Xiang Lan lay in bed for three days. Actually, after sweating through the first night, she had already begun feeling better, but Lin Jin Lou insisted she rest for a few more days. Xiang Lan, truly fearful of Lin Jin Lou’s unpredictable temper and worried he might further investigate Master Ding Su’s role in helping her reach Yang Zhou, complied obediently and remained in bed for two more days.
Lin Jin Lou was busy all day. Someone had leaked news of his arrival in Yang Zhou, and subsequently, officials and notable figures of all ranks began visiting endlessly. Xiang Lan secretly looked through the thick stack of calling cards and realized that civil officials made up the majority of visitors. Thinking about it, this made sense – the Lin family was deeply rooted among civil servants, with dozens of civil officials and examination candidates in their clan, not to mention the countless scholars. They were a true family of literary tradition. Lin Jin Lou, choosing the difficult path of a military officer, was truly an exception.
Xiang Lan pushed open the window. Spring was in full bloom outside, with two peach trees in the courtyard blossoming like flames against the morning sky. She stared at the trees in a daze. Seeing this, the young maid Ling Qing took a light cape from the wardrobe and draped it over Xiang Lan’s shoulders, saying: “It’s still a bit chilly in the morning. Madam isn’t completely well yet; the wind might make you a headache.” Then she called out, “Ling Su, where’s Madam’s medicine?”
It turned out that when Chu Da Peng and others had returned with Lin Jin Ting to Lin Jin Lou’s Yang Zhou residence, they noticed the shortage of servants and figured Lin Jin Lou would find it inconvenient. Xie Yu, being thoughtful, sent two carefully selected maids the next day. One was named Ling Qing, who knew reading, writing, and painting; the other was Ling Su, whose family had medical practitioners in their lineage, and she knew acupuncture and massage. Both were fourteen or fifteen years old and though not particularly beautiful, they were neat and proper in appearance.
“Brother, I thought since Sister-in-law is a talented lady who can write and paint, how could she not have someone to attend to her scholarly pursuits? Hearing from you that her health is delicate, having someone with medical knowledge by her side to care for her would put your mind at ease, wouldn’t it?” Xie Yu said with a broad smile when bringing them over.
Liu Xiao Chuan rubbed his nose and said: “Damn, ‘after three days apart, one must look at a friend anew.’ Young Master always thought Old Chu was the craftiest, but Brother, you’re even more cunning. What’s all this about? Casually sending two people over and already calling her ‘Sister-in-law.'”
Xie Yu glared at Liu Xiao Chuan.
Lin Jin Lou smiled and said: “You’re so thoughtful. I was just worried about lacking servants, and you’ve solved my urgent problem.” He kept them on.
On their first day, these two maids kowtowed to Xiang Lan, addressing her as “Madam.” Xiang Lan was startled – at the Lin household, everyone had called her “Miss.” Lin Jin Lou nodded, his expression neutral, giving a few casual instructions about serving well in the future, as if he hadn’t heard them call her “Madam.”
Xiang Lan glanced at Lin Jin Lou again, then lowered her face slightly, her long eyelashes hiding the thoughts in her eyes. She had heard from Mother Wu before that when Qing Lan first arrived, she had been quite prestigious in the capital. Madam Qin had specially held a grand feast for guests, Lin Jin Lou had shown her great favor, and the servants in the capital had eagerly called Qing Lan “Madam,” continuing this way until they reached Jin Ling. Only when they met Zhao Yue Chan, the properly married wife who arrived in an eight-bearer bridal sedan, did Qing Lan have to humble herself, adding the prefix “Aunt” to her title? One word’s difference changed her status immensely. The servants had gossiped endlessly behind her back, gloating: “Tsk, no matter how grandly they called her in the capital, when faced with the real mistress, let’s see how high and mighty she can be now. She was so pleased with herself, really thinking she was the true madam. In the capital, when they called her ‘Madam,’ she answered so readily, let’s see her try answering to that now!”
Xiang Lan’s heart grew cold hearing this. Qing Lan had been a kind and generous person, friendly to those below her station. These people had no deep grudge against her, yet they kicked her while she was down. But perhaps this was human nature – some people enjoy watching others fall from high places, getting their comeuppance, and then stepping on them further, taking pleasure in it, not realizing how ugly and sickening their behavior truly was.
But now, was she to receive the same false glory and eventual downfall that Qing Lan had experienced?
Xiang Lan wasn’t foolish; she could see that Lin Jin Lou had some feelings for her. But for someone with such a reputation with women, how long could such feelings last? He might be infatuated now and unwilling to let go, but such emotions were as fragile as paper, easily torn. Back then, Qing Lan had enjoyed even more status than her, yet died mysteriously. Now her spirit wandered who knows where, and the Lin family had merely paid some silver to settle the matter. Lin Jin Lou seemed to have forgotten her entirely.
What would her ending be? Was she to simply accept her fate as Lin Jin Lou’s concubine?
Xiang Lan pondered this for a while, feeling discouraged, but then realized that worrying about it was futile. She pushed these thoughts aside and stared at the apricot blossom branch extending over the front courtyard wall, hearing the maids talking behind the Duo Bao Pavilion.
Ling Qing spoke cheerfully: “Master said Madam had no suitable clothes to wear, so early this morning he had people bring a chest over. He said there was nothing good, not as nice as the tailored ones at home, and told Madam to just pick a few to wear. I thought there wouldn’t be anything nice, but when I opened the chest – oh Buddha! All fine new silk and cotton clothes, in the latest styles. If these aren’t good enough, I don’t know what would be.”
Ling Su said: “And what about that box of jewelry Master brought back last night? Did you see it when doing Madam’s hair this morning? That pearl flower ornament must be worth at least ten taels of silver. The flower center was even strung with coral.” While speaking, she carried in a tray and said: “Madam, drink it while it’s hot. This is the last dose for today.”
Xiang Lan drained the bowl in one go, shuddering at the bitterness and quickly popped a piece of dried plum into her mouth. She stood up and said: “I’m going outside for a walk.” As Ling Qing and the others moved to follow, Xiang Lan turned and said: “I’m just going to stand in the courtyard for a while, no need to follow. You all take a rest.” She walked to the ornamental gate and looked up at the flowers on the wall, seeing how the white wall and blue tiles framed the bright red blossoms, making them particularly striking and vibrant.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shao Ren arrived carrying a chest of items with his guard. Since Xiang Lan had fallen ill and Lin Jin Lou couldn’t get away, he had entrusted Yuan Shao Ren to handle the aftermath. Yuan Shao Ren first settled matters at Yi Cui Pavilion, then went to the temple with his men, giving silver to the monks and nuns to keep quiet. Seeing Xiang Lan’s living quarters still had some daily items, he ordered them packed up. He noticed a stack of unmounted paintings on the writing desk, and when he opened them to look, he immediately praised them. Though not an art expert, he could tell their quality – the colors were elegant and subtle, the artistic conception beautiful. He looked through them one by one, noticing each was stamped with a seal reading “Lan.”