In Zhichun Hall, two more servant girls fell ill, who had shared quarters with Zhicao. Soon after, three or four more people became sick. Everyone feared for their safety, and a gloomy atmosphere enveloped Zhichun Hall. Lin Jinlou, however, maintained a calm demeanor, appearing unconcerned about the situation. He ordered preparations to move the Old Master, Old Madam, Madam Qin, Madam Wang, and all the young masters and misses to the family villa. He handled all affairs in the Lin mansion, strictly ordering everyone to restrict their movements and allowing only servants who had previously contracted smallpox to run errands outside. With him in charge, the entire Lin household settled into a quiet routine.

Lin Jinlou kept Xianglan behind. One night after their intimacies, covered in sweat, he playfully pinched her cheek and said with a grin, “Are you scared that I kept you here? I figured if we were going to die, we might as well go to the underworld hand in hand. I cherish you so much—aren’t you happy about that?”

Xianglan, exhausted from Lin Jinlou’s attentions half the night, could barely keep her eyes open. His words didn’t please her at all. She thought about how she was now imprisoned by this tyrant Lin, which was already unfair—wouldn’t he even let her go in death? But she had grown wiser now and no longer provoked Lin Jinlou, only gazing at him with her bright eyes.

Lin Jinlou had meant to tease her, but seeing Xianglan’s round eyes staring at him silently, he found it somewhat dull and said, “I’ve been through smallpox before. If those infected are treated early, it shouldn’t spread too widely. Moreover, those who’ve served in the mansion since childhood have all been inoculated—only the weak ones like Yingge couldn’t withstand it. Zhichun Hall is already quarantined—outsiders can’t come in, and those inside can’t go out. In ten to fifteen days, if no one else develops a fever, this calamity will be over.” After speaking, he lifted the bed curtain and called for tea.

There was movement outside, and surprisingly, it was Zidai who entered with a copper kettle, refilled the teacups and carefully brought them to the bedside.

Lin Jinlou sat up, the sheet sliding down to his lower abdomen, his muscular upper body bare as he pulled aside the curtain to take the tea and drink it in one go. Zidai saw his tall frame, broad shoulders, and the muscles flexing in his arm as he held the teacup. A bead of sweat rolled down his neck, leaving her dumbstruck, and weak-limbed, with her face instantly flushing red and her heart racing as heat coursed through her body.

Since only one dim lamp lit the room, Lin Jinlou knew a maid had entered but assumed it was Lianxin or Chunling. He paid no attention and didn’t look closely, just drinking one cup and ordering another. Zidai finally came to her senses and hurriedly poured another cup. Lin Jinlou held the tea and shook Xianglan, saying, “Get up and have a sip.”

Xianglan was so exhausted she couldn’t lift a finger. Lin Jinlou had been in an amorous mood and had many ways to please himself. At first, Xianglan had been too embarrassed, but later became too tired to care about shame, just lying there with her eyes closed in a daze.

Lin Jinlou shook her several times, and seeing Xianglan pretending to be dead, said, “Quick, get up and have a sip, or do you want me to feed you mouth to mouth?”

Realizing there was still a maid standing in the room, Xianglan quickly opened her eyes, propped herself up, and managed to take a sip before collapsing again. Lin Jinlou chuckled, finished the remaining tea, and extended his arm from behind the bed curtain to hand out the teacup.

Zidai quickly took it and stood outside for a while, hearing Lin Jinlou speaking softly inside the curtains and Xianglan occasionally responding drowsily. Finally, she blew out the candle and quietly withdrew.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Xuening standing at the door, glaring at her. Since Lin Jinlou disliked Zidai, although she was a first-rank maid, she wasn’t even allowed to enter the bedroom. Only Lianxin, Tinglan, Xuening, and Chunling served night duty. Tonight was Xuening’s turn, but in the late night, she had stomach cramps and went to the latrine. Coincidentally, Zidai was thirsty and went to the tea room for water, hearing Lin Jinlou call for someone, she immediately entered the room.

Xuening had vaguely seen Zidai enter with the kettle and was instantly anxious, but feared angering Lin Jinlou, so she could only anxiously wait at the door. Seeing Zidai come out, she suppressed her anger and said, “Sister, you’re quite diligent, but next time don’t trouble yourself.”

Zidai smiled warmly and said softly, “Little sister must have been off somewhere. I only went in because Master called for someone. No need to thank me.” She pushed past Xuening’s arm and walked away gracefully.

Xuening ground her teeth in anger.

Nothing else happened for a while.

