Back in the carriage, Xianglan remained silent, hugging her knees in a daze. Suddenly, she heard Jixiang outside the curtain say, "Eldest Master, we're home." Only then did she snap back to reality, realizing they had returned to the Lin residence. She stole a glance at Lin Jinlou and saw his face was devoid of expression, yet paler than before. Once inside the room, Xianglan first removed her cloak, then helped him change his clothes. She ordered a bowl of hot soup and went to check the wound on his chest. Only after ensuring Lin Jinlou was fully settled did Xianglan go behind the Green Gauze Bed to change her clothes. When she emerged, she saw Lin Jinlou sitting on the bed, throwing small knives one by one, each striking the target hanging on the wall with a fierce thud.
Xianglan frowned and stepped forward, extending her hand. "Give me the knives. No more throwing—you'll strain your wound, and it's just started to heal."
Instead, Lin Jinlou reached out and grasped her hand, lifting his head to gaze at her in silence. Xianglan met his eyes and suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She lowered her head and murmured, "About today... I... thank you... I gave the bundle of banknotes to the Song family's Madam in the carriage. Later, I'll repay the money..." Before she could finish, Lin Jinlou abruptly said, "Are you drawing such a clear line with me? Are you saying this just to make me feel worse?"
Xianglan froze and looked up. Lin Jinlou squeezed her hand tightly and asked, "What did you say to Song Yi Fei back there?"
Xianglan almost laughed. She had thought Lin Jinlou had changed, that he would be magnanimous and not ask, but he still did. Yet, as she looked into his eyes, her laughter died. After a moment's pause, she curved her lips slightly and said, "Nothing, just farewell."
"Just farewell?"
"Mm." Xianglan extended her other hand. "Give me the knives. Be careful not to cut yourself."
But with a clatter, the knife fell to the floor. Lin Jinlou wrapped both arms around Xianglan, pulling her into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her—a deep, forceful kiss as his hand slipped inside her collar. Startled, Xianglan pressed a hand against him and turned her face away. "No, you're injured..."
Lin Jinlou held her even tighter, so tight that the pain in his chest made him tremble, yet he would rather endure it. His kisses trailed down Xianglan's pale, smooth neck. She struggled but feared bumping his chest wound, anxiously clutching the fabric at his shoulders. "It's already dawn. Soon, the Old Master and Madam will send people over, and the maids are outside..."
Lin Jinlou breathed heavily, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Worried the position would strain his chest wound, Xianglan gently pushed him and whispered, "Eldest Master, your chest injury has just started to heal..."He cut her off harshly, "Forget about that injury!" Instead, he pulled her arm around his neck. After a moment, his tone softened again, his voice hoarse as he said, "Hold me for a while, Xianglan. Don't let go." Xianglan froze for a moment; there was actually a pleading note in his voice. Lin Jinlou lifted his head, meeting her gaze. Her heart trembled, her mind went blank, and she was utterly at a loss. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Jinlou shook his head, pressed his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and whispered, "Shh, don't speak... Hold me for a while, just a little while..." He frowned, as if bearing an unbearable pain. Xianglan suddenly felt a pang of sorrow, mixed with indescribable emotions. She seemed to understand something, yet instinctively shied away from it. Tears welled up in her eyes. After a moment, she raised her arms and slowly held Lin Jinlou tighter.
Lin Jinlou trembled and held her even closer. He had never known that simply holding someone could bring such fulfillment to his heart—a mix of sorrow and joy, feeling that everything was complete. Just moments ago, he had watched from afar as Xianglan and Song Ke stood quietly facing each other. Xianglan's expression was calm and serene, yet it couldn't conceal the sorrow of parting. Their deep, mutual gaze seemed to exclude everything else in the world, leaving him as an outsider, a mere passerby. He could hardly bear it.
He had once regarded her as nothing more than a pretty plaything—like a vase in a room, a bird in a cage, a flower casually clipped, a pastime for his leisure. She hated him, he knew, but he didn't care. He had manipulated her, bending her will to his, yet he hadn't realized that this seemingly delicate and timid woman possessed such resilience in her bones, with a breadth of spirit that repeatedly caught his attention, earning his respect and genuine affection.
When he was injured and lying in the reed marshes, his life hanging by a thread, his thoughts weren't of loyalty to the emperor, love for his country, filial piety, family decline, or the succession of military power. His mind was filled entirely with the woman shivering in the cold wind by his side. Only by ensuring she was safely entrusted could he close his eyes and die in peace. He knew how much she wanted to leave the Lin family, and he feared that once he was gone, she would immediately resign and depart. But she was so beautiful, and her parents were so vulnerable—how could she protect herself in this troubled world? So he entrusted Yuan Shaoren to help her in the future.
But he survived.
He had pondered all night. In the past, he had forced Xianglan to endure everything according to his whims, so of course she would hate him. What if he changed from now on? Would she be willing to stay by his side? Lin Jinlou had always been exceptionally shrewd and formidable, but at this point, he dared not and was unwilling to think too deeply. All he knew was that holding Xianglan now made him feel that everything was complete.
From outside came two light coughs, and Xue Ning said, "Eldest Master, Third Master is here. He says there's something urgent."
