Liu Xiaochuan leaned in with a strange chuckle, beckoning to Xie Yu, "Brother, come take a look at this!" He snatched the sachet and brought it under his nose, sniffing. "Smells lovely. I say, that young woman must be feeling amorous, leaving this behind specially for you as a token of affection."
Chu Dapeng shoved Liu Xiaochuan aside. "Stop talking nonsense." He grabbed the sachet back, examined it closely, and pointed, "Look, the fastener on this end of the waistband is broken. That's why the sachet was left behind."
Xie Yu rapped Liu Xiaochuan on the head. "Can't keep your mouth shut, always spouting rubbish. If this gets out, her reputation will be ruined, and we'll be implicated too."
Liu Xiaochuan muttered, "What's the big deal? I was just saying." He lowered his head and chuckled again.
Xie Yu squinted at him. "What mischief are you plotting now?"
Liu Xiaochuan grinned mischievously. "I, your master, can read fortunes at a glance. I saw right away that young woman isn't the faithful type—there's a flirtatious air about her. Maybe Lin the Second isn't satisfying her, leaving the fair one lonely in her spring chambers."
Chu Dapeng tapped Liu Xiaochuan with a laugh. "You and your mouth—it's utterly shameless."
Liu Xiaochuan retorted indignantly, "I've seen all kinds of women in my time! If you don't believe me, let's make a bet."
Xie Yu asked, "What kind of bet?"
Liu Xiaochuan explained, "She lost her sachet, so she'll definitely come looking for it. We won't return it but instead leave a man's sachet there. If she's a proper woman, she'll either ignore it, send a maid to find the owner, or think someone's mocking her and weep virtuously. But if she's the flirtatious type, she might think some gentleman exchanged tokens with her and secretly rejoice. We'll just watch quietly from nearby. I bet she'll be delighted inside. The loser treats to a five-tael silver feast at Yanbin Tower tonight."
Chu Dapeng rolled his eyes. "If you put this much thought into studying or official duties, your old man would burn incense to eight generations of ancestors." He shook his head and walked away.
Xie Yu sneered, "See? He mocked you."
Liu Xiaochuan snorted, turned around, and magically produced a sachet from his hand, chuckling. "Hypocrite! As if he never indulged in drinking, gambling, and womanizing before. I just swiped this from him unnoticed—we'll use it to test that little lady later."
Xie Yu pointed at Liu Xiaochuan with a laugh, then hesitated. "But—is this really alright? If Chu the Fourth finds out—"
Liu Xiaochuan argued, "Why not? Can't he lose a sachet in the garden? If something's lost, any maid or old woman in the garden could pick it up—why can't that young woman? Quick, quick, hurry up and place this sachet over there."
Xie Yu, who also wanted to see the fun, perked up at this and quietly tossed the sachet onto the veranda.
Meanwhile, when Madam Tan returned to her room and changed clothes, her maid Lüluo said, "Second Mistress, where is the sachet you wore this morning?"Madam Tan lowered her head and saw that her waist was indeed empty, with only a jade pendant adorned with tassels and dangling ornaments remaining. She panicked and hastily ordered, "Quickly help me look for it! That sachet is an item from the imperial palace, extremely rare." Recalling that she had just been outside, she feared she might have dropped it there and hurried out to search. She followed the path all the way to the small garden, where she spotted something in the distance on the covered corridor ahead.
Approaching it, Madam Tan saw a square, peacock-blue sachet embroidered with gold thread in a ruyi pattern, fastened with a red coral clasp wrapped in gold filigree. It was exquisitely crafted, far beyond what an ordinary wealthy family would possess. She opened it and poured out the contents: a few scattered pieces of silver, a small enamel bottle containing Snowmelt Elixir, and a Peace Talisman obtained from a temple. Unfolding the talisman, she saw the name "Chu Dapeng" written on it. Her heart immediately pounded like a drum, and she quickly folded the talisman, glancing around nervously. All was quiet, with only the shadows of branches and flowers swaying in the breeze.
