Night fell, and Lin Jinlou ordered supper to be brought to the study. Ling Su and Ling Qing carried to a kang table, where they found Xiang Lan still asleep in bed, with half a fragrant shoulder exposed. Lin Jinlou instructed them to place the kang table on the luohan bed. The two servants, not daring to look around, lowered their heads and left. The kang table was set with eight dishes of delicate food, two bowls of rice, a plate of pastries, a clay pot of porridge, a clay pot of soup, and fresh fruit cut into cubes. Lin Jinlou woke Xiang Lan, alternating between picking food for her and ladling soup, even feeding her directly, asking, “Do you like it? If you want anything else, I’ll have the cook make it.”
Xiang Lan sat up rubbing her eyes, already quite hungry. She dazedly drank a few sips of soup. Lin Jinlou, seeing her drowsy with rosy cheeks, thought she looked like a begonia in spring sleep, as lovable as a sleepy cat. He couldn’t resist reaching out to caress her and pull her in for a kiss. Xiang Lan dodged left and right but ultimately succumbed. She glared at him, swatted his hand away, got up to dress, and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
Lin Jinlou hummed a little tune while eating, occasionally touching Xiang Lan, clearly in high spirits, even eating an extra bowl of rice. Xiang Lan glanced at him and said, “I need to return to my former residence early tomorrow morning.”
Lin Jinlou frowned, putting down his chopsticks to ask, “What for?”
“I still have some things there…”
“Whatever’s there can’t be worth much, just leave it.”
“I have my needlework there, embroidered stitch by stitch with my own hands.”
“Don’t go back. I’ll send someone to fetch everything. Stay here with me.”
“I must go. The elderly woman in the courtyard has taken good care of me. I need to personally thank her.”
“We can send money through Bao Er to express our gratitude.”
Xiang Lan’s face reddened: “You just said you’d treat me well, why are you being so domineering now?”
Lin Jinlou fell silent, sullenly taking a few more bites of rice. Having just found her, he hadn’t had enough time with her yet and wanted to keep her by his side every moment, naturally reluctant to let her go out.
The next day, although Xiang Lan woke up late, she still went to her former residence in the small courtyard. Lin Jinlou abandoned his official duties to accompany her. Upon entering the courtyard, he frowned, and when they entered Xiang Lan’s former east room, his brows nearly knotted together: “How could anyone live in such a decrepit place? It’s so dark and damp, you’d fall ill even if you weren’t sick before.”
Xiang Lan pretended not to hear, gathering her needlework piece by piece and folding her clothes neatly. Lin Jinlou looked around the courtyard and noticed a broken pot on the windowsill with a chrysanthemum growing in it. Though he didn’t think much of it, knowing Xiang Lan had planted it herself, he pointed at the pot and told Shuang Xi, “Take this with us. We’ll transfer it to a better pot later and place it inside the house.” Shuang Xi quickly acknowledged and carried the flower pot away.
Lin Jinlou entered the room again and saw scattered papers on the crude kang table. The wind blew several pages aside, revealing drawings underneath, including what appeared to be a portrait of a man. Lin Jinlou immediately picked up the drawing and examined it carefully, feeling the face looked familiar—was it… him?
Xiang Lan turned around just then and saw Lin Jinlou staring at a drawing—the portrait she had drawn of him that night. Her face instantly flushed red as she rushed forward to snatch the paper from his hands, looking away as she said, “I usually draw flowers and birds, I’m not good at drawing people anymore… it was just a casual sketch, not drawn intentionally!”
Lin Jinlou watched her face turn from white to red and her ears redden, finding the sensation in his heart ticklish. Her small demeanor was so adorable and alluring, fresh and radiant like a flower. He smiled and said, “Oh, so you ‘casually’ drew me? Did you draw it at night? And you said you didn’t miss me, hmm?”
Xiang Lan’s face reddened further: “What… what are you talking about? What do you mean drawn at night…” She turned around, pretending to organize things, and tucked the drawing under an embroidered piece.
“Alright then, you drew it during the day.” Lin Jinlou suddenly embraced Xiang Lan from behind, giving her three fierce kisses on the mouth. Xiang Lan was startled and struggled, whispering, “It’s daytime, what’s gotten into you? There are people outside!”
Lin Jinlou reached out and pulled the drawing from under her clothes. Xiang Lan tried to grab it back, stamping her foot in frustration: “Give it back quickly!” Lin Jinlou held it high and said, “No way, what if you tear it up? I love this drawing too much.”
After finishing packing, before leaving, Xiang Lan personally went to thank the elderly woman, giving her money and gifts. Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou beckoned Ji Xiang over, took out the drawing from his chest, and handed it to him saying, “Find the best craftsman to mount this painting, use old purple sandalwood rollers, inlay it with tortoiseshell and agate. Once it’s mounted, hang it in the study, and don’t forget to take it when we return to Jinling.”
Ji Xiang carefully accepted it with both hands, thinking Xiang Lan had created some masterpiece. When he looked at it in private, he saw it was a portrait of the young master—though very lifelike, it was just a few simple strokes, with a large ink drop in one corner of the paper.
