While they were talking, Lin Jinting walked in from outside and froze for a moment upon seeing the room full of sisters. He immediately made to retreat. Lin Dongling laughed and said, "Big brother, since you're already here, why run away? There's hot tea here—won't you have a cup before you go?"
Lin Jinting stepped back outside with a smile and said, "I just came by to return a book to Second Sister. Yifei is waiting for me outside the courtyard, so I won’t stay long."
Lin Dongqi, Lin Dongling, and Lin Dongxiu’s eyes instantly lit up. Lin Dongling had already begun chattering, "Brother Song is here? Why not invite him in at once?"
Lin Dongqi nodded repeatedly and said, "We’re all family—what’s there to be shy about? How could anyone come to my place without being offered a good cup of tea?" She ordered the maids to bring him in at once and personally picked up a teapot to carry outside. The young ladies, stirred by the news, all hurried out after her.
Lin Dongxiu, squeezed to the back, muttered coldly under her breath, "Just now, she was putting on airs as the eldest legitimate daughter, not showing any particular enthusiasm. But the moment she hears Brother Song is here, she runs faster than a rabbit. Tsk! Shameless."
Xianglan, standing near the doorway, caught every word of this. She lowered her head, pretending not to hear. When she looked up again, she saw Dongqi and Dongling crowding around an elegant and handsome young man, their faces faintly flushed.
Lin Dongqi personally poured a cup of tea and offered it to him, saying, "Brother Song, it’s rare for you to visit me. How could you leave in such a hurry without even coming in?"
Song Ke accepted the tea with a smile. Lin Dongxiu said softly, "Brother Song, now that you’re older, you’ve grown distant from us. When we were little, we used to swing together in the courtyard and solve the Nine Interlocking Rings puzzle. Yet now you only come to Second Sister’s place and never stop by mine."
Hearing this, Lin Dongling frowned and stepped forward, pushing Dongxiu aside as she tugged at Song Ke’s sleeve. "Brother Song, you and my brother are so close, and you’re my own cousin. Even though I wasn’t in the capital growing up and didn’t spend my childhood with you, you shouldn’t play favorites."
Before she could finish, Lin Dongxiu slapped her hand away from Song Ke’s sleeve and said with a mocking smile, "Third Sister, Brother Song may be your cousin, but he’s not your real brother. It’s not proper for you to be pulling at him like this."
Xianglan sighed inwardly: Just moments ago, Lin Dongxiu and Lin Dongling were united in ganging up on Cao Lihuan. But the moment this "Brother Song" appeared, they immediately turned on each other. Hah! They say beauty brings trouble, but it seems handsome men are just as dangerous.
Seeing Song Ke, Lin Dongxiu secretly regretted not dressing more brightly today. Though her outfit had dignity, compared to Lin Dongling’s, it lacked vibrancy and charm. Lin Dongling, looking at Dongxiu, regretted not applying makeup for convenience’s sake—her face was too plain, and her thick brows hadn’t been properly groomed with a razor, making her appear boyish next to Dongxiu. Lin Dongqi, however, was quite satisfied with her simple attire today. The Song family had always upheld frugality as a household principle, and their current circumstances were no longer what they once were. Her modest outfit was just right.
Song Ke smiled and said, "Today, I came with Xiu Hong. It’s only natural that brothers and sisters see less of each other as they grow older. For you all to care so much about me truly makes me feel flattered."As soon as the words were spoken, a chorus of lively voices rose like singing orioles and swallows. Song Ke took a sip of tea and said, "Today, the manor sent over several baskets of early peaches. Though not as sweet as honey peaches, they're still quite juicy. I brought two baskets for the household so the sisters can enjoy a fresh taste."
Lin Dongxiu waved her hand dismissively. "No, no, Second Sister can't eat peaches. Even touching them gives her rashes."
Lin Dongqi shot her a reproachful glance. "Must you always be so talkative?"
Lin Dongling, however, grinned and said, "Second Sister has no luck with peaches, but I absolutely adore them. Make sure to send extra plates to my room later."
After some more small talk, Song Ke said, "I won't disturb you further. Since my younger sister is here, I’ll trouble you all to look after her."
Lin Dongqi immediately responded, "Brother Song, there’s no need for such formalities between us..."
Lin Dongling eagerly chimed in, "Exactly! I treat Tanchai as my own sister. In fact, I was just thinking—I have a box of exquisite Palace Flowers here, and I’ll give them all to her to wear."
Meanwhile, Lin Dongxiu stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Song Tanchai’s shoulders, speaking with great affection, "That’s right. I was just saying Tanchai should stay with us a few more days and share my quarters so we sisters can have more time to chat."
Xianglan suddenly understood: "So this Song Tanchai is the sister of that 'Brother Song.' No wonder the Lin sisters are all trying so hard to please her. I wonder what background this 'Brother Song' has—he carries himself with such refined grace and brilliance, like a true dragon among men. Yet his attire doesn’t scream wealth." Her gaze drifted to the Gold Brocade Belt at his waist. "Take that belt, for example. The missing agate wasn’t replaced with a matching piece or even a precious ruby or red jade—instead, it’s patched with a cheap Red Jaspis. His clothes, though clean, clearly show signs of wear, about sixty to seventy percent old. His family must have been wealthy once but has since declined."
Lost in thought, she was startled when Song Ke’s eyes suddenly met hers. He paused, then narrowed his gaze slightly, while Xianglan, flustered, quickly lowered her head.
