In the blink of an eye, the New Year approached. The Lin family had everything prepared – new door gods, couplets, freshly painted peach symbols, and bright red lanterns hung everywhere, creating a perfect New Year atmosphere. Though the dark clouds of royal conflict hadn’t fully dispersed in the capital, the Emperor seemed eager to pacify people’s hearts, making this year’s celebrations more grand than previous years.
Civil and military officials deliberately promoted messages of peace and prosperity, with decorative lanterns everywhere creating an extraordinarily festive and joyous atmosphere. Lin Zhaoxiang attended the Palace Centenarian Banquet, and upon his return, a eunuch delivered an imperial decree promoting Lin Jinlou to the position of Commander for his merits. People came in endless streams to offer congratulations.
The Lin family merely expressed gratitude for imperial grace, held ancestral worship ceremonies, and avoided celebratory events, though family members couldn’t help but beam with joy, even the servants carried themselves more proudly. By this time, Lin Jinlou could get out of bed and move around. Though his arrow wound was deep, thanks to his youth, comprehensive care at home, and unlimited access to precious medicines, he recovered faster than most would.
After the Lantern Festival, Lin Jinlou’s complexion improved significantly. His cheeks gradually filled out, and he could sit up by himself and slowly walk short distances. Xiang Lan took meticulous care of him, having the kitchen prepare different dishes and soups daily, sometimes personally cooking and bringing him food, changing his dressing twice each night, and helping him handle official matters by writing as he dictated.
People confined to bed due to illness tend to become irritable, especially someone as temperamental as Lin Jinlou. When maids saw his darkened face, they hurriedly avoided him, so Xiang Lan would bring Buddhist sutras to read to him. The first time, Lin Jinlou found it novel and lent an ear, but when Xiang Lan kept reading to him regularly, he protested, saying, “Listening to you read these makes me drowsy. Better to invite a storyteller to tell some tales.”
Xiang Lan sighed, thinking to herself that she had just spent half a day reading, apparently all in vain. This fellow Lin Jinlou was full of greed, anger, delusion, pride, and doubt – he really should listen well to cleanse his fierce temperament.
Seeing Xiang Lan’s disappointed expression as she held the scripture and prepared to leave, Lin Jinlou quickly grabbed her wrist, saying, “Alright, alright, keep reading, keep reading, it’s quite good.”
Xiang Lan asked skeptically, “You enjoy it?”
“…Mmm, it’s fine…”
Lin Jinlou just stared at Xiang Lan’s soft, delicate profile. He couldn’t care less about listening; it was just that having Xiang Lan sit beside him, patiently and devoutly reading each word to him, praying to the Bodhisattva for his health, made his heart feel full and warm, turning up the corners of his mouth.
At this moment, a maid announced Lin Jinting’s arrival. Lin Jinlou invited him in and learned that Lin Jinting had come seeking advice about social connections. During this period, the Lin family had exceptionally focused all their attention on him alone, causing him to lose weight, but he appeared more energetic and somewhat more steady than before. Lin Jinlou chatted with him for a while about personnel changes in the capital. Lin Jinting said, “After this fraternal conflict, there truly are those who rejoice and those who grieve. Several families in the capital received promotions, while others fell from grace. Did you know the Duke of Xian hanged himself in prison?”
Xiang Lan, who was writing family letters in the adjacent gauze cabinet, paused upon hearing this.
“I know about this,” Lin Jinlou placed his teacup on the plum blossom-shaped table beside the bed. “He was the Second Prince’s vanguard. The Emperor made an example of him, imprisoned him, and confiscated his property. These days, human sentiment is thinner than gauze – how many would lend a helping hand? When the Duke heard His Majesty had sentenced him to beheading with reprieve, he hanged himself with his belt that very night in prison, at least preserving his complete corpse.”
“Ah, fortunately, Yifei was clever and requested an early provincial posting. The Ministry of Personnel held him back earlier, but now finally there’s news that he’ll depart tomorrow.”
Lin Jinlou glanced sideways into the gauze cabinet, seeing through the intricately carved wooden panels that Xiang Lan had frozen with her brush raised. He frowned and said to Lin Jinting with a dark expression, “Anything else? If not, get out quickly, I’m tired and need to rest.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, just yesterday I was telling Sister-in-law your temper had improved, but in this short while you’ve turned again… Fine, fine, I’ll stop talking. I’m leaving, won’t provoke this great Buddha.”
After Lin Jinting left, the room fell silent. Xiang Lan came out to find Lin Jinlou leaning against the headboard, staring blankly ahead, slowly wrapping the bed curtain’s tassels around his hand, one loop after another, until his hand turned white and his fingers became red, then started turning purple.
Xiang Lan approached and said softly, “Don’t bind yourself like that, it’s not good for blood circulation.”
Lin Jinlou kept his head down without speaking.
Xiang Lan took Lin Jinlou’s hand and unwound the loop of the tassel by loop. Lin Jinlou looked up at her, slowly gripping her hand, about to speak when Xiao Juan entered, saying, “Young Master, several young masters from the clan are waiting to visit. Should they be received or not?”
Lin Jinlou frowned and said, “Master has just had a few quiet days, and as soon as one group leaves, another arrives.”
Xiang Lan gave Xiao Juan a look, saying, “Ask Shu Ran and Xu-Fu to send them away.” As Xiao Juan withdrew, Ling Su and others entered with basins. Xiang Lan helped Lin Jinlou change clothes and took a wool towel to help clean his face and body, saying, “It’s New Year’s, visiting you is only natural. If you don’t want to see them, let the Third Master handle the socializing. The younger generation is one thing, but there are also the elders.”
