Since Qing Lan was with child, she was excused from paying respects to Zhao Yue Chan and spent her days strolling in the garden, doing needlework, chatting with the maids, and occasionally paying respects to Madam Qin.
She was generous and easy to serve, not particular about food or clothing. Xiang Lan no longer had to spend endless days embroidering dowry items or doing menial cleaning work, suffering Hui Er and Huai Rui’s exclusion, or listening to Cao Li Huan’s harsh scolding. Now she only needed to help Qing Lan make children’s clothes and perform light duties like serving tea, occasionally finding time for herself.
Since escorting her to Zhi Chun Hall last time, Lin Jin Lou had only visited two or three times and hadn’t returned since. Chun Ling said Lin Jin Lou had gone to the military camp. “Young Master has always lived and eaten with his soldiers, sometimes staying in camp for a month without returning. He truly loves his soldiers like sons.” Chun Ling spoke of Lin Jin Lou with pride and hidden shyness. “When military affairs are busy, he doesn’t come home for three months. Mention the ‘Lin Family Army’ outside, and who doesn’t hold it in high regard? Though the Second Master’s official rank is slightly higher than the Young Master’s, his reputation and authority are far less prominent. I heard the Emperor himself praise our Master. Once Old Lady Zeng’s mourning period ends, he’ll be promoted and transferred to an official position in the capital.”
Xiang Lan nodded repeatedly in agreement, casually offering flattering words about Young Master’s brilliance and valor. Hearing that Lin Jin Lou would be away with the army for a long time and later transfer to the capital, she was secretly pleased – she wished Lin Jin Lou would never return. Like a grass-eating rabbit naturally fears a fierce tiger, she harbored an inexplicable fear of Lin Jin Lou.
“Once Master enters the capital and Lady bears a son, given how much Master cherishes her, she might even receive an imperial title. Then who would dare look down on our East Wing!” Chun Ling chatted while folding clothes. “Amitabha Buddha, I just hope Lady gives birth to a young master this time.”
Xiang Lan questioned: “Without any distinguished military achievements, how could the Emperor possibly grant an imperial title to Young Master’s concubine?”
Chun Ling dismissed this concern: “Why not? Our Master’s mentor is the Duke Who Guards the State, a famous general. Master earning military merit is just a matter of time. Yes, Master still has Ying Ge and Hua Mei, but they’re just bedchamber maids… who knows how long they’ll even stay in the household? Didn’t you see Chun Yan was sent away? Our Lady is a proper concubine, formally brought in by sedan chair under Madam’s arrangements. Now that she’s with child, who besides First Madam could outrank her? When Master returns, he mostly rests in our East Wing… As for those hussies Ying Ge and Hua Mei, always trying to get Master to visit them – we don’t need to show their people any courtesy in the future. Hmph, shameless!”
As Chun Ling spoke, her brows furrowed in anger as she tried to get Xiang Lan to share her indignation. Xiang Lan had no choice but to appear righteously angry, nodding vigorously: “Right, Master can go wherever he pleases, and he loves our Lady. No matter what schemes they try, it’s useless!”
Chun Ling was pleased to see Xiang Lan’s apparent understanding and patted her shoulder approvingly.
In truth, ever since hearing that Xiang Lan was personally brought by Young Master and made second rank, Chun Ling had been uneasy. She had been a third-rank maid under Madam Qin before being promoted to second-rank under Qing Lan, hoping to become a first-rank maid once Qing Lan bore a son. Who knew Chen Xiang Lan would appear out of nowhere?
Though she smiled at Xiang Lan outwardly, she constantly worried about Xiang Lan competing with her for their mistress’s favor. However, after observing for several days, she noticed Xiang Lan only managed the needlework and didn’t interfere in anything else or ask many questions. Instead, she would help other maids when they were busy.
When there were opportunities to gain favor with their mistress, Chun Ling deliberately offered them to Xiang Lan, but Xiang Lan always declined. Chun Ling finally relaxed, thinking Xiang Lan was foolish – who wouldn’t want to advance and gain the mistress’s favor? Her attitude toward Xiang Lan became increasingly cordial.
Little did Chun Ling know that gaining the master’s favor was exactly what Xiang Lan wished to avoid. Now that life had become more comfortable, she had been thinking of earning money through painting. If Qing Lan came to rely on her, wouldn’t she lose her free time? Thus, while one strived to perform well before their mistress, the other was content to remain uninvolved, and they maintained a peaceful coexistence.
Zhi Chun Hall remained peaceful each day. Zhao Yue Chan stayed confined to her room; Ying Ge also kept to her quarters, only standing beneath the banana tree or in front of the rose trellis at dusk to sing melancholic tunes like “The Cuckoo’s Cry of Blood is Unbearable to Hear.” Xiang Lan suspected she did this to wait by the courtyard gate for Lin Jin Lou’s return. Hua Mei, however, often visited the East Wing to chat idly with Qing Lan.
