Jiang Xiyun's face flushed even reder as she whispered, "It's nothing special, I'd rather not embarrass myself by showing it."
Qin Shi laughed and said, "Quick, bring it out for us to see. Surely you're not going to keep it hidden?"
Everyone chimed in, urging her to show it. Jiang Xiyun had no choice but to send Ruoqing to fetch it. Shortly after, Ruoqing returned with a blue satin bundle. When unwrapped, it revealed a pair of knee pads made of fine leather, with an indigo blue lining embroidered with the "Nine Suns Herald Prosperity" pattern, symbolizing endless blessings and good fortune. The craftsmanship was vibrant and exquisitely detailed.
Qin Shi took them in her hands, examined them, and beamed with delight. She then passed them to Lin Jinlou, saying, "Such fine needlework puts even the professional embroiderers to shame. It's clear a great deal of effort went into this. No one could have a more ingenious mind. Your eldest cousin is a cavalry general—he'll find these very useful in the winter."
Grandmother Jiang smiled and said, "Xiyun is such a sincere child. She insisted on troubling her eldest cousin and wanted to express her gratitude with some needlework. She even stayed up late, working by lamplight to finish these."
Qin Shi beckoned and said, "Good child, come here." Taking Jiang Xiyun's hand, she added, "Don't do needlework under the lamp anymore; you might strain your eyes. The weather is getting hotter too. I have a piece of Fine Cloth here—it's soft and cool to wear. Later, take it and make some summer clothes with your cousins."
Jiang Xiyun smiled brightly and said, "Thank you, Aunt. Grandmother dotes on us and has already had new summer dresses made for Fourth Sister and me. With you caring for us like this, we truly don't know how to express our gratitude."
This remark both praised Grandmother Jiang and pleased Qin Shi, making both of them feel content. Grandmother Jiang laughed and said, "This is your aunt showing her affection for you."
Lin Dongwan tugged at Lin Dongqi and Lin Dongxiu, joking, "Look at that! As soon as our cousins arrived, we're no longer the favored ones!"
Jiang Xiyun lowered her head, her face tinged with a shy blush.
Everyone laughed. Although Jiang Danyu forced a smile, her eyes were already reddening. Lin Dongxiu fiddled with her skirt silently, while Tan Luhua gave a soft snort and turned to whisper to Xianglan, "So fake and annoying. I can't stand this kind of flattery and showiness. If I get any more irritated, I'll expose that little minx's tricks!"
Xianglan squeezed Tan Luhua's hand and whispered back, "Taitai is still here. Don't upset her."
Tan Luhua sneered, "What's there to fear? Even if she's my mother-in-law, she'll eventually return to Jinling. Second Master and I will stay in the capital, far away from her reach—what does it matter? To be frank with you, Second Master is in poor health, and we're always short on silver. Marrying into this family was already a compromise. If I have to endure these trivial annoyances too, what's the point of living?"Xianglan was about to persuade further when she suddenly sensed someone watching her. Looking up, she met Lin Jinlou's gaze directly. He held the knee pads in his hand, looking at her with a faint, ambiguous smile. Xianglan immediately forgot what she had intended to say to Tan Luhua. Though their eyes met across the room, it felt as distant as mountains and rivers. Lin Jinlou's expression carried three parts pride and seven parts satisfaction—clearly, Jiang Xiyun's gift had struck just the right chord.
A sudden weight pressed on Xianglan's chest. These past few days, Lin Jinlou had acquired a chest of fine furs and asked her to make him a pair of knee pads and a hat. She had nearly finished the knee pads, but now Jiang Xiyun had presented him with a pair. Just from the extensive embroidery, it was evident they were infinitely more exquisite than hers. Surely, Lin Jinlou wouldn't need the pair she was making anymore?
Well, perhaps it was for the best.
Earlier, Qin Shi's deliberate praise of Jiang Xiyun, her attentive inquiries, and her silent approval of Lin Dongwan's blatant teasing made it clear that matters were likely settled.
