Shu Ran smiled again and said, “Now that you understand, stop crying. You don’t know, but Young Master left some nice things for you… Just wait a moment.” She got up and left, returning shortly with a pink bundle. Sitting beside Xiang Lan, she unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing hair oil, rouge, face powder, and sachet inside. She smiled, “These are all specially selected by Young Master for you, the same quality as what the young ladies of each household use. Even your Concubine Lan doesn’t have such a face… Also, there’s some fine fabric. Young Master instructed me to make you a nice outfit and deliver it to you when it’s done.”

Xiang Lan’s heart sank even further, and she kept her head down without speaking. Seeing that Xiang Lan remained gloomy without showing any shyness, Shu Ran thought, “Oh no, could it be this little maid has no feelings for Young Master?” Not daring to say more, she covered the items and said, “Sister, your hair is such a mess, and your face is tear-stained. Let’s get you cleaned up. If you don’t mind, you can use my things.” While speaking, she instructed the servants to bring hot water and personally brought her dressing-case, setting up a clear dressing mirror.

After Xiang Lan washed her face, Shu Ran took out a small purple-gold enamel round box. Opening it revealed a creamy yellow ointment. Shu Ran smiled, “This is a moisturizing cream with flowers and herbs, different from the one Young Master gave you. You can use this on your face daily.” She then took a blackwood comb to help Xiang Lan arrange her hair into a glossy bun, intending to insert the eight-treasure hairpin given by Lin Jinlou.

Xiang Lan quickly stopped her, saying, “No, please, let me use my old silver hairpin instead.”

Shu Ran smiled and said, “This is Young Master’s gift to you, feel free to wear it.”

Xiang Lan replied, “Such a precious thing – I’m not worthy. I’d be anxious wearing it. Better let sister return it to Young Master for now…”

Before she could finish speaking, a voice came from the doorway: “Why keep talking about being worthy or not? It’s irritating. If I say you’re worthy, then you’re worthy.” Lin Jinlou strolled in casually.

Xiang Lan was startled, secretly thinking how this King Yama was still haunting her. She was truly becoming frightened and quickly stood up to hide behind Shu Ran.

Lin Jinlou saw Xiang Lan’s fear and felt displeased, yet found her timid manner quite endearing, so he stood still watching her.

Shu Ran understood the situation perfectly and excused herself to fetch water, leaving with a basin.

Xiang Lan kept her head down firmly, seeing only a pair of black official boots coming closer. She backed away until she reached the corner wall with nowhere left to retreat, still not daring to look up.

Lin Jinlou’s lazy voice sounded above her head, saying, “How dare you refuse what I give you, hmm? Still don’t want to be with me?” As he spoke, he lifted Xiang Lan’s chin, staring at her intently.

Those eyes were cold and playful, carrying a predatory chill that was impossible to read. Xiang Lan trembled from discomfort, feeling a chill run from her feet to her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks onto Lin Jinlou’s hand as she choked out, “This servant… is afraid of Madam…”

Lin Jinlou exhaled softly – so that was it. Most of his anger dissipated. His face broke into a smile as he gently wiped away Xiang Lan’s tears. She trembled but didn’t dare move away.

Lin Jinlou said, “Why fear her? I’ll divorce her soon enough.” As he spoke, he methodically replaced the gold hairpin in Xiang Lan’s hair, examining it from all angles. “This is a set of eight pins. When I make you my concubine, I’ll give you the complete set to wear.” He planted a kiss on her left cheek.

Xiang Lan wanted to slap him but didn’t dare. She could only stand with her head down, gripping her clothes so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Just then, there was a gentle knock at the door, and Ji Xiang’s quiet voice said, “Young Master, Young Master, Officer Fang from the garrison is here to see you, saying he has urgent matters requiring your attention.”

Lin Jinlou called out to the door, “I know!” Looking at Xiang Lan, he pinched her cheek: “Go back now. They won’t dare do anything to you. If anyone bullies you, tell me, and I’ll deal with them.” At the doorway, he beckoned Shu Ran over, gave her some instructions, and hurried away.

Xiang Lan secretly sighed in relief, her whole body going weak. She quickly removed the hairpin from her hair. Shu Ran came in, insisting on personally escorting Xiang Lan back. Despite Xiang Lan’s repeated refusals, Shu Ran wouldn’t listen and follow alongside her carrying a lantern.

