Xiang Lan stared at Lin Jin Lou with bright, unwavering eyes and said, “I am begging you, Master.”
Lin Jin Lou snickered, “Begging me? Is this how you beg someone?”
Xiang Lan calmly replied, “I am truly begging you, Master… You have so many beautiful women by your side. Your interest in me is merely for amusement. Let me serve you to repay your kindness, and when you find someone new later, please let me go…”
“What if I refuse?”
“If Master refuses, I can’t do anything about it. I can only blame my ill fate. If my father dies, there’s no point in my mother and I living on. At most, it would take just a bowl of arsenic, and our family would die together. At least we’d have each other in the afterlife.”
Lin Jin Lou stared at Xiang Lan for a long while. Her heart was pounding – she had reached the end of her rope and had no choice but to take this gamble. Lin Jin Lou was known for his fickleness with women, his affections never lasting long. His current fixation on her was merely because she remained unconquered. To save Chen Wan Quan, she could grit her teeth and endure being with Lin Jin Lou for a year or two. Later, when he took a wife and concubines and forgot about her, she could escape. But if she were bound by an official position, she would truly be trapped in the Lin household forever.
Lin Jin Lou remained expressionless, his eyes dark as deep wells. He grabbed Xiang Lan’s chin and suddenly smiled, “Little Xiang Lan, you’ve grown quite clever, trying to play tricks right under my nose. You think I don’t know what you’re planning? Are you thinking of slipping away after a year or so?”
Xiang Lan’s face turned pale.
Lin Jin Lou chuckled and stretched lazily, “Do you know who I am? If I couldn’t see through such simple schemes, I would have been dead long ago. There are plenty who plot against me, many hoping to see me fail, but few have ever succeeded in outsmarting me. Even those who do end up paying a thousandfold price. I’ve always been gentle with women, so if you behave and serve me well, you won’t lack rewards. Understand?” He then lifted the curtain and said, “Ji Xiang, let’s go!”
Ji Xiang responded immediately and climbed onto the carriage with Shuang Xi, taking up the reins.
Xiang Lan was startled and hurriedly said, “Master, whether you believe me or not, everything I said earlier was true… I want to get off!” She reached for the curtain.
Lin Jin Lou grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, causing her to fall into his embrace. As Xiang Lan frantically tried to sit up, she looked up and saw Lin Jin Lou’s darkened expression. He said, “Did you take my words as mere wind in your ears? I told you to behave.”
Xiang Lan now realizes Lin Jin Lou’s displeasure. His elegant and refined facade had been stripped away. Though his face remained expressionless, his fierce aura, dominance, and arrogance emerged clearly. Only then did Xiang Lan understand how Lin Jin Lou could command armies on the battlefield. He was different from her father in her past and present lives, different from Song Ke, and even different from those wolf-like officials. His eyes were cruel, sending chills down one’s spine – he was truly ruthless. Even though she had weathered great storms before, she broke out in a cold sweat from fear.
Her father wasn’t saved yet, so she couldn’t afford to anger him. She couldn’t threaten her life anymore; she needed to plan carefully and proceed gradually.
So Xiang Lan lowered her head and quietly sat up straight.
Lin Jin Lou coldly said, “Wanting to be a concubine? See if you have the face for it.” After that, he ignored her and returned to his previous noble and elegant demeanor, closing his eyes to rest. He had people watching the Chen family for several days, hearing that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage. He had planned to come these days, and now that Xiang Lan was a free citizen if she still refused to submit, he would have to use some methods. Unexpectedly, Chen Wan Quan was arrested by the authorities. This was a heaven-sent opportunity – what would have required effort could now be achieved easily. However, Chen Xiang Lan was stubborn; there had never been a pleasant conversation with her, but he was determined to subdue her. Since childhood, when had Lin Jin Lou ever failed to obtain what he wanted? He would make this stubborn mule as docile as a kitten.
Xiang Lan’s heart was unsettled as she twisted her dress ribbon. Where was Lin Jin Lou taking her? Could he be taking her directly to the Lin family? As she was lost in thought, the carriage suddenly stopped. Ji Xiang respectfully said, “Master, we’ve arrived.”
The curtain lifted, and when Xiang Lan looked out, she discovered they had circled to the county magistrate’s office. She froze, and Lin Jin Lou had already descended from the carriage, impatiently urging, “Hurry up, what are you dazed about! Isn’t your father dying?” Xiang Lan hastily rose, reaching for Ji Xiang’s arm, but Lin Jin Lou took her hand instead. Startled, she had no choice but to let him hold it as she stepped down with Shuang Xi’s help. Lin Jin Lou then ordered Ji Xiang to knock on the door.
Meanwhile, Han Yao Zu was joking and laughing with Cao Li Huan in his room when he heard hurried footsteps and a guard shouted, “Sir, sir, an honored guest has arrived!”
Han Yao Zu quickly got up and went out, asking, “What’s the rush? Who has come?”
The guard replied, “Young Master Lin Jin Lou of the Lin family has arrived!”
Han Yao Zu was greatly shocked as if a living dragon had fallen from the sky. He hurriedly ordered someone to prepare the finest tea, fruits, and pastries, then adjusted his clothes and hat before heading out to personally welcome the guest.
From afar, Han Yao Zu saw Lin Jin Lou approaching unhurriedly. He quickly plastered on an enormous smile and hurried forward, clasping his hands in greeting, “This humble official has failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive me, General Lin.” As he spoke, he tried to lead them to the hall.
