Lin Jinlou gritted his teeth and said, "Feeling awful from drinking too much? Serves you right!" With that, he stood up and strode away. But after just two steps, hearing Xianglan retching into the spittoon, he couldn't help turning back to check on her. He shouted over his shoulder at Ling Su and the others standing by the door, "Hurry up and bring the emetic soup! Shuran! Check where Imperial Physician Zhang is and have him come over immediately!" The maids scurried to obey. After barking out the orders, Lin Jinlou sat back down in a chair, fuming silently. He kept getting up to glance at Xianglan before sitting again, his face as dark as a pot's bottom.
After vomiting several times, Xianglan felt somewhat relieved and her mind cleared, though her head throbbed unbearably. She rinsed her mouth and changed into fresh clothes, tying her hair into a simple bun. Before long, Imperial Physician Zhang arrived, panting. After examining her, he said to Lin Jinlou, "The new concubine has had too much to drink. I'll prescribe a remedy for two or three days, and she should eat lightly during this time." Noting Lin Jinlou's stern expression, he added with an apologetic smile, "I've just checked her pulse—the new concubine's health has improved since the last treatment. I'll adjust the prescription, and perhaps in two or three months, there will be good news. General Lin need not worry."
Hearing this, Lin Jinlou's expression softened slightly. He rewarded Fengfeng with a generous red envelope and saw Imperial Physician Zhang out. Returning, he found the maids had drawn back the bed curtains, revealing Xianglan leaning against the headboard in a daze. Lin Jinlou approached to examine her face—pale and wan, with red, swollen eyes. "Feeling better? Sobered up?" he asked.
Xianglan glanced at him but didn't respond. Her head swam, and nausea lingered. Now that the drunkenness had passed, her clear mind confronted her bleak reality, and her heart sank again. Old Lord Lin resided far away in Jinling, Lin Changzheng was stationed in Shanxi, and Qin Shi had no control over Lin Jinlou's affairs—the entire Lin Family was under Lin Jinlou's sole authority. Jiang Xiyun appeared sweet and innocent but was shrewd and formidable. Trapped in this mansion with helpless parents, Xianglan felt utterly cornered, with no escape. Thinking of her sister deepened her sorrow—Jialian had always been more clever and quick-witted than her, yet she had died so tragically. Xianglan wondered if she herself would have gritted her teeth and endured, as she had done too often these past years, numbed to the pain. Despair and gloom clouded her future; she trudged through the mire, each retreat met by a greater wave crashing down. She was terrified—afraid of ending up like her sister, and even more afraid that this life would never end. She let out a long sigh and turned to gaze at the orchid on the crabapple table.
After a long silence, Lin Jinlou exhaled and said, "Rest now. I'll send a maid to inform Taitai that you'll see her tomorrow." He stood and left.
The room fell quiet. Xianglan closed her eyes and leaned against the pillow for a while until she heard footsteps—Lin Jinlou had returned. He touched her forehead, and she slightly opened her eyes to find him sitting by the bed. Outside, the rain continued; inside, a single lamp burned, its candlelight illuminating his handsome features.
Lin Jinlou stroked her cheek again, tucking stray hairs behind her ear, and asked softly, "Does your head still hurt? Feel like vomiting? Want some water?"If Lin Jinlou had scowled and glared at her, it would have made her feel better, but his gentle tone made Xianglan's tears suddenly stream down her face for some reason. Lin Jinlou reached out to wipe her tears and said softly, "If you keep crying, you'll go blind."
Xianglan covered her face and sobbed. Lin Jinlou picked her up and patted her back. As she leaned on his shoulder, crying uncontrollably, he stroked her back and whispered in her ear, "I know you were wronged at the poetry club today, and I'm aware of it. But no matter how wronged you feel, you shouldn't get drunk. You can't hold your liquor—aren't you just harming yourself? I've been showing you respect in public, but you can't turn around and disgrace yourself, can you? Besides, Old Yuan is an unrelated man. You shouldn't meet him privately, even with De Ge'er and the maids present. If others found out, they'd gossip." Hearing her sobs subside a little, he pushed her away and couldn't help asking, "What exactly did you say to Old Yuan?"
Xianglan lowered her head, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and said quietly, "I asked about how De Ge'er's birth mother died. I pitied her tragic fate and feared that I—might end up like her someday."
Lin Jinlou frowned. "Like her how?"
"She was driven to her death by the Marquis and his legal wife." Xianglan raised her head, her deep, pool-like eyes fixed on Lin Jinlou. Her expression was extremely calm, but her eyes were filled with unbearable sorrow and confusion.
Lin Jinlou's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Xianglan, and his face gradually darkened.
Xianglan felt unwell and had blurted out these words recklessly. Now she felt a hint of regret but also an indescribable sense of relief. She didn't dare look at Lin Jinlou's expression anymore and simply closed her eyes, leaning against the bedpost.
