As Lin Dong Yin and Lin Dong Xiu left Madam Qin’s courtyard, Lin Dong Xiu stopped and coldly sneered, “You’re quite calculating, ignoring your cousin to curry favor with that slave’s offspring. I’ve truly seen through you today!” With that, she stormed off angrily, her maid Nan Ge hurrying after her.
Lin Dong Yin’s face turned ashen with anger. Han Zhi quickly consoled her, “Fourth Young Lady has always been like this, The Young Lady shouldn’t take it personally.”
Lin Dong Yin twisted her handkerchief tightly, fighting back tears as she said, “She’s always like this? Why doesn’t she dare act this way with Second Sister, let alone speak such vulgar words? It’s only because I wasn’t born from Mother’s womb!” She gritted her teeth at Lin Dong Xiu’s retreating figure and muttered, “Just wait until I rise to prominence – you’ll see!”
Han Zhi quickly offered her own handkerchief to dab Lin Dong Yin’s tears, saying, “Young Lady, don’t be upset, don’t be upset.”
Lin Dong Yin held back her shame and walked back with tears streaming down her face, thinking to herself: “My fate is poor. If I were born to Mother, I too could act as I pleased and scold whoever I wanted. Who would want to curry favor with that slave’s daughter Xiang Lan? I wouldn’t even spare her a glance! It’s only because Elder Brother dotes on her. When the Second Sister married, the Elder Brother added two whole chests to her dowry. I heard it wasn’t just silver but also antiques and paintings. Now if I stay on good terms with her and Elder Brother is happy, perhaps he’ll add more to my dowry too. If I face bullying at my married home in the future, I can count on Elder Brother’s support. Only that fool Lin Dong Xiu would be stupid enough to oppose Chen Xiang Lan.” While thinking this, she roughly wiped away her tears and returned to her room to sulk.
Meanwhile, Madam Qin had grown tired and returned to her room with Hong Jian’s support. She ordered Xiang Lan to sit at the kang table in the outer room to copy the Diamond Sutra. Both Mama Han and Mama Wu withdrew. Mama Han sighed, “I told Madam this morning that I didn’t want Zi Dai to go to Knowledge Spring Pavilion, but Madam didn’t respond and still sent her there.”
Mama Wu gave Mama Han a cool look: “Who told you to always praise Zi Dai’s virtues to Madam? The Young Master already had four concubines, and adding another might be inappropriate. It could make future marriage prospects uncomfortable, so Madam didn’t agree and delayed promoting Zi Dai’s status. Now it’s fortunate – two positions have opened in Young Master’s household. It’s your opportunity, and now that things are going your way, why are you complaining to me?”
Mama Han sucked her teeth and said, “Stop playing dumb with me! You know exactly what I mean. After what you told me yesterday, how could I be at ease?”
Mama Wu snorted, “You old fox, you’ve grown much cleverer. Zi Dai has some minor wit – in the past, she just needed to keep a low profile and show respect to Xiang Lan. If she’s fortunate enough to catch the Young Master’s eye and be taken in, it would be her blessing. With your reputation, she could earn the title of ‘Young Lady,’ unlike Luan’er who ruined herself. She’d at least have a secure future. But if the Young Master shows no interest, don’t try to force it. When the Young Master gets angry, he won’t care whose niece she is.” With that, she left.
Mama Han watched Mama Wu’s arrogant demeanor and though she knew the advice was sound, something still bothered her. She spat “Pah!” and lifted the curtain to enter the room.
It was nearly noon. Madam Qin had changed into a mud-gold jacket embroidered with peonies and was resting against a brocade cushion on the luohan bed with her eyes closed. Hong Jian removed the half-warm tea from the begonia side table and replaced it with a steaming fresh cup. Just as she was about to quietly withdraw, Madam Qin suddenly opened her eyes and asked, “What is she doing outside?”
Hong Jian naturally knew what Madam Qin meant and replied, “She just finished copying a few pages of scripture as you instructed, not letting her idle. Now she’s sorting thread outside. When Qiangwei and others tried to chat with her, she only smiled politely without saying much.”
Madam Qin sat up, and Hong Jian hurried to support her, saying, “Madam retired late last night, please rest a while longer.” She then offered the gold-threaded plantain leaf cup and asked, “Shall we invite her to stay for lunch?”
Madam Qin took a sip and said, “Why keep her? She has no meal allowance here.”
Hong Jian, thinking of the five taels of hot silver Lian Xin had slipped over that morning, tentatively said, “I’ve noticed Xiang Lan is quite sensible – she neither says too much nor too little. When we deliberately discussed Luan’er and Hua Mei’s disputes in front of her, she didn’t join in. When we asked about the Young Master’s affairs, she just shook her head claiming ignorance. She’s not a frivolous person.”
Madam Qin wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and gave a light laugh: “She may not show it on her face, but she’s conceited inside. That arrogance is in her bones. Without some harsh tempering, I fear she won’t be content even as a concubine. If she were more simple-minded, it wouldn’t matter, but this girl harbors cleverness. If young Master Lou’s future wife can’t control her, she might cause even bigger waves than Madam Zhao.”
Hong Jian smiled slightly, “No wonder Madam deliberately embarrassed her several times today – it was a show of authority. I was puzzled since Madam is usually gracious. Even when Concubine Lan was foolish and made mistakes or spoke wrongly, Madam was gentle. I wondered why you suddenly changed your approach.”
