After Lin Dongxiu's wedding, the weather grew colder day by day, and a heavy snow fell just as winter began. Xianglan's health gradually improved as she recuperated. Lin Jinlou gathered rare and precious medicinal ingredients from various places and ordered the kitchen to prepare nourishing dishes in creative ways. Due to his busy official duties, he often stayed at the military camp, so he left his usual attendants Jixiang and Shuangxi at her disposal.
One morning, Xianglan rose and washed, then draped a cloak embroidered with plum blossoms, orchids, and chrysanthemums over her shoulders. Ling Qing handed her a silver hand warmer and said, "The north wind blew all night, the weather has turned bitterly cold. It's only just winter, yet it's already this chilly."
Xiao Juan entered, dusting snow off her clothes, and said, "It snowed all night, and there are still scattered snowflakes this morning. The servants are clearing the snow. As you instructed, Concubine, the kitchen has prepared hot ginger soup, and Gui Yuan along with a few matrons have already distributed it."
Xianglan nodded and looked around, asking, "Where is Hua Shan?"
Xue Ning smiled and said, "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 young maids." She then said to Xianglan, "This must be your first time seeing such heavy snow too, Concubine? If the Eldest Master hadn't repeatedly warned that you mustn't be exposed to the wind, it would be lovely to go out tomorrow and admire the white snow and red plum blossoms."
Xianglan sat on the large heated platform by the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked out. She saw two red plum trees in full bloom, their blossoms the color of rouge. In her previous life, she had grown up in the capital and seen even heavier snowfalls. She remembered wearing wooden clogs with her younger siblings, setting off firecrackers in the snow. Jialian, timid, would hide behind her... Thinking of her sister, Xianglan was reminded of De Ge'er and quickly ordered someone to fetch the fur hat she had been making for him these past few days, adding that it only needed a piece of green jade to be finished. Soon, Xiao Juan brought a box filled with various jades and stones, and they all sat together to select one.
Ling Su brought in a lacquered tray carrying a bowl of tea brewed with plum, osmanthus, cured melon seeds, and kernels. She placed it on the heated platform, unfolded a small cloth containing a silver tea spoon, and handed it to Xianglan, saying, "This is a delicacy from Shandong, specially sent by Madam last night through Qiaohui. I just took a whiff—it smells wonderfully fragrant."
Before she finished speaking, a voice came from outside: "What smells so wonderful? Serve me a bowl." With that, Lin Jinlou entered, bringing a gust of wind and snow with him. The maids hurried forward to attend to him—removing his cloak, offering hot tea, taking his hat, and bustling about with hot towels.
Lin Jinlou had been on duty at the palace last night and had not returned until now. He sat on the heated platform, and Xianglan pushed the bowl of tea in front of her toward him. Lin Jinlou took a sip but frowned at its sweetness, then called for a bowl of hot soup. Holding the hand warmer, he kicked off his boots and soaked his feet in a silver basin of hot water, 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 second gate on a silver tray and handed it to him. Lin Jinlou opened the letters while remarking, "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 mentioned, "The Emperor's intention is that since the Eastern Palace has been settled, this festival should be celebrated with great fanfare. A banquet for a hundred elders will be held in the palace to seek good fortune. The Old Master has also received an edict to attend the banquet in the capital, with Third Young Master personally escorting him. After the recent incident involving Grand Secretary Zhao, everyone is on edge. The Emperor is doing this to reassure the veteran ministers."
Xianglan understood what Lin Jinlou was referring to. During her period of rest a while ago, Chief Grand Secretary Zhao Jin had privately met with the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince reported it to the Emperor, accusing him of "secretly visiting the Eastern Palace with hidden motives." The Emperor was furious and had him imprisoned for "lacking the propriety of a subject," shocking the entire court.
Lin Jinlou lifted his foot, and Ling Su hurriedly knelt halfway, wiping it with a large foreign towel and putting on cotton socks. Lin Jinlou read a few letters and set them aside, saying, "The Old Master's prediction was indeed accurate—the Zhao family has fallen this time. Even if the Emperor remembers Zhao Jin's merits and reinstates him in the future, I'm afraid he'll find it difficult to reenter the Grand Secretariat." He sighed and added, "What a pity. Zhao Jin was arrogant and ambitious, yet he was undeniably talented and upright. His sharpness made him a target of schemes. I wonder how such a family produced a daughter like Zhao Yuechan? Former Grand Secretary Shen also had a granddaughter, the one proposed to me for marriage. I wonder if she is also fickle and promiscuous." As he spoke, he glanced unintentionally at Xianglan and saw her glare at him.
Lin Jinlou laughed and said, "Well, you've grown bold, daring to glare at me." He reached out and tickled her ribs. Xianglan, being ticklish, dodged left and right, laughing uncontrollably. Feeling it was improper, she bit her lip to suppress her laughter for a moment before pleading, "Stop it, it's unseemly if someone sees."