Clutching the sachet, Madam Tan felt her heart churn like boiling soup. She thought to herself, "I've often heard that the young masters of the Chu, Xie, and Liu families grew up with Lin Jinlou since childhood, sharing an extraordinary bond. Among them, Chu Dapeng, the son of the Minister of Justice, is renowned in the capital for his literary talent and dashing looks—a famous handsome gentleman. The most elegant and handsome one I saw earlier must have been him. How regrettable that I didn’t realize it was Chu Dapeng himself at the time; otherwise, I could have spoken a few more words with him... Now, did he intentionally drop this sachet or lose it by accident? If it was unintentional, then so be it. But if he picked up my sachet earlier and deliberately left his here to exchange with me, then, then, then that would truly be..." At this thought, her face grew even hotter, and her heart softened like melting pastry as she held the sachet. She felt both too shy to speak and unable to contain her delight.
Suddenly, she heard laughter and chatter. Seeing Ling Qing and Xue Ning approaching from a distance, holding bottles, she hastily tucked the sachet into her sleeve. After they passed, she took it out again, gazing at it repeatedly. She mused, "I’ve read in unofficial histories how talented scholars and beautiful ladies often pledge their love through small items like sachets, jade pendants, fragrant pouches, or handkerchiefs. I never thought Young Master Chu would also be such a refined and romantic soul. He is a gentleman and a close friend of my brother-in-law; he must admire me but finds it hard to speak openly, so he uses the sachet to convey his feelings. My sachet must have been picked up by him. So be it—since we are fated to have no connection in this life, I’ll consider my sachet a gift to him, to repay his longing." As she pondered, she grew sentimental, reciting one moment, "Flowers bloom bright but fade as swiftly as a lover’s affection; rivers flow endless as boundless as my sorrow," and the next, "I return your bright pearls with tears in both eyes; regret we did not meet before I was married." She glanced around but saw no sign of Chu Dapeng, feeling disappointed, and eventually walked away swaying, still holding the sachet.
Liu Xiaochuan and Xie Yu, who had been hiding nearby, watched as Madam Tan left. Xie Yu clicked his tongue and said, "You really predicted it correctly. Look at that lingering affection on her face—she hid the sachet when she saw the maids and even recited 'regret we did not meet before I was married.' She must have been moved."
Liu Xiaochuan laughed, "I’ve always had a knack for foreseeing things. Who would have thought Lin Jinlou’s second brother actually found such a charming young lady?" The two bantered back and forth, but that is a story for another time.It is said that Madam Tan often dressed herself up with heavy makeup and went to the small garden. Chu Dapeng and others, due to the ongoing house repairs and fearing they might disturb the women in the household, stayed inside the courtyard and did not come out. Whenever Liu Xiaochuan and Xie Yu caught sight of Madam Tan at the door or window, they would either cough loudly or exchange meaningful glances, among other antics. Chu Dapeng, unaware of the underlying situation, paid no attention to them. Later, when servant boys and laborers were brought in to plant flowers, replace tiles, and repaint walls, Madam Tan stopped going. Liu Xiaochuan and Xie Yu, being idle young masters from wealthy families, merely amused themselves by teasing others, unaware that this incident would sow the seeds for future turmoil.
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou grew increasingly busy in the capital, often absent for entire days. Once the wounds on her hands had healed, Xianglan ordered the necessary materials for painting to be replenished. She spent her days chanting Buddhist scriptures, painting, writing, and occasionally playing the zither. During this time, she completed several more paintings, which she stored in a brocade cylinder. She said to Hua Shan, "Go and call Guiyuan over."
Guiyuan had earlier been tending to a black dog kept by Lin Jinlou, along with a few servant boys. The dog was exceptionally fierce, robust, and greatly favored by Lin Jinlou, who had ordered it to be meticulously cared for. Hearing Hua Shan call him from the corridor, Guiyuan quickly washed his hands and hurried over. Upon seeing Hua Shan, he exclaimed repeatedly, "Sister Hua Shan, what do you need me for?"