Lin Jinlou sat on the bed, suddenly grabbing Xiang Lan’s hand, asking, “It’s New Year’s, do you miss your parents?”
Xiang Lan paused, withdrew her hand, and continued wiping his arms, lowering her head and saying, “I do… Originally wanted to make some needlework to send back, but didn’t finish…”
Lin Jinlou’s emotions surged as he watched Xiang Lan’s downturned face, remaining silent for a while before taking her hand again, playing with her fingers saying, “If we were in Nanjing, I would have ordered them brought into the mansion. Now there’s no way, but when we return, I’ll go visit them with you.”
Xiang Lan secretly glanced up at Lin Jinlou before lowering her gaze again, staring at the scar on his shoulder. Now the knife wound on Lin Jinlou’s shoulder had mostly healed, leaving only a pink scar. He had over twenty scars of various sizes on his body. Xiang Lan felt somewhat emotional and inexplicably sad. Others envied Lin Jinlou’s early success and military power, not knowing his glory was earned by risking his life.
Lin Jinlou was also feeling melancholic. Looking at the faint shadows under Xiang Lan’s eyes, he said softly, “You haven’t been sleeping well these days? My wound is much better, you don’t need to get up at night to change the dressing… Is it the cook?”
“No, everything’s fine.”
“What’s fine? Your chin has become sharp, your egg-shaped face is becoming a melon seed face.” As he spoke, he raised his hand to gently touch Xiang Lan’s cheek, “I’ll make sure you get proper nourishment later, you look better with some meat on your bones.” After a long while, he said softly, “You’ve suffered alongside me these days.”
Xiang Lan froze, uncomfortable, leaning back slightly to avoid his hand. Lin Jinlou had always been a tyrant, domineering and imperious. Even when he was pleasant with her, if a few words went wrong he would turn on her, never speaking so gently or being so clingy, sending people to look for her if he didn’t see her for a moment. When he lay in bed throwing tantrums, if she couldn’t help scolding him a bit, he listened obediently. She was used to dealing with the previous tyrannical Lin Jinlou but didn’t know how to handle this version of him. She looked up, meeting Lin Jinlou’s gaze. His long, bright eyes, which she had always found too sharp, today seemed veiled in a layer of soft mist, yet also seemed to roil with surging emotions, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Lin Jinlou gazed into Xiang Lan’s eyes, so clear like autumn waters. He felt his chest churning, causing panic, and as if possessed, reached out with both hands to cup Xiang Lan’s face, slowly leaning in, turning his head to touch her lips, warm as silk, sweet as honey. In his life of dalliances and playacting in matters of romance, he had never kissed anyone so devoutly. His heart trembled, spreading through his whole body, even absurdly feeling somewhat humble. He gently sucked, then kissed more deeply, fingers trembling as they held the back of Xiang Lan’s head, pulling her closer.
When he pulled her forward, Xiang Lan couldn’t help bumping against his chest. Lin Jinlou let out a muffled groan, and Xiang Lan awoke as if from a dream, hurriedly pushing him away and stepping back two paces. Her cheeks were crimson, her breathing uneven. She retreated to the basin stand before stammering, “The water’s cold, I’ll go get fresh water.” She turned, picked up the basin, and left.
Lin Jinlou sat dazed for a good while in complete silence.
A moment later, Xiang Lan returned with a fresh basin, her expression now composed. She silently wiped Lin Jinlou’s body and changed his medicine. Lin Jinlou pressed his lips together without a word, holding two official documents, staring at one page for ages without seeming to take anything in, not even speaking to Xiang Lan when taking his medicine. Xiang Lan knew he was sulking. Looking at the pile of documents on the desk that she was supposed to help him write tonight, she flipped through the less important ones, thinking perhaps it was better to let him have his way – trying to talk to him when he was in a bad mood would only invite trouble. She looked at Lin Jinlou again, seeing him still looking down at the stack of letters in his hands, his face hidden in the candlelight’s shadows, lips pressed tightly together like a child.
She secretly sighed, silently walked forward, placed a cup of hot tea on the small table, took the papers from Lin Jinlou’s hands, and said, “It’s late, let’s sleep early tonight.” She had expected Lin Jinlou to glare at her, but unexpectedly, he didn’t even look at her and rinsed his mouth and lay down.
Xiang Lan blew out the lamp and lay down as well. They had retired early today, and outside came sporadic sounds of firecrackers and some distant bustling. Only then did Xiang Lan remember it was the sixteenth night when families went out for the Hundred Beauties Walk, no wonder it was so lively outside. The maids in Chang Chun Hall hadn’t yet slept; occasional footsteps and soft laughter could be heard outside. Xiang Lan couldn’t sleep, turning over twice, when suddenly Lin Jinlou turned and embraced her.
Xiang Lan couldn’t help saying softly, “Your wound…”
Lin Jinlou said, “It’s not pressed.”
Xiang Lan made a sound of acknowledgment, not knowing what else to say, so she closed her eyes. After a moment, she suddenly heard Lin Jinlou ask, “Xiang Lan, do you still despise me?”
Xiang Lan opened her eyes. The bed was dim and hazy, but Lin Jinlou’s eyes shone brightly, looking at her.
Xiang Lan froze, her throat suddenly feeling tight: “Young Master, I…”
“It’s fine, I was just asking,” Lin Jinlou suddenly interrupted her, burying his head in her hair, murmuring, “Just asking casually…”