Ling Qing heaved a heavy sigh and exchanged glances with Ling Su, sticking out her tongue and saying, “Buddha have mercy, the Old Master looks even more intimidating than Master. I hardly dared to breathe!”

Xiang Lan sat by the bed, took the small foreign towel from the table to wipe the sweat from Lin Jinlou’s forehead, and ordered someone to bring some lip balm. She dipped her finger in it and applied it to Lin Jinlou’s cracked lips, letting out a long breath.

Ling Su stepped forward and said softly, “Aunt, please get some rest. Your eyes are bloodshot.”

Xiang Lan wearily shook her head, sitting there in a daze. At this moment, Shu Ran walked in and without further ado, pulled Xiang Lan up, saying, “My dear Aunt, quickly go rest, or even someone made of iron couldn’t endure this. We’ll look after Master.” Xiang Lan was exhausted and unsteady on her feet. Shu Ran hurriedly helped her to the adjacent room while directing the maids to prepare the bed. With her head spinning, Xiang Lan walked over with closed eyes. As her hand went limp, the lip balm box slipped from her fingers and rolled away somewhere. Someone removed her clothes, and as soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell straight into a deep sleep.

When Xiang Lan awoke, daylight had already broken. Hua Shan, wearing a bean-green lined vest, sat on the edge of the kang doing needlework. Xiang Lan rubbed her eyes and sat up, her voice hoarse as she asked, “How long have I slept?”

Xiao Juan quickly put down her work, helped Xiang Lan put on her clothes, and poured a cup of tea, saying, “You’ve slept for an entire day. Madam has come several times and sent people to check multiple times. The Imperial Physician has also visited five or six times, but you didn’t wake up.”

Xiang Lan swallowed a mouthful of tea, her heart pounding, and asked with effort, “Master… how is he…”

Xiao Juan replied, “Master has awakened several times but soon fell asleep again. He asked about you. Old Master sought out several famous doctors from throughout the capital to take turns examining Master and Second Master. The doctors said it was fortunate that Master was young and strong—ordinary people with such severe injuries, especially after being exposed to ice and snow, would have met the King of Hell by now. He’s survived the worst of it, but it will still take some time to fully recover. Madam was overjoyed and donated one thousand Taels to the temple.”

Xiang Lan felt as if a great stone had been lifted from her chest, and she murmured, “Amitabha.”

Xiao Juan continued, “However, Second Master isn’t doing well. He’s had a fever for two days that hasn’t broken, and he’s been speaking nonsense.”

Xiang Lan asked, “What about Second Madam?”

Xiao Juan lowered her voice mysteriously, “I don’t know what taboo Second Madam has broken, but the entire household has been forbidden to mention her. They’re just saying that when Second Master fell ill, Second Madam also became critically ill.”

Xiang Lan thought to herself, “Tan Luhua and Dai Rong were having an affair. They were probably found in a compromising position. The Lin family likely wants to prevent even more scandalous rumors from spreading, so they’ve simply forbidden any mention of it.” While thinking this, she quickly washed up and dressed, then went to the bedroom to check on Lin Jinlou. He was still unconscious, with Mama Wu and Ling Su watching over him. Seeing Xiang Lan, Mama Wu showed great concern for her well-being and repeatedly urged her to go back and eat.

Xiang Lan had no choice but to return. Hua Shan and others had requested a table full of dishes from the kitchen: a plate of sour bamboo shoots with mountain delicacies, a plate of five-spice douchi, a plate of Buddha’s Delight, a plate of milk pastries, along with a bowl of red bean glutinous rice eight-treasure pudding, and a pot of red date soup.

Only then did Xiang Lan realize how hungry she was, and she ate ravenously. Just as she put down her chopsticks, Ling Qing brought clothes and led her to bathe. Xiang Lan took a thoroughly refreshing bath and changed into fresh clothes. Xiao Juan used two large foreign towels to half-dry her hair, braided it, and loosely pinned it up with several longevity hairpins.

Just as she came out from the back, she headed to the bedroom to check on Lin Jinlou. Upon entering, she suddenly realized the room was full of men and quickly retreated, but heard Lin Jinlou cough and say, “Come… come in.”

Xiang Lan hesitated, but Shu Ran had already come out and pulled her in with a slight smile, saying, “Master is asking you to enter, Madam.”

Xiang Lan had no choice but to enter the room. She curtseyed and glanced up to see Yuan Shaoren, Lin Jinting, Liu Xiaochuan, Xie Yu, and Chu Dapeng. Everyone stood up, repeatedly saying they didn’t dare accept such courtesy and bowing in return. Lin Jinting, being close to Song Ke, still held a grudge against Xiang Lan and muttered, “What’s so special about her? Just an opportunistic servant, does she deserve Third Master’s bow?” His face showed reluctance when suddenly a date flew over and hit him squarely on the forehead. Lin Jinting jumped in fright with a yelp, “Ouch!”

Liu Xiaochuan saw everything clearly and giggled, “Well, Lin Xiao San, what’s wrong with you? Hit by your family’s secret weapon? Huh? Don’t think your brother’s as weak as a sick cat just because he’s lying in bed. Now you know what an Iron Warrior and Living Tyrant means? Without moving a single soldier, just a wave of his finger can make your dog’s head bloom.” He then moved to the bedside and eagerly massaged Lin Jinlou’s legs, saying, “Dear Brother, am I right or what?”

Lin Jinting rubbed his forehead and glanced at Lin Jinlou, only to see his eldest cousin glaring at him with a dark face. Despite his sickly and weak appearance, it still made Lin Jinting’s heart cold. He shrank his neck, looked at Liu Xiaochuan, and feeling embarrassed, said irritably, “Get out, get out, get out! You bootlicker, stop stirring up trouble here.”

