Doctor Luo from the Lin family's Ji'an Hall examine her. His medical skills are exceptional."Song Ke hesitated for a moment. He knew Divine Doctor Luo was highly skilled, but the man practiced at the Lin family's pharmacy and often visited their inner quarters, so he was well-acquainted with household affairs. If he had seen Xianglan before, another encounter now might be awkward. Song Ke had originally planned to hide Xianglan in his residence until next year when he passed the imperial exams, secured an official post, and could take his family away from the Lin family's influence to make further arrangements.
While still deliberating, he suddenly heard Xianglan murmur weakly, "It hurts..." A tear slid down from the corner of her eye.
Song Ke's heart ached, and his hesitation vanished instantly. He immediately wrote a note to Lin Jinting. Before long, Divine Doctor Luo arrived. Seeing the bed curtains tightly drawn and only a veiled hand extended, he assumed it was either an unusual maid in Song Ke’s quarters or a young lady from the Song family. After checking her pulse, he prescribed a new remedy.
Soon, Yuexi went to prepare the medicine, while Junxi leaned in and whispered, "Did you hear that just now? Xianglan said something about 'the Crown Prince,' 'the Eighth Prince,' and 'executing the whole family.'"
Yuexi was startled and glanced around before lowering her voice, "If you heard it, pretend you didn’t. Keep it buried—she’s delirious from the fever."
Junxi stuck out her tongue and dropped the subject.
After two doses of Divine Doctor Luo’s prescription, Xianglan’s condition improved. Song Ke naturally instructed the kitchen to prepare nourishing soups for her in rotation. During this time, Xianglan learned three pieces of news from the servants: first, Lin Dongqi was betrothed to the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo, and the Six Rites would commence once Old Madam Zeng’s mourning period ended; second, Hua Mei, Lin Jinlou’s bedchamber servant, had gone home for a short stay, but her house caught fire, after which both Hua Mei and her maid Xi Que disappeared; third, Qing Lan’s funeral had concluded—though she was buried with some dignity, as a mere concubine, she could not enter the Lin family ancestral graves and was instead interred in a scenic spot.
Xianglan sighed deeply. Her body gradually recovered, and the swelling on her face subsided significantly, though bruises remained—far less horrifying than before. Once Xianglan regained her strength, Song Ke arranged for her to meet Chen Shi and her husband in a small room near the inner gate. Xue Shi burst into tears the moment she saw Xianglan’s condition, and Chen Wanquan’s eyes reddened.
The three of them sat in silence for a long while before Xianglan forced a smile through her tears, "We’re all fine now, reunited as a family. Why are we crying?"
Xue Shi choked out, "Fine? Look at you..." and began weeping again.
Chen Wanquan, seeing no one around, whispered, "What really happened? Before, there were rumors that the Master had taken a liking to you and planned to elevate you. How did you end up being bought by Master Song?"
Xianglan lowered her gaze, "Precisely because the Master favored me, the Taitai couldn’t tolerate it. She had me beaten severely and tried to sell me to a brothel. Fortunately, Master Song bought me... But this was done discreetly. You must keep it secret—if the Taitai finds out, it’ll be disastrous."
At the mention of "brothel," the couple gasped, shaking their heads vehemently, "No, no, we must never speak of it. Master Song also warned us—not a single word must slip out."Chen Wanquan said, "Don't worry about that. After leaving the Lin residence, your mother and I moved to the alley behind the Song residence. It's very quiet there, with few acquaintances around."
Xue Shi sighed, "Master Song is truly kind-hearted. He bought your father and me just to keep our family together. Later I must kowtow to thank him for his great compassion." As she spoke, she looked at Xianglan with heartache.
Chen Wanquan also felt pained seeing his beloved daughter. He secretly wiped his eyes but maintained a stern expression, saying, "This is all the result of your willful temper. If you hadn't entered the mansion back then and obediently married Head Manager Liu's son, you'd be a respectable lady like any other family's daughter now. You wouldn't have suffered like this! But you looked down on the Liu family for also being servants of the Lin household and thought their son foolish. Yet you never considered your own father was also born a servant. What grand illusions did you harbor? Now see what's come of it!"
Xue Shi immediately embraced Xianglan and pushed Chen Wanquan, saying, "Enough of your words! Can't you see how much our daughter has suffered? And you still say such hurtful things. What a tactless old fool!"
Xianglan lowered her eyes. Despite all the hardships she'd endured since entering the mansion, she had never regretted her decision. Life in the Lin household might be difficult, but resigning herself to generations of servitude and obediently marrying would have been true despair that might have killed her. She dreamed constantly of breaking free from servitude and was determined to try, even if it meant walking through a mountain of flames.
Junxi is played by Junxi812, Yuexi is played by Hua Xiyuexi.
Thank you Qiangdi Fengwan for the PK votes~~
Please continue to give pink votes~
The female lead has entered a new phase of life, haha~
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