After Hua Mei left, when Qing Lan told Madam Wu about agreeing to organize the poetry society, Madam Wu was immediately shocked and exclaimed, “My dear lady, how could you agree to this?”

Qing Lan was startled and said, “What’s wrong with agreeing? I’m discussing with you how to manage the poetry society, aren’t I? I’m young and inexperienced, having never handled such a grand event. You’re more experienced, Mother Wu, and I’ll need to rely on you for everything.”

Unexpectedly, Madam Wu gnashed her teeth and cursed angrily, “I knew that little minx Hua Mei had ill intentions, leading you onto a treacherous path!” Seeing Qing Lan’s bewildered expression, she sighed and said, “Do you think organizing a poetry society is child’s play, something that can be settled with just a few words? In ordinary wealthy households, poetry societies are just for women’s entertainment, but it’s different in our house. The Madam has good connections, and the Master has a respected official reputation. When our family hosts a poetry society session, it’s equivalent to gathering all the prominent ladies and young misses of Jinling at our mansion. Such an event requires careful consideration from all angles to please everyone, and earning praise is extremely difficult. Why do you think Second Miss loves organizing poetry societies? It’s because she’s of marriageable age – if she manages such events well, who wouldn’t praise her as virtuous and capable, eager to take her as a bride?”

Hearing Madam Wu describe it as so difficult, Qing Lan’s face showed concern, but as she listened on, she perked up again and smiled, “If I manage such an event well, wouldn’t I also earn praise? Mother, you always say I have no support in the mansion and worry that I’ll be bullied when the Madam is gone. Isn’t this a perfect opportunity to make a name for myself? Why should we back down?”

Madam Wu wanted to roll her eyes and said with a bitter smile, “My dear lady! Second Miss manages well because she has the Madam’s help and supervision. Does the Concubine think you have such a face that you can ask the Madam to help you manage? Moreover, you’re heavily pregnant – you should be focusing on nurturing the child, how can you exhaust yourself like this? Listen to me, give up this idea.”

Qing Lan pouted, somewhat displeased.

Seeing Qing Lan’s face as fresh as a flower, Madam Wu sighed again, thinking that this Concubine Lan was just an inexperienced young wife of eighteen or nineteen. Her voice softened as she said, “If you want to organize a poetry society, why not wait until after the child is born and you’ve recovered? These few months, you should focus on your health, don’t think about these exhausting matters. If something happens to the young master in your belly, not only will we be worried sick, but the Young Master will also be distressed.”

She tried persuading and coaxing for quite a while, but unfortunately, Qing Lan was stubborn. She was fixated on making a name for herself, and now that she was being obstinate, the more they tried to stop her, the more determined she became, refusing to change her mind.

Having no choice, Madam Wu went to find Madam Qin. Madam Qin frowned and first scolded, “How foolish!” Her brows furrowed deeply. She had carefully chosen Qing Lan initially because she saw that this girl had a compliant nature and simple thoughts, without too many schemes – otherwise if a noble concubine focused on competing with the principal wife for power and favor, the inner quarters would be even more chaotic and unstable. But now it seemed being too simple wasn’t necessarily a good thing either.

After thinking for a while, Madam Qin said to Madam Wu, “Never mind, if she wants to organize it, let her do so.”

Madam Wu was stunned.

Madam Qin continued, “She hasn’t suffered any setbacks since entering the mansion. Learning a lesson through this experience won’t be a bad thing. However, there’s one important matter – her pregnancy. Keep a close watch on her, have the doctor check her pulse daily, and if anything seems wrong, come tell me immediately so I can find someone to take over the arrangements.”

Madam Wu accepted the instructions and left.

After dinner, Hong Lan collected the leftover food in a bowl and took it to the courtyard to feed the cats. Seeing Madam Wu sitting in the corridor sighing repeatedly, she approached and said, “It’s getting dark, Mother, are you sitting here to feed the mosquitoes?”

Madam Wu had been longing for someone to confide in, and upon seeing Hong Lan, immediately opened up and told her about how Qing Lan had agreed to organize the poetry society.

Upon hearing this, Hong Lan’s expression became serious, and she said, “This is no trivial matter! Given Concubine’s status, she shouldn’t have agreed to this. What will Madam think? Moreover, managing such an event requires considering expenses, making it interesting, and not losing face for the Lin family – it’s even more difficult than arranging a family reunion dinner for the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Hearing Hong Lan speak such words, Madam Wu was secretly surprised, thinking, “This young girl shows such insight as if she has experience managing affairs in a wealthy household.” She said aloud, “Exactly! Not to mention some of those official ladies are particularly picky. Losing face for our family would be bad enough, but I’m most worried about something happening to the Concubine’s pregnancy – then I couldn’t face the Young Master and Madam.” She worried further, “Though I’ve been in the Lin family for decades, I’ve never helped manage such banquets, yet the Concubine says she wants to rely on this old woman for everything, ah…”

Hong Lan also sighed: “How could a Concubine agree to such a difficult task?” She then asked, “When is the poetry society meeting?”

Madam Wu replied, “In half a month.”

As they were talking, they suddenly heard Yin Die’s loud voice from the tea room: “…Sister, you don’t need to use Hong Lan to pressure me. Isn’t she just good at acting pitifully in front of men with her bewitching looks? You think I don’t know what kind of fox spirit she is!”

Then they heard Chun Ling say slowly, “She’s in the Young Master’s favor, and she’s second rank. What’s the point of making trouble with her? I say give up and just do whatever she tells you to do.”

Yin Die’s voice was sharp and fierce, carrying some anger: “I’m not as good-natured as Sister Chun Ling. Where has the sister’s usual authority gone? Why fear her?”

Chun Ling lowered her voice and said something else, but it was too muffled to hear clearly.

Madam Wu immediately looked at Hong Lan, but saw her expression remain calm, and asked, “What’s this about…”

Hong Lan gave an awkward smile: “It’s all because of the Young Master’s ointment box.”

Madam Wu strongly disapproved: “The Young Master rewarded you because he wanted to, what are they doing… I always thought that little Minx Yin Die wasn’t honest, but she worked efficiently and knew how to please the Concubine, so I turned a blind eye. Who knew she could speak so nastily behind people’s backs.”

Hong Lan thought to herself: “Yin Die and I entered the mansion on the same day, and we’re about the same age, but I was promoted to second rank before her. She’s competitive by nature, so of course she’s unhappy. Moreover, she has feelings for the Young Master, and seeing him give me an ointment box has added to her resentment.” Suddenly realizing that news of Lin Jin Lou giving her a palace ointment box would probably spread throughout the entire mansion, she became alert. Looking at Madam Wu with a serious expression, she said, “I want to ask Mother for a favor… Mother is the Young Master’s wet nurse, whom he respects most. If you could speak to the Young Master, could you persuade him to take back that ointment box? It would be even better if he would scold me harshly in public, so I can have some peace for a few days.”

Madam Wu burst out laughing and tapped Hong Lan’s forehead, saying, “You think the Young Master gives face to just anyone? Silly girl, even the Madam doesn’t have the fortune to receive that ointment – if he gave it to you, just keep it. Remember what I say, though it’s difficult now, you’ll benefit later. You’re different from the others. Looking at you, I know you’re destined for good fortune and blessings…”