Liu Xiao Chuan leaned his head in, giving a strange laugh, and called to Xie Yu, “Brother, come quickly and look at what this is!” He snatched the fragrance pouch and sniffed it, saying, “It’s quite fragrant. I say, could it be that young woman’s heart is stirring, and she specifically left this to convey her feelings to you, brother?”

Chu Da Peng pushed Liu Xiao Chuan and said, “Don’t talk nonsense.” He grabbed back the fragrance pouch, looked at it carefully, and pointed, “Look, the clasp that attaches to the waistband is broken – that’s why the pouch fell.”

Xie Yu knocked Liu Xiao Chuan’s forehead, “Your mouth has no filter, always spouting nonsense. If this spreads, what about her reputation? We wouldn’t come out clean either.”

Liu Xiao Chuan grumbled, “What’s the matter? What’s the matter? This young master was just saying.” Then he lowered his head and started giggling again.

Xie Yu looked at Liu Xiao Chuan sideways and said, “What evil scheme are you plotting now?”

Liu Xiao Chuan smiled mischievously and said, “This young master can size people up. I could tell at a glance that the young woman wasn’t the settled type – she’s got a flirtatious nature through and through. Perhaps Lin Er isn’t capable, leaving the beauty lonely in her spring chamber.”

Chu Da Peng smiled and pointed at Liu Xiao Chuan, “You! That mouth of yours is just endlessly vulgar.”

Liu Xiao Chuan protested, “Your grandfather has seen countless women – what type haven’t I encountered? If you don’t believe me, let’s make a bet.”

Xie Yu asked, “What kind of bet?”

Liu Xiao Chuan said, “She lost her fragrance pouch, she’s bound to come looking for it. Let’s not return it to her. Instead, let’s leave a man’s money pouch there. If she’s a proper lady, she definitely won’t even look at it, or she’ll send a maid to find its owner, or thinking someone’s toying with her, the virtuous type might even cry. But if she’s the flirtatious kind, she’ll think a man is exchanging tokens with her – who knows how delighted she’ll be. We’ll just quietly watch from the side. I bet she’ll be overjoyed – whoever wins gets treated to a five-tael dinner at Yanbinlou.”

Chu Da Peng rolled his eyes and said, “If you used this much thought on studying and working, your old man would be burning incense to eight generations of ancestors.” He shook his head and left.

Xie Yu sneered, “See that? You got mocked!”

Liu Xiao Chuan snorted, turned around, and like a magician produced a money pouch, snickering, “What a hypocrite, as if he wasn’t drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels before. Just now, this young master skillfully picked his pouch without anyone noticing. Let’s use this to test that young woman.”

Xie Yu pointed at Liu Xiao Chuan and laughed, then hesitated, “This… isn’t quite right… if Old Four Chu finds out…”

Liu Xiao Chuan said, “What’s not right? Can’t he lose a pouch in the garden? When something’s lost, any maid or servant can pick it up – why can’t that young woman pick it up? Quick, quick, hurry up and put this pouch over there.”

Xie Yu was also curious to see what would happen. Hearing Liu Xiao Chuan’s words, he immediately became energized and quietly threw the pouch onto the corridor.

Meanwhile, when Madam Tan returned to her room and was changing clothes, her maid Lu Luo asked, “Second Madam, where is the fragrance pouch you wore out this morning?”

Madam Tan looked down and indeed found her waist empty, with only a jade pendant with hanging ornaments and tassels. She panicked and quickly ordered, “Quickly help me look for it – that fragrance pouch is from the palace, very precious.” Thinking she might have dropped it during her earlier walk, she hurried out to search, making her way to the small garden. From afar, she saw something on the covered corridor ahead.

When Madam Tan approached, she saw it was a peacock-blue money pouch with gold-woven Ruyi patterns, perfectly square, with red coral and gold wire clasps – extraordinarily exquisite and certainly not something used by ordinary wealthy families. Opening it and emptying it, she found some loose silver pieces, a small enamel bottle containing Xuejin Pills, and a safety talisman from a temple. Unfolding the talisman, she saw three characters spelling “Chu Da Peng.” Madam Tan’s heart immediately began pounding. She quickly folded the talisman and looked around, seeing only tree branches and flower shadows swaying in the wind.

Madam Tan clutched the pouch, her heart boiling like soup. She thought to herself: “I’ve often heard that the young masters of the Chu, Xie, and Liu families grew up with Lin Jin Lou, sharing an extraordinary friendship. Among them, Chu Da Peng is the son of the Minister of Justice, cultured and romantic, famous in the capital as a handsome man. That most handsome and elegant one just now must have been him. How unfortunate I didn’t know it was Chu Da Peng himself – otherwise, I could have chatted with him longer… Now, did he leave this pouch intentionally or drop it by accident? If it was accidental, so be it, but if he found my fragrance pouch first and deliberately placed this here to exchange with me, then, then, then…” At this thought, her face grew even hotter, and holding the pouch made her heart melt like butter – one moment shy and speechless, the next moment endlessly pleased.

Suddenly hearing laughter, she saw Ling Qing and Xue Ning walking by with bottles in their hands. She quickly hid the pouch in her sleeve. After they passed, she took out the pouch to look at it again and again, thinking to herself: “In novels and unofficial histories, talented scholars and beautiful ladies often form lifelong bonds through exchanges of pouches, jade pendants, fragrance sachets, and handkerchiefs. Who would have thought Young Master Chu was such a refined person who understands romance? He’s a man, and my elder brother-in-law’s friend – perhaps he admires me but can’t speak of it, so he can only express his feelings through this pouch. He must have found my fragrance pouch – well since we’re not destined to be together in this life, I’ll consider my fragrance pouch a gift to him, to repay his yearning.” As she thought, she grew melancholic, first reciting “Flowers fade easily like a man’s love, endless flowing water like my sorrow,” then “Returning your bright pearl with falling tears, regretting we didn’t meet before I married.” She looked around searching for Chu Da Peng but didn’t see him, feeling disappointed. She then took the pouch and left swaying.

