When Lin Jinlou returned to Chang Chun Hall, Xiang Lan had already washed and dressed. Several dishes and hot soup were laid out on the kang table, clearly just prepared. Lin Jinlou, without washing up, invited Xiang Lan to dine with him. Xiang Lan said, “Master, wash your face and change your clothes before eating.”

Lin Jinlou replied, “If I change clothes first, the food will get cold. Let’s eat now.” He picked up a piece of chestnut cake with his chopsticks and placed it in the small dish in front of her.

Xiang Lan picked up her chopsticks and glanced at him. Lin Jinlou smiled slightly and said, “What’s wrong? Won’t you serve me some food?”

Xiang Lan hesitated, lowered her head, and after a brief pause, picked up some silver thread vegetables and placed them in Lin Jinlou’s dish. Lin Jinlou’s expression darkened slightly.

They continued eating in silence.

After the meal, Lin Jinlou went to his desk and began looking through the paintings Xiang Lan had stored in scroll tubes, examining them one by one. Xiang Lan couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing?”

While unrolling the paintings, Lin Jinlou said, “The other day when I was bedridden, didn’t I ask you to show me two of your best paintings? Which ones are they?”

Xiang Lan said, “I’ll find them.” She pulled out two scrolls and handed them over, “These.”

Lin Jinlou unrolled them for a look. One depicted Guanyin Bodhisattva holding a pure vase, with downcast eyes and a noble bearing, celestial robes flowing in the wind, the entire paper seemingly alive with movement. It truly captured the spirit through form, with exquisite detail. The other was “Snow Night by the River,” showing gentle distant mountains and towering near peaks arranged in perfect harmony, with vast riverside reeds, bare trees, and snow-covered rocky peaks – the scene of their time as fugitives.

Lin Jinlou frowned and said, “Why did you paint these two? I thought you’d paint your usual flowers, birds, fish, and insects.”

Xiang Lan just smiled without responding. Lin Jinlou naturally didn’t know how devoutly she had painted the Guanyin Bodhisattva stroke by stroke, praying for his life and well-being; nor how that snowy night of life-and-death crisis had brought her sudden enlightenment.

Lin Jinlou examined the paintings from various angles, then after a while said, “Well, although they’re not quite fitting for the occasion, they’re truly excellently painted.” He rolled up the paintings, tucked them under his arm, and headed out.

Xiang Lan hurriedly followed, asking, “Master, where are you going?”

Lin Jinlou turned around, looking at Xiang Lan with a half-smile, “Where? I have to go fight battles for you, you ungrateful one. You even hesitate to serve me food.” He pinched her nose and said through gritted teeth, “Who do you think I’m busy running around for? Aren’t I just being a fool!” He turned, walked out, and handed the two scroll tubes to Shu Ran, saying, “Call Jixiang and Shuangxi, come with me to Old Master’s courtyard.”

In the northwest corner of the Lin residence in the capital was You Shi Hall, where Lin Zhaoxiang lived in retirement. It comprised about ten rooms, complete with front hall and back quarters, with street access. Lin Zhaoxiang rarely left his residence, making this compound quieter than usual. Servants walked slowly and spoke softly when passing through, with only bird songs breaking the silence.

Entering the courtyard, Lin Jinlou unconsciously lightened his steps. Thinking of Lin Zhaoxiang’s penetrating gaze and sharp mind made him somewhat nervous. He thought to himself, why does that old man need to be so shrewd at his age? People say one becomes crafty with age, but his grandfather had been cunning even in his youth, with ten thousand thoughts hidden in his heart. Now at his advanced age, he was practically immortal, spending his days pretending to be muddled while hiding his shrewdness. Lin Jinlou could never figure him out, and whenever he made mistakes, it was always his grandfather who pointed them out, inspiring great reverence in him.

Looking up, he saw Geng Tonggui, Lin Zhaoxiang’s trusted attendant, walking out carrying a birdcage. Lin Jinlou hurried over with a smile plastered on his face, saying, “Uncle Geng, out early to walk Grandfather’s birds?”

