Lin Jinlou suddenly gripped her chin and said, “You…”
Xiang Lan trembled, staring at him with wide eyes.
Lin Jinlou released his grip and said, “Never mind, you may go.” With that, he strode out.
Xiang Lan let out a long breath and slumped onto the bed. Glancing to the side, she saw Hua Shan peering around the doorway. She beckoned her in and asked, “How are the Young Ladies doing?”
Hua Shan replied, “First Young Lady and Second Young Lady are still in the east room. Xue Ning just went in with tea and snacks but hasn’t come out yet, as she’s talking with the Young Ladies. Second Madam has already left.”
Xiang Lan tidied her hair and stood up with renewed energy, saying, “Let’s go. It’s not proper to keep them waiting.”
Hua Shan hesitated before saying, “Miss, your eyes…” She brought over a mirror case. When Xiang Lan looked, she saw her eyes were red and swollen, clearly showing she had been crying. She quickly asked Hua Shan to bring two silver spoons to press against her eyes. After a while, they improved. She then wiped her face with a damp towel and reapplied her makeup before going to see the guests.
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou left through the second gate and returned to his front study to write a note. He handed it to Ji Xiang, saying, “Take this to the Imperial Medical Academy first thing tomorrow morning and invite Imperial Physician Zhang Shiyou to come.” After placing his brush on the rack, he exhaled deeply.
He had overheard Xiang Lan’s every word at the door. He knew the woman still harbored resentment, and he was growing impatient. However, Xiang Lan’s words today had given him some clarity. She had said, “Once pregnant, with the child’s blood connected to one’s own, how could anyone bear to terminate the pregnancy? She must have struggled for a long time, ultimately unable to be so heartless, and when her family discovered it, she returned to the Dai family.” From this, he realized that if this woman became pregnant, she might finally settle down. He also wondered why, with only Xiang Lan in his household and their frequent intimacy, there had been no good news yet. Imperial Physician Zhang Shiyou specialized in pulse-taking and pregnancy care for noble ladies in the imperial palace. His medical knowledge was profound. Previously, when seeking an official position for his son, it was through the old master Zhang’s connections. Having him examine Xiang Lan would reveal any issues and put his mind at ease… Perhaps after dealing with these two matters, he could take Xiang Lan to Miao Feng Mountain in the capital’s outskirts to pray to the Fertility Goddess.
Lin Jinlou stroked his chin, thinking of summoning Kang Shiyuan to inquire about the coming days’ schedule. However, as he pushed open the door, he saw Shuang Xi waiting outside, who hurriedly said, “Master, Second Brother-in-law drank too much and is now suffering. He’s just been given a pot of sobering soup but threw it up. After taking another sobering decoction, he’s now lying on the kang bed. What should we do about this…”
Lin Jinlou hurried over to check. Entering the room, he was met with the strong smell of alcohol. His second brother-in-law, Tao Hongxun, lay on the bed, pale-faced but in better spirits after vomiting. Lin Jinlou offered some comforting words and ordered servants to bring porridge. After resting for a while, Tao Hongxun wanted to take his leave. Despite Lin Jinlou’s earnest attempts to keep him, Tao Hongxun said, “I have official duties tomorrow and dare not stay longer. I’ll visit another day.” Only then did Lin Jinlou see him off, sending him home with a box of gifts from Jinling.
After Lin Dongyi and her husband left, Lin Dongwan could no longer stay and also bid farewell, returning to Lin Jinxuan’s residence. Upon entering the courtyard, she saw Concubine Yin grinding medicine in the shade of a tree and approached, asking, “Aunt, why are you doing this yourself? Where are all the maids?”
Concubine Yin replied, “This is your brother’s medicine. I’ll only feel at ease grinding it myself. He had a minor illness recently, fortunately not triggering any major symptoms. He’s currently taking Ginseng Nourishing Pills. However, he still isn’t sleeping well at night and breaks out in cold sweats. Today we invited a doctor who said it’s Yang deficiency and kidney weakness, likely from being newly married. I just told his wife they should sleep separately for a few days. Guess what his wife said to me?” She imitated Madam Tan’s manner: “‘Thank you for your concern, Aunt. Though I may not have proper elders by my side now, I still respect you as one. However, this is a private matter between husband and wife, and it would be better if Aunt worried less about it in the future.’ Can you believe it! She’s saying I’m not a ‘proper elder,’ clearly showing no respect for me. Have you ever seen such an arrogant new bride? To think that at my age, when I thought I’d finally have someone to rely on in my later years, I ended up with such a daughter-in-law. My fate is truly bitter!” She began to cry.
Lin Dongwan said, “Just be more tolerant of her personality, Aunt. Nothing in this world is perfect. Didn’t you praise your new daughter-in-law for being sensible when I last visited, saying she gave you a pair of gold bracelets? I rarely come home, yet you don’t even ask how I’m doing. I’m struggling in my married home too. The first branch is pushing for family division, the second and fourth branches have some capabilities, and the fifth branch is most favored and will get more, but our third branch… that hopeless fool can’t be counted on. He’s completely useless and gets dizzy with just a bit of sweet talk from his brothers. Last year he was granted an official position but wouldn’t do it properly, instead making friends with scoundrels who led him to gambling. While the old master can still keep him in check now, how will we manage if the family splits…” She too began crying.