Lin Jinlou ignored her, tickling her while asking, "Do you still dare to glare at me? Hmm?"
As they were fooling around, faint coughs were heard from outside, and Shu Ran said softly, "Eldest Master, there's an urgent message from outside."
Lin Jinlou finally stopped and said, "Bring it in." Xianglan quickly stood up, her face flushed, and curled up in the corner of the kang to tidy her hair.
A faint smile played on Lin Jinlou's lips as he took the letter, opened it, and his expression darkened. He snorted and said, "Well, well, the Second Prince—what a wolf's heart and wild ambition! Fearing Zhao Jin might make a comeback and support the Crown Prince, he resorts to such despicable means." With a flick of his hand, he tossed the letter into the brazier. Xianglan peeked and saw only one line on the letter: "At night, Zhao Jin, drunk, was dragged into the snow and frozen to death."
Xianglan's heart skipped a beat as she watched the letter quickly turn to ash in the brazier's charcoal fire. She thought to herself, "Although the Emperor has established the heir apparent, he clearly favors the Second Prince, often saying to others, 'This son takes after me.' The Second Prince has military achievements, holds military power, and refuses to be subordinate. He secretly eliminates dissidents and frequently clashes with the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince, mild-tempered, tolerates it all. The Emperor is advanced in years, his health declining, and seems too preoccupied to mediate between his sons... I fear another storm of bloodshed is brewing." Xianglan couldn't help but recall how the Shen family had been embroiled in the struggle for succession, leading to tragedy, and felt a wave of worry.That night, Xianglan woke in the middle of the night and tossed and turned restlessly. Lin Jinlou was still sleeping soundly beside her. She quietly moved aside his arm that was draped over her, got up, put on her clothes, and sat on the large heated kang inside the Green Gauze Bed, holding a cup of ginseng tea in her hands, lost in thought. Although she had largely recovered physically, her heart was filled with unease, as if walking in the dark without direction, restless and unsettled. After this illness, her perspective had broadened. Things she had previously endured with resentment now seemed insignificant. Freed from the suffering of illness, she realized how much she had overlooked in her life that deserved gratitude. She sighed silently and set the teacup aside.
Hearing the noise, Lin Jinlou groped around with his eyes closed but found the space beside him empty. He squinted as he sat up, lifted the bed curtain, and looked outside. Ling Qing was on duty and hurried over to attend to him upon seeing he was awake. Lin Jinlou asked, "Where is Xianglan?"
Ling Qing replied softly, "The Concubine is in the Green Gauze Bed." Lin Jinlou casually threw on a robe, slipped into his shoes, and went out to look. He saw Xianglan sitting there in a daze, her profile exuding an indescribable loneliness. A sudden tightness gripped his heart. After staring at her for a moment, he walked over and said, "What are you daydreaming about here? What's wrong? Missing your parents? Or feeling stifled in the mansion?"
"No..."
"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. Let's go enjoy them together." He then repeatedly ordered the maids to make preparations overnight.
Xianglan quickly said, "We can manage tomorrow morning. Why trouble everyone to get up now?" Lin Jinlou paid no heed and simply issued the orders. Putting an arm around Xianglan's shoulder, he yawned and said, "You kept me from sleeping well, so I'll trouble them. See if you’ll wander around in the middle of the night again. Besides, for a trip out, we need to prepare everything for food, clothing, and lodging. Tomorrow, when we leave, the maids will have time to rest." He was a tyrant, decisive and unyielding. Xianglan had no choice but to let him have his way.
The next morning, as promised, Lin Jinlou took Xianglan out. The maids busily packed four trunks. Xianglan said, "We’re only going for a day and returning in the evening. Why bring so much?"
Shu Ran smiled and explained, "Madam, you may not know, but it’s freezing outside. We need to bring extra clothes, as well as screens, sitting mats, heavy cloaks and shawls, foot warmers and hand warmers, a brazier for the carriage, and extra charcoal. Also, various teas and snacks for you to enjoy. If you feel inspired by the scenery to paint, we must bring brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. And bedding, in case we stay out late—it’s cleaner to use our own." After saying this, she went to instruct the maids accompanying Xianglan.
Soon, everything was ready. Lin Jinlou returned from his martial arts practice, freshened up, changed clothes, and went to pay his respects to Qin Shi. When Qin Shi heard they were going to the outskirts of the capital to view plum blossoms, she said, "There are plum blossoms in the mansion too. Why go out for no reason... You should settle down. The Old Master will be here in a few days. I received a letter from him recently asking about the Jiang family and whether you often go out to fool around. His tone seemed displeased... Son, what trouble have you caused now that has reached your grandfather’s ears?""My dear mother," Lin Jinlou said impatiently, "I'm already this old—what trouble could I possibly cause? These days, when I'm not at the barracks or the palace, I'm at home. I haven't even had a proper night's sleep in ages. At most, I've had a few drinks with Lao Yuan and the others. As for going out to fool around, that's ancient history, isn't it?"
