In the evening, the Old Master sent a servant to call for one of Lin Jinlou’s attendants. Since Shu Ran wasn’t present, Hong Lan instructed Xue Ning to go. Soon after, Madam Qin came over personally. Seeing Lin Jinlou asleep, she stayed in the adjacent room to chat with Hong Lan. Before long, Lin Jinlou woke up, and after Xiao Juan consulted with Hong Lan, she served Lin Jinlou some soup that had been simmering on the small stove. Lin Jinlou frowned, and after just one sip, he pushed the bowl aside, nearly spilling it. With a dark expression, he said, “Do you even know how to serve people? How dare you bring me soup with such a strange taste! You’re all so useless, doing nothing but eating all day at Master’s expense!”

Xiao Juan, who had been nervous about this task from the start, became even more timid seeing Lin Jinlou’s thunderous expression. She stood there with her head lowered until Lin Jinlou barked, “Why are you standing there like a harbinger of death? Get out!” Hearing this, she hurriedly took the bowl and left. Madam Qin and Hong Lan heard the commotion, and Madam Qin said to Hong Lan, “Don’t mind me, go check on him first.”

Hong Lan rushed out and saw Xiao Juan standing outside the bedroom with tearful eyes. She asked, “What happened?”

Xiao Juan replied, clearly upset, “Master complained about the soup having a strange taste, but it’s medicinal soup for nourishing qi and blood – that’s just how it tastes…”

Hong Lan comfortingly squeezed her hand, and seeing that Madam Qin wasn’t present, said softly, “That’s just his temperament. Didn’t you see how Ling Qing and Ling Su were scolded earlier today? The small kitchen prepared boneless eight-treasure chicken, tender and soft. I just took some leg meat and eight-treasure vegetables to make porridge for Master. There’s still plenty left – later, you can take some and share it with the others.” She added, “Go get another bowl of soup, but don’t let him see you – have Hua Shan bring it in.”

She entered the bedroom to find Lin Jinlou lying listlessly on the bed, fidgeting with the tassels on his blanket, his face dark. Hong Lan went over, first feeling his forehead, then bent down to ask, “Where are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“Where were you? Why weren’t you here earlier? Having that round-faced maid serve me – don’t you know how clumsy she is?”

“I was speaking with Madam when she came.”

“There are plenty of people who can keep Madam company. Next time, let Shu Ran go, you stay here with me.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you answering? I’m talking to you!”

“…How old are you? Even Young Master De wasn’t this demanding when he was sick.”

Lin Jinlou refused to respond out of spite, though his expression softened slightly, though remaining gloomy. Hong Lan pretended not to notice and wrung out a handkerchief from the silver basin. This basin, specially sent by the Old Master, was made from large silver sheets riveted together with a wooden core, designed to keep water warm longer in winter. It contained specially prepared medicinal liquid. Hong Lan first used one cloth to wipe Lin Jinlou’s bruises, then another to apply to his injuries. She used clean water from a porcelain basin to wipe his face. By then, Hua Shan had entered with a mother-of-pearl inlaid red lacquer tray bearing a white lotus-patterned shallow bowl with cloud patterns.

Hong Lan sat on the bed’s edge, took the bowl, and blew on it to cool it. She said to Lin Jinlou, “Would you like some soup? It’s made with the finest medicinal ingredients, with lily bulbs, bamboo fungus, and specially made tofu from Ju Wei Zhai. It’s very fragrant. Will you try some?”

“What’s good about it?” Lin Jinlou complained, “I’m lying here unable to move. It was better earlier, not hurting much, but now that I’ve woken up, it hurts even to breathe. I’m tired of being confined to bed – it’s hot and exhausting. I want…”

Hong Lan checked his chest wound and said, “It looks better, no infection, but the medicine’s effects might have worn off, causing the pain. We’ll have the Imperial Physician check on you soon.” She then used clean fine cloth to change his dressing. Holding up the bowl again, she said, “Drink it before it gets cold. After this soup, you’ll have meat porridge.”

Lin Jinlou looked at Hong Lan in the candlelight – her expression gentle and serene, her countenance like jade, with thick lashes like fans. Her face still showed some purple swelling and bruising. After watching her for a while, he suddenly softened his voice and asked, “Have you applied ointment to your face? There are several excellent boxes in the bedside cabinet, from the palace, still with the imperial yellow paper. If we were in Jinling, I have even more precious ointment there, better than what’s in the palace.”

Hong Lan thought for a moment and replied, “I know that one. When I first became a maid, Zhao Yuechan threw hot tea in my face, and Master gave me a box of it.”

Lin Jinlou fell silent then, allowing Hong Lan to feed him the soup spoonful by spoonful. Though he found the medicinal taste unpleasant, he endured it. Soon after, Ling Qing and Ling Su brought in a kang table with a bowl of porridge and four small dishes. Hong Lan fed him a bowl and ordered the leftovers to clear away. Hearing him complain about the heat, she moved the brazier away from the bed and added two pieces of charcoal with silver chopsticks, saying, “The Imperial Physician will be here soon to check your wounds… I know you’re uncomfortable, but please don’t be rude or shout at the physician…”

She rose to pour fresh tea for him to rinse his mouth, holding a spittoon for him to spit into, then continued, “Master, your temper… please try to improve it. Speaking harshly… people’s teeth are hard and tongues are soft, yet as we age, teeth fall out while tongues remain. This shows that softness endures while hardness leads to loss. A thousand good deeds can be ruined by a single word…” She glanced at Lin Jinlou, and seeing no anger on his face, continued more confidently, “When you’re angry, it’s because your heart is like a wild horse breaking free. Controlling that heart is more impressive than commanding thousands of troops. Angry words spoken carelessly hurt the most. As they say, ‘A kind word brings warmth through three winters, while harsh words bring chill even in June,’ and ‘A good heart with a bad mouth will forfeit glory and wealth.'”

