Xianglan stood dazed for a while before snapping back to reality. She drifted back to the eastern chamber on unsteady feet, where Chun Ling was already up and urgently directing the maidservant to bring in hot water. Xianglan covered her collar with a large towel, washed her face with jasmine soap, scrubbed her teeth with green salt, and applied some scented cream to her face. Xiao Juan had already helped her put up her hair in a bun and was about to style it elaborately when Xianglan quickly said, "This is fine as it is."
Xiao Juan went to pick out jewelry, exclaiming with exaggerated surprise, "Oh dear, since Master was away these past days, Sister Xianglan hasn’t dressed up, so most of the jewelry is locked in the dressing table drawer in Master’s room. The ones here are simpler." She picked up a gold hairpin with kingfisher feathers and a phoenix holding a pearl, held it up to Xianglan’s hair, decided it wasn’t suitable, and swapped it for a jadeite ginkgo hairpin. Feeling somewhat irritated, Xianglan said, "This hairpin will do." Just then, an old woman from the garden brought in a tray of fresh flowers on a lotus leaf plate. Xiao Juan picked two vibrant ones and tucked them into Xianglan’s hair.
Chun Ling brought over the clothes: a vermilion jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, a ginger-yellow satin sleeveless jacket with trimmed edges, a silver-red skirt with delicate patterns, and a pair of mandarin duck shoes. Xianglan dawdled as she changed, then dragged her feet step by step to the bedroom. Lin Jinlou had clearly washed up again—his hair was still somewhat disheveled, and he wore a crab-shell green fine linen jacket, loosely fastened with only two buttons, paired with ink-splattered trousers with loose legs and cloth slippers on his feet. He was sitting on the edge of the Luohan bed, a bowl of hot soup placed beside his head.
Xianglan shuffled over step by step. With his clothes on, Lin Jinlou seemed less intimidating, but his imposing aura remained. Lin Jinlou glanced up at Xianglan and said, "You’re here?" He pointed to the opposite side of the heated brick bed table and said, "Sit here."
Xianglan sat down with her head lowered.
Lin Jinlou picked up a small towel, wiped his hands, and said, "Serve the meal."
Lianxin and Nuanyue brought over trays, setting out four plates of light vegetarian dishes, two plates of meat dishes, a large platter of delicate pastries, and a small pot of soup. Lin Jinlou picked up his chopsticks and said, "Eat."
Xianglan picked up a small silver spoon and stirred the soup, stealing a glance at Lin Jinlou. Sitting across from such a Living Yama ruined her appetite, but she had no choice but to eat. She took a spoonful of soup, then another after a while.
Lin Jinlou ate with relish. After finishing the pastries, he asked for several types of dim sum to be brought over. Xianglan kept her head down, feeling bored and distracted, when a pair of chopsticks reached over and placed a crystal shrimp dumpling on her plate. She looked up. Lin Jinlou said casually, "I brought back a Cantonese chef this time. Try his cooking. If you like it, we’ll keep him." He then stuffed a piece of beef into his mouth, chewed it, and added, "I heard from the maids that you’ve been painting in your spare time lately. That’s good. The desk in there is for you to use. Show me what you’ve painted later."
Xianglan lowered her head again, staring at the basket of crystal shrimp dumplings without speaking.
Lin Jinlou said, "Don’t just paint. I’ll get a zither or something later and hire a teacher. You can learn in your free time so you don’t get bored and fall ill."
Lianxin stepped forward to serve Lin Jinlou a bowl of soup. Xianglan remained seated with her head bowed. Lin Jinlou said, "I brought back two chests of novelties from my trip. Pick out anything you like first."
Xianglan remained silent.Chun Ling was inwardly anxious, her heart rising to her throat. She thought to herself, "Oh, my dear young mistress, the Master is speaking to you! Aren't you courting death by ignoring him?" She then glanced at Lin Jinlou and saw no trace of anger on his face. Instead, he appeared calm and composed, merely holding a bowl of hot soup as he sat there. Only then did she feel slightly relieved. She repeatedly signaled Xianglan with her eyes, but unfortunately, Xianglan didn’t even lift her head.
