From outside came Xue Ning’s gentle cough. Xiang Lan startled and hurriedly pushed the person away, lowering her head and saying, “Someone’s here.” Lin Jin Lou frowned, then heard Xue Ning saying softly, “Master, Fourth Young Master, and Fourth Young Mistress have arrived.”
Xiang Lan quickly got up, fixing her hair while adjusting her clothes. Lin Jin Lou grumbled, “Why now of all times?” He had no choice but to get up and go out.
Soon after, Lin Dong Xiu brought De Er in. De Er wore a gray squirrel-faced cloak with black squirrel fur lining, warm inside and out, wearing a Guanyin hood. His small dark face was flushed red from the wind, and he kept sniffling. Xiang Lan hurriedly got soft paper to wipe his nose, touched his face, and worried about him getting cold, silently blaming the attendants for not taking better care.
Lin Dong Xiu kept complaining about the cold and sat on the kang bed first, removing her cloak and holding hot tea. Seeing Xiang Lan fussing over De Er, she said, “He was sitting fine in the carriage, but insisted on going out to ride horses. The Marquis indulges him too. If he catches a cold, it’ll look like I’m not taking good care of him.”
De Er lowered his head upon hearing this.
Xiang Lan felt these words were inappropriate but couldn’t say anything. She had De Er sit on the kang, ordered Xue Ning to set up the fruit table, gave De Er her cushion to sit on, put a steaming cup of tea in his chubby hands, covered him with a blanket, tucked a hand warmer by his feet, and said to Lin Dong Xiu, “Even we know how well you treat De Er. Even if the child gets a slight illness, others won’t gossip.”
Lin Dong Xiu sighed, “If only that were true.” She picked up a piece of cloud cake for De Er, saying, “You were complaining about hunger on the way, have a little snack first, but don’t eat too much.”
De Er nodded, wiped his hands with a towel, and obediently nibbled on the cake.
Looking at De Er, Xiang Lan thought to herself, “How many children this age are so well-behaved and mindful of others’ expressions? This is all because his mother passed away so early.” She felt sympathetic, but seeing how Lin Dong Xiu seemed to treat De Er well, she felt somewhat relieved. Looking up, she saw Lin Dong Xiu wearing a proper married woman’s hairstyle, adorned with pure gold and jade ornaments, appearing a few years older than before. She wore a goose-yellow sable hat with gold lining, a bright red hundred-pattern jacket, and a bright red gold-embroidered skirt. Despite her made-up face, there was a hint of worry, and if not for her bright clothes, she hardly looked like a happy newlywed.
As they talked, Xiang Lan asked De Er about his studies and was pleased to see he could answer most questions. Soon, Xue Ning came in saying, “Master and Fourth Young Master are drinking in the outer room. They say it’s snowing outside and will go view the plum blossoms once it stops. They asked the masters to have some food first.” The maids and servants then brought in tables for the kang. Xiang Lan stood aside, but Lin Dong Xiu pulled her arm, saying with a smile, “I dare not let you serve me meals, Big Brother would be upset.” She ordered everyone to set the meal, with Qiang Wei, Han Zhi, and Xue Ning attending. After eating, De Er became drowsy, his little head nodding until he fell asleep on the kang.
Xiang Lan covered him with a diamond-patterned quilt and said softly to Lin Dong Xiu, “De Er is different from other children. He’s always afraid of displeasing others, which makes one’s heart ache. Pardon my words, but Fourth Young Mistress should be more mindful when speaking to him. We may be unintentional, but children tend to overthink.”
Lin Dong Xiu replied with slight impatience, “I understand. The Marquis treats him like his precious pearl, and both Madam and Aunt Xia told me to treat him well. How dare I mistreat him? Even while pampering and spoiling him like this, people still find reasons to criticize.”
Xiang Lan said, “We can’t control what others say. As long as we conduct ourselves properly, we can be at peace with our conscience.”
Lin Dong Xiu heaved a long sigh and said, “If only it were that simple. You’re not an outsider, and I wanted to discuss some things with you.” She then poured out all her grievances.
It turned out that the Yuan household’s affairs were managed by Yuan Shao Ren’s aunt, Madam He. On Lin Dong Xiu’s second day after marriage, Madam He handed over the household management to her. Lin Dong Xiu was initially confident and eager to take charge, but after careful observation for two days, she discovered not only numerous long-standing problems but also complex relationships between masters and servants.
