After pondering for a moment, Lin Zhaoxiang said, “Earlier when I received family letters mentioning your sisters poisoning someone, I could hardly believe it. Just then, a trusted old servant told me something he’d heard about you. You originally had two maids given by your stepmother who were troublesome and disobedient.
You wanted to dismiss them but feared offending your elders. So you ignored their wayward behavior and even created opportunities for them to cause trouble, eventually angering your stepmother. One was beaten severely and died within days, while the other was sold to an unspeakable place. From this incident alone, I knew that your scheming to make your sister administer poison was not beyond reason.”
Hearing these words, Jiang Xiyun’s chest heaved violently, her whole body trembling. As old scars were reopened, she didn’t know if she felt anger or fear, shame or irritation. Cold sweat covered her back, her fingers digging deep into her palms. Her vision blurred, feeling as if something was stuck in her chest that she could neither swallow nor spit out. She wanted to scream out loud, unaware that her eyes had already turned red. She suddenly raised her head to look at Lin Zhaoxiang, unable to contain herself anymore.
With trembling lips, she could barely form sentences as she cried out, “What choice did I have? I’m just a concubine’s daughter. Though I excelled in everything, I had to lower myself at every turn. From childhood, how many grievances and unwilling moments did I have to play dumb about, always being careful, always trying to please everyone? Even those I hated and despised, I had to deal with while wearing a smile.
If only I had been born to the main wife, why would I need such methods to dismiss two maids?! I didn’t want to marry into the Lin family, but my family insisted. I had resigned myself to it, but then to face a favored concubine, to be merely a decoration for the rest of my life—I didn’t like it, yet I had to pretend to! What choice did I have? I just wanted to live more comfortably for the rest of my life, I… I…” As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks in succession, and she mumbled, “I had no choice, I had no choice…” Her voice choked with sobs, becoming incoherent.
Lin Zhaoxiang looked at Jiang Xiyun and slowly said, “Are you finished?” He gave a slight laugh, his previously stern face showing traces of regret: “Xi girl, you’re clever as ice and snow, and others say you have great depths, but your breadth of vision is still lacking a level. No wonder your cleverness has become your undoing.”
Jiang Xiyun was stunned again, her eyes widening. All her life, she had prided herself on her superior vision and insight, never expecting Lin Zhaoxiang to speak thus.
Lin Zhaoxiang continued, “You knew what would happen to those two maids given your stepmother’s temperament, and you knew they didn’t deserve death, yet you still acted this way, simply because they were in your way. It seems they brought their fate upon themselves, but your pushing from behind can’t be ignored. Two bloody lives—do you feel no guilt? You couldn’t overcome Xiang Lan, and fearing a strong future enemy, you could act ruthlessly, just because this person blocked your path. For your comfort, you could repeatedly go against your conscience, yet still consider yourself pure and justified?”
Jiang Xiyun stared in shock, only able to sob softly.
Lin Zhaoxiang said, “This year, the Censorate submitted a memorial directly to the Emperor. It spoke of a group of sophisticated self-serving individuals in officialdom. These people are extremely intelligent, worldly, experienced, skilled at performance, good at cooperation, and especially adept at manipulating hearts to achieve their goals. Once in power, they become tumors in the court, more frightening than ordinary corrupt officials. Some use methods for the sake of the common people, but such people use methods purely for their benefit.” He looked at Jiang Xiyun, his gaze seeming reproachful: “Xi girl, how did you become such a person?”
The room fell silent.
Jiang Xiyun looked at Lin Zhaoxiang in disbelief, her lips moving but unable to utter a word. She wanted to say she had done no wrong, that everyone in the world plans for themselves, that if one isn’t harsh to others, they bring trouble upon themselves—why bother with that? She had a conscience, but she wasn’t a saint.
When interests conflicted, she had no spare kindness to pity others. Everyone wants to be upright and honorable, but how many can live completely purely? Everyone reads the classics of the sages, but which line can compare to living comfortably? She just wanted to live more easily, she… Jiang Xiyun remained silent, her eyes full of tears, slumping in her chair.
Lin Zhaoxiang took a sip of tea and continued, “There was once a young lady whose maid was very beautiful, the daughter of a convicted official. Family elders had sent her to the young lady’s father to be his concubine, but now as a maid, she naturally felt resentful. She spent her days flirting and making scenes, crying and complaining, being lazy, and even stealing jewelry.
The entire household watched, waiting for the drama to unfold. Punishing the maid would offend the elders, but not punishing her would make her even harder to control later. Some suggested making a big scene about her misdeeds to let the elders personally beat and sell her. If it were you, what would you do?”
He glanced at Jiang Xiyun, but without waiting for her answer, continued, “That young lady didn’t make it public. She simply called the maid to her room and had a trusted elderly servant give her ten strokes with the paddle. Afterward, she gave her Five Taels of silver. She said, ‘I beat you because you broke the rules, and discipline is necessary for others to follow. Public punishment might have been too much for you to bear, so I disciplined you in private. I give you these Five Taels because I know you’re alone and suffering. You were sick recently, and probably spent your savings on extra food from the kitchen. You must be short of money and in urgent need, or you wouldn’t have taken my jewelry. Now that you’re recovering, the remaining ten strokes will be saved for when you’re better. I show you understanding, and hope you won’t offend again.’ The maid burst into tears and gradually improved. Later, she married a wealthy landowner as a concubine. Later still, when that young lady’s family fell from grace and she died during exile with no body found, the next year, surprisingly, there was a tombstone for the young lady beside her family’s ancestral graves. A woman was found paying respects there, and upon inquiry, it turned out to be that maid who, remembering her mistress’s kindness, had chosen a spot and erected a cenotaph.” Lin Zhaoxiang raised his eyelids to look at Jiang Xiyun and said slowly, “That young lady was the eldest granddaughter of former Prime Minister Shen.”