Now that Xiang Lan had returned, Lin Jinlou was naturally satisfied. He arranged for her to pay respects to the elders while choosing an auspicious date for the wedding. Old Madam Lin, seeing her eldest grandson smile for the first time in half a year, couldn’t help but feel delighted and heavily rewarded Xiang Lan.
Lin Jinlou specifically invited Madam Xia to preside over the wedding. Madam Xia understood clearly—having served in the imperial palace, and attended to the Empress Dowager and princesses, Lin Jinlou’s invitation wasn’t about having her manage the arrangements but rather to bring honor to Xiang Lan. She genuinely cared for Xiang Lan and, holding her hand while examining her carefully, couldn’t help but sigh: “I always felt you were different from the others, and this good fortune is only natural. In my opinion, it’s General Lin who’s fortunate to have you—he’s bringing home a treasure.” A few days later, when a eunuch came to deliver an imperial edict, announcing the Empress Dowager’s summons for Xiang Lan, the entire Lin household was thrown into a commotion. Xiang Lan entered the palace and presented four of her paintings. The Empress Dowager was delighted and questioned her in detail about “The Biography of the Lan Xiang Scholar.” Seeing her gentle speech and elegant manner, she couldn’t help but bestow many more gifts.
Lin Jinlou couldn’t feel happy about this, however, because after Xiang Lan left the palace, Madam Xia took her directly to her residence, sending word back: “By the Empress Dowager’s command, since this is a marriage, it wouldn’t be proper to move in and out of the same house. Let Madam Xia’s residence serve as the bride’s family home and receive Miss Xiang Lan there.” Since this was the Empress Dowager’s order, Lin Jinlou couldn’t object and could only urge his family to complete the wedding preparations quickly.
Madam Qin took great care with this marriage, personally overseeing everything. Speaking with Lord and Lady Lin at night, she said: “These past six months have been quite trying for me. At my age, I only live to see our children’s lives. First, I hope for their success, and second, I wish for their happiness. Since our Jinlou has found someone he truly loves, let him be. Hong Lan is a good match. My lord, stop frowning. Now that Empress Dowager has personally summoned Xiang Lan to the palace and bestowed so many gifts, and I hear she’s even asked Xiang Lan to submit paintings regularly—she has status in the imperial court now. My lord, you can’t remain distant anymore. Give the child a smile when you see her. She’ll be your daughter-in-law, and your son’s comfort and care will depend on her.”
Lin Zhang Zheng replied: “Who’s being distant? Do you take me for a three-year-old child? I was more angry at Jinlou before.”
Madam Qin knew he was saving face and couldn’t help but giggle.
Lin Zhang Zheng felt somewhat embarrassed and said: “Enough, it’s late, let’s sleep. There’s no need for so much talk.”
Chen Wan Quan and Madam Xue had also been brought to stay temporarily at Madam Xia’s residence. Since receiving the news, the couple had felt as if in a dream, followed by overwhelming joy—they walked as if floating on air. Madam Xue said cheerfully: “Her father, do you remember the dream I had when I was pregnant with Xiang Lan? Thousands of orchids were blooming, and Fortune Teller Ma said I would bear a noble daughter. You didn’t believe it then, but look, it has come true, hasn’t it?”
Chen Wan Quan was beaming with joy, his mustache curling up with pleasure, but after a moment of happiness, he sighed worriedly: “Everyone in the Lin family looks down on others. I’m afraid our daughter’s background might disadvantage her in the future.” The thought of becoming Lin Jinlou’s father-in-law made him tremble with excitement, his heart blooming with joy, his entire face not knowing how to express his happiness; but then thinking of Lin Jinlou’s power and authority, whom he had always revered like a deity, his knees went weak and he could barely speak. He became afraid and unwilling to interact with him. Thus he alternated between joy and worry, tormenting himself with happiness one moment and anxiety the next, unable to find peace. With such emotional turmoil and excessive inner fire, he even fell ill. In contrast, Madam Xue was genuinely happy, only looking forward to her daughter’s wedding and future glory, wholeheartedly preparing things for her daughter.
On the wedding day, Lin Jinlou dispatched a hundred soldiers under his command to lead the way at night, holding crimson silk lanterns that lit up the darkness like daylight as they went to receive the bride. Such a display truly shocked the capital, and some enthusiasts even included it in “The Biography of the Lan Xiang Scholar,” causing endless discussion in the streets. On their wedding night, Xiang Lan felt uneasy and quietly asked Lin Jinlou: “Wasn’t such a grand wedding procession inappropriate?”
Lin Jinlou smiled proudly: “Don’t worry, I already reported it to His Majesty. I just didn’t want you to be slighted. Nowadays, people’s feelings are as thin as gauze, everyone’s eyes are fixed on wealth and status, especially the servants in the household and those official wives—though they won’t say it to your face, they’ll be cruel behind your back. I’m building up your prestige, letting them all see, so they won’t dare to bully or wrong you in the future.”
