Initially, Lin Changmin and Su Meiyu’s relationship was naturally passionate. After some time, Su Meiyu began to notice problems. First, Lin Changmin wasn’t as wealthy and powerful as she had imagined. When Lin Jinlou used to visit her, he would give her at least five taels, sometimes dozens of taels of silver, not to mention other expenses. Lin Changmin initially gave her only one or two taels monthly, then began asking her for money under various pretexts, eventually taking more than he gave.

Second, once she was his, Lin Changmin abandoned his gentle demeanor, becoming violent, and prone to yelling and hitting her. Third, he was boastful, exaggerating his abilities while being rather incompetent. Su Meiyu felt deceived and grew to hate Lin Changmin more each day, but having reached this point, she could only endure silently.

Two months later, Su Meiyu discovered she was pregnant and repeatedly urged Lin Changmin to bring her into the Lin family. Lin Changmin didn’t dare and kept delaying. When pressed, he would curse and storm out, leaving Su Meiyu to cry. Seeing Lin Changmin’s intentions and fearing he would abandon her once his passion cooled, preventing her from entering a prestigious family, she schemed and bribed Lin Changmin’s servant to secretly spread news of his secret marriage within the Lin household.

As the saying goes, “Good news stays at home while bad news travels a thousand miles.” The news spread not only throughout the Lin family but beyond. While Lin Changmin taking a concubine wasn’t newsworthy, the fact that she was Lin Jinlou’s former mistress turned it into a scandal. Imperial censors threatened to submit memorials denouncing the Lin family’s poor household management, citing the uncle and nephew sharing a woman as harmful to public morals.

Old Master Lin was furious, angry at both his grandson’s misconduct and his son’s disregard for proper relations. He struggled to suppress his rage while working to settle the matter. He wanted to force Lin Changmin to divorce the woman, but since Su Meiyu was pregnant, she was brought into the mansion instead, given quarters near the Second Branch’s courtyard with a separate small entrance and courtyard, and forbidden from going out. When Madam Wang learned of this, though she outwardly maintained a virtuous facade and even assigned two young maids to serve Su Meiyu, she still fell ill over it.

Lin Zhaoxiang was enraged. His trip to Beijing had been intended to discipline Lin Jinlou, but finding him seriously injured, he set the matter aside. Today, Lin Jinting came running with the news.

“I’ve seen Su Meiyu too – she’s quite beautiful. No wonder you were interested in her before, Brother. She… ouch!” Lin Jinting was cut off by Lin Jinlou’s kick that nearly knocked him off the bed. Looking up at Lin Jinlou’s warning glance, he noticed Xianglan entering.

Lin Jinlou quieted as Xianglan entered. After greeting Lin Jinting, she approached Lin Jinlou, felt his forehead, and said, “The doctor said you’ll still have a fever for several days. If you feel hot and uncomfortable, I’ll wipe you down with a cool cloth.” Noticing the medicine on the table, she asked, “Why haven’t you taken your medicine?” Discovering it had cooled, she learned another bowl was warming on the clay stove. She called for it, blew on it to cool it slightly, and said, “Quickly drink your medicine.” She lifted a spoonful to feed him.

Lin Jinlou frowned after the first sip. Xianglan said softly, “Drink it while it’s hot so your wounds can heal. I’ll change your bandages afterward.” Lin Jinlou looked into her eyes and silently finished the bowl.

Lin Jinting clicked his tongue, thinking, “Earlier he complained about me feeding him medicine that was too hot, but this bowl isn’t hot? Valuing beauty over family loyalty – serve him right if he burns himself!”

After drinking the medicine, Lin Jinlou turned to Lin Jinting and said, “Alright, I understand what you told me. Now get out of here.”

“Brother, your way of dismissing guests is too harsh…”

“Tch, won’t leave?”

“Fine, fine, don’t glare at me. I’m going, I’m going.”

Just as he turned to leave, Lin Jinlou called, “Come back!” He stared at Lin Jinting and said, “Keep your mouth shut about this, understand?”

“Why?” Lin Jinting noticed Lin Jinlou looking at Xianglan and understood somewhat. He was shocked, thinking his brother might have developed real feelings. Seeing Lin Jinlou glare again, he retreated with a smile. Under the corridor, still feeling like he was dreaming, he stopped Shuran who was passing by, and asked, “Sister Shuran, has my brother… has he fallen for Chen Xianglan?”

Shuran rolled her eyes and said, “How fresh – that’s old news.” She started to leave.

Lin Jinting stopped her again: “No, I mean, has he developed true feelings?”

Shuran thought for a moment and said, “As servants, we dare not speculate about true feelings, but when Master was severely injured this time, he called out ‘Xianglan’ several times in his delirium, and when he first woke up, his first words were ‘Where’s Xianglan?’ Make of that what you will.” She left Lin Jinting standing there scratching his head.

