Lin Jinlou lazily reclined in his chair, a wine cup held loosely in his hand. After several rounds of drinks and numerous dishes, the banquet guests had grown increasingly uninhibited, laughing and chatting freely. The third son of the Lu family, Lin Jinlou’s brother-in-law Lu Jian, sat nearby, speaking with exaggerated enthusiasm. He began with topics of actors and courtesans, then moved on to the latest gossip in the capital and the shifting currents at court—who had been demoted, who had been promoted, whose daughter had entered the palace, and who had newly gained the emperor’s favor, among other things.
Lin Jinlou listened with only half an ear. His brother-in-law had studied for a couple of years but had little talent, relying solely on his family’s influence. Though he shared some of the frivolous habits of the idle rich, he was timid and weak-willed, hardly amounting to much. Yet it was precisely such a man that Lin Dongwan could control—what other man would willingly let a woman dominate him? Nowadays, even taking a concubine required Lu Jian to gauge Lin Dongwan’s mood, selecting a plain, obedient maid from the servants when she was pregnant. Rumor had it that when he went out drinking, he either mooched off friends or ran up tabs, with barely a few taels of silver to his name.
Lin Jinlou’s gaze swept the room and landed on Song Ke’s empty seat. He let out a cold laugh. Earlier, at the entrance, he had deliberately arranged for Xianglan and Song Ke to meet, simply to test their reactions. For a long time, Song Ke had been like a thorn in his heart. Rather than letting it fester, he preferred to confront it head-on—he wanted to see for himself how much that Song fellow weighed in Xianglan’s heart. From the moment Song Ke laid eyes on Xianglan, his gaze had been fixed on her as if he’d lost his soul, which made Lin Jinlou deeply uncomfortable. Whether it was Song Ke or the Duke Xian backing him, the two sides had originally kept to themselves, maintaining a superficial cordiality due to their marital ties. But if anyone dared provoke him, Lin Jinlou needed only to stand his ground—forget his parents’ influence—and Duke Xian would have to think twice. As for Song Ke, he was hardly a threat.
Xianglan was a household-born servant, bound to their family since birth. Whether her status was officially changed or not made little difference to Lin Jinlou—she was his from the start. It was just that he had rarely stayed at home before and hadn’t noticed. But now that Xianglan was his beloved concubine, Song Ke could go find someplace else to cool off.
He had deliberately taken his cup to Song Ke’s table to toast him, congratulating him on “a harmonious century and the blessing of a son”—a pointed remark meant as a warning for Song Ke to behave. He then added with a smile, “In a few days, I’ll pick an auspicious date to formally elevate Xianglan to Concubine. I plan to host a grand banquet to celebrate. I hope you’ll honor us with your presence and share a cup of joy with me.” At these words, Song Ke’s hand, holding the wine cup, stilled. After a long pause, he suddenly laughed, drained his cup in one gulp, and made as if to clap Lin Jinlou on the shoulder but hesitated. In the end, he did so and said, “Brother, you truly are fortunate. I beg your pardon—I need to step out for a moment.” With that, he left Lin Jinlou standing there and walked out.
Lin Jinlou merely watched Song Ke’s retreating back and snorted coldly.Soon, someone else came to toast Lin Jinlou. With a smile, Lin Jinlou engaged in the pleasantries, exchanging small talk and sharing drinks with numerous guests for quite some time. Then, he noticed Dai Rong slipping in through the door and approaching him quietly. After whispering a few words to Lin Jinlou, Dai Rong saw his expression change abruptly, only to relax immediately as Lin Jinlou replaced it with a smile. Addressing those around him, Lin Jinlou said, "I must beg your pardon for a moment. I have some matters to attend to, but I promise to drink three cups as penalty upon my return." With that, he rose and left the banquet. Once outside, his face instantly turned cold and stern. Grabbing Dai Rong by the collar, he demanded in a chilly tone, "Is what you said true?"
Dai Rong, seeing Lin Jinlou's livid face and the fury swirling in his eyes, felt his legs go weak. Clutching Lin Jinlou's hand, he forced a smile and said, "It's true, it's true. I wouldn't dare lie to General Lin even if I had the courage of a bear or a leopard." Inwardly, however, he cursed himself, regretting having agreed to relay Zhao Yuechan's message.
Lin Jinlou tightened his grip and sneered, "Good, very good." With that, he punched Dai Rong squarely in the face, causing two streams of blood to trickle down his nose. Dazed and seeing stars, Dai Rong was about to cry out when Lin Jinlou hauled him up and growled menacingly, "If you dare utter a single word of this to anyone, I'll cut out your tongue. Don't test me."
Trembling with fear, Dai Rong nodded repeatedly. As Lin Jinlou released him, Dai Rong's legs gave way, and he nearly kowtowed. Lin Jinlou kicked him and snapped, "You worthless fool, get up and lead the way!"
Clutching his nose and inwardly lamenting his misfortune, Dai Rong thought of Lin Jinlou's notorious nicknames—"Lin the Overlord" and "the Living Bandit." He had long heard of the man's fearsome reputation and wondered how he had been so foolish as to let Zhao Yuechan, that wretched woman, goad him into stirring up trouble. Now he had provoked this tyrant. Stuffing a handkerchief against his bleeding nose, he reluctantly led the way with a pained expression.
Meanwhile, in the Lu family garden, beside the intricately carved stone wall, Xianglan felt as if a thunderclap had struck her ears upon hearing Song Ke's words. She instinctively took a step back, trying to hold back her emotions, but tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.
Song Ke's heart ached with each beat. Taking another step forward, his own tears fell freely as his lips trembled. "You... you recognized me long ago, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me sooner? If I had known back then... if I had known, how could I have abandoned you and married into the Zheng family?" Every word felt like a fire burning in his chest, threatening to consume him entirely.
