It was Xiang Lan’s first time seeing Lin Zhao Xiang angry. Reminded of Lin Jin Lou’s fierce demeanor, she almost wanted to laugh, thinking to herself: “I used to think the entire Lin family were scholarly and refined, never understanding where Lin Jin Lou’s domineering nature came from. Now I’ve finally found its root.” She suddenly paused – originally, Lin Jin Lou had been just a master she had to serve unwillingly, but gradually his faults had faded away, especially after that snowy night of hardship when he insisted on ensuring her future was secure before closing his eyes… After spending time together these days, thinking of him now brought a genuine smile from her heart. But then her heart sank, and she closed her eyes briefly.
Hearing Lin Jin Yuan still sobbing beside her, Xiang Lan finally came back to her senses and began, “Old Master…”
Lin Zhao Xiang waved his hand, saying, “Silence, I’m asking him.”
Lin Jin Yuan, being clever, realized there was no escape and that it would be better to confess straightforwardly. Between sobs, he said softly, “The bracelet… I took it to play with and lost it… No one else was involved…” After speaking, he began crying again, secretly glancing between Lin Zhao Xiang and his grandmother while crying.
Lin Zhao Xiang snorted, “You troublemaker, at least you’re honest!” He handed his water pipe to Geng Tong Gui and said, “Bring it up.” Xue Zhan then came forward with a gold-decorated tray, which held a string of eighteen Jianan wood prayer beads on red velvet.
Xiang Lan and Lin Jin Yuan were stunned. Geng Tong Gui, slightly bowing, smiled and said, “This bracelet was found by your servant. Early this morning when Fourth Master was following Third Master out, his money pouch fell at the second gate while mounting his horse. A young servant following them was in such a hurry he didn’t notice and left. Your servant happened to see it and thus presented it to Old Master.”
Everything became clear now. Xiang Lan realized, “Old Master was testing Young Master Yuan by deliberately saying the bracelet was lost.”
Old Madam Lin, feeling sorry for her youngest grandson, quickly said, “Now that everything’s clear and Yuan’er has admitted his fault, let him get up. The floor is cold.”
Lin Zhao Xiang, maintaining his stern expression, angrily said, “Let him keep kneeling! All these years of reading the classics, did they all go to waste? Useless child, only knowing how to play petty tricks, bringing shame to our ancestors! Without strict discipline, he’ll surely become trouble in the future!” His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He turned to Rui Zhu, “You tell them.”
Rui Zhu stepped forward and said, “This servant happened to be by the flower trellis and overheard everything.” She then recounted how Xiang Lan and Lin Jin Yuan had spoken, matching almost exactly what had happened.
Lin Jin Yuan’s face alternated between red and white, feeling both ashamed and guilty. He kept his head down, tears flowing continuously.
Old Madam Lin dared not plead further. Xiang Lan remained silent. The room was filled only with Lin Jin Yuan’s soft sobbing. Lin Zhao Xiang exhaled deeply, turned his head to look at Xiang Lan, and spoke in a somewhat gentler tone, “Stand up, I have some questions for you.”
Xiang Lan had to stand up.
Lin Zhao Xiang, eyes half-closed, looked her up and down several times. His left finger tapped on the kang table as he stared at the wall painting, lost in thought. Suddenly he said, “I’ve long known about your affairs with Miss Jiang.”
Xiang Lan was startled, somewhat shocked.
Lin Zhao Xiang continued, “Not only do I know, I probably know more than you do – everything about what each of those young ladies did.” He took a small square towel from the table to wipe his hands and slowly said, “Miss Jiang and her sister conspired to harm you. Now you have this perfect opportunity – why not frame her to both satisfy your hatred and curry favor? No one would know if I hadn’t had Rui Zhu follow Yuan’er.”
Xiang Lan blurted out, “My conscience would know.” Seeing Lin Zhao Xiang’s sharp gaze turn toward her, she became somewhat flustered. She lowered her head then raised it again, as if reaffirming, and softly repeated, “My conscience would know.”
Lin Zhao Xiang’s eyes were like those of an eagle, fixed on her as he said, “Let me ask you this – if Yuan’er had not admitted his fault today, would you have truly taken the blame? You’re showing such virtue to repay evil – Jiang Xui Yun wouldn’t even know about it. Never mind talk of being as tolerant as the sea – how many sages have there been since ancient times? We’re all ordinary people, experiencing joy, anger, sorrow, fear, and shock. How can these emotions not affect the heart?”
Hearing these words, Xiang Lan’s lips curved slightly. In her previous life, when she met Lin Zhao Xiang, she only felt him to be diplomatic and gentle, like a spring breeze. She hadn’t expected his family conversations to be so incisive – quite a different scene. Remembering how in her previous life, when the Shen and Lin families were close, Lin Zhao Xiang had held her on his knee and guided her small hand to write the eight characters “Correct faults and eliminate errors, brighten virtue and maintain fragrance,” she felt a mix of emotions. She said, “When I was young, I sneered at the four words ‘repay evil with virtue,’ thinking if we repay evil with virtue, how then should we repay virtue? I thought seeking revenge was the way of life. Later, as I grew older and experienced more of life, I realized my narrow-mindedness. ‘Repaying evil with virtue’ corresponds to three levels of enlightenment in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.”
Everyone was surprised by Xiang Lan’s words. Lin Zhao Xiang became very interested. Having served as Director of the Imperial Academy, he had deep knowledge of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, but this was the first time a woman had discussed these matters before him. Even Old Madam Lin listened attentively.
Xiang Lan stood straight as a pine, her voice refined: “The first level is as Confucius said, ‘Repay wrongdoing with justice, and repay kindness with kindness.’ This clearly distinguishes between the two, but it’s merely worldly satisfaction. Ordinary people mostly act this way – they harbor hatred and want to retaliate even for a single harsh word, let alone greater offenses.”
