Everyone in the capital knew that Lin Jin Lou had a favored person in his household, and Old Yuan praised his good fortune with women. Though little Xiang Lan had thrown a tantrum today, she hadn’t made him lose face in front of Song Ke, so he decided to be magnanimous and not hold it against a woman – he would coax her with a few words later.

Xiang Lan kept her eyes closed for quite a while, hearing no movement around her. She wondered if the tyrant had left. She secretly opened her eyes and turned her head to look, only to see Lin Jin Lou still sitting at the bedhead.

Seeing Xiang Lan turn to peek at him, Lin Jin Lou moved close to her ear and said, “Still angry? Hm? You didn’t lose out – look at my face, it’s the first time since childhood anyone has done this. Hey, let me tell you, it’s lucky the Madam isn’t here, or she’d scold you for this.”

Xiang Lan kept her eyes tightly shut and said nothing.

Lin Jin Lou thought for a moment, moved the table away, lay down on his side, and reached out to embrace Xiang Lan. Smelling the subtle fragrance in her hair, he said softly, “Alright, don’t be angry anymore. It’s just a hurt hand, it’ll be better in a few days. I’ll apologize, and in a few days, I’ll take you out for another outing.” After speaking, he propped himself up on his elbow and lowered his head to kiss her.

Xiang Lan was in no mood for such behavior and struggled against him. Lin Jin Lou pressed his entire body down on her, leaving her breathless, with only her small feet kicking beneath him. After finally pushing him away, Xiang Lan retreated further into the corner.

Lin Jin Lou looked at her red lips and her jade-like face, finding her gentle manner lovely. His heart grew even more delighted as he pulled her into his arms, laughing softly, “Don’t move, or I might not be able to control myself and take you, which would undo all our progress. The Imperial Physician said we can’t be intimate during the first few days of medication.”

Xiang Lan’s face instantly flushed red. She spat in disgust but had no choice but to let him hold her.

Lin Jin Lou smoothed her hair and said, “The situation in the capital has changed. The Emperor is unwell, so we might need to stay longer. As the weather gets warmer, if you don’t bring summer clothes from Jinling, we’ll buy some fabric to make you several nice ones. Secondly, the Third Brother’s wedding was originally planned for the end of the year, but the Grandmother of the Li family’s daughter has suddenly fallen ill and might not last long. If she dies, the wedding will be delayed another year. The Old Master wants to expedite this matter, so Second Aunt and Third Brother will come to the capital in a few days. The second Aunt is generous-hearted – if she needs any help with the Third Brother’s wedding arrangements, you should assist her. Didn’t you help organize a poetry society before?”

Xiang Lan initially didn’t want to respond, but hearing this, she felt it wasn’t right and couldn’t help saying, “Hasn’t Second Brother taken a wife? By rights, she should help. If I do well, that’s fine, but if I don’t, people will criticize me behind my back. Besides, I’m used to keeping to myself and don’t like getting involved in such matters.”

Lin Jin Lou dismissed her concerns, stroking her hair as if petting a kitten, “Ha, what are you afraid of? I’ll back you up. Anyone who dares to run their mouth without thinking, I’ll destroy them.”

Xiang Lan pursed her lips, snorting inwardly. Then she heard Lin Jin Lou continue, “Never mind about others, but Third Brother is different. He grew up following me around. When I was learning martial arts, he tried to learn too, but being a young master, he couldn’t take hardship. After practicing a few moves, he learned some showy techniques and ran off. Second Aunt only has this one precious son and couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so she sent him to study instead. This kid often used my name to pick fights outside, and I just looked the other way. Later, when he was thirteen or fourteen, he acted like a little tyrant and even harassed a civilian girl in the street. I took him to a secluded spot and gave him a thorough beating, leaving not a patch of good skin on his body. For three months, he would tremble just hearing my voice, but he was still loyal – despite such a brutal beating, he insisted he got it from fighting with others. I didn’t hurt his bones or tendons, just flesh wounds, but that kid still howled like a ghost while applying medicine.”

Xiang Lan thought to herself, “So Lin Jin Ting had also been beaten by Lin Jin Lou, no wonder he’s so terrified of his brother and acts like a lackey in front of him.”

Lin Jin Lou clicked his tongue and said, “Tsk, why did I beat him? Just didn’t want him bullying men and harassing women, ruining the Lin family’s reputation and giving people something to talk about.”

Hearing these words, Xiang Lan opened her eyes wide in disbelief. He lectured Lin Jin Ting about bullying men and harassing women, but what about her? Wasn’t she someone he had forcibly taken?

Seeing Xiang Lan’s wide-eyed stare, Lin Jin Lou chuckled, held her small chin, and stroked her lips, saying, “Because I saved your father, you offered yourself in gratitude. I’ve always been a humble gentleman, how could I do something like bullying men and harassing women? Isn’t that right, little Xiang Lan?”

Xiang Lan slapped away Lin Jin Lou’s hand, thinking how shameless this man was.

Lin Jin Lou laughed softly again and patted Xiang Lan’s shoulder, saying, “I’m quite puzzled. Your skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting learned from the nuns at the temple are understandable – your teacher, Master Ding Yi, was from an official family, a noble lady, so it’s not surprising she knew these things. What’s strange is your ability to manage accounts and arrange banquets – who taught you these skills, hm? Ordinary girls don’t know such things. Even my younger sister had to humble herself and say many nice words to my mother to learn these skills.”

