In the Chun Tang Hall, Lin Jinlou and Xianglan had finished their meal. Lin Jinlou picked up a brush under the lamplight to review official documents, instructing Xianglan to wait on him nearby. Xianglan brightened the lamp, carefully ground ink, brewed a pot of tea, and tidied the various incoming and outgoing letters and documents. Lin Jinlou handed her a list, ordering her to write greeting cards for weddings and funerals according to the names on it. Xianglan then sat on the other side of the desk, spreading out various stationery to write.
Not long after, Qiao Hui, the maid who often attended Qin Shi, came in and said, "Second Mistress's father, Lord Tan, will set off for Shandong next month to take up his post. Since the master is away, he wishes to pay his respects to you, Master. He sent you a visiting card, but you didn’t reply, so he appealed to Taitai. Taitai’s opinion is that since we are all family, the Tan family should come for a small gathering tomorrow, and hopes you can spare some time to meet them."
Lin Jinlou frowned. Tan Siye had indeed sent him a visiting card, but the wording that day had been somewhat disrespectful, with a tone of using his senior status to pressure him. Lin Jinlou was not one to tolerate such behavior—he crumpled the card into a ball and threw it into the wastebasket. He replied, "I’m busy tomorrow. Taitai can meet with them."
Qiao Hui said awkwardly, "This is Taitai’s wish. She said you should at least meet them—" Seeing Lin Jinlou’s brows furrow again, she dared not continue and quickly signaled Xianglan with her eyes.
Noticing this, Xianglan set down her brush and said, "Since they are in-laws and elders, you really ought to meet them. Besides, he’s going to Shandong, and who knows when he’ll be back."
Lin Jinlou patted Xianglan’s hand and said carelessly, "Tan Siye offended his superiors and had no future. If it weren’t for our family’s efforts, how could he have come to the capital to seek an official post? I’m deliberately keeping him waiting. Don’t worry, that old fox is shrewder than a monkey. After being ignored a couple of times, he’ll understand his place and the rules. That way, he won’t cause trouble later using the old master’s name." He then said to Qiao Hui, "Go back and tell Taitai that the womenfolk can meet as they please. I truly have no time tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Hui took her leave.
Lin Jinlou set down his brush, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He pulled over the cards Xianglan had written and glanced through a couple, then reached out and pulled her onto his lap. Tapping her nose, he grinned and said, "Tell me, who taught you to write like this, hmm? If you were a man, I’d make you my secretary." He then took Xianglan’s hand and examined it repeatedly under the lamp.
Xianglan withdrew her hand and said indifferently, "I should have learned to be a courtesan instead. Being a secretary is too high praise for me." With that, she tried to stand up.
Lin Jinlou was taken aback, then burst out laughing. He wrapped his arms around Xianglan’s waist, forcibly turned her face toward him, and kissed her. Gazing at her slightly flushed cheeks, he smiled faintly and said, "Oh, I didn’t expect you to hold a grudge. Are you upset because I said you’re not as good as a courtesan? Let me tell you, you’re better than all of them. I don’t even care to look at those who are too forward."
Xianglan turned her head away and ignored him.
Lin Jinlou took her hand again, playing with her fingers, and said, "Old Yuan’s youngest son is ill. Tomorrow, remember to pick out some gifts and send someone over with them."
Xianglan turned her head back and asked, "De Ge’er? What’s wrong with him?"
"Just a cold. The poor child lost his birth mother early, and his stepmother died young too. Old Yuan raised him by himself. Men are rough by nature, and because of his status, even his wet nurse didn’t dare discipline him strictly."
Xianglan couldn’t help but sigh, "Marquis Yongchang is truly a rare and devoted man."Lin Jinlou raised his eyebrows high. "Rare? A good man with deep affection?"
"Yes, I heard from the maids and old women that he had deep feelings for De Ge'er's birth mother. Because she passed away early, he personally took the child under his care. It's said that after the woman's early death, he dismissed the singing girls and concubines in his household, keeping only two concubines who had borne him children. The others were free to stay or leave as they wished. Every year, Marquis Yongchang donates silver to help the poor, performing good deeds and accumulating merit in the name of De Ge'er's birth mother. Yet he remains extremely humble and amiable, treating others with sincerity, never arrogant or overbearing despite his high position."
Lin Jinlou pinched Xianglan's chin and turned her face toward him. "Little Xianglan, I get the feeling you're implying something."
"—No, you're just being overly suspicious."
"Tsk, with such a pretty face, how come you're getting more foolish? How many times have you met him? You haven't even exchanged a word with him, have you? And you already think he's such a great man?"