That day, when he overheard Junxi's casual remark, he felt as if his insides were being torn apart. He slammed his fist on the table, bloodying his knuckles, and stood up, ready to rush out. Song Tanchai, terrified, grabbed his arm and asked, "Brother, where are you going?" He replied blankly, "To find Xianglan..." Alarmed, Song Tanchai glanced around nervously and whispered, "Brother, what nonsense are you saying? If Sister-in-law hears, it'll be a disaster! We're far from Jinling—how would you even get there? Besides... Xianglan is already Lin Jinlou's concubine. What good would it do for you to go?" Her words felt like a bucket of ice water poured over him, chilling him to the bone. Indeed, what was the use now? He sank back into his seat in a daze. Just then, Zheng Jingxian entered the room, her belly swollen with pregnancy. Startled, she asked, "What's wrong with him? Is he unwell? Why is he crying for no reason?"Oh, so he had shed tears after all. Song Ke stared fixedly at a pot of orchids on the windowsill as Song Tanchai covered for him, saying, "It's nothing. My brother was just thinking of our father's early passing and feeling upset."
At this moment, Xianglan stood before him, alive and real—not some phantom from midnight dreams. Tears streaked her face. Why was she crying? Back when she was exiled thousands of miles away, she hadn't shed a single tear on the journey, always greeting him with a smiling face. The visage before him now merged with the one from his past life, and he couldn't help but reach out to grasp her arm, as if afraid she might vanish at any moment.
But Xianglan, as if waking from a dream, stepped back twice. She pulled out a handkerchief and quickly wiped her face, steadying her voice as much as possible. "Scholar Song must have mistaken me for someone else. What past life or present life? You must have drunk too much and lost your head." With that, she turned to leave.
Song Ke seemed not to hear her, murmuring, "In my past life, I lived meekly and incompetently. In the end, I couldn't even protect you on the journey and died early. Coming back in this life feels like some absurd dream. It's true—since childhood, I've been driven by ambition. In my past life, I died before achieving my aspirations, so in this life, I must make something of myself. Besides, I still have my elderly mother and a younger sister. I was shameless—I married the Zheng family's young lady for the sake of my future. How much helplessness I felt inside! I've tasted the bitterness and sweetness of worldly fickleness across two lifetimes. The path was one I chose myself. I gritted my teeth and parted with you because I knew your temperament. I loved you so much—I just wanted you to live the life you enjoyed, free and at ease. I'd already wronged you; I only wished for you to be happy every day... But you... how could you have become Lin Jinlou's concubine? That man is licentious by nature, domineering and arrogant. He has five or six lovers in the capital alone. You... how much suffering must you endure..."
Xianglan stopped in her tracks, tears falling like rain. For so long, aside from her mother, everyone had thought that being with Lin Jinlou was a stroke of luck from her ancestors, that she was enjoying untold blessings. Yet Song Ke actually understood the bitterness in her heart. She dared not sob too loudly, afraid he would notice, and only quietly wiped her tears with her handkerchief.
Song Ke stepped forward to block Xianglan's path and said to her, "Xianglan, if you were living well, that would be one thing. But the light in your eyes doesn't lie—you're not happy deep down with Lin Jinlou. If you trust me, I'll help you break free from him and settle you far away... I have no grand expectations for you. I just want to do something, hoping it will make your life better. I mean every word of this from the bottom of my heart..."
Xianglan looked at Song Ke's handsome yet pained face, and for a moment, his words stirred something in her. If someone could lend her a hand, it would be like a ray of dawn in the dark night—nothing could be better. But immediately afterward, she recalled Lin Jinlou's cold and ruthless gaze and sobered up. Song Ke had never experienced Lin Jinlou's methods, but she understood them all too well. Now, Song Ke had a wife and children, his official career was smooth—she couldn't drag him into the mire for her own sake. The Lin Family's influence was too strong, and Song Ke was too weak. If they provoked Zheng Jingxian and caused turmoil in his household, she would carry the guilt for the rest of her life. Moreover, having heard Song Ke's confession and knowing his feelings for her, she couldn't possibly do something so disgraceful.Xianglan took two more steps back, her expression now calm as she said indifferently, "Academician Song, you are truly drunk. Please return."
Song Ke looked at Xianglan's eyes, swollen like peaches, and her reddened nose tip. Seeing her cold demeanor, he immediately knew she was pretending not to recognize him, and his heart ached even more intensely. He lowered his head with difficulty, a few tears already falling into the soil at his feet.
"Academician Song." Upon hearing Xianglan call him, Song Ke immediately looked up. He saw her with downcast eyes, staring quietly at a stone not far away as she said, "I am living quite well now. As for life, it passes slowly, almost imperceptibly. I am but an ordinary young woman, without lofty ambitions. Apart from being able to paint a few pictures, I have no other talents and nothing worthy of praise. Unlike you, a great man full of learning and the ability to bring peace and stability to the nation, we merely chanced to meet for a time. Now that our fate has ended, I am not worth your long-lasting concern. I wish you continuous promotions in the future and the opportunity to fully display your talents." After speaking, she respectfully gathered her skirt and performed a graceful curtsy.
Song Ke stood dumbfounded, gazing at Xianglan's tear-reddened eyes and cold expression. A thousand words swirled in his chest, yet not a single one could escape his lips.
Just then, a voice came from behind: "What a coincidence to meet here."
Thanks to 1301429098 and zhaoye1978 for the Peach Blossom Fans, Mumin Konghua for the sachet, qian20051978 for three Peace Talismans, bubu8915 for two Peace Talismans, and Shuhai Luren for the Peace Talisman. Also, thank you all for the pink votes. Remember, there will be double pink votes at the end of the month! ^_^
OpenNovel