Madam Tan sat there with a stiff face, clearly harboring anger. Xiang Lan thought silently that although Madam Tan was married, she was still young, at an age where disagreements easily turned to hostility. She regretted arguing with her and was about to say some conciliatory words when Madam Tan stood up, her face ashen, saying, “I’ve been out too long and shouldn’t impose any further. I’ll take my leave now.”

Ignoring others’ attempts to keep her, she lifted the curtain and walked out, but in her haste, she collided straight into Lin Jin Lou, who had been eavesdropping outside. Madam Tan caught a whiff of masculine scent mixed with mint, borneol, and soap. When she looked up suddenly, her eyes met Lin Jin Lou’s, seeing those eyes as dark and striking as lightning.

Madam Tan wanted to push away, but she was flustered and confused, her heart pounding wildly, feeling utterly embarrassed, her legs weak and unsteady.

Lin Jin Lou hadn’t expected Madam Tan to rush out so recklessly. Frowning impatiently, he pushed her aside and lifted the curtain to enter. Seeing Lin Jin Lou arrive, everyone quickly stood up. Lin Jin Lou merely nodded briefly to Wan and Qi, then said to Xiang Lan, “Come out.”

Xiang Lan had no choice but to follow Lin Jin Lou. When they entered the bedroom, Lin Jin Lou just looked down at her without speaking. Seeing his unpredictable expression, Xiang Lan feared this tyrant might fly into a rage and asked softly, “Does Master have any instructions?”

Lin Jin Lou stared at Xiang Lan for a while before saying, “My clothes are dirty. Go find me another set.”

Xiang Lan looked up and indeed saw a stain on his collar. She quickly opened the trunk, took out a set of clothes, and helped Lin Jin Lou change. While lowering her head to adjust his belt and jade pendant, she still felt Lin Jin Lou’s gloomy gaze fixed on her, as if trying to bore holes through her.

Xiang Lan was terrified, realizing that Lin Jin Lou must have heard her words in the room earlier. This cunning and extremely shrewd man would certainly catch the implied meaning in her words. If he became angry because of this, it would be terrible. Though Lin Jin Lou seemed to have a milder temper than before, his domineering nature had only increased, not decreased, and his accumulated authority was even more severe.

Her fingers trembling slightly, she noticed five or six ornamental pouches on a green lotus leaf-shaped tray nearby. She quickly took a floral lotus pouch and presented it to Lin Jin Lou, not daring to look up, saying, “That… that… the weather is getting warmer, Master shouldn’t wear a sheepskin pouch anymore, it’s not suitable. I made this one a few days ago. If Master doesn’t mind my needlework, please wear it.”

Lin Jin Lou saw how Xiang Lan kept her head down submissively while holding the pouch, looking like a bullied young wife. He took the pouch, examined it for a moment, patted it in his palm, and said, “Now you know how to curry favor?”

Xiang Lan said in a tiny voice, “No, not currying favor… I just made it earlier…”

Meanwhile, Hua Shan, seeing Lin Jin Lou call Xiang Lan away, became anxious, fearing for her mistress’s welfare. After wracking her brains for a moment, she happened to see Ling Qing bringing in a tray of tea. Hua Shan quickly took a cup and went to the bedroom, lifting the curtain while saying, “Master, please have some tea.”

Before Lin Jin Lou could react, Xiang Lan spun around “whoosh” and rushed to take the tea from Hua Shan’s hands, running faster than a little rabbit.

Lin Jin Lou found it amusing but held back his laugh. He watched as Xiang Lan took the tea and slowly brought it to him, placing it on the small table beside him. Hua Shan stood motionless at the door until Lin Jin Lou glared at her, making her jump in fright and finally retreat.

Lin Jin Lou picked up the teacup, took a few sips, and put it down. Suddenly he pulled Xiang Lan’s arm, about to say, “Put this pouch on for me.”

Xiang Lan startled, thinking Lin Jin Lou was going to hit her, immediately hugged his arm and said in a trembling voice, “Master, please don’t be angry.”

Lin Jin Lou was stunned. He saw Xiang Lan’s reddened eyes and pleading expression, completely different from her previous stubborn defiance. Though this submissiveness was what he had always wanted to see, somehow it brought him no joy. Instead, he felt a vague anger, though he didn’t know where this anger came from. Perhaps it was because of what he had overheard Xiang Lan say earlier. Lin Jin Lou didn’t want to think about it further. He shook his arm and said coldly, “Let go, or do you want me to beat you?”

Xiang Lan trembled and obediently released her grip, but tears rolled down her cheeks, and she didn’t dare wipe them away. She was truly afraid of Lin Jin Lou – this man could take her life when angry. Lin Jin Lou didn’t treat her badly, providing the best food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, and giving her enough face in public. She knew this, but she still lived in constant fear – fear of Lin Jin Lou’s authority, fear of having no security in the future, fear of living her life in such a muddled way. Now she had returned to Beijing, where she had once enjoyed glory before falling from grace fifteen years ago. Everything had changed, nothing remained the same.

Sometimes she thought it would be better if she were a fool, or if she had no memories of her previous life. Living carelessly without worries – if that were the case, Lin Jin Lou’s favor would probably seem like the greatest joy to her. What ordinary servant girl had her status? She could have happily become a concubine, and life would have been much simpler.

But unfortunately, she wasn’t like that. She couldn’t tolerate having sand in her eyes. For the sake of self-respect or her yearning for a better life, she relied on her inner resilience to get through each day, telling herself, “Sooner or later, disasters will pass and difficulties will end.” But deep down, she was anxious, with a taste of bitterness.

The matter had stirred up feelings she had originally wished to avoid, and Xiang Lan cried harder, sobbing quietly.

“Why are you crying? I haven’t even scolded you yet… stop crying first… You think you’re capable now, is that it? Is this crying or defying me? Quickly stop those tears.”

Xiang Lan wiped her tears with her sleeve, secretly glancing at Lin Jin Lou. Seeing his expression wasn’t as dark as before, and fearing he might settle accounts with her later if she calmed down, she sobbed, “I… I can’t stop…”

Lin Jin Lou saw a handkerchief thrown on the bed, picked it up to wipe Xiang Lan’s face, and finally pulled her into his arms, patting her back saying, “You’ve learned some tricks now, crying before I’ve even said anything. Alright, stop crying. I am annoyed with you, but with Little Sister and Second Sister here, I wasn’t going to do anything to you. There are still relatives who haven’t left, how does it look with you crying like this?… If you get my clothes wet again, I’ll have to change once more.”

Hearing Lin Jin Lou say he “wasn’t going to do anything,” Xiang Lan felt relieved. She wiped her face with the handkerchief and secretly glanced at Lin Jin Lou again. Seeing this, Lin Jin Lou couldn’t help but smile, saying, “What are you looking at? Alright, put the pouch on for me, there are still guests in front.”

Xiang Lan obediently untied the original sheepskin pouch from Lin Jin Lou’s belt, took out the mint pills for reducing heat, copper coins for tips, small silver pieces, and various small items, transferred them to the new pouch, and tied them to his belt.