Madam Qin pointed at her legs, and Hong Jian immediately sat by the bed to massage them with a “Beauty’s Fist” technique. Madam Qin sighed contentedly and said, “Now Xiang Lan lives in the main courtyard, Young Master Lou visits her as soon as he returns, and even a dignified maid like Lian Xin serves her – she’s taking on the airs of a First Madam… tsk. Yesterday at Knowledge Spring Pavilion, looking in her jewelry box, it was full of pearls and jade, even rare items from overseas. Several large chests of clothes… How long has she been in the household? Never mind what she’s wearing today, but the necklace around her neck is finer than what Fourth Young Lady wears. Master Lou, this foolish child, spoils her too much. He’s good in every way except when it comes to women – he becomes muddle-headed. If I don’t cut down this arrogance now, what will become of things?”
Just then, Mama Han entered and heard Madam Qin’s words. Thinking of Xiang Lan’s fine attire and the luxurious furnishings in Knowledge Spring Pavilion, her feelings were complex. She regretted her past poor judgment in not attaching herself to Lin Jin Lou’s powerful position; she envied how Mama Wu’s family had secured such backing and risen above her; she secretly hoped Zi Dai might also catch Lin Jin Lou’s eye and achieve Xiang Lan’s glory; yet she also feared Zi Dai might fail to distinguish herself and instead bring trouble to the family – perhaps it would be better to remain humble.
Hong Jian was saying, “The Young Master favors Miss Xiang Lan, which might not be a bad thing. Mama Wu says since Xiang Lan entered the Knowledge Spring Pavilion, the Young Master hasn’t caroused outside. It’s admirable how Madam thinks of everything for the Young Master’s sake, even personally teaching Miss Xiang Lan.”
Madam Qin said, “There’s no harm in teaching her more – we can’t have another Hua Mei or Luan’er situation.” Seeing Mama Han, she called out, “You’re here. Did you send Zi Dai over?”
Mama Han smiled ingratiatingly and said, “Yes, I did. Thank you for your concern, Madam.” Then curiously asked, “Madam mentioned teaching Miss Xiang Lan – may I ask what kind of teaching?”
Madam Qin smiled without speaking, then after a while said, “First let her copy scripture for a few days to calm her mind.” Then to Mama Han, she added, “Have Zi Dai come tomorrow too, to learn alongside her.”
Mama Han was stunned, feeling as if a huge windfall had landed on her head. Excited and dizzy, she quickly kowtowed, “This old servant thanks Madam on Zi Dai’s behalf for this great favor!”
Madam Qin made a gesture to help her up, with a somewhat distant smile: “No need for thanks. I have the intention, but we’ll see if she has the fortune.” Zi Dai was docile and seemed good for bearing children. She was eager for grandchildren, and Mama Han had served loyally for many years. Now that Lin Jin Lou’s household had vacancies, it wouldn’t hurt to send her over. If it worked out, it would serve two purposes and help check Xiang Lan’s power. If not, in a couple of years they could prepare a good dowry and marry Zi Dai to a decent family, which would also save face for her old servant.
Mama Han was so excited she trembled slightly. Lin Jin Lou’s greatest virtue was his filial piety – back then, Qing Lan had been chosen by Madam. With Madam’s backing, this was practically eighty percent settled! She kowtowed repeatedly to thank Madam Qin until her forehead was swollen when she finally withdrew.
The little maid Xiao Fang brought hot water and a hot towel for her to clean her face. Mama Han gazed at herself in the mirror set up before her for a long while, then suddenly began to giggle, muttering to herself: “Wu Zhao Xia, you old thing, always putting on airs around me, acting so superior with your ‘I’m better than you’ attitude, really thinking you’re half a master because you’ve attached yourself to the Young Master and are betting on Chen Xiang Lan. Do you think you can boss everyone around at Knowledge Spring Pavilion and all the good fortune will fall to your family? Hmph! No matter how much the Young Master dotes on Xiang Lan, she’s stillborn of slaves and can’t exceed the face Madam gives her. The household has plenty of beautiful, clever, and sensible maids, and our Zi Dai is among the best of them. You think everyone else is dead?” Having been suppressed by Mama Wu for decades, these words brought her sudden satisfaction, and she snapped the mirror case shut with a “bang.”
Everyone harbored their thoughts and schemes. Xiang Lan spent the morning working in Madam Qin’s courtyard until noon, when Madam Qin sent her back, instructing her to come again early the next day.
As soon as Xiang Lan returned to Knowledge Spring Pavilion, Lian Xin arrived with Xue Ning and Zi Dai. Xiang Lan said, “Since you were all bestowed by the Old Madam and Madam, you must all be good. As for arrangements, we should wait for the Young Master’s instructions. You shouldn’t come to ask me.”
Lian Xin thought to herself that the Young Master had already said any maid coming to Knowledge Spring Pavilion who displeased Xiang Lan could be sent away immediately. Although Xiang Lan’s position was awkward and this wasn’t proper protocol, how could she dare not let Xiang Lan review them?
Xue Ning was of medium height with fair, delicate features. Though not exceptionally beautiful, she had a certain charm and somewhat resembled Snow Cup, Old Madam’s most favored maid – they were likely sisters. Smiling, she said, “Before coming here, the Old Madam specifically instructed us to pay our respects to the Young Lady. We’ll be serving at Young Lady’s side from now on, and hope Young Lady won’t find us too clumsy.”
Zi Dai also smiled, though unable to hide her excitement: “We’ll be together from now on. I’m young and inexperienced, so Sister must teach me well.”
Xue Ning had addressed her as “Young Lady” while Zi Dai used “Sister.” Chun Ling immediately frowned at this.