“That flirtatious Hua Mei is so thick-skinned – Lady has yawned twice already and she still doesn’t know to leave.” Wet Nurse Wu frowned as she helped Qing Lan recline against the headboard. She was Lin Jin Lou’s wet nurse, holding a unique position in the Lin family. Hearing of Qing Lan’s pregnancy, she had volunteered to serve her. Originally a companion from Madam Qin’s maiden home, she was extremely loyal and, influenced by Madam Qin, held no good feelings toward coquettish women, so she particularly despised the likes of Ying Ge and Hua Mei.
“She came to visit me with good intentions, I can’t just drive her away. She won’t stay much longer anyway, just let her be.” Qing Lan was feeling drowsy.
“Lady is too kind-hearted. I don’t think Hua Mei is any good. When Master returns, I’ll tell him not to let those seductresses hover around Lady in the East Wing.”
“Please don’t. The master might think I’m being difficult.” Qing Lan quickly opened her eyes.
Wet Nurse Wu sighed and brought over a plate of pastries from the begonia-carved side table, offering one to Qing Lan: “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything. Lady hasn’t had much appetite these days, have a pastry before sleeping.”
It was a plate of Jade Belt Cakes, made with ingredients like poria, lotus seeds, and Job’s tears, good for strengthening the stomach and boosting energy. Qing Lan found them delicious and couldn’t help eating another piece. She told Wet Nurse Wu: “Speaking of Chun Ling, she truly lives up to being trained by Madam – clever and capable, thinking of everything for me. With her here, I have half the worries. Just take these cakes – seeing I’ve been eating less these past few days, she specially made these pastries. You can see her thoughtfulness.”
Wet Nurse Wu was startled, her brows furrowing: “Chun Ling said she made these cakes?”
Qing Lan nodded, taking a sip of tea: “Chun Ling said she made them early this morning.”
Wet Nurse Wu’s frown deepened. She had clearly seen Xiang Lan in the kitchen kneading dough and using molds, making a steamer of Jade Belt Cakes, and then placing them on blue-green porcelain plates for Chun Ling to bring in. She had even left two pieces each for her and Xiao Juan. How had they become Chun Ling’s work? After a while, she said: “These cakes were made by Xiang Lan…”
Qing Lan was surprised but didn’t take it too seriously, just nodding and saying: “Well then, I’ll reward her later.”
Wet Nurse Wu said: “No need to rush with rewards. Lady, think about it – though Chun Ling is useful, I feel she’s too calculating, not genuine. Even over making a cake, she wants to take credit, claiming others’ achievements as her own. Though it’s a small matter, it reveals something about her character. Xiao Juan is too young, still childish, and Yin Die seems restless, always asking about Master’s affairs. These days, I’ve been observing quietly, and Xiang Lan seems honest. I originally worried that with her pretty face, she might cause trouble, but who knew she would quietly do her work every day, completing all tasks diligently, never competing or stirring up trouble, and even mediating when Xiao Juan and Yin Die quarrel.”
Qing Lan was about to put another cake in her mouth but stopped, frowning: “Nurse’s meaning is…”
Wet Nurse Wu continued: “My meaning is, for Lady to establish herself in the household, how can you not cultivate a few trusted people? You must think long-term. Once Old Lady Zeng’s mourning period ends, Master will return to the capital, and Madam will follow. Without this strong support, if you don’t have a few loyal people, I fear Lady will be bullied. Xiang Lan is young, straightforward, and never says more than necessary. She seems like a good one.”
Qing Lan pondered for a while, thinking how Xiang Lan was as faint as a wisp of smoke, almost seeming non-existent, cautious in words and actions. Simply because Lin Jin Lou had made her second rank, Qing Lan had felt somewhat uncomfortable and consequently hadn’t valued her much. But thinking about it now, she was probably honest and well-behaved. She slowly nodded: “You’re right, I’ll pay more attention to that girl.”
She immediately called Xiang Lan to her room and kindly rewarded her with a silver ring engraved with the character of “double happiness,” along with a bowl of strong tea and a plate of fruits, then dismissed her.
Xiang Lan was puzzled, not knowing why she had suddenly received rewards. Back in her room, she examined the ring carefully – though the style was old, it had some weight to it. She thought to herself that Lady Lan was indeed generous and kind to those below her, and happily put the ring away. She had intended to save some of the fruits for Chun Ling but remembered Chun Ling was jealous. Last time when Qing Lan praised Xiang Lan’s noodle soup and awarded an extra dish at lunch, Chun Ling darkened her face and later hinted to Xiang Lan that she needn’t concern herself with Lady’s food anymore: “Lady is with child, we dare not let her eat too many different things. Next time you make something you want to give to Lady, tell me first. If something goes wrong, when Madam scolds us, none of us will look good.”
Now that Qing Lan had awarded another plate of fruits, Xiang Lan thought it better not to mention it and secretly shared them with Xiao Juan.