Hua Shan replied, "The mistress is calling you."
Guiyuan promptly followed her inside, saying, "Dear sister, it’s been a few days since I last saw you, and you’ve grown even more beautiful."
Hua Shan spat in mock disdain, "Who’s your dear sister? Don’t call me that."
Guiyuan chuckled, "You’re younger than me—if I don’t call you ‘sister,’ should I call you ‘aunt’? Yesterday, I picked up some interesting trinkets on the street. If you call me ‘dear brother’ twice, I’ll show them to you."
Hua Shan retorted, "Pah! Who would call you…"
As they spoke, they reached the door. Guiyuan immediately composed himself, quieted his breathing, lowered his eyes, and stepped softly into the courtyard, careful not to let his gaze wander. He approached the door with his head bowed. Hua Shan lifted the curtain, and Guiyuan caught a glimpse of Xianglan sitting in the main hall. He quickly knelt and said, "I wish the mistress eternal blessings."
Xianglan said, "I have a task for you. Take these two scrolls and have them mounted. Then find a Four Treasures of the Study shop to sell them on my behalf. Each must fetch at least ten taels of silver. Any extra money can go to the shopkeeper. Do not speak of this matter to anyone. If you handle this well, I will reward you handsomely."
Xiao Juan handed the brocade cylinder to him.
Guiyuan thought to himself, "Who would pay ten taels for a mere piece of paper? Only a fool would buy it." But aloud, he repeatedly assured her and respectfully accepted the cylinder with both hands. Xianglan instructed Xiao Juan to give Guiyuan two taels of silver for the mounting and also handed him a handful of coins and a plate of fruit pastries.
As Guiyuan was about to leave, he overheard Xiao Juan say, "Mistress, you worked so hard on these paintings. Why sell them? We don’t need the money."
Xianglan replied softly, "No matter how much silver is here, it isn’t mine. Only the money in my own hands feels secure…"
Guiyuan dared not listen further and hurried out, thinking to himself, "The Master does own a few shops in the capital, but I’m not sure if any sell paintings. This is the first time the mistress has entrusted me with a task—I must handle it flawlessly."
At the gate, he happened to run into Lin Jinlou returning from outside. Guiyuan quickly stepped aside, held his breath, and bowed respectfully. As Lin Jinlou strode in, his eyes fell on Guiyuan, and he asked, "What are you holding in your arms?"
Guiyuan replied, "It was given to me by the mistress."
Lin Jinlou’s interest was piqued. "Bring it here and let me have a look."Guiyuan hurriedly presented the brocade tube. Lin Jinlou opened the lid and saw two neatly rolled, unmounted paintings inside. He pulled one out and saw a deep mansion courtyard depicted, with a cluster of peonies planted by the corner wall. A maid with double buns was chasing butterflies in the yard with a fan in her hand. The painting was elegant and fresh, extremely vivid, with the signature reading "Lan Xiang Ju Shi (The Recluse of Orchid Fragrance)". Lin Jinlou then pulled out another one, which portrayed a black cat lying beside an embroidered screen, its eyes bright and full of life, remarkably lifelike. The signature still read "Lan Xiang Ju Shi".
Lin Jinlou asked Guiyuan, "What are these paintings for?"
Guiyuan inwardly lamented. Although Xianglan had instructed him not to tell anyone, he dared not conceal anything from Lin Jinlou, so he replied honestly, "Madam gave them to me and told me to sell them at a shop." After speaking, he cautiously glanced up.
Green Luo is played by Time Flies 373737, and Lin Jinlou's pet is played by Fanfan's fierce and majestic dog, Dawei ^_^
Thanks to book friends 131102013021215, qian20051978, and I Love Xiao Shunzi for the sachets, flora9999, Shu Hai Lu Ren, 134394723, and Rong Yu 8163 for the Peace Talismans, and also thank you all for the pink votes ^_^
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