Everyone bustled around Lin Jinlou in a flurry of activity. Xianglan climbed down from the carriage and, seeing no place for herself to intervene, followed behind the others toward the house. She was so exhausted she could barely lift her legs, gritting her teeth as she dragged herself inside. Xiao Juan was craning her neck to look toward the entrance when she suddenly caught sight of Xianglan. Startled, she hurried over, immediately supporting her and exclaiming in alarm, "Oh, my lady! You... how did you end up like this?" Hua Shan rushed over at the sound and, together with Xiao Juan, supported Xianglan into the room on either side. Lin Jinlou was carried into the bedroom for treatment. Xianglan wanted to follow, but Shuran stopped her, saying, "New concubine, the imperial physician is examining him. The old women are inside, and even Taitai is waiting outside. Perhaps you should rest in the warm chamber for now."
Still uneasy, Xianglan allowed Shuran to personally escort her to the warm chamber. Xiao Juan unfolded a six-panel screen decorated with bamboo, plum blossoms, and double happiness symbols to block the entrance, then lowered the scallion-green flower-patterned soft curtain hanging from the bronze hooks outside the frame. She hurried out to call the maidservants to fetch water and towels. The warm chamber was small, with a large heated brick bed by the window. The bed was covered with a bright red felt blanket, a large Rouge-colored mattress embroidered with golden pythons, and a Stone Blue Pigment brocade pillow woven with gold thread. To the left stood a small crabapple-shaped Foreign Lacquer table holding a tea bowl, a spittoon, and other items. A blue porcelain pot held two clusters of narcissus in full bloom, their fragrance filling the air.
Xianglan was covered in mud and grime, her face dusty, cold, and stiff. Hua Shan quickly stepped forward to untie her cloak and helped her remove her fox-fur coat, tossing it carelessly to the floor. Xiao Juan entered carrying a bowl of hot soup, saying, "This ginger soup has been simmering on the stove. Have a sip to warm up." Xianglan took it, cradling the bowl as she drank a mouthful, then let out a long sigh. She insisted, "Go check on the Master and see how his injuries are."
Xiao Juan went out and returned moments later, reporting, "The imperial physician is still examining him, and no one is allowed in. I just asked Hongjian—she said they need to stitch the wound on his shoulder. Medicine is already being brewed in the small kitchen." She couldn't resist lowering her voice to ask, "My lady, what... what happened?"
Xianglan replied softly, "It's a long story. How was the city last night?"
Xiao Juan said, "It was chaos—shouting and killing outside, the sky lit up with flames, and it went on all night. With the Master away and the Second Master unreliable, what could Taitai, a woman, do? Luckily, the Master had left Mr. Qi behind, along with some guards and attendants to protect us. We were on edge all night but managed to get through unscathed. I heard a few petty thieves tried to take advantage of the chaos to loot, but they were all caught and are still locked up."
Hua Shan whispered, "With all the turmoil, Guiyuan came in this morning and said the morning market didn't even open. Soldiers are arresting people all over the city, and the road to the imperial palace is covered in blood—it's been sealed off by troops. Everyone's whispering that the Second Prince has rebelled." As she spoke, she deftly removed Xianglan's outer garments, leaving only her underclothes. Ling Qing brought clean clothes, while Ling Su entered with a basin of hot water, saying, "With the Master being treated in his room and everything in disarray, it's not convenient for you to bathe. Please wash up with this for now."The room was as warm as spring. Xianglan sat wearily on the heated brick bed, feeling drowsy and weak all over, yet trembling slightly. The bowl in her hand was taken away by someone, and her soaked boots were removed. When her icy feet were immersed in warm water, she shuddered violently, feeling as if thousands of needles were pricking them. Xiao Juan loosened her hair, carefully combed it straight, and tied it into a bun. Ling Qing brought a hot foreign towel to wipe her face and applied ointment to the swollen, painful areas. Hua Shan fed her two spoonfuls of hot soup. She was too exhausted, swaying unsteadily with her eyes closed. Ling Su brought some delicate pastries and a bowl of porridge. Xianglan, both tired and hungry, trembled as she held the chopsticks, barely managing to eat a few dough twists without tasting them. She asked for a strong cup of tea and gulped it down, forcing herself to stay alert.