After feeding Lin Jinlou medicine, Xianglan helped him rinse his mouth with tea. His chest wound made every movement excruciating. Xianglan supported him against herself, holding the spittoon for him to spit out the tea. Throughout this, Lin Jinlou’s forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, but he clenched his teeth without making a sound.

Xianglan wiped his forehead with a cloth, then unwrapped the bandages on his chest to change the dressing and apply medicine. She checked the wounds on his shoulders and gently applied ointment. Lin Jinlou’s body trembled slightly from pain, his bedsheet soaked with cold sweat as he clenched his teeth. Lingsu helped wipe away his sweat. Xianglan felt distressed and said softly, “If it hurts, just groan – it might help.” Lin Jinlou just gripped Xianglan’s hand, turned his head to bury his face in her palm, shook his head, and said in a muffled voice, “It’s fine, just hold me like this.” Xianglan moved to the headboard, cradling Lin Jinlou’s head in her arms while Lingsu efficiently changed the dressing and quietly withdrew. Xianglan tucked Lin Jinlou in, but he still held her hand, unwilling to let go. He looked up and saw what seemed to be tears in her eyes, leaving him unable to speak the words caught in his throat.

When Xiaojuan came to change the incense cakes, both remained silent in the quiet room. After she left, Lin Jinlou, resting in Xianglan’s arms and enduring the pain, asked, “Where were you for so long earlier?”

Xianglan replied, “The Old Master and Madam called for me. They gave me several gifts. Then Madam took me to see the Old Mistress, who talked with me for a long time, had me do needlework in her room, and gave me several pieces of jewelry – headdresses, bracelets, earrings, rings, all fine pieces.”

As the medicine took effect, Lin Jinlou yawned drowsily and said, “The Old Mistress has plenty of fine things. She gave them to you because she likes you.”

Xianglan responded with a soft “Mm.”

Lin Jinlou, consciousness growing fuzzy, said, “Are you hurt? You were in the snow for so long, with the blanket and clothes covering me. You’re so delicate, what if you catch a cold…” His voice faded to a whisper.

Xianglan said, “I’m fine, just my feet were a bit frozen, but I’ve applied ointment.” Looking down, she saw Lin Jinlou had fallen asleep. She held him for a while, studying his face. Asleep, all his usual imposing presence vanished, and his face softened, adding a scholarly air, making him appear childlike. Xianglan carefully laid his head on the pillow and sighed.

During her visit, Old Mistress Jiang had been very kind, asking after her well-being and praising her repeatedly while giving her many gifts. When Xianglan presented some of her needlework, the Old Mistress praised it endlessly. After chatting pleasantly for half a day, when Madam Qin mentioned her natal family’s sisters, the Old Mistress began to tear up, sighing, “Speaking of sisters reminds me of my younger sister, who passed before me due to her unfilial descendants. Those poor granddaughters of hers, too young and foolish, made a terrible mistake.” She then took Xianglan’s hand and said, “My child, I know you were wronged this time. From now on, whether you have children or not, we won’t mistreat you. I’ll make those two apologize to you.”

Xianglan was secretly surprised, thinking the Jiang sisters had already apologized, but then the Old Mistress continued, “So Louer won’t harbor resentment – after all, we’re family, why let things become like this?”

Xianglan finally understood the Old Mistress was acting as a mediator. She smiled slightly and said, “I’m grateful for Old Mistress’s kindness in not looking down on me. You’re right about family, and I’ll speak with Master about it.”

The Old Mistress sighed, “I worry that stubborn boy won’t listen. He’s been causing trouble for the Jiang family behind the scenes. Ah! Now they’ve come to me for help, what can I say?”

Xianglan just smiled politely. Two or three years ago, such a situation would have angered her, but now she felt truly magnanimous about it.

That afternoon, near dusk, Jixiang, Shuangxi, Xuening, and others finally returned from the estate. They explained that with soldiers everywhere arresting people, they had waited until things calmed down before returning to Beijing under military escort. But that’s another story.

At dinner time, Lin Jinlou awoke, and Xianglan fed him porridge. After one bite, he frowned and said, “These past days my mouth feels bland as a bird’s, always eating thin foods.”

Xianglan said, “You’re wounded and can’t eat irritating foods. The Imperial Physician said you can only eat these things.”

Lin Jinlou retorted, “Nonsense, when I was wounded on the battlefield, I ate whatever I wanted.”

Xianglan coaxed him, “Finish this porridge, and I’ll check the kitchen to see if there’s any mushroom soup for you, alright?”

Lin Jinlou felt unwell all over, and being bedridden made him irritable and dissatisfied with everything. He had intended to complain and find fault, but hearing Xianglan speak to him so gently, his anger dissipated. He silently watched as she fed him porridge, wiped his mouth, poured tea for him to rinse, unwrapped his bandages to check his wounds, and bustled around him, speaking softly. He suddenly felt that getting injured had been worth it.