Xiang Lan maintained a dignified expression but remained silent. Yin Die cried for a while, kneeling on the ground, secretly lifting her head to look at Xiang Lan. When their eyes met, she quickly lowered her head again. Seeing her crying soften, Xiang Lan spoke gently, “Yin Die, you and I knew each other before as maids in the Lin household. How did you end up in the Xia family?”

Yin Die sobbed breathlessly, looking utterly pitiful, shaking her head without speaking. Xiang Lan handed over her handkerchief, her face remaining calm: “First, wipe your tears. I never had any marriage arrangement with Master Xia, and my mother is still having matchmakers look for potential matches for me – everyone knows this. Yet today you come to my doorstep, calling me ‘First Madam’ repeatedly, banging on the door, and causing a scene with all your dramatics. I must get to the bottom of this, mustn’t I?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the onlookers nodded in agreement. A woman holding a child called out from the crowd, “That’s right, we need to hear the whole story from beginning to end.”

Yin Die was stunned. She had expected Xiang Lan to feel humiliated and shut herself away in shame, not remain so composed. Biting her lip, she said, “Master Lin bestowed me upon Scholar Xia.”

Xiang Lan nodded, drawing out her words: “I see, so you’re a concubine gifted by a superior.” Yin Die possessed some beauty and talent. Coming from a family of hereditary servants, she had only managed to work at the Knowledge Spring Chamber. Male guests rarely saw her, and at just sixteen or seventeen, she hadn’t yet reached marriageable age. Yet Lin Jin Lou had given her to an unremarkable scholar – there was something rather meaningful about this arrangement.

Yin Die felt great hatred in her heart. Seeing Xiang Lan’s ambiguous smile made her even more angry, though her face maintained an aggrieved expression as she cried, “I beg the young lady to take pity on someone as unfortunate as me…”

Xiang Lan replied, “We have nothing to do with each other, so there’s no question of pity. Xia Yun and I are merely passing acquaintances. Coming to my doorstep – I’m afraid you’re crying and kneeling at the wrong place.”

Yin Die refused to get up, repeatedly kowtowing with tears streaming down her face: “My master favors you, young lady. He had people from the household come ask several times, and you showed interest in him too, specifically giving him a brocaded flower which he treasures daily like nothing else. Now because of me, you suddenly ignore him, and my master wants to sell me off. I… I… please have mercy, young lady!”

Madam Xue’s face turned red with anger as she rushed out from the doorway: “You’re talking nonsense! When did my daughter ever give him a flower? How dare you spew such venomous lies – aren’t you afraid of heaven’s punishment!”

Yin Die cried as if her life depended on it, pointing to heaven and earth: “If I speak even half a false word, may my throat grow large sore and rot my neck!”

Xiang Lan laughed coldly inside and said, “I only ever gave one brocaded flower to Third Miss Xia, and that was in the presence of elders. The Xia family is quite calculating – could they be trying to trap me with a single flower?”

Yin Die wept sorrowfully: “Young lady, my master’s feelings are genuine. I don’t want anything else – if you keep me as your servant in the future, I’m willing to work like an ox or horse…”

Xiang Lan angrily shouted, “Silence! I’ve said several times that Xia Yun and I have nothing to do with marriage. Whatever service you’re offering, take it up with Xia Yun’s primary wife in the future. If you try to drag me into this matter again, I’ll go to the magistrate’s office and file charges against the Xia family for defaming my reputation!”

Xiang Lan had always been even-tempered and friendly. Yin Die had thought she would be easy to manipulate, never expecting such harsh words. She was momentarily stunned, noticing the crowd’s pointing and whispers from the corner of her eye. She thought to herself: “Now that this has happened, even if Xiang Lan is completely innocent, she can’t clear her name. Hmph, even if she’s thick-skinned enough not to seek death, she’ll have trouble making a respectable marriage in the future. I just need to keep playing the pitiful one.” Tears rolled down like pearls as she said desolately, “Young lady speaks this way – are you forcing this servant to die?”

Xiang Lan coldly looked at Yin Die and said sternly, “You are a concubine gifted by Master Lin. As a concubine, you should know your place! You’re nothing but a servant, yet you dare to meddle in your master’s affairs – you truly are an unruly wolf with wild ambitions. I have nothing to do with Xia Yun, but even if I did, you’re just a servant and shouldn’t be making a huge scene behind your master’s back, coming to my door to ruin my reputation! One moment you’re crying and wailing, the next kowtowing and begging, then threatening death – as if I’ve somehow forced you into this. I’m a person of pure reputation, yet you’ve splashed dirty water on me for no reason, making the neighbors point and whisper. Yin Die, don’t think you can just cause a scene here and be done with it. The Xia family must give me an explanation for this matter!”

Yin Die’s face turned pale. Gritting her teeth, she cried, “Young lady speaks this way, truly piercing my heart… The young lady keeps calling me ‘servant’ – have you forgotten your origins?”

Before she finished speaking, Xia Yun came running out from the crowd in exasperation, grabbing Yin Die’s arm and saying harshly, “Shameless thing, what are you doing here!”

Yin Die’s heart sank, hatred making her teeth itch, tears flowing unstoppably as she sobbed continuously.

Xia Yun looked up at Xiang Lan, his face flushed red, stammering, “Miss Chen, I apologize…”

Xiang Lan said coolly, “Scholar Xia, you’ve arrived at the right time. Today, in front of everyone, let me ask you: your concubine just kept calling me First Madam – do we have any marriage arrangement?”

Xia Yun glared fiercely at Yin Die, feeling utterly humiliated, and hung his head saying, “No.”

Xiang Lan asked, “Have we ever had any private exchanges?”