"Then why would the Old Master ask such a thing?"
"How should I know? Perhaps he feels his eldest grandson is now handling everything so well, so accomplished, and he's simply delighted."
"Humph! From the tone of the letter, it didn't sound like that to me. You'd better behave." As Qin Shi spoke, she tapped Lin Jinlou on the forehead.
Lin Jinlou rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat apprehensive deep down. Although his father held a higher official rank than his grandfather ever did, in his eyes, his father was merely a paper tiger, while the Old Master was truly a slumbering lion. He carefully reviewed everything he had done since coming to the capital and found nothing too outrageous. Even if he had some ingrained habits that were hard to break, the Old Master should have long grown accustomed to them. Muttering under his breath, he said, "I haven't done anything. Ever since arriving in the capital, I've kept my head down and focused on my duties... What exactly did Grandfather say in his letter?"
Qin Shi used a small silver spoon to scoop a spoonful of honey into the rose syrup, stirring it with her head lowered. "He just asked if you've been stirring up trouble lately, causing a heap of disputes. He also said you're like a runaway wild horse now, and when he comes to the capital, he'll have to set you straight properly." She looked up and saw Lin Jinlou staring in stunned silence. It was rare to see her eldest son looking guilty, and she couldn't help but chuckle. "Scared?"
Lin Jinlou frowned. "Who's scared? There's nothing to be afraid of." He quickly added, "Is it just Grandfather coming this time? Is Grandmother really not coming?"
"Grandmother fell ill recently and has just recovered. She can't endure the journey..."
Hearing this, Lin Jinlou immediately began massaging Qin Shi's legs, smiling as he said, "Mother, I came across a pair of gold bracelets yesterday, studded with pearls, each as big as a fingernail. The moment I saw them, I knew such rare treasures should be offered to you, dear Mother..."
Qin Shi rolled her eyes. "Enough, enough, you ungrateful wretch. So now you remember to cozy up to your own mother? What were you doing earlier? All you ever do is upset me... If you truly haven't caused any major trouble, and it's just some minor misstep, if the Old Master questions you, I'll personally plead on your behalf."
After leaving the room, Lin Jinlou turned the matter over in his mind but still couldn't figure it out. Feeling irritated, he found himself in the courtyard of the Hall of Flourishing Spring. There, he saw Xianglan standing, wrapped in a bright red woolen cloak, her face as fair as snow and as delicate as peach blossoms in spring, like a figure from a painting. He paused for a moment, suddenly feeling as if all his restlessness had been swept away by the wind.Xianglan, holding Xue Ning's hand, boarded the carriage. Hua Shan had caught a chill yesterday, and Ling Qing and Ling Su had both been borrowed by Qin Shi for chores, leaving only Xiao Juan and Xue Ning in the room. Xianglan, considerate of Xiao Juan's aversion to the cold, chose Xue Ning to accompany her. The carriage was not spacious, but its furnishings were luxurious, all draped in brocade and silk. A Persian carpet was piled with various furs. As soon as Xianglan sat down, Xue Ning entered the carriage, deftly handing her a hand warmer and saying, "The journey isn't short, Madam. Why not take off your boots and warm your feet on the foot stove?" As she spoke, she placed the foot stove before Xianglan and covered it with a foreign towel. Xianglan hesitated briefly before removing her shoes and placing her feet on the towel. Xue Ning immediately covered them with a roe deer pelt. She then took out a carrying box, retrieved a pot of warmed Nü'er Hong wine, and said to Xianglan, "The wine is still hot, Madam. Have a sip to warm up. It'll lose its flavor if it cools."
Xianglan accepted it and drank two cups, feeling warmth spread through her body. She shook her head, declining more, and offered it to Xue Ning. Xue Ning also drank two cups, then put away the empty cups. From her bundle, she took out a book and placed it before Xianglan. Recognizing it as the one she had been reading these past few days, Xianglan was surprised and smiled, saying, "You're so capable and thoughtful. You must have done a lot of work before, right? Had I known, I would have rewarded you more often."
Xue Ning smiled and replied, "I haven't done much ordinarily. Besides, there are many capable people around the Concubine. I'm neither here nor there, so I just focus on fulfilling my duties faithfully."
Hearing this, Xianglan viewed her in a new light, thinking to herself, "It's rare for someone so young to be so steady." Among the maids, Xiao Juan and Hua Shan were closest to her, sharing confidences. Ling Qing and Ling Su, having arrived later, weren't as intimate, but they were diligent and strove to excel in everything. Only Xue Ning, who had previously served in Old Madam's room, was quiet and unobtrusive—neither seeking out excitement nor advantages, nor stepping forward in times of trouble. She neither added flowers to embroidery nor offered help in need, yet the tasks assigned to her were always handled reliably, never outstanding but never flawed either. She got along with all the maids in the room but wasn't particularly close to any. Today, however, accompanying Xianglan alone, she anticipated needs in advance, revealing a capable side.
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