“…After all, Madam He is the Marquis’s aunt and was only managing temporarily. How could she want to offend anyone? The servants in the household are poorly disciplined, drinking and gambling. The maids, servants, young wives, and stewards all misbehave behind closed doors. That’s not all – there’s embezzlement of public funds in the accounts, false reporting and concealment, plus stealing. The inventory doesn’t match what’s in the storehouse; the white porcelain bowls are almost all gone. They’ve dumped this mess on me – isn’t that infuriating? And that’s not even the worst part. The most annoying are those unrelated relatives. The uncles, brothers, nephews, and nieces from the Marquis’s concubines’ families all hold positions, abusing their power for dirty dealings. Whether I manage them or not, it’s problematic. My dowry servants are being bullied openly and secretly. If I discipline those insolent servants even slightly, those old concubines come out weeping and kneeling for mercy. Even the Marquis asks me to let it go. I…” Lin Dong Xiu began to choke up, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, and continued, “Everyone is waiting to see me fail. Madam He looks down on me too, finding fault in everything. Now it seems whatever I say hardly carries any weight.”
Xiang Lan said, “Why don’t you go back and seek advice from Madam? And there’s Mama Han – didn’t Madam assign her to you? She’s experienced and knowledgeable; you should consult her more. There’s also Aunt Xia, who’s extremely shrewd. Didn’t she agree to stay at the Marquis’s mansion with you for a while?”
Lin Dong Xiu’s nose reddened as she let out a long breath: “To be honest, I’m holding onto my pride. I knew the Old Master and Madam looked down on me, and I was determined to prove myself by achieving something, how could I lose face by asking Madam for help? Mama Han has given me advice several times, but I don’t find it useful. Aunt Xia was summoned to the palace a few days ago, reportedly to assist with Princess Yong Cheng’s upcoming wedding arrangements, as she’s experienced in such matters.”
She then took Xiang Lan’s hand and said, “Dear Xiang Lan, I have a favor to ask of you.”
Xiang Lan asked in surprise, “Ask me?”
Lin Dong Xiu said, “Yes. I’m newly married, and the Marquis and I are merely courteous to each other. He’s always busy, barely speaking three sentences with me daily. How can I establish myself in the Marquis’s mansion all alone? Big Brother and the Marquis are close friends. If he could visit the mansion once, or mention to the Marquis to be more accommodating with me, I could better manage the household. Everyone knows you’re dearest to Big Brother. Xiang Lan, dear Xiang Lan, please speak to Big Brother on my behalf.”
Xiang Lan finally understood why Lin Dong Xiu was being unusually polite to her today and sharing her troubles – it was a roundabout way to ask Lin Jin Lou to support her at the Marquis’s mansion. She said, “In that case, wouldn’t it be better if you spoke to him directly? Why go through me?”
Lin Dong Xiu shrunk her neck and said, “I spoke to him a few days ago, but Big Brother didn’t agree…”
Looking at Lin Dong Xiu’s expression, Xiang Lan could tell that Lin Jin Lou must have given her a harsh response. His unwillingness to help suggested that the situation might not be entirely as Lin Dong Xiu described. Although Lin Dong Xiu tended to stir up trouble, her nature wasn’t truly bad, and Aunt Xia had shaped her to have some proper manners. Seeing her so aggrieved now showed that managing the Yuan household was indeed challenging.
Being a wife in a powerful family – others might see it as glamorous and dignified, but women who married into such families each had their own hardships. Without considerable magnanimity, insight, patience, and virtue, how could one handle the elevated position in these noble households?
Xiang Lan said, “I’ll certainly mention it to Master, but whether he agrees or not, I can’t say. You know his temperament.”
Lin Dong Xiu said happily, “Please do say some nice words on my behalf. I’m grateful for such a huge favor.”
Xiang Lan paused and said, “It’s just a few words, not worth thanking. However, the Fourth Young Mistress must exercise better judgment in managing affairs. If you encounter difficulties again, Master can’t always be there to support you.”
Lin Dong Xiu laughed coldly, “I know. Once I get through this hurdle, I already have plans in mind. I remember every single one of them. When I establish my position in the mansion and gain power, those who stepped on me, bullied me, and tried to control me – I’ll make them pay back a thousand times over!”
Xiang Lan was stunned and couldn’t help saying, “Revenge breeds revenge. If you harbor such hostility, the household will be endlessly embroiled in conflict, never knowing peace.”
Lin Dong Xiu snorted, “You think there’s peace now? When they’re walking all over me, if I stay silent, everyone will think I’m a pushover. How can I manage the household if I lose control?”
Xiang Lan advised, “Household management should prioritize harmony. Establish proper rules, maintain clear rewards and punishments, and follow a moderate and benevolent approach. In the long run, taking a loss can be a blessing. Everyone is watching – if you show generosity and care for those below you, you’ll naturally win hearts. When the household prospers in harmony and the Marquis is pleased, he’ll naturally respect you more. Compared to that, daily grievances become insignificant.”