Just then, Chun Ling stood at the door and announced, "Reporting to the Master, Taitai has arrived."
With her eyes closed, Xianglan knew Lin Jinlou sat for a long moment before finally getting up and leaving. Only then did she let out a long sigh. She had cried again, and her head throbbed as if pierced by needles. Unable to bear it any longer, she groaned and collapsed onto the bed.
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou left the bedroom and saw Qin Shi sitting in a chair in the hall, sipping tea. He took a seat in the chair below hers. Qin Shi scrutinized him up and down a few times and, seeing his gloomy expression, asked, "What's wrong? Who are you pulling that face for?"
Lin Jinlou picked up the Chenghua five-color small lidded cup, took a sip of tea, and nodded dismissively. "It's nothing. I'm just tired from entertaining guests earlier.Seeing her eldest son looking weary, Qin Shi couldn't help feeling heartbroken. "You just returned from accompanying the emperor. Rest properly for a couple of days. Why not avoid unnecessary visits from relatives and friends? What if you exhaust yourself? Besides, the eldest son of the Jiang family set off for the capital half a month ago and should arrive in a couple of days. I'm afraid once they come, you'll have no time to rest again."
Lin Jinlou's mind was preoccupied with Xianglan's matter, and hearing his mother mention the Jiang family made him even more impatient. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, I know."
Qin Shi slammed the tea bowl onto the table with a "smack" and snapped, "Who are you talking to like that? Are you the one who's angry now? I don't care how many concubines you take or whom you favor, but the Jiang family was chosen by the Old Master and your father. Since we're to become in-laws, we should show them respect! You've repeatedly promoted Chen Xianglan—how could the Jiang family not be angry? Old Madam Jiang is so furious she's taken to her bed. What if something really happens to her? I still have to smooth things over for you. Is this how you show filial piety to your parents?"
Lin Jinlou frowned and said, "If the Jiang family isn't happy, then they shouldn't agree to the marriage."Qin Shi raised her willow-leaf eyebrows and said, "What kind of nonsense are you speaking!" Seeing Lin Jinlou frowning with an equally troubled expression, she knew her eldest son had a fiery temper and that sharp words would be ineffective. Suppressing her anger, she lamented, "My fate is truly bitter—I can’t rely on my husband, my younger son is still childish, and my eldest only adds to my troubles all day long. If I say one wrong word, he even dares to sulk at me. Alas, my destiny—at my age, everyone else has children and grandchildren around them, with daughters-in-law dutifully serving and showing filial piety. But here I am, an old bone, still managing this and that, with not a single one giving me peace of mind—" As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she lifted a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
Seeing his mother cry, Lin Jinlou quickly suppressed his own irritation and forced a smile. "Dear Taitai, my own mother, please forgive me this once. I’m truly exhausted today, had too much alcohol, and my head is still foggy. I don’t even know what nonsense I just spouted. You’re magnanimous—don’t take it to heart. Besides, I’m your own son—you can’t stay angry with me, can you?"
Qin Shi, who had been stirred by her own sorrows, felt her resentment dissipate upon hearing this. She looked up and spat toward the floor, saying, "If you know you’re my own son, why do you upset me?"
Lin Jinlou replied, "I didn’t mean to upset you." He stepped forward and took the handkerchief from Qin Shi’s hand to wipe her tears.
Qin Shi snatched the handkerchief back, glared at her eldest son, dabbed the corners of her eyes, and then said, "Why is your head foggy? If you’re unwell, quickly drink a bowl of osmanthus hangover soup. Come here, let Mother take a look. You’ve been away all this time—have you suffered? With your grandfather and father not in the capital, you’re the pillar of this household. If anything happens to you, who can we rely on?"
Lin Jinlou let Qin Shi take his hand and inspect him from head to toe. Qin Shi said heartbrokenly, "You’ve really grown thinner.""
Lin Jinlou rolled his eyes and said, "Mom, you must be mistaken. I’ve always been like this—I haven’t lost weight anywhere."
"Who says? Serving in the Imperial Presence, you can’t eat or sleep well, always on edge—how could you be comfortable?" Qin Shi sighed. "You just don’t have a proper person in your chambers to look after you. Chen Xianglan may be good, but she’s not a legitimate wife. Listen to your mother: as the saying goes, ‘One generation without a good wife, ten generations without good sons.’ You made a mistake with your previous wife, and now we can’t let you follow your whims anymore! Given how you’ve elevated Chen Xianglan, only a dough figurine would tolerate it. But someone so timid—can you take her out in the future? Can she manage this vast household? She’d only bring shame to the family and give me more worries. Jiang Xiyun may have her flaws, but she’s among the most outstanding young ladies. There’s no such thing as perfection in this world. After all the comparing, she still stands out more than the others. Your father wrote in his recent letter that the Jiang Family has been reprimanded—the emperor only deducted a year’s salary from Jiang Xuecheng and demoted him one rank, which shows they still retain imperial favor. Besides, they have an accomplished eldest son. You understand these stakes better than I do."The conversation circled back to this topic again, causing Lin Jinlou to furrow his brows once more. Qin Shi paused before saying, "Mother knows Chen Xianglan holds a special place in your heart. That girl is truly endearing, and with me here, she won't be mistreated. When spring comes, we'll pick an auspicious day to bring her into the household with Grandeur, and I'll personally prepare the feast. But given her status... it was fine when you had no wife, but now that we're about to discuss marriage with the Jiang Family, it's inappropriate for her to remain in the Main House. I've already promised the Jiang Family she'll move out within a day or two."