Xianglan glanced at Jiang Xiyun, who was being cuddled and fussed over by Qin Shi, her face adorned with a bashful smile. Xianglan felt neither fondness nor dislike toward Jiang Xiyun; she merely observed from afar, unable to suppress a pang of envy. Such a sweet, delicate girl must have been cherished and protected by her elders since childhood, hence her charming and amiable appearance. Yet, an innate sense of superiority and self-perceived cleverness remained ingrained in her bones—much like Xianglan's former self in her previous life. In this life, however, Xianglan had grown up in the dust. No matter how resilient, quiet, or cautious she was, an underlying, unspoken anxiety still lurked in her heart.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Xiyun noticed Lin Jinlou still gazing toward Xianglan. She paused in surprise, then pretended not to see and turned her head away. Qin Shi happened to catch this and followed her gaze, immediately frowning. She cleared her throat and said, "Lou Ge'er?"
Only then did Lin Jinlou snap out of his reverie and look at Qin Shi.
Qin Shi glared at him and said, "Your cousin went to such trouble to make these for you. Aren't you going to thank her?"
Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "Thank you, Fifth Sister."
Qin Shi retorted, "Is a mere 'thank you' enough?"
Jiang Xiyun hurriedly interjected, "Aunt, I made these needlework items precisely to express my gratitude."
Qin Shi patted Jiang Xiyun's hand and said with a laugh, "Don't worry about it. He's the wealthiest among us. Today, I'll help you claim a few nice trinkets from him."
Jiang Feiyun chimed in, "Fifth Sister's poem was so exquisite earlier. Shouldn't the jade pendant go to the winner? We all heard Cousin clearly announce it as a prize earlier—no backing out now!"
Everyone laughed again.
Lin Dongwan, ever observant, noticed Grandmother Jiang, Qin Shi, and Lin Jinlou all smiling and seized the moment to add to the fun. "Eldest Brother has always been generous—he would never go back on his word. Come, Xiyun, why don't you toast Eldest Brother with a cup of mild wine? Remember, that pendant once belonged to the crown prince."
The crowd erupted in laughter. Jiang Feiyun quickly poured a cup of wine and pressed it into Jiang Xiyun's hand, winking and urging, "Hurry, offer a toast to your eldest cousin."
Meanwhile, Lin Dongwan turned to Lin Jinlou with a grin. "I know Eldest Brother has a great capacity for liquor. If Xiyun toasts you, you must show sincerity—a small cup won't do. Haitang, quickly replace the cup with a larger one. Today, we must make sure Eldest Brother enjoys a hearty drink!"Lin Jinlou was accustomed to such scenes, but he hadn't expected Jiang Xiyun to remain so composed. She truly exchanged for a gold-rimmed bowl decorated with pink enamel autumn chrysanthemums and magpies, filling it to the brim. At the sight, Lin Jinlou laughed and said, "This won't do. We're barely getting started, and I still have social engagements ahead. If you get me drunk here, my relatives, brothers-in-law, and friends will be left staring helplessly. They'd surely laugh themselves to death—this simply won't do."
Lin Dongwan chuckled, "Who doesn't know your capacity for drink? I've heard you drank an entire table under the table and remained as steady as Mount Tai. That day, my husband came home and vomited all night, suffering for days before he regained some color in his face. Today, I'm borrowing Sister Xi's hand to seek revenge."
Qin Shi pointed playfully at Lin Dongwan and laughed, "Look at this girl—so outward-looking after marriage, she knows to defend her husband but forgets to care for her brother." Secretly, she was quite pleased with Lin Dongwan, thinking how this girl, who had been so prickly before marriage, always suspecting her stepmother of ill intentions, had finally matured after wedding. She now understood the hardships and rewards of life and recognized the benefits of maintaining good relations with her natal family. Glancing at the silent Lin Dongqi, Qin Shi sighed softly, wishing her own daughter had Lin Dongwan's perceptiveness. Such an upright yet simple nature—who could she have inherited it from?
Grandmother Jiang nodded slightly and smiled, "My niece-in-law is truly blessed. Each of these daughters is outstanding, graceful, and dignified—a pleasure to behold."
