Back in the carriage, Xiang Lan remained silent, hugging her knees lost in thought. Suddenly she heard Ji Xiang say outside the curtain: “Master, we’re home.” Only then did she come to her senses, realizing they had returned to the Lin residence. She stole a glance at Lin Jinlou and saw his face completely expressionless, though his complexion was even paler. After entering the room, Xiang Lan first removed her cloak, then helped him change clothes, ordered someone to bring a bowl of hot soup, and went to check his chest wound. After attending to all Lin Jinlou’s needs, Xiang Lan went to the gauze cabinet to change clothes. When she came out, she saw Lin Jinlou sitting on the bed, throwing knives one by one, viciously embedding them in the target hanging on the wall.

Xiang Lan frowned, walked forward with an outstretched hand, and said: “Give me all the knives. No more throwing, you’ll strain your wound just when it’s starting to heal.”

Lin Jinlou instead reached out and grasped her hand, looking up at her in silent stillness. Xiang Lan looked into his eyes and suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She lowered her head and said softly: “About today… I… thank you… I gave that package of bank notes to Madam Song in the carriage, I will repay the money…” Before she could finish, Lin Jinlou suddenly said: “You’re being so calculative with me, are you purely trying to make me feel bad?”

Xiang Lan started, looking up as Lin Jinlou squeezed her hand firmly and asked: “What did you and Song Yi Fei talk about over there?”

Xiang Lan suddenly wanted to laugh. She had thought Lin Jinlou had changed his nature and become magnanimous, that he wouldn’t ask anymore, but unexpectedly he still did. Yet looking into Lin Jinlou’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to laugh. After a pause, she curved her lips slightly and said: “Nothing much, just saying goodbye.”

“Just saying goodbye?”

“Yes.” Xiang Lan extended her other hand again, “Give me the knives, be careful not to cut yourself.”

Then came the “clang” of a knife falling to the ground as Lin Jinlou wrapped both arms around Xiang Lan, pulling her to his chest and lowering his head to kiss her. The kiss was deep and forceful, his hands already exploring inside her clothes. Xiang Lan was startled, immediately pressing one hand against him and dodging his mouth: “No, you’re injured…”

Lin Jinlou held her even tighter, so tight that even his chest wound hurt enough to make him tremble, but he preferred this pain. His scattered kisses trailed down Xiang Lan’s smooth white neck. Xiang Lan wanted to struggle but feared hitting his chest wound, anxiously grabbing the clothes at his shoulder: “It’s already daylight, the Old Master and Madam will be sending people over soon, and there are maids outside…”

Lin Jinlou breathed heavily, burying his head in the crook of Xiang Lan’s neck. Xiang Lan worried about his chest wound being compressed this way and pushed him again, saying softly: “Master, your chest wound has just healed…”

He cut her off harshly: “Never mind about any wounds!” Instead, he took her arms and wrapped them around his neck. After a moment, his tone softened and he said hoarsely: “Hold me for a while, Xiang Lan, don’t let go.” Xiang Lan was stunned – there was a hint of pleading in his voice. Lin Jinlou raised his head to meet her eyes. Xiang Lan’s heart trembled and her mind went blank, completely at a loss. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Jinlou shook his head, pressing his forehead against hers and saying softly with closed eyes: “Shh, don’t speak… hold me for a while, just a while…” He frowned as if bearing an unbearable pain. Xiang Lan suddenly felt a wave of heartache mixed with indescribable feelings. She seemed to understand somewhat, yet instinctively shied away, while tears welled up. After a moment, she raised her arms and slowly held Lin Jinlou tightly.

Lin Jinlou’s body trembled as he embraced her even more tightly. He had never known that simply holding someone could bring such satisfaction to his heart, both sorrowful and joyful, feeling everything was complete. Earlier, watching from afar as Xiang Lan and Song Ke stood quietly facing each other, Xiang Lan’s expression peaceful yet unable to hide the sorrow of parting, their deep gazes at each other as if they were the only two people in the world – he was just an outsider, a passerby. He could barely bear it.

He had originally treated her as just a pretty plaything, like a vase displayed in a room, a bird in a cage, a casually cut flower – leisure time entertainment. She hated him, he knew, but he didn’t care, holding her in his palm and bending her will. Yet he didn’t realize that this seemingly delicate and weak woman had such inner resilience and transcendent character, repeatedly catching his attention, and then earning his respect and genuine love.

When he lay wounded in the reed marsh, hanging between life and death, what occupied his thoughts wasn’t loyalty to the emperor, filial piety, family prosperity, or military authority, but rather the woman standing by his side shivering in the cold wind. Only after ensuring she would be properly cared for could he close his eyes peacefully in death. He understood how much she wanted to leave the Lin family, and feared that as soon as he died, she would immediately resign and leave. But she was so beautiful, and her parents so frail – how could she protect herself in this chaotic world? So he entrusted Yuan Shaoren to help look after her in the future.

But he had survived.

He had thought all night: in the past, he had made Xiang Lan suffer according to his whims, so naturally, 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 extremely shrewd and formidably brave, but at this point he neither dared nor wanted to think too deeply. He only knew that holding Xiang Lan now made everything feel complete.

From outside came two light coughs, and Xue Ning said: “Master, Third Master is here, says he has urgent matters.”

