Lin Jin Lou turned to leave and saw Lin Dong Ling, Lin Dong Xiu, and Lin Dong Qi walking from the doorway into the hall, with Lin Jin Ting trailing behind, who lazily said, “Big Brother is a busy man. Didn’t you see he’s changing clothes to go out? Do you still want to freeload a meal here? I say forget about the meal, and quickly bring out the beauty for Young Master to see. What treasure is being hidden away so carefully?”
Lin Dong Ling found a chair to sit on and said, “Indeed, we sisters were just saying, what celestial beauty has captivated Big Brother so much that he specially brought her in from outside? It’s been two days, and even Old Madam hasn’t been allowed to see her.” She exchanged a meaningful glance with Lin Dong Xiu.
Lin Jin Lou smiled and said, “I was wondering why everyone was so coordinated today, all coming hand-in-hand to Zhi Chun Hall to see me. I thought you had all matured and understood the importance of fraternal duty, but it turns out you’re just here to mooch off me.”
Lin Jin Ting sprawled casually on the luohan bed, leaning against the large purple chrysanthemum-patterned phoenix-tail cushion, saying, “Talk about mooching – we’re all here and haven’t even been offered a cup of water.”
Shu Ran had already brought tea to the kang table by the luohan bed, smiling, “Third Young Master, please have this cup.”
Lin Jin Ting said, “Sister Shu Ran always knows how to treat people well. If it’s not this year’s new tea, Young Master won’t drink it.”
Lin Jin Lou gave Lin Jin Ting a smack on the back of his head, saying, “You monkey, still being picky when you’ve been offered tea.”
Lin Jin Ting rubbed his head and complained, “As your brother, aren’t I just worried about you? Yesterday you rode back drunk in that state – I was afraid you weren’t feeling well, so I had Su Ju stew some hangover soup.” He pointed at the small maid following him who placed a food box on the table.
Lin Jin Lou said, “Your hangover soup is already cold and useless now.”
Lin Jin Ting drawled, “Yes, you have your beautiful concubine to cook for you.” He moved closer to Lin Jin Lou and lowered his voice, “You rushed back last night just for her, right? I was puzzled – normally you would have stayed at the brothel. Miss Rui Xian kept looking at you, her big eyes almost dripping with desire, but you completely ignored her and hurriedly left, not even taking the carriage. Tsk, what kind of treasure are you hiding at home that made you rush back so urgently? Could she be even more beautiful than Rui Xian?”
Lin Jin Lou looked at Lin Jin Ting sideways and said, “What? Taken a fancy to Rui Xian? If you have the courage and don’t fear the family punishment, Brother can pay to set her up for you, how about that?”
Lin Jin Ting was somewhat tempted, but after brief consideration, he waved his hands repeatedly and said, “Forget it. I don’t have any official position now, and the old man already disapproves of me. Going out for some fun is one thing, but if I kept her as a mistress and Grandfather found out, he’d break my legs.”
While they were whispering, Lin Dong Qi tapped her folding fan on the lacquered small table and smiled, “What are you two whispering about? How can you leave us sisters hanging here like this?”
Lin Jin Lou said, “Dear sister, if I remember correctly, you’re getting married at the end of this month, right? Instead of staying in your room embroidering your dowry, you’ve come here to join the excitement. Could it be you want Brother to add to your dowry?”
Lin Dong Qi’s face immediately flushed red, and she spat, “You never say anything properly. I’m here to see my new sister-in-law.”
Lin Dong Xiu picked up a honey-preserved apricot from the black lacquer mother-of-pearl eight-treasures box, put it in her mouth, and said, “Alright, stop keeping us in suspense, Big Brother, please bring out the beauty.”
Lin Jin Lou raised his head and gave Shu Ran a gesture. Shu Ran nodded slightly and went to the east side room to call Xiang Lan. Upon entering, she saw Xiang Lan still leaning on the windowsill, so she walked forward and said, “Miss Xiang Lan, please change into something suitable for receiving guests. The Young Masters and Misses are all waiting to see you.”
Having heard everything clearly from the side room, Xiang Lan was extremely annoyed and frowned.
Shu Ran quickly persuaded, “Please go out, it’s just showing your face.”
Chun Ling also urged from the side, “This occasion requires giving Young Master face. Please go.”
Xiang Lan had no choice but to change into clothes suitable for receiving guests and going out. While Lin Jin Lou and others were chatting and laughing outside, they suddenly saw a beauty slowly walking out, wearing a silver-red crepe silk jacket and a plain white Hangzhou silk-painted trailing skirt. Her hair was simply styled in a bun with only three exquisite gold phoenix hairpins and no other ornaments. With a lowered powdered face and graceful movements, she seemed like a fairy who had just stepped out of a painting. She made a graceful curtsy and said, “Greetings to everyone.”
Lin Jin Ting was slightly dazed, unconsciously leaning forward and craning his neck, saying, “This is… this is…” After looking her up and down several times, he suddenly came to his senses, glanced at Lin Jin Lou, and thought to himself: “Haven’t even seen her face clearly, but just her figure and bearing are already leagues above Rui Xian, more ethereal than any woman I’ve seen. No wonder she’s bewitched Brother, who’s seen his share of beauties, so much that he wouldn’t keep her as an outside mistress but had to bring her into the mansion. Earlier when Third Sister and Fourth Sister urged me to come, I was reluctant, but fortunately, I came this time, otherwise, I would have missed seeing Brother’s beloved.”
Seeing Xiang Lan lowering her head and about to retreat, he quickly smiled and said, “So this is our new sister-in-law? Hey, since you’re already out here, shouldn’t you offer us tea as respect?”
