Lin Jinlou pulled Xiang Lan back to Chang Chun Hall. The maids who had been chatting and enjoying themselves quickly gathered around as the two entered. Lin Jinlou walked straight to the inner chamber, glancing back to see Xiang Lan quietly instructing Hua Shan to prepare his guest attire.
As he walked, Lin Jinlou unfastened the gold-threaded wide belt around his waist, casually handing it to Xiao Juan. Ling Qing promptly served tea, Ling Su offered a towel, and Xue Ning presented a plate of fresh fruits. Xiang Lan followed him in and sat on the imperial daybed. Lin Jinlou sat beside her, took her hand with a smile, and gestured with his chin toward the pendant hanging on her chest, asking, “Do you like it? I specifically saved it for you.”
Just then, Shu Ran entered and heard this. Being naturally witty, she cheerfully said, “Oh my, what a lovely pendant! So smooth and delicate, and most wonderfully, it’s an orchid flower that matches Madam’s name perfectly. There couldn’t be anything more thoughtful. Such sentiment is worth thousands in gold.”
Xiang Lan looked up to see Lin Jinlou smiling at her. Not knowing how to respond, she lowered her long lashes. Lin Jinlou said, “Talk of thousands in gold and silver is just to amuse you.”
Xiang Lan blinked and slightly raised her head again, meeting Lin Jinlou’s smiling eyes. Seeing this atmosphere, Shu Ran thought to herself that any urgent matters would have to wait until after the master had his fill of affection. She exchanged glances with the other maids, and they quietly withdrew.
Lin Jinlou gazed at Xiang Lan’s beautiful face and couldn’t help but lower his voice, asking, “Do you like it? Master is asking you.” After a pause, he added, “Or is there something you want to say?”
Xiang Lan looked up at Lin Jinlou’s handsome features and somehow remembered what Jiang Xiyun had said to her earlier. Her heart suddenly felt heavy, though she wasn’t sure if it was from grievance or sadness. She only felt that Lin Jinlou’s hand holding hers was burning hot. She withdrew her hand and remained silent.
Lin Jinlou slightly furrowed his brows and was about to speak when he saw Hua Shan carrying a stack of clothes, saying as she walked in, “Madam, the dark green set was washed this morning and hasn’t dried yet. There are several similar sets in the chest, please take a look…” Seeing Lin Jinlou glaring at her, she was startled into silence, the rest of her words stuck in her throat.
This interruption saved Xiang Lan, who rose to meet her, saying, “Put them here, I’ll take a look.”
Lin Jinlou was displeased, thinking to himself: “The maid Xiang Lan brought from home isn’t as observant as those raised in the Lin family, and she has that irritating name, Hua Shan (Painted Fan). Just because Song Ke, that pretty boy, once gave her a fan? She’s still cherishing that memory. Tomorrow I’ll change this maid’s name to Yu Zhui (Jade Pendant), or maybe Ping Feng (Screen), since I gave her a peacock screen earliest, which she also loved dearly, always staring at it as if trying to bore a hole through it.” Thinking this, he glared at Hua Shan again, making her face grow even paler.
Lin Jinlou impatiently said, “Any outfit will do, come here.”
Xiang Lan pretended not to hear and continued examining the clothes. Shu Ran, hearing the commotion, peeked in and said, “Master, all the other masters have arrived and are drinking in the front hall. They asked for you to join them as soon as you returned.”
Lin Jinlou gave Xiang Lan another look before finally responding with a “Mm,” and allowed the servants to help him change clothes, occasionally glancing at Xiang Lan. She felt inexplicably tense. Lin Jinlou’s gaze was sharp and perceptive; she had never stood a chance against him from the beginning, all her thoughts transparent and firmly held in his grasp.
Before leaving, Lin Jinlou held Xiang Lan’s chin, examined her carefully twice, then asked, “Don’t you have anything to tell Master?”
Xiang Lan shook her head.
Lin Jinlou half-squinted his eyes and asked, “What did Fifth Miss Jiang talk to you about earlier?”
What did she say? Naturally, it was to warn me and test your intentions. Xiang Lan’s heart tightened, but after looking up at Lin Jinlou, she still said nothing and just shook her head, replying, “Nothing much, just casual conversation.”
Lin Jinlou thoughtfully released her hand, made a sound of acknowledgment, and walked out. He turned back and said, “Distribute the cloth pieces from the shop’s tributes among the sisters, and that pearl-inlaid ring from the jewelry sent by the silver shop the other day, send it to Fifth Cousin.”
Xiang Lan agreed to everything, catching a glimpse of Chun Ling peeking through the window. Shu Ran quickly smiled and said, “I’ll get the key to open the storehouse now.”
After Lin Jinlou left, Xiang Lan quietly said to Shu Ran, “Keep an eye on Chun Ling these days, I notice something’s not quite right with her behavior.”
Shu Ran coldly smiled, “She hasn’t been right since coming to the capital, and now she’s getting close to the Jiang family. Pardon my bluntness, Madam, but you’re too gentle. One good beating would see how she behaves after that.”
Xiang Lan gave a bitter smile and said, “I’ve said all the kind words I could to her, but I can’t give her what she wants. With her flighty nature and tendency to offend others, she won’t listen to me. Who knows what she might do if given power? I’m not worried about what she might do to me, but continuing like this, she’ll eventually make a big mistake. If she truly offends the Mistress, even I won’t be able to protect her. For now, let her be… It’s not true that I’m not heartbroken, but some relationships can’t be forced. Let her go, just keep watch over our household. As long as she doesn’t cause trouble, don’t say anything to hurt her. After all, we have a history. I won’t stop her if she wants to visit Miss Jiang, let’s part on good terms.”