Xia Yun thought to himself, “Xiang Lan did give me a flower, but it was through his Second Sister-in-law’s hands. As a young woman, she’s naturally shy about speaking of such things openly.” He shook his head and said, “No.”

Xiang Lan continued, “Just now, Yin Die said that because of me, Scholar Xia wants to sell her – is this true?”

Xia Yun was stunned. Yin Die was given to him by the Lin family, so her status was naturally different. Moreover, she was beautiful, and at just sixteen or seventeen, not yet of marriageable age. Being in the midst of their passionate relationship, even if Yin Die had a temperamental nature, Xia Yun couldn’t bear to let her go. How could he possibly want to sell her?

Seeing his expression, Xiang Lan understood and said, “Just now, all the neighbors heard her say that Scholar Xia wanted to sell her because of me.”

Xia Yun immediately shook his head: “There is no such thing.”

Xiang Lan breathed a sigh of relief and said, “If that’s the case, things are clear now. However, your beloved concubine just caused quite a commotion, splashing quite a lot of dirty water on me. How should we handle this?”

Xia Yun, enduring his shame, bowed deeply and said, “It’s my fault for not maintaining proper discipline. Please forgive us.”

Xiang Lan stepped aside to accept his bow and said coldly, “I thought Scholar Xia was a reasonable official. You should manage your household better in the future. The classics say ‘Order the family, govern the state, pacify the world,’ showing that ‘ordering the family’ comes first. Otherwise, today she runs to my door crying, tomorrow she runs to someone else’s door crying, everywhere defaming young ladies by claiming they have a history with Scholar Xia – what kind of proper behavior is this? When word spreads, will it bring any honor to Scholar Xia’s face?”

Xia Yun felt hot and cold all over, thinking he had never been so embarrassed in all his years. Hearing the discussions around him, he wanted to die of shame, but everything Xiang Lan said was reasonable and he couldn’t argue. He could only listen, hating Yin Die more for causing trouble. Glancing up slightly, he saw Xiang Lan’s cold expression, her bright eyes containing only icy indifference, making his heart clench again. He viciously kicked Yin Die and shouted, “Worthless low-class thing, you’ve completely humiliated me! Just wait until we get home – I’ll beat you good! Making up stories out of nothing and daring to cause such a scene. Apologize to Miss Chen immediately!”

Yin Die yelped in pain and fell sideways to the ground, her hatred growing stronger. Previously, Xia Yun had always been tender with her, never speaking a harsh word, but today he kicked her for that little cheap thing Chen Xiang Lan! She lay on the ground crying in pain, not responding at all.

Xiang Lan was also startled, not expecting the previously refined and elegant Xia Yun to become so violently angry. Seeing Yin Die curled up, she felt some pity, thinking silently that truly pitiful people must have detestable aspects.

Seeing Yin Die not responding, Xia Yun felt even more humiliated. He struck her twice and said, “I’m talking to you, are you deaf? You started all this, and now you’re playing dumb!”

Onlookers also chimed in: “That’s right, her master has apologized to someone, what’s she putting on airs for?”

“She looks pretty enough, but she’s just a troublemaker. Once this gets out, who would dare make a marriage alliance with the Xia family?”

“Well, he’s a scholar after all – surely making a marriage won’t be difficult?”

“Hah, what do you know? Sure, he’s a scholar, but they’re dirt poor, with nearly twenty mouths to feed, big and small, and his mother’s a shrew. Look at those families with some wealth and precious daughters – who’d want to marry into their family?”

These words reached Xia Yun’s ears. He had always been careful about his reputation, and now felt his life’s work was ruined in an instant. His blood surged with anger as he struck Yin Die twice more. He was not only angry at Yin Die but also began to hate Xiang Lan, thinking to himself: “Even death only requires a nod of the head. She’s not without feelings for me – why must she humiliate me so thoroughly!”

Xiang Lan didn’t want to watch Xia Yun beat his concubine anymore. She waved her hand and said, “Enough, Scholar Xia’s apology is sufficient. Please, both of you return home.” She gave Hua Shan a look, gesturing for her to help Madam Xue inside.

Xia Yun, enduring his shame, was about to leave Yin Die when he heard more discussions from the crowd: “Scholar Xia certainly has good fortune in love – having such a beautiful concubine yet not being satisfied, setting his sights on Miss Chen. I heard he sent matchmakers twice, but the Chen family didn’t agree. Now they’re even shamelessly coming to make trouble.”

“Tsk tsk, they say the more educated ones are, the more scheming they become…”

Xia Yun’s face turned bright red, and then he heard Xiang Lan say, “Scholar Xia.”

Xia Yun stopped in his tracks. Xiang Lan continued, “Previously when your sister visited my home, I gave her a flower in front of the elders. Later, Yin Die kept saying I had given it to you privately – there was no such thing. Please go home and burn that flower.”

At these words, Xia Yun felt as if lightning had struck his head. He realized that all his efforts in asking his Second Sister-in-law to arrange the marriage, spending so much money, had been mere self-delusion. He knew in his heart that Xiang Lan truly had no feelings for him. Earlier, he had apologized and bowed, partly because Yin Die was wrong, but more because he liked Xiang Lan and wanted to deliberately take her side to appease her. Now hearing these words, he thought to himself: “A talented person like me, destined for high office and great achievements – how many young ladies and wives secretly admire me! I don’t look down on your humble origins and damaged reputation, your involvement with two men, yet you dare look down on me!” Feeling both ashamed and angry, he lost control and spoke coldly: “Young lady need not worry. Though I’m unworthy and my family is poor, I still have some pride. For someone like you who has been improper with Master Lin and Master Song, even if I were to lower myself, I wouldn’t deign to associate with the likes of you!”