After hiding for a while, Xiang Lan quietly returned to find Taoran Pavilion empty, which brought her relief. The poetry society was drawing to a close, with Madam Qin escorting several Lin family young ladies to the garden entrance to bid farewell to guests. After everyone departed, she gave some instructions and retired to rest.

The crowd at Long Cui Residence dispersed gradually. Qing Lan, claiming fatigue, left with Chun Ling’s support. Finally, only Mama Wu, Xiang Lan, and Xiao Juan remained. Mama Wu grumbled irritably, “This one’s quite something – first to claim credit, but nowhere to be found when work needs doing!” She called out loudly, “Yin Die! Where’s Yin Die? Where has that little hussy run off to?”

Xiao Juan pouted and said, “Who knows where she’s gone? Call her for work, and she’s nowhere to be found, but if Mama were to shout ‘Time to distribute silver!’ she’d surely be the first to appear.”

Mama Wu couldn’t help but laugh, tapping Xiao Juan’s forehead. She called in several wives and elderly servants to clean up the Long Cui Residence. After everything was put away, Mama Wu pulled Xiang Lan aside to a quiet spot and pressed a small two-tael silver piece into her hand, saying, “Here, this is what you deserve.”

Xiang Lan was startled: “Why so much? Mama, didn’t you say just one extra month’s wages?”

Mama Wu smiled and said, “You did well, so naturally you deserve more reward. Take it. You’ve grown thin from all your work these days, you’ve earned this silver. I’ll speak to the Young Madam later and give you half a month’s leave.”

Xiang Lan stopped declining and expressed her gratitude repeatedly. Following Mama Wu’s instructions, she first delivered some items to Hui Feng House. On her way back, passing through a lush bamboo grove, she suddenly heard sobbing. Xiang Lan stopped and peered ahead to see Yin Die crying on her cousin Han Fang’s shoulder.

Han Fang was a second-class maid serving in Lin Dongying’s quarters, quite respectable in position. She was tall and fair-skinned, and though not as beautiful as Yin Die, she had her charm. She wore a jade-colored jacquard vest and a pure gold droplet hairpin, dressed quite elegantly.

Yin Die was crying, “…Who would have thought the Young Master would slap me without a word? How can I show my face now… wuu wuu wuu…”

Han Fang lifted Yin Die’s face and sighed, “Really, of all people to provoke, you had to choose that living King of Hell.” She looked around and said, “He hit you too hard – it’s all red and swollen. It won’t go down for three or four days. We should find some ointment to apply, see if that helps…” Mentioning “ointment” reminded her of something, “Doesn’t Xiang Lan in your quarters have a box of Crystal Magnolia Snow Cream from the Young Master? They say that cream works wonders. Ask her for some to apply – it might help the mark fade faster.”

Han Fang’s mention made Yin Die cry even harder, cursing, “I’d rather die than beg that little wretch! Ever since she got that cream, she acts like she’s above everyone else. As if I’d use anything of hers – pah! Haven’t you seen how she fawns over Mama Wu? It makes me sick! Sister, she’s no good – clearly wanting to rise above her station while pretending to be modest. What business does she have bustling about with Young Madam’s poetry society? She’s just showing off! Isn’t she just trying to catch the Young Master’s eye again? What a thing!”

Upon hearing this, Han Fang’s eyebrows shot up, saying, “Xiang Lan may have pretty eyes, but I knew she wasn’t one to know her place, just as I suspected! A maid should act like a maid. Even the mistress hasn’t received such cream, yet she got a whole box. I hear Young Madam Lan keeps her at a distance now – such arrogance shows she’s hardly favored!”

As Xiang Lan listened to their exchange, a cold smile played on her lips. What use was helping Young Madam with the poetry society? The greatest use imaginable!

Her father was a timid Third Manager, surviving on the measly salary from the Lin household while occasionally having to gift the Head Manager just to keep the peace. Her mother earned only a few coins for sewing and washing clothes. She desperately wanted to help her family buy their freedom, but that required silver! Moreover, after gaining freedom from their lowborn status, how would they maintain their livelihood? Whether her father wanted to open a shop or support her parents in their old age, they needed capital. She couldn’t paint in the household now, cutting off that source of income. Initially, she hadn’t wanted to take on the poetry society responsibilities, but Mama Wu’s mention of an extra month’s wages had tempted her. While she enjoyed meat and fish in the household, her parents ate poorly, only having meat when she visited home. Though she said nothing, it pained her heart. With this silver, her mother could take on fewer sewing jobs and wash fewer clothes, and her parents could eat better to nourish themselves. Yin Die and Han Fang, coming from well-off servant families, spent their wages only on rouge, powder, and fancy clothes – how could they understand her concerns and hardships?

Furthermore, since the Young Master gave her that box of cream, the East Wing had grown strange. There were so many snide remarks and collective attacks, that even Qing Lan grew distant. Only Xiao Juan remained innocently friendly, while no one else spoke up for her. Even Yin Die, a third-class maid, dared to talk back and act wild. Why? Simply because Yin Die’s family were hereditary servants with influence in the Lin household! Qing Lan had tried several times to drive Yin Die from the East Wing but hadn’t dared to act.

Though Xiang Lan was kind-hearted, it didn’t mean she would willingly suffer bullying. Previously, serving under Cao Lihuan, she had no choice but to be cautious daily. Masters were one thing, but should she now endure abuse from a third-class maid? Yin Die only bullied her because she was isolated in the Lin household. Without support, being merely honest and low-key might lead to an unknown death. So Xiang Lan found herself a patron – Mama Wu.

Mama Wu was a longtime servant of the Lin family, originally Madam Qin’s companion, different from others as she had nursed Lin Jinlou. Among the old servants, she was most respected yet didn’t put on airs, being friendly and approachable, though her words carried weight. Xiang Lan’s recent dedicated service had won Mama Wu’s favor. With Mama Wu speaking for her these days, Qing Lan had grown kinder, and consequently, Yin Die had become more restrained. Moreover, everyone believed Mama Wu had assisted Young Madam Lan with the poetry society, and for Qing Lan’s sake, Mama Wu wouldn’t spread the true details.

The poetry society matter had achieved two goals: earning silver and finding an ally and patron.

But today Lin Jinlou had come looking for her again, which Xiang Lan found troubling. She planned to ask Mama Wu to leave and return home for half a month to lie low and cool Lin Jinlou’s interest. Moreover… she secretly harbored hope that Song Ke might take her away. That would make it easier to change their lowborn status later – perhaps Song Ke might even free her with a single command.

She carefully planned her future in the Lin household like playing chess, thinking three moves ahead with each step – how could narrow-minded fools like Yin Die understand such thoughts?

Hearing Han Fang vaguely say she was “hardly favored,” Xiang Lan shook her head. She had never thought about how to be an artful servant, pleasing everyone and winning the masters’ favor. She simply wanted to live comfortably in the Lin household and earn enough silver to buy her freedom quickly.

Let whoever wants to be a favored servant be one – she, Chen Xiang Lan, would have no part in it!