Lin Jinlou pointed at Xiang Lan’s lips with his index finger and said, “You haven’t just been drawing pictures all these days, have you?”

Xiang Lan didn’t want to respond. Lin Jinlou stopped asking, observing her slightly bowed head, and her snow-white complexion, both delicate and charming. Feeling a stirring in his heart, he lowered his head and kissed her mouth. Xiang Lan was startled and struggled. Lin Jinlou then kissed her neck, and Xiang Lan protested, “Don’t…” Lin Jinlou immediately covered her mouth with his, his agile tongue sliding in as his arms tightly encircled her waist. His breathing grew heavier, and his hands found their way inside her collar.

Xiang Lan quickly grabbed Lin Jinlou’s hands. Lin Jinlou murmured, “Little Xiang Lan, just be obedient this once, hmm?” He then pressed her down onto the meditation couch.

At that moment, Luan’er’s voice came from outside: “I know Young Master has returned, why won’t they let us in!”

This call truly saved Xiang Lan. She hurriedly pushed Lin Jinlou, saying, “There are people outside…”

Lin Jinlou mumbled, “Ignore them.”

Outside, Lianxin seemed to say something, and Luan’er called out again: “Young Master was up early practicing fists and swords, how could he be sleeping now?”

Huamei drawled, “He might be tired from the morning exercise and resting now. Someone’s attending to him inside.”

Xiang Lan struggled desperately. With the women’s noise outside, Lin Jinlou’s passion evaporated. Annoyed, he sat up and roared, “Will you ever stop!”

Outside immediately fell silent. Xiang Lan hastily straightened up, clutching her collar, and fled like a wisp of smoke. Lin Jinlou put on his shoes and went to the door. He found Huamei, Yingge, and Luan’er standing there in a row, each heavily made up and carefully dressed. Seeing Lin Jinlou emerge, they greeted him in succession with smiling faces, but upon noticing his gloomy expression, they fell silent as winter cicadas, pushing and pinching each other, exchanging glances without a word.

Lin Jinlou frowned and said, “What’s all this chattering about so early in the morning?”

Huamei smiled apologetically, “Nothing, nothing. Young Master has been working hard away from home, and now that you’re finally back, we sisters were thinking of you and came early to pay our respects.”

Yingge added, “Indeed, these past days thinking of Young Master, we couldn’t eat or sleep well. When we heard Young Master returned last night, we came right away.”

Luan’er said, “We came, but weren’t allowed in, told Young Master was resting. People like us aren’t worthy of entering the main quarters.”

Lin Jinlou impatiently waved his hand, “All of you, disperse, disperse.” He turned to go back inside. However, Shuran came along the corridor with a calling card, saying, “Young Master, Young Master Liu’s servant just delivered this invitation. They heard you’re back and want to host a lunch banquet to welcome your return.”

Lin Jinlou took the card and said, “Do those monkeys have ‘Heavenly Eyes and Wind-Following Ears’? How did they know I just returned?”

Shuran smiled, “How could they not know? They’re all childhood friends of Young Master, like brothers. They’ve been thinking of you and probably got news days ago.”

Lin Jinlou laughed, “Tell them to come here for lunch. Have the small kitchen prepare some good dishes, and invite Little Third too. We’ll all have a lively gathering.” After speaking, he entered the room, but Xiang Lan was no longer there. She must have slipped to the back courtyard through the screen in the hall. He didn’t look for her further but had Lianxin and Nuanyue bring his clothes. He changed into something more formal and took out prepared gifts from a box to pay respects to Lin Zhaoxiang, Old Madam Lin, Lin Zhangzheng, Madam Qin, and others.

Xiang Lan was hiding behind an oddly shaped rock in the courtyard. Watching Lin Jinlou leave through the main gate, she finally let out a long breath. Then she heard someone call from behind, “Xiang Lan?”

Turning around, she saw Mama Wu standing there with an octagonal black lacquered food box. Xiang Lan froze, then her face broke into a smile of delight, “Mama Wu!”

Mama Wu quickly set down the food box and took Xiang Lan’s hands, looking her over. Tears suddenly welled in her eyes as she hugged Xiang Lan, saying, “Good child, you’re thinner than before. When I wasn’t in the mansion, I returned to hear Madam Zhao had sold you. You must have suffered so much…”

Previously, when Xiang Lan served Qinglan at Zhichun Hall, Mama Wu had treated her very well. In Mama Wu’s warm embrace, Xiang Lan felt as if her mother was holding her. Days of grievances turned to tears rolling down her cheeks. Mama Wu stroked her hair, saying, “Good Xiang Lan, don’t cry. I heard from Madam you were back, so I rushed over to see you…” She continued with comforting words.

Chunling, who came looking for Xiang Lan, stood behind the banana tree watching them, and sighed deeply. Being born into service, she grew up among servants and knew well a maid’s proper place, with some wisdom of her own. When Xiang Lan first came to the east wing, she noticed this girl was extraordinary. Though quiet and unassuming, not fighting for position, she possessed an innate spirit. She was tolerant but not easily bullied, like an orchid growing quietly in a secluded place, emanating a subtle fragrance that naturally drew attention. She had once envied Xiang Lan, but now that Xiang Lan had returned to the Lin mansion and she served at her side, that envy had completely vanished, replaced only by sighs. Xiang Lan spoke little but was gentle and kind, truly an endearing girl. Earlier, she had hoped to serve Xiang Lan well to catch Lin Jinlou’s eye and become a powerful head maid, but now she genuinely wanted to be good to this girl.

Chunling stepped forward, smiling, “Mama Wu is here, please come inside and sit. I’ll brew some good tea.”

Xiang Lan wiped her tears with a handkerchief, smiled shyly, and said, “Please don’t laugh at me, Mama. Let’s go inside and sit.”

They returned to the room, where Xiang Lan led Mama Wu to the small flower hall. Xiaojuan served tea and arranged fruits. Mama Wu took a sip from her teacup and looked at Xiang Lan again. She had known about Xiang Lan’s return for some time. Though the Lin mansion was large, news traveled fast. The Young Master taking in a new person was big news, especially someone who had been driven out and returned. When Madam Qin learned of this, Mama Wu was beside her. Madam Qin immediately frowned, saying, “After all that turning around, she still came back!”

Mama Wu carefully asked, “Since Young Master brought her back, would Madam like to see her?”

Madam Qin sneered, “Jinlou hasn’t even brought her to see me, why should I eagerly call her over? I won’t see her! Seeing her would only upset me.”

Mama Wu dared not mention it again. But she truly liked Xiang Lan, who was honest and righteous, and though clever, had no calculating thoughts to harm others. She quietly observed and inquired, finding that all who had worked with Xiang Lan praised her, saying she was cordial with everyone, always smiling – even Old Woman Feng who delivered flowers to Zhichun Hall spoke well of her, and she was famous in the mansion for gossip.

Mama Wu had intentionally praised Xiang Lan a few times before Madam Qin. Last night, as Madam Qin worried with Mama Wu about Lin Jinlou having no children, she suddenly sighed and said, “Fine, if Jinlou truly likes this Xiang Lan, let her be taken in. Have she come to pay respects to Old Madam and me later?”

Hearing these words, Mama Wu felt Xiang Lan had finally made it through her hardships and immediately prepared some food to bring to Zhichun Hall.