The story goes that Lin Jinlou pulled Xianglan back to Chun Tang Hall. The maids, who had been gathered together chatting and laughing, quickly surrounded them as they entered. Lin Jinlou walked straight to the inner room, glancing back slightly to see Xianglan whispering instructions to Hua Shan, telling her to prepare his formal clothes for receiving guests.
As he walked, Lin Jinlou untied the wide gold-woven belt from his waist and casually handed it to Xiao Juan. Ling Qing promptly offered tea, Ling Su presented a towel, and Xue Ning served a plate of fresh seasonal fruits. Xianglan followed him in and sat on the Imperial Concubine Couch. Lin Jinlou joined her on the couch, took her hand with a smile, and gestured with his chin toward the pendant hanging on her chest. "Do you like it? Actually, I specifically saved it for you."
Just then, Shuran entered and overheard this. Being one who always knew how to join in the fun, she said with a laugh, "Oh, this pendant is wonderful—so warm and exquisite. The best part is the orchid design, which subtly matches Madame's name. Nothing could be more thoughtful. This sentiment alone is worth ten thousand taels of gold."
Xianglan looked up and saw Lin Jinlou smiling at her. Unsure how to respond, she lowered her long, thick eyelashes. Lin Jinlou said, "Ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver—it's all just to amuse you."
Xianglan blinked and raised her head slightly, meeting Lin Jinlou's smiling eyes. Seeing the situation, Shuran thought, "Well then, any important matters can wait until after the Master has finished being affectionate." She exchanged glances with the other maids, and they quietly withdrew.
Gazing at Xianglan's delicate face, Lin Jinlou couldn't help but lower his voice. "Do you like it? I'm asking you." After a pause, he added, "Or is there something you want to say?"
Xianglan looked up at Lin Jinlou's handsome features and, for some reason, was reminded of the conversation she had just had with Jiang Xiyun. Her heart suddenly felt heavy, unsure whether it was due to grievance or sorrow. She only felt that the hand Lin Jinlou was holding was burning hot, so she pulled her hand back without saying a word.
Lin Jinlou frowned slightly and was about to ask more when he saw Hua Shan walk in carrying a stack of clothes. As she entered, she said, "Madame, the dark green set was washed this morning and isn't dry yet. There are a few similar sets in the chest. Would you like to—" She caught Lin Jinlou glaring at her and froze in fear, the rest of her words stuck in her throat.
This interruption saved Xianglan. She stood up and went over, saying, "Leave them here. Let me take a look."
Lin Jinlou was displeased, thinking, "The maid Xianglan brought from her home isn't as perceptive as those raised by the Lin Family. And what an annoying name—Hua Shan. Damn it, just because that pretty boy Song Ke gave her a fan, she’s been clinging to the memory. I’ll change this maid’s name tomorrow—call her Jade Pendant, or maybe Screen. After all, I was the one who gave her a peacock screen earlier, and she liked it so much she used to stare at it as if trying to bore a hole through it." With that, he glared at Hua Shan again, making her face turn even paler.
Impatiently, Lin Jinlou said, "Anything will do. Come here."
Xianglan pretended not to hear and continued examining the clothes. Hearing the commotion, Shuran peeked in and then entered, saying, "Master, the other gentlemen have arrived and are drinking in the front. They asked you to join them as soon as you returned."Lin Jinlou glanced at Xianglan once more before finally uttering an "Mm," allowing the servants to help him change his clothes while stealing occasional looks at her. Xianglan felt an inexplicable tension in her heart. Lin Jinlou's gaze was sharp and penetrating; from the very beginning, she had stood no chance against him. All her thoughts were seen through by him, firmly held in the palm of his hand.
Before leaving, Lin Jinlou pinched Xianglan's chin, examined her carefully twice, and then said, "Don't you have anything to say to your Master?"
Xianglan shook her head.
Lin Jinlou narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "What did that Fifth Miss Jiang say to you earlier?"
