That day, a small sedan chair arrived through the side entrance of the Lin Manor in the capital. As soon as it stopped, seven or eight elderly female servants gathered around. When the curtain was lifted, a woman in her thirties stepped out. She was elegant, with her hair styled in an oiled bun. Though dressed simply, she carried an unmistakable air of nobility. A young maid accompanied her, wearing her hair in double buns and light green clothing, carrying two bundles in her hands, her demeanor equally reserved.
The group led these two people to Chang Chun Hall. Hua Shan was standing at the entrance and quickly raised the curtain, calling out, “Madam, Aunt Xia has arrived.” When Aunt Xia entered, she saw the main hall was spacious and elegant, with table covers and chair decorations made of fine kesi silk, all in relatively new condition. A maid came in to serve tea, and soon after, accompanied by the tinkling of jewelry, a beauty emerged from the inner chamber. She wore a lotus-colored jacket embroidered with paired butterflies playing among flowers and a dove-colored skirt with floral patterns. Her hair was simply adorned with two or three kingfisher feathers and pearl ornaments. Upon seeing Aunt Xia, she smiled and greeted her, saying, “You must be tired from your journey,” and gestured for her to take a seat.
It turned out that Lin Dongxiu’s marriage to Yuan Shaoren was considered marrying up, and Madam Qin, fearing that Lin Dongxiu might lack proper etiquette or make mistakes that would bring shame and cause discord between the Yuan and Lin families, kept her close for daily instruction. However, this supervision inevitably led to friction between both parties. Madam Qin then wrote to her family, asking her parents and in-laws to find a well-mannered and experienced elderly maid. Madam Qin’s family, being a prestigious one in the capital, soon found someone suitable. After Princess Chongning, the former emperor’s daughter, passed away at a young age following her marriage, several of her trusted palace maids were granted permission to leave the palace. Aunt Xia was one of them. Though young, she had served as a female official in the palace and had been Princess Chongning’s attendant. After leaving the palace, she married the princess’s guard. Because her husband had some connection to the Qin family, they sent someone to invite her. Her husband initially didn’t want her to go. Aunt Xia said, “The princess has passed away, and we have no patron now. You’re just a minor official at the Nine Gates, and while we don’t worry about food and clothing, we’ve lost all our former glory. Lin Jinlou is extremely capable and influential in the military; when he coughs, all of Jiangnan trembles thrice. Now that we have this opportunity to connect with his family, only a fool would refuse. Moreover, he has a father who’s a frontier governor. Even if not for us two, we must think of our children’s future. Building this connection will provide more opportunities whether our son pursues academics or military service, or when our daughter seeks marriage. Besides, the Lin family’s rewards are generous, worth two years of your salary.”
Upon hearing this, her husband immediately changed his mind and urged her to go.
Aunt Xia had heard that Lin Jinlou had a favored concubine of extraordinary beauty whom he treated differently from others. Now that Xiang Lan had appeared, she understood and smiled while paying her respects. Xiang Lan said, “The Madam emphasized in her letters four or five times that Aunt is an honored guest and we should take good care of you. The Madam and Young Miss will arrive in the capital in a few days. Your quarters have already been prepared. Please settle in first, and let us know if you need anything.”
Aunt Xia replied, “I’m grateful for Madam’s regard, and thank you for your consideration, Young Madam.” She then left with her young maid. Shu Ran personally led them to Shuang Qi Pavilion and smiled at Aunt Xia, saying, “This was originally prepared as Third Young Master’s bridal chamber. Since the Third Young Master took his wife back to Jinling, this new room is now for Fourth Young Miss, to share in the good fortune. The masters wish for you to stay here as well, to guide Fourth Young Miss through daily interactions.”
Aunt Xia nodded slightly. Shu Ran led them to the room on the left, which was fully furnished with everything needed. A stepping bed hung with clove-colored grape-patterned curtains embroidered on both sides. After explaining the household situation, Shu Ran left two serving maids and took her leave. Aunt Xia sat on the edge of the bed while her young maid Fang Fei unpacked the bundles, putting clothes in the wardrobe and arranging toiletries on the table. She remarked, “This Lin family is interesting, letting a concubine manage household affairs. When we came, I thought we’d be meeting the Second Madam of the Lin family.”
Aunt Xia said, “These are their family matters, don’t speak out of turn.”
Fang Fei stuck out her tongue and fell silent. In truth, Aunt Xia was thinking the same as Fang Fei, but since she had come primarily to teach Lin Dongxiu, secondly to establish connections with the Lin family, and thirdly to earn money, she had decided to turn a deaf ear to the household’s affairs, large or small, and not get involved. Let’s leave this master and servant pair settling in for now.
After four or five days, Madam Qin’s carriage arrived. Everyone hurried to welcome her to Rong Shou Hall, where Madam Qin took the main seat, with red paper laid out for ceremonial greetings. Lin Jinlou and Lin Jinxuan came first to pay their respects, followed by Tan Luhua, then Concubine Yin and Xiang Lan. Lin Dongxiu then paid her respects to her elder brother and sister-in-law.
Standing at the doorway, Xiang Lan observed the silent main hall where everyone stood with hands at their sides, while Madam Qin sat with such natural authority that ordinary wealthy household madams couldn’t compare.
Madam Qin first inquired after Lin Jinxuan, asking about his health, recent medications, sleep quality, and which doctor he had seen. Lin Jinxuan answered respectfully, and Madam Qin smiled, saying, “Good child, you poor dear, I see your spirit is better than before, must be from getting married. Don’t stop taking those tonics. Recently, a prescription from the palace has been circulating, I’ve been taking it and find it effective. Tomorrow we’ll invite an imperial physician to examine you, and if suitable, we’ll prepare some for you to try.”
