Du Bin thought to himself that this was no place to linger and it would be best to leave early. After waiting a moment longer and hearing no sound from outside, he leaped out through the window, dodged and hid, vaulted over the high wall, and escaped through the small side gate.
Lin Dongxiu stood far away on the hillside, watching as Lin Dongling emerged from the house with Xiang and Ting. She couldn’t tell whether she felt relieved or bitterly disappointed. Clutching her handkerchief tightly, she slowly made her way back. Though this incident was but a minor disturbance, all that followed stemmed from it—though that is a tale for another time.
After Lin Dongqi’s grand wedding, Lin Changzheng set off for Shanxi with Concubine Bao, escorted by Lin Jinlou’s personal guards. Qin Shi remained at home to manage household affairs. The wedding had been a lavish affair, leaving the entire Lin Family exhausted from the effort. Qin Shi directed the maids and old women to tidy up the used items, a task that lasted until Lin Dongqi’s return visit on the third day after the wedding. After this flurry of activity, Qin Shi fell mildly ill. Lin Old Madam, concerned for her daughter-in-law, asked Wang Shi to take over management for a few days. Lin Jinting then had Wang Shi handle external affairs, while Lin Dongxiu volunteered to assist.
Lin Jinlou, busy with military and government office duties and frequent social engagements, spent his days at home immersed in official business or consulting with his retainers and advisors. If it grew too late, he would stay overnight in his study. Xianglan, however, breathed a sigh of relief. She had always led an idle and leisurely life in the mansion, and Lin Jinlou’s absence suited her perfectly. Each day, she diligently practiced her painting skills while quietly making her own plans.
One afternoon, Lin Jinlou returned home and, upon stepping into his study, saw Shuran coming out with two books in hand. He asked, “What books are those? Where are you taking them?”
Shuran smiled and replied, “Miss Xianglan asked me to find a couple of books to help pass the time. If Second Young Lady hadn’t married, she could have borrowed from her, but that’s no longer possible. I borrowed some poetry from Fourth Young Lady for her, but she said she’d already read them and found them uninteresting. She wanted some biographies or anecdotal tales instead, so I had to fetch a couple from your study.”
Lin Jinlou glanced at the books—they were indeed two volumes of Records of Strange Tales . After a moment’s thought, he said, “Tidy up the things on the desk later. I’ll be working in my room today.”
Shuran promptly agreed.
Xianglan hid behind the curio cabinet, stealing glances at the desk on the left side of the main hall. Lin Jinlou sat behind it, intently flipping through a few sheets of paper and occasionally picking up a brush to jot down notes.
Lianxin approached with a pink and white Ding ware tea bowl filled with steaming hot tea on a gold-inlaid foreign lacquer tray, intending to serve it to Lin Jinlou. Noticing Xianglan hiding behind the curio cabinet, she walked over and whispered, “What are you doing standing here?”
Xianglan’s cheeks flushed slightly, but before she could speak, Nuanyue came over from the side, took the tray from Lianxin’s hands, and said, “If you two want to chat, I’ll deliver the tea. The Master has called for tea four or five times already. If we don’t bring it soon, he might get angry.” With that, she turned and entered the room, all smiles as she presented the tea to Lin Jinlou’s desk. Lin Jinlou didn’t even look up, merely waving his hand to dismiss her. Disappointed, Nuanyue clutched the tray and withdrew.
Lianxin sneered inwardly but pretended not to notice. Xianglan hesitated for a while before finally returning to her room.
By dinnertime, Lianxin peeked at the desk and saw Lin Jinlou still writing and sketching. Not daring to disturb him too much, she waited a little longer before brightening a candle with a silver hairpin and bringing it over. “Master,” she said, “it’s already dark. It’s time for dinner.”
Lin Jinlou, without looking up, replied, “I’ll eat later.”Lianxin had no choice but to withdraw.
