After Song Ke left, within a few days, the Lin family sent someone to fetch Song Yima and Song Tanzan to stay at their residence for a while. Xianglan breathed a sigh of relief. Song Yima was gloomy and paid her no attention, making their interactions rather uncomfortable. Song Tanzan, on the other hand, was somewhat close to her, but she was an overly sensitive person, and Xianglan had to be extremely cautious with every word when speaking to her. Even casual conversations felt exhausting. Now that the two of them were gone, Xianglan felt much more at ease, simply managing household affairs, reading and practicing calligraphy in the study, occasionally spreading out paper and brushes to paint a picture, and passing the time with a few lighthearted words and laughter with Yuexi.
Chen Wanquan and his wife finally bought the courtyard in the southern part of the city. Since the remaining silver had to be saved for the New Year, they hastily repaired and tidied up the courtyard without adding new furniture. The Chen family had few belongings, so on an auspicious day, two donkey carts were enough to move everything over.
That day, Xianglan went home to take a look. She saw a small, square courtyard with one main room and two side rooms. The rooms were not large but were clean and tidy, resembling a respectable small household. Xue Shi had set up the east wing as Xianglan’s boudoir, complete with an embroidered bed and brocade quilts, floral-patterned soft curtains, a dressing table with a mirror, a writing desk with brushes and ink by the window, and landscape paintings and calligraphy on the walls—truly a proper young lady’s bedroom.
Xianglan touched this and that, feeling that all the luxurious boudoirs she had ever seen could not compare to the warmth and charm of this small room. She pushed open the window and saw a jujube tree and a long grape trellis in the courtyard. Xue Shi was still muttering, "I wanted to raise a few chickens in the yard, but your father insisted it would dirty the place and wouldn’t let me."
Xianglan said, "Let’s get a dog later; it can also serve as a Household Guard."
Xianglan said, "We’ll get one tomorrow." She added cheerfully, "When we spent the silver, it felt like a waste, but now that we’ve moved in, it really feels worth it. This is the first time I’ve lived in my own house, and your father laughed in his sleep last night. These days, we’ve been so happy, and he’s even thinking about buying some antiques to resell."
Xianglan took out five taels of her private savings and handed them to Xue Shi, saying, "Take these five taels to buy some pots, pans, and utensils. You and Father should also make two new quilts. The teacups in our house are chipped and have been used for over a decade—it’s time to replace them."
Xue Shi tried to decline, saying, "The New Year is coming soon; keep the silver to buy yourself a new dress..."
Xianglan replied, "I still have some left. Take it, Mother. How can we not prepare a few things when moving to a new home? Besides, with the New Year approaching, you and Father should also get new clothes. Now that you’ve both been freed from servitude, you shouldn’t let others look down on you."
Xue Shi found this reasonable and finally accepted the silver. The mother and daughter then shared some private conversation.
Not long after, Xia Yun arrived with gifts to congratulate the Chen family on their move. Chen Wanquan beamed with smiles and warmly invited him inside.
Xianglan peeked through the window and saw Xia Yun wearing a brand-new blue satin straight gown with a matching belt around his waist. Having shed his coarse cloth clothes and with an air of triumph on his face, he instantly appeared more spirited than usual, dressed like a scholar of status.
Xue Shi quickly added, "Young Master Xia has also passed the provincial examination, ranking 129th. He is now a Provincial Graduate!"
Xianglan was taken aback. In recent days, she had been preoccupied with Song Ke, devising ways to prepare food and drinks and manage the household. As for Xia Yun, she had long forgotten about him and even overlooked the fact that he was also taking the provincial examination. She remarked, "Ranked 129th—that’s quite far down the list."Xue Shi said, "Do you think everyone is like Eldest Master Song, achieving first place in every examination? Young Master Xia is already quite remarkable. The county registrar specially came to congratulate him, saying he admires Young Master Xia's talent and wants to recruit him to the county office for mentorship and promotion. The Xia family is different now—they're about to elevate their status." She sighed and continued, "Young Master Xia has some ambition too. Even though the registrar favored him, he declined the offer, wanting to go to the capital for the imperial exams. Well, he passed the provincial exam at such a young age—who knows what future achievements he might have?"
