Lin Jinlou’s eyelid twitched as he smiled apologetically, “Speaking of the Orchid Fragrance Scholar…” He poured tea for Lin Zhaoxiang and smiled, “Xiang Lan always talks about you, expressing such admiration. She says Grandfather is a master of calligraphy and painting. She eagerly painted two pieces for your critique and begged me to bring them, saying it would be her great fortune to receive your guidance.” He pulled the paintings from their tubes and presented them.
Lin Zhaoxiang glanced at Lin Jinlou sideways and snorted: “Stop trying to flatter me. I’m not blind – how could those words come from her?” He struck the back of Lin Jinlou’s head and said through gritted teeth: “You lose your head over every woman! Your whole life you’ve been disadvantaged by this weakness for beauty, never learning your lesson. How many times have you fallen because of women, you worthless thing!” Growing angrier as he spoke, he struck Lin Jinlou’s leg with his walking stick.
Lin Jinlou’s leg burned with pain, and rubbing the back of his head, he felt undignified. He felt bitter – usually, he was the one ordering others around and beating them, but now he was being scolded like a grandson. Then he realized he was this man’s grandson, so there was nothing shameful about it. Treating it as filial entertainment, he smiled and said, “Grandfather, please don’t be angry, don’t harm your health…” He put the paintings on a small table nearby and moved to massage his grandfather’s shoulders.
Lin Zhaoxiang pushed Lin Jinlou’s hands away with a dark face and a snort. He picked up the paintings, first examining the “Guanyin Portrait” for a while before setting it aside, then looked at the “Snow Night by the River.” Lin Jinlou watched secretly, noting how his grandfather’s initially stern expression gradually became solemn. When he saw the poem in the upper right corner, he showed surprise and was somewhat moved, then fell into deep thought. Lin Jinlou, having rushed over earlier, hadn’t carefully read the poem on the painting. Now as he craned his neck to see clearly, Lin Zhaoxiang had already covered the painting and set it aside, picking up his tea cup to drink in silence.
Lin Jinlou’s heart raced as he held his breath, not daring to make a sound.
After a while, Lin Zhaoxiang put down his tea cup, coughed once, and with a wave of his hand, tossed a stack of opera scripts in front of Lin Jinlou, saying, “That ‘Biography of the Orchid Fragrance Scholar’ has spread through every tavern and teahouse. Tell me, what was your purpose?”
“What purpose could your grandson have… Just some idle literati who heard Orchid Fragrance Scholar was my concubine, making it their topic of conversation, fabricating stories over tea and meals…”
“Still trying to be clever with your ancestor?” Lin Zhaoxiang picked up the top volume and randomly opened a page, pointing to several lines: “‘Wasting prime years yet dreams unfaded, autumn’s music barely contains remaining sorrow’, ‘Don’t waste spring’s boundless affairs, the moon still as then, quietly illuminating Xie family’s courtyard’, ‘On mandarin duck pillows, speaking of longings, you must pity me as I pity myself’ – though these are passionate verses, they show refined taste and clever innovation. This isn’t something ordinary idle literati or poor scholars could compose.”
Lin Jinlou glanced at his grandfather, their eyes meeting briefly before Lin Jinlou quickly smiled, pretending not to understand. Lin Zhaoxiang remembered how Lin Jinlou would act similarly foolish as a child when he neglected his studies and couldn’t answer questions. Feeling both angry and amused, he threw the opera script into Lin Jinlou’s arms and said sternly: “Enough, stop pretending. Hong Xun already confessed – you spent a large sum having several talented scholars from the Hanlin Academy write these flowery, elegant pieces. Hmph! You’re something else, getting your brother-in-law involved in this business.”
Lin Jinlou had expected this couldn’t be kept secret. Hearing these words, he quickly adapted, saying: “I was thinking, after several deaths in the family, and with Second Uncle… well, the Lin family is prominent now. People smile and offer New Year’s greetings to our faces, but who knows what they say behind our backs? As for Xiang Lan, she’s perfect in every way and even saved my life. Spreading this story brings glory to the Lin family, doesn’t it cover up those unsavory matters?”
Lin Zhaoxiang raised his eyelids: “Is that your reason? Still trying to be clever? Better speak now about what you’re planning.”
Hearing this, Lin Jinlou studied his grandfather’s expression, calculating internally. His temperament was most similar to Lin Zhaoxiang’s, though as his grandfather aged and weathered official life, he had learned to contain his sharp edges, though the old sword remained keen. Lin Jinlou was quite wary of him. Putting himself in his grandfather’s shoes, he decided honesty might be best, though he needed to choose his words carefully. After pondering for a while, he looked up to find Lin Zhaoxiang’s intense gaze on him. He rolled the words in his throat twice, then his face softened as he said quietly: “Grandfather, in all my twenty-nine years, I’ve seen as many women as fish crossing the river, but she alone is different… I truly cherish her, she’s in my heart.”
Lin Zhaoxiang stared at Lin Jinlou for a moment before sneering: “How old are you?”
“…Twenty-nine.”
“Hmph, so you do know you’re approaching thirty, not some young boy anymore. What do you mean ‘in your heart’? I thought you were just fond of fighting and occasionally hot-tempered, still moldable, but I never expected you to still act like a lovesick child. I’m embarrassed for you!”
