A blue-and-white porcelain pot was warming on a small red clay stove, with a subtle wine fragrance wafting from it. Xiang Lan stood by the stove with a small fan, occasionally wiping sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. Old Woman Liu tiptoed in, sniffed, and said, “I wondered where that wine smell was coming from – so it’s here.”

Xiang Lan jerked her head toward the outside and whispered, “Miss Huan invited the First Young Madam for a meal. She gave half a tael of silver to the kitchen for dishes and asked me to warm some wine.”

Old Woman Liu snorted, “Just half a tael? That might work for others, but the First Young Madam won’t be impressed. I heard she recently ate Eight-Treasure Precious Balls where each bite cost one tael of silver. She took just three bites before getting tired of it and gave the rest to her maids.”

One tael per bite? Xiang Lan stuck out her tongue – even in her previous life with the Shen family, they hadn’t been so extravagant. She silently lamented Zhao Yuechan’s wasteful spending of her blessings. Moving deftly, she took out the warmed wine and placed it on a tray. Seeing Old Woman Liu’s greedy expression, she smiled and quietly poured a small cup of wine, pressing it into her hands, saying, “Here, Mother, have some, but don’t let anyone see.”

Old Woman Liu’s eyes crinkled with pleasure: “But the wine will be short…”

“Such a tiny amount won’t be noticed.” Xiang Lan lifted the tray and headed to the hall.

The Eight Immortals table was set with four cold dishes and eight hot dishes, complete with chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Cao Lihuan was leaning forward, whispering something to Zhao Yuechan. Zhao Yuechan listened with her head down, but her face showed impatience as she interrupted loudly, “You make it sound so simple, but things aren’t that easy! Do you want to live in Longcui Residence? Though it’s empty and wasn’t originally an important place, it’s too close to Woyun Court. How could Madam possibly let you move there?”

“Why not? Luoxue Villa is too remote. Longcui Residence is perfect, with beautiful scenery and closer to sister-in-law’s Zhichun Hall. It would be more convenient for us to visit each other.”

“No, no.” Zhao Yuechan waved her hand irritably. “I can’t make that decision.” She didn’t care where Cao Lihuan lived. If not for the box of jeweled gold hairpins she’d received, she wouldn’t even have come.

Xiang Lan’s lips curled sarcastically – this cousin was certainly going to great lengths for Lin Jinting, even planning to move house. She carefully placed the wine pot on the table but deliberately slowed her retreat. Cao Lihuan eagerly lifted the pot to pour wine for Zhao Yuechan, wearing a gentle smile: “How can sister-in-law say she can’t decide such a small matter? Just say that my Luoxue Villa needs repairs, so I want to move temporarily to Longcui Residence. I won’t forget sister-in-law’s kindness – to go with that box of gold hairpins, there are other jeweled accessories too…”

Zhao Yuechan gave Cao Lihuan a cool look, lifted the wine cup to her lips, took a sip, and after some thought said, “Well, there’s also an empty Shanyue Pavilion in the garden, perhaps…”

Cao Lihuan cut her off: “I just love the elegance of Longcui Residence.”

Zhao Yuechan looked at Cao Lihuan suspiciously: “Why are you so set on Longcui Residence? The house isn’t even large, and besides a bamboo grove, there’s nothing special about it…” Suddenly, a thought struck her and she exclaimed, “Could it be you’re thinking about Woyun…”

Seeing that Zhao Yuechan had figured it out, Cao Lihuan didn’t try to hide it anymore. She refilled Zhao Yuechan’s cup, her face slightly flushed, and said quietly, “Sister-in-law needn’t worry about my intentions. Just give me a straight answer – can I move there or not? If it works out, we won’t need to arrange that position for my brother, and I’ll give my sister-in-law a pair of ruby earrings.”

Zhao Yuechan smacked her lips, leaned back in her chair, and fanned herself with a handkerchief, smiling at Cao Lihuan: “You little minx, such ambitious schemes! Can you swallow such a big piece of cake? Aren’t you afraid of bursting?”

“These days, the bold die from overeating while the timid die from hunger. If I must die, I’d rather die full. Just tell me if you’ll help or not, sister-in-law.”

Zhao Yuechan was pondering her response when someone announced outside, “The First Madam is here.” As the words were spoken, Madam Qin lifted her skirts and climbed the steps. Xiang Lan hurried to lift the curtain. Qin entered and paused, looking at the dishes on the table and the two people standing behind the Eight Immortals table, her lips curling: “My, how lively it is here.”

Zhao Yuechan, who had always been somewhat afraid of Qin, hurriedly went to support her arm, smiling apologetically: “We were just free and chatting, having a simple lunch with cousin.”

Cao Lihuan also rushed to pay her respects, smiling: “Why has Aunt come?” She called out loudly, “Quick, bring another set of bowls and chopsticks, tell the kitchen to prepare more dishes…”

Qin sat in the head seat, arranging her skirts as she said: “No need. I’m not in the mood to eat today.”

Cao Lihuan’s heart sank. She exchanged glances with Zhao Yuechan, who was quick to sense the unfavorable tone. Zhao Yuechan immediately lowered her eyes and stood behind Qin, falling silent.

Feeling guilty, Cao Lihuan hastily served tea, presenting it personally. Qin didn’t look at her, only ordering: “Secure all the doors, and bring them up!”

Several rough-looking servant women entered, bringing three people. Xiang Lan, peeping from behind a screen, recognized two of them – one was Wu San’s wife from the kitchen, another was Feng Shuang’s wife who tended the garden, and the third was a girl of fifteen or sixteen in a jade-colored jacket, dressed as an ordinary maid. All three were hunched over, trembling as they knelt before Qin.

Seeing these three, the blood drained from Cao Lihuan’s face. Qin gave her a cool look and straightened her back: “These past days, some unsavory rumors have been reaching my ears. I initially thought it was just idle servants’ gossip, but it turns out some black-hearted lowlifes are deliberately trying to ruin the master’s reputation!” Qin turned to look at Cao Lihuan and said, “Huan’er, this concerns you too. I hear these three were close to your maid Hui. I’ve brought them specifically to show you how people aren’t always what they seem.”

Cao Lihuan stood pale-faced, unable to speak. Wu San’s wife began wailing: “Madam, please be fair! I only spread those rumors because that little hussy Hui told me to!”

At her outburst, Feng Shuang’s wife and the maid also began crying. Qin said coolly: “She says she was following orders, what about you two?”

Feng Shuang’s wife bit her lip and said: “That day, this old servant saw Third Young Master and Miss Huan meet in the garden. They merely exchanged greetings and spoke briefly, but Hui gave me a gold hairpin to say I saw Third Young Master and Miss Huan walking and laughing together in the garden… This old servant, this old servant…”

The maid was crying so hard she could barely breathe, only begging for mercy. Qin’s eyes flashed as she demanded sharply: “Who is Hui? Come out!”