Night had fallen, and Lin Jinlou ordered supper to be brought to the study. Ling Su and Ling Qing carried in a kang table, only to find Xianglan still asleep beneath the covers, half a delicate shoulder faintly visible. Lin Jinlou instructed them to place the kang table on the Arhat Bed. The two dared not glance around and left with bowed heads. The kang table was laid with eight exquisite dishes, two bowls of rice, a platter of pastries, a clay pot of congee, another of soup, and fresh fruit diced into small pieces. Lin Jinlou shook Xianglan awake, now feeding her a bite of food, now ladling her some soup, even bringing it to her lips as he asked, "Do you like it? What else would you like? I’ll have the cook prepare it."
Xianglan rubbed her eyes and sat up, already quite hungry. She drowsily drank a few mouthfuls of soup. Seeing her sleepy-eyed, cheeks flushed like a spring-blossoming crabapple, and as endearing as a drowsy kitten, Lin Jinlou couldn’t resist reaching out to tousle her, pulling her close for a kiss. Xianglan dodged left and right but ultimately couldn’t escape his advances. She shot him a glare, swatted his hand away, got up to put on her clothes, and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
Lin Jinlou hummed a little tune as he ate, now and then reaching out to touch Xianglan, looking thoroughly pleased with himself and even managing an extra bowl of rice. Xianglan glanced at him and said, "Tomorrow morning, I need to go back to my old place."
Lin Jinlou frowned, setting down his chopsticks. "What for?"
"There are still some things there…"
"Those things aren’t worth much. Just leave them."
"There’s some needlework I did there, embroidered stitch by stitch myself."
"Don’t go back. Send someone to fetch them. Stay here with me."
"No. The elderly woman in the courtyard has always looked after me. I ought to thank her in person."
"Withdraw some silver from the accounts and have Bao’er go thank her."
Xianglan’s face flushed red. "Just now you said you’d treat me well, so why are you being so domineering again?"
Lin Jinlou fell silent, sulkily shoveling a few mouthfuls of rice into his mouth. He had only just found her and hadn’t had enough time to be close; he wished he could keep her by his side every moment and naturally didn’t want her going out.
The next day, though Xianglan woke late, she still went to her former small courtyard. Lin Jinlou, putting aside his official duties, accompanied her. As soon as they entered the courtyard, he frowned, and when they stepped into the eastern room where Xianglan had lived, his brows nearly knitted into a knot. "How can anyone live in this wretched place? It’s damp and gloomy—even a healthy person would fall ill here."
Xianglan pretended not to hear, carefully gathering the needlework she had done over the past few days and neatly folding her clothes. Lin Jinlou wandered around the courtyard, looking here and there, until he spotted a broken pot on the windowsill with a chrysanthemum planted inside. Though he thought little of it, it occurred to him that Xianglan must have planted it herself. He pointed at the pot and said to Shuangxi, "Take this. Later, transplant it into a proper pot and place it in the room." Shuangxi promptly acknowledged the order and carried the flowerpot away.
Lin Jinlou went back inside and noticed a few sheets of paper scattered on the rough wooden kang table beneath the bed. A breeze blew, lifting the top sheets to reveal a painting underneath—a portrait that seemed to depict a man. Lin Jinlou immediately picked it up and examined it closely, feeling the face looked familiar. Was it… him?
Just then, Xianglan turned around and saw Lin Jinlou staring at the painting—the very portrait she had drawn of him that night. Her face flushed crimson in an instant. She rushed over, snatched the paper from his hand, and crumpled it in her grasp, avoiding his gaze as she said, "I always paint flowers and birds, so I’m not good at drawing people… It was just a casual sketch, not done with any particular intention!"Lin Jinlou gazed at her fair complexion tinged with pink and her flushed earlobes, feeling an itch in his heart. How adorable she looked, so captivating, fresh and vibrant like a blooming flower, almost glowing. A smile played on his lips. "Oh, so you just casually sketched me? Did you draw it at night? And you still say you don’t miss me, hmm?"
Xianglan’s face grew even redder. "What nonsense... What are you talking about? What do you mean, drawing at night..." She turned away, pretending to tidy up, and tucked the drawing beneath an embroidered cloth.
"Alright then, it was drawn during the day." Lin Jinlou suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind, planting a fierce kiss on her lips, then another, and another. Startled, Xianglan struggled and whispered, "It’s broad daylight! What’s gotten into you? There are people outside!"
Lin Jinlou reached out and pulled the drawing from beneath the cloth. Xianglan rushed to snatch it back, stamping her foot in frustration. "Give it back to me!" Lin Jinlou held it high above his head. "No way. What if you tear it? I love this drawing too much."
After everything was packed and they were about to leave, Xianglan personally went to thank the old woman, presenting her with silver and gifts. Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou beckoned Jixiang over, retrieved the drawing from his chest, and handed it to him. "Find the finest craftsman to mount this painting. Use old rosewood for the roller ends and inlay it with tortoiseshell and agate. Once it’s done, hang it in the study. Don’t forget to take it with us when we return to Jinling."