Lin Dong Xiu said with a barbed tone, “Indeed, you should at least offer us tea. Rushing to leave – could it be you look down on us?”
Xiang Lan slightly raised her eyes to look at Lin Jin Lou. Lin Jin Lou had a smile at the corner of his mouth and said to Xiang Lan, “Since that’s the case, serve them tea then.”
Chun Ling quickly brought out a set of frozen banana leaf tea ware with over twenty small cups, rinsed them with hot water, and together with Shu Ran brewed tea, placed it on a tray, and handed it to Xiang Lan. Xiang Lan thought to herself, “Just treat it like performing a scene on stage.” She closed her eyes briefly and first served Lin Dong Qi, who was the eldest.
Lin Dong Qi smiled as she accepted it, tilted her head to look at Xiang Lan’s face, covered her mouth with a handkerchief laughed a few times, and then pulled Shu Ran aside to whisper something. Shu Ran also smiled and said something and both of them laughed.
Xiang Lan then went to serve Lin Jin Ting. He took the tea, looked Xiang Lan up and down, and stroking his chin said, “What’s new sister-in-law’s name? Have I seen you before? Why do you seem… somewhat familiar?”
Xiang Lan’s face reddened, she bit her lip and dodged away. Lin Jin Lou kicked Lin Jin Ting’s leg and said, “Control those thieving eyes of yours. You claim to have seen every beauty you meet – don’t you know whose person this is?”
Lin Jin Ting’s face also reddened as he clutched his leg and rolled his eyes saying, “No… I feel like… I’ve seen her before.”
Just as Xiang Lan was serving tea to Lin Dong Ling, Lin Dong Ling looked at her once and held the teacup with an ambiguous smile saying, “Of course, Third Brother finds her familiar. Don’t you know who she is? She used to be a servant in our Lin family but later climbed to a higher branch and went to the Song family. At that time she was so grand and imposing that she scared Fourth Sister and me into silence. With such an intimidating servant around, she made us worry so much for Aunt and cousin Tan Chai.”
“How can Third Sister use the word ‘scared’? The way Brother Yi Fei treated her so tenderly and lovingly back then was truly a romantic scene. Brother Yi Fei willingly let her deceive him. What did we have to be ‘scared’ of and worry so much about? It wasn’t worth it.” Lin Dong Xiu cracked melon seeds and smilingly continued, “I heard that after she arrived, Fang Si who used to serve Brother Yi Fei hanged herself. In my opinion, Ying Ge, Hua Mei, and Luan Er in Big Brother’s quarters should be the ones worrying.”
The room fell completely silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
It turned out that Lin Dong Ling and Lin Dong Xiu had heard servants gossiping about a newcomer called Xiang Lan in Lin Jin Lou’s quarters, who used to be a maid in the mansion before being driven out by Zhao Yue Chan. The sisters immediately understood and, having suffered at Xiang Lan’s hands before, still harbored resentment. After discussing it, they brought along Lin Dong Qi and Lin Jin Ting, ostensibly to see Lin Jin Lou’s new person but actually to settle scores with Xiang Lan.
Lin Dong Qi pulled Lin Dong Xiu and stuffed a preserved apricot in her mouth, saying, “You must have had a nightmare last night, talking nonsense. Quickly eat something sweet to shut your mouth.”
Lin Jin Lou’s face still wore a smile as he carelessly picked up his teacup, blew on it, and took a sip, but the veins on his forehead were visibly bulging.
Xiang Lan’s face had turned pale and expressionless as she served tea to Lin Dong Xiu. Lin Dong Xiu glanced at Lin Jin Lou, and seeing no change in his expression, grew bolder. She raised her eyebrows, accepted the tea, and sneered, “You even managed to scheme your way back into the Lin family – you’re truly capable.”
Lin Jin Ting stared in shock, spilling half his cup of tea, pointing at Xiang Lan while looking at Lin Jin Lou saying, “She, she’s Yi Fei’s… how is she in your quarters?”
The name “Xiang Lan” was all too familiar to Lin Jin Ting. Initially, Song Ke had asked him to request this person from Lin Jin Lou but was refused. Later he heard Xiang Lan had been driven out by Zhao Yue Chan and somehow ended up in the Song family. He was close friends with Song Ke and frequently visited the Song residence, having seen Xiang Lan a few times, though she always kept her distance. Knowing her status was different, Lin Jin Ting hadn’t dared look too carefully. The last he heard of Xiang Lan was when Song Ke fell on hard times and had to marry Zheng Jing Xian. Song Ke, drunk, repeatedly spoke of how clever and gentle Xiang Lan was, how dignified and self-respecting, refusing to be anyone’s concubine, how much he regretted letting her go, and then sobbed in Lin Jin Ting’s arms… But barely a few months had passed, how had this woman called Xiang Lan become his elder brother Lin Jin Lou’s new concubine?
Lin Dong Xiu burst out laughing, saying, “You’ve been calling ‘new sister-in-law’ all this time without knowing why she’s here? Third Brother, are you sleepwalking?”
Lin Jin Ting gaped, stammering, “This, this… can’t be?”
Lin Dong Ling sneered, “Why not? After Brother Yi Fei married the daughter of the Illustrious Duke, it naturally became clear which one was the bewitching fox spirit…”
Before she could finish, Lin Dong Qi coughed and glared severely at Ling and Xiu, saying, “Third Sister, Fourth Sister, we’ve seen the person, let’s go back.” She thought to herself: “Third Sister is still so stubborn. Now that Xiang Lan is in Big Brother’s quarters, calling her a bewitching fox spirit isn’t that slapping Big Brother’s face? And Fourth Sister’s words today were too venomous – they must have forgotten Big Brother’s temperament.”
Unexpectedly, Ling and Xiu remained seated without moving.