What did she say? Naturally, it was to intimidate by punishing an innocent, to warn me, and to probe your intentions. Xianglan's heart tightened. She looked up at Lin Jinlou but ultimately said nothing, shaking her head again. "Nothing much, just idle chatter."
Lin Jinlou thoughtfully released her chin, let out an "Oh," and started to walk away, then turned back and said, "Distribute the bolts of fabric sent as tribute from the shops among the young ladies. Also, among the jewelry sent from the silver shop the other day, there's a pearl-encrusted ring—send it to Fifth Cousin."
Xianglan acknowledged each instruction one by one, catching a glimpse of Chun Ling peeking through the window from the corner of her eye. Shuran quickly smiled and said, "I'll go get the keys to open the warehouse now."
After Lin Jinlou had left, Xianglan whispered to Shuran, "Keep an eye on Chun Ling these next few days. I sense there's something off about her behavior lately."
Shuran sneered, "She hasn't been right since coming to the capital, and now she's getting all chummy with the Jiang Family. Forgive my bluntness, but Mistress, you're too soft. A good beating to show her who's in charge would put her in her place."
Xianglan gave a bitter smile and said, "I've said all I can to reason with her, but what she wants, I cannot give. With her frivolous nature, always offending people and refusing to listen to me, if she were to gain any power, who knows what she might do. I'm not afraid of what she might do to me, but if she continues like this, she's bound to take a hard fall. If she truly offends Taitai, I doubt even I could protect her. For now, let her be—it's a lie to say I'm not disheartened, but some bonds aren't meant to be forced. Let her go her own way, just keep a close watch on our household. As long as she doesn't cause trouble, don't say anything to hurt her either. After all, we once had a bond. If she wants to go to Miss Jiang, I won't stop her. Let's part on good terms."
Hearing this, Shuran sighed, murmured a prayer, and said, "My Mistress, hearing you say that, I don't even know how to respond. A while back, she knew full well you were sitting right next door, yet she kept praising Fifth Miss Jiang, saying things like 'she's so magnanimous,' 'such a delightful personality,' 'born with the looks of a Celestial Maiden,' 'she ought to be the Main House Mistress.' Ah, I know it pained you to hear it—you even pricked your finger while sewing and had to send Hua Shan out to tell Chun Ling to bring in the clothes drying outside. After that incident, you never entrusted her with important tasks again, yet you treated her just as well as before. Such magnanimity is truly beyond words." She then hesitated, weighing her words several times before tentatively adding, "As for the Jiang Family—really, Mistress, you shouldn't swallow all your grievances and bitterness. Master treats you very well after all—"Xianglan naturally detected the underlying meaning in those words, but merely smiled. Everything that had transpired today was something she had anticipated ever since being forced into the Lin Family as a concubine. Speaking up wouldn’t change the fact that she was just a concubine, and besides, she had never been one to stir up trouble. She understood why Jiang Xiyun had spoken to her in such a manner. The girl was truly in a difficult position—with the Jiang Family facing hardship, she wanted to avoid getting involved, yet Qin Shi had specifically taken a liking to her. If Qin Shi had favored her elder sister instead, it might have been a happy outcome for all. What a pity, what a pity—Qin Shi hadn’t even glanced in the direction of the Fourth Jiang Miss.
Xianglan felt she had been worn down and roughened by life’s hardships. If Jiang Xiyun had come to admonish her with such words back when she had just entered the Lin Family as a concubine, she would have felt deeply insulted and retorted sharply. Now, however, she could face it calmly. Words that once would have been intolerable now passed like a gentle spring breeze, met with a sigh or a light laugh. A pang of bitterness rose in Xianglan’s heart—such peace of mind had been forged through countless stumbles and setbacks, containing so much grievance and helplessness. But then, a surge of pride suddenly welled up within her. Despite encountering many disgraceful experiences, she had never become a bitter, complaining, or scheming woman. She had never sought to improve her own circumstances by plotting against others. Suffering had only polished her into a more refined and enriched person, which was why she could now better understand the hardships of others.