Soon after, Qin Shi entered and asked Xianglan in detail about what had happened. Xianglan gave a rough account. Just then, Lin Jinlou’s agonized cry echoed from the bedroom. Startled, Qin Shi and Xianglan stood up and rushed toward the room, flustering the imperial physicians, who hurriedly bowed their heads and averted their eyes. Qin Shi and Xianglan hurried to the bedside and saw Lin Jinlou bare-chested, his wound bleeding profusely, silver needles inserted into his body. His face was as pale as gold foil, his mind dazed and confused, and he gasped incessantly. One of the physicians bowed deeply and said, "Taitai, please don’t worry. We were just treating General Lin’s chest wound and had to remove the necrotic flesh. He was given datura soup and acupuncture, but the injury is severe, and the pain woke him." As he spoke, he wiped sweat from his brow. Lin Jinlou was incredibly strong—even three or five people couldn’t hold him down earlier.
Tears welled up in Qin Shi’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Xianglan’s heart tightened into a knot, but there was nothing else they could do. The two had no choice but to retreat from the bedroom. Just then, Guiyuan ran in from outside and knelt at the doorway, saying, "Taitai, the Old Master and Old Mistress have arrived!" Hearing this, Qin Shi quickly put on her outer garments and hurried out, supported by Hongjian and Lu Lan, followed by a crowd of maids and old women, bustling away.
Not long after, a commotion arose in the courtyard. Xianglan pushed the window open a crack and saw Lin Zhaoxiang leaning on a cane, supported by Lin Jinting, with several servant boys bustling around them as they approached. Qin Shi followed at the rear. Once they entered the room, Lin Zhaoxiang pushed Lin Jinting aside and headed straight for the bedroom. Xianglan overheard Qin Shi standing at the doorway scolding, "You little monkey, you’re a married man now, yet you still can’t keep your mouth shut! Didn’t I send word to keep this from the Old Master for now? In this freezing weather, after his long journey, if something happens to him because of this news, it’ll be entirely on your head!"
Lin Jinting scratched the back of his head, his face full of worry, and said, "Dear Aunt, my heart is in my throat. If anything happens to Grandfather... just give me a knife, and I’ll slit my own throat—"
Qin Shi slapped him on the head and scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting at the end of the year? Afraid the household isn’t chaotic enough? With three lying sick in bed and one still in the mourning hall, if you keep talking about death, I’ll sew your mouth shut!"Lin Jinting wore a mournful expression, nodding and agreeing meekly. Qin Shi was ten times more formidable than his own mother, and he had always been intimidated by her. But he feared Old Lord Lin even more, so he instinctively hunched his shoulders and said, "Aunt, you can't blame this entirely on me. What kind of person is our Old Master? He served as the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—perceptive, sharp-eyed, and discerning. Even if my eldest brother dared to defy the heavens, he wouldn't dare cross Old Master... Really, don't glare at me like that. If Old Master so much as glanced at me, my legs would turn to jelly. How could I dare deceive him? When he questioned me, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest. I intended to reveal things bit by bit, but before I knew it, I ended up confessing everything. But I kept it tightly sealed from the Old Lady—not a whisper leaked out. Aunt, even if I haven't accomplished much, I've at least endured hardships along the way. The journey hasn't been peaceful either. Last night, we were fortunate to stay at an official courier station, which allowed us to sleep soundly. If we hadn't sent word to the Commander of the Nine Gates today, we wouldn't even have been able to enter the city gates." He craned his neck to peer into the bedroom and asked, "Is Eldest Brother alright? The young servant who brought the news said he was injured. What happened to Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law?"