Xianglan pressed her lips together and remained silent. Last time, when she happened to meet De Ge'er at the storeroom entrance, Yuan Shaoren personally came to fetch the child. His expression was gentle, his speech kind and soft. He even bowed to her with hands clasped, repeatedly thanking her without any hint of arrogance, which naturally made her feel favorable toward him.
Then she heard Lin Jinlou speaking close to her ear again: "Silly girl, let me tell you, most men in this world are cut from the same cloth. You might think someone is a gentleman, but who knows what shameful things he might be doing behind closed doors."
Xianglan stared at him. "How can you, Master, slander your friend like this? Marquis Yongchang is going to become your brother-in-law."
Lin Jinlou glared. "Getting bold, are we? Watch your tongue!" Seeing Xianglan lower her head, he paused before continuing, "Old Yuan was quite the character before. He's experienced all the pleasures and vices. A few years ago, he met De Ge'er's birth mother, called Lianniang, and was determined to take her as his concubine. At first Lianniang refused, but later for some reason agreed. However, Old Yuan's wife wouldn't allow her to enter the household to serve tea, so he simply kept her outside. Old Yuan did reform himself for a while, but soon returned to his old ways. It wasn't until after Lianniang's death that he became a completely different person."
Xianglan was taken aback and asked, "How did Lianniang die?"
"Who knows? Some say it was childbed fever, others say a serious illness, and there are those who claim she took her own life. She was originally from a prominent family herself—the Shen family of the capital in earlier years, the direct granddaughter of Grand Secretary Shen Wenhan. But you wouldn't know about that—you probably hadn't even been born when the entire Shen family was executed."
These words exploded like thunder in Xianglan's ears, leaving her dazed and bewildered. Her heart felt like it would leap out of her throat. Unable to restrain herself, she grabbed Lin Jinlou's arm and asked, "The Shen family—are there any survivors?"Lin Jinlou gave her a surprised glance and said, "There's nothing left. The Shen family was practically wiped out. The female relatives who were originally sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau mostly committed suicide. Back then, Lianniang was still young—her mother tried to strangle her with a silk cord before killing herself but failed. By the time Old Yuan's uncle rushed to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau, Lianniang was barely breathing, and her mother's corpse had already been wrapped in a mat. Uncle Yuan, who had once received kindness from Shen Wenhan, went through tremendous effort to bring Lianniang out of the Imperial Entertainment Bureau. Although she was an Official Slave, she was raised half as a servant and half as a mistress. The emperor's conviction for grave crimes made it difficult to remove her lowly status, but at least she lived in peace." After saying this, he noticed Xianglan was already in tears, her mind wandering. Startled, he shook her gently and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Xianglan felt her heart breaking. She lowered her head and wiped her tears with her sleeve, choking out, "It's nothing. I just couldn't help thinking how tragic it must have been for a mother to try to strangle her own daughter that Night..." Overwhelmed with grief, she had known her family died tragically, but hearing Lin Jinlou speak of it made the horror all too real. If he hadn't been there, she would have burst into sobs.
Lin Jinlou watched her thoughtfully, patted her back, and said, "You really are sentimental." He picked up the hot tea from the table and handed it to her, wiping her tears casually. "The Shen family had a miserable fate—they were all stubborn, much like you in some ways."
Xianglan looked up, her tear-blurred eyes meeting his sharp gaze. Startled, but with her thoughts in disarray and spirit weary, she leaned lightly against Lin Jinlou's chest and said, "How could I be like the Shen family? I'd never even heard of them before. I was just moved by the mother and daughter's plight—"
Lin Jinlou held her, stroking her back as if soothing a cat, and after a long pause, replied, "Oh, is that so?" He paused again before adding, "I've been busy outside these days. If you're bored at home, you can invite some female performers to sing or call in a female storyteller for a few tales. Staring at paper and painting all day will ruin your eyes. The Jiang Family has sent two cousins over; when you're free, chat with them."
Xianglan lowered her thick, long lashes and suddenly asked, "How are my paintings selling?"
Lin Jinlou was taken aback. After Lin Jinting's wedding banquet, Xianglan had given him a few paintings to sell in his shop, but they were still gathering dust in his study. He coughed and said, "Oh, those paintings? Maybe a few have sold. I'll go ask for you tomorrow."
Xianglan leaned against his chest and murmured "Mm," tears silently slipping down again.
Before bed, Lin Jinlou went outside and summoned Ji Xiang to the second gate, instructing, "Withdraw twenty taels of silver from the accounts tomorrow and give it to your new concubine. Tell her it's from selling her paintings to cheer her up."
