In Chang Chun Hall, Lin Jinlou and Xianglan had finished their meal. Under the lamplight, Lin Jinlou was reviewing official documents with his brush, instructing Xianglan to attend to him. Xianglan brightened the lamp, carefully ground the ink, brewed a pot of tea, and organized various correspondence and documents. Lin Jinlou handed her a list, instructing her to write congratulatory and condolence cards according to the names written on them. Xianglan sat on the other side of the desk and spread out various types of letter paper to write.

Soon after, Qiaohui, a servant who usually attended to Madam Qin, came in and said, “Second Madam’s father, Official Tan, will set out for his post in Shandong next month. Since the Master is not here, he wishes to pay his respects to the Young Master. He sent you a visiting card but received no response, so he appealed to Madam. Madam thinks that since we’re all family, she suggests having the Tan family over tomorrow for a small gathering. She hopes Young Master can spare some time to meet them.”

Lin Jinlou frowned. Tan Siye had indeed sent him a visiting card, but the wording on the card that day was somewhat discourteous, carrying the air of an elder pressuring him. Lin Jinlou wouldn’t tolerate such behavior, so he crumpled up the visiting card and threw it in the waste basket. He replied, “I’m busy tomorrow. It’s enough for Madam to meet them.”

Qiaohui said with difficulty, “This is Madam’s wish, saying that Young Master should at least meet them…” Seeing Lin Jinlou’s eyebrows furrow again, she dared not continue and quickly gave Xianglan a meaningful look.

Seeing this, Xianglan put down her brush and said, “Since they’re family and elders, we should meet them. Moreover, they’re going to Shandong, and who knows when they’ll return.”

Lin Jinlou patted Xianglan’s hand and said carelessly, “Tan Siye originally offended his superiors and had no prospects. If it weren’t for our family’s help, could he have come to the capital to seek an official position? I’m deliberately giving him the cold shoulder. Don’t worry, that monkey is quite clever. After being snubbed a couple of times, he’ll understand his place and proper etiquette. This will prevent him from causing trouble outside using Father’s name in the future.” He then told Qiaohui, “Tell Madam that the women folk can meet if they should, but I truly have no time tomorrow.”

Qiaohui took her leave upon hearing this.

Lin Jinlou put down his brush, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He pulled over the cards Xianglan had written and read two of them, then reached out to draw her onto his lap. He tapped her nose and said with a grin, “Tell me, who taught you this handwriting, hm? If you were a man, I’d make you my secretary.” He took Xianglan’s hand and examined it repeatedly under the lamplight.

Xianglan pulled her hand back and said flatly, “I should have learned to be a courtesan instead. A secretary is too high a position for me.” She then tried to stand up.

Lin Jinlou was stunned, then burst out laughing. His arm locked around Xianglan’s waist, forcefully turning her face to kiss her. Looking at her slightly reddened face, he smiled and said, “Oh my, I didn’t expect you to hold such a grudge. Are you upset because I said you weren’t as good as a courtesan? Let me tell you, you’re better than all of them. I don’t even like seeing those who fawn too much.”

Xianglan turned her head away, ignoring him.

Lin Jinlou pulled Xianglan’s hand back, playing with her fingers as he said, “Old Yuan’s youngest son is ill. Tomorrow, think about selecting some gifts to send over.”

Xianglan turned her head and asked, “Young Master De? What illness?”

“Just a cold. This child is quite pitiful. His birth mother died early, and his stepmother also died young. Old Yuan raised him by himself, keeping him at his side. Men are rough by nature, and because of him, even the wet nurse doesn’t dare to discipline him strictly.”

Xianglan couldn’t help but sigh, “Marquis Yongchang is truly a rare man who values love and righteousness.”

Lin Jinlou raised his eyebrows high: “Rare? A man who values love and righteousness?”

“Yes, I heard from the maids and servants that he had deep feelings for Young Master De’s mother, and after her early death, he kept the child by his side to raise him. They say after that woman died, he dispersed his concubines, keeping only two who had borne children, while the others could stay or leave as they wished. Marquis Yongchang donates silver to the poor every year, doing good deeds in Young Master De’s mother’s name. He’s extremely humble and friendly, never arrogant or overbearing despite his high position.”

Lin Jinlou turned Xianglan’s chin towards him and said, “Little Xianglan, why do I feel like you’re implying something?”

“…No, you’re overthinking it.”

“Tsk, I see you’ve grown pretty but become more foolish. How many times have you met him? You haven’t even spoken to him once, right? Yet you think he’s such a good person?”

Xianglan pressed her lips together without making a sound. The last time she had accidentally encountered Young Master De at the storehouse door, Yuan Shaoren had personally come to fetch the child. His eyes were gentle, his words warm and mild, and he had even bowed to her repeatedly in thanks, showing no trace of arrogance or swagger, which naturally made people feel favorably towards him.

