After everything was tidied up, Lin Jinlou returned and ordered the maids to bring water for washing. He changed his clothes and then called for the meal to be served. The kang table was soon laden with various dishes. Xianglan ate some pastries and drank a bowl of porridge, while Lin Jinlou devoured the food on the table like a whirlwind, finishing by leisurely drinking a bowl of soup.
During the meal, both remained silent, lost in their own thoughts. Lin Jinlou glanced up and noticed Xianglan's attire, frowning slightly. His mother was shrewd and formidable—even his father, who had become a high-ranking official, was somewhat intimidated by her, let alone someone as timid as Xianglan. Her clothing alone made it clear: she didn't even dare to wear bright colors. Fortunately, she was naturally beautiful; otherwise, dressed in such plain, elderly-looking clothes, she would have appeared at least ten years older, which was truly unappealing.
Lin Jinlou set down his bowl and beckoned Chunling over. Pointing at Xianglan's clothes, he said, "Go find her another outfit. This one is too plain."
Chunling, observing Lin Jinlou's expression, quickly agreed and left.
A moment later, she returned with several sets of clothing for Lin Jinlou to inspect. There was a cyan-green embroidered spring jacket, a bright red gold-patterned gown, a pomegranate-pink satin robe embroidered with gold, and other such garments. Lin Jinlou flipped through them and asked Xianglan, "Which one would you like to wear?"
Xianglan, holding a cup of tea, lowered her head slightly and said, "Any of them is fine."
Lin Jinlou then picked out a short, golden-yellow jacket with coiled gold patterns. After Xianglan changed into it, she indeed looked more radiant. Lin Jinlou then ordered someone to fetch a gold filigree necklace with jade pendants. Xianglan hurriedly said, "These are only for madams and young ladies. If I wear this, it might upset Madam. Why bother?"
Lin Jinlou pinched her cheek playfully and said with a laugh, "Silly girl, Madam doesn't care about such things. She has plenty of fine jewelry and wouldn't even notice a gold necklace. This is for those snobbish servants. As the saying goes, 'Respect the clothes before the person.' Everyone in Madam's courtyard is shrewd. If you dress shabbily, you'll end up being bullied."
Xianglan was unaccustomed to such teasing. Having been pinched by Lin Jinlou in front of the maids, her face flushed red. Chunling and the others, being perceptive, quietly retreated after fetching the gold necklace.
Lin Jinlou personally fastened the necklace around Xianglan's neck, fiddling with the tassels on the green jade. "This jade isn't glossy enough," he remarked. "I heard the shop acquired a piece of mutton-fat jade, milky white and exquisite. I'll have it brought to carve something for you. Tell the maids what style you like, and they'll pass the message to Shuangxi outside the corridor."
Noticing that Xianglan still hung her head, looking unhappy, he asked, "What's wrong? Is there something else?"
Xianglan glanced up at him, surprised to see a smile on his stern, handsome face, and quickly lowered her head again. Softly, she said, "About Madam's place... I don't really want to go..."
"Why?" Lin Jinlou, noticing her timid demeanor, unconsciously softened his voice. He took her delicate, pale hand in his and said gently, "Madam summoning you is an honor. Before Qinglan entered the household, she also served under Madam for a time. The fact that Madam has taken notice of you means she wants to personally mentor you."
"I don't want to go. I feel uncomfortable around Madam. I know she doesn't like me... and I don't want to cause any trouble in her presence."Xianglan finished speaking in one breath, but Lin Jinlou remained silent for a long while. With her head lowered, she thought he would inevitably get angry again—his unpredictable temper was truly hard to fathom, and he’d likely scold her for "not knowing what’s good for her."
To her surprise, Lin Jinlou chuckled. He pinched her small chin with his fingers, gazed into her jet-black eyes like obsidian, and said with a smile, "Don’t be afraid. Early this morning, I sent Lianxin off. Silver has been given to the senior and respected mamas, as well as the presentable maids in the rooms. With them looking after you, even if Madam is formidable, you won’t suffer any losses. And if it really comes to it, there’s still me—I’ll back you up."
Xianglan widened her eyes in disbelief. Lin Jinlou seemed quite pleased to see her astonished expression. Tilting his head, he said, "I’ve gone to such lengths thinking about your affairs—shouldn’t you, this ungrateful little thing, remember it well now? Hurry up and say something nice."
Xianglan was somewhat dazed, unable to grasp why Lin Jinlou had suddenly done all this for her. Having spent some time with him, she had come to understand his temperament to some extent. When he was in a good mood, he would coax her with soft, gentle words, but women to him were merely pastimes for his leisure. He seldom bothered much with them. If he doted on one particularly, it was only as a pleasing plaything. He was generous and skilled at reading people, often knowing exactly how to please them. But if one failed to recognize their own position and mistakenly believed they held great importance in Eldest Master Lin’s eyes, it would only bring humiliation upon themselves. First, Qinglan had fallen, and then Luanr and Huamei had met their downfalls. Xianglan was especially vigilant. She had always found it difficult to handle Lin Jinlou, and now she was even more cautious. Yet, last night he had protected her, and this morning he had specially sent someone on her behalf. Her heart trembled, and she felt an indescribable emotion. This tyrant of a man had forcibly kept her in the mansion, and their repeated clashes had made her avoid him like the plague. Yet, he was also her only support in this gilded cage.
