Xianglan said, "Let the Eldest Master sleep a little longer." The entire courtyard revolved around Lin Jinlou. Since he was still asleep, the meal from the small kitchen would be prepared later, and the guards who served him with archery and martial practice had already dispersed early. Xianglan first ate two pieces of pastry and was drinking soup when Lin Jinlou woke up. As soon as he got up, he rubbed his head and complained of a headache. After washing his face with a hot towel and downing a bowl of sobering soup, he bathed behind the screen and called for Jixiang and Shuangxi to come in and give him a massage. After his bath, Lin Jinlou only ate a piece of steamed bun and took a few sips of soup, having no appetite. Feeling uncomfortable all over, he practiced a set of fist techniques in the courtyard until he broke into a sweat, finally feeling better.
When he entered the room, he saw Xianglan holding a brush and writing. He casually sat down in a chair, bare-chested, wiping the sweat from his body with a hot towel as he asked, "What are you writing so early in the morning?"
"A letter home. My parents said that once we reach the capital, I should send a letter to report that I’m safe. Before I left, my mother caught a chill and started coughing. I don’t know if she’s better now—it’s been weighing on my mind."
"Oh, don’t worry about that. Before we left, I left a note for Mr. Qi, asking him to invite Dr. Luo from Ji’an Hall to treat your mother. He’s one of the most renowned physicians in Jinling City and often checks the health of our household."
"I know... Thank you, Eldest Master..."
Lin Jinlou watched as Xianglan set down her brush, looking somewhat shy, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. "Why so polite with me? It’d be better if you didn’t annoy me or act so stubborn."
Xianglan secretly rolled her eyes and remained silent, lowering her head to continue writing.
Xiao Juan brought in hot tea, and Lin Jinlou took a sip before asking, "Have you taken your medicine?"
"...Yes."
"Doctor Zhang said you mustn’t stop that medicine." Lin Jinlou raised his voice and asked Shu Ran, "Make sure your mistress takes her medicine consistently without interruption."
Shu Ran, who was outside organizing trunks, hurried in and replied, "Yes, Eldest Master. We check every day, and the herbs are of the finest quality. Ling Su personally oversees the brewing by the stove."
Lin Jinlou nodded and fell silent again, staring absently at Xianglan’s profile. He set down his teacup and said, "Get ready later and come out with me."
"Where to?"
"Old Master Ru is celebrating his birthday, and the Ru family is hosting a grand celebration. Even though this generation of the Ru family hasn’t produced anyone remarkable, as long as the old man is alive, they’re far from 'the tree falling and the monkeys scattering.' He’s my father’s colleague and the in-law of my eldest sister. Since they’ve sent an invitation, we ought to go and take a look."
Xianglan frowned upon hearing this. Given her awkward status, she really didn’t want to join the excitement. "...Can I not go? I don’t know anyone there, so it won’t be any fun. Besides, it’ll be all the madams and ladies from various households—I wouldn’t fit in... And besides, I haven’t been feeling well these past couple of days..."
"You’ll get to know them once you meet. You’re going today."
"..."
"That’s final. Shu Ran, make sure your mistress is well-dressed tonight. If she looks shabby, it’ll reflect poorly on me."
Xianglan silently clenched her brush. The half-written letter suddenly seemed impossible to continue. She stared blankly at the stationery for a long time before letting out a sigh.In the Kangfu Residence, Lin Jinxuan had been sunbathing in the courtyard and reading half a volume of books when he grew tired. Madam Tan attended to him until he fell asleep. With nothing else to do, she took her young maid Zhen'er to chat with Xianglan. Just as she stepped through the side gate into the yard, she saw Lin Jinlou emerging from the house. Madam Tan quickly hid behind the gate but couldn't resist peeking out. She saw him wearing a silver-gray straight gown with peacock-blue cloud patterns, fastened at the waist with an Eight Treasures belt symbolizing fortune and longevity, and court boots on his feet. His hair was tied up with a golden silk gauze crown, accentuating his broad shoulders and back, making him appear truly dashing and vigorous. He paused at the inner gate, where a young gentleman was waiting. Upon seeing Lin Jinlou, the young man hurried forward with a cupped-hand salute, his face beaming with eager smiles.
Lin Jinlou merely smiled faintly, carrying himself with ease and elegance as he warmly greeted the other, as if born to be exalted and flattered.
Zhen'er peeked for a moment and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my! Is the Eldest Master wearing a golden silk gauze crown? I heard that officials below the third rank aren't allowed to wear such crowns. It's remarkable that the Eldest Master has achieved this rank at such a young age. Even if he never gets promoted again in his lifetime, he's already lived a full life." Noticing Madam Tan clutching her handkerchief and staring intently, she added quietly, "The Second Master is frail. Those who take the imperial exams risk half their lives just enduring the three days of the examination hall. Why not ask the Eldest Master to help him purchase an official position and secure a lucrative post? That way, we’d have something to rely on in the future?"
Madam Tan was already feeling conflicted as she watched Lin Jinlou, and Zhen'er's suggestion reminded her of her sickly husband, stirring up frustration. She scolded, "Enough of that nonsense! Who told you to gossip idly?"
Zhen'er knew Madam Tan had a quick temper but that her "thunder was loud yet the rain was light," so she wasn't afraid and even wore a cheeky smile.