Geng Tonggui’s face bloomed like a chrysanthemum as he looked at Lin Jinlou and said, “Young Master is here? How rare. Coming at this hour – haven’t gotten yourself into some unmanageable trouble, have you? Tell this old servant first, so I can arrange to call the Old Madam over if needed.” Having watched Lin Jinlou grow up and being trusted by Lin Zhaoxiang, Geng Tonggui spoke quite freely.

Lin Jinlou replied, “How could that be? I just thought, now that I’m much better, I should pay my morning and evening respects.”

“Oh my.” Geng Tonggui smiled, “How rare, truly rare. Well, go ahead then. The Old Master is alone, just appreciating flowers inside.”

“By the way, where’s Old Madam?”

“The Madam and Second Madam are selecting this year’s silk patterns, and the Old Madam went to join the fun.”

“…Where’s Yuan’er?”

“Third Master took Fourth Master out.” Geng Tonggui smiled again, “It’s peaceful today, you two can have a good grandfather-grandson chat. The Old Master has been talking about you these past few days.”

“Oh? What has he been saying about me?”

“Hehe, as a servant, I shouldn’t say too much. You’ll find out when you go in.”

“Wait, Uncle Geng, Uncle Geng…” But Geng Tonggui ignored Lin Jinlou’s calls and walked out the second gate with the bird cage, still smiling. This old fox had learned his grandfather’s ways over the years.

Lin Jinlou’s heart was pounding. Behind him, Shuangxi carefully offered the scroll tubes, saying, “Master, these…”

Lin Jinlou impatiently took them, saying, “Give them to me, now go!” As he stepped inside, he suddenly saw a small figure dart behind the grape trellis. With his quick reflexes, Lin Jinlou darted forward and caught the person, shouting, “Where are you going? Not even greeting your brother when you see him, getting bold, aren’t you?”

Lin Jinyuan, held by Lin Jinlou, smiled mischievously on his fair face, giggling, “Hehe, Brother, I didn’t see you. Third Brother was taking me out to play.”

“What good could you learn from him? Come with me to see Grandfather.”

Hearing this, Lin Jinyuan protested, struggling, “I won’t go, you go yourself! I spent half the night reciting the Four Books, and Grandfather only just allowed me to go out today. If I go in now, I’ll have to recite again. It’s so annoying!”

“Tsk, tsk, stop moving!” Seeing Lin Jinlou’s stern face, Lin Jinyuan indeed stopped struggling, though his little mouth remained pouty.

Lin Jinlou’s face softened into a smile again as he quietly said to Lin Jinyuan, “Come, Little Four, Brother knows you’ve been eyeing that bow in my study.”

Lin Jinyuan’s eyes immediately lit up at hearing this.

“That bow is too big, you’re too small to draw it. Big Brother already told the craftsman, they’re making a smaller one for you. It’ll be ready in three or four days, with arrows too, all with peacock and pheasant feathers.”

“That’s wonderful, I…”

“But, you have to be obedient for Brother to give it to you. Otherwise, I’ll give it to Old Yuan’s son De’er instead.”

Lin Jinyuan’s round eyes widened, and he immediately promised, “No, Big Brother, I’ll be good! If you say east, I won’t say west; if you tell me to chase dogs, I won’t chase chickens!”

“Good, Little Four, good little brother. Later, I need to discuss some things with Grandfather, and if he gets angry or upset, you must come in to rescue me, understand?”

Lin Jinyuan scratched his head, “Ah? Grandfather will be angry…”

Lin Jinlou glared, “Tsk, what’s this? A real man shouldn’t hesitate. Do you still want that bow? As they say, fortune favors the bold – how can you catch a tiger without entering its den?”

Just then, a cough came from inside, and Lin Zhaoxiang called out, “Who’s out there?”