Xiang Lan pushed him, but Lin Jinlou still held her without moving. Xiang Lan said softly: “Quickly sit properly, there are urgent matters.” Then she called out: “Please invite the Third Master in.”

Lin Jinlou finally released her very reluctantly. By now Lin Jinting had already stridden in, and Xiang Lan hurriedly rose to pour tea.

Lin Jinlou didn’t even raise his eyelids as he asked: “What is it?”

Lin Jinting said: “It’s about a Second Sister-in-law…” Seeing Xiang Lan serving tea nearby, he stopped speaking and gave Lin Jinlou a meaningful look. Lin Jinlou said: “What are you winking about? Got sand in your eye or a muscle spasm?”

Xiang Lan immediately understood and said: “I’ll go find a calligraphy copybook to practice.”

Lin Jinlou said: “Don’t go.” To Lin Jinting he said: “Go ahead and speak, there’s nothing to hide from her. Whatever family matters you tell me privately, I’ll have to tell her anyway.”

Having seen Xiang Lan seeing off Song Ke this morning, Lin Jinting felt more favorably toward her. He cleared his throat and said: “Second Sister-in-law’s illness is somewhat better, but she’s been left with chronic ailments – one ear seems unable to hear, her speech isn’t as clear as before, and she often forgets things. Old Master personally went to ask her today about what happened then and how Concubine Yin died. At first, she wouldn’t say, but what kind of person is Old Master? He probably already guessed eight or nine-tenths of it, and after several rounds of questioning, she confessed. Tsk tsk, Big Brother, guess what? Earth-shattering, soul-stirring news – this Madam Tan is quite something, she made Second Brother wear a green hat! She had an affair with the third Dai son! None of us expected that! Poor Concubine Yin was just unlucky, happening to discover their adultery, and that’s why she lost her life. What a pity, what a pity.” Having finished speaking, he held his breath waiting to see Lin Jinlou’s shocked expression.

Unexpectedly, Lin Jinlou didn’t even move his eyebrows, just lifted his teacup and took a leisurely sip, saying: “Look at how little you’ve seen of the world, just because Madam Tan took a lover, this is enough to shake heaven and earth, move ghosts and spirits? You’re a grown man, why are you gossiping like an old woman about this?”

Lin Jinting said sullenly: “Fine, you have high standards and a broad mind. I’m leaving.” He stood up to go.

“Come back.” Lin Jinlou put down his teacup and said: “Did you come just to tell me this?”

“No. The Dai family has been executed, so that trouble is resolved. Old Master wants to announce that Madam Tan died suddenly, and later when Second Brother has recovered, we’ll choose another virtuous wife for him. But he left me to handle Madam Tan’s matter, and I have no idea what to do. We can’t kill her, can we? That’s why I came to ask your advice.”

Lin Jinlou fell into thought. By his inclination, killing Tan several times wouldn’t be too many. He raised his head and saw Xiang Lan looking at him with a pleading expression. He said: “Let me think about it, come back in a while.” He sent Lin Jinting away.

Xiang Lan cleared away the tea things and asked softly: “How does Master plan to deal with her?”

Lin Jinlou reached out to take Xiang Lan’s hand, pulling her to his side, and said: “Just say what you want to say, don’t hesitate.”

Xiang Lan said: “I want to plead for Madam Tan… She has countless faults, but she’s not a bad person, she just made a terrible mistake and took a wrong step that’s hard to take back. Heaven values life, and she has pitiful aspects too. Please spare her life at least.”

Lin Jinlou exhaled: “She bullied you before, remember?”

But Xiang Lan smiled: “Later she treated me very well, even stood up for me when she feared I was being wronged.”

Lin Jinlou was speechless. After a moment he said: “Yes, that’s your nature, always remembering people’s good points, forgetting their faults.” He raised his head to look into Xiang Lan’s eyes and said: “Can you also forget my faults, forget how terrible I was before, and let us live well together from now on?”

Xiang Lan froze, not knowing how to answer. Just as she was at a loss, Lin Jinlou acted as if he had never asked the question, changing the subject: “Alright, for your sake we’ll spare her life. We survived great misfortune, we should indeed accumulate some karmic merit.” After speaking, he glanced at Xiang Lan from the corner of his eye and saw her let out a long breath of relief.

After lunch, Xiang Lan put on a cloak and took Xiao Juan and Hua Shan to visit Madam Tan. Tan Luhua was now housed in a row of covered rooms behind Kang Shou Residence, with an old woman guarding the door. Seeing Xiang Lan arrive, the old woman hurriedly came forward, extremely cordial, smiling as she said: “How can this be, why has the Honored Concubine come?”

Xiang Lan smiled and said: “I’ve come to visit.” As she spoke, Xiao Juan took out some money from her chest and gave it to the old woman, saying, “Master sent the Honored Concubine here. This money is for Mother to buy some wine to ward off the cold.”

The old woman immediately beamed with joy and said: “Thank you for the Honored Concubine’s reward.” As she opened the door she said, “Please don’t stay too long, the Old Master has given strict orders.”

Xiang Lan nodded and stepped inside. The room was dim, with a large kang bed opposite that servant usually slept on. Tan Luhua lay there, with her little maid Zhen Er standing beside her, feeding her medicine spoonful by spoonful.