Lin Zhao Xiang nodded slowly, “Indeed, some people become enemies over a single misplaced word.”
Xiang Lan continued, “The second level comes from Laozi: ‘In reconciling a great hatred, there must be remaining resentment. How can this be regarded as good? Therefore, the sage holds the left side of the contract and does not blame others. The person of virtue focuses on the contract, while the person without virtue focuses on the restrictions. The Way of Heaven shows no favoritism; it stays always with the good person.'”
Lin Zhao Xiang said, “This is from Chapter 79 of the Dao De Jing.”
Xiang Lan smiled slightly, “Old Master is truly learned.” She looked down at Lin Jin Yuan’s confused expression as if explaining to him: “This means that even after resolving deep hatred, resentment must remain in the heart. Can repaying evil with virtue truly resolve it well? It’s like a virtuous person holding a debt note but not demanding repayment, while those without virtue meticulously calculate and collect debts. The great natural way always accompanies the virtuous.” She paused and said, “The wrongs others do to you are like debt notes in your hand. Those with deep virtue won’t demand repayment but will resolve it through virtuous actions. It’s better to resolve grudges than maintain them, and Heaven is fair – those who are willing to suffer loss will surely receive abundant rewards.”
Lin Jin Yuan tilted his head in thought, sniffled, and seemed somewhat ashamed before lowering his head again.
Lin Zhao Xiang’s eyes brightened as he asked, “What about the third level?”
Xiang Lan spoke softly, “The third level comes from Buddhism: ‘Heaven and Earth exist, and all transformations come from the mind.’ People live in the world, trapped in cycles of revenge and struggle, all for the sake of fame, face, position, and that bit of pride they can’t swallow. Therefore, if one can let go and see through it all, releasing the ego, not generating hatred when others treat you badly, but instead raising compassion and pitying the karmic consequences they’ll face for their evil actions – this is the highest level. This requires extremely high cultivation, tolerance, and compassion to reach a state where there are no detestable people in one’s heart, achieving broad-mindedness and true freedom.” These words were delivered unhurriedly, each sentence resonating.
Lin Zhao Xiang couldn’t help but be moved, his eyes widening as he exchanged looks with Old Madam Lin, both showing expressions of surprise.
Old Madam Lin couldn’t help asking, “This is truly… Have you now achieved this state of letting go?”
Xiang Lan shook her head and smiled, “Of course not. Just earlier in the hall when I saw her, I still felt intense hatred. Perhaps after a few more years, when the hatred in my heart gradually fades, I’ll be able to treat her with kindness. As Old Master said earlier, we’re all ordinary people – how can emotions not enter the heart? After all, she’s the one who caused me to likely never have children. To ask me to treat her with kindness now would be too demanding. I just don’t want to dwell on it anymore. I can’t achieve the highest level, but I can at least reach the middle one. Besides, what’s done is done – no matter how much I hate her, I can’t undo the abortion medicine I drank. Hating her doesn’t make me feel any better, and if I were to frame and take revenge, how would that be any different from her previous actions? I’ll just maintain a fair and calm heart. Neither hating nor not hating, just living with a clear conscience is enough.” After speaking, she looked down at Lin Jin Yuan, who was kneeling crookedly with tear-stained cheeks, looking as pitiful as a cat. She raised her head again and said, “Earlier, Old Master asked if I would have taken the blame had Fourth Master not come forward. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it. I was just trying to provoke him – Fourth Master is an extremely intelligent and wise person, and would surely have taken responsibility.”
Lin Zhao Xiang remained silent for a long while after hearing these words. Finally, he exhaled and said, “I never expected to hear such words today and from such a person.” He sighed repeatedly, shaking and nodding his head, saying, “What a pity, what a pity… What a shame, what a shame…” His expression toward Xiang Lan had softened, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. After a long while, he said, “With such breadth of mind, no wonder you could paint those paintings. You remind me of an old friend.” He poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xiang Lan, saying, “After speaking so much, you must be thirsty. Have this cup.”
Everyone was greatly shocked. Geng Tong Gui thought to himself, “I’ve served Old Master for many years, and this is the first time he’s poured tea for a woman, and she’s just a concubine who used to be a servant! Well, she is still the Young Master’s beloved – there must be something significant about this.” He wondered whether he should send word to Lin Jin Lou.
Xiang Lan was startled, quickly accepting the tea with both hands and slightly bending her knees, saying, “Thank you, Old Master, for your kindness in bestowing this tea.”
Seeing Lin Zhao Xiang’s expression soften, Old Madam Lin quickly seized the opportunity, “Let’s allow Yuan’er to get up, or at least give him a cushion to kneel on. The weather is still cold – it would be terrible if he fell ill. He understands his mistake now, doesn’t he?”
Lin Zhao Xiang immediately darkened his face again, fixing a stern gaze on Lin Jin Yuan, who dared not even breathe. Lin Zhao Xiang suddenly sighed, saying, “This is my fault. I only focused on teaching you to read books, never carefully teaching you how to be a person. I took pride in how many passages from the Four Books my youngest grandson could understand, how many essays he could write at such a young age, but forgot that one must have both virtue and talent, with ‘virtue’ coming before ‘talent.’ Otherwise, no matter how much you read or how talented you are, if you’re full of underhanded tricks and lacking in virtue, you bring shame to our ancestors – better to be dead!”
Before he finished speaking, wailing could be heard from outside. Lin Zhao Xiang was about to send someone to inquire when a maid reported that Second Young Madam had arrived. Lin Dong Ji entered with a look of urgent anxiety, saying, “Old Master, Old Madam, something terrible has happened in the side chambers. Please come and handle the situation.”