After Lin Dongxiu's marriage, the weather grew colder day by day. As soon as winter began, a heavy snowfall arrived. Xianglan's health had been gradually improving through recuperation, while Lin Jinlou sourced rare medicinal herbs from various places and instructed the kitchen to prepare nourishing dishes in creative ways. Due to his busy official duties, he often stayed at the military camp, leaving his usual attendants Ji Xiang and Shuangxi at Xianglan's disposal.
One early morning, Xianglan rose and washed, draping a Plum Orchid Chrysanthemum cloak over her shoulders. Ling Qing handed her a Silver Ball hand warmer, saying, "The north wind blew all night – the weather has turned truly fierce. It's unusually cold for early winter."
Xiao Juan entered, dusting snow off her clothes as she reported, "It snowed all night, with scattered Snow Beads still falling this morning. The servants are clearing the snow now. As you instructed, new concubine, the kitchen prepared hot ginger soup, and Guiyuan has already sent some old women to distribute it."
Xianglan nodded and looked around, asking, "Where's Hua Shan?"
Xue Ning laughed, "She's from Fujian and has only been in Jinling a few years. This is her first time in the capital – she's never seen such heavy snow! She went out early to play with the maidservants." Then she said to Xianglan, "This must be your first time seeing such heavy snow too, new concubine? If Master hadn't repeatedly warned that you mustn't be exposed to wind, it would be lovely to go admire the white snow and red plum blossoms tomorrow."
Xianglan sat by the window on the large Heated Brick Bed, pushing it open a crack to look outside. She saw two red plum trees blooming vibrantly, their color like Rouge. Having grown up in the capital in her previous life, she had seen even heavier snowfalls – she remembered wearing Wooden Clogs with her younger siblings to set off firecrackers in the snow, while timid Jialian hid behind her... Thinking of her sister reminded Xianglan of De Ge'er, so she immediately asked someone to fetch the Fur Hat she had been making for him these past few days – it only needed a piece of Azure Jade to complete. Soon Xiao Juan brought a box containing various jades, and they all sat together selecting pieces.
Ling Su carried in an Old Colored Lacquer Square Tray bearing Plum Osmanthus Pickled Melon Seeds tea, placing it on the heated bed table. She unfolded a small handkerchief containing a Silver Tongue Leaf tea spoon and handed it to Xianglan, saying, "This was sent from outside – a delicacy only available in Shandong. Taitai specifically had Qiao Hui deliver it last night. I just caught its scent – it's extremely fragrant."
Before she finished speaking, someone outside called, "What's extremely fragrant? Serve me a bowl." With these words, Lin Jinlou entered, bringing in a gust of wind and snow. The maids hurried to greet him, removing his Cloak, offering hot tea, taking his hat, and bustling about with hot towels.
Having been on Night duty at the palace and not returning home all night, Lin Jinlou sat on the large heated bed. Xianglan pushed the bowl of tea in front of her toward him. Lin Jinlou took a sip but frowned at its sweetness, ordering a bowl of hot soup instead. Holding the hand warmer, he kicked off his boots and soaked his feet in the hot water of the silver basin, asking, "What have you been doing at home today?"Xianglan said, "I'm merely idling away, wasting time." As she spoke, she placed the visiting cards and letters delivered from outside the inner gate onto a silver platter and handed it to him. While opening the letters, Lin Jinlou remarked, "You ought to idle about carefree instead of brooding all day. I can't fathom where you get those peculiar notions." Glancing at a visiting card, he casually added, "His Majesty intends to make this festival particularly lively since the Crown Prince's position is settled. A Hundred Elders Banquet will be held in the palace for good fortune. The Old Master has received the decree to attend in the capital, escorted personally by Xiao San'er. After Elder Zhao's recent incident, everyone is on edge. His Majesty aims to reassure the veteran officials."
Xianglan understood his reference. During her convalescence, Grand Secretary Zhao Jin had privately visited the crown prince, prompting the Second Prince to accuse him before the Imperial Presence of "secretly approaching the Crown Prince's Palace with hidden motives." Enraged, His Majesty imprisoned him for "lacking ministerial propriety," shocking the court.