Then she heard Lin Jinlou say in her ear, “Silly girl, let me tell you, most men in the world are of the same nature. You might think someone is a gentleman, but who knows what kind of debauchery they’re up to behind closed doors.”

Xianglan glared at him: “How can Young Master speak ill of his friend like this? Marquis Yongchang is to be your sister’s husband after all.”

Lin Jinlou glared back: “You’ve gotten quite bold, haven’t you? Watch how you speak!” Seeing Xianglan lower her head, he paused before continuing, “Old Yuan used to be quite a character too, indulging in wine and women, experiencing all sorts of pleasures. A few years ago, he met De’s mother, called Lian Niang, and insisted on taking her as a concubine. Lian Niang refused at first but somehow agreed later. However, Old Yuan’s wife wouldn’t let her pay respects with tea, so he simply kept her outside the household. Old Yuan behaved himself for a while at first, but after some time went back to his old ways, until Lian Niang passed away. Only then did he seem to become a different person.”

Xianglan was startled and asked, “How did Lian Niang die?”

“Who knows? Some say she died from postpartum complications, some say from serious illness, and others say she took her own life. She was originally from a noble family, the Shen family of the capital from earlier years, the legitimate granddaughter of Prime Minister Shen Wenhan… You wouldn’t know about it, the Shen family was executed when you probably weren’t even born yet.”

These words exploded like a thunderbolt beside Xianglan’s ear, stunning her into a daze. Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat, and she couldn’t help but grab Lin Jinlou’s arm and ask, “The Shen family… are there any survivors?”

Lin Jinlou looked at her with surprise and said, “No, the Shen family was completely wiped out. The women who were sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau mostly took their own lives. When it happened, Lian Niang was still young. Before her mother committed suicide, she tried to strangle her with a silk cord but failed. When Old Yuan’s uncle arrived at the Entertainment Bureau, Lian Niang was barely breathing, and her mother’s corpse had already been wrapped in a mat. Yuan’s uncle had once received kindness from Shen Wenhan, so he went to great lengths to get Lian Niang out of the Entertainment Bureau. Although she was officially a government slave, she was treated as half-slave, half-free. The Emperor had sentenced them for the five gravest crimes and ten abominations, making it impossible to remove her slave status, but at least she was safe.” After finishing these words, he saw that Xianglan was already in tears, lost in thought. He was secretly alarmed and shook her, asking, “What’s wrong with you?”

Xianglan’s heart was breaking. She lowered her head to wipe her tears with her sleeve, choking back sobs as she said, “Nothing, I just couldn’t help but think how tragic it must have been for a mother to have to strangle her daughter that night…” Xianglan was already overwhelmed with grief. She had known her family died tragically, but only now, hearing it directly from Lin Jinlou, did she understand how horrific it had been. If Lin Jinlou hadn’t been present, she would have likely broken down in loud sobs.

Lin Jinlou looked at Xianglan thoughtfully, patted her back, and said, “You are quite sensitive.” He picked up the hot tea from the table for her to drink, wiped her tears, and said casually, “The Shen family’s fate was indeed tragic. They were all stubborn people. Come to think of it, you’re quite similar to them.”

Xianglan looked up, and through her tear-filled eyes, she saw Lin Jinlou’s sharp gaze. Her heart jumped, but at this moment her thoughts were in chaos and her mind was weary, so she gently leaned against Lin Jinlou’s chest and said, “How could I be similar to the Shen family? I’d never even heard of them before. I was just moved by the mother and daughter’s story…”

Lin Jinlou held her, stroking her back like petting a cat, and after a long while said, “Oh, is that so?” After a pause, he continued, “These days I’ve been busy outside, and you must be bored at home. You should invite some female performers to sing, or female storytellers to tell some tales. Staring at paper and drawing all day will strain your eyes. Two cousins have come from the Jiang family, you can go talk with them when you’re free.”

Xianglan lowered her thick lashes and suddenly asked, “How are my paintings selling in the shop?”

Lin Jinlou was taken aback. After Lin Jinting’s wedding banquet, Xianglan had given him several paintings and begged him to sell them in his shop. Those paintings were still gathering dust in his study. He coughed and said, “Oh, those paintings… I think a few have sold. I’ll ask about them for you tomorrow.”

Xianglan leaned against Lin Jinlou’s chest and made a soft sound of acknowledgment, tears silently sliding down her face again.

Before bed, Lin Jinlou went outside and called Jixiang to the second gate, saying, “Tomorrow, withdraw twenty taels of silver from the accounts for your Mistress, and tell her it’s from selling her paintings, to cheer her up.”

Jixiang agreed repeatedly and left, but that’s a matter for another time.

