Lin Jinlou held Xianglan's hand and kissed her palm. "You're too soft-hearted. To put it nicely, you're broad-minded; to put it bluntly, you're too easily taken advantage of. How many people are just waiting to exploit your kindness?"
Xianglan chuckled softly. "If I constantly calculated whether I'm being shortchanged, that calculating mindset would bring endless troubles. Heaven's calculations of gains and losses are far clearer than ours. Those who scheme too meticulously lose blessings. It's better to be at ease." As she spoke, she yawned, her eyes gradually closing, when suddenly Lin Jinlou said: "That Xia Yun is actually lucky to have made an enemy of you."
Xianglan couldn't help laughing. "What kind of logic is that? How can making an enemy be considered lucky?"
Lin Jinlou explained: "When you let go and broaden your heart, you understand the boundless vastness of heaven and earth. Most people know this principle, but few can practice it with such ease. That Xia Yun is fortunate to have made an enemy of someone with such magnanimity."
Xianglan sat up, widening her eyes in surprise at Lin Jinlou, then pretended to peer out the window. "I must carefully check tomorrow whether the sun will rise from the west?"
Lin Jinlou laughed. "Well now, you dare mock me." Saying this, he pressed Xianglan down and tickled her.
Xianglan dodged left and right, being extremely ticklish. After giggling a few times, she felt it inappropriate, worried the maids might hear. She bit her lip with pearly teeth but couldn't suppress her laughter, finally pleading: "Mercy, mercy! I surrender!"
Only then did Lin Jinlou stop, looking down at Xianglan from above. "Do you dare again?"
Xianglan's face flushed from laughter as she brushed aside the stray black hair on her face. "I'm just surprised. The Eldest Master has always immediately seized whatever he fancied. When did you learn about letting go and relinquishing?"
Lin Jinlou snorted. "Your lord naturally understands choice and sacrifice." Yet he bent down, pressing his forehead against Xianglan's, his warm breath fanning her face. After a long moment, he said: "Except when it comes to you."
Xianglan had intended to tease further, but upon hearing this, her eyes instantly grew warm. Quietly, she wrapped her arms around Lin Jinlou's neck as his lips already met hers.
Unexpectedly, urgent confidential news arrived late at night, requiring Lin Jinlou to immediately depart for the Military Command. He sent word that he wouldn't return home for several days. When Xianglan woke the next morning, she felt heavy and lethargic, her entire body aching as if catching a cold. Listlessly, she read for a while, casually chatted and laughed with Xiao Juan and others before extinguishing the lights early to rest. The following morning, Xianglan felt her condition worsening. Coincidentally, a closely connected relative of the Lin family celebrated the birth of a son in their eldest branch. Lin Jinlou sent word for Xianglan to visit on his behalf. Summoning her strength, Xianglan changed clothes, ordered gifts prepared, and went to offer congratulations.
The host's household was filled with joyous atmosphere, with continuous streams of visitors coming to congratulate. Numerous female relatives from various branches had gathered. Upon Xianglan's arrival, the hosts naturally showed great attentiveness, specially inviting her from the main hall to a side room for tea. The side room contained women of some status who, aware of Xianglan's background, treated her courteously despite their curiosity. Xianglan responded with faint smiles. After sitting awhile and preparing to leave, the host Madam insisted on keeping her, so Xianglan had to remain longer. Wu Mama and Xiao Juan, knowing she was unwell, specially came in to attend to her. Suddenly, someone announced Madam Lin the Fifth's arrival. Xianglan's heart tightened as she saw a beautiful seventeen-or-eighteen-year-old girl supporting a white-haired elderly woman slowly entering.This was Xianglan's first time meeting Madam Ding, who was not tall but had a plump figure, with narrow eyes and a long nose, yet carried an imposing presence. As she was an elder, Xianglan stood up to pay her respects, but Madam Ding pretended not to see her, greeting only the older female relatives without so much as a glance in Xianglan's direction. The women vied to offer her a seat. Xianglan then turned her attention to the young lady accompanying her, who was of medium height with a slender figure, almond-shaped eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, and an elegant, radiant beauty. Xianglan nodded and smiled at her, intending to greet her, but the young lady ignored her entirely, helping Madam Ding to her seat instead.
Xianglan exchanged a look with Wu Mama, who felt equally embarrassed and awkward. Gently patting Xianglan's arm, she whispered, "Let's just go."
Xianglan replied softly, "No, let's wait a little longer."
Though Madam Ding refused to look at her directly, she had already stolen several sidelong glances. She had put on this haughty act precisely to wait for Xianglan to approach and speak to her first. She intended to assert her dominance, expecting someone to mediate and smooth things over, after which she could gradually become acquainted with Xianglan while maintaining the upper hand. However, Xianglan, by nature indifferent and currently feeling unwell, had little desire to engage in conversation. Moreover, she was well aware that Madam Ding disliked her and saw no point in pressing her attentions where they were unwelcome. So she simply sat quietly with her head bowed and eyebrows slightly furrowed. This only added to Madam Ding's displeasure, and she focused solely on chatting with her older companions. The young lady who had accompanied Madam Ding, her grandniece named Suyan, scrutinized Xianglan several times before pursing her lips and remaining silent.