Entering the courtyard of Zhi Chun Hall, everything was quiet. The lights in the main house were all out, but the east and west wings were brightly lit. Ying Shuang stood at the courtyard gate and quickly went inside when she saw Xiang Lan return.

After bidding farewell to Shu Ran, Xiang Lan entered the room to find that Xiao Juan and the others hadn’t returned. Only Yin Die’s bed had its curtains drawn, with someone seemingly lying inside. She dragged her heavy steps to the bedside and collapsed down. After lying there for a moment, she suddenly took out a handkerchief and vigorously wiped the spot where Lin Jinlou had kissed her. She was terrified of Lin Jinlou, frightened to death, and even more afraid of actually becoming a Lin family concubine.

Her heart felt as heavy as a thousand-pound weight, making it hard to breathe. She had only wanted to be free of servitude and live a simple, peaceful life with her parents. Even though she had been reduced to dust in this life, serving masters and enduring abuse, there was still pride and strength in her bones. Being a servant was just temporary suffering, and she kept telling herself these days would pass. If she could never escape the brand of servitude, living a life of swallowed pride, she would rather die.

Just then, Chun Ling came in and sat on the bed, nudging Xiang Lan: “Hey, I heard Sister Shu Ran escorted you back. Where did you go? Why did she bring you back?”

Xiang Lan forced a smile and said, “It’s nothing, we were just going the same way.”

Chun Ling didn’t believe her and looked at Xiang Lan’s face suspiciously, saying, “Really? Sister Shu Ran just went to speak with Concubine and couldn’t stop praising you…”

These words made Xiang Lan even more agitated. She sat up and said, “If you don’t believe me, go ask Shu Ran yourself.” She made an excuse to go wash up.

A sneer suddenly came from Yin Die’s bed, followed by her voice: “Look at that, putting on airs already, won’t even answer a couple of questions.”

Chun Ling also darkened her face and left with a flick of her handkerchief.

Xiang Lan walked to the courtyard and slowly crouched behind a strange rock, weakly covering her eyes with her arm, quietly telling herself, “It’s alright, don’t rush, there will be a way out, these difficult days will eventually pass…”

No matter how Xiang Lan tried to comfort herself, Ying Shuang had run back to tell Zhao Yuechan after seeing Xiang Lan return to the east wing: “Madam, that little tramp Xiang Lan is back, Shu Ran brought her back, it seems Young Master hasn’t…”

Zhao Yuechan slammed the table hard, saying hatefully, “He wants to, but we’re still in mourning for Old Madam Zeng. If he dares do such a thing, I’ll make sure he loses his official position, and the old master will break his legs!”

Ying Shuang hurried to calm Zhao Yuechan: “Madam, please don’t be angry. Don’t let a little tramp ruin your health. You know Young Master’s nature – today he loves this, tomorrow he loves that. Remember how he treasured Hua Mei, but when Qing Lan came along, he forgot all about her. Now Qing Lan is pregnant, and though he was so tender with her just days ago, here he is pursuing a little maid.”

Zhao Yuechan took a sip of tea to soothe her throat and said, “Whose room is this Xiang Lan from? Wang Qing Lan! I prepared jade fungus for him, but he wouldn’t touch it, yet he’s so eager for that little tramp’s maid. Isn’t this clearly what little vixen Qing Lan’s doing? Now that she’s pregnant and can’t serve him, she’s pushing forward a maid, thinking to rival me in the future.”

Ying Shuang said, “That… couldn’t be? Could she have such thoughts?”

“Tch, haven’t you seen how methodically she manages the entire poetry society? I’ve been thinking her stupidity must be an act.”

“I don’t think she’s that clever. Madam, don’t worry too much.” Ying Shuang said as she removed her hairpin and trimmed the candlewick to make it brighter.

Zhao Yuechan remained silent, reclining on the kang bed with a gloomy expression. Thinking of what Lin Jinlou had said in the outer study earlier, her heart grew cold. If Lin Jinlou divorced her and took another wife from the Zhao family girls, then…

She shuddered and said to Ying Shuang, “Tell the gate guards to prepare a horse early tomorrow morning. I need to visit my family.”