Xiang Lan walked to the side room’s doorway and faintly heard Chun Ling scolding Yin Die. She shook her head and sighed inwardly: “Among all the young maids in this household, how many don’t harbor hopes of climbing higher? Especially since Young Master is handsome and dignified, holds an official position, and has plenty of gold and silver. Whether it’s Chun Ling or the younger Yin Die, they all secretly hold onto hope. It’s just a pity they only see the palm-sized sky above the Lin Manor, throwing the four words ‘life is unpredictable’ to the back of their minds.” While thinking this, she went to fetch clothes from the trunk.

Lin Jin Lou had left a crab-shell green straight-cut robe with a “fighting” pattern in the east wing last time. Xiang Lan took it out, sprayed it with some heated alcohol, and pressed it with an iron. At this moment, Chun Ling lifted the curtain and entered, seeing Xiang Lan busy at work, she said, “Why are you doing this kind of work? Let those two little maids do it.”

Xiang Lan smiled and said, “It’s just a small task, it’s no trouble.”

Chun Ling pursed her lips and said, “You’re too good-natured. You’re second-rank, when you should put on airs, you should. Now that little hussy Yin Die even dares to climb over your head and give you attitude.”

Xiang Lan gave a slight smile. Yin Die was usually warm and attentive to her, it was just today when she saw Lin Jin Lou that she lost her composure.

After saying a few words and seeing Xiang Lan not responding, Chun Ling felt slightly disappointed. Xiang Lan was easy-going and generous, willing to share food and trinkets with everyone, so the little maids all liked to be close to her. Chun Ling liked to act important and loved scolding and controlling the little maids, which wasn’t wrong in itself, but compared to Xiang Lan, she appeared lacking. She wanted to say more but heard Madam Wu calling her from the courtyard, so she waved her hand and left.

Xiang Lan pressed the clothes until they were neat, folded them tidily, and carried them into the room. She saw a bed table set up with fruits and pastries newly arranged, while Qing Lan was helping Lin Jin Lou remove his official robes.

Xiang Lan put down the clothes and was about to leave when Lin Jin Lou called out: “Wait.” He wanted Xiang Lan to help him change, but looking at Qing Lan, he felt it wasn’t quite appropriate.

Though Qing Lan wasn’t particularly astute, seeing Lin Jin Lou staring intently at a little maid made her somewhat displeased. Xiang Lan kept her head lowered, staring at her shoetips.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Jin Lou casually said to Qing Lan: “This maid is quite good, she used to serve in Cao Li Huan’s room. That Cao woman had a black heart, putting peach juice in Second Sister’s food. Fortunately, this clever maid told the Madam, otherwise it would have been troublesome if symptoms had developed. Now that she’s serving in your room, I can rest assured.”

Only then did Qing Lan’s face break into a smile, secretly feeling she had been overthinking, and said, “I know, this maid is honest, doing lots of work openly and secretly, yet never seeking credit.”

Lin Jin Lou nodded, looked down, and saw a small pure gold and yellow jade horse pendant hanging at his waist. He casually removed it and handed it to Xiang Lan saying, “This is your reward, take it. Serve your Mistress well, there will be more rewards in the future.”

Xiang Lan kept her head down and said, “This is all just this servant’s duty, I dare not accept Young Master’s reward.”

Lin Jin Lou slightly furrowed his brows: “When I reward you, just take it. What’s all this about daring or not daring?”

This small gold horse pendant was indeed quite valuable, and Xiang Lan hesitated to take it, looking at Qing Lan with her eyes. Seeing Lin Jin Lou casually give such an expensive item to a maid, Qing Lan couldn’t help but feel envious, wanting to say something but not daring to. Hearing him say “Serve your Mistress well, there will be more rewards in the future,” she felt that Lin Jin Lou had given the maid such a good gift because of her, and with a smile on her lips, said to Xiang Lan: “Since it’s given to you, just take it.”

Only then did Xiang Lan dare to accept it, and was about to hurriedly kowtow, but Lin Jin Lou waved his hand saying, “No need, forget it, forget it.”

Xiang Lan then withdrew, and in a private place, she looked at the gold horse. Though only thumb-sized, it was extremely exquisite, set on a cord with five-colored precious stone tassels hanging below. Xiang Lan held the horse feeling it burning in her hand, remembering Lin Jin Lou’s manner when he asked her to fan him, her heart began to flutter, thinking: “Could it be that Lin Jin Lou has taken a fancy to me?” Then she consoled herself that Lin Jin Lou was just naturally flirtatious, he would joke with any maid, and she needn’t take it to heart, in the future she would just serve less often in his presence. But looking at the small gold horse in her hand, she still couldn’t feel at ease.

Lin Jin Lou had lunch in the east wing and needed to leave the manor again in the afternoon. Qing Lan personally saw him out. Ying Shuang stood at the main house doorway watching for a while, then turned back to bring Zhao Yue Chan a bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest soup.

Zhao Yue Chan was lying on a beauty couch by the window, her eyes slightly closed, her hair somewhat loose, a few strands of black hair scattered on the autumn-fragrant pillow, making her face appear even more beautiful.

Ying Shuang carefully placed the bowl on the sandalwood begonia table. Zhao Yue Chan suddenly asked with closed eyes, “Has he left the east wing?”

Ying Shuang looked at Zhao Yue Chan’s expression and softly answered, “Yes.”

“He certainly cares about that little slut’s belly.”

