Hua Mei massaged her temples, taking several deep breaths, suppressing her anger, grievance, and resentment beneath her tongue. She had worked hard to reach this position, becoming almost a mistress of the Lin family, with endless future prosperity within reach. Now, she only needed a child to secure her position. If her brother’s career progressed smoothly, she could stand as an equal even if Lin Jinlou married another noble lady. However, Chen Xiang Lan’s arrival had captured exclusive favor – how could she maintain her position over time? She refused to spend her life as a cautious, compromising “Madam.” She wanted to stand tall and proud, making every woman in the Lin household respect her, to be a true mistress with dignity!
After contemplating for a while, Hua Mei ordered Xi Que to bring writing materials. She wrote a letter, placed it in an envelope, and then retrieved a knee warmer embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum from her chest. She wrapped the letter inside the knee warmer and called a trusted elderly maid, saying, “Tomorrow morning, deliver this to my family home, and hand it directly to my brother. The weather’s getting cold, and since he rides horses, his knees often get cold. I recently made this for him.”
The elderly maid accepted the task and left. Hua Mei no longer cared about finding the ring. She sat quietly for a while, drank a bowl of warm water with a pill for clearing the mind, then changed clothes, removed her remaining makeup, and went to bed.
The first day of the tenth month was the day for sending winter clothes to the deceased. Madam Qin had ordered early preparations of incense, candles, offerings, and spirit money. She also had servants buy colored wax paper from the spirit goods shop and ordered maids to cut spirit clothes. The ancestral hall was cleaned in advance, prepared with fresh and dried fruits, various pastries, fresh flowers, vegetarian dishes, and lit lamps. Old Master Lin personally presided, opening the ancestral hall for the four-kowtow ceremony according to age order, creating a solemn atmosphere. After the ceremony, Lin Jinting led servants to burn the spirit money and clothes outside. As everyone dispersed, servants cleaned the ancestral hall.
Wu Mama had nothing pressing to do, and since Madam Qin wanted to send a gauze garment to Lin Jinlou, Wu Mama took the task and headed to Zhi Chun Hall. Upon entering, she saw Xiang Lan in plain white clothes, washing her hands and face, her eyes swollen red, clearly having just finished paying respects, which surprised her.
It turned out Xiang Lan burned spirit money for her past relatives every year at this time. Now that Wu Mama had discovered this, she forced a smile and said, “When I was young and living in the temple, there was a great monk who treated me like his child, but he passed away early. I couldn’t fulfill my filial duties, so I can only pay respects like this. I’ve told Master about this, and he approved, allowing me to conduct ceremonies in the back garden.”
Wu Mama quickly pressed her palms together saying, “Amitabha, it’s admirable that you have such filial piety.” She sat and chatted with Xiang Lan for a while. As night fell, Wu Mama, estimating the ceremonies would end soon, rose to leave through the back garden door.
She saw Xi Que standing by the rockery, holding a lantern and stamping her feet, who said with a laugh, “Wu Mama, why are you here? Why didn’t you visit our Madam’s quarters? We won’t have that!”
Wu Mama thought privately, “I dislike your mistress’s troublemaking ways. She even ruined Lady Lan who was such a good person before. How could I possibly visit?” But she smiled and said, “Madam Qin sent me to deliver something, and I have other duties to attend to. I could only come once to deliver this and return it. Next time I visit your Madam Hua, you must brew me some good tea.” As she walked over, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
Xi Que replied, “Madam lost a gold ring and couldn’t find it after searching her room for several days. The pearl on that ring was specially given to her by Master. Though she doesn’t say it, I can see she’s truly distressed. So I came out to look without telling her. If I find it, I’ll return it to make her happy; if not, at least she won’t be disappointed and more troubled.”
Wu Mama said, “My child, you’re good, thinking so much of your mistress.” She turned to leave.
Just then, Xi Que’s lantern suddenly fell, landing right by Wu Mama’s feet. Xi Que quickly said, “Oh no, it slipped! Did it hit you, Mama?” She moved closer.
Wu Mama bent to pick up the lantern, saying, “It’s fine, fortunately, it’s a brass lotus lantern, not afraid of dropping. If it were ordinary…” Before finishing, she noticed a white cloth-wrapped package on the ground, triangular shaped, about the size of a baby’s palm. Wu Mama picked it up and felt it – something hard inside, like paper. Being experienced, she immediately recognized it as a talisman and her heart began racing. She thought, “Talismans for children, wealth, and peace are always wrapped in red cloth. This white-wrapped talisman must be malicious. How could such a thing be in Zhi Chun Hall?” She gripped it tightly in her hand.
Xi Que crowded over asking, “What did Mama pick up? Let me see.”
Wu Mama pushed her away saying, “Young girl, don’t be so nosy. Hurry back, your mistress will be asking for you soon.” She quickly left.
Meanwhile, after a busy day, Madam Qin was helped by Hong Jian to sit in the ancestral hall’s side room, where Lu Lan brought hot tea. Madam Qin took a sip and asked, “Are all courtyards locked? Have the night patrol women gone out? Are the servants guarding the second gate and neighboring garden properly managed?”
Hong Jian said, “Those housekeepers will come shortly, I’ll ask them. Madam, you haven’t been feeling well these days, why trouble yourself with this?”
Madam Qin replied, “I didn’t want to manage it, but didn’t the second household have an incident yesterday? A thief seemed to enter Third Miss’s courtyard at night somehow, frightening an elderly maid and a young girl unconscious. After checking, fortunately, nothing was stolen except Third Miss’s jewelry box. Despite punishment and questioning, we couldn’t find who harbored the thief, though we discovered some gambling and drinking. Second Master was furious and borrowed some guards from Young Master Lou today, so the security must be tight.”
Hong Jian quickly agreed. As Madam Qin inquired about the ancestral hall’s cleanup, she noticed someone peering around the doorway and asked, “Who’s at the door? Sneaking about like that?”
A maid lifted the curtain to reveal Wu Mama entering, face pale, saying, “Madam, this old servant has returned from Zhi Chun Hall.”
Madam Qin smiled, “At this hour, why aren’t you resting? Why come rushing here?”
Wu Mama said, “I have something to report to Madam.” Her eyes darted to the side.
Seeing her expression, Madam Qin felt alarmed and dismissed everyone else, telling Wu Mama, “Speak, what is it?”
Wu Mama fell to her knees with tears, saying, “This old servant… just found something deadly in Zhi Chun Hall… Because it’s so serious, I beg Madam’s judgment…” She pulled something from her sleeve and held it up.