After a few days, Zhicao’s corpse was carried out of Zhichun Hall, and two more people died in the Lin mansion, but no new cases of smallpox appeared. Xianglan chanted sutras and prayed morning and evening, and found servants who had recovered from smallpox to bring food and drink to Yingge and the others. Outside the second gate was a servant boy nicknamed Little Pig for his rotund figure. His face was pockmarked from smallpox, so fearing he would disturb the masters, he only did rough work. When this situation arose, he was put to use running errands in the corridor. Hearing that Xianglan needed someone for tasks, he eagerly came forward and accepted the assignment. Upon returning, he reported, “When Miss Yingge heard you were sending her things, she cried for a while. She especially had me stand under her window and tell me that you’re kind, and in all her years in the mansion, you’re the only one she truly trusts. She said she has twenty taels of private savings and some jewelry in a small box under her bed. After she’s gone, the Lin family will give her family some silver. She begs you to keep her silver and jewelry and find a way to personally give them to her younger brother. She fears someone dishonest might steal her things, or if the silver falls into her sister-in-law’s hands, her father won’t have money for treatment and her brother won’t have food to eat.”

Xianglan felt uneasy. She could tell that Yingge had deliberately tried to curry favor with her before, which made her uncomfortable, but they were all pitiful people—Yingge had her troubles, and she had her own. If they could get along, why make things difficult for each other? Though they weren’t particularly close, they were compatible. Now, hearing Yingge’s final arrangements, Xianglan couldn’t help but sigh several times and told Little Pig through the curtain, “Go back and tell her I agree.” She then ordered Chunling to give him a red envelope as a reward.

That night, after the third watch, Lin Jinlou was still reading official documents by lamplight while Xianglan lay on the bed, half-asleep. Suddenly, they heard the wooden board at the second gate being struck, and a servant woman reported at the door, “Miss Yingge has passed away.”

Xianglan was startled and sat up immediately. Lin Jinlou got up and left. A moment later, Shuran returned and said, “Since she died of smallpox, the body cannot be kept. They hurriedly took it to be cremated, keeping the ashes for the funeral. Master, remembering her service to him, honored her as a concubine. The coffin was already prepared, and nothing necessary will be lacking.”

Xianglan then told her about Yingge’s request and said, “Good sister, I cannot go there, so I must trouble you to help me with this.”

This was the first time Xianglan had asked Shuran for help. Shuran immediately patted her chest and agreed, praising Xianglan’s Buddha-like compassion. Soon after, she returned with a package of silver and jewelry, adding, “Yingge’s family has arrived and is kneeling before Master to thank him for his grace.”

Xianglan asked, “Who from her family came?”

Shuran replied, “Her brother and sister-in-law, and her younger brother. Her younger brother is ten years old and serves under the Second Master, called Zhao’er.”

Xianglan added forty taels to the package of silver and had someone call Zhao’er. She told him, “Your sister and I were close, and before she died, she entrusted me to give you her savings. This package contains her belongings—keep them safe. If you ever face difficulties in the future, come find me.”

Zhao’er resembled Yingge in appearance and had been crying until his eyes were red. He knelt and kowtowed to Xianglan, saying, “Blessed Madam, Zhao’er kowtows to you and will forever remember your great kindness.” He left wiping his tears, but we’ll set that aside for now.

After Zhao’er left, Xianglan lay on the bed fully clothed, in a daze. Suddenly, she saw Yingge come in and say to her, “Sister Xianglan, I’m leaving. You are kind and righteous, having agreed to my request. In the future, my family will repay your kindness.”

Xianglan was startled and opened her eyes to see Lin Jinlou walking in from outside—there was no trace of Yingge.

Another ten days or so passed, and no one else in the Lin mansion developed a fever or smallpox. As the New Year approached, Lin Zhaoxiang ordered his son and daughters-in-law to move back to the Lin house. The first thing Madam Qin did upon returning was to arrange for the whole family to attend a peace-seeking Taoist ceremony at Qixia Temple.

“We’ve been so worried, and now seven or eight people in the household have died—who knows what rumors are spreading outside. I already made a vow at the temple, and now that it’s fulfilled, we need to hold a grand ceremony to complete it properly. The Old Madam will attend this time,” Madam Qin said. “Ling’er has been complaining to me that last time at the temple was boring because she couldn’t even watch plays. This time, Qixia Temple has a tall building where they can set up a stage for a performance.”

Madam Wang said, “She’s just a child, what does she know? People’s lives are at stake in the household, yet she only cares about having fun and watching shows.”

Madam Qin teased, “She’s about to be betrothed and is already a young lady. Ling’er has become much more dignified and refined lately, even speaking less—she’s ready for marriage.”

Lin Dongying’s face immediately turned red, making everyone laugh. She quietly turned her head away and gave a soft snort.

Madam Qin then sent Qiangwei to Zhichun Hall to tell Xianglan she would take her along. Qiangwei smiled and said, “Madam even said she wants Miss to ride in the same carriage with her!”