There was a reason for this behavior. Ding Suyan had been raised as a refined young lady from a prestigious family, excelling in household management, needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was capable and efficient, greatly favored by Old Madam Lin, who never missed an opportunity to praise her. Back when Lin Jinlou and Zhao Yuechan divorced, Old Madam Lin had originally intended for Ding Suyan to become her eldest grandson's wife and had even summoned her to discuss the matter. Madam Ding was delighted, but Ding Suyan refused. Lin Jinlou was over a decade older than her, known for his romantic escapades and numerous concubines in his household, not to mention his many liaisons with courtesans outside. Confident in her own beauty and renowned for her virtue, with her father recently reinstated as an official and no shortage of suitors—including talented young scholars and sons of noble families—Ding Suyan believed she had no trouble finding an ideal husband. She eventually chose a young master from a family comparable to the Lins. However, shortly after the engagement, she learned that although the young man had some talent, he was entirely subservient to his mother. Though the family was wealthy, he received only five taels of silver per month and had to account for every extra coin he spent. Ding Suyan soon regretted her decision, repeatedly crying and demanding to break off the engagement. As she looked around, she found no one who could compare to Lin Jinlou—handsome, celebrated for his military achievements, with substantial income, few demands from elders, and recently promoted to a high official position for saving the Crown Prince, making him a virtual feudal lord. Even if he was somewhat promiscuous, what powerful man wasn't fickle? She lamented having missed a golden mountain and longed to return. But the entire Lin family had moved to the capital, making it impossible to see them, and with Lin Jinlou now intent on marrying Xianglan, Ding Suyan's regret deepened. She pestered her grandaunt, hoping to still marry into the Lin family.
This exasperated Madam Ding, who scolded, "Back then, they were eager to have you, but you refused. Now you want to shamelessly go back? There's no such thing in this world!"
Ding Suyan wept, "Who could have foreseen this back then? You must help me, Grandaunt."Ding Suyan's parents were naturally very fond of Lin Jinlou. Knowing that Madam Ding held considerable prestige within the Lin clan and maintained a close relationship with Old Madam Lin, they sent her many valuable gifts. Madam Ding then wrote letters to both Old Madam Lin and Lin Changzheng, describing Xianglan's disgraceful behavior while subtly praising Ding Suyan's virtues. Seeing from Lin Changzheng's reply that his wording seemed extremely displeased with Xianglan, Madam Ding assumed the matter was settled. Unexpectedly, Lin Jinlou ultimately married Xianglan. Enraged, Madam Ding dared not write to Lin Changzheng again. Knowing Old Madam Lin had a soft disposition, she vented her resentment by writing a letter stating, "A lowly woman of base character, her vulgar nature ingrained to the bone—she could never change it in her entire lifetime," and so forth. But the letter sank like a stone in the ocean, with no further response.
Ding Suyan harbored a knot of resentment in her heart. Today, upon seeing Xianglan—whose face rivaled morning blossoms, eyes clear as twin pools of water, exuding an aura of elegance, surrounded by maids and a crowd fawning over her—while she herself had broken off her engagement and was now growing older, unable to find a match either suitable or worthy, let alone another man like Lin Jinlou, she grew increasingly unsettled. A surge of anger welled up inside her as she thought, "Relying on looks to please a man—she merely picked up what I originally didn’t want. Since childhood, I was taught by eight elderly matrons, managed grand banquets at home, excelled in household management and needlework, topping every field. The Lin family isn’t afraid of ridicule, but what virtue or ability does she have to sit in such a position? Aside from that face and being able to paint a few pictures, what else stands out? I’ve heard she might even be barren…"
Just as she reached this thought, the host family brought out their child for everyone to see. The crowd gathered around, murmuring praises. Madam Ding played with the child and said to the host family’s old madam, "Your granddaughter-in-law is truly blessed—how soon after marriage, and she’s already given birth to a son."
As if guided by a ghost, Ding Suyan remarked, "Indeed, adding sons to the family is the foundation of prosperity. It’s just a pity for those who can’t continue the family line—wouldn’t that be cheating others out of descendants?" Ding Suyan knew she shouldn’t jab at someone’s sore spot, but seeing Xianglan’s imposing demeanor made her uncomfortable, and she couldn’t resist making a few sour comments. After speaking, she felt some shame and unease, yet also an indescribable satisfaction. She lifted her head and glanced at Xianglan, intentionally or not.
Xianglan understood all too well, her face paling. The issue of heirs was a hidden affliction in her heart. Even if Lin Jinlou didn’t mind, she still longed for a child to cherish. She knew well that if she remained childless in the next year or two, the Lin elders would likely pressure Lin Jinlou to take a concubine. Even if he refused for her sake, her life in the Lin household might not be easy. Moreover, how could Lin Jinlou truly not want children? One only had to see how he doted on De Ge'er and Yuan Ge'er back then to know.Madam Ding naturally understood clearly and felt her grandniece's words were inappropriate, but she was currently angry with Xianglan and harbored deep prejudice, so she pretended not to hear. Instead, she continued with a smile, "Since we're here today, I might as well say a few more words. Among the three forms of unfilial conduct, having no heir is the gravest. Being unable to bear children violates one of the 'Seven Grounds for Divorce.' For a young couple deeply in love, childlessness may not seem like a crime, but over time—tsk, tsk—I fear resentment will grow over this. In my opinion, if one's own womb shows no sign of life for two or three years, she ought to take the initiative to arrange a concubine for her husband. If she is truly barren, failing to do so would be a lack of virtue. But let's be honest, how many first wives can endure such a thing? I've heard of the youngest son of the Lin family living in the suburbs—he and his wife were once as close as can be. Later, due to their childlessness, the husband took a concubine. Naturally, he grew fond of the new and forgot the old, leading to constant turmoil. In the end, the once-harmonious couple turned against each other, quarreling incessantly. Their youngest son even divorced his wife and elevated the concubine who bore him a son to the position of principal wife."
Every word from these two felt like a stab to Xianglan's heart, especially as she was already feeling unwell that day, making it all the more unbearable. Yet the remarks were veiled and indirect, and she could not voice her own grievances. Fearing she might lose her temper and confront Madam Ding directly, Xianglan could no longer endure sitting there. She sprang to her feet and hurried out.
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