Shu Ran gnashed her teeth in anger, grabbed Luan Er, and struck her twice, scolding, “You ignorant, self-destructive little hussy! Who do you think you are? You’re barely more presentable than a common maid, yet you act as if you’re the Madam!”

Cun Xin hurried over to mediate, “Sister, don’t be angry. Let’s talk this through calmly.”

Luan Er threw herself onto the gold-threaded python patterned bedding and began to cry. Shu Ran’s face showed exhaustion as she sighed, “I warned you earlier to avoid provoking Xiang Lan, but you wouldn’t listen. This loss of face is entirely your own doing – who else can you blame? What if you truly angered the Young Master and he drove you out?”

Luan Er suddenly rolled over and sat up, wiping her tears, “I don’t believe it. Though Young Master has a difficult temperament, he truly cares for me. If he ever becomes angry with me, it must be because that wanton woman is scheming against me behind his back.”

Shu Ran choked with rage, pointing at Luan Er with trembling fingers: “You… you… you’re truly… truly making me furious!”

Cun Xin quickly stepped forward to help Shu Ran calm down, speaking softly, “Sister Shu Ran, the Miss is just confused right now. Perhaps sister should guide her gradually.”

Shu Ran frowned, “What do you mean ‘guide gradually’? How old is she now? Before, we could call it ‘foolish willfulness,’ but if she continues acting out like this, she’ll eventually suffer severe consequences! Xiang Lan is already being lenient – it’s just a verbal spat. If she encounters someone truly unforgiving who incites Young Master to drive her out, I won’t even have the face to beg Young Master to let her return!” She glared pointedly at Luan Er, “Think carefully – isn’t this the reality?”

Luan Er was startled by Shu Ran’s serious tone. After careful consideration, she grabbed Shu Ran’s hand and said, “Young Master wouldn’t treat me like that. Sister, you’ve said yourself that Young Master is only temporarily fascinated with Xiang Lan. I play and sing well, Young Master values me. I…”

Shu Ran irritably shook off Luan Er’s hand and shouted, “Think carefully – besides playing and singing, what other talents do you have? Are you more beautiful than Xiang Lan? More articulate than Hua Mei? Or more obedient and observant than Ying Ge? From now on, you’d better behave properly and stop throwing tantrums over trivial matters.”

Luan Er felt even more wronged hearing these words and cried out, “What’s wrong with me? Am I ugly or deaf and mute? How am I inferior to others? Get out! Get out! When I achieve great success in the future, don’t come begging me for favors!”

Shu Ran raised her hand and struck Luan Er twice severely, her expression stern: “It’s all because of your parents who spoiled you since childhood, saying you were some reincarnated princess destined for nobility, indulging you without limits. In the few years since entering the mansion, when you were in Old Madam’s quarters, I befriended Xue Zhan and used silver to smooth things over for you. No one bothered you, and during festivals, you even got to sing birthday songs before Old Madam for rewards. Old Madam liked your musical talents and assigned you to Young Master’s quarters. I thought your minor flaws would resolve themselves as you matured, but unexpectedly they’ve only worsened. I was negligent in not disciplining you earlier. Had I known you’d turn out like this, I would never have let you become Young Master’s concubine!”

Luan Er felt both ashamed and embarrassed. She still held some reverence for Shu Ran and collapsed crying on the bed upon hearing these words.

As Cun Xin tried to mediate again, Shu Ran waved her off and continued sternly, “Look at your state – hair disheveled, acting deranged. You’re no refined lady but a mere servant, yet you try to meddle in Young Master’s household affairs. Know your place! You’re completely disgracing me. If you continue like this, I’ll ask Young Master to marry you off to a commoner before you cause an irreparable disaster!”

Luan Er knew well how many faces Shu Ran had with Lin Jin Lou, and she blanched. Though wanting to plead with Shu Ran, she couldn’t swallow her pride, and tears rolled down like beads. Shu Ran gave Cun Xin a meaningful look, and Cun Xin understood, saying, “I’ll go fetch some hot water for Miss to wash her face,” before leaving.

Shu Ran removed her water-green scarf from her waist and wiped Luan Er’s face, speaking softly, “Dry your tears, I have something to tell you…” Seeing Luan Er sit up while still sobbing, she continued, “If we weren’t relatives, I wouldn’t tell you this. I entered the mansion at eight years old and experienced every kind of injustice and scheming before serving Young Master. You know Young Master’s temperament – he’s not easy to get along with. I stumbled my way to where I am today, working hard to gain this bit of face. Now I want to tell you something important.”

Luan Er’s crying subsided somewhat as she wiped her eyes with the scarf and listened attentively.

Shu Ran continued, “You’re just a chamber maid, a house-born servant. Thinking yourself above the masters is suicidal. You may be a servant now, but the future is uncertain. Unless you’re content being a chamber maid forever?”

Luan Er immediately widened her eyes, “Of course not! What pleasure is there in that!”

Shu Ran nodded, “Exactly. Young Master will eventually take a new principal wife, and there will certainly be multiple concubines. If you act carefully, learn from Hua Mei, speak sweetly, please Young Master, and bear him children, you could become a Concubine. With children to support you, even if you’re not the principal wife, you could stand as her equal.”