Jiang Feiyun chimed in, "Come, come, Fifth Sister, quickly offer a toast to Cousin. Didn't you say earlier that Cousin is young and accomplished, having built his career without relying on family legacy, making him most admirable? Today, you should toast him properly—it'd be a shame not to after all that praise."
As her words fell, all eyes turned to Lin Jinlou. Earlier, outside the pavilion, the atmosphere had been lively, but inside sat only Jiang Danyu, Lin Dongxiu, Tan Luhua, Lin Dongqi, and Xianglan—all five remaining silent. Jiang Danyu seethed with resentment and humiliation; if not for forcibly restraining herself, tears would have already streamed down her face. Lin Dongxiu and Tan Luhua wore cold, mocking smiles. Lin Dongqi kept her head bowed. Normally fond of lively conversation, she had felt insincere ever since the crowd had clamored to crown Jiang Xiyun as the winner. It was evident to all that Xianglan's poem surpassed Jiang Xiyun's, yet the situation had escalated to such a point that she suddenly felt deeply embarrassed for Xianglan and chose to remain silent.
Xianglan sat quietly at the edge of the pavilion. Watching the others laugh and banter, observing Jiang Feiyun and Lin Dongwan take turns with witty remarks, and seeing Jiang Xiyun's flushed cheeks as she poured wine for Lin Jinlou, she felt increasingly out of place. Even if they forcibly elevated her status, it wouldn't change the fact that everyone looked down on her, treating her as mere decoration. Had her poem been mediocre, it might have been tolerable, but now it only amplified her discomfort.
She suddenly let out a soft laugh, sighed lightly, and lifted her head to gaze at the blue sky beyond the pavilion.
Jiang Xiyun had already raised the wine bowl, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, her smile sweet and charming. She said, "Cousin, my sisters are all jesting. But this bowl of wine, I offer to you with genuine sincerity. Please drink it quickly—it's mild rice wine, not strong, and quite fragrant and sweet."Lin Jinlou lounged in his chair, lazily reaching out to stop the bowl of wine. His gaze lingered on Jiang Xiyun's face for a moment before he smiled and said, "It's not that I'm refusing to give you face, but this isn't the proper way to offer a toast. Here's how it should be: first toast the Concubine Dowager and Taitai, then come back to toast me. How can a junior bypass their elders? This is also far too much wine—I'll drink only as much as the elders do."
The crowd was taken aback, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across Jiang Xiyun's face. Jiang Feiyun thought to herself, "This won't do. The whole point was for Fifth Sister to toast him so the matter would be settled and she could get that pendant." Aloud, she quickly interjected with a smile, "But Fifth Sister was especially eager to toast you, Cousin—"
Lin Jinlou ignored her, turning instead to point at several cups on the table and nodding to Hongjian. "Pour the wine."
Lin Jinlou had always been a man of his word, and Hongjian dared not disobey. She stole a glance at Qin Shi, who remained expressionless, then averted her eyes and carefully poured the wine.
(Xiao He's Weibo: Search 'He Yanshan' on Sina Weibo)
This week has been incredibly busy. I originally planned to post a lengthy chapter on Saturday, but then I got a call saying I have to work overtime at the office on Saturday evening. Alas, there's no helping it. I'll make it up to everyone once this busy period is over. My apologies—I'm off to work now!
Thank you to tangxiao818 for the Peach Blossom Fan, shmilyaw for the sachet, Rongyu8163 and Ailan2014 for three Peace Talismans, Taoyanchishengyupian, bubu8915, damima, Mingmingbaobaogeda, kmtk11011101 for two Peace Talismans, Muminkonghua, Menqianmaicaidelaonainai, Likebing, Lianyujiadepangzi, Huihui~jiejie, Gelintonghua1, tangxiao818, Yusuidiaolan, Jidanyuan, Fanqieniu, and Naiyouxiaofang for the Peace Talismans. Also, thank you to everyone for the pink votes. Thanks! ^_^
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