Xiang Lan’s heart tightened. Lin Jin Lou was extremely perceptive and not easily fooled. After thinking for a while, she said softly, “I don’t know much, just the basics. The neighbors who work for the Lin family, including some retired old servants from the manor, casually taught me enough to get by.”

“Oh, and today when you were raging at me, you said something about ‘two lifetimes as a human’ – what did that mean?”

“Nothing, it meant nothing. I was drunk and talking nonsense… Did I say that? I’ve forgotten…”

Lin Jin Lou continued smiling, gently stroking Xiang Lan’s shoulder, “Little Xiang Lan, do you know you have a habit? Whenever you lie, you can’t look at people.”

“No, I’m not lying…”

“Tsk, silly girl.” Lin Jin Lou couldn’t help laughing again. “Never mind about two lifetimes – even if you were a fox spirit who specialized in absorbing men’s essence, I wouldn’t be afraid.” He looked carefully at Xiang Lan’s face, holding her chin, “Come to think of it, you do look like a little fox spirit with that face of yours.” His sharp eyes narrowed as he said softly, “As for you, keep that restless heart of yours in check for me. Don’t think about playing any more tricks. You’re too soft-hearted – even if you lived not just two lives but several more, you still wouldn’t be my match. Serve me well, take your medicine obediently, safely bear me an heir, and then your parents will have someone to rely on in their old age for all their aches and pains until their final days. Otherwise, you figure out what to do yourself. Do you understand?”

Cold sweat broke out on Xiang Lan’s forehead. Though Lin Jin Lou spoke quietly, he seemed to know her thoughts as clearly as if he were a worm in her belly. This time, she didn’t dare slap away the hand holding her chin.

After making his threat and seeing Xiang Lan’s pale face, Lin Jin Lou felt satisfied and kissed her lips again. By now it was time to light the lamps, so Lin Jin Lou ordered everyone to withdraw and took Xiang Lan back to the inner quarters.

Following Lin Jin Lou’s instructions, food had been served in the room. Xiang Lan only managed a few bites before losing her appetite. Ling Su knew she wasn’t feeling well and had specially ordered the kitchen to make rice porridge, of which Xiang Lan managed to eat two bowls. After the meal, Lin Jin Lou held Xiang Lan on the lounge chair and ordered Shu Ran to bring the Clothing Registry to read through the clothes Xiang Lan had brought.

Shu Ran left and returned moments later with the registry, saying, “Madam brought one hundred and sixty-nine pieces of new clothing tailored from Jinling two months ago.”

Lin Jin Lou made a sound of acknowledgment and said, “Find the page with the jackets and read it.”

Shu Ran flipped through and read from the jacket section: “Zhenzhu red with plum, orchid, and chrysanthemum embroidery; Western red with peony embroidery; silver red with ‘wealth and honor’ embroidery; Western red with Eight Treasures; imperial red with butterflies among flowers; rouge red with continuous fortune embroidery; salmon red with magpies on plum branches; bright red plain satin; azalea red plain satin…”

Shu Ran had only read a few items, not even finishing the red jackets when Xiang Lan grew impatient and couldn’t help asking, “Why are you having her read this?” Lin Jin Lou usually didn’t concern himself with such trivial matters as clothing in the inner quarters, merely spending money generously to have clothes made.

Lin Jin Lou played with Xiang Lan’s fingers lazily and said, “Second Brother’s wife saw one of your jackets somewhere and wanted to have one made like it. She asked Second Brother, who came to me personally. I told him to have a maid ask you, but he hemmed and hawed, saying the fabric would be hard to find and the patterns difficult to replicate. Before he could finish speaking, his face was already red.”

Xiang Lan immediately understood. If Tang Shi truly wanted to copy the clothes, she could have simply sent a maid to borrow them. Now having Lin Jin Xuan ask Lin Jin Lou meant she was hoping they would give her the clothes. This wasn’t surprising – Lin Jin Lou always had the finest fabrics made into clothes for her, and the embroiderers were famous even in Jinling. Some clothes couldn’t be bought even with money. Tang Shi was young and loved pretty things, so it was natural she would want fine clothes. As a new bride, she didn’t dare ask directly, so she had Lin Jin Xuan ask instead. So Xiang Lan asked, “Which one does she want?”

Lin Jin Lou said, “Can’t quite remember, something with magnolia flowers.”

Shu Ran looked at the list and said, “There are three pieces fully embroidered with magnolia flowers – one in apricot yellow, one in lotus pink, and one in emerald green. Madam has only worn the apricot yellow one. It must be the one she wore out today that Second Madam saw.”

Xiang Lan said, “I got drunk today and vomited on that piece of clothing…”

Lin Jin Lou sneered, “How perfect.” To Shu Ran, he said, “Tell Second Brother the clothes are dirty, and your Young Madam doesn’t want them anymore and has given them to the maids. If they still want them, they can send someone to collect them.” After thinking for a moment, he called Shu Ran back, “Go to the storehouse and pick out two pieces of gray and sky-blue fabric to send to Second Brother.” Then to Xiang Lan, he said, “One dirty piece of clothing isn’t worth much, let the maids have it. We’ll make even better ones later.”

Shu Ran shook her head. Tang Shi clearly didn’t understand Lin Jin Lou’s character. Even if Tang Shi had openly asked for the piece, Lin Jin Lou, who was usually so generous, would have just smiled and given it to her. But coming with ulterior motives to ask for it – that was what Lin Jin Lou despised most. He would rather give it to a maid than to her. Fearing to damage Second Brother’s face, he had two pieces of fabric sent over instead.