Ling Qing let out a heavy sigh, exchanging a wide-eyed look with Ling Su before sticking out her tongue and saying, “Amitabha Buddha, the Old Master is even more intimidating than the Master himself. I didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.”
Xianglan sat by the bedside, picked up the small foreign handkerchief from the side table, and wiped the sweat from Lin Jinlou’s forehead. She ordered someone to fetch the fragrant ointment, dipped her finger into it, and applied it to Lin Jinlou’s chapped lips. Then she let out a long, weary sigh.
Ling Su stepped forward and said softly, “New Concubine, you should rest for a while. Your eyes are full of bloodshot veins.”
Xianglan shook her head tiredly and sat there in a daze. Just then, Shuran entered and, without another word, pulled Xianglan up, saying, “Oh, my new concubine, you must go and rest immediately. Even someone made of iron couldn’t endure this. We’ll take care of the Master here.” Xianglan was utterly exhausted and could barely stand. Shuran quickly helped her into the adjoining room while directing the maids to make the bed. Xianglan’s head was heavy and her vision blurred. With her eyes closed, she stumbled forward, and as her hand loosened, the box of fragrant ointment slipped from her fingers and rolled away, disappearing to who knows where. Someone removed her clothes, and as she tilted her head and lay down, she plunged straight into a deep sleep.
When Xianglan awoke, daylight had already broken. Hua Shan, wearing a bean-green sleeveless jacket with a shimmering center, sat on the edge of the heated brick bed doing needlework. Xianglan rubbed her eyes and sat up, her voice hoarse as she asked, “How long have I been asleep?”
Xiao Juan quickly set aside her work, helped Xianglan into her clothes, and poured a cup of tea, saying, “You’ve been asleep for a full day. Taitai came by several times and sent people over repeatedly. The imperial physician also came five or six times to check on you, but you never woke up.”
Xianglan took a sip of tea, her heart racing wildly, and asked with difficulty, “The Master—is he—”
Xiao Juan replied, “The Master woke up a few times but soon fell back asleep. He even asked about you, madam. The Old Master searched all over the capital for several renowned physicians, who took turns examining the Master and Second Master. The doctors said it’s fortunate the Master is young and has a strong constitution—an ordinary person with such severe injuries, left freezing in the icy snow, would have long met the King of Hell. For now, his life is saved, but it will take some time for a full recovery. Taitai was overjoyed and donated a thousand taels of silver to the temple.”
Xianglan felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her chest and murmured, “Amitabha Buddha.”
Xiao Juan added, “But the Second Master is not well. He’s had a fever for two days without breaking, and he’s been delirious.”
Xianglan asked, “What about the Second Mistress?”
Xiao Juan lowered her voice mysteriously and said, “No one knows what taboo the Second Mistress has violated. The entire Lin Family has been ordered not to mention it. They’re just saying that the Second Mistress fell ill from worry after the Second Master took sick.”
Xianglan thought to herself, “Tan Luhua and Dai Rong were having an affair. When they found her, she was probably in disarray. The Lin Family must be afraid of even more scandalous rumors spreading, so they’ve sealed everyone’s lips.” With these thoughts, she hastily washed up, dressed, and went to the bedroom to check on Lin Jinlou. He was still unconscious, with Wu Mama and Ling Su keeping watch. When Wu Mama saw Xianglan, she showered her with concerned questions and repeatedly urged her to go back and eat.
Xianglan had no choice but to return. Hua Shan and the others had the small kitchen prepare a table full of dishes: a plate of sour bamboo shoots stir-fried with wild mushrooms, a plate of five-spice fermented beans, a plate of Buddhist vegetarian delight, a plate of milk pastry, along with a bowl of red bean glutinous rice eight-treasure rice, and a steaming pot of red date soup.Xianglan finally felt the pangs of hunger and wolfed down her meal. As soon as she set down her chopsticks, Ling Qing brought fresh clothes and led her to bathe. Xianglan thoroughly enjoyed her bath and changed into clean attire. Xiao Juan used two thick towels to partially dry her hair, then braided it and loosely coiled it into a bun secured with a few longevity hairpins.
Just as she stepped out from the back, she went to check on Lin Jinlou in the bedroom. Upon entering abruptly, she realized the room was filled with men and quickly retreated. She heard Lin Jinlou cough and say, "Come... come in."
Xianglan hesitated, but Shuran emerged, taking her hand with a gentle smile. "The Master requests your presence, madam."
With no choice, Xianglan entered, curtsied, and lifted her eyes to survey the room. Seated inside were Yuan Shaoren, Lin Jinting, Liu Xiaochuan, Xie Yu, and Chu Dapeng. The men promptly stood, offering polite bows and murmuring deferential greetings. Lin Jinting, who held a grudge against Xianglan due to his friendship with Song Ke, muttered under his breath, "What's so special about her? Just a snobbish servant—hardly worthy of this Third Master's bow." His expression was reluctant, but before he could react, a dried jujube flew over and struck his forehead. Startled, Lin Jinting yelped and leaped up.
Liu Xiaochuan, who had witnessed the scene clearly, chuckled. "What's wrong, Lin Xiao San'er? Hit by one of your Lin Family's secret projectiles? Hmm? Don’t think your brother lying in bed like a sick cat means anything—now you know what an iron guardian, a living overlord he is! Without moving a muscle, a flick of his finger can crack your skull." He then sidled up to the bed and diligently massaged Lin Jinlou’s legs, adding, "Right, dear brother?"
Rubbing his forehead, Lin Jinting glanced at Lin Jinlou and saw his elder cousin glaring darkly at him. Despite his sickly pallor and weakness, the intensity in his eyes sent a chill down Lin Jinting’s spine, making him shrink back. Feeling embarrassed under Liu Xiaochuan’s gaze, he grumbled, "Get lost, you bootlicker! Stop stirring up trouble here."