Qin Shi sighed, her face clouded with worry, and shook her head. She said to Lin Jinting, "Don't pry into everything. There's nothing you can do to help here. Go attend to the Old Lady. Later, withdraw five hundred taels of silver from the accounts and donate it as incense money at the temple. Then, light Sea Lanterns for the family ancestors, your eldest brother, and your second brother to ward off misfortune." Lin Jinting repeatedly agreed, glanced at Lin Jinlou in the room, and then withdrew.
At that moment, the imperial physicians emerged from the room one after another. Qin Shi quickly stepped aside to avoid them, while Lin Zhaoxiang exchanged pleasantries with them, expressing his gratitude with utmost courtesy. He ordered the maids to fetch generous Red Envelopes and had someone escort the physicians to the resting quarters to write prescriptions, also inviting them to stay for tea and refreshments—all of which need not be detailed here.
Xianglan could no longer contain herself. As soon as the physicians left, she followed Qin Shi into the bedroom. There, she saw Lin Jinlou had sunk into a deep sleep. Old women were carrying out basins full of bloody water, and the room was filled with the scent of medicine, having just been administered.
Lin Zhaoxiang entered, his expression grave, and said, "The imperial physicians said the wound on his shoulder is manageable and will heal with rest. It's the chest injury that's severe—they had to excise the necrotic flesh. The dressing needs to be changed every two hours. If he can endure these next two days, he'll recover."
Xianglan didn't dare ask what would happen if he didn't endure. She stood by the bedside, lowering her head, and saw that the hair on Lin Jinlou's forehead was damp with cold sweat. A stubble of beard had grown on his chin, and his lips were chapped and pale, making him appear increasingly haggard and wretched. She had never imagined such a vibrant and energetic man could become so frail and powerless.
Qin Shi wiped her tears with a handkerchief, forced herself to compose her spirits, and said softly to Lin Zhaoxiang, "Father-in-law, this girl is Xianglan. Lou Ge'er holds her in high regard. She has been by his side throughout this ordeal—a sincere and devoted person." With that, she tugged at Xianglan's sleeve, signaling with her eyes, and said, "This is the Old Ancestor. Hurry and pay your respects with a deep bow."In their previous lives, the Lin and Shen families had been close. When Xianglan was young, Lin Zhaoxiang had held her in his arms, personally taught her calligraphy, and quizzed her on her studies. Now, years had passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Zhaoxiang’s temples were frosted with white, and he had aged somewhat, yet his figure remained lean and upright, his spirit vigorous, and his demeanor thoughtful and restrained. Lin Jinlou’s aura of authority, even without anger, resembled his father’s to a striking degree. Xianglan thought to herself, No wonder everyone says Lin Jinlou was cast from the same mold as Lin Zhaoxiang. I used to think they weren’t alike—Lin Zhaoxiang was refined and scholarly—but now, seeing them together, I realize how similar they truly are.
Lin Zhaoxiang’s gaze was sharp as lightning as he scrutinized her, causing Xianglan’s heart to flutter with panic. But she quickly steadied herself and knelt to kowtow. After studying Xianglan once more, Lin Zhaoxiang turned to Qin Shi and said calmly, "I know of her—a talented girl, skilled in writing and painting. Though I hadn’t met her before, I didn’t expect our household to harbor such talent. Now that I see her, she seems honest and dependable."
Qin Shi forced a smile and said, "Indeed, not only is she fair of face, but her character is also commendable."
Lin Zhaoxiang nodded, glanced toward the bed, and instructed Qin Shi, "Make sure she is well taken care of. If there’s any news, day or night, inform me immediately. The Old Master isn’t feeling well, so don’t mention this to her. Just say Lou Ge'er has gone to the outskirts of the capital for military training."
Qin Shi repeatedly agreed. Lin Zhaoxiang turned to leave but paused to glance at Xianglan once more, adding, "I’ll go check on Xuan Ge'er." Though Qin Shi longed to stay and care for her own son, the Old Master had spoken, so she had no choice but to follow him out.
(Xiao He’s Weibo: Search for He Yanshan on a certain platform.)
End-of-year chaos has me swamped! Will update more around New Year’s—apologies! Please take care of your health, everyone.
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