Lin Jinlou immediately expressed displeasure: "Why did you agree to this with the Jiang Family without consulting me?"
Qin Shi retorted angrily, "This matter is obvious! What is there to discuss? For now, we must concede to keep the Jiang Family comfortable."
Lin Jinlou said sternly, "No, she cannot move."
"Why? Do you plan to enshrine her in the Main House forever?" Qin Shi grew increasingly furious, standing up and taking two steps toward Lin Jinlou. She gritted her teeth and said, "Or are you going to practice Favorite Concubine Usurping the Wife and anger me to death?"
"It's not like that—she just can't move—I forbid it. Even if she must move, it shouldn't be done this way." If Xianglan were forced from the Main House now, all his previous efforts to elevate her would become a laughingstock. Lin Jinlou stood up to leave, unable to bear sitting there any longer. Before his eyes appeared Xianglan's pale, delicate face with its weary expression, her eyes faintly glistening with tears, utterly helpless as she had told him: "I'm afraid I'll... end up like her someday."
Qin Shi shouted angrily, "You stop right there!" She had always been strong-willed throughout her life—even Lin Changzheng yielded to her—yet she couldn't control her eldest son. Choking back sobs of frustration, she cried, "What sins did I commit in my past life—"
Though filled with irritation, Lin Jinlou saw Qin Shi's renewed anger and had to return, saying, "Mother, you needn't worry about this matter..."
"How can I not worry? Since childhood, you've suffered setbacks in this area. Besides your grandfather, is there no one who can manage you? Am I not your birth mother?"
"Yes, yes, no one said you aren't." Lin Jinlou approached and massaged Qin Shi's shoulders. "I know how to handle this. If anything goes wrong, you can have Grandfather beat me—don't stop him even if the old man uses his cane to strike me dead."
"Bah! What nonsense!"
"Alright, don't concern yourself with affairs in my quarters. Even if she must move out, it doesn't have to be in the next day or two... Tomorrow I'll invite an opera troupe to perform a couple shows to relieve the boredom."
By the time Lin Jinlou had coaxed Qin Shi into leaving, it was already lighting-up time. To please his mother, he had endured listening to her gossip about various relatives, occasional scoldings directed at him, and even accompanied her in reviewing embroidery patterns, commenting on which were attractive—an ordeal more exhausting than military campaigns. He trudged back to his bedroom with drooping shoulders. Xianglan hadn't yet woken, lying sound asleep on the bed covered by a thin silk quilt with rhombus pattern, her brows slightly furrowed and lips slightly pouted, cheeks flushed with the innocent vulnerability of a child. Lin Jinlou's expression gradually softened. He gently touched Xianglan's lips, sat by the bed gazing silently at her, and after a long while, let out a deep sigh.Qin Shi returned to her residence and ordered the maids to bring ink, brush, paper, and inkstone. She first wrote a lengthy letter addressed to Lin Changzheng, then carefully composed another for Lin Zhaoxiang. After reading both letters thoroughly, she made fresh copies, blew the ink dry, sealed them with wax, and summoned Wu Mama. "Send one letter to the Old Master and the other to the Master," she instructed. "Have your two sons deliver them personally—ensure it's done properly." Wu Mama acknowledged the order but couldn't resist asking, "Taitai, why are you...?"
Qin Shi sighed. "It's all because of that troublesome Lou Ge'er. I can't control his reckless behavior, so I'm reporting this to the Old Master and the Master for their decision." Noticing a bowl of lotus root soup with taro balls on the table, she ordered a portion sent to Dream Fragrance Courtyard. Remembering Lin Jinlou had mentioned Xianglan felt unwell after drinking too much, she hesitated briefly before finally dispatching a maid to deliver a bowl to Xianglan as well. No more need be said.
In the main hall of Dream Fragrance Courtyard, behind the wooden Buddhist Seven Treasures large screen, Ruoqing whispered, "...That's exactly what Chun Ling said. The Lin Family's Taitai wanted Xianglan to move out of the Main House, but Master Lin firmly refused. What do you think... Miss, must we continue to endure this?"
Jiang Xiyun merely stared blankly at the flickering candle flame on the table. Seeing her pale complexion, Ruoqing dared not say more and quietly stepped aside.
(Find me on Weibo by searching for He Yanshan on Sina.)
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