Liu Xiaochuan rolled his eyes. "Seeing my Brother Lou achieve another feat, why shouldn’t I cling to his coattails? Others don’t even get the chance!"
Xianglan looked toward Lin Jinlou’s face. His hair was neatly combed, but he remained ghastly pale, with chapped lips, puffy eyes, and hollow cheeks, which made his eyes appear even brighter. Lin Jinlou turned his head, and their gazes met. He seemed momentarily stunned but said nothing, instead facing the others and declaring, "We’re all close here. By respecting her, you... cough ... are respecting me."
His words left the room in stunned silence. Even Liu Xiaochuan dropped his playful demeanor, exchanging meaningful looks with Chu Dapeng and Xie Yu. Lin Jinlou had always dismissed women as insignificant—claiming that a well-matched wife was merely a fixture to manage the inner chambers, and a beautiful companion was but a diversion for amusement. This was the first time he had ever insisted so solemnly that his brothers and confidants honor a woman from his household. The men promptly bowed again, murmuring, "Of course, of course."
Lin Jinlou turned to Xianglan and said, "Go rest in the back."
Xianglan curtsied and hastily withdrew.Ling Qing served a fresh round of tea and laid out new fruits and pastries. Yuan Shaoren said to Lin Jinlou, "Fortunately, you sent someone to deliver the message in time. The Crown Prince received the news early and arranged defenses promptly. As soon as I got your letter, I mobilized the local garrison troops. Otherwise, the Crown Prince's Palace would have been in grave danger. The Crown Prince told me that he's been overseeing the capture of the rebels these past few days, and once he has a free moment, he'll personally come to visit."
Lin Jinlou said, "I don't deserve such honor."
Lin Jinting added, "The Crown Prince's Palace has already sent their Chief Steward over, bringing some high-quality medicinal herbs."
Xie Yu remarked, "The Second Prince was too shortsighted. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths for the throne? The entire court is in a state of panic—Duke Xian's Zheng family, the Dong family from the Ministry of Personnel, the Cao family from the Commandant's Office, the Dai family from the Hanlin Academy—tsk tsk, the list goes on and on. The prisons probably aren't even enough to hold them all."
Chu Dapeng said, "Those with weaker foundations weren't even thoroughly investigated. Like Dai Qing from the Hanlin Academy—his home was directly raided, and he was sentenced to immediate execution."
Lin Jinlou looked at Chu Dapeng and said, "Brother, my apologies."
Chu Dapeng understood what Lin Jinlou meant and smiled, "Between brothers like us, what's there to apologize for? I'm fine with it. It's just that my father initially felt humiliated. But now that your family's Old Master has personally apologized, what more could my father say? We've been friends for so many years—saying such things would only create distance."
The others remained silent. Lin Jinxuan's outburst at the Chu family had spread privately, no matter how they tried to suppress it. However, the Second Prince's sudden rebellion had overshadowed this news.
Lin Jinlou clasped his hands and said, "Consider it as me owing you a favor on behalf of my second brother."
After talking for a long while, Lin Jinlou grew weary, and everyone rose to take their leave. Before departing, Yuan Shaoren whispered to Lin Jinlou, "I've had Zhao Yuechan's body handled according to your wishes."
Lin Jinlou was taken aback and said, "Thank you." After a pause, he added, "Please hand it over to my steward, Xu Fu, and have her buried with full honors."
Yuan Shaoren was also surprised. He sighed and teased, "I thought you despised that woman so much that you'd at most give her a thin coffin. It seems I misjudged you. The great General Lin is actually a man of deep sentiment—after all, a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection."
Lin Jinlou smiled faintly and said, "Originally, I would have just wrapped her in a worn-out mat. But she had a good grandfather, and considering Xianglan's feelings... forget it."
Yuan Shaoren didn't understand what Lin Jinlou meant. He stared at him for a long moment, then patted Lin Jinlou's shoulder and left.
Just then, Ling Su brought in the medicinal soup, and Ling Qing used a lock-heart pillow to prop Lin Jinlou's head higher. Lin Jinlou craned his neck to look outside and asked, "Where's Xianglan?"
Ling Su replied, "She went to Taitai's place."
Lin Jinlou frowned, uttered an "Oh," took the medicine, and fell into a heavy sleep. When he woke up, he again asked where Xianglan was. Ling Qing said, "The new concubine is still with Taitai."
Lin Jinlou grew irritable, unable to understand what matter at Qin Shi's place could be more important than him. Ling Su brought the medicine again, and at that moment, Lin Jinting scurried in from outside, nudging Ling Su aside, saying, "Let me, let me." He sat by the bed, picked up the medicine bowl, scooped a spoonful, and said, "Dear brother, look at me serving you like a filial son or worthy grandson. Even the Old Master never had me serve him like this. Don't be angry with me anymore." With that, he fed the medicine to Lin Jinlou's lips.Lin Jinlou was already in a foul mood, and when he unexpectedly took a sip of the scalding, bitter brew, he couldn't help but slap Lin Jinting on the head. "Do you even know how to serve someone properly? What, are you trying to scald me to death?"
Lin Jinting protested, "No, how would I dare? Didn't you say so yourself, young master?" He set the medicine bowl aside and lowered his voice. "My dear brother, I came with good intentions, to secretly tip you off."
Lin Jinlou snorted impatiently. "Spit it out if you have something to say. What kind of news could you possibly bring me?"
"Tsk, I'm risking having my skin flayed by our grandfather." Lin Jinting leaned in closer and whispered, "Brother, do you remember that concubine you once had named Su Meiru?"
First Update
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