Xianglan thought to herself, "The current political climate is corrupt. The Eighth Prince is foolish, only indulging in frivolous pleasures. Eunuchs hold power in the court, and slanderous ministers manipulate authority. Without great fortune, how can those from humble backgrounds ever rise? Even if Xia Yun passes the imperial exams, without money or connections, it will be difficult for him to secure an official position. Besides, passing the imperial exams is no easy feat." She shook her head slightly.
After a while, Xue Shi went to attend to guests, and Xianglan stayed in the room to tidy up. She folded the clothes in the trunks one by one and then used oiled paper to patch the walls.
Xia Yun’s visit this time was driven by a desire to show off. Previously, Chen Wanquan had treated Xia Yun indifferently due to the Xia family’s poverty, but now that Xia Yun had become a provincial graduate, Chen Wanquan was extremely enthusiastic, his face beaming with smiles. Xia Yun felt pleased inwardly. Though he looked down on Chen Wanquan, he maintained a smiling demeanor and exchanged pleasantries with him. He had hoped to see Xianglan, but to his disappointment, she never appeared. He wanted to ask about her but couldn’t bring himself to do so, so he sat for only a short while before leaving.
Xue Shi remarked, "Young Master Xia has made something of himself now. If he’s interested, he might even be a suitable match for Xianglan."
Chen Wanquan glared at her and said, "Nonsense! How can he compare to Eldest Master Song? Eldest Master Song has taken a liking to our Xianglan. Stop talking nonsense."
Xue Shi sighed again and said, "It’s true that Eldest Master Song is accomplished, but would he marry our Xianglan as his principal wife? It might be simpler with Young Master Xia."
Chen Wanquan scoffed, "So what if Young Master Xia is a provincial graduate? His family is dirt poor. If Xianglan married him, she’d suffer. Eldest Master Song comes from an official family with substantial wealth. Besides, it was the Song family who saved Xianglan and freed us from servitude. I’m still employed in the Song residence, and our entire family owes them a debt of gratitude!"
Xue Shi fell silent after that.
For a while, nothing eventful happened. Xianglan stayed at home for two days before returning to the Song residence. Two months later, she received a thick stack of letters from Song Ke, informing her that he had arrived in the capital and was doing well. He wrote about interesting experiences and local customs during his journey and urged her to take care of herself. Xianglan read the letters several times and carefully stored them away.
It was now the depths of winter, and the weather was bitterly cold. Xianglan peered out the window and saw the sky overcast, as if snow was about to fall. A cold wind seeped through the window, and she quickly slammed it shut with a "thud."
The vermilion gate of the Lin residence creaked open slowly—Lin Jinlou had returned home!
Lin Jinlou, draped in a fur cloak, strode through the entrance. The servants had already rushed to spread the news, shouting, "The Eldest Master is back! The Eldest Master is back!"Three days ago, the Lin family received an imperial edict: Lin Jinlou had been promoted to the rank of fourth-grade Commandant for his merits in suppressing bandits and was granted the title of General of Brilliant Might, along with an imperial gift of a white horse and a hundred taels of gold. This news sent shockwaves through the entire Lin household. Old Master Lin Zhaoxiang immediately ordered the incense table to be set up, the ancestral hall opened, and a ceremony held to honor the ancestors with the imperial decree. Officials from near and far, upon hearing the news, flocked to offer their congratulations, turning the Lin residence into a bustling hub of activity. Even the elders of the clan sent people to convey their felicitations.
Everyone had assumed Lin Jinlou would not return for another year or so, so his sudden arrival today came as a surprise, throwing the entire household into a flurry of activity.
Lin Jinlou, calm and unhurried, handed his horsewhip to Jixiang and strode inside. Jixiang, ever perceptive, asked, "Eldest Master, would you like to return to the Hall of Knowing Spring first to freshen up and change clothes before meeting the elders?"
