Upon returning to Luo Xue Villa, Xiang Lan peeked inside from the main entrance. The hall was quiet, with faint voices coming from the bedroom. Liu Po stood under a banana tree, beckoning to her.
Xiang Lan ran over, and Liu Po gestured toward the room, saying, “Earlier she was chasing and beating the dog, but then Young Lady Qi from the main household sent a young maid with an invitation. Young Lady Qi is hosting a tea party tomorrow and invited our she-devil to attend. As soon as the little maid left, the she-devil calmed down and started rummaging through her clothes chest.”
Xiang Lan nodded. Cao Li Huan loved showing off and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to socialize with the Lin family’s young ladies. Just then, Hui Er called Xiang Lan from the window to help alter Cao Li Huan’s clothes for tomorrow. Xiang Lan composed herself and went to assist with the alterations.
The next day, Cao Li Huan rose early to fuss over her attire, determined to stand out among the sisters. After breakfast, she began preparing herself inside and out. Xiang Lan was secretly pleased—for such occasions, Cao Li Huan would surely take Hui Er along. Once they left, Huai Rui wouldn’t stay indoors either, inevitably sneaking out to play with her friends. Xiang Lan had asked Liu Po to buy paper, brushes, ink, and rouge days ago, and once Luo Xue Villa was empty, she could bring them out to paint.
Sure enough, Cao Li Huan, freshly made up, left with Hui Er, fan in hand. Soon after, Huai Rui disappeared as well. Xiang Lan laid out her paper and brushes, composed herself, and after long contemplation with closed eyes, decisively painted a peach blossom branch. Just as she was about to add flying birds and butterflies, a young maid with unbound hair entered, saying, “Young Lady wants sister to bring the box of silk flowers from her dressing table drawer.”
Xiang Lan hurriedly put away her brushes and ink, went to the dressing table, and pulled open the drawer. She found a black lacquer box with gold phoenix designs, and inside were five hair ornaments. Though from a common workshop, they were exquisitely crafted with high-quality silk.
Since Luo Xue Villa was temporarily empty, Xiang Lan called Liu Po from the tea room to watch the door while she followed the young maid with the box. Lin Dong Qi lived in Hui Feng Study, an area planted with peach, apricot, pomegranate, pear, and osmanthus trees, offering views year-round. A pond lay nearby, with intricate artificial rocks connecting to the shoreline rocks, creating a distinctive scene.
It was Xiang Lan’s first visit to this part of the garden, and she quietly admired it. The maid led her through a cave in the artificial mountain, revealing a spacious area with covered walkways on both sides. Following the walkways led to Hui Feng Study’s three main rooms and four wing rooms, with red windows and green tiles amid lush trees—remarkably elegant.
Xiang Lan inwardly praised the beauty as she followed the maid to the entrance, where a maid in a brown fitted vest lifted the curtain, saying, “Young Lady Huan, your items have arrived.”
Xiang Lan kept her head slightly lowered, not daring to look around. From the reception room came voices and laughter, with Cao Li Huan speaking grandly: “…Last time at Xian Ni House, I spent fifty taels of silver on a cape and a jacket, and that was with a regular customer’s discount. I’ve spent over two hundred taels there in total…”
Hearing Cao Li Huan bragging again, Xiang Lan pursed her lips and entered demurely. Six young ladies sat inside, with Cao Li Huan at an Eight Immortals table drinking tea. Seeing Xiang Lan, her expression darkened, “Why are you here? Where’s Huai Rui?”
Xiang Lan replied, “Huai Rui wasn’t in the room, so I came instead. I had Liu Ma watch the door before leaving.” She presented the box of flowers.
Remembering she had sent Hui Er to deliver something to Zhao Yue Chan and now had no trusted servant nearby, Cao Li Huan told Xiang Lan, “Wait before leaving.” She took the box, opened it, removed one flower, and said with a smile, “This is what I was just mentioning—palace flowers my brother specially arranged to have brought from Beijing, commissioned by the Imperial Household Department. He secured a box for me, all in the latest styles. Come, each of you takes one to wear.” She pushed the box of palace flowers toward Lin Dong Qi. Though Lin Dong Qi was neither the oldest nor youngest, as Madam Qin’s only legitimate daughter, Cao Li Huan deliberately offered her first choice in an attempt to curry favor.
Lin Dong Qi, about fourteen or fifteen, had delicate features with slightly upturned phoenix eyes and a slender waist. Her manner and bearing resembled Madam Qin’s—capable and astute. She wore a proper white satin jacket and damask skirt, with only a silver hairpin for ornament and a pair of silver bracelets engraved with fu-lu-shou patterns that set off her snow-white wrists. Holding a teacup, she smiled graciously at Cao Li Huan, “Since these are such fine flowers, the sister should keep them to wear yourself. I have some.”