Jixiang hurriedly accepted it with both hands. Thinking Xianglan had created some masterpiece for the ages, he unrolled it in a secluded spot only to find a sketch of the Eldest Master. Though vividly rendered, it was merely a few simple strokes, with a large ink blot staining one corner of the paper.
With Xianglan now back, Lin Jinlou was utterly content. He took her to formally pay respects to the elders again and began selecting an auspicious date for the wedding. Old Madam Lin, seeing her eldest grandson smile for the first time in half a year, was overjoyed and even rewarded Xianglan generously.
Lin Jinlou specially invited Xia Gugu to oversee the wedding arrangements. Xia Gugu understood perfectly—having served in the imperial court, attended to the empress dowager and princesses, she knew Lin Jinlou’s request was not for her to manage trivialities but to lend prestige to Xianglan. Fond of Xianglan herself, she took her hand and examined her closely, sighing, "I always thought you were different from the ordinary girls. This fortune is only fitting. In my opinion, it’s Lin General’s blessing to have found such a treasure." A few days later, a eunuch arrived with an imperial decree: the empress dowager summoned Xianglan for an audience, stirring up the entire Lin household. Xianglan entered the palace and presented four of her own paintings. The empress dowager was delighted and inquired in detail about The Story of Hermit Lanxiang. Impressed by Xianglan’s gentle speech and elegant demeanor, she bestowed numerous gifts upon her.
Yet Lin Jinlou found little joy in this. After Xianglan left the palace, Xia Gugu took her directly to her own residence, sending word back: "By the empress dowager’s order, since it is a wedding, it is improper for the bride to be received and sent off from her own home. Xia Gugu shall act as her family home and host Miss Xianglan." As this was the empress dowager’s command, Lin Jinlou could not object. He could only urge his family to expedite the wedding preparations.Qin Shi took great care in arranging the marriage, personally overseeing every detail. During a late-night conversation with Lin Changzheng, she said, "These past six months have truly exhausted me. At my age, all I care about now are our children. I only hope they will achieve success and live comfortably. Since Lou Ge'er has finally found someone he truly cares for, let him be. Xianglan is a good girl after all. And you, my lord, mustn't always wear such a stern face. Now even the Empress Dowager has personally summoned Xianglan to the palace and bestowed so many gifts upon her. I've heard that the Empress Dowager even requests Xianglan to submit her paintings from time to time—she's made a name for herself in the imperial court. You can no longer be stubborn; give the child a smile when you see her. She will be your daughter-in-law in the future, and your son's well-being will depend on her care."
Lin Changzheng replied, "Who's being stubborn? Do you take me for a three-year-old? I was mainly angry at Lou Ge'er before."
Qin Shi, knowing he valued his pride, couldn't help but chuckle.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Lin Changzheng said, "Enough, it's late. Let's sleep. There's no need for so much talk."
Chen Wanquan and Xue Shi had been brought over early and were temporarily staying at Xia Gugu's home. From the day they received the news, the couple felt as if they were in a dream, then overwhelmed with joy, they walked as if floating on air. Xue Shi said cheerfully, "Husband, do you remember the prenatal dream I had when I was pregnant with Xianglan? Thousands upon thousands of orchid blossoms bloomed. Even Ma the Fortune-Teller said I would give birth to a noble daughter, but you refused to believe it. Look now—hasn't it come true?"
Chen Wanquan was overjoyed, his beard practically quivering with delight. But after a moment of happiness, he sighed and lamented, "Everyone in the Lin family has a pair of snobbish eyes. I'm just afraid our daughter's background will cause her to suffer in the future." The thought of becoming Lin Jinlou's father-in-law made him tremble with excitement, his heart blooming with joy, his face unsure how to express such happiness. Yet, when he considered Lin Jinlou's imposing authority and power—whom he had always revered as a deity—his knees grew weak, and he could hardly speak, instead growing fearful and reluctant to interact with him. Thus, he oscillated between joy and worry, tormenting himself one moment and delighting the next, restless and unsettled. The constant emotional turmoil stirred up such inner heat that he even fell ill. In contrast, Xue Shi was genuinely happy, eagerly anticipating her daughter's marriage and future glory, and devoted herself wholeheartedly to preparing for the wedding.
On the wedding day, Lin Jinlou dispatched a hundred of his armored soldiers, holding crimson silk lanterns in the dark night to light the way, turning the night as bright as day, as he went to welcome the bride. Such a grand display truly caused a sensation in the capital, and some busybodies even incorporated it into The Story of Hermit Lanxiang, making it a hot topic of discussion in every street and alley. On their wedding night, Xianglan, feeling uneasy, whispered to Lin Jinlou, "Wasn't such a lavish procession for the bride inappropriate?"
Lin Jinlou smiled proudly. "Don't worry, I've already reported it to The Emperor. I just didn't want you to feel slighted. Nowadays, human relationships are as thin as gauze; everyone is fixated on wealth and status, especially the servants at home and those official wives. They may not say it to your face, but they'll gossip behind your back. I did this to bolster your prestige, to let them all see and not dare to bully or mistreat you in the future."
Upon hearing this, Xianglan's eyes reddened.