Ying Shuang dared not speak, only picked up the bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest soup, stirred it with a spoon, and stammered, “Madam, the bird’s nest soup should be eaten while hot…”

“If that little slut bears a son, won’t she climb over my head?” Zhao Yue Chan opened her eyes and looked at Ying Shuang.

Ying Shuang forced a smile: “Madam, don’t think too much, taking care of yourself is most important. Even if that little slut has a son, she can never surpass Madam. The Lin family is a noble family of generations, there won’t be a case of favoring a concubine over the wife…” Her voice grew smaller as she spoke, finally falling silent.

Zhao Yue Chan stared at a pot of orchids on the windowsill, lost in thought for a long while.

Ying Shuang licked her dry lips and carefully said: “What the Aunt said last time makes sense… Young Master and Madam have had this knot in their hearts, and he hasn’t changed his mind these years. Young Master doesn’t like the maids Madam picks, so why not let Young Master take Miss Xia from Aunt’s family as a concubine? Firstly, Aunt’s family would be easy to control, and secondly, Miss Xia is timid and foolish. She has good looks that Young Master would fancy – besides Madam, I haven’t seen anyone with better looks than Miss Xia. When she has a son, Madam could take him to raise…”

Before she could finish, seeing Zhao Yue Chan’s frost-like gaze turn towards her, Ying Shuang shrank her neck and closed her mouth.

After a while, Zhao Yue Chan slowly said: “How can another’s child compare to one’s flesh and blood… Don’t mention Miss Xia’s matter again, I have my plans.”

They fell silent.

Zhao Yue Chan took the bird’s nest soup, took a few sips, and asked, “Has Cao Li Huan settled down?”

At this mention, Ying Shuang became animated, straightening her back and saying: “She’s settled. These past few days she hasn’t sent anyone to find Madam… I heard from several matrons at the second gate that she initially refused to leave, crying and making a scene. I thought she would make a big fuss, given how that pauper usually doesn’t let others around her live in peace. Now that she’s been thrown out, wouldn’t she cause heaven-shaking chaos? Who would have thought it would end so quietly.”

Zhao Yue Chan swallowed a mouthful of soup, wiped her mouth corner with a handkerchief, and sneered: “Make a fuss? She’s a clever one. I heard when Old Madam sent her away, she said perhaps she could add some dowry when she gets married. Just for Old Madam’s dowry money, she can’t just tear faces and make a scene outside. Moreover, it was Young Master who personally sent her away, could his methods allow Cao Li Huan to make a spectacle? It’s best if she doesn’t come looking for trouble. In the future, tell the matrons at the second gate, if she sends people again, drive them away.”

Ying Shuang nodded repeatedly, then sighed: “It’s just that after this incident, some rumors spread, saying Miss Huan had an improper relationship with her manservant, that the manservant sneaked in after drinking and harassed a maid. I guess this rumor has probably reached the Ren family, Miss Huan’s marriage might not even happen.”

Zhao Yue Chan snorted laughter, putting the soup bowl on the small table: “Didn’t she look down on the Ren family? Now she might not even have the chance to marry… But these things are uncertain, Cao Li Huan still has some connections, and the Ren family’s son isn’t a tough character, perhaps he’ll close his eyes and marry her for some money.”

Ying Shuang nodded, somewhat worried: “If Cao Li Huan spreads bad words about Madam outside, saying we took her box of hairpins but didn’t help…”

Zhao Yue Chan picked at her fingers, sending spoonfuls of soup into her mouth, unconcerned: “Let her say what she wants, can what’s been eaten be spat out? Do you think without this box of hairpins she would speak well of me? Pah! I’m not afraid of her!”

Ying Shuang brought a cup of hot tea. Zhao Yue Chan rinsed her mouth, spat into the spittoon, wiped her hands with a small handkerchief, thought carefully, and felt that having that box of hairpins in her possession was somewhat troublesome. Better to sell it quietly, getting silver was the practical thing to do. She said: “Tomorrow, give that box of hairpins to my cousin, let him find a suitable buyer, a minimum of three hundred and fifty taels of silver, any amount above that he can keep. Don’t look down on those small hairpins, each one is exquisite and unique, not to mention the rubies on top, bright red and brilliant. If it wasn’t that keeping these things around is troublesome, I wouldn’t want to sell them. It’s a pity what Cao Li Huan said, there was also a pair of ruby earrings to match these hairpins, but we couldn’t get our hands on them in the end.”

Ying Shuang smiled: “Why doesn’t Madam arrange a marriage for her? In her current situation, forget about a pair of ruby hairpins, even if you asked for half her mother’s dowry chest, she’d probably deliver it to Madam’s hands.”

Zhao Yue Chan snorted, sneering: “She’s now like a rat crossing the street, trying to hide away, how could we actively approach her? Besides, who would dare casually touch that tigress’s things? Even this box of hairpins, who knows how much she’s regretting it. I’m telling you now, she might be behaving herself for now, but before long, she’ll come knocking again!” She adjusted her hair, smirking: “It’s just that when she comes knocking again, she won’t be the Young Miss Cao of the Lin family anymore. Even the gatekeepers might give her attitude. We can deal with her then…”

Ying Shuang smiled in agreement, turned to take the key and opened the cabinet, took out a sandalwood box, opened it for a glance, saw inside the glittering treasures, eight exquisite pure gold ruby hairpins arranged neatly, then closed the lid, preparing to take them out of the manor tomorrow to sell for a high price, but that’s a matter for another time.