Cao Li Huan smiled warmly and accommodatingly, “Why so polite, sister? There are four in the box—perfect for each of you to choose one. Look at this one in my hand—the flower stamens are even strung with rice-grain-sized pearls.”
As Lin Dong Qi was about to decline again, a delicate voice spoke up: “This is such a kind gesture. Among all the sisters here, both older and younger, she especially lets the Second Sister choose first. You shouldn’t waste such goodwill.” Xiang Lan, who had retreated to a corner after delivering the box, looked toward the voice. By the kang table sat a girl of about thirteen, with an oval face, fine brows and eyes, and cherry-like lips. Though appearing sickly, she was delicately beautiful. Her hair ornaments were all plain silver, and she wore a white jacket with subtle peony patterns and a white cotton damask skirt—even more eye-catching than Lin Dong Qi’s attire.
Xiang Lan thought to herself: “Ting Lan mentioned that the main household’s eldest illegitimate daughter Lin Dong Wan had already married, and there was a third illegitimate daughter called Lin Dong Xiu—this must be her. She’s truly beautiful, but her words are rather cutting, publicly embarrassing Cao Li Huan.”
Hearing these words, Cao Li Huan’s expression indeed changed. Though she wanted to lash out, she was constrained by the other’s status and forced herself to pretend she hadn’t heard, instead urging the other girls, “Come, Ling sister, you choose too.”
Xiang Lan’s gaze followed, seeing a girl sitting on the other side of the kang table, disdainfully cracking melon seeds. She appeared about the same age as Lin Dong Qi, with thick brows, large eyes, a fine nose, and a shapely mouth. She had a handsome, spirited appearance, with her hair partially in a bun and the rest in a braid adorned with pearl dots.
She wore a white brocade jacket and skirt embroidered with delicate white flowers and a silver necklace with a smooth white jade pendant—this was Lin Dong Ling, the legitimate daughter of the second branch and third young lady of the Lin family. Another girl sat to Lin Dong Qi’s left, appearing about thirteen, with an oval face, snow-white skin, willow brows, and gentle eyes.
Her manner was gentle and reserved. She wore a semi-new cloud-and-wild-goose patterned brocade long vest with a wide snow-blue collar and dark green skirt, with two or three gold ornaments in her hair—not extravagant but clearly showing noble family bearing. Xiang Lan didn’t know which family’s young lady she was and looked at her a bit longer due to her beauty. She was Song Ke’s sister Song Tan Chai, visiting the Lin family.
As Cao Li Huan urged the young ladies to choose flowers, Lin Dong Ling, who had previous grievances with her, completely ignored her. Song Tan Chai, being introverted and not fond of socializing, thought carefully after glancing at the box: “There are only four flowers in total, presumably one for each Lin sister plus one for Young Lady Huan herself. There’s none for me, so why should I eagerly choose one and take someone else’s? How pointless.” So she just smiled slightly without moving.
After calling several times with no response, Cao Li Huan began to lose face and said, “These flowers are truly of the highest quality. I heard it takes a master craftsman a full day to make just one, and only palace concubines can afford to wear them. You can’t even buy them outside. This box of flowers cost my brother a full twenty taels of silver…”
“If palace concubines wore these flowers, it would bring shame to the imperial family. Dear cousin, you’d better put them away,” Lin Dong Ling said mockingly, spitting out a melon seed shell. “Which palace item would dare bear a merchant’s mark? I saw the ‘Ming Ji’ mark on your flowers. Some unknown workshop’s flowers, yet they dared charge your brother twenty taels—clearly, he was deceived.”
Lin Dong Xiu smiled softly, revealing dimples while covering her mouth with a handkerchief, “Indeed, among Beijing’s famous accessory makers—Yong Ji, Wan Bao Lou, Yuan Fu Fang—I’ve never heard of ‘Ming Ji.’ We all have flowers anyway. The palace sent down two boxes last time, five flowers for each sister. During New Year, Mother specially sent some to Third Sister—did you receive them?”
Lin Dong Ling smiled sweetly, “Of course, I received them, along with clothes and accessories. My Elder Sister-in-law is so thoughtful, never forgetting about me. One look at the box tells you they’re palace items—exquisite! No matter how well outside merchants make them, they can’t match imperial standards.”
With each comment, Cao Li Huan’s face darkened further. Ambitious by nature, she always yearned to associate with the upper class and nobility, determined not only to avoid being looked down upon but to excel in everything. At this tea party, she naturally wanted to show off as a sophisticated young lady, but no one was buying it. She had brought out her treasured flowers with good intentions, only to invite ridicule. Lin Dong Ling already had grievances with her, but now Lin Dong Xiu joined in mocking her, publicly humiliating her!
