Lin Jinlou was about to speak when he noticed Liu Xiaochuan glancing at the embroidery tower, his eyes widening as he elbowed Xie Yu and pointed upward, causing the entire table to turn and look in that direction. Seeing Xianglan still standing beside him, Lin Jinlou’s face darkened instantly, and he slammed the window shut with a loud bang.
Liu Xiaochuan smacked his lips and said, "Goodness, did you see that? That must be Lin the Tyrant’s intimate servant, right?" He then looked at Lin Jinting.
Lin Jinting lazily picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks and nodded, "That’s her."
Xie Yu chuckled, "I thought so too. It’s a pity she was a bit far away, so I couldn’t see her clearly."
Liu Xiaochuan perked up and said, "Then let’s go take a closer look. We can say we’re paying our respects to the little sister-in-law."
Chu Dapeng, holding his wine cup, interjected, "Enough of that. Lin the Tyrant keeps her tightly under wraps—do you really think he’ll let you see her? Don’t go stirring up trouble and end up with nothing but a mess. Didn’t you see how he just shut the window? Why go looking for trouble?" He then glanced at Yuan Shaoren and added, "Brother Yuan, don’t you agree?"
Yuan Shaoren smiled without replying. Today, Lin Jinting had insisted on hosting and pressed him to attend. Though he had initially wanted to decline, he considered their future familial ties—after all, he had nearly married Lin Jinting’s full-blooded sister—and decided to come. The gathering, though accompanied by courtesans playing music, was relatively quiet and refined. With Chu Dapeng and the others making efforts to befriend him, the atmosphere remained pleasant, and he had been content to observe and listen to their banter.
Xie Yu giggled and instructed the courtesan beside him, "Go pour a drink for your Lord Liu to calm him down."
Liu Xiaochuan squirmed and grumbled, "I don’t believe you lot aren’t curious." Impatient by nature, he couldn’t bear to wait once an idea struck him. He jumped up from his seat and declared, "No, no, I have to go see for myself. I want to know what kind of great beauty could make Lin the Tyrant treasure her so much." With that, he rolled up his sleeves and strode off.
Once Liu Xiaochuan set his mind to something, no one could stop him. The others, having drunk plenty themselves, simply gave up trying to dissuade him and followed along, laughing and eager to see the commotion.
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou was chatting idly with Xianglan when Ling Su, standing at the foot of the stairs, announced, "Eldest Master, several gentlemen have arrived and wish to see you and..." Before she could utter "the little sister-in-law," she noticed Ling Qing signaling her with a look and swallowed the last three words.
Before she could finish, Liu Xiaochuan’s voice boomed, "I say, brother, you’re being downright unfair! A few of us went out with you in the middle of the night to search for someone, and now that you’ve found her, you’re burning bridges and ignoring us? At least let the little sister-in-law come toast us, won’t you?"
Hearing Liu Xiaochuan blurt out in public that Xianglan had gone missing at night, Xie Yu frowned and immediately kicked him. Liu Xiaochuan yelped, "Ouch! Why’d you kick me?"
Xie Yu shot him a fierce glare, shook his head, and sighed.
Moments later, footsteps were heard as Lin Jinlou descended the stairs. Seeing the group gathered below, he remarked, "Well, well, what a lively crowd. Weren’t you all enjoying your drinks just now? What brings you here?"
Liu Xiaochuan grinned and said, "Brother, don’t play dumb. We’re here to see the little sister-in-law."Lin Jinlou pretended not to hear, smiling at Yuan Shaoren as he said, "Those fellows spend their days fooling around after filling their bellies, but what brings you here? Just this morning, General Wu mentioned how well you handled your duties, earning top marks. Once you reach the capital, the Emperor is sure to reward you—don’t forget your brothers when good fortune comes your way."
Yuan Shaoren noticed Lin Jinlou’s evasiveness and reluctance to let the woman appear, inwardly marveling at how differently Lin Jinlou treated this one. Back when Lin Jinlou was off fighting battles, he had a concubine named Huamei who would seek him out openly. Lin Jinlou never hesitated to have her serve tea and water in front of others, treating her like nothing more than a refined maid. Yet this one was kept hidden away as if in a golden cage, as though letting others glimpse her would cost him dearly.
Yuan Shaoren smiled faintly and replied, "I’ve just been luckier, stumbling into some advantages. It’s nothing compared to you—not only skilled in warfare but also adept at business."
Liu Xiaochuan cut in, "Brothers, this mutual admiration is getting dull. Enough idle talk—why not invite the young mistress down?"
Lin Jinlou shot Liu Xiaochuan a glare, thinking what an oblivious fool he was, and resolved to deal with him later. But with the matter already raised, and seeing Yuan Shaoren’s meaningful nod and smile, he felt somewhat awkward. Clearing his throat, he instructed Ling Qing, "Go and ask your mistress to come down."
Xianglan had overheard the conversation below and knew she couldn’t avoid this encounter. Sighing, she rose, straightened her clothes, lifted her skirt, and descended the stairs. The guests watched as a girl of sixteen or seventeen slowly came into view, her skin radiant as snow, features exquisitely painted, carrying an air of exceptional grace. She paused, then swept her skirt into a fluid, practiced curtsy.
The group was struck by her beauty and hurried to return the greeting.
Xianglan turned slightly, accepting their courtesy with a graceful half-bow, her head delicately lowered, every movement elegant.
Chu Dapeng couldn’t resist whispering to Xie Yu, "See? Truly extraordinary. Her every gesture seems taught by a palace matron. My sisters had lessons from one for a time, yet none carry themselves like her... Tsk, what’s her background? Was she really a servant in the Lin household?"
Xianglan, as she curtsied, sensed an unusual gaze upon her. A flicker of her eyes in that direction revealed it was the same outsider who had watched her from the front courtyard days before. Yuan Shaoren, noticing her glance, paused briefly before offering a slight smile. Xianglan quickly averted her eyes and lowered her head, stepping to stand beside Lin Jinlou.
Lin Jinlou felt pleased. Unlike before, when Xianglan would hide indoors and appear reluctant to meet anyone, she had now upheld his dignity, earning him face. A smile touched his lips, and as he saw the admiration on everyone’s faces, his pride swelled. Once Xianglan had paid her respects, Lin Jinlou promptly sent her back upstairs and ushered his guests out.Yuan Shaoren walked out of the embroidery tower with his arms crossed, gazing at the peach blossoms on the hillside and taking a deep breath. Ever since Xianglan had stepped out earlier, he felt as though his heart had been struck a heavy blow, leaving him breathless. He had seen Xianglan from afar before and knew her aura somewhat resembled that of his late beloved concubine, Shen Jialian—similar in height and build, so much so that from a distance, he had almost mistaken her. But today, up close, the similarities became even more apparent, yet she felt utterly unfamiliar. Yuan Shaoren felt his long-dormant heart thumping wildly again. He turned his head and saw through the open vermilion window on the second floor that Lin Jinlou was holding Xianglan from behind, one hand guiding the brush in her hand as they wrote something on the table. He averted his gaze, closed his eyes, and let out a deep, heavy sigh.
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