Lin Dong Xiu laughed coldly, “I don’t have your good nature. I’m the master – why should they expect me to tolerate them when they should be tolerating me?”
Seeing Lin Dong Xiu’s expression, Xiang Lan knew further words would be futile and fell silent. Lin Dong Xiu also wished to change the subject and said, “How is your health? Your complexion seems better than before.” She looked carefully at Xiang Lan’s face and added, “Not just your complexion, even your countenance has changed.”
Xiang Lan smiled, “I didn’t know Fourth Young Mistress had learned physiognomy. Why don’t you tell my fortune?”
Lin Dong Xiu shook her head, “I’m not joking. When I first met you, I just thought you were pretty and seemed gentle, but there was this underlying arrogance – I couldn’t understand what a maid had to be so proud of, it was rather annoying. Later it got even worse – if someone said one word to you, you’d return ten, sharp-tongued as could be. But gradually you became more peaceful, taking everything in stride. I thought with the Jiang family being so wicked, you’d surely make a huge scene. If it were me, I’d have caused an uproar throughout the city, letting everyone see the Jiang family’s true face before I could feel satisfied. Who knew you’d handle it so quietly – could it be that Big Brother has worn away your temper?”
Xiang Lan was startled, then smiled without responding. It wasn’t just Lin Jin Lou – these years of stumbling had transformed her with every blood-and-tears step. Each step stripped away her arrogance and stubbornness, making her humble and soft. Her hardships taught her not to inflict on others what she wouldn’t want for herself, learning to show compassion and mercy for others’ difficulties and mistakes.
When the poisoning incident was exposed, she had hoped to leave the mansion but ultimately remained dispirited. During her illness, she reflected on both her lives and realized she had been too obsessed and foolish. If she was truly destined to remain in the Lin family forever, would she follow Jia Lian’s path and let herself waste away in melancholy? All the torment she put herself through, all she couldn’t let go of, all she cried over, all that broke her heart – it was just a notion. Even now she still wanted to leave the mansion, but there was much to be grateful for in life. As circumstances changed with her mindset, she gradually learned not to let this obsession gnaw at her heart day and night, causing her unspeakable pain.
Xue Ning came in to refill the tea and replace the fruits. Lin Dong Xiu took a sip of hot tea and suddenly seemed to remember something, saying, “We met an old acquaintance on the way here today, guess who?”
Xiang Lan asked, “Who?”
Lin Dong Xiu said, “It was Song Ke! We met at the official post station. The Marquis asked for hot water to make tea, and we stopped to rest. Unexpectedly, Song Ke was there with his family – his wife Zheng Jing Xian, and his son, who was already running around everywhere. They said they were visiting relatives in the suburbs. Given our marriage connection, we exchanged greetings. Song Ke looked unchanged, and we made small talk with Zheng Jing Xian, though there wasn’t much to say.”
Xiang Lan murmured, “So it was him. I wonder how he’s doing now…” feeling somewhat melancholic.
Lin Dong Xiu chatted and joked with Xiang Lan for a while longer before becoming drowsy. She lay down on the kang beside De Er with her clothes on and fell asleep. Xiang Lan wasn’t tired and thought about Lin Dong Xiu’s request, thinking to herself, “I might as well call Lin Jin Lou now and talk to him about this. Whether he agrees or not, I’ll have done my best and can give her an answer.” She called Xue Ning several times but got no response. The maids were all tired from the journey, and seeing their masters chatting with no particular orders, they had all gone to rest in the side rooms.
Xiang Lan went out to look. Outside the room was a large screen, and Lin Jin Lou and Yuan Shao Ren were drinking and talking in the outer hall. Just as Xiang Lan was about to go around to the side passage, she heard Yuan Shao Ren say, “We met Song Ke on the way today, with his wife and child, saying they were visiting relatives in the suburbs. What relatives are there to visit in this freezing weather? I suspect it’s because the situation in the capital is unstable, and his father-in-law ordered them to hide away for a while.”
Xiang Lan stopped in her tracks at these words.
She heard Lin Jin Lou say, “Song Ke’s father-in-law has always been vocal in supporting the Second Prince, making too much noise. Two months ago, his colleagues jointly impeached him. His Majesty was furious and stripped him of his position, confiscating most of his property, and making him an example to others. Everyone knows this was the Crown Prince’s doing. The Second Prince didn’t take it lying down – yesterday he arranged for Zhao Jin’s death. Both sides have lost an important supporter.”
“Song Ke has real talent and learning. It would be a shame if his future is ruined by the succession dispute.”
Lin Jin Lou snorted, clearly disagreeing strongly.