Xiang Lan’s eyes reddened upon hearing this.
“Oh, why are you shedding golden tears again? Are you moved?” Lin Jinlou smiled as he held her in his arms.
Xiang Lan wiped her eyes while saying: “No, I’m not!”
Lin Jinlou pointed at his cheek: “You say you’re not? You heartless thing, see how good I am to you, quickly kiss me.”
Xiang Lan wiped her eyes, looked at Lin Jinlou, and slowly extended her arms to embrace her husband’s neck, giving him a reserved “smack” of a kiss.
After the New Year, the festivities gradually subsided. Lin Jinlou prepared to return to Jinling. Due to the cold weather, Lin Zhao Xiang and Old Madam Lin stayed in the capital for winter. Lin Zhang Zheng had entered the cabinet, so the first branch naturally remained in Beijing. In the second branch, Lin Jin Ting needed to study for the examinations, with Lin Zhao Xiang personally overseeing him, so he also stayed. Since Lin Jin Ting wasn’t leaving, Madam Wang stayed as well.
Before departing, Xiang Lan specifically went to see Young Master De, finding him somewhat taller but still round-faced and sturdy. This brought her much comfort. She praised Young Master De in front of Lin Dong Xiu, hoping to encourage the stepmother to show more love and treat him well in the future.
Lin Dong Xiu was pregnant and spent her days in bed taking care of herself. Though her face was sallow, her spirits were good. She said sourly: “He’s the Marquis’s apple of his eye, personally teaching him to read and write. Who would dare treat him poorly?” She touched her belly and continued, “I wonder if this child will be a boy or a girl. If the Marquis treats my child half as well as he treats De’er, it would be fortunate enough.” Xiang Lan remained silent. Lin Dong Xiu wasn’t favored by Yuan Shao Ren; the couple merely maintained polite formalities without much affection. Now that Lin Dong Xiu was expecting her child if Yuan Shao Ren showed more affection to De’er, she might harbor resentment, making the child’s situation difficult. Xiang Lan rallied her spirits to help Lin Dong Xiu choose fabric for the baby’s clothes. Lin Dong Xiu said: “Ah, even before the child is born, I’m already worried, wanting to prepare everything for their food, clothing, and daily needs as soon as possible, hoping only for the best.”
This statement suddenly enlightened Xiang Lan, who thought to herself: “Yes, as parents and elders, we always hope our children will suffer less and have a good future, living peacefully through life. But one must walk their path, and good and bad karma will be encountered as destined. Hardships are inevitable, and others’ worry and fear won’t help. We should just teach them to be good people—children and grandchildren have their fortune, and ultimately their destiny.” Thinking this, her heart brightened somewhat. She quietly called Young Master De to her side, gave him many gifts, and advised him: “Listen to your father, be generous in dealing with people and matters, don’t hold grudges, learn to let go, and life will become smoother.” Young Master De held Xiang Lan’s hand with his chubby ones and said softly: “I understand, Aunt has told me these things before, and I remember them all.” Seeing his understanding manner, Xiang Lan couldn’t help feeling both sad and somewhat comforted. She said: “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell the family. Just write to me. If you have something on your mind and want to talk about it, just tell me.” She stroked his little head, held him in her arms, and lovingly kissed his chubby face.
Back in Jinling, Lin Jinlou was so busy he barely touched the ground. Having stayed in the capital for over a year, official matters in Jinling had piled up like mountains. Xiang Lan, on the other hand, was more relaxed. With fewer people in the household, there was also less than half the usual drama and matters to deal with. She managed the internal affairs of the household methodically each day. Having lived in the Lin family for three years and previously assisted with household matters, she thought she was well-versed in everything, but after a few days, she discovered that being a servant or half-master was very different from being the proper mistress of the house.
The household servants and workers had previously respected her because of Lin Jinlou’s favor, but now that she was the proper mistress, they added reverence to their respect, especially those who had deliberately bullied her when she was a maid or concubine—they couldn’t help but be extremely cautious.
Previously, when she gave orders, some dignified servants were merely polite on the surface, but now they genuinely rushed to say nice words and smile. Looking around, she couldn’t help but sigh at how the previous contempt and oppression had completely transformed into eager fawning smiles. She sighed inwardly, reflecting that while hearts should be equal and peaceful, status and power created such distinctions—such was the fickleness of the world.
Since returning, Lin Jinlou spent all day outside.
Every day when he came home, he didn’t even bother to change clothes, just flopping straight onto the bed, sprawling out like a child demanding attention. He would only let Xiang Lan wipe his face and hands, remove his boots and change his clothes, peel chestnuts to feed him, ask for this and that, having her read notes and letters to him, and write responses for him.
Seeing him covered in dust from travel and adding a touch of weariness to his appearance, Xiang Lan took meticulous care of him, attending to his comfort in the cold weather, and even sought out several nourishing medicinal dishes to strengthen his health. However, she refused to admit that she worried about him—otherwise, that fellow would take a mile when given an inch, becoming even more smug and insatiable.