Lin Jinlou busied himself for a while longer, finishing his official duties. When he looked up, he realized it was already pitch black outside and felt a pang of hunger. He stood up, stretched, and shook his neck and shoulders. Lianxin, who had been waiting for a long time, hurried over. Lin Jinlou glanced at her and said, "Serve the meal." Meanwhile, he thought to himself that Lianxin was not as clever and capable as Shuran, but she was rare in her honesty and dutifulness. Moreover, as someone from the old lady’s room, she always followed the rules and served people properly.
As he pondered, he returned to the bedroom and saw several steaming dishes already placed on the heated brick bed table of the Luohan bed. The small kitchen dared not let the food go cold and had kept it warm. Earlier, Qin Shi had sent a young maid to inquire, and upon hearing that Lin Jinlou had not yet eaten, she felt distressed and sent two additional dishes over. The table was laden with fruits, delicacies, and dishes, making it quite lavish. Having an abundance of food was nothing unusual, but what surprised him was that Xianglan was sitting on the autumn-scented golden python cushion on one side of the Luohan bed. When she saw him enter, she immediately stood up, glanced at him, and quickly lowered her head.
Lin Jinlou couldn’t help but feel astonished, thinking to himself, "Is this little ingrate waiting for me to eat?" Without saying a word, he sat on the other side and pointed at Xianglan, saying, "You sit too."
Xianglan sat down somewhat nervously.
Soon, the maids began serving the dishes and poured warm wine into golden chrysanthemum cups. Lin Jinlou picked up his chopsticks, and Xianglan followed suit, picking up two leaves of green vegetables and putting them in her mouth. She stole a glance at Lin Jinlou, contemplating how to broach the subject. Lin Jinlou had seemed in a bad mood these past few days. Two days earlier, during lunch, he had returned and ordered the meal to be served in the Main House. Suddenly, news arrived that the Marquis of Yongxin had beaten him to the punch, taking credit for his earlier efforts in suppressing the Japanese pirates. Enraged, he flung the bowl in his hand and stormed off in a huff, frightening the maids into kneeling in a panic. These past few days, he had been wearing a dark expression, and everyone avoided him, not daring to approach for fear of provoking his wrath. The matter weighing on Xianglan’s mind had been on the tip of her tongue for a while, but she had yet to voice it.
Lin Jinlou ate quickly but maintained the elegant demeanor of a noble son. Only after he had eaten his fill did he slow down. Xianglan hesitated repeatedly but finally picked up a blue-and-white sunflower-patterned bowl, ladled a bowl of soup from the small clay pot, and pushed it toward Lin Jinlou.
Lost in thought while eating, Lin Jinlou didn’t notice.
Xianglan said softly, "This... this is old duck soup with adenophora root and polygonatum. It’s especially nourishing for the stomach in this season..." Her voice trailed off, growing fainter as she spoke.
Hearing her voice, Lin Jinlou looked up. He glanced at the steaming bowl of soup and then at Xianglan, who kept her head lowered. Surprised, he set down his chopsticks, wiped his hands with a damp towel, and remarked, "This is unusual. You actually know how to serve others. This afternoon, when you saw me return, didn’t you scurry off to your room like a little mouse?"
Xianglan kept her head down and, after a long pause, whispered, "I have something to ask of you, Master..."
Lin Jinlou snorted coldly, thinking to himself, "I knew this ingrate wouldn’t come to flatter me for no reason." He narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "What is it?"
Xianglan tightly clutched the letter in her hand, her gaze fixed on the five-colored palace ribbon tied around her waist, and said, "In two days, it will be my mother’s birthday. I..."Lin Jinlou said, "Oh, so it's your mother's birthday. You just need to tell Shuran. There are still some gold and silver jewelry left from last time I returned—go pick two pieces your mother would like. Later, withdraw forty taels of silver from the accounts. There are also a few bolts of seasonal cloth left; take those too. I'll have someone write a note for you, so the tailor from Xianni Studio can make two new outfits for your mother."
Xianglan said, "I just miss my mother..."