Lin Jinting laughed and said, "Look at this—Brother Yifei arrives and instantly becomes the favorite. Meanwhile, I’m left unloved, ignored by all my sisters."
Lin Dongling rolled her eyes at him. "You’re always underfoot—we can’t avoid you even if we tried. Brother Song rarely visits—how could you possibly compare?"
The group burst into laughter. Seizing the moment, Song Ke exchanged a few more pleasantries before dragging Lin Jinting away, with everyone following to see them off. After watching the lively scene, Xianglan turned and found Cao Lihuan standing beside her, her face flushed, eyes gleaming, breathing slightly rapid as she stared intently in the direction of Song Ke and Lin Jinting. Just then, Hui'er returned, and Xianglan calmly called out, "Miss Huan, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now."
Cao Lihuan snapped out of her daze and said to Xianglan, "Go to the back and find Tasuo. Second Sister gave me a potted flower—you can carry it back for me."
Xianglan nodded and went to the rear, where Lin Dongqi had gifted Cao Lihuan a pot of white magnolias. Their fragrance was intoxicating, the petals crystalline and pure, like piled snow and carved jade.Xianglan took a deep breath of the fragrant air, cradling the flowerpot as she walked out in a daze. She recalled how in her past life, because her name contained the character "Lan" (orchid) and she adored the noble purity and fragrance of orchids, her rooms were filled with all varieties of them—ink orchids, cymbidiums, spring orchids, sword orchids, cold orchids, those with plum-like petals, lotus-like petals, narcissus-like petals, butterfly-like petals—adorning doors, beams, windows, and tables in the hall, truly surrounded by myriad blossoms. Every spring when the magnolias bloomed, she would pick one and tuck it into her hair, the strands imbued with their rich fragrance. She and her maids would also gather fallen orchid petals to make Scented Cakes and Scented Balls to perfume their clothes. Those were the carefree days of her maidenhood in her past life.
Leaving Huifengzhai, Xianglan turned onto a pebbled path and walked a short distance before slipping behind a rockery. Seeing no one around, she placed the flowerpot on a nearby stone table and stealthily plucked a magnolia blossom, tucking it into her hair. She leaned over the lake to admire her reflection.
The lake was a tranquil emerald, mirroring a peach-blossom face. The girl in the water was in the bloom of youth, a magnolia adorning her hair—it was hard to tell whether the girl outshone the flower or the flower enhanced her delicate beauty. Xianglan knew this body was striking, but since arriving at the Lin residence, she had deliberately avoided dressing up. Her hair was hastily tied with plain blue or white ribbons, and her clothes were mostly old, limited to slate blue and indigo. Only after Old Madam Zeng's passing, when the household adopted mourning attire, did she wear white. Yet she still loved beauty. Seizing this moment alone, she pulled a peachwood comb from her sleeve, letting her dark tresses cascade down as she hummed a disjointed tune from The Romance of the Western Chamber :
*"Snowy waves lash the vast sky, autumn clouds roll on the horizon...
The east wind sways willow tendrils, drifting gossamer catches peach petals,
Behind beaded curtains, a face like Furong...
Left with lovesickness piercing to the bone, how could I resist that parting glance?
Not just a scholar—even a man of iron would be ensnared by love..."*
Once her hair was neatly combed, she carefully secured the magnolia blossom beside her bun. Leaning over the water, she tilted her head left and right, made a playful face, and couldn't help but laugh.
Suddenly, the reflection of a man appeared silently behind her in the lake. Startled, Xianglan whipped around to see Lin Jinlou standing there, his gaze fixed on her. Flustered, she scrambled to her feet, smoothed her skirts, and retreated a few steps with lowered eyes, murmuring, "Master..."
The corner of Lin Jinlou's mouth lifted in a lazy smile as he stepped forward. "What song were you singing just now? It sounded quite lovely."
Xianglan kept her head bowed, stammering, "I... I just heard someone else singing it carelessly and picked up the tune." Lin Jinlou was tall and carried an imposing aura that made her feel suffocated. She retreated another small step.
Lin Jinlou had originally been hosting guests in the waterside pavilion at the front of the garden. The young masters visiting were sons of influential nobles from the capital, all on familiar terms with him. Now that they were touring the south, he naturally played host. Having long heard of the famed Chang Garden of the Lin residence, they had insisted on seeing it. Lin Jinlou had welcomed them to the front garden for a banquet. Out of respect for his late great-grandmother's mourning period, he refrained from music, serving only food and drink.With great effort, he finally saw the guests off. Lin Jinlou, now slightly intoxicated, made his way to the back garden. After meandering through the paths, he arrived at a secluded spot where the scenery was particularly charming. As he strolled leisurely, he faintly heard someone humming a tune behind the rockery. Peeking discreetly, he caught sight of a maid sitting casually on the ground, combing her hair. From a distance, her features were unclear, but she wore a dark green jacket over a white skirt, beneath which peeked the tips of her embroidered shoes in an autumn-spice hue. Her figure was slender and graceful, with thick, raven-black hair cascading down to her waist. The girl's sweet, melodious voice stirred something in him, making his fingers itch to lift that silken hair and get a closer look at her face.
Later, the girl finished tying up her hair, revealing a face as fair as jade. Watching her happily admire her reflection in the lake, adjusting her hairpins and striking poses, Lin Jinlou felt as if a thousand tiny hands were teasing his heart. Unable to resist any longer, he tiptoed toward her.
Once again, many thanks to Huaxiyuexi for the PK votes =3=, and to all who have voted for me. Words cannot express my gratitude, so I’ll repay you with diligent writing!
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