Ji Xiang repeatedly agreed and left, but that is a story for another time.The next day, after Lin Jinlou finished his morning exercises and had breakfast, he went out. Xianglan carefully selected a few gifts for De Ge'er and had them sent over. She then went to pay her respects to Qin Shi but had only been seated for a short while when the Tan family arrived. Not wanting to intrude, Xianglan prepared to leave, but Wu Mama stopped her, smiling, and said, "We two haven't had a chance to talk properly. Come, sit with me in this room." Xianglan followed Wu Mama into the side chamber, where a maidservant brought tea. After exchanging pleasantries, Wu Mama said to Xianglan with a warm smile, "My dear, I've always thought you were special—your demeanor and conduct are different from other girls, so gentle and composed. To speak frankly, even all the young mistresses I've seen put together can't compare to you. The Master has always looked at you differently, like a hungry cat eyeing a treat. Now that he's dismissed all his other concubines, once next year passes, he'll hold a proper banquet and make you his Concubine. The grievances you've endured will then seem like nothing."
Xianglan looked at Wu Mama's beaming face and knew her joy was sincere, yet that very joy felt suffocating. She could only force a faint smile and lower her head slightly. Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Peering through the carved partition, she saw Tan Luhua leading a girl into the adjacent room. Xianglan stole a glance: the girl was tall and stout, with sallow skin, small eyes, a round nose, and plain features, yet she carried herself with an air of haughtiness and was dressed extravagantly.
Wu Mama whispered, "That's the Second Mistress's elder sister, born of the principal wife, named Tan Lufang. Back when the old master was arranging a marriage for the Second Master, he invited several eligible young ladies from prominent families in the capital. The Second Master caught a glimpse of the Second Mistress from behind a screen and was smitten. But Lord Tan married a wife from a high-ranking family who was very domineering—she insisted her own daughter marry the Second Master. However, with such looks, the old master refused, saying the Second Master had suffered enough and deserved someone beautiful and gentle. He told the Tan family that the Second Master was in poor health and that marrying their daughter might seem like an abuse of power. Tan Lufang, hearing the Second Master was sickly, also threw a fit and refused to marry into the family. But later, when she saw how lavishly the Second Mistress lived and how elegantly the Second Master carried himself during her visits home, she deeply regretted it. The maids at Kangshou Residence never tire of gossiping about this."
Xianglan nodded slightly and glanced over again, thinking how starkly different the two Tan sisters were in appearance. She overheard them whispering, catching phrases like "Shandong," "Qingzhou," and "Master Lin," as if they were discussing asking Tan Luhua to help Tan Siye secure an official position through the Lin family. Suddenly, Tan Lufang sprang to her feet and sneered, "If Father gains prestige, won't you benefit in the Lin Family? It seems you've grown too proud. Don't forget, if I hadn't stepped aside, how could you have married into the Lin Family? You're just a concubine-born daughter who got lucky and climbed high. I can't stand your pretentiousness. If you have what it takes, stay up there on your high branch forever—don't slip up and get thrown out by the Lin Family. I'd even chant 'Amitabha' for you!" With that, she turned and stormed out.The phrase "seven grounds for divorce" struck right at Tan Luhua's guilty conscience, making her tremble with rage. She stood up and grabbed Tan Lufang, demanding sharply, "How dare you spout such nonsense! If you have the nerve, say it again—call me the child of a concubine, then what does that make Second Master Lin? Don't you dare leave! Come with me to Taitai to settle this!" As the situation threatened to escalate, Wu Mama stepped forward, her expression stern, and said to Tan Lufang, "Eldest Miss Tan is a guest—how can you raise your voice in your host's home? Even if Second Mistress is at fault, it is Taitai's place to correct her. What does it have to do with you?"
Both Fang and Hua were startled to find someone in the adjacent room. Tan Luhua burst into tears, crying, "Even among family, no one should insult me like this! I must go tell Taitai!"
Wu Mama inwardly sighed at Tan Luhua's lack of tact. Xianglan also sighed; though she disliked Tan Luhua's character, seeing her married yet still mocked by her elder sister made her realize how difficult her life at home must have been—no wonder she had developed such a sharp temperament. Quickly pulling Tan Luhua aside, she whispered, "Second Mistress, please stop crying. Wu Mama represents Taitai's authority—since she's standing up for you, what more grievance do you have? But this is ultimately your family matter; airing it will only bring embarrassment to everyone. Taitai may be kind, but the maids and old women gossip. If rumors spread, even if you, in your magnanimity, pay no mind, it would still reflect poorly. You still rely on your maternal family—why tear apart relations with them?"
These words immediately stopped Tan Luhua's tears. Xianglan whispered, "Second Mistress, go next door to freshen up. Don't go back looking resentful—it would displease Taitai." Then she led Tan Luhua away.
(Xiao He's Weibo: Search "He Yanshan" to find it.)
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