Seeing Xianglan’s dazed expression, Lin Jinlou couldn’t help but let out a light laugh, tinged with a hint of frivolity. He tapped her chest lightly, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Touched, aren’t you? Think about how you’ll thank me tonight." His arms tightened, and he moved in to kiss her.
Lin Jinlou’s chest was firm and burning hot. As Xianglan was trapped in his iron-like embrace, she instinctively panicked. Clenching her fists, she pressed them against his chest, but before she could evade him, his lips met hers.
A few days earlier, Lin Jinlou had wanted to be intimate with her, but Xianglan’s monthly courses had arrived. Then, with yesterday’s unpleasant incident, the mood had been spoiled. Today’s kiss stirred the fire in Lin Jinlou’s heart, and he couldn’t help but suck and nibble, his member hardening as his hand slipped into her clothes.
Startled, Xianglan struggled fiercely.
Just as the two were tussling, they heard a soft knock on the doorframe outside. Wu Mama stood at the doorway, hesitating slightly as she said, "Eldest Master, Madam... is asking why Xianglan hasn’t come over yet."
Xianglan nearly jumped in fright. Seizing the moment when Lin Jinlou was caught off guard, she broke free with all her strength, her face flushed crimson. She retreated several steps, leaning against the dressing table as she gasped for breath.
Lin Jinlou took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and walked to the door. Lifting the curtain, he said, "I was just giving her some instructions, which delayed her. Sorry to trouble you to come fetch her."
Wu Mama’s face immediately blossomed into a smile. Eagerly, she said, "‘Trouble’ is too distant a word. I’d be more than happy to fetch her."Lin Jinlou nodded slightly and smiled, "I'd forgotten how well you two get along. You've always praised her."
Wu Mama narrowed her eyes and grinned, "She's such a darling child."
Before she finished speaking, Xianglan emerged from the room. Her clothes and hair were tidy, but her face was flushed red, and her lips were slightly swollen. She lowered her head and said, "Let's go."
With one glance, Wu Mama understood the situation but pretended not to notice.
Lin Jinlou grabbed Xianglan's arm and said, "If you need anything, send someone to find Shuangxi at the front. He's staying in the residence today and knows my usual whereabouts."
Xianglan murmured an "Mm" in response.
Wu Mama smiled even more broadly. Taking Xianglan's hand, she said to Lin Jinlou, "Don't worry, Eldest Master. I'll take care of her. She won't be mistreated." After exchanging a few more words, she finally led Xianglan away.
When the two reached the courtyard, they saw four matrons carrying Luanr out of the room on a bed board. Luanr remained dazed, wrapped in a quilt with a cloth bandage around her head. Her black hair was disheveled, making her face appear deathly pale, her lips almost devoid of color. Shu Ran stood nearby, her expression stiff and indifferent. When she noticed Xianglan and Wu Mama, she gave a slight bow before turning her gaze and body away.
The matrons carried Luanr straight out through the moon gate, with Shu Ran following behind.
Wu Mama sneered, "That foolish Luanr not only ruined herself but also dragged down Shu Ran. Poor Shu Ran's reputation has been destroyed by her. Shu Ran put so much effort into helping her cousin, tsk tsk, but unfortunately, she's hopeless. Thankfully Eldest Master is merciful—any other master would have such a scheming maid sold off immediately."
Xianglan watched Shu Ran's retreating figure and sighed, "Luanr has a bad temper, but she wears her heart on her sleeve. She's not truly wicked, just pitiful. Good and evil hang by a thread—sometimes one wrong step makes it hard to turn back."
Wu Mama had intended to praise Lin Jinlou's "mercy," but seeing Xianglan didn't pick up on it, she changed the subject: "When we see Madam later, just listen quietly if she has instructions. Madam has a sharp tongue but a soft heart—she's broad-minded and generally kind to subordinates unless they're utterly foolish. Having you go is actually an honor. Lan Yiniang also learned rules by Madam's side back then, and her status became quite different... I always said you were destined for good fortune, and indeed it's true."
Xianglan smiled faintly, with a touch of helplessness and bitterness, "What does fate matter? We have no control over it. We just muddle through life."
Wu Mama was taken aback, then whispered, "Don't let Madam hear you say that. She's very protective—in her eyes, Eldest Master can do no wrong. To be frank, even the Master disapproves of Eldest Master's flirtatious habits. When he first heard Eldest Master had a lover in the pleasure quarters, he was so angry he wanted to invoke family punishment. But Madam immediately stopped him, glaring and saying, 'Our son works himself to death outside—what's wrong with him having a hobby? At least he's not bringing her home!' The Master was hopping mad but eventually beat Eldest Master behind Madam's back."
Xianglan stared in astonishment. Lin Changzheng was rigidly proper, a model scholar-official, and Qin Shi was extremely dignified. Xianglan couldn't help sighing, "I really wonder who he takes after."Wu Mama clapped her hands and laughed, "Everyone says she resembles the Old Master, as if carved from the same mold." She then chattered on, "The Eldest Master is just too hot-tempered. When you have time, try to coax him more."
As the two spoke, they arrived at the courtyard where Qin Shi resided. Wu Mama led Xianglan inside, approaching the main room. Wu Mama lifted the curtain and entered first. Qin Shi was in the prayer room, tapping a wooden fish and chanting scriptures. Lifting her eyes and seeing Wu Mama at the doorway, she asked, "Has the person arrived?"
Wu Mama replied respectfully, "She's here, waiting outside."
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