Yuan Shaoren flipped through the pages and noticed a Xue Tao letter paper pressed at the very bottom, inscribed with a poem titled "Pure Serene Music":
"Fleeting past glimmers bright,
Like orchid petals in dreams at night.
Sudden rain taps the window, disrupting the dying dark,
Under the frosty moon, from south to north stark.
Jinling's misty haze swirls in disarray,
Speak not of old tales that lead souls astray.
Through ages, the sentimental laugh at my plight,
Still haunted by spring breezes, laden with regret's blight."
The signature read "Lan Xiang Ju Shi" (The Recluse of Orchid Fragrance). The calligraphy was elegant and flowing, exceptionally delicate. Beside the poem, a half-veiled moon was sketched, with an orchid and a cluster of serene bamboo in the lower corner—a few simple strokes revealing profound skill, creating a harmonious and delightful composition.
At first glance, Yuan Shaoren thought it merely the work of a young lady from the inner chambers. But upon closer reflection, he sensed something different—the poem genuinely contained bittersweet joys and sorrows, unlike those "forced sorrows for the sake of new verses." Reading it once more, a sense of worldly weariness and solitude seemed to seep through the paper.
Just then, Chu Dapeng leaned over and asked, "Brother, what has you so engrossed? What are you looking at?"
Yuan Shaoren held up the letter paper, flicking it lightly, and chuckled, "Interesting. How old is Eagle Soar's cousin to have experienced such 'fleeting past' and 'old tales'? But the painting is truly exquisite. I never expected her to be such a talented woman."
Chu Dapeng said, "Without some ability, how could our Brother Lin, with his high standards, take a liking to her?" Noticing Yuan Shaoren's half-smiling gaze, he burst out laughing, slapped Yuan Shaoren on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, brother, stop playing dumb. You're older than us—there's nothing you don't understand. An ordinary 'cousin' wouldn't have made Lin Bawang rush to your door in the dead of night, banging on the gate, and mobilizing troops to search for her. You didn't see it—when he found no one at the temple, Lin Bawang's face turned green, his eyes nearly popping out, as if he wanted to devour someone. It's the first time I've seen him like that, and thinking back, it was downright eerie."
Yuan Shaoren was taken aback, then laughed again, "So all the uproar in Jinling recently, searching everywhere for a teenage girl, was for her?"
Chu Dapeng replied, "Exactly. We must have Eagle Soar bring her out someday for everyone to see—whether her looks are like a celestial maiden descending to earth, capable of enchanting Lin Bawang to such an extent."
Yuan Shaoren shook his head with a smile. He had never been interested in Lin Jinlou's romantic affairs. As for this one, though she painted well and composed fine poetry, he remained unenthused. He typically kept his distance from such sentimental women who loved reciting poems and painting—talented, yes, but their constant melancholic tone could be stifling. Moreover, women of this sort often had frail fates; Li Qingzhao, Zhu Shuzhen, Tang Wan, Ban Jieyu—which of them enjoyed long life and great fortune?
Yuan Shaoren ordered Xianglan's belongings to be gathered and placed in a trunk, which was then carried back to the Lin residence in Yangzhou. The gatekeeper was unusually attentive, welcoming them inside. Upon entering the courtyard, Yuan Shaoren learned that Lin Jinlou was not home. He intended to leave after setting down the items, but then he spotted a figure standing by the Hanging Flower Gate. With his sharp eyesight, he focused and saw it was a woman, standing there with her head raised, gazing intently at a flower on the wall. She had an extraordinary grace—jet-black hair like cicada wings, eyes that held a captivating depth, eyebrows arched like distant peaks, and an exceptionally beautiful complexion. Her figure was slender and graceful, dressed in a pale yellow apricot blouse and a vibrant green skirt, standing beneath a peach tree, appearing even more delicate and radiant than the peach blossoms themselves.