"Oh, why are you shedding Golden Beans again? Are you touched?" Lin Jinlou laughed as he pulled her into his embrace.
Xianglan wiped the corner of her eye while protesting, "Not at all!"
Lin Jinlou pointed to his cheek. "Still denying it? You ungrateful thing, see how well I treat you? Hurry up and give me a kiss."
Xianglan wiped her eyes, glanced at Lin Jinlou, slowly reached out her arms, wrapped them around her husband's neck, and with a reserved expression, planted a soft "smack" of a kiss.After the New Year celebrations faded and the bustle gradually subsided, Lin Jinlou began packing to return to Jinling. Due to the severe cold and frozen roads, Lin Zhaoxiang and Old Madam Lin remained in the capital for the winter. With Lin Changzheng joining the Grand Secretariat, the main branch of the family naturally stayed in the capital. In the second branch, Lin Jinting needed to focus on his studies for the imperial examinations, and Lin Zhaoxiang personally oversaw his progress, so they did not leave either. Since Lin Jinting stayed, Wang Shi remained as well.
Before departing, Xianglan made a special trip to see De Ge’er. Noticing he had grown taller but still had his chubby, lively appearance, she felt a wave of relief. She praised De Ge’er in front of Lin Dongxiu, hoping to encourage his stepmother to show him more affection and treat him well in the future.
Lin Dongxiu, now pregnant, spent her days resting in bed to nurture the fetus. Her complexion was sallow, but her spirits were high. She remarked with a tinge of bitterness, "He’s the apple of the Marquis’s eye—the Marquis teaches him reading and writing himself. Who would dare treat him poorly?" She patted her belly and added, "Who knows if this one will be a boy or a girl? If the Marquis shows even half the care for my child as he does for De Ge’er, it would be a blessing." Xianglan remained silent. Lin Dongxiu was not well-liked by Yuan Shaoren; their relationship was one of mere courtesy, lacking genuine affection. Now that Lin Dongxiu was expecting her own child, if Yuan Shaoren continued to favor De Ge’er, resentment might grow, making the boy’s situation difficult. Gathering her thoughts, Xianglan helped Lin Dongxiu select fabrics for the baby’s clothes. Lin Dongxiu sighed, "Ah, even before the child is born, I’m already worrying—preparing everything from food to clothing, wishing only the best for them."
This remark suddenly enlightened Xianglan. She thought to herself, "Indeed, parents and elders always hope their children avoid hardship, have a bright future, and live a peaceful, smooth life. But everyone must walk their own path. They will inevitably encounter both good and bad fortune, and face difficulties. Worrying on their behalf is futile. The most we can do is teach them to be good people. Children and grandchildren have their own destinies; in the end, each finds their own way." This realization lifted her spirits. She quietly called De Ge’er to her side, gave him several gifts, and advised him, "Listen to your father. Be generous in your dealings with others, don’t dwell on trifles, learn to let go, and life will go smoothly." De Ge’er clutched Xianglan’s hand with his chubby little one and whispered, "I understand. I remember everything my aunt has told me." Seeing his sensible demeanor, Xianglan felt both a pang of sorrow and a touch of comfort. She said, "If you lack anything you can’t ask for at home, just write to me. If you have something on your mind and need someone to talk to, always tell me." She gently stroked his head, held him close, and lovingly kissed his plump little cheeks.Upon returning to Jinling, Lin Jinlou was so busy he barely touched the ground. Having spent over a year in the capital, official duties in Jinling had piled up like a mountain. In contrast, Xianglan found herself with more leisure. With fewer people in the household, trivial matters and disputes had reduced by more than half. She methodically managed the inner household affairs each day. Though she had lived in the Lin residence for three years and had previously assisted in managing household matters, thinking she was already familiar with the ropes, she soon realized that being a maid or a quasi-mistress was vastly different from being the legitimate wife. The servants and staff had initially shown her respect due to Lin Jinlou's favor, but now that she was the official wife, they added awe to that respect—especially those who had intentionally bullied her when she was a maid or concubine, who couldn't help but tremble with fear. Previously, when she gave orders, some of the more privileged servants had only been polite on the surface, but now they sincerely rushed to flatter and smile obsequiously. Looking around, the malicious contempt and oppression she had once endured had completely transformed into enthusiastic, fawning smiles. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly: originally, one should maintain an equal and pure heart, yet distinctions arise due to status and power—such is the fickleness of human relationships.
Since his return, Lin Jinlou spent all day outside. Each evening, he would come back too tired to change his clothes, collapsing onto the bed sprawled out like a child, being fussy and demanding. He insisted that Xianglan wipe his face and hands, take off his boots and change his clothes, shell chestnuts and feed them to him, and fetch whatever he wanted. He had her read letters and invitations to him and hold the brush for him. Seeing him covered in dust from his travels, looking somewhat haggard from exhaustion, Xianglan carefully attended to him, mindful of his comfort, and even prepared several mild, nourishing medicinal dishes to replenish his health. However, she absolutely refused to admit that she felt sorry for him, lest that scoundrel take advantage and become even more insatiable in his demands.
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