Both of them jumped in surprise. Lin Jinyuan leaped up, broke free from Lin Jinlou, and fled. Lin Jinlou pointed at Lin Jinyuan’s retreating figure and whispered, “You little rascal, running faster than a rabbit. Remember, come rescue me later, or not only will you not get the bow and arrows, but Brother will also give you a spanking.” Watching Little Four disappear, Lin Jinlou had no choice but to enter the room with the scroll tubes.

Lin Zhaoxiang was trimming flowers and plants in the main hall. He looked up at Lin Jinlou once, then lowered his head again as if he hadn’t seen him.

Lin Jinlou hurried forward with a broad smile, saying, “Grandfather, your unfilial grandson is here.” He knelt and performed the formal greeting. Just as he was about to rise, Lin Zhaoxiang said, “Just stay kneeling, don’t get up.”

Lin Jinlou looked up to check Lin Zhaoxiang’s expression, kneeling ramrod straight.

Lin Zhaoxiang ignored him and continued methodically trimming a potted plant. Lin Jinlou inwardly groaned but dared not move. Seeing Lin Zhaoxiang turn around, he quickly put on a smile again. Lin Zhaoxiang snorted, put down the scissors, and a young maid offered a white hand towel. After wiping his hands, he sat in the master’s chair, took a sip of hot tea from his cup, and finally looked at Lin Jinlou, saying, “Well, you can keep your composure. I thought you considered me dead.”

Lin Jinlou smiled apologetically, “Grandfather if you say that, how could I have any place to stand here?”

“Stop with that grinning face. You know well how much trouble you’ve stirred up outside! Useless thing, don’t think you can act recklessly just because you’ve got a high position now. If you shame our ancestors, I’ll be the first to not spare you!” Lin Zhaoxiang raised his walking stick to strike, but remembering his eldest grandson had just recovered from serious injuries, he hesitated whether to lower it. Just then, someone called out, “Grandfather, how do you explain this line from Mencius?” Looking over, they saw Lin Jinyuan holding a book, peering in from the doorway.

Lin Zhaoxiang said irritably, “You little monkey, want to get beaten along with your big brother?”

Lin Jinyuan stuck out his tongue and withdrew his little head.

This interruption made Lin Zhaoxiang put down his walking stick. Lin Jinlou’s heart started racing. By his reasoning, Lin Zhaoxiang shouldn’t be this angry about the Su Meiyu matter. That issue had been settled, with Su Meiyu married and expecting a child, and she was being well-behaved. In great households, who didn’t have some unsavory matters? Though this wasn’t glorious, ultimately it was his Second Uncle who lost the most face. His grandfather shouldn’t be directing his anger at him.

While lost in thought, he heard Lin Zhaoxiang shout angrily again, “You’ve grown quite capable, thinking I can’t control you anymore?”

“No, no. Grandfather, please calm down. Too much anger harms the liver.”

Lin Zhaoxiang said, “Let me ask you, what’s this about you and those young men from the Chu and Liu families investing in salt merchants?”

At these words, Lin Jinlou felt a weight lift from his heart, now understanding what his grandfather was focusing on.

“That’s a legitimate business, run by the Chu family’s clansmen. We others just invested shares, occasionally helping with canal transport, all according to the law.”

“Don’t try those tricks of smuggling goods or schemes with illegal salt. Your father values his official reputation highly, and I need to maintain face too!”

“Not, I wouldn’t dare shame our ancestors. Grandfather, I have troops to feed, and the court’s military salary is barely a drop in the bucket. With so many brothers following me, we need some business ventures. Should we live on air?”

“Stop playing poor. I know you’re involved in maritime trade too, don’t try to hide it from me.”

“We only deal with private ships, I wouldn’t dare touch the court’s business.”

“Stop associating with those jianghu characters. I was too lenient with you before, but if I hear about you causing trouble outside again, or getting involved with unsavory women, I’ll deal with you.”

Lin Jinlou grumbled internally but repeatedly agreed. Then he heard Lin Zhaoxiang say, “You may stand up.”

Lin Jinlou silently thanked heaven and earth, but just as he stood up, his grandfather said, “Now, tell me about this ‘Biography of the Orchid Fragrance Scholar’ business?”