“You dare lecture me? As if your temper isn’t just as fierce. Stubborn as a rock in a latrine, wasting your pretty face, able to make my heart, liver, and lungs ache with a single word – have you forgotten?”

Hong Lan stirred the brazier, turned back with a smile, then turned away again with a sigh, “When I left the temple, my master pointed out that my only flaw was my ‘stubborn temper.’ At first, I took it as praise and was pleased, but now remembering her worried expression when she said those words, I realize she must have foreseen how much trouble it would cause me… I’m gradually changing now.”

Lin Jinlou watched Hong Lan’s profile, his mouth moving but unable to speak, his heart suddenly heavy. Being particularly astute, he knew that most of Hong Lan’s hardships had likely come from him.

Madam Qin stood at the doorway, slightly lifting the curtain to peek inside. She saw her son staring intently at Hong Lan, not even blinking, his eyes following her every movement.

Madam Qin lowered the curtain, remaining silent.

Soon after, the Imperial Physician arrived, examined Lin Jinlou, wrote a new prescription, and added another medicinal ointment for the affected area. He said there was nothing serious to worry about, and then took his leave. Madam Qin came in to check on her son, and Lin Jinlou said to Hong Lan, “Have you eaten dinner? Go eat now, I don’t need you here for the moment.”

Hong Lan went out to eat. The maids brought four dishes of soup, a bowl of glossy white rice, a plate of milk-flavored dried fruits, and a bowl of blood-nourishing qi-boosting soup. Hong Lan sat at the kang table to eat, and upon asking, learned that the others had already eaten hastily. They set up another table below the kang, gathering around to eat the leftover boneless eight-treasure chicken. Hong Lan shared the dried fruits with them, and Ling Su brought the remaining soup from the morning, making it a lively second meal.

After finishing, Hong Lan rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, then returned to Lin Jinlou’s room. Madam Qin stood up and said, “It’s late, I should return.” Hong Lan followed to see her out. At the door, Madam Qin took Hong Lan’s hand and said, “Good child, Lou’er now depends entirely on you.”

Hong Lan replied, “Please don’t worry, Madam.”

Madam Qin shook her head, still holding Hong Lan’s hand, staring at the flickering candlelight on the lacquered table. After a moment, she said, “We’re both straightforward people, no need for empty courtesies. Lou’er told me everything, how this escape was all thanks to you… I don’t know what to say… Now that things have come to this point, let’s speak honestly, mother to daughter. Initially, I didn’t like you – you were beautiful but too proud and aloof. When Lou’er took a liking to you, I worried there would be no peace in the household. Later, when you saved me and Fourth Miss, I was grateful and thought better of you, but still considered you a servant – thinking to give you more silver and treat you well would be enough. If you harbored ill intentions, even the most convincing act of sincerity couldn’t hide it forever. But as time passed, it truly proved the saying ‘strong grass is known in fierce winds, loyal ministers shown in troubled times.’ Whether others treated you well or not, you understood, and remarkably, you could still put others first despite knowing this. Ah… you child…”

Madam Qin caressed Hong Lan’s hand, showing genuine emotion, her eyes moistening as she dabbed them with her handkerchief, saying, “I heard you advising Lou’er earlier – all good words. Usually, except for the Old Master, Lou’er won’t listen to anyone, but he listens to you. In the future, you must continue to counsel him for me.” She tucked Hong Lan’s loose hair behind her ear and continued, “I’m saying this now – Lou’er values you, and in my heart, I consider you a daughter. If he mistreats you in the future, I’ll stand up for you.” With that, she removed a pair of bracelets from her wrist and put them on Hong Lan.

Hong Lan quickly declined, “I couldn’t possibly…”

Madam Qin smiled, “Why not? This pair was part of my dowry from my maiden home. Giving them to you shows you my heart.”

Mama Wu, standing nearby, quickly signaled to Hong Lan with her eyes, smiling broadly, “Congratulations to Madam! I always thought Miss Hong Lan reminded me of someone, and now that Madam mentions it, I can see the resemblance between Madam and Miss Hong Lan – truly like mother and daughter. Must be fate from a previous life.” She pulled Hong Lan’s arm, “Quickly thank Madam.”

Hong Lan had no choice but to bow in thanks. After a few more words of encouragement, Madam Qin took her leave. Mama Wu deliberately stayed back a few steps and said to Hong Lan with a smile, “Congratulations, Young Madam. You know what kind of person Madam is – incredibly shrewd. It’s all thanks to you; anyone else wouldn’t have received such a favor.” With that, she followed Madam Qin out.

Hong Lan returned to the bedroom, where Lin Jinlou lay asking, “What did Mother say to you?”

Hong Lan just smiled without answering, looking down at the bracelets, feeling as if they weighed a thousand jin on her wrists.