Lin Jin Lou held her tighter, kissing Xiang Lan’s face as he removed her clothes, teasing her delicate buds.

Xiang Lan’s entire body tensed up as she desperately pushed and hit Lin Jin Lou, crying, “Let me go, let me go…”

Lin Jin Lou easily gripped both her wrists, breathing heavily as he kissed her ear, whispering, “Don’t move, don’t move, my little Xiang Lan… You’ll know the pleasure soon.”

Xiang Lan trembled all over. Though Lin Jin Lou teased her for a while, she remained dry. However, he could no longer hold back and forcefully entered her. His strong arms held her so tightly she could barely breathe, his thickness making her uncomfortable. She clutched the bedsheet, half her face buried in the jasmine-scented silk pillow, though its sweet fragrance now tasted bitter to her. She felt like a piece of mud being defiled. The pain made her dizzy. She thought hatefully that while Lin Jin Lou sought pleasure from her body, and she had intended to endure it, she now found it unbearable and wanted to make him uncomfortable too.

Lin Jin Lou was thoroughly excited – this girl was like a delicate flower, soft and tender, making his whole body feel satisfied in an indescribable way. After taking his pleasure for quite some time, he finally finished with a groan and pulled Xiang Lan into his arms. Looking down, he saw her forehead covered in sweat, dark hair clinging to her face, teeth biting her lip, eyes half-closed. Though disheveled, she remained delicately alluring, stirring his heart.

Caressing her soft breasts, his desire rose again. Just as he rolled on top of her, Xiang Lan said calmly, “Doesn’t Master want water brought in?”

Lin Jin Lou had already entered her again, and looking at her beautiful face beneath him, he groaned through gritted teeth, “Later, after this time…”

Xiang Lan said flatly, “Then Master should hurry. Afterward, don’t forget to have the maids brew me contraceptive medicine.”

Sweat rolled down Lin Jin Lou’s face as he said, “No need, you don’t have to drink that stuff.” He tried to kiss her mouth.

Xiang Lan turned her face away, saying, “I agreed to serve you to save my father, but I never agreed to bear children.”

Lin Jin Lou froze. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him, his arousal instantly vanishing. Anger surged from his heart as he grabbed her hair, forcing her to look into his eyes, sneering coldly, “Don’t want to bear my children? Whose children do you want to bear? Song Ke’s perhaps? He’s already married Duke Xian’s daughter – they’re newlyweds, probably already expecting. Yet here you are, still thinking of him.”

Xiang Lan’s neck craned back in pain. Lin Jin Lou’s gaze felt like a thousand sharp blades, chilling to the bone. She lowered her eyes and after a while said, “I’m not thinking of him. I just want to be alone…” She blinked and gave Lin Jin Lou a helpless, tragic smile. “Master, when will you tire of me?”

Lin Jin Lou’s temple veins bulged with rage. He sneered, “Whether I tire of you or not is my decision. Let me tell you, even if I do tire of you, you’ll still stay here obediently. You think you can escape my grasp?” He violently claimed her mouth, biting and sucking. One hand found its way between her legs as he thrust into her brutally, each movement threatening to break her apart.

Lin Jin Lou was so angry his teeth hurt. This damned woman always made him unhappy. He would make her submit – she was his now, yet her mind wandered elsewhere, acting out “body in Cao’s camp, heart with Han.” She wanted him to hurry, wanted contraceptive medicine, her eyes clearly showing disgust. Fine, fine, fine! He, Lin Jin Lou, was not someone to be scorned. He would torment her all night, make her learn her lesson thoroughly!

Xiang Lan lost track of time. When Lin Jin Lou finished and went to call for water, she immediately fell into a deep sleep. The next day when she woke, Lin Jin Lou was already gone. Her whole body ached dully, and her lower regions burned like fire. She struggled to get up and, swallowing her shame, asked Spring Ling for hot water and medicine. She gently washed herself, applied for the medicine, and barely managed to put on her undergarments before curling up in bed, and wrapping herself tightly. Everything hurt – her body and her heart. She told herself to endure, that it would pass – what else could she do? But what if she became pregnant? Lin Jin Lou had said last night he wouldn’t let her go. Wouldn’t she be trapped forever in this cold cage?

Xiao Juan called through the bed curtains about breakfast, but Xiang Lan was too listless to move. Seeing no one else in the room, Xiao Juan quietly lifted the curtain and peeked in, smiling, “Xiang Lan, get up and eat something. At least have some porridge before going back to sleep.”

Xiang Lan shook her head, “I can’t eat.”

Xiao Juan looked troubled, “Oh? But what should we do? Master ordered me to make sure you eat.”

Xiang Lan asked quietly, “Did anyone bring me contraceptive medicine?”

Xiao Juan was startled, “Of course not!”

Xiang Lan struggled to sit up and grabbed Xiao Juan’s hand, “Dear sister, tell me, where can I get such things?”

Xiao Juan looked at Xiang Lan uncertainly, seeing her pale face, swollen eyes, and haggard appearance. She asked softly, “Why… why do you want that? So many people wish they could bear Master’s children.”

Xiang Lan said softly, “I don’t want to… I want to leave here someday and return to my family.” As she spoke, tears fell again.

