In the afternoon, Lin Jinlou made his way from Chun Tang Hall to the front study, with Shuran following closely behind. She observed her master dressed in a brand-new emerald python brocade robe, cinched at the waist with a gold-woven blue cloud belt, which accentuated his tall and upright posture. He had regained his usual composure and ease, a far cry from the dejected state he had been in upon his return that morning, like an eggplant beaten by frost. Shuran couldn't help but breathe a silent sigh of relief, feeling a hint of admiration in her heart. The dispute between their Master and Old Master Lin that morning had already spread quietly among the senior servants. Everyone knew the old master had flown into a thunderous rage, but the reasons varied in the rumors. Shuran dared not speculate recklessly and could only remain cautious and vigilant.
Upon entering the study, Ji Xiang had already prepared tea. Lin Jinlou asked, "Where is Mr. Kang?" Kang Shiyuan was his trusted advisor, his right-hand man.
Ji Xiang hurriedly replied, "Shuangxi has gone to invite him. He should be here any moment."
Lin Jinlou nodded and sat down behind the desk. Earlier, he had been with Xianglan. Though she hadn't said much, her soft and compliant demeanor in his arms, along with the way she looked at him, made him feel as if he understood her thoughts. Yet, he feared he might be mistaken. He felt like a foolish, love-struck youth, and if word got out, his brothers would surely laugh themselves silly. Still, he felt content and mustered his energy to continue his battle of wits with his father. He had long known that his father was rigidly bound by notions of propriety and hierarchy. Lin Jinlou had originally hoped that, out of gratitude for Xianglan saving their family twice, his father might show some leniency. With his mother whispering in his father's ear and the old lady mediating with a few kind words, he had intended to let his father observe Xianglan's conduct and character, gradually wearing down his resistance over time. Unexpectedly, the situation had escalated into a full-blown conflict today. The old man had clamped down ruthlessly, severing any future prospects. Sitting behind the desk, Lin Jinlou sneered repeatedly. Fortunately, he had long prepared a backup plan. Since the matter could not be resolved amicably within the family, he would have no choice but to take it to the highest authority. Having been immersed in officialdom for years, he had witnessed all manner of sinister, vile spirits and demons and weathered countless storms. His father thought he could subdue him this way but had forgotten his true nature. Trying to mold him like putty? Not a chance!
Ji Xiang stood to the side, watching as Lin Jinlou's expression shifted from tender and spring-like to suddenly fierce, sinister, and calculating. He couldn't help but feel a chill and exchanged glances with Shuran, silently asking, "What's wrong with the Master?" Shuran, standing on the other side with her arms crossed, signaled back with her eyes, "Stay put and keep quiet. Can't you see the weather on his face has changed?"
As the two exchanged silent messages, they heard Shuangxi at the door announce, "Master, Mr. Kang has arrived."
Lin Jinlou said, "Invite him in."
Kang Shiyuan pushed the door open and entered, bowing in greeting. Lin Jinlou waved his hand, offering him a seat while Ji Xiang served tea. Lin Jinlou said, "I've asked you here today to request that you represent me in handling a matter." He then picked up a stack of The Legend of Lanxiang Jushi from the desk and pushed it toward Kang Shiyuan, saying, "This afternoon, take lavish gifts and this stack of play scripts to the northern part of the city. Aunt Xia, who used to teach the Fourth Miss in our household, lives there. She now serves a noble in the palace and returns home for a few days each month—today is one of those days. Take my name card and ask her to bring these play scripts into the palace for the Empress Dowager to see. If possible, find a way to have a troupe perform the play for the Empress Dowager based on these scripts. If she succeeds, there will be generous rewards for her."Kang Shiyuan immediately grasped the situation, a chill rising from the soles of his feet. He nearly twisted off his beard in shock, exclaiming, "Master, you mean to—have Old Master Lin and Master Lin both—both agreed?"
Lin Jinlou snorted through his nose, "If they'd agreed, would I still be going to all this trouble?" He tapped the table twice with his fingers, his tone meaningful, "Ask Aunt Xia to convey a message to the Empress Dowager. Say that though our affection runs deep now, Xianglan's humble origins inevitably invite gossip. We beg Her Majesty to grace us with her golden words and bless this union."
Kang Shiyuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. This young master truly dared to think and act. Then he saw Lin Jinlou turn to Shuran and say, "When Aunt Xia stayed with our family, you two were quite close. Go with Mr. Kang—it's easier for women to speak among themselves. Follow Mr. Kang's instructions on what to say and do."
Shuran was utterly dumbfounded, repeatedly voicing her assent while her mind roiled with shock. She thought to herself, "Heavens above! Amitabha! Xianglan, that servant-born girl, is truly about to rise to greatness!" Carefully reviewing past events, she couldn't help but feel grateful that her words and actions had never once crossed Xianglan—in fact, she'd accumulated quite a few favors with her.
After further detailed discussion with Kang Shiyuan and final instructions to Shuran, Lin Jinlou dismissed them. He then ordered horses prepared and, taking a stack of "The Legend of Lanxiang Jushi," went personally to seek an audience with the crown prince. For now, we shall leave this aside.
Meanwhile, in the small ancestral temple of the Lin Family, Su Meiru lay on the bed with disheveled hair. The door curtain was lifted as a plump, short woman in her fifties entered—Granny Meng, who attended to Su Meiru. Carrying a tray, she said, "New concubine, your meal is here." She placed the tray on the bedside table, helped Su Meiru sit up, and first fed her a few sips of warm tea.
Su Meiru glanced sideways and saw four dishes. Though they contained chicken, duck, fish, and meat, they were all leftovers. Fury surged from her heart as she bitterly said, "This isn't fit for human consumption! In all my life, I've never eaten leftovers!" Tears welled in her eyes and began to fall.