Concubine Yin cursed, “It’s all that vixen Qin’s scheming, finding you this marriage match. Your brother’s wife must have been her idea too, pushing for this marriage. She won’t rest until she sees me ruined!” She pulled Lin Dongwan’s sleeve and continued, “My child, your brother is frail and mustn’t be upset. Only you can stand up for me now and help me deal with your brother’s wife. She’s just entered the family – if we don’t establish control and set rules now, where will I stand in the future? I know you’ve always been capable.”
Lin Dongwan, who had been wiping her tears, paused and laughed coldly, “Aunt, you’re always like this, only having eyes for my second brother. I wasn’t born from your womb, you only think of me when you’re wronged and want me to stand up for you. Because of this, I’ve offended the Madam and now can’t even face asking my eldest brother to find a position for my husband.” With that, she stood up and left, slamming the curtain as she entered her room. Her maid Qiu Ye hurriedly followed, seeing Lin Dongwan standing by the door wiping her eyes, and quietly offered a handkerchief, softly saying, “That’s just how Aunt is, Third Madam shouldn’t be upset with her.”
Lin Dongwan wiped her tears with the handkerchief and said, “I know, but my heart aches. I finally come home for a visit, and she doesn’t ask a single caring question. She saw the wet nurse carrying Hui’er pass by and didn’t even ask about him. All she thinks about is my second brother, and she still wants me to play the villain for her.”
Qiu Ye couldn’t offer much consolation and only said, “Aunt treats you as her own, that’s why she speaks like this.” She then whispered, “Third Madam, please don’t cry. Second Master and Second Madam Xuan are in the room.”
Lin Dongwan dabbed her eyes again and calmed herself down. She had always been one to “swallow blood even with broken teeth,” never showing the slightest grievance in front of others. When she reached marriageable age, Lin Changzheng had wanted to marry her to a local wealthy family, but she refused, determined to marry into an established noble family. She understood clearly that while wealthy merchants might have money, they couldn’t match the inherent dignity of aristocratic families. She would rather wear old clothes and eat thin porridge under a glorious family nameplate than wear new clothes and eat delicacies under an ordinary one. Though the Lu family merely maintained a facade of respectability, a lean camel was still larger than a horse. She believed that with her intelligence and capability, by encouraging her husband to advance, there would surely be a day of restoration. Then she could return home and make everyone see her in a new light!
However, after marriage and two years of hardship, she realized she had been too naive. With in-laws, sisters-in-law, uncles, and husbands, each with different temperaments and personalities, nine out of ten with different minds, how could she single-handedly turn things around?
Yet she would never admit her initial mistake. She had chosen this path herself, and even if she had to crawl, she would see it through.
Now she maintained good relations with Chen Xiang Lan, hoping she would speak well of her to Lin Jinlou in the future, while also hoping Lin Jinxuan’s health would improve so he could take the imperial examinations next year and give her more support.
When Lin Dongwan entered the inner room, Lin Jinxuan was lying on the bed. Madam Tan had just helped him take his medicine and was now airing out the medicinal smell by opening the windows. Seeing Lin Dongwan enter, she still harbored resentment about how Lin Dongwan and Lin Dongyi had sided with Xiang Lan earlier, making her lose face. She lifted the curtain and left, only ordering a maid to serve tea.
Madam Tan sat alone in the west room for a while, feeling dispirited. She picked up her needlework, made a few stitches, then tossed it aside. Today she had endured much frustration, first being humiliated at Xiang Lan’s place, then returning to have Concubine Yin nagging her about sleeping separately from Lin Jinxuan. What did they take her for? She was the properly married principal wife – though Concubine Yin was Lin Jinxuan’s birth mother, she was still just a concubine, yet she dared to act superior in front of her. Previously, she had humored and flattered Concubine Yin only out of respect for her husband’s face. If this made Concubine Yin think she was a pushover, she was sorely mistaken! She could be quite agreeable!
Madam Tan laughed coldly several times and drank a cup of tea. The implications in their words suggested she had bewitched Lin Jinxuan and caused his weakness – but they should look at what kind of person their son was, ready to fall at the slightest breeze, nothing like his brother Lin Jinlou. Thinking of Lin Jinlou, Madam Tan’s face suddenly flushed hot. Earlier she had crashed right into his embrace, feeling how broad and firm his chest was, how strong his arms were, and those alluring eyes…
Madam Tan dared not think further and secretly cursed herself, fanning her face with a handkerchief to cool the heat. Yet she couldn’t help thinking: “They say my eldest brother-in-law has long been a romantic, skilled in matters of the heart. Now that I’ve seen him, it’s truly so. I never knew there could be such a man in the world, so different from my brothers. This is how a real man should be, tall and proud. It’s my misfortune – if I were a noble lady, married to him, we would be a harmonious couple, sharing a loving relationship. Instead, I married Lin Jinxuan. Though he is gentle and considerate, he has all these illnesses… Alas…”