Luan Er hesitated, “The fortune teller said I’d live a life of luxury, commanding servants, and become a titled lady. If I’m not the principal wife, how could I become a titled lady?”

Shu Ran flew into a rage, cursing, “A toad dreaming of eating swan meat! Pah! Do you dare speak of becoming the principal wife? Aren’t you afraid of being spat upon and ridiculed for your shamelessness? Do you know Young Master’s status? He’s the eldest grandson of the Lin family, a fourth-rank general soon to be promoted to third rank after the Mid-Autumn Festival. With his power and appearance, he could marry a princess – why would he make a servant like you his principal wife? You’re delusional! If you continue these foolish dreams, I’ll immediately report to Young Master and the Madam to have you thrown out before you embarrass us all!”

Luan Er said tearfully, “We’re all servants by birth, why do you need to humiliate me?”

Shu Ran sneered, “We may share the same origins, but I have shame, unlike your brazen behavior! If word of your ambitions got out, people would laugh themselves silly!”

Luan Er, being particularly concerned with face, had never suffered such harsh scolding and humiliation. She covered her face and fell back on the kang bed, crying loudly while kicking her legs, “Get out! Get out!”

Shu Ran stood up, “I’m leaving anyway, you shameless hussy. If you continue being this foolish and fail to recognize your status, I’ll tell Young Master about your words! Better than having it spread through others and losing my face to ridicule. Dreaming of being the principal wife – have you looked at yourself from head to toe to see if you have any of a proper lady’s dignity? It must be karmic retribution that brought such a creature as you into Zhi Chun Hall!”

Luan Er’s crying grew even more desperate upon hearing these words.

After calming down for a while, Shu Ran finally opened the door and came out. Seeing Cun Xin waiting outside, they approached saying, “Sister, don’t be angry. Miss Luan Er is still young, and with Xiang Lan’s sudden arrival and Young Master being the type to forget old loves for new ones, she just got angry and jealous.”

Shu Ran wept, “My child if only she had half your cleverness.”

Hearing the crying still faintly coming from inside, Cun Xin asked, “Then the Miss…”

Shu Ran frowned, “Let her cry! It’s good if she can cry herself to understanding! This troublemaker, who knows how many problems she’ll cause in the future.” She shook her head and continued, “Having high aspirations isn’t bad, but delusional dreams are unacceptable. To be brutally honest, even becoming a concubine isn’t certain once Young Master’s novelty with Luan Er wears off, let alone anything else. You’re young and haven’t seen the previous women in Young Master’s quarters who were all driven out by Madam Zhao. Each one was superior to Luan Er in looks and temperament. Not to mention the past, even Xiang Lan whom Young Master eagerly anticipated is exquisitely beautiful – compared to her, Luan Er looks like a wildflower. With Luan Er causing such trouble, isn’t she just asking for trouble? She doesn’t have any malicious intent, but she’s not clever. I fear when she grows older and loses her beauty, it will be even harder for her to maintain her position in the mansion. She’d be better off using her youth and beauty to gain more favor and bear children, so she has something to rely on in her later years.”

Cun Xin deeply agreed and smiled, “Sister is truly perceptive in judging situations, no wonder Young Master values you so highly.”

Shu Ran sighed, “This comes from experiencing hardships. You see Young Master’s bad temper, but he’s very capable and takes responsibility. In their early years, to say I wasn’t moved by him would be a lie, but seeing women come and go by his side and his many outside relationships, that feeling has long faded. Luan Er sees the prospect of wealth and glory and gets excited, but she needs both the skill and the fate for it!” She adjusted her hair and said to Cun Xin, “Bring your Miss’s mirror box, I need to fix my hair and touch up my face.”

Cun Xin said, “Sister, your hair is still fine, why fix it?”

Shu Ran sighed, “I need to go to the main room to apologize to Xiang Lan on behalf of that little hussy.” She advised Cun Xin, “Don’t underestimate her, Young Master treats her exceptionally well. I can see she’s not one to cause trouble, but if Luan Er offends her in the future, you’ll need to help mediate and smooth things over.”

Then, Shu Ran washed her face and redid her hair, making herself presentable before returning to the main room. Xiang Lan was leaning on the windowsill, absently watching the flowers and plants in the courtyard. Shu Ran had just found a place to sit and hadn’t opened her mouth when Little Juan announced from outside, “Young Master has returned.”

Xiang Lan didn’t even turn her head, thinking to herself, why has this living demon returned – wasn’t he always out and rarely home before? Lin Jin Lou entered without looking at Xiang Lan, only saying sternly, “I need to change clothes.”

Just then, Little Juan announced again from outside, “Third Young Master, Second Miss, Third Miss, and Fourth Miss have arrived!”

Before the words were finished, Lin Dong Ling had already entered, covering her mouth and laughing, “We heard Brother has a new beauty in his quarters, so we’ve all come to join in the excitement.”

Lin Dong Xiu said, “Since we’ve eagerly come over, Brother must treat us to a meal.”