Liu Xiaochuan rolled his eyes and said, “Seeing my Brother Lou has achieved another merit, what’s wrong with me currying some favor? Others can’t even get the chance!”

Xiang Lan looked at Lin Jinlou’s face and saw that his hair had been neatly combed, but he was still so weak that his face was bloodless, his lips were chapped, his eyes were puffy, and his cheeks had become gaunt, making his eyes appear even brighter in contrast. Lin Jinlou turned his head, and their eyes met. He seemed to freeze for a moment, said nothing, but turned away and said, “We’re all family here. Showing respect to her is… *cough*… is showing respect to me.”

These words stunned everyone in the room. Even Liu Xiaochuan couldn’t help but drop his playful expression and exchange glances with Chu Dapeng, Xie Yu, and others. Lin Jinlou had always regarded women as nothing, declaring that wives of equal status were merely ornaments to manage the inner household, and beautiful concubines were just playthings for entertainment. This was the first time he had ever been so solemn, asking his brothers and close friends to respect someone from his household. Everyone couldn’t help but bow again with clasped hands, saying, “Of course, of course.”

Lin Jinlou turned to Xiang Lan and said, “Go rest in the back.”

Xiang Lan curtseyed and quickly withdrew.

Ling Qing changed the tea again and set out fresh fruits and pastries. Yuan Shaoren said to Lin Jinlou, “Fortunately, you sent word in time this time. The Crown Prince received the news early and prepared defenses. When I got the message, I immediately mobilized the provincial troops, or the Eastern Palace would have been in danger. The Crown Prince told me that he’s been busy these days directing the arrest of rebels and insurgents, but when he has free time, he’ll personally come to visit you.”

Lin Jinlou said, “That would be too great an honor.”

Lin Jinting said, “The Eastern Palace has already sent their Chief Secretary here with some excellent medicinal ingredients.”

Xie Yu said, “The Second Prince was too rash. Why fight for that throne? The entire court is in panic. The Zheng family of the Illustrious Duke, the Dong family of the Ministry of Personnel, Commander Historian Cao’s family, Hanlin Academy’s Dai family… tsk tsk, the list is so long, I fear there aren’t enough prison cells.”

Chu Dapeng said, “Families with weak foundations weren’t even thoroughly investigated. Like Dai Qing from the Hanlin Academy—they directly confiscated his property and sentenced him to immediate execution.”

Lin Jinlou looked at Chu Dapeng and said, “Brother, I’m sorry.”

Chu Dapeng understood what Lin Jinlou meant and couldn’t help but smile, “What is there to be sorry about between brothers? I’m fine. My father just felt it was a loss of face earlier, but now that your Old Master has personally apologized, what more can my father say? We’ve been old friends for so many years, wouldn’t it be distant to speak of such things?”

The others remained silent. No matter how they tried to keep it quiet, Lin Jinxuan’s scene with the Chu family had spread through private circles. Only the Second Prince’s sudden rebellion had overshadowed this news.

Lin Jinlou clasped his hands and said, “Consider it a personal favor I owe you on behalf of my second brother.”

After talking for half a day, Lin Jinlou grew weary, and everyone got up to take their leave. Before leaving, Yuan Shaoren softly said to Lin Jinlou, “I’ve taken care of Zhao Yuechan’s body according to your wishes.”

Lin Jinlou started, saying, “Thank you.” After a pause, he added, “Please hand it over to my estate manager Xu Fu. Let them give her a proper burial.”

Yuan Shaoren was also surprised and sighed, teasing, “I thought you despised that woman and would at most give her a thin coffin. It seems I misjudged you—the great General Lin is a sentimental person. After all, even a day of marriage creates a hundred days of affection.”

Lin Jinlou smiled slightly and said, “According to my original intention, I would have at most given her a broken mat to wrap her in, but she had a good grandfather, and for Xiang Lan’s sake, let it be.”

Yuan Shaoren didn’t understand Lin Jinlou’s meaning. He looked at him for a while, then eventually patted Lin Jinlou’s shoulder and left.

Then Ling Su brought in medicine, and Ling Qing adjusted the pillow to prop Lin Jinlou’s head higher. Lin Jinlou craned his neck to look outside and asked, “Where’s Xiang Lan?”

Ling Su said, “She went to see Madam.”

Lin Jinlou frowned, made an “Oh” sound, took his medicine, and fell into a drowsy sleep. When he woke up, he asked again where Xiang Lan was, and Ling Qing said, “Aunt is still with Madam.”

Lin Jinlou grew irritated, unsure of what could be so important at Madam Qin’s place that it was more important than being with him. Ling Su brought medicine again, and at this time, Lin Jinting came running in like a whirlwind, pushing Ling Su aside and saying, “Let me, let me.” He sat on the bed, picked up the medicine bowl, scooped up a spoonful with the spoon, and said, “My dear brother, look how I’m serving your medicine like a filial son. Old Master hasn’t even let me serve him like this, so don’t be angry with me anymore.” He brought the spoon to Lin Jinlou’s mouth.

Lin Jinlou was already annoyed, and unexpectedly took a sip of medicine that was both scalding and bitter. He couldn’t help but slap Lin Jinting’s head, saying, “Do you even know how to serve people? You want… you want to scald me to death?”

Lin Jinting protested, “No, how would I dare?” He put down the medicine bowl and lowered his voice, “My brother, I have good intentions, secretly coming to give you some news.”

Lin Jinlou snorted impatiently, “If you have something to say, say it quickly. What news could you possibly have for me?”

“Tsk, I’m risking being skinned alive by Grandfather.” Lin Jinting leaned forward and whispered, “Brother, do you remember you once had a concubine named Su Meiru?”