The next day, after getting up, Lin Jinlou practiced a set of martial arts exercises, had breakfast, and then went out. Xianglan first carefully selected several gifts for Young Master De and had them sent over. Afterward, she went to pay her respects to Madam Qin, but after sitting for just a moment, the Tan family arrived. As it wasn’t appropriate for Xianglan to stay, Mama Wu held her back with a smile, saying, “We two haven’t had a chance to talk, come sit in this room.” Xianglan followed Mama Wu into the side room, where a young maid came in to brew tea. After the two exchanged polite greetings, Mama Wu smiled at Xianglan and said, “My child, I saw early on that you were extraordinary. Your conduct and behavior are different from other girls, both gentle and quiet. To speak frankly, none of the young ladies I’ve served can compare to you. The Young Master looked at you differently from the start, like a hungry cat eyeing food. Now he’s even dismissed all his concubines. After next year, when the Young Master properly holds a banquet and makes you his concubine, all the grievances you’ve suffered won’t matter anymore.”

Xianglan looked at the beaming smile on Mama Wu’s face. She knew Mama Wu was genuinely happy for her, but this happiness made it hard for her to breathe. She could only smile faintly and lower her head slightly. Just then, footsteps were heard outside, and through the latticed partition, she saw Tan Luhua leading a girl to sit in the adjacent room. Xianglan stole a glance and saw that the person was tall and plump, with yellowish skin, small eyes, and a round nose. Though her features were coarse, she carried herself with an air of dignity and wore extremely luxurious clothing.

Mama Wu saw this and said softly, “This is Second Madam’s legitimate elder sister, named Tan Lufang. Earlier, when the Master was arranging a marriage for the Second Master, he invited several eligible young ladies from notable families in the capital to the house. Second Master chose Second Madam from behind a screen. However, Official Tan had married a wife from a high-ranking family who was quite formidable. She forced him to send his legitimate daughter here to marry the Second Master. But with her appearance… the Master refused as soon as he saw her. He said the Second Master had suffered for so many years and must have a beautiful and gentle wife. He told the Tan family that the Second Master was in poor health, and marrying their legitimate daughter might seem like using power to pressure them. Tan Lufang, knowing the Second Master was sickly, also made a scene at home refusing to marry into our family. But later, when she saw how lavishly Second Madam lived when she visited her maiden home, and how refined and elegant Second Master was, she deeply regretted her decision. The maids at Kang Shou Residence have gossiped about this quite a bit.”

Xianglan nodded slightly and looked again, noting how truly different the two Tan sisters were in appearance. She heard them speaking quietly, catching phrases like “Shandong,” “Qingzhou,” and “Lin family’s Young Master,” seemingly about Tan Lufang asking Tan Luhua to help Tan Siye secure an official position through the Lin family. Suddenly, Tan Lufang stood up abruptly and said with a cold laugh, “If Father gains status, won’t your position in the Lin family become stronger? I see your wings have grown strong. Don’t forget, if it weren’t for my allowing it, how could you have married into the Lin family? Just a concubine’s daughter, and now that you’ve climbed to a high branch, you’re putting on airs. If you’re so capable, then stay firmly on that high branch. Don’t commit any of the seven grounds for divorce and get thrown out by the Lin family. I’ll say a prayer to Buddha for you!” With that, she turned to leave.

The mention of “seven grounds for divorce” struck Tan Luhua’s insecurity, making her hands tremble with anger. She stood up and grabbed Tan Lufang, saying harshly, “What nonsense are you talking about? Say it again if you dare, say I’m a concubine’s daughter! Don’t leave, let’s go to Madam and settle this.” As the situation was about to escalate, Mama Wu walked over and said sternly to Tan Lufang, “Miss Tan is a guest, how can you cause such a commotion in the host’s home? Even if the Second Madam has faults, Madam will teach her. What does it have to do with you?”

Both Fang and Hua were startled, not expecting anyone to be in the next room. Tan Luhua cried, “Even if we’re family, there’s no need to humiliate me like this. I must tell Madam!”

Mama Wu immediately sighed inwardly at Tan Luhua’s lack of discretion. Xianglan sighed. Although she didn’t like Tan Luhua’s character, seeing her still being mocked by her legitimate sister even after marriage made her understand why she hadn’t had an easy life at home, which explained her difficult personality. She quickly pulled her aside and said softly, “Second Madam, please stop crying. Mama Wu represents Madam, and she’s standing up for you – what more grievances could you have? This is ultimately Second Madam’s family matter. If it becomes public, it won’t look good for anyone. Although Madam is kind, the servants’ tongues are loose. Whatever they might gossip about behind your back, even if Second Madam is magnanimous enough not to mind, it’s still unpleasant to hear. Second Madam still needs to rely on your maiden family, so why create such bad blood with them?”

These words made Tan Luhua stop crying immediately. Xianglan said quietly, “Second Madam, go to the next room to wipe your face. Don’t appear sulky – it would upset Madam to see you like this.” Then she led Tan Luhua away.