Lin Jinlou lifted his foot, and Ling Su promptly knelt, wiping it with a thick towel before putting on cotton socks. After reviewing several letters and setting them aside, Lin Jinlou commented, "The Old Master's prediction was accurate—the Zhao family has fallen. Even if His Majesty recalls Zhao Jin's merits and reinstates him, he'll likely never reenter the Grand Secretariat." He sighed, "A pity. Despite his flawed character and arrogance, Zhao Jin was brilliantly talented and upright. His sharpness led to his downfall. How could such a family produce a daughter like Zhao Yuechan? Grand Secretary Shen also had a granddaughter, the one proposed to me—I wonder if she's equally fickle." He glanced unintentionally at Xianglan, who glared back.
Lin Jinlou chuckled, "Well, you've grown bold, daring to glare at me." He tickled her ribs, and Xianglan, being ticklish, dodged and laughed uncontrollably before biting her lip to suppress it and pleading, "Stop, it's improper if someone sees."
Ignoring her, he continued tickling, "Will you glare at me again? Hmm?"
Amid the commotion, faint coughs sounded outside. Shuran whispered, "Master, an urgent delivery has arrived."
Lin Jinlou finally stopped and said, "Bring it in." Xianglan quickly rose, her face flushed, and retreated to the corner of the heated brick bed to tidy her hair.
A faint smile on his lips, Lin Jinlou took the letter and opened it. His expression darkened, and he snorted, "Well, well, the Second Prince—wolfish ambition indeed. Fearing Zhao Jin's comeback to support the crown prince, he resorts to such despicable means." He tossed the letter into the brazier. Xianglan peered over and saw a single line: "Night. Zhao Jin, drunk, dragged into accumulated snow and frozen to death."
Her heart skipped a beat as the letter swiftly turned to ash in the brazier's embers. She thought, "Though the emperor has named the crown prince, he favors the Second Prince, often saying, 'This son resembles me.' The Second Prince, with military achievements and control over troops, refuses to submit and secretly eliminates rivals, frequently clashing with the Crown Prince's Palace. The crown prince, mild-tempered, tolerates it patiently. The emperor, advanced in years and declining in health, seems unable to address his sons' strife—another storm of bloodshed likely looms." Xianglan recalled the Shen family's tragic involvement in a past succession struggle and felt a wave of concern.That night, Xianglan woke up around midnight. Tossing and turning, she found Lin Jinlou still sleeping soundly beside her. Quietly moving aside his arm draped over her, she rose to dress and sat on the large heated brick bed within the green gauze cabinet, holding a bowl of ginseng tea in her hands while lost in melancholy. Though her health had largely recovered, her heart remained unsettled, as if walking through a dark night without direction, filled with unease. Having endured this illness, her perspective had broadened. Where she once harbored silent grievances over past dissatisfactions despite enduring them, now free from physical suffering, she realized how much she had overlooked in her former days that deserved gratitude. She sighed softly and set the tea bowl aside.
Hearing movement, Lin Jinlou groped blindly beside him with closed eyes but found only emptiness. Squinting, he sat up and lifted the bed curtain to look outside. Ling Qing, who was keeping watch, hurried over to attend to him upon seeing him awake. Lin Jinlou asked, "Where’s Xianglan?"
Ling Qing replied softly, "The new concubine is in the green gauze cabinet." Lin Jinlou casually threw on a robe, shuffled into his shoes, and stepped out to look. There he saw Xianglan sitting in a daze, her profile radiating an indescribable loneliness. A sudden tightness gripped his heart. After watching her for a moment, he approached and said, "What are you doing here in a trance? What’s wrong? Missing your parents? Or just bored stiff in the mansion?"
"Not really—"
"I know you’re bored. Coincidentally, I can steal some free time tomorrow and take you out for a change of scenery. I heard the plum blossoms in the suburbs have bloomed—we’ll go enjoy them together." He then repeatedly ordered the maids to make preparations overnight.
Xianglan quickly interjected, "There’s plenty of time tomorrow; why trouble everyone to get up now?" Lin Jinlou paid no heed, simply issuing the commands. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he yawned and said, "You kept me from sleeping well, so naturally I’ll trouble them. See if you’ll wander around in the middle of the night again. Besides, for a trip out, all necessities must be prepared properly. Once we leave tomorrow, the maids will have time to rest." He was an Overlord through and through, decisive and unyielding. Xianglan had no choice but to let him have his way.
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