Lin Jinlou said, "Fine, tomorrow I'll have someone bring your parents into the estate so you can reunite." As he spoke, he tapped the wine cup in front of him and said, "Pour me a drink." The white porcelain wine vessel was empty, so Xianglan went to the small stove on the floor to fetch a fresh pot. She stepped forward to pour wine for Lin Jinlou. Lin Jinlou reached for her small hand, pulled her close, and embraced her, seating her on his lap.
Xianglan slightly raised her head and saw Lin Jinlou staring intently at her. She couldn't help but grow nervous, lowering her head even further and twisting her skirt sash as she said, "I was thinking of going home for a couple of days..." She stole a glance at Lin Jinlou and, seeing a lazy smile on his face, immediately buried her head again. "They're not used to staying in the estate and don't feel comfortable. If others see them, there will be gossip, so... My mother also sent a message saying the dog at home had a litter of puppies, and I wanted to go back to see them..."
Lin Jinlou saw her flushed cheeks and gentle demeanor, and his heart softened. Lowering his voice, he said, "So you're homesick. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Xianglan thought to herself, "With your cruel and tyrannical, unpredictable temper, who would dare to speak up? I’d rather avoid you altogether."
Seeing that she didn't respond, Lin Jinlou didn't press further. Suddenly raising his voice, he called, "Shuran! Where's Shuran?"
Nuanyue, who was standing guard outside, darted in immediately with a beaming smile. "Sister Shuran has already gone home." Noticing Xianglan sitting in Lin Jinlou's lap, her expression subtly shifted with discomfort.
Lin Jinlou waved impatiently. "You may leave. I didn't call for you—go get Ji Xiang."
Nuanyue had no choice but to withdraw. Ji Xiang had been in a room under the corridor playing cards with a few servant boys for fun. Hearing Lin Jinlou summon him, he hastily discarded his cards, crossed the Hanging Flower Gate, entered the room, and stood with his head bowed, eyes fixed forward, body bent in readiness for orders.
Lin Jinlou said, "It's Xianglan's mother's birthday. Tomorrow, prepare a carriage to take her home for a couple of days. Bring an old woman, two maids, and have Chun Ling go along as well."
Ji Xiang repeatedly assented, and Lin Jinlou waved him away.
Xianglan murmured, unsure of what to say. In both her lifetimes, she had never been one with a sweet, ingratiating tongue to win favor, let alone adept at handling someone as volatile and fierce as Lin Jinlou.
Lin Jinlou noticed Xianglan's slightly flushed face and flustered appearance, yet detected a hint of eagerness in her expression. He pinched her cheek and laughed, "I've granted your wish. Shouldn't you share a drink with me?" He then picked up his wine cup, brought it to Xianglan's lips, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile, "You've got quite the airs—originally, you should be toasting me. Now that I've brought the cup to you, won't you take a sip?"
Xianglan took the cup and drank a mouthful.Lin Jinlou laughed and said, "One sip isn't enough." He then drank the remaining wine, pinched Xianglan's chin, and leaned down to kiss her, feeding the wine from his mouth into hers. Xianglan was greatly startled and initially wanted to struggle, but then remembered she still needed to beg him to let her return home, so she forced herself to endure it, clenching her fists against Lin Jinlou's chest. Lin Jinlou continued kissing and sucking, becoming aroused without realizing it, holding Xianglan even tighter as his hand slipped into her clothes.
Just then, there was a loud "clatter" as someone knocked something over. Xianglan, startled, desperately dodged and pushed Lin Jinlou away, only to see Nuanyue at the door, a plate of pastries she had been holding now spilled on the floor.
I really stayed up late last night but still couldn't finish writing, sorry everyone. So I squeezed in time early this morning to complete the update. Thank you to Qing Chenlove for the He's Jade Disc, 05111039283 for the sachet, 05111039283 for two Peace Talismans, Sukiishi, yu21yu21, Mu Xing, Wuweizi2007, jojo8129, and Qianruo Qingfeng for the Peace Talismans. As for the extra update, I'll definitely make it up when I have time, running away in tears~~ Also, thank you all for the pink votes^_^ Thank you very much!
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