Jiang Xiyun’s heart jumped. Lin Zhaoxiang stared into her eyes and continued with extraordinary slowness, “Both cases involved maids who couldn’t be dismissed—one used schemes, the other used benevolence. You can taste the difference yourself. Whose life can be smooth and satisfactory in everything? You’re still young and don’t understand that to move freely in the world and live comfortably doesn’t depend on being diplomatic or having many schemes. What stands undefeated is the inclusiveness and compassion that comes from complete virtue. To understand the ways of the world without becoming worldly—that is a true noble person.”
After saying this, Lin Zhaoxiang stood up and slowly walked out, leaning on his walking stick. Halfway out, he suddenly turned back to Jiang Xiyun and said, “Your brother Jiang Shangxian came to visit, kneeling for half a day, begging that for the sake of the friendship between the Lin and Jiang families, we clear your grievances and restore your reputation, so you might have a chance at a good marriage. I have agreed. That matter will now vanish like smoke as if it never happened, and no one will speak of it again.”
Hearing this, Jiang Xiyun felt relief but then became flustered, her mind in chaos. She stood up, unsure whether to thank him. But Lin Zhaoxiang turned his head away, no longer looking at her, his voice weathered as he said, “You were a concubine’s daughter, losing your mother early, not particularly favored by your parents. Your food, drink, and clothes were all hand-me-downs from your siblings. Yet you never minded, were considerate to your elders, filial and obedient. Even when bullied by your siblings, you didn’t complain. You were accommodating in all things, still running around with a smile trying to please everyone, making even your grandmother especially fond of you. They say ‘three years shows the child, seven years shows the elder.’ Your generosity showed from childhood, surely to grow into someone good, which is why when choosing a wife for my eldest grandson, you were my first thought…” He paused for a long while, then shook his head lightly, “What a pity, what a pity. Life’s knife sometimes doesn’t carve people more beautifully, but rather cuts them uglier. I hope you’ll take care of yourself from now on.” The door creaked open, then closed with a bang.
Jiang Xiyun went limp in her chair, somehow feeling an indescribable heartache. An inexplicable sadness welled up that she couldn’t count or explain. She whimpered, leaning her head against the chair back, her face already cold with tears.
As Lin Zhaoxiang walked out, Ruizhu immediately came forward to support him. He squinted at the sun outside, let out a breath, and the young actors on the stage began singing their tunes again. Lin Zhaoxiang entered the flower hall, where everyone stood up. He sat down only on the luohan bed and told everyone to sit back down and watch the opera. Madam Qin hurried forward to serve tea and said softly, “The doctor just came to see Second Sister-in-law. He said she fainted from liver qi stagnation due to temporary emotional distress. She’s resting in bed now, nothing serious. Young Master Ting’s wife is attending to her.” After a pause, she added, “And about Young Master Yuan…” She glanced up at Old Madam Lin.
Old Madam Lin coughed and said, “Yuan boy has admitted his mistake. I sent him to copy books. He’s still young—who hasn’t been mischievous at times? We just need to teach him properly, and keep scaring him straight.”
Lin Zhaoxiang snorted and said quietly, “Doting mothers ruin their sons! It was your excessive indulgence that made Second Son worthless, causing so many scandals. Yuan boy has talent. I’m saying this now—no one is allowed to spoil him with excessive love!”
Old Madam Lin knew Lin Zhaoxiang’s temperament well and wasn’t angry, so she said nothing more. Madam Qin also stood aside, head lowered in silence.
Lin Zhaoxiang looked outside and saw Xiang Lan standing in the corridor talking to Lin Dongxiu. The wind stirred the pearl ornaments in her hair and the hem of her skirt—every movement could have been a painting. He suddenly felt emotional, asking himself that having lived to this age and experienced so many storms, having seen countless people, he still couldn’t help but be amazed by Xiang Lan. Though only seventeen or eighteen, she seemed weathered by life, her conversation and bearing extraordinary. No wonder she could repeatedly help others despite being in difficult circumstances herself. He suddenly leaned toward Old Madam Lin and said softly, “Don’t you think that Xiang Lan’s manner of speaking and conducting herself shows the same character as the Shen family’s eldest granddaughter, Shen Jialan, from years ago?”
Old Madam Lin thought for a moment and couldn’t help smiling, “Now that you mention it, she does seem similar. Back then, you kept praising her proper and benevolent conduct, and despite her being four years older than Lou Boy, you wanted to arrange a marriage with the Shen family. Her younger sister Jialing would have been more age-appropriate.” She then sighed, “Enough, enough, they’re all people of the past now. If that girl were alive, who knows what she’d be like—she should have had children and grandchildren by now. Ah, nothing can overcome life’s impermanence.”