After Madam Wang entered the side chamber, although the arguing had ceased, everyone still harbored resentment, especially Su Mei Ru. She watched as Li Miao Zhi, Lin Dong Ji, and others deliberately changed the subject with casual conversation, sometimes discussing which lady had given birth to a noble son, sometimes talking about which mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along well, or which youngest son had passed the imperial examinations, all attempting to gloss over the previous incident. Jiang Xui Yun sat in an official’s hat chair by the wall, wearing a slight smile, occasionally adding a few agreeable words, acting as if nothing had happened.
Su Mei Ru couldn’t help but sneer internally, thinking: “That little hussy must be dreaming, thinking I’m as easy to bully as Chen Xiang Lan. Plotting against me behind my back and making me lose face – if I don’t vent this anger today, I’ll write my name ‘Su Mei Ru’ backward! Worst case, I’ll throw away all pretense, and we can all be shameless together. If you anger this young madam, I’ll give you a few good slaps. I’m pregnant – what can the Lin family do to me anyway?” With this thought, she lowered her head briefly, and when she raised it again, her eyes were brimming with tears. Wiping them with her handkerchief, she choked out Madam Wang: “…Madam, something is weighing on my heart that I simply can’t keep hidden anymore. I beg Madam to punish me!”
These words instantly silenced the room.
Madam Wang despised Su Mei Ru but, being gentle-natured and in front of others, had to maintain an appearance of kindness. She forced herself to ask patiently, “What is it?”
Su Mei Ru, with tear-filled eyes, said: “Before Madam arrived, I was discussing Old Madam’s lost bracelet with the young madams and ladies. Perhaps because I’m foolish and straightforward, not knowing how to speak properly, I unknowingly offended Young Lady Xui with my careless words. Young Lady Xui glared at me accusingly, and I… I apologized, asking her not to take it to heart. But who knew… who knew…” Su Mei Ru suddenly fell to her knees with a thud, crawling forward a few steps, her cheeks streaked with tears, crying like a flower in the rain as she continued, “Who knew Young Lady Xui would bring up how the son of Minister of War Jia took his father’s concubine, and then say that the ‘men’ of the Lin family were fortunate to have taken me as a concubine.” She grabbed Madam Wang’s legs, shaking them while crying hoarsely: “Madam! Madam! You’re a sensible person, you surely understand what she meant by the ‘men’ of the Lin family! What her intentions were! I was born with a lowly fate, being spat upon and cursed is one thing, but because of me, you’ve been shamed, the Master has been shamed, and the entire Lin family has been shamed. I, I… I beg Madam to grant me death!”
These words left everyone in the room dumbfounded. Lin Dong Ji glanced at Li Miao Zhi, finally understanding why Li Miao Zhi had said Madam Wang was constantly being squeezed by a concubine who could twist black into white, speaking with such clever manipulation while being willing to throw away her dignity. Lin Dong Xiu pretended to cover her mouth with her handkerchief, actually hiding her smirk, thinking: “This Su Mei Ru is no simple character. She has nothing left to lose in terms of reputation, while Jiang Xui Yun still has some face to maintain before marriage. As they say, ‘bare feet don’t fear those wearing shoes.’ She’s stirring things up for her satisfaction – let’s see how these two fight it out.” Jiang Xui Yun’s face instantly turned pale; she had thought it was just ordinary verbal sparring, never expecting Su Mei Ru to be so aggressive and expose everything.
Madam Wang stood there stunned. Li Miao Zhi, seeing the situation deteriorating, hurriedly went to pull Su Mei Ru up, saying: “Concubine Su, please get up. You’re pregnant, and the floor is cold. Earlier was just a matter of words getting carried away.”
Su Mei Ru shook off Li Miao Zhi’s arm and went back to clutching Madam Wang’s legs, wailing loudly: “I was brought in with proper ceremony, with matchmakers and documentation, carried in a small sedan chair. The whole world’s cruel words have driven a weak woman like me into a corner. Those who don’t know the situation might think you, Madam, are not virtuous, allowing ordinary outsiders to be harsh to me! This is losing face for our household, losing face for the Lin family!”
Madam Wang, who had been silent, upon hearing these words was stunned speechless for a long while. Suddenly, she swayed backward, her eyes closed, and fainted. Everyone in the room was shocked and rushed to help – some supporting her, some carrying her, others pinching her philtrum and massaging her chest. Su Mei Ru cried even harder, getting up to grab Jiang Xui Yun, saying they should die together, frightening the maids and servants who came forward to stop them. The room instantly fell into chaos. Only Lin Dong Xiu felt satisfied, pretending to pull Su Mei Ru but not using any strength, one hand covering her smile while saying: “Oh my, stop it all! Can’t you see Second Aunt has fallen ill?”
Lin Dong Ji, unable to calm one or restrain the other, sent someone to fetch Madam Qin while hurrying to Old Master’s room.
Here, when Lin Zhao Xiang heard about the incident, he sat as steady as a bell, unmoved by the eight winds, and asked Lin Dong Ji: “What happened?”
Lin Dong Ji had no choice but to explain everything from beginning to end. Lin Zhao Xiang’s expression darkened briefly, then returned to calm. He stood up with his cane and said to Lin Jin Yuan: “Keep kneeling, don’t get up!” Then to Xiang Lan, he said, “You come with me.” With that, supported by Rui Zhu, he walked to the window of the side chamber, concealing himself while peering through the open gap. He saw that Madam Wang had regained consciousness, her face pale, with Hu Po feeding her ginger soup spoon by spoon, while Su Mei Ru was still grabbing Jiang Xui Yun, with maids and servants trying to mediate.