Just then, Xianglan emerged from the house, supported by Xiao Juan. Her hair was adorned with jewels, the most striking being a pair of Red Gold Kingfisher Feather Inlay hairpins shaped like double butterflies, their wings as thin as cicada wings, trembling delicately in her bun. Anyone who saw them couldn't help but stare. Around her neck, she wore a red gold Yingluo necklace, and on each wrist, three pairs of bracelets. She was dressed in an apricot-yellow spring robe embroidered with magnolia flowers and a lotus-root-colored patterned skirt, which highlighted her slender waist, so delicate it seemed it could be held with one hand. From a distance, she looked as if she had stepped out of a painting. Surrounded by maids and servants, she entered a sedan chair as soon as she passed through the festooned gate.
Seeing this, Madam Tan said to Zhen'er, "Go ask where the Eldest Master and the Concubine are going."
Zhen'er went and returned shortly, saying, "The Eldest Master is taking the Concubine to offer birthday congratulations to the father-in-law of the Eldest Miss."
Madam Tan was taken aback. She stood for a long while, staring at the roses in the corner of the wall, before finally sighing wistfully, "Oh, so they’ve gone to offer birthday congratulations..." She was aware of the birthday celebration for Old Master Lu Guiyi, the father-in-law of the Eldest Miss. When Lin Dongwan had mentioned it earlier, the invitation hadn't been particularly pressing. Considering Lin Jinxuan's poor health and her own status as a newlywed who shouldn't appear in public too much, she had decided not to join the festivities. But now, seeing Lin Jinlou take Xianglan along, her feelings were indescribably mixed.
After all, Lin Jinxuan and Lin Dongwan were full siblings born of the same mother. If only Lin Jinxuan were more ambitious, she too could dress up grandly and go along in style...
Noticing Madam Tan staring blankly at the wittered roses on the wall, Zhen'er called out, "Second Madam, Second Madam? Don't stand in the shade. Let's go back."
Only then did Madam Tan gather her sleeves and, leaning on Zhen'er, slowly make her way back.Xianglan rode in a sedan chair to the Lu residence. The sedan was spacious enough for Xiao Juan to accompany her inside, occasionally adjusting her clothing and hair ornaments. With Chunling no longer around and Xianglan placing trust in Xiao Juan, the maids in the household had begun to regard Xiao Juan as their unofficial leader. However, Xiao Juan was inherently lazy—aside from styling Xianglan’s hair daily, she neglected all other duties. Fortunately, Xue Ning avoided stirring trouble, Ling Qing and Ling Su were newcomers, and Hua Shan was still young, so Xiao Juan faced little criticism.
Xianglan leaned back with closed eyes against the soft cushion when she felt the sedan halt abruptly. Noise and commotion echoed from ahead, prompting her to open her eyes. Xiao Juan immediately offered, "I’ll check," and moved to step out. Xianglan tugged her sleeve, saying, "Don’t dart out like a monkey—it’s unseemly to be seen that way. Have Gui Yuan see what’s happening."
Just as Xiao Juan lifted the curtain to call for him, Gui Yuan arrived, bowing respectfully. "The Dai family’s carriage is blocking the alley. We must wait for them to pass."
Xianglan lifted the curtain slightly and peered out. Several carriages were indeed jammed ahead, led by a young man on horseback—sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in luxurious silk, with rosy lips, pearly teeth, and eyes dark as lacquer. His demeanor was frivolous; from head to toe, he exuded an air of rakish charm, a truly handsome youth.
Following Xianglan’s gaze, Gui Yuan promptly said, "Madam, that is Dai Rong, the third young master of the Dai family. He has a formidable wife."
Amused by Gui Yuan’s mysterious tone, Xianglan smiled and asked, "How do you know that?"
Gui Yuan straightened up eagerly. "Everyone in the capital knows—Third Madam Dai scratched the face of her husband’s concubine." Rarely having Xianglan’s direct attention, as she usually relayed tasks through maids, Gui Yuan racked his brains to say more. Unfortunately, he had only overheard Shuangxi and a few servants discussing the matter and regretted not listening more closely. After a long pause, he added, "Young Master Dai once invited the Eldest Master to a banquet, but he was ignored."
Xianglan nodded, lowering the curtain. She thought to herself, The Dai family is merely a third-tier official clan now—no wonder Lin Jinlou scorns them. This Dai Rong, a flirtatious sort, sending invitations to Lin Jinlou, truly proves "birds of a feather flock together." Then, recalling Lin Jinlou’s scent of perfumed powder from the previous night, she let out a soft humph.
After waiting a while longer, Xianglan finally entered the Lu residence. Alighting from the sedan, she noticed a nearby carriage where maids held back the curtain as two attendants helped a young woman descend. She was somewhat tall and sturdy, with an oval face, thick eyebrows, large eyes that held a blend of springlike allure and authority, and a full mouth that added to her charm. This was Jiao Shi, Third Madam Dai.
Noticing a strikingly beautiful woman of elegant bearing observing her—and judging by her attire, someone of high status—Jiao Shi assumed Xianglan was a nobleman’s wife and promptly nodded and smiled at her.
Xianglan returned the smile with a nod.Jiao Shi then turned around and, with the help of two maidservants, assisted a noblewoman out. This woman wore a five-phoenix-facing-the-sun hairpin, a gleaming coiled-dragon gold necklace with a jade lock, and a crimson silk peony-patterned jacket embroidered with silver threads. Her skirt, in a light crimson hue, was subtly woven with gold in a "double happiness" design. Her opulent attire and striking beauty captured everyone's attention, and as soon as she stepped out of the carriage, all the other women around her faded into the background. Jiao Shi addressed her respectfully, "Madam."
The woman gently fanned herself with a white satin peacock-and-pine tree round silk fan, a slight smile playing on her lips. As her beautiful eyes swept around, they suddenly fell upon Xianglan. Instantly, her hand stilled, and the smile on her lips froze.
Xianglan widened her bright eyes in disbelief—this woman was none other than Zhao Yuechan!
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