The maid hurriedly replied, “It will be ready in another hour.” Madam Tang grumbled a few words, clearly dissatisfied. Xiang Lan couldn’t help but give the maid another look. Shu Ran whispered in her ear, “That maid is called Qian Luo. She has served the Second Master since childhood and used to be highly regarded in his quarters. However, after the Second Mistress arrived, she couldn’t tolerate her… that’s why she’s been relegated to brewing medicine.”
Upon hearing this, Xiang Lan couldn’t help but look again. The maid was sixteen or seventeen years old, delicately built with almond eyes and rosy cheeks, indeed possessing a certain elegance that set her apart from other maids. However, she wore semi-worn clothes while crouching by the stove, her face flushed from the heat, with a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. The maid used a handkerchief to hold the clay pot handle as she carefully poured the medicine into a small porcelain bowl. Suddenly, Madam Tang barked, “Hurry up!”
Startled, Qian Luo’s hand trembled, and some medicine splashed onto her wrist, leaving a red mark. She endured the pain, hastily wiped it with her handkerchief, and carried the medicine inside. Seeing her condition, Xiang Lan was reminded of her own time as Cao Li Huan’s maid and felt sympathy. She lifted her skirts and entered the room, hearing Madam Tang scolding Qian Luo: “Clumsy fool, you can’t even handle such a simple task. Are you here just to eat free meals?”
Seeing Xiang Lan and the others enter, Madam Tang stopped her scolding and ordered Qian Luo to serve tea. She stood up and asked, “Why have you come?”
Xiang Lan smiled and said, “The Master heard the Second Master was ill and was worried, so he sent us to check on him.” She pointed to her basket, “Inside is freshly prepared bird’s nest soup with some medicinal ingredients added. They’re all nourishing ingredients that won’t conflict with Second Master’s medicine. Please have him take some while it’s still potent.” She then handed the fabric to Madam Tang, saying, “Take this fabric to make yourself a skirt. First Young Mistress mentioned that pomegranate red skirts are most fashionable in the capital now.”
Madam Tang took the fabric and examined it. Seeing its smooth silk and bright color, her face broke into a smile. “Oh, is this Capital silk? Such fine fabric, you should keep it for yourself.”
Xiang Lan smiled, “I have more.”
Madam Tang was at the perfect age to appreciate beautiful colors, and while she had several fine clothes, there weren’t many. She had long wanted to make a red skirt but found the colors from outside shops unsatisfactory. High-quality silk cost three to four taels of silver, which she found too expensive. Moreover, as a new bride, she couldn’t easily ask her in-laws for such things. Now that she had received this fabric, her wish was fulfilled, so she didn’t decline and ordered her maid to put it away. She showed more friendliness toward Xiang Lan, though upon noticing Xiang Lan’s half-sleeve jacket was made of even finer material than what she’d been given, she felt displeased again, secretly thinking Xiang Lan was stingy.
They discussed Lin Jin Xuan’s illness for a while, and Madam Tang sighed, “Second Master is so young yet his health is already poor. Who knows if he can live long…” Her eyes reddened as she spoke.
Xiang Lan comforted her, “With proper care and the Lin family’s ability to afford the best medicines, I think Second Master doesn’t have any serious illness. It’s just minor ailments that take time to recover from. Perhaps we should consult a few more good doctors.”
Madam Tang just shook her head. Lin Jin Xuan had coughed half the night before, keeping her awake as well. If this continued, she would either be a widow or might as well be one – either way, facing lonely spring nights, with the room perpetually filled with the smell of medicine that made her chest feel tight. Having just married, she already found it unbearable and couldn’t imagine how to endure the long years ahead. But she was too embarrassed to say this, especially since she and Xiang Lan were merely casual acquaintances. She said, “You’re quite fortunate actually. The Master is healthy and powerful.”
Xiang Lan smiled faintly, “What fortune? I’m just a concubine. Today the Master may favor me, giving me some glory, but ‘even a thousand-mile feast must end.’ When a new love comes, the old is forgotten. Who knows what the future holds.”
Hearing this from the elegantly dressed Xiang Lan, Madam Tang’s jealousy subsided somewhat, and she blurted out, “They say beauty fades quickly, and there’s truth in that.”
Shu Ran frowned upon hearing this, but Xiang Lan maintained her faint smile, saying nothing.
Madam Tang realized her words were harsh and felt awkward, but seeing Xiang Lan’s unchanged expression, as if she hadn’t heard, she felt relieved.
Shu Ran said, “It’s getting late, we should take our leave.” Xiang Lan readily stood to bid farewell. After leaving the courtyard, Shu Ran whispered, “Second Mistress has no filter, just throwing words around. Despite coming from an official family and putting on proper airs, her words are like knives. She shows no concern for karma.”
Xiang Lan replied, “She’s still young and married to such a sickly husband. It’s natural to feel frustrated and vent some anger at us. Who knows how Second Master’s health will fare? Second Mistress is quite pitiful.” Looking at Madam Tang’s attire – the purple peony-patterned wide-sleeved jacket, green skirt, high hairdo, and powdered face with rouge – while her husband was ill, she still had the heart to dress up, showing she was quite lively and fond of flirtation. With Lin Jin Xuan’s condition, he clearly couldn’t engage in romantic dalliances with her… Thinking of this, Xiang Lan shook her head and said, “If Tang cannot control her temperament, she’ll have much to endure in the future.”