Cao Li Huan had a fiery temper, and her face turned crimson, ready to explode. Lin Dong Qi quickly interjected with a smile, “These flowers are quite nice, but we’re in mourning for Great-grandmother now and can’t wear red or purple. We appreciate your kind intention, Sister Huan. Besides, you’re about to marry—you should keep these pretty flowers for yourself.”
Seeing Lin Dong Qi offering Cao Li Huan a way out, Lin Dong Xiu snorted and turned to chat amiably with Song Tan Chai: “Speaking of novel and beautiful palace flowers, I have several that I can’t wear during Great-grandmother’s mourning period. They’re just gathering dust. I’ll have someone send them to you later—there’s a lotus-colored one that would match perfectly with your outfit today.”
Song Tan Chai smiled and said, “While I appreciate Sister Wan’s kindness, I shouldn’t accept. I don’t really care for wearing flowers and such—please keep them yourself.”
Lin Dong Xiu responded warmly, “Why so formal with me? Even if you don’t like wearing them, keep them—there will be times to wear them.”
Lin Dong Ling immediately jumped in, “I have flowers too—layered silk, fine silk, satin ones, with agates and crystals for the stamens. They’re gorgeous, made by the most famous craftsman in Nanjing. Little Sister Tan Chai should take some to wear. I’ll have Dian Xi send them to you later.”
These words further provoked Cao Li Huan, who thought bitterly, “I’m the real Lin family relative, what is Song Tan Chai? Just the daughter of Second Madam’s sister, from a declining family at that. Look at those poor clothes—good material, but who knows how long she’s worn them. Those detestable Lin Dong Wan and Lin Dong Ling are trying to spite me by deliberately flattering this little Song mouse!”
Angered, she spoke sarcastically, “Little Sister Tan Chai is so fortunate, with two sisters competing to give you flowers while you decline. Unlike me, unwelcome yet eagerly offering gifts that people disdain. You’re refusing what comes free—people will call you foolish.”
Lin Dong Ling immediately retorted, “We give because we want to—what’s it to you? Better watch your flowers and belongings carefully, or you’ll cry thief again and slap me. I’m delicate, unlike some wild-grown ruffian who knows how to fight—I can’t take such violence.”
Lin Dong Xiu feigned surprise, covering her mouth with her handkerchief, “Sister Ling was hit? My precious sister, whom even Second Aunt wouldn’t dare flick a finger at, how could anyone strike you?”
Lin Dong Ling sneered, “Since coming to our family, how many fights has she started? Not even respecting Old Madam’s face…”
“Fourth Sister,” Lin Dong Qi suddenly spoke up, nodding toward the floor, “a pearl fell from your braid.”
Lin Dong Ling looked down and indeed saw a round pearl on the floor. She touched her braid and said carelessly, “The maids can pick it up later.”
Lin Dong Qi’s senior maid Ta Sha, showing her astuteness, picked up the pearl and personally returned it to Lin Dong Ling’s purse. Lin Dong Qi chided, “Fourth Sister still hasn’t broken this careless habit.”
Lin Dong Ling smiled, “It’s just one pearl—no big deal if it’s lost.”
Lin Dong Xiu said, “Tsk, only you would be so unconcerned about losing such a large pearl.”
“I’ll take these pearls out of my hair later and have pearl hairpins made for each of our sisters,” Lin Dong Ling said, sipping tea with a smile and looking at Song Tan Chai, “including one for Little Sister Tan Chai.”
The implication was clear—none for Cao Li Huan. Xiang Lan shook her head privately, thinking this Young Lady was too thick-skinned. The Lin family’s young ladies clearly showed their disdain, yet she stubbornly stayed. She also reflected on the difference between a fake noble lady and a true one. Cao Li Huan had bragged about her flowers—” the stamens are strung with rice-grain-sized pearls”—proud of such tiny pearls, while Lin Dong Ling casually dismissed losing thumbnail-sized pearls and offered to make hairpins for each sister. The contrast was stark—surely the Young Lady wouldn’t be able to contain herself now.
Indeed, Cao Li Huan erupted in anger, springing to her feet with blazing eyes and shouting, “You, you go too far! Repeatedly mocking me—what exactly do you mean!”
Lin Dong Qi quickly stood and grabbed Cao Li Huan’s arm, trying to soothe her with a smile, “What’s wrong? Sister Huan, don’t be angry, please don’t be angry. They’re just teasing—don’t take it to heart.”
Lin Dong Ling spoke in an affected tone, “Oh my, what’s happening? Are you going to hit someone again?”
Just then, a voice came from outside: “How lively in here—who’s going to hit whom?”