Lin Jinlou replied indifferently, "No need," and went straight to pay his respects to Old Master Lin and Old Madam Lin, kneeling and kowtowing. Lin Zhaoxiang had always been pleased with his eldest grandson. Though the boy was unruly and had his share of wild escapades, he had a clear head and knew what he was doing. In just half a year, he had earned himself a fourth-grade generalship. In a few more years, with the Lin family leveraging their connections, he could secure a high-ranking position of second or third grade in the Ministry of War.
Old Madam Lin wore an expression of deep affection, her heart aching to see her grandson covered in the dust of his journey. Secretly, she pondered that since his beloved concubine had passed away, he had no one to care for him properly. She had two excellent maids by her side—not only were they pretty, but they were also sensible and understanding. She decided she would take it upon herself to send them to her grandson's quarters and see if Zhao Shi dared to utter a word of objection. Holding Lin Jinlou's hand, she asked him endless questions, and as she spoke, she wiped away a tear.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the door—Lin Changzheng and Qin Shi had arrived. Old Madam Lin, her eyes red-rimmed, smiled and said, "See how much his parents miss him? They couldn't even wait for their son to come pay his respects and have come themselves."
Lin Jinlou immediately knelt and kowtowed to his parents. Lin Changzheng saw that his son had grown even more imposing and steady, and he couldn't help but feel gratified. Qin Shi, however, noticed the weariness etched between Lin Jinlou's brows, and her heart ached. Tears welled up in her eyes. Her weeping stirred Old Madam Lin to shed tears as well, and it took some time for everyone to console them.
After the reminiscing, Lin Zhaoxiang called Lin Changzheng and Lin Jinlou into the inner room. Lin Jinlou helped his grandfather settle into a rocking chair and personally handed him the water pipe. Lin Zhaoxiang took a couple of deep puffs and asked, "Is the campaign over? Why have you returned so soon? Is there some hidden reason?"
Lin Jinlou sneered, "What hidden reason? The army is in disarray—a bunch of good-for-nothings who would be lucky not to wet their pants on the battlefield. The troops are mostly old, weak, or disabled, with hardly anyone usable, and the military funds are empty. I had no choice but to use my own men to fight a few battles. The bandits may be fierce, but they haven't yet become a major threat. What's worse, there are traitors who would sell out their country for glory, colluding with Japanese pirates to attack from both land and water. I ordered fifty of them executed publicly, skinned their bodies, and hung them from masts and city gates as a warning. Only then did I manage to intimidate the rest. Those vile creatures, seeing the bandit suppression nearing success, suddenly emerged, urging The Emperor to send their own men to steal the credit. Afraid I might retaliate, they promoted me and showered me with rewards to shut me up."
Lin Changzheng said, "But it's still improper for you to return home privately. You must go to the capital to have an audience with The Emperor."Lin Jinlou said, "When would The Emperor have time to see me? Those at court aren’t keen on having me back either. If I stand there in their midst, how would they manage to claim all the credit for themselves? I’ve already reported to The Emperor, saying my wartime injuries have flared up, so I’ll first return home to recuperate before heading to the capital for an audience."
Lin Zhaoxiang tapped the armrest of his rocking chair and remarked, "Lou’er, you do have a sense of measure. The situation in the capital is chaotic right now—even the eunuch factions are showing signs of discord. It’s better to observe for a while longer." Then, turning to Lin Changzheng, he added, "You too—your mourning period is nearly over. I’ll arrange an official post for you outside the capital, so you can leave this nest of troubles for a couple of years and lay low… cough… So many great families have fallen, yet ours has weathered the storms and endured. It’s all because we know when to advance and when to retreat."
Lin Changzheng and his son nodded in acceptance of the advice.
Lin Zhaoxiang sighed and said to Lin Jinlou, "Although your second uncle is also in the military, we in the family know all too well that he’s a mediocre man, yet he still harbors ambition. If he ever comes to you for help, you must on no account assist him in his schemes."
Lin Jinlou nodded in agreement.
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