Granny Meng quickly comforted her, "Don't cry, new concubine, you'll worsen your headache—shall we add some silver to have the kitchen prepare fresh dishes?"
Su Meiru wept, "All my clothing money and silver are in the side chamber—I didn't bring anything with me. The rest of my savings are in Jinling. How could I possibly have any spending money now?"
But Granny Meng smiled and said, "New concubine, as they say, adding flowers to brocade is easy, but delivering charcoal in snowy weather is rare. Yet now, there truly is a dear friend of yours who has come to bring you food." With that, she stood up and lifted the door curtain. A woman in a cloak entered, removing her hood to reveal a heavily made-up face. She smiled faintly, "My dear sister, how I've missed you." This person was actually Hua Mei!It turned out that when the affair was exposed that day, Hua Mei fled with her birth mother, traveling downriver by boat. Unexpectedly, they encountered river bandits, and in the chaos, Hua Mei’s mother fell into the river and drowned. Hua Mei, being beautiful, was taken in by the bandit chief Wu Biao. With her cunning mind and nowhere else to turn, she readily became the bandit chief's wife. She was insightful and skilled at sweet-talking, quickly winning Wu Biao’s favor. However, Lin Jinlou governed his troops with strict discipline, quelling banditry along the river with thunderous methods. As Wu Biao found himself cornered, Lin Jinlou happened to leave for the capital. Hua Mei then devised a plan, saying, "Don’t fret, Wu Ye. That Overlord has left, and the canal patrol is now under his uncle Lin Changmin. This man is a scoundrel by nature, greedy and stingy. Why not win him over? Send him silver, and I guarantee you’ll rest easy."
They soon discovered that Lin Changmin kept a concubine and sent lavish gifts to Su Meiru. As the saying goes, "One doesn’t turn away a gift-bearing guest." Su Meiru was no pushover either, and through repeated interactions, they became acquainted. At first, Lin Changmin hesitated, but Su Meiru sneered, "How foolish you are, Master! Where would a clean official get silver? Since ancient times, wealth has been sought through risks. Only with money in hand can one stand tall. Besides, your nephew isn’t here—who would know? Why not seize this chance to make a fortune and stop when he returns? No one will be the wiser, and silver in your pocket is what truly matters." After much persuasion, Lin Changmin was swayed. He accepted the first bribe and, after a few anxious days without incident, took several more. Unable to stop, he began amassing wealth recklessly, allowing Wu Biao to smuggle goods, murder, and plunder on the river.
Su Meiru and Hua Mei were also very close, addressing each other as sisters, though Su Meiru had no idea Hua Mei was once Lin Jinlou’s concubine. When Su Meiru saw Hua Mei, she felt as if she had met a dear relative. Tears streaming down her face, she struggled to sit up and choked out, "Sister Mei—"
Hua Mei hurried forward to support her, saying, "Don’t get up. I heard from Granny Meng’s messenger that you were ill and was truly worried. Fortunately, this is a temple—I paid some silver to slip in and see you." As she spoke, she opened the tiered food box she carried. "Have some refreshments first."
Su Meiru looked and saw three layers of exquisitely prepared dishes, hot porridge, and fresh soup, all steaming. Tears welled up again as she grasped Hua Mei’s hand and sobbed, "Only at a time like this does one realize who truly cares—"
Hua Mei comforted her gently, "Don’t cry anymore. Eat something first. Once you’re well, you can have another child. It’s not too late."
Su Meiru wept, "Another child? Can’t you see the Lin Family has abandoned me here in this temple, leaving me to fend for myself? They’re ready to snuff out the lamp and pull the wick!"
Hua Mei sneered, "Forgive me for saying so, but the entire Lin Family is worthless. Second Master owes his current standing entirely to your support, Sister. Now that you’re no longer useful, he’s cast you aside. You’ve suffered immensely here, and he hasn’t even bothered to check if you have food or drink. If it were me, I’d move heaven and earth to get you out. This is no place to recuperate!"Su Meiru felt every word struck a chord in her heart, making her even more choked with emotion. Hua Mei comforted her with a few words, then ordered Granny Meng to fetch a basin of water. She personally wrung out a warm towel to wipe Su Meiru's face and hands, sighing as she said, "What a pity—such a delicate beauty now reduced to this state. It truly pains our hearts to see." She handed over a hand mirror. Su Meiru looked into it and saw her cheeks sallow from illness, her face gaunt, with dark circles under her eyes. Though still beautiful, she was far from her former self. Unable to hold back, she let out a sob and tears fell once more. Suddenly, she stopped crying, wiped the tears from her face, and said bitterly, "It's all the Lin Family that has brought me to this state!"
While gently combing Su Meiru's hair, Hua Mei replied, "Exactly! The Lin Family has wronged you. Sister, you should have sought repayment long ago! A person of your jade-like quality is destined for greatness and prosperity sooner or later. With all my sincerity, if you'd only listen to my advice, you could enjoy a lifetime of grandeur, wealth, and honor."
Su Meiru couldn't help asking, "What do you mean?"
Hua Mei tied Su Meiru's hair into a simple bun, then sat down in front of her. Seeing that no one was around, she lowered her voice and said, "Lin Jinlou is about to return to Jinling. Once he's back, I fear our days will become difficult. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. Lin Changmin is his own uncle, so he might be spared, but you and I might not be so lucky. Why not take action before he returns and—" She made a cutting gesture with her hand.
Su Meiru was greatly shocked, widening her eyes as she exclaimed, "This... how could we do such a thing?"
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