This outburst left Lin Dongling speechless. She wanted to say she dared, but Duke Xian's maidservant was standing right beside them. Yet to say nothing at all would leave her in an untenable position. Sensing the awkwardness, Lin Dongxiu chimed in, "We're talking about your disrespect toward your superiors right now. Why drag Duke Xian's household into this? Duke Xian's household would never tolerate a shrew like you!"
Xianglan seemed not to hear Lin Dongxiu's words, her eyes fixed solely on Lin Dongling as she stepped forward. "Do tell us, miss—do you dare or not? If you dare, go storm Duke Xian's ancestral home in Jiangnan and throw pastries in his maidservant's face. If you actually do it, I'll kneel on the ground, bark like a dog, and crawl around Jinling City. If you don't dare, then you're looking down on our Song family. I'll report this to Master later, and we'll have a proper discussion about it."
Lin Dongling was already regretting her actions. She felt as though she were being roasted over a fire. Never had she imagined a mere maidservant could be so aggressive, backing her into a corner like this, exploiting her weak points while piling accusations on her, leaving her unable to defend herself.
Lin Dongxiu sneered, "Look at you—daring to make bets with your superiors! How presumptuous! Just based on your repeated insolence today, I ought to report you to Auntie and have her discipline you severely! Not to mention the filth in those pastries you made. Our masters are all precious—if any of them fell ill from eating them, your worthless life wouldn't be enough to compensate!"
Xianglan lowered her head and said, "Then let's take this pastry to Taitai and have her judge whether there's any filth in it that could kill someone." With that, she moved to pick up the pine nut cake.
Lin Dongling panicked. There was nothing wrong with the pastry—she had only used it as an excuse to pick a fight. If this came to light, she would be exposed. Just as she was at a loss, Lin Dongxiu quickly stepped forward, overtaking Xianglan, and stomped the pastry into mush, nearly crushing Xianglan's hand in the process.
Xianglan stood up, glanced at Lin Dongxiu—whose face was flushed and breathing heavy—then straightened her posture, smoothed her hair, and adjusted the half-sleeve embroidered with white and pink peonies. With dignified composure, she said, "In that case, we all know the truth about this pine nut cake. If we keep arguing, it'll only embarrass everyone. I have a proposal: the young ladies leave now, close the door behind them, and we'll pretend this never happened. Taitai won't know, Master won't know, and Miss Tan won't know either. How about that?" She thought to herself, "Lin Dongling is just a childish girl—why stoop to her level? Better to smooth things over. Since they haven't gained any advantage, giving them a way out is the best solution."
Lin Dongxiu exhaled quietly, ready to leave, but Lin Dongling was unwilling to back down. She felt it would be too humiliating to slink away like this. With a sweep of her hand across the desk, she sent books, calligraphy models, brush stands, and other items crashing to the floor. Knowing the inkstone was one of Song Ke's prized possessions, Xianglan rushed to catch it, only for Lin Dongxiu to shove her from behind. Losing her balance, Xianglan hit her head against the desk, and the inkstone fell, staining her pomegranate-red skirt with a large black blot before rolling away.Lin Dongling felt a sense of satisfaction upon seeing Xianglan in such a disheveled state. She snorted and said, "Serves you right for seducing people all day long! If you dare to lead my cousin astray again, I’ll be the first to make you pay!" Turning to leave, she shoved aside the three maids still standing at the door. "What are you all gawking at? Follow me back." Her words abruptly cut off as she spotted Song Ke standing right in front of her. "What’s going on here?" he asked.
Lin Dongling stammered, unable to respond, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Lin Dongxiu, ever the cunning one, refused to show herself, hiding behind the door as if she weren’t there. Meanwhile, Zheng Jingxian, noticing that Dongling, Dongxiu, and even her own maid Yue Er had disappeared, came searching and followed the voices to the study. She stood beneath the grapevine trellis, watching from a distance.
Seeing that no one answered, Song Ke craned his neck to peer inside the room. The sight that greeted him was one of chaos—books scattered across the floor, a large blue-and-white porcelain brush washer shattered into pieces, and brushes rolling everywhere. Xianglan sat slumped on the ground, a large ink stain on her skirt, rubbing her head as she slowly stood up and bent to pick up an inkstone.
Song Ke’s expression darkened instantly. He pushed past Lin Dongling, who stood in his way, and rushed into the room, grabbing Xianglan’s arm. "What happened? Did you fall? Where are you hurt? Let me see."
His sudden movement caused the inkstone Xianglan had just picked up to slip from her grasp and fall again. "Ah! The inkstone—what if it breaks?" she exclaimed anxiously.
Song Ke held her arms firmly. "It’s just an inkstone. Even if it breaks, it’s no big deal. Sit down first and let me check where you’re hurt." He pressed her into a chair and examined her closely.
Xianglan shook her head. "It’s nothing. I just bumped my head against the table earlier."
Song Ke looked closely and indeed saw a red swelling on her forehead. He sighed in relief. "Thankfully, it’s not serious. Wait here—I’ll get the medicated cream." Without hesitation, he fetched a small cloisonné box from a drawer, dipped his finger into it, and personally applied the ointment to Xianglan’s forehead, as if no one else were present.