Li Miao Zhi, seeing Madam Wang awake, felt somewhat relieved. Looking around and seeing the situation still uncontrolled, she frowned and shouted: “Stop! Everyone stop!” All eyes turned to her. Li Miao Zhi, with an imposing manner, surveyed the crowd, but before she could speak, Su Mei Ru completely ignored her authority, continuing to cry and throw herself at Jiang Xui Yun. Li Miao Zhi became angry and ordered the servants: “Your Young Madam is tired, take her back to rest!” The servants stepped forward to forcibly remove Su Mei Ru.
Su Mei Ru held onto Jiang Xui Yun tightly, tears still on her cheeks, shouting: “I’m pregnant! Who dares to touch me? If I lose the child, who will take responsibility? Everyone here today, whoever touches even a finger to me, I will remember and report to Second Master, asking him to pass judgment!” These words were fierce, her manner even more imposing than Li Miao Zhi’s. The servants, knowing how much Lin Chang Min valued Su Mei Ru, looked at each other hesitantly, drawing back their hands and not daring to approach, only looking to Li Miao Zhi for direction.
Li Miao Zhi was furious enough to grind her teeth. As a new bride, her position wasn’t yet stable, and she was somewhat wary of Su Mei Ru. Moreover, this person was cunning and devious – if things went wrong, it could backfire on her, truly not worth the risk. While she was pondering, Su Mei Ru wore a mocking expression and sneered: “Young Lady Xui still hasn’t explained or accounted for what she said earlier, how can you ask me to go rest? I’m not tired at all, I’m quite energetic! Second Young Madam, don’t be partial. Everyone knows you’re close friends with Young Lady Xui, but this concerns the Lin family’s face – Second Young Madam, surely you’re not going to side with outsiders?” As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Dong Wan.
Li Miao Zhi’s face instantly turned red. These words had hit her guilty conscience – she did despise Su Mei Ru and was friends with Jiang Xui Yun, indeed intending to help her friend out of trouble.
Lin Dong Wan, who had been attending to Madam Wang, saw Su Mei Ru’s meaningful glance and felt troubled. After some thought, she reasoned: “Now that Concubine Yin is dead, there’s no one reliable in the Lin family. Rather than offend these sisters, it’s better to rely on Concubine Su’s support – there might be some benefits in it.” So she said: “Yes, Second Sister-in-law, Concubine Su is still wronged – this right and wrong must be clarified.” Seeing Lin Dong Xiu standing there, she felt annoyed and, as if possessed, added: “One must be clear about close and distant relations, about human feelings. Don’t be like me – sisters I’ve loved since childhood can somehow become enemies.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Dong Xiu’s eyebrows shot up. She slapped the kang table and sneered: “What enemies? Fine, since it’s come to this, let’s lay everything out! How many taels of silver did you extort from me and Second Sister under the pretense of bringing goods from overseas? You know exactly how much! Now you’re here playing the victim!”
Lin Dong Wan’s face turned purple as she tried to defend herself: “What nonsense are you talking about! I, I would never do such things…”
While they were arguing incessantly, with Xiu and Wan continuing their dispute, Jiang Xui Yun, not wanting the situation to escalate and seeing no one watching them, suppressed her anger and said softly to Su Mei Ru: “Concubine Su, you’ve pulled me and cursed me, surely that’s enough to compensate for any wrongs. Now that you’ve vented your anger, I’ll apologize again, and let’s be done with it.”
Su Mei Ru sneered: “Done with it? Hmph, you weren’t saying this when you were glaring at me earlier. Stop putting on an act – I’ve long since discarded such pretenses.” She brought her face close to Jiang Xui Yun’s, almost nose to nose, and said quietly: “You must hate me to death, right? Wish you could tear me to pieces? You shameless little whore, putting on an act of innocence and kindness, when your heart is filthier than anyone’s.”
Jiang Xui Yun’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes blazed with anger. Knowing the situation was beyond salvaging, she simply smiled slightly and spoke in a soft, gentle voice: “Concubine Su, you’re the whore! Coming from the Yangzhou pleasure quarters, what else could you be but a whore? Not only is your heart filthy, but your body is too, too foul to even smell!”
These two were standing right by the window, and Lin Zhao Xiang had heard every word.
Lin Zhao Xiang’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he said to Xiang Lan: “Go in and handle this matter.”
Xiang Lan, who had been standing quietly behind Lin Zhao Xiang, was startled by these words. Pointing to herself, she asked with wide eyes: “Me?”
Lin Zhao Xiang said: “Yes, you.” Then turning his head, he added, “Rui Zhu, go with her. Xiang Lan is going in my stead.”
As Xiang Lan was about to decline, Rui Zhu had already called out loudly: “Young Lady Xiang Lan is here on Old Master’s orders!” while lifting the curtain.
Xiang Lan had no choice. With her irregular status, how could she manage this situation? At this moment, she sincerely missed Lin Jin Lou – that dark-faced tyrant’s mere presence would have silenced the room.
As she stepped inside, Rui Zhu moved forward a step and announced: “Old Master has sent Young Lady Xiang Lan with instructions!” Then she retreated behind Xiang Lan.
All eyes immediately fixed on Xiang Lan.