Chunling quickly asked, “Is Zidai going?”

Qiangwei replied, “Madam didn’t mention her, but Mama Han begged Madam, and she agreed to take her along.”

After Qiangwei left, Chunling clapped her hands and laughed, “See that? Time reveals true colors—Madam has also seen what kind of fox spirit Zidai is. Now Madam specially invites Miss to join her, this is clearly meant to elevate Miss’s status.”

Xianglan shook her head privately. She didn’t care about what techniques Madam Qin used to manage people, but after being confined in the mansion for so long, it would be good to go out for a change of scenery.

To speak specifically of the day they went to Qixia Temple, carriages gathered in front of the Lin mansion. Xianglan shared a carriage with Madam Qin, and they rode in silence. Occasionally when Madam Qin wanted tea, Xianglan would hand her the cup, or add plum blossom-scented cakes to Madam Qin’s hand warmer, then sit quietly in the corner of the carriage. Madam Qin was much more friendly, occasionally asking Xianglan questions, unlike her previous cold demeanor. Xianglan was privately puzzled, not knowing that Madam Qin had learned of her kindness to Yingge and had developed a better impression of her. Even Madam Qin admitted that during Xianglan’s time in her courtyard, though not particularly likable, she had quietly stayed there with the bearing of a noble lady, perhaps even surpassing her daughter. Moreover, Xianglan was accomplished in literature and painting and had a gentle nature—truly remarkable. Perhaps this girl was too outstanding and eye-catching, or perhaps because her son had forcefully brought her in as a concubine, Madam Qin always felt uneasy.

Lin Jinlou rode on horseback escorting them the whole way. When they reached Qixia Temple, the abbot and a group of monks had already come out to welcome them. Lin Jinting hurriedly led the stewards, managers, and clan members to receive them.

We’ll set aside for now how Madam Qin’s group worshipped Buddha and paid their respects. Lin Jinlou made a round of the temple and ordered the guards they had brought to secure the temple well. He went to Xianglan and instructed, “Serve Madam well. I’m returning first and will come to pick you all up in three days.” Xianglan responded perfunctorily. After giving a few more instructions, Lin Jinlou left.

Chunling looked at Xianglan hesitantly, stammering, “Miss, you should pay more attention to Master… Right now, Miss doesn’t even have an official status, and Master is used to being romantic…”

Xianglan smiled faintly. Since the smallpox cases had ended in the Lin mansion, Lin Jinlou had resumed his habit of leaving early and returning late, sometimes staying out overnight. There were whispers that Lin Jinlou had a new lover outside, reportedly having taken a fancy to Miss Yunzhui from Yihong House, a woman of exceptional beauty and artistic talent with a bright, clear voice. She had long heard the servants’ gossip, but Chunling and the others thought she didn’t know.

Shuran was a shrewd person and said while joking with her, “Miss is blessed with good fortune. I can see that Master truly cares for you—don’t listen to outside gossip. Previously, Master was out every other day, but now he only occasionally goes out for social obligations and returns home after leaving the office. You’re the only one left in the courtyard, and these days when a guard offered Master a heavenly beauty as a gift, Master didn’t accept and sent her away directly.” Xianglan just smiled at these words.

Lin Jinlou’s romantic nature wasn’t something new. She was just a plaything in his quarters—she had enough worry about her future, how could she have the heart to be jealous? If Lin Jinlou found a new lover and cast her aside, she would breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing Xianglan not responding, Chunling could only resign herself. Soon after, when Madam Qin wanted to attend the ceremony, Xianglan followed along. After some worship and chanting, Lin Dongying first complained of a headache and went to rest. Lin Dongxiu waited a while and then quietly slipped out, thinking to herself, “They say the divination lots at Qixia Temple are most efficacious—I’ll go draw one.” She went to the Three Saints Hall in the east, where the main hall was empty. Lin Dongxiu stepped in alone, and just as she was about to take the bamboo cylinder containing the lots from the offering table, she heard male and female voices faintly coming from behind the Buddha statue. She quietly hid behind a pillar and looked, shocked to see Lin Dongying talking with a tall, robust actor wearing theatrical makeup.

Lin Dongying said, “…Du Lang, my right eyelid has been twitching these past two days, and my heart is fluttering… This matter… can it succeed?”

The actor said, “Of course, it will succeed. I wouldn’t deceive you. I’ve made all the preparations—just wait until tomorrow night, and stay alert when you go to sleep. A few days ago at Ganlu Temple, you didn’t stay overnight, so we couldn’t make our move then.”

“…I’m still afraid… Seven or eight people have died in our household. Every time I close my eyes, I wonder if they’ll come seeking revenge, especially Hanfang, who served me for so long…”