Xianglan dodged his hand. "I can do it myself." Only after she insisted several times did Song Ke relent.
This entire scene made Dongling and Dongxiu burn with jealousy on the spot. Song Ke turned to them and asked, "What exactly happened here?"
Silence. He repeated, "What. Happened?"
Lin Dongxiu glanced at Song Ke, then lifted her eyes meaningfully toward Lin Dongling. Xianglan sneered inwardly. "This Fourth Young Miss is truly cunning. With just one look, she’s shifted the blame onto her sister. Even if she wasn’t the instigator, she was the one fanning the flames and stirring up trouble—the most despicable of all."
Song Ke asked a third time, his voice slightly raised. "What. Happened?"
The silence stretched until Lin Dongling finally spoke up, her neck stiff. "I was eating pastries earlier and found something dirty in them. Someone said Xianglan made them, so I came to confront her. But she was disrespectful and insolent! In my anger, I swept the table clean. If I broke anything you cherish, Cousin, I’ll apologize and buy you a better replacement!"Song Ke furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing this and turned to look at Xianglan, who gave him a faint shake of her head. He then turned back, maintaining his gentle tone, and said, "What are you talking about, cousin? It's just the Four Treasures of the Study, hardly worth anything. Among family, there’s no need to speak of compensation. However..." His tone grew firmer, "Xianglan is a servant of the Song household. If she has done anything wrong, you should inform me or Taitai. For you to intervene would be overstepping. Moreover, the front courtyard is where men gather. You shouldn’t have come here so rashly. If an outsider had seen you, it could have become gossip, and I would find it difficult to face your mother."
Lin Dongxiu, quick-witted, immediately responded, "Cousin, we were wrong. Please don’t be angry. Let me apologize." She curtsied gracefully, then turned to Xianglan and said, "Sister Xianglan, please forgive my youthful ignorance."
Xianglan thought to herself that Lin Dongxiu was truly a master at adapting to circumstances. She forced a smile and replied, "It’s nothing. I should also apologize to you, miss." She curtsied, and Lin Dongxiu hastily returned the gesture.
Lin Dongling pouted, convinced she had done nothing wrong. But seeing how Lin Dongxiu’s apology had softened Song Ke’s expression, she reluctantly curtsied to him and said, "I was wrong, cousin. Here’s my apology." She dipped slightly but, still resentful toward Xianglan, refused to acknowledge her and stepped aside.
Song Ke said, "In that case, please return now." Lin Dongxiu left first, while Lin Dongling lingered reluctantly. But with Song Ke’s dismissal, she had no choice but to leave.
Once the door was closed, Song Ke walked over to Xianglan and examined her forehead. "Let me see again. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Xianglan stood up. "Just my head." She sighed as she looked at her skirt. "This new skirt is already stained with ink. I don’t know if it’ll wash out."
Song Ke couldn’t help but laugh. "You really are the type to ‘value possessions over life.’ The important thing is that your head isn’t seriously hurt, yet you’re worried about a new skirt. I’ll have a few more made for you tomorrow."
Xianglan stuck out her tongue but said nothing. This was the first nice piece of clothing she had owned in this life, and it was made from Cloth specially chosen by Song Ke. Naturally, she treasured it dearly. Glancing up, she saw Song Ke bending to pick up the scattered items, so she joined him. Biting her lip, she asked, "Did you believe what your cousin said just now?"
Song Ke looked at her, his eyes clear as water. "I know you’re not the type to cause trouble unreasonably. Whatever she said, I took it as childish temper. I’m well aware of her domineering nature—how she acts on impulse... You were wronged today."
Xianglan felt warmth in her heart. She gazed at Song Ke for a long moment, speechless, and all her earlier grievances melted away. She smiled brightly. "It’s nothing. It’s just that your two cousins, egged on by that little vinegar jar, overturned a big vat of jealousy, and I got caught in the crossfire." She put her hands on her hips, mimicking Lin Dongling’s expression and tone dramatically: "‘You and your seductive tricks, luring people in! If you ever whisper in my cousin’s ear again, I’ll be the first to make you pay!’ Honestly, don’t you think I was unfairly accused?"Song Ke immediately understood, his brows furrowing tightly as he slapped the desk angrily and said, "Foolish! I've repeatedly warned her not to speak of your affairs in the Song family, yet she turned a deaf ear and even brought someone to the study!"
Xianglan sighed and said, "What will be will be. You can't wrap fire in paper—it'll come out sooner or later. I just hope Lin Jinlou forgets about me so I can live in peace for a few days."
Suppressing his anger, Song Ke comforted her, "He's suppressing bandits in Zhejiang and won't be back anytime soon. It might take three to five years, who knows? Once I pass the Imperial Examination, we'll move away with the whole family. The world is vast—can the Lin family's influence really cover everything under heaven?"
Xianglan nodded but still felt uneasy. She and Song Ke tidied up the room, unaware that the future turmoil would stem from another person entirely.
Thanks to cat9961 for two Peace Talismans~~ Another debt repaid, hehe. Still seeking pink votes, everyone I’ll try to repay the bonus chapters for your generous rewards in the next few days ^_^ Please keep voting for me—if you don’t have pink votes, recommendation votes are fine too. Thank you! Also, dear commenters, where have you all gone?
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