Lin Jinlou kept his head down in silence.
“Speak up! Gone mute?”
Lin Jinlou raised his head, his eyes unexpectedly red. Lin Zhaoxiang was startled as Lin Jinlou said softly: “Grandfather, I’m speaking from my heart. You say I’m out there fighting for the family, but when I return home, I just want someone who understands me. With her, I feel cool and at ease, settled in my heart. I even feel I don’t need to achieve great deeds, bring glory to the clan, reach the highest offices, or acquire vast wealth. I feel content, having lost some of my grand ambitions, thinking this is good enough.”
Lin Zhaoxiang never expected his usually smiling, outwardly tyrannical, and ruthless eldest grandson to speak such words to him. This grandson was his most beloved and valued, raised by his hand. Seeing him now with slumped shoulders, looking pitiful, though knowing this rascal was likely putting on a show of suffering, his heart still softened. He coughed lightly and said: “She’s already your woman, respected by the whole family. No one’s asking you to send her away.”
Lin Jinlou said: “Ah, Grandfather, you see she can write and paint, and has done such magnanimous things. You know she’s no ordinary woman, her thoughts are different from common women. She… speaking thus, I fear I’m wronging her…”
Lin Zhaoxiang narrowed his eyes at these words, carefully studying Lin Jinlou’s face twice before saying slowly: “What are you thinking?”
Lin Jinlou clenched his fists and was about to speak when Geng Tonggui announced from the door: “Old Master, Second Master has arrived.”
Lin Zhaoxiang immediately darkened his face and said: “Let him in.” Then to Lin Jinlou: “I have things to discuss with your Second Uncle. You go first, come back later.”
Lin Jinlou had to agree. As he left, he met Lin Changmin, who wore a golden “longevity” character hairpin and a navy-blue silver-threaded robe with an indigo gold-woven belt, making his slightly dark round face look more spirited than usual. Lin Jinlou immediately bowed slightly and said: “Greetings, Second Uncle.”
Lin Changmin started, then smiled: “You’re here? Paying respects to Father?”
Lin Jinlou smiled and nodded.
Lin Changmin waved: “Go on, go on, attend to your business.”
“Nephew takes his leave.”
Lin Changmin clicked his tongue, watching Lin Jinlou’s retreating figure with both envy and jealousy. This nephew he had watched grow up now inspired some awe in him, and he even felt the need to curry favor, making him quite uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, in Xiang Lan’s quarters, Guiyuan had brought a set of “The Biography of the Orchid Fragrance Scholar” scripts. Xiang Lan sat by the window reading them one by one. The writing was beautiful and elegant, chronicling her life from childhood slavery, cruel masters, becoming a concubine to save her father, temple protection, up to that snowy night by the river – twelve acts in total. It mixed truth and fiction, concealing some facts while embellishing others. Particularly regarding Lin Jinlou, who was transformed from a tyrannical master into a passionate lover, making them appear as deeply devoted love birds. In the past, Xiang Lan would have found such distortion both amusing and annoying, but now she just quietly closed the book, holding it to her chest. She pushed open the window, propping it with the stone lion. The wind rushed in, still carrying winter’s chill. Xiang Lan looked at the newly blooming peach blossoms in the courtyard, took a deep breath, and felt a thousand emotions surge in her heart.
Just then, Lin Jinlou returned. Hearing movement, Xiang Lan quickly covered the opera scripts with a pea-green short jacket. Lin Jinlou seemed somewhat dispirited and didn’t notice her small movement, entering and sitting absent-mindedly on the chaise lounge.
He understood that the Old Master controlled all family matters, large and small. With his current status and position, he could technically act without considering his grandfather’s opinions and had thought about simply making his own decisions. But then he realized that his elders were still above him, and Xiang Lan would continue living with the Lin family. If he hadn’t respected that great Buddha, Xiang Lan’s future life might have been difficult and unhappy. Though Xiang Lan was warmer toward him now than before, there still seemed to be some awkwardness between them, making him inevitably anxious. He, who had once been a leader in matters of romance, never imagined he would become lovesick over a woman.
Originally, he had thought his future wife would be a noble lady from a powerful family, more beautiful than average, who would respect him as head of the household, be virtuous and capable of managing the household, caring for his parents, raise children, respect Xiang Lan without jealousy, and they would maintain a cordial relationship for life. Now he understood differently – after their life-and-death ordeal, he would rather compromise himself than have Xiang Lan live a compromised life. As long as they could be together, lasting long and living peacefully. Thinking of this energized him as if preparing for battle, ready to face any obstacle fearlessly.
Xiang Lan brought Lin Jinlou a cup of tea and couldn’t help asking: “What’s wrong?” Lin Jinlou finally came back to his senses, turned to look at Xiang Lan, and suddenly smiled. Today he wore a yellow-brown brocade robe with blue patterns, a gold-woven belt with a jade pendant, and a jade hairpin. He looked handsome and distinguished, with that characteristic lazy demeanor of noble young masters. He pulled her close, smiled while looking at her for a good while, then said: “Don’t worry, I’m fine. With me here, we’ll both be fine.”