Xianglan ate slowly with her head lowered. After finishing a round cake, she picked up some vegetables, then ate a small piece of pastry and drank some soup before setting down her spoon. Seeing that she had finished, Lin Jinlou downed his soup in one gulp. Lianxin and Chun Ling brought tea for the two of them to rinse their mouths.
Lin Jinlou wiped his mouth with a towel, instructed the maids to remove the heated brick bed table, and dismissed everyone. He then sat beside Xianglan, stared at her for a moment, and asked, "I heard from Lianxin that you’ve been lying in bed for a few days. Are you better now?"
Xianglan was taken aback but immediately understood what he meant. Her face flushed crimson in an instant. She bit her lip but still said nothing.
Lin Jinlou, however, chuckled softly, pulled her into his arms. Xianglan was startled and struggled immediately, but she was no match for Lin Jinlou’s strength. Like a fluttering little bird, she was pressed against his chest. His warm breath brushed her ear as he whispered, "What’s the matter? Are you still in pain? You’re pulling such a long face—are you still angry with me?"
Xianglan struggled again, and Lin Jinlou chuckled softly, "You stubborn little thing, you’ve made me so angry my heart, liver, and lungs ache. Which of these two times have you been willing? If I hadn’t been driven mad with rage, I wouldn’t have… Alright, alright, stop struggling. I won’t say anymore, how about that? No more talking."
Hearing his lazy, teasing tone, Xianglan grew even more embarrassed and resentful. She allowed Lin Jinlou to hold her but turned her face away.
Lin Jinlou said, "You too—why can’t you just go along with me? Making such a fuss only brings trouble upon yourself, doesn’t it?" Seeing that Xianglan still ignored him, he grinned mischievously and said, "Oh, are you still uncomfortable? Let me take a look myself and see if you’re really better." As he spoke, his hand slipped under Xianglan’s skirt, intending to remove her trousers.
Xianglan was horrified and hurriedly pressed down on his hand, her face burning even hotter. Afraid that the maids outside might hear, she whispered softly, "I’m fine, I’m already better."
Lin Jinlou pinched Xianglan’s small chin and said, "Then stop sulking. I’m apologizing to you, alright?"
Xianglan lowered her long eyelashes again. Lin Jinlou noticed the reluctance in her expression, but her face was as radiant as peach blossoms, truly like the line from the opera: "Her powdered face, delicate and tender, seemed to drip with charm." His heart swelled with delight, and his voice unconsciously softened as he asked, "What did you do while I was away?" Without waiting for her reply, he continued on his own, "These past few days, I’ve been exhausted outside, either fighting battles or arguing with a bunch of old foxes. The Japanese pirates launched a night attack, and two counties were in crisis. Those good-for-nothings only knew how to shift blame and even closed the city gates to keep me from rescuing them, afraid that if the troops left, the Japanese pirates would besiege the city. I got so furious I held my knife to Magistrate Sun’s neck before they finally opened the gates. Luckily, I went early, or everything would have been engulfed in flames, and the houses would have burned to the ground. When I returned, I had to guard against that bastard Sun filing a complaint first. I had my advisor draft a memorial to impeach him. I haven’t even told the old man at home about this yet. If he finds out I assaulted a government official, he’ll drag out Confucius to lecture me again."In her previous life, Xianglan was born into a scholarly family where all members served as civil officials. Having mostly encountered scholars, this was her first time hearing about warfare. Though Lin Jinlou spoke of it lightly, she understood the dangers involved. She thought to herself that this scoundrel wasn't entirely worthless—he knew that generals may die in a hundred battles, yet they remain loyal to their country and cherish the common people.
Today is qian20051978's birthday, so I'm letting her jump the queue with an extra chapter dedicated to her He's Jade Disc. Happy birthday! ^ ^ Since this is a bonus chapter, there will be another update later. If it gets too late, no need to wait—early birds can claim their rewards in the next chapter where I'll thank all sponsors together~~ Hehe ^ ^
OpenNovel