Lin Jinxuan quickly replied, “Thank you, Mother, for always thinking of me. I’m truly grateful.”
Madam Qin just smiled without speaking and then looked at Tan Luhua. Tan Luhua had already performed the formal greeting and stood to the side. Madam Qin looked her up and down again and smiled, saying, “You’re truly a proper child. When you entered our family, your father-in-law and I weren’t here, which must have been disappointing for you.” She gave Lu Lan a look, who immediately handed Tan Luhua a sandalwood box. Madam Qin smiled, “This is just a small token from us elders.”
Tan Luhua quickly bowed again in thanks, while Madam Qin just smiled faintly. Soon everyone dispersed, and Madam Qin kept Lin Jinlou behind to talk, ordering Xiang Lan to wait outside. After a while, she called Xiang Lan in. Madam Qin was sitting on the bed, holding a small white cup. Lin Jinlou was lounging carelessly on the arhat bed’s backrest, and upon seeing Xiang Lan, he beckoned, “Go, attend to Mother.”
Xiang Lan went over, and Madam Qin had her sit on a small stool at the foot of the bed. After examining her carefully for a while, she said, “I heard from Jinlou that you’ve been handling both major and minor household affairs, not just Jinxuan’s wedding banquet, but also recently arranging Aunt Xia’s stay in the mansion.”
Unable to gauge Madam Qin’s mood, though not particularly concerned, Xiang Lan still stood up with hands at her sides and said, “I’ve been presumptuous and not thorough enough.”
Lin Jinlou said, “Mother is praising you, what are you afraid of?” Looking at Madam Qin, he asked, “Isn’t that right?”
Nurse Wu, standing nearby, laughed and said, “Listen to that, Madam hasn’t said anything, and he’s already defending her.”
Lin Jinlou smiled without speaking.
Madam Qin glanced at Lin Jinlou, then said to Xiang Lan, “You’ve worked hard these days, I’ll reward you properly later. I’ve brought someone with me, see who it is.” She pointed to the side where Chun Ling stood, bowing to Xiang Lan from a distance and softly calling, “Young Madam.”
Xiang Lan was startled. Previously, Chun Ling had relied on her looks to act difficult with her, never expecting that even a clay figure has some spirit, and when truly angered, Xiang Lan had left her in Jinling. Looking at Chun Ling now, Xiang Lan felt particularly complex emotions. She was someone who valued old relationships and was genuinely grateful for Chun Ling’s past kindness, but this person had used that kindness to pressure her, even bullying her, and with her sharp tongue and fiery temper, often stirred up trouble, causing her endless annoyance.
Madam Qin just smiled and said, “I know this maid has been with you for a long time, with a special bond, so I brought her along on this trip.” She waved her hand and said, “It’s been a busy day since arriving home, I’m tired and need to rest, you may go.”
After everyone left, Madam Qin changed into casual clothes and reclined on the bed, ordering Hong Jian to massage her legs with the “Beauty’s Fist,” and asked Nurse Wu with half-closed eyes, “How do you see the current situation?”
Nurse Wu thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully, “It seems the Young Master hasn’t let go yet. Xiang Lan is extremely clever and cautious. When Madam mentioned her managing household affairs, she neither took credit nor showed excessive modesty, immediately saying she had been presumptuous, showing she’s someone who knows her place.”
Madam Qin closed her eyes, seeming about to fall asleep, and after a long while just made a sound of acknowledgment and waved Nurse Wu away. Hong Jian, seeing Madam Qin’s weariness, put aside the massage tool and took a thin blanket, gently covering her. She saw Madam Qin turn over, seemingly muttering to herself, “Knowing one’s place is good, it will give her room to stand in the household in the future…” Nothing more happened for a while.
In the afternoon, Madam Qin met with Aunt Xia and entrusted Lin Dongxiu to her care, then had people distribute the gifts she had brought from Jinling. Xiang Lan’s receipt of Madam Qin’s rewards wasn’t surprising, but what was unusual was that Lin Dongxiu had also prepared a gift for her, not just the usual perfunctory items like two jars of new tea or a box of hair ornaments, but rather an intricately embroidered screen featuring magnolias and butterflies. Looking at the screen, Xiang Lan pondered whether Lin Dongxiu was trying to befriend her because she had saved her once, or perhaps trying to curry favor with Lin Jinlou through her. After some thought, she felt she shouldn’t assume everyone was so calculating, and chose to view it as Lin Dongxiu’s gesture of gratitude, responding with a gift of a new gold-threaded belt.
Meanwhile, Tan Luhua had received items from Madam Qin. Earlier in Shou Xi Hall, Madam Qin had given her a sandalwood box, which, when opened, contained a pair of red gold hairpins inlaid with jade. Later, Lu Lan brought a bolt of fabric, two boxes of good medicine, and a package of small silver ingots. Tan Luhua was overjoyed, weighed the silver ingots one by one, then wrapped them up again, saying, “This is how a proper madam behaves, generous and dignified. Unlike some who make people sick, using their half-borrowed authority as masters, daring to put on airs in front of real masters, pretending to be mother-in-law, not afraid their tongues might get twisted in the wind.” Lu Mei was pouring tea nearby and, hearing this, frowned and quietly pulled at Tan Luhua, gesturing toward the partition where Qian Luo sat doing needlework. Tan Luhua raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “It was meant for her to hear, I was worried she might not hear it!” She snorted and locked the silver in the cabinet.
Qian Luo indeed reported these words to Concubine Yin, who was so angry she fell back on her bed and didn’t eat dinner that evening, but we’ll leave that for now.