Yuan Shaoren froze, staring as if entranced, as if he had seen someone else. He murmured under his breath, "Lian... Lianniang..."Xianglan bent down to pick up a fallen flower from the ground, bringing it to her nose for a delicate sniff. Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly noticed a man standing outside the inner gate. He was dressed in luxurious brocade robes, with a tall and imposing stature, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a broad face and straight nose—handsome and dignified, with a mustache already grown beneath his nose. Though young, he appeared somewhat mature. Xianglan quickly hid to one side to avoid him, thinking to herself, "Why has a man come so abruptly, peering into the inner courtyard... Judging by his appearance, attire, and commanding presence, he doesn’t seem like an ordinary person—he must be a high-ranking official in power."
Just then, Ling Qing leaned out from the window and called for Xianglan to come inside and drink her tonic soup. Xianglan responded and began walking back, unable to resist glancing over her shoulder once more. She saw the man still standing outside the inner gate, gazing inward, so she quickly turned her head away, lifted her skirt, and hurried into the room.
Yuan Shaoren only let out a long sigh after Xianglan had left, slowly covering his face with his hand. This woman must be Lin Jinlou’s so-called "cousin." Her demeanor and aura bore a striking resemblance to an old acquaintance of his—Shen Jialian, granddaughter of the late emperor’s Grand Secretary Shen Wenhan. After her family fell from grace and was exiled, she had become his concubine ten years ago, and was now but a handful of yellow earth atop a green grave mound.
He stood there motionless, gazing at the empty courtyard as a gentle breeze swept through, shaking loose a scattering of crimson petals.
Meanwhile, after drinking her soup, Xianglan felt bored and thought of reading a couple of books to pass the time. Ling Qing went to the front study, searched around, and returned with two volumes of poetry and two Buddhist scriptures. Xianglan flipped through the pages half-heartedly while Ling Qing and Ling Su sat nearby mending clothes, exchanging a few hushed words.
As noon approached and it was nearly time for the meal, a sudden wind picked up, and within moments, the sky darkened as a fine, dense rain began to fall. Ling Su hurried to close the window, saying, "It’s raining out of nowhere. Madam should put on an extra layer of clothing." As she spoke, she busied herself setting the table for the meal.
The kitchen had prepared four dishes and a soup. Since Xianglan had just recovered from her illness, there were no particularly greasy or heavy meats—just two or three delicate vegetable dishes, paired with tender white tofu and a plate of exquisite fruit pastries. Just as Xianglan was eating, Lin Jinlou returned, half-drenched, and said to her, "Go on with your meal." He fetched a towel to wipe his face himself, and the maids hurried to open the chest and fetch clean clothes for him.
Lin Jinlou had come to Yangzhou in a hurry and hadn’t brought any clothes with him. The Yangzhou residence only had two old sets of clothing he had left there previously. When he had bought clothes for Xianglan a few days earlier, he had also added a few items for himself, but only for social engagements outside.
After washing up and changing, Lin Jinlou sat down beside Xianglan, glanced at the dishes on the table, and said, "Add two more dishes. I was at an engagement outside at noon and didn’t eat much substantial food."
Fortunately, the kitchen had already prepared, and before long, two small stir-fried dishes were brought out. They looked fresh and appealing, though they were nothing extravagant. Though Lin Jinlou was particular about food and drink, having spent so long in the military, he wasn’t overly fussy. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
Xianglan had already finished her meal, but since Lin Jinlou had returned, she felt it improper to leave him alone. She kept half a bowl of soup and sat beside him in a daze. Although she wasn’t as afraid of Lin Jinlou as before, she still felt somewhat uneasy when alone with him—an indescribable feeling that left her awkward and constrained.
Lin Jinlou glanced at her a couple of times and placed a soft pastry in her bowl with his chopsticks.
Xianglan looked over at him.
Lin Jinlou swallowed the food in his mouth with effort and said, "Eat a bit more. You’ve been ill these past couple of days, and if you eat so little, the weight you’ve managed to gain will disappear again."Xianglan responded with a hum, staring at the pastries on the plate but unable to eat. She idly poked at them with her chopsticks, boringly piercing a few holes in the top.
Thank you to Fat wanghua001 for the Peach Blossom Fan, erica308 for the sachet, bubu8915 for two Peace Talismans, and Frost, sosohuang, Ning Ruoying, and Bookfriend 131025212020758 for the Peace Talismans. My apologies if I missed thanking anyone. Also, thank you all for the Peace Talismans ^_^
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