Hearing this, Shu Ran sighed and uttered a Buddhist prayer, saying, “My dear Madam, I don’t know what to say when you speak like this. Recently, even knowing you were sitting right next door, she kept praising Fifth Miss Jiang, saying things like ‘she’s magnanimous,’ ‘has a likable personality,’ ‘looks like a heavenly beauty,’ and ‘deserves to be the primary wife.’ Ah, I know it hurt you to hear that – you even pricked your finger while sewing, only sending Hua Shan out to have Chun Ling bring in the clothes hanging outside. Since then, you haven’t relied on her much, yet still treat her as well as before. Such tolerance is truly remarkable.” After speaking, she hesitated several times before carefully adding, “As for the Jiang family… Madam, you swallow so many grievances and hardships, but the Master still treats you very well…”
Xiang Lan naturally caught the underlying meaning but just smiled. All of today’s events she had anticipated when she was forced to enter the Lin family as a concubine. Speaking wouldn’t change the fact that she was just a concubine, and besides, she never liked to gossip. She understood why Jiang Xiyun had spoken to her that way. Now the girl was indeed in a difficult position – the Jiang family was in trouble, and she didn’t want to get involved, but Madam Qin had only taken a liking to her. If Madam Qin had favored her older sister instead, perhaps everyone would have been happy, but unfortunately, Madam Qin never even glanced at Fourth Miss Jiang.
Xiang Lan felt she had been worn down to become more resilient. If Jiang Xiyun had come to pressure her like this when she first became a concubine in the Lin family, she would have felt humiliated and retorted. Now she could face it calmly – words she couldn’t tolerate before could now be dissolved with a sigh and a smile. Xiang Lan couldn’t help feeling some bitterness; this peaceful state of mind was achieved through countless stumbles and falls, containing so many grievances and helplessness. But suddenly she felt a surge of pride – despite all the indignities she had faced, she had never become a bitter, complaining woman full of schemes. She had never tried to improve her situation by plotting against others. Her suffering had only made her more rounded and rich, so now she could better understand others’ difficulties.
Xiang Lan sat lost in thought for a while until Shu Ran had people bring the fabric registry. She gathered her spirits and distributed everything, then ordered Xiao Juan to find the ring and had people deliver everything. But that’s not the main story.
Speaking of Lin Jinlou, after leaving Chang Chun Hall, he walked with furrowed brows the entire way. Gui Yuan, seeing his master’s apparent bad mood, didn’t dare make a sound, secretly lamenting, “Ji Xiang and Shuang Xi are serving those masters in the front hall, why did they assign me to attend to this Buddha? Could it be that Concubine Xiang Lan said something that pierced his heart again? That can’t be right, haven’t things been much better since coming to the capital?” While he was lost in thought, Lin Jinlou suddenly asked, “Are all the paintings your mistress painted stored in the study?”
“Ah?” Gui Yuan was startled, but quickly smiled and said, “Yes indeed, every time Madam gives me a painting, I send them all to Master’s front study.”
“Oh, then go to the study and find them for Master.”
The two went to the study, where Lin Jinlou sat in the master chair holding a summer heat-relieving soup while Gui Yuan, sweating profusely, searched through several painting containers before finally producing about twenty scrolls. Lin Jinlou examined each one, checking the dates, and suddenly realized that after he allowed Xiang Lan to sell paintings outside, the quality of those sent out had notably improved. Lin Jinlou snorted. After careful selection, he chose about ten pieces and ordered servants to carry them as he leisurely headed to the guest reception hall.
In the hall, people were playing drinking games, and making toasts, voices were loud, and the atmosphere was lively. Several servants stood by to attend, while attractive young opera performers sang on the side, making it extremely bustling.
When everyone saw Lin Jinlou enter, they laughed loudly, “Look who’s here, the busy man has finally arrived! Neglecting your guests, you must be punished with a few drinks!”
Someone shouted, “He should drink this whole jar!”
Liu Xiaochuan held his belly laughing and said, “Little master, I hear you’ve been looking at prospective brides in the back courtyard. Tell your brothers, how did it go?”
Xie Yu kicked him under the table and said, “Nothing good comes out of that dog mouth of yours!” He gave him a meaningful look. Jiang Feiyun’s husband, the second son of the Loyal and Brave Marquis, Lu Chaozong, was sitting at another table, so it wasn’t appropriate to joke about such matters.
Unexpectedly, Liu Xiaochuan, being naturally unruly and having previous grievances with Lu Chaozong, glared at Xie Yu and said, “What’s your problem kicking me? If some are eager to offer their daughters, why can’t I say a few words?”
Xie Yu became unhappy and said, “You’re just a troublemaker. I’m trying to be kind and give you a hint. If I ever care about your business again, I’ll be your grandson!”
Liu Xiaochuan chuckled and said, “You’ve said that several times already. Come on, let me hear you call me grandfather…”
Xie Yu immediately glared and was about to roll up his sleeves. Usually, Chu Dapeng would mediate such disputes, but he had gone to relieve himself. Yuan Shaoren, holding young Master De and feeding him dishes, quietly tried to mediate, “That’s enough, you two. Always at each other’s throats, like dogs biting dogs. Look whose house you’re in, consider what might happen if Lin the Tyrant gets angry.” As he spoke, he stood up, gave Master De a cup of tea, and told him to go pay respects to Lin Jinlou.