Lin Jin Lou stopped and said coolly, “No need to sit inside. Where’s the prison? Take me there for a look.”
Han Yao Zu was both shocked and puzzled, thinking, “Lin Jin Lou is famous for being unapproachable, yet he comes here normally today and immediately asks about the prison, with visible displeasure on his face. Could I have arrested someone wrongly these past days and offended this young master?” Thinking it over, he couldn’t recall anything – last month when some Lin family ruffians caused trouble, he had already sent a note to the Lin family, and the person was taken away without punishment, even receiving five taels of silver in thanks afterward, all very amicable. Besides, such a small matter wouldn’t warrant Lin Jin Lou coming personally. He secretly glanced behind Lin Jin Lou, seeing two well-dressed servants who looked identical – presumably the twin brothers who held high favor with Lin Jin Lou. There was also a young woman in an elegant dress, very beautiful, whom he hadn’t seen before and dared not look at too long. He quickly averted his gaze and said with a smile, “Whatever the General commands, this official will serve with utmost loyalty. Which prisoner would you like to see? I can have them brought out.”
Lin Jin Lou coldly laughed, “Brought out? That person is probably almost dead from your beating. Han Yao Zu, you’ve grown too bold, daring to touch my people. Let me ask you, Chen Wan Quan, whom you arrested yesterday – which law did he break that you would arrest and beat him to death? He’s no ordinary person. If anything happens to him, you might as well pack up and leave your position!”
Han Yao Zu was shocked and frightened by these words, repeatedly saying, “Please forgive me, General Lin! This official truly didn’t know he was your man. Yesterday, Clerk Xia Yun’s concubine came to file a complaint, saying Chen Wan Quan had assaulted a government official. Clerk Xia Yun was seriously injured and recovering at home, so this official had Chen Wan Quan arrested…”
Xiang Lan shouted angrily, “That Xia Yun insulted me first, and my father only pushed him once in anger. He fell and hit his head because he lost his balance – how is that ‘assaulting a government official’? When arresting someone, why beat them with the rod before investigating the cause? And if you must beat them, why so severely? Why not allow a doctor to treat him? Magistrate Han, you listen to that harlot Cao Li Huan’s instigation and deliberately take lives – do you have any regard for the law? Such an incompetent official shouldn’t keep wearing that official hat!”
Lin Jin Lou burst out laughing and said to Han Yao Zu, “Did you hear that? My darling says you shouldn’t keep wearing that official hat.” He looked at Han Yao Zu again and continued, “What kind of person is Xia Yun? He was seducing maids while in my household. Considering his reputation, I gave him that woman, but who knew he’d be so ungrateful and set his sights on my person, repeatedly going to the Chen family to propose marriage? When they refused, he spewed filth from his mouth. Tell me, hasn’t this little beast grown too bold?”
When Han Yao Zu heard the word “darling,” he understood everything. Cold sweat rolled down his forehead, his legs weakened, and half his soul seemed to leave his body. He fell to his knees with a thud and kowtowed, saying, “Please calm your anger, General. This official truly didn’t know Chen Wan Quan had connections with you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to make such a foolish mistake even with ten times the courage…”
Lin Jin Lou simply asked, “Where is Chen Wan Quan?”
Han Yao Zu scrambled to his feet and said while leading the way, “This way, General.” He led them to the prison, personally unlocking the door to let everyone in. When Xiang Lan saw Chen Wan Quan still lying unconscious on the ground, she immediately rushed over and burst into loud sobs. Han Yao Zu had already sent someone to fetch a doctor and had people carry Chen Wan Quan out on a wooden bench, clearing his own study’s inner chamber for Chen Wan Quan’s use.
Shortly after, the doctor arrived and examined him, saying, “This man’s legs are broken, but fortunately they can be set. He will have to endure some pain. There’s also some internal disorder which I’ll prescribe medicine for. However, his flesh is badly beaten – it will take a long time to heal.”
When the diagnosis was complete, the doctor set Chen Wan Quan’s bones. Chen Wan Quan woke from the pain, screamed several times, and fainted again. Xiang Lan’s eyes were red with tears, and Lin Jin Lou took out his handkerchief to wipe her tears. Xiang Lan turned away to avoid it, then feeling this wasn’t appropriate, quietly took the handkerchief from Lin Jin Lou’s hand to wipe her tears. Lin Jin Lou, who had been displeased at first, saw her accept the handkerchief and his expression improved somewhat.
Han Yao Zu watched this anxiously, thinking to himself, “To receive such favor from Lin Jin Lou, she isn’t an ordinary concubine. How regrettable that I didn’t know about such an important person and made such a grave mistake today. If Lin Jin Lou pursues this matter, I truly won’t be able to keep my position!” He was grateful that at least the man wasn’t dead – he would rather it had been his father who was beaten. He paid for the medicine, sent his steward to get premium ingredients like ginseng and deer antler from the storehouse, and earnestly invited them to stay, saying, “Official Chen is not well enough to move. Why not stay here to recover? This would allow me to show my sincerity.”
Xiang Lan refused to stay in the magistrate’s office any longer, so Lin Jin Lou ordered people to carry Chen Wan Quan on the bench to the carriage. As Xiang Lan was leaving, she saw Cao Li Huan hiding behind a cluster of banana trees near the corridor. When Cao Li Huan saw Xiang Lan looking her way, she quickly ducked back, though a corner of her apricot-red skirt remained visible.