Xianglan pushed him gently, but Lin Jinlou still held her without moving. Xianglan whispered, "Hurry and sit properly. There's urgent business." Then she called out in response, "Please invite Third Master in."
Only then did Lin Jinlou reluctantly let go. By then, Lin Jinting had already hurried in with quick steps. Xianglan promptly stood up to pour tea.
Without even lifting his eyelids, Lin Jinlou asked, "What is it?"
Lin Jinting said, "It's about Second Sister-in-law..." Noticing Xianglan serving tea nearby, he trailed off and winked at Lin Jinlou. Lin Jinlou said, "Why are you blinking? Did you get sand in your eye, or are you having a spasm?"Xianglan immediately understood the implication and said, "I'll go out to find a copybook for calligraphy practice."
Lin Jinlou said, "Don't go." He turned to Lin Jinting and said, "Speak up. There's nothing to hide from her. You can tell me about family matters separately later, but I'll have to discuss them with her anyway."
Since Xianglan had gone to see Song Ke off early this morning, Lin Jinting now viewed her more favorably. He cleared his throat and said, "Second Sister-in-law's condition has improved, but she's developed chronic health issues. One ear seems to have lost hearing, her speech isn't as clear as before, and she often forgets things. Today, the Old Master personally went to question her about what happened that day and how Concubine Yin died. At first, she refused to speak, but the Old Master is no ordinary man—he had probably already guessed eighty to ninety percent of the truth. After some interrogation tactics, she confessed. Tsk, tsk, Eldest Brother, guess what? It's earth-shattering, tear-jerking news! This Madam Tan is no simple woman—she actually cuckolded Second Brother! She had an affair with the third son of the Dai family! None of us expected that! Concubine Yin was just unlucky—she happened to catch them in the act, and that's why she lost her life. Pitiful, truly pitiful." After speaking, he held his breath, waiting to see Lin Jinlou's shocked expression.
Unexpectedly, Lin Jinlou didn't even raise an eyebrow. He merely picked up his tea bowl and took a leisurely sip, saying, "Look at you, getting so worked up over nothing. It's just Madam Tan having an affair—how is that earth-shattering or tear-jerking? You're a full-grown man, yet you're gossiping like an old woman."
Lin Jinting said resentfully, "Fine, you're broad-minded and above it all. I'm leaving." With that, he stood up.
"Come back," Lin Jinlou set down his tea bowl and said, "Did you come just to tell me this?"
"No. The Dai family has been executed to the last member, so this matter is effectively resolved. The Old Master wants us to announce that Madam Tan died suddenly. Later, when Second Brother has recovered, we'll find him a virtuous wife. But I'm supposed to handle Madam Tan's situation, and I have no idea what to do. Should I actually have her killed? That's why I came to ask for your advice."
Lin Jinlou fell into thought. In his opinion, Madam Tan deserved to die multiple times over. He looked up and saw Xianglan watching him with a pleading expression, so he said, "Let me think about it. Come back later." He then sent Lin Jinting away.
Xianglan cleared away the tea set and asked softly, "How does Eldest Master plan to handle this?"
Lin Jinlou reached out, took Xianglan's hand, and pulled her closer, saying, "Say what you want to say. Don't hem and haw."
Xianglan said, "I'd like to plead for mercy for Madam Tan... She has countless faults, but she's not a bad person at heart. It's just that she made a catastrophic mistake, and once you take that wrong step, it's hard to turn back. But heaven values compassion, and she has her pitiable aspects. At least spare her life."
Lin Jinlou let out a sigh: "She bullied you before. Have you forgotten?"
Xianglan, however, smiled: "But later, she treated me very well. She even stood up for me when she feared I was being wronged."
Lin Jinlou was speechless for a moment before saying, "Right, that's just like you—always remembering others' kindness and forgetting their faults." He looked into Xianglan's eyes and said, "Can you also forget my faults, forget how much of a scoundrel I was before? From now on, let's live well together."Xianglan froze, unsure how to answer herself. Just as she was at a loss, she saw Lin Jinlou act as though he had never asked the question, changing the subject by saying, "Alright, I'll spare her life for your sake. Since we've survived great danger, we ought to accumulate some virtue." As he finished speaking, he glanced at Xianglan from the corner of his eye and saw her heave a long sigh of relief.
After lunch, Xianglan draped a cloak over her shoulders and brought Xiao Juan and Hua Shan to visit Madam Tan. Tan Luhua was now settled in a row of side rooms behind the Kangshou Residence, with an old woman guarding the door. The woman hurried forward obsequiously upon seeing Xianglan, smiling ingratiatingly as she said, "How unexpected! What brings Concubine here?"
Xianglan smiled and said, "I came to check on her." As she spoke, Xiao Juan pulled a handful of coins from her sleeve and pressed them into the old woman's hand, saying, "The Eldest Master sent Concubine here. This is for you to buy some wine to ward off the chill."
The old woman immediately beamed and said, "Thank you for your generosity, Concubine." She then opened the door and added, "But don't stay too long, madam. The Old Master has given strict orders."
Xianglan nodded and stepped inside. The room was dim, with a large kang bed that servants used to sleep on directly opposite the entrance. Tan Luhua lay there, attended by her young maid Zhen'er, who was carefully feeding her medicine spoon by spoon.
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