Liu Xiao Chuan and Xie Yu had been watching from nearby. After Madam Tan left, Xie Yu clicked his tongue and said, “You predicted it right. Look at that loving expression on her face – she even hid the pouch when she saw the maids, and what was that about ‘regretting we didn’t meet before I married’? She must have developed feelings.”

Liu Xiao Chuan laughed, “This young master has always been prophetic. Who would have thought Lin Er found himself a romantic young woman.” The two continued chatting back and forth – we’ll leave them for now.

As for Madam Tan, she began frequently visiting the small garden, dressed up with powder and rouge. Chu Da Peng and the others stayed inside the courtyard while fixing the house, fearing to disturb the women of the household. When Liu Xiao Chuan and Xie Yu saw Madam Tan from the doorway or window, they would either cough loudly or exchange meaningful glances, among other things. Chu Da Peng, unaware of the situation, couldn’t be bothered to pay attention. Later, when servants and laborers were brought in to plant flowers and grass, replace tiles, and paint walls, Madam Tan stopped coming. Liu Xiao Chuan and Xie Yu were just rich young masters playing pranks, unaware that this matter would plant the seeds of future trouble.

Meanwhile, Lin Jin Lou grew increasingly busy in the capital, often not seen for entire days. After Xiang Lan’s hand-wound healed, she had people arrange her painting supplies again, spending her days reciting sutras, worshiping Buddha, painting, writing, and occasionally playing the qin. These past few days, she had painted several pieces. Putting them in a brocade tube, she said to Hua Shan, “Go call Little Gui Yuan here.”

Gui Yuan had been tending to the black dog Lin Jin Lou kept with several other servants. This dog was exceptionally fierce and strong, greatly favored by Lin Jin Lou, who ordered it to be carefully fed. Hearing Hua Shan calling from the corridor, Gui Yuan quickly washed his hands and went over, repeatedly saying to Hua Shan, “Sister Hua Shan, what do you need?”

Hua Shan said, “Madam is calling for you.”

Gui Yuan hurriedly followed Hua Shan inside, saying, “Good sister, I haven’t seen you for days – you’ve grown even prettier.”

Hua Shan spat and said, “Who’s your good sister? Don’t call me that casually.”

Gui Yuan smiled and said, “You’re younger than me – if I don’t call you sister, should I call you elder sister? I got some interesting things from the street yesterday. Call me ‘good brother’ twice, and I’ll show them to you.”

Hua Shan said, “Pah, who wants to call you…”

As they were talking, they reached the door. Gui Yuan immediately changed his demeanor, becoming quiet and respectful, with lowered eyes. He stepped lightly into the courtyard, not daring to look around. At the door, Hua Shan lifted the curtain, and Gui Yuan glanced sideways to see Xiang Lan sitting in the main hall. He quickly knelt and said, “Paying respects to Madam.”

Xiang Lan said, “I have an errand for you. Take these two paintings, have them mounted first, then find a stationery shop to sell them. Each piece should sell for at least ten taels of silver – any extra money can go to the shopkeeper. Don’t mention this to others. If you handle this well, I’ll reward you generously.”

Xiao Juan handed the brocade tube forward.

Gui Yuan thought to himself, “Ten taels for a piece of paper – only a fool would buy it.” But he repeatedly agreed and took the brocade tube with both hands. Xiang Lan had Xiao Juan give Gui Yuan two taels of silver for mounting the paintings, along with a handful of coins and a plate of fruits and pastries.

As he was leaving, Gui Yuan heard Xiao Juan say, “Madam worked so hard on these paintings, why sell them? We’re not short of money.”

Xiang Lan said softly, “However much silver is here, it’s not mine. Only having silver in my own hands feels secure…”

Gui Yuan dared not listen further and quickly left, thinking to himself, “The Master does have several shops in the capital, but I don’t know if any sell paintings. This is the first time Madam has entrusted me with something – I must handle it perfectly.”

At the door, he happened to meet Lin Jin Lou returning from outside. Gui Yuan quickly moved aside, held his breath, and bowed. As Lin Jin Lou stepped in, his eyes swept over Gui Yuan and asked, “What are you holding?”

Gui Yuan said, “This is from Madam.”

Lin Jin Lou became interested upon hearing this: “Let me see it.”

Gui Yuan quickly presented the brocade tube. Lin Jin Lou opened the lid to find two unmounted paintings neatly rolled inside. He pulled out one showing a deep courtyard with peonies planted in the corner and a maid with double buns holding a fan chasing butterflies in the courtyard – delicate and elegant, extremely lifelike. The painting was signed by “Resident Scholar Lan Xiang.” He pulled out another showing a black cat lying beside an embroidered screen, its eyes bright and vivid, also signed “Resident Scholar Lan Xiang.”

Lin Jin Lou asked Gui Yuan, “What are these paintings for?”

Gui Yuan inwardly groaned. Although Xiang Lan had instructed him not to tell anyone, he dared not hide anything from Lin Jin Lou, so he honestly replied, “Madam gave them to me to find a shop to sell.” After speaking, he secretly glanced up.