Returning to her quarters, the medicine had been prepared, and Shu Ran quickly ordered Ling Su to brew it. After it cooled, she watched Xiang Lan take it. Though extremely reluctant, Xiang Lan had to swallow it, feeling anxious. She thought if she were carrying Lin Jin Lou’s child, she would truly be confined to the role of a concubine for life. Could she be heartless enough to reject this child and struggle for independence? If she left with the child, her only option would be to flee secretly, but with aging parents, where could she go? Xiang Lan lay listlessly in the warm room, facing the wall, lost in thought until she fell asleep.
When she awoke, the lamps were just being lit. Xiang Lan sat up, her head fuzzy, unsure of the time. Ling Qing was doing needlework by the bed and, seeing Xiang Lan awake, put down her work and said, “Madam, would you like some tea? Master has an engagement tonight and sent Shuang Xi back with a message saying he won’t return for dinner. What would you like for dinner, Madam?”
Xiang Lan wiped her face, becoming more alert. While getting dressed, she said, “Something light – stir-fried vegetables and yesterday’s hundred-mushroom soup would be nice.” Ling Qing sent a young maid to the kitchen to order the dishes.
After dinner, while Xiang Lan was studying chess patterns alone to pass the time, she suddenly had a moment of clarity. Things were as they were, and she should let them be. Currently, at a loss, she could only deal with things as they came. Worrying would only torment herself. With this realization, Xiang Lan ordered Hua Shan to put away the chess set, chatted briefly with the maids, and went to bed.
Half-asleep, she heard voices outside, and then the bed curtains were pulled aside as Lin Jin Lou stumbled onto the bed. He carelessly threw his clothes on the floor, pulled back the covers, and lay down, bringing with him a strong smell of alcohol.
Xiang Lan half sat up and leaned over, intending to pull back the bed curtains to have the night-duty maids bring sobering soup, hot tea, and warm towels. But as she got closer to Lin Jin Lou, she noticed not just the smell of alcohol but also a strong scent of powder and perfume – clear evidence he had just been enjoying himself elsewhere. Xiang Lan’s fine eyebrows furrowed slightly as she looked down at Lin Jin Lou, who lay motionless with closed eyes. In that moment of hesitation, Lin Jin Lou suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace. Xiang Lan struggled to get up, but Lin Jin Lou rolled on top of her, muttering, “Why are you fussing?”
Xiang Lan bit her lip and turned away, but Lin Jin Lou ignored her resistance and kissed her lips. Xiang Lan turned to face the wall, so Lin Jin Lou pressed against her back, his arm across her body and his face buried in her hair. Xiang Lan lay rigid and still, thinking about how Lin Jin Lou must have been with other women, and now, with his passion not yet spent, he came to her – the thought filled her with indescribable shame and bitterness. She waited quietly for a moment, trying to gently move Lin Jin Lou’s arm, but as soon as she moved, she heard him say lazily, “Stop moving.”
Xiang Lan could feel Lin Jin Lou’s powerful thigh and his manhood hardening against her buttocks and immediately dared not move again. Lin Jin Lou had always followed his desires, and once aroused, was never easily satisfied in bed. Xiang Lan feared he would act on his lust. Tonight’s situation was particularly difficult to bear, yet she feared displeasing him might cause more trouble. So she lay still, thinking about her half-finished painting, her incomplete game of chess, her unfinished needlework, and then about her days in the temple. She thought of her previous life, visiting family friends with her parents, touring an exquisite garden – perhaps it belonged to the Lu family, or maybe the Lu family. She was very young then, wearing her hair in two little buns, teasing fish in the lake with a peach blossom branch until her nurse hurriedly carried her away… The memories of her previous life were so distant that she thought perhaps it was all just a dream.
Lost in these thoughts, Xiang Lan eventually fell asleep. When she woke the next morning, she found herself nestled in Lin Jin Lou’s embrace. His clothes were open, revealing his muscular chest rising and falling in deep sleep, his arm still around her waist. Outside the bed curtains came the faint sound of footsteps, and Xue Ning asked softly, “Should we wake them?” Usually, at this time, Lin Jin Lou would be up practicing martial arts.
Ling Qing hesitated, “Master drank too much last night and returned late…” She listened carefully, hearing Lin Jin Lou’s light snoring inside, and said, “Master isn’t awake yet… should we ask Sister Shu Ran?”
The two went off to discuss it.
Xiang Lan carefully sat up, put on her clothes, and cautiously lifted the bed curtains. As she put on her shoes and got out of bed, Shu Ran arrived with others. Seeing Xiang Lan up earlier than usual, she quickly sent maids to attend to her. Noticing Lin Jin Lou sleeping soundly, she discussed with Xiang Lan, “Master returned late yesterday, shall we let him sleep longer and wake him at Chen hour?” She thought to herself, last night the Master had returned so drunk he could barely stand. After drinking sobering soup, he vomited once and was still stumbling. Young Master Chu was worried he might fall off his horse, so he specially sent his sedan chair to bring the Master home. Usually in such situations, the Master would have stayed out, but none of the most popular courtesans in the capital could keep him. Now he’s even having doctors examine her for childbearing. This Chen Xiang Lan must have had good karma from her previous life.