Xiao Juan sighed and sat on the bed edge, “Master’s temper is terrifying. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to either.” She looked at Xiang Lan sympathetically and squeezed her sweaty little hand. After thinking for a moment, she said, “I remember people in Third Master’s household use such things… Once when I went to Wo Yun Court to borrow something, I overheard two old maids gossiping. They said the Third Master’s new concubine Yan Xia was troublesome, secretly disposing of her contraceptive medicine every time. Sister Su Jue caught her and scolded her. Yan Xia got angry, accused Su Jue of being jealous, and they had quite a fight.”

Xiang Lan lowered her head in thought, thinking to herself, “The recipe for contraceptive medicine shouldn’t be hard to get, but I need to find a way to brew it.”

After thinking for a while, she felt too unwell and lay back down to sleep. When she next opened her eyes, it was almost dark. She forced herself to get up and wash. Lin Jin Lou didn’t return that night or for the next three days. Shuang Xi came to fetch some of Lin Jin Lou’s regular clothes, saying he had official duties and would stay at the military camp for a few days. Xiang Lan felt immensely relieved as if a huge stone had finally been lifted from her chest.

The entire Lin family was extremely busy during this time. Firstly, Lin Zhang Zheng was preparing to leave for his new post as Governor of Shanxi. Secondly, Lin Dong Yi needed to marry before Lin Zhang Zheng’s departure. Madam Qin was working tirelessly, busy all day, wishing she had multiple heads and arms – one-moment directing people about Lin Zhang Zheng’s luggage, the next supervising Lin Dong Yi’s dowry and wedding preparations, handling silks, gold, and silver. The Lin family had few capable female elders – while Madam Wang was good at accounting and checking inventory, they couldn’t rely on others and had to invite female relatives to help.

Madam Qin had wanted to ask Lin Dong Ling and Lin Dong Xiu to help, both to give them experience and to guide them. Lin Dong Xiu was the concubine-born daughter of the eldest branch, and Madam Qin had a responsibility to teach her. Though she found Lin Dong Xiu calculating rather than sincere and didn’t quite like her, the girl still called her “Mother,” and both she and her birth mother Concubine Bao had behaved properly over the years. So Madam Qin didn’t withhold her support when it was appropriate. As for Lin Dong Ling, Madam Wang had personally requested Madam Qin’s guidance. Madam Qin initially didn’t want to take on the responsibility, but she got along well with Madam Wang, like sisters, and admired her kindness. Pitying her for not having her husband’s respect, she agreed.

However, Lin Dong Ling had always been lazy. At first, she would come to attend Madam Qin at dawn, but after two or three days she grew tired of it. She would complain of headaches or fever, first avoiding half days to sleep in, then eventually stopping altogether. Madam Qin sent Hong Jian to tell Madam Wang: “It’s not that our lady doesn’t care, but Third Miss has been unwell lately. Young ladies are delicate, and we fear she might truly fall ill. Our lady is so busy every day, there might be times when we can’t take proper care of her. Please ask the Third Miss – if she’s still not feeling well, she should rest properly at home. If she feels better tomorrow, please come at dawn as usual.”

Madam Wang went to ask Lin Dong Ling, who was wearing a water-green gauze dress and loose silk pants, lounging on a cool bed eating cherries. She told her mother, “It’s so hot, Mother, just let me rest. Going day after day under the blazing sun will burn my skin off. Besides, my Eldest Aunt hasn’t taught me anything new – the accounting Mother already taught me, and I know all about household management. Why should I keep going?” Seeing her mother frown, she grabbed her arm and whined, “My dear Mother, please pity me. I haven’t been feeling well lately – ask Nan Ge and Han Fang, I’ve been coughing, waking up coughing every night. I’m taking medicine now.”

Madam Wang was alarmed, “My child, could it be whooping cough? We must quickly invite Doctor Luo from Ji An Tang to examine you.”

Lin Dong Ling said, “It’s just a small cough, and I have to take medicine pills all day with no peace. Mother, please pity me!”

Madam Wang, worried for her daughter, hurriedly sent people to make lung-nourishing tonics for Lin Dong Ling and had Shan Hu tell Madam Qin: “Our lady says Third Miss is indeed unwell and fears troubling the First Madam. She’ll come back in a few days when she’s better.”

Madam Qin laughed coldly inside but maintained a smile, saying, “If she’s unwell, she should rest properly. Later, get some good medicine from the family pharmacy and send it to Third Miss.”

After Shan Hu left, Madam Qin said to Hong Jian, “Second Sister-in-law’s way of spoiling her child isn’t good. I see something’s wrong with Ling’er now – before she was just spoiled, but now it’s gotten worse.”

Hong Jian replied, “The Third Master was raised by the Old Madam, and the Second Madam has only this daughter by her side, so naturally she’s more indulgent. Besides, Second Miss is about to marry, leaving only Fourth Miss afterward – at most there’s just one more dowry to prepare. Why should you worry about someone else’s daughter? Let them raise their children their way – even if we wanted to help, they might not appreciate it.”

Madam Qin smiled, “You speak truly. That’s exactly right.” She then dropped the matter entirely.