Xianglan sat in a daze for a while until Shuran sent someone with a catalog of fabrics. Rousing her spirits, she carefully distributed them and instructed Xiao Juan to retrieve some rings, dispatching people to deliver them. Of this, no more need be said.
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou emerged from Chun Tang Hall, his brow furrowed all the way. Guiyuan, noticing his master seemed in a foul mood, grew even more apprehensive, not daring to make a sound. He inwardly lamented, “Ji Xiang and Shuangxi are up front attending to those gentlemen—why was I assigned to receive this particular ‘Buddha’? Could it be that Lady Xianglan said something that struck a nerve? But that can’t be—since arriving in the capital, haven’t these two been getting along much better?” As he was lost in these wild thoughts, he suddenly heard Lin Jinlou ask, “The paintings your mistress has done are all stored in the study, correct?”
“Huh?” Guiyuan was taken aback but quickly plastered on a smile. “Indeed, every time the mistress gives me a painting, this humble servant delivers it straight to the Master’s front study.”
“Oh, then let’s go to the study. Find them for me.”
The two proceeded to the study. Lin Jinlou settled into an armchair, holding a bowl of heat-relief soup, while Guiyuan, sweating profusely, rummaged through several painting cylinders. Eventually, he gathered over twenty scrolls. Lin Jinlou unrolled them one by one, checking the dates and signatures. Suddenly, he noticed that since he had permitted Xianglan to sell her paintings externally, the quality of the works she produced had noticeably improved by several levels. Lin Jinlou snorted through his nose. After picking and choosing, he selected about ten paintings, ordered servant boys to carry them, and leisurely made his way to the reception hall where guests were resting.
The hall was bustling with drinking games, clinking cups, and boisterous chatter. Several servant boys attended to the guests, while delicate-looking young actors sang operatic tunes in the background, creating a scene of extreme liveliness.
The moment everyone saw Lin Jinlou enter, they laughed loudly and called out, “Look here, the busy man has finally arrived! Neglecting his guests—he must be punished with a few drinks!”
Someone chimed in, “He should down this entire jar!”
Liu Xiaochuan, clutching his stomach, chuckled and said, “Young Master, I heard you, Lin the Bandit, were checking out a prospective bride in the rear courtyard. Tell us, brother, how did it go?”Xie Yu kicked him under the table and said, "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory!" As he spoke, he shot him a meaningful glance. Jiang Feiyun's husband, Lu Chaozong—the second legitimate son of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage—was seated at another table, making such teasing remarks inappropriate.
Unexpectedly, Liu Xiaochuan had always been a reckless troublemaker and had previously clashed with Lu Chaozong. He glared at Xie Yu and retorted, "What's with your cheap habit of kicking me? If some are eager to offer their daughters, why can't I say a few words?"
Xie Yu was displeased and snapped, "You're nothing but a scoundrel! I, as your brother, was kindly reminding you out of goodwill. If I ever meddle in your nonsense again, I'll be your grandson!"
Liu Xiaochuan chuckled and said, "You've said that several times already. Come on, call me 'Grandpa'—"
Xie Yu immediately flared up and rolled up his sleeves. In the past, Chu Dapeng would always mediate their arguments, but at this moment, Chu Dapeng had stepped away to relieve himself. Yuan Shaoren, who was holding De Ge'er in his arms and feeding him, quietly intervened, "Enough, you two. You bicker like dogs fighting—neither gains anything. Don’t forget whose house this is. If Lin Bawang loses his temper, you’ll both have to face the consequences." With that, he stood up, handed De Ge'er a cup of tea, and instructed him to offer a toast to Lin Jinlou.
Apologies, everyone. I had an urgent matter at home this afternoon, which delayed the update. I originally planned to post 6,000 words, but I wasn’t satisfied with the later part and need to revise it further. Seeing that it’s already past the usual time, I’m quickly posting 3,000 words now. The remainder will definitely be updated tomorrow. Again, my apologies!
Also, I’ll collectively thank all those who tipped in the next chapter. Thank you! Grateful!
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