Xiang Lan puffed her cheeks: “I’ve been holding back for several days without writing to tell you, wanting to share this news in person. Master should have pretended not to know, so I could tell you and watch you be genuinely delighted!”
“Silly girl, how could I pretend about something like this…”
Xiang Lan wrung her hands forcefully, her face flushing red: “Master, you’re always like this, spoiling the moment. You can’t even humor me or go along with my wishes just once.”
“Aren’t you wrongly accusing me? How have I not humored you?”
“Even when you humor me, it’s only to get your way.”
Lin Jin Lou sheepishly rubbed his nose: “Who says that? Besides, between us two, whose wishes are being fulfilled doesn’t matter, does it? And knowing about this is hardly a bad thing, so why hide it?”
Though it wasn’t a big deal, Lin Jin Lou’s attitude was irritating. Xiang Lan was speechless with frustration – like a scholar facing a soldier, unable to argue her point clearly – and turned her face away, ignoring him. Lin Jin Lou quickly pulled her into his embrace and said, “I was just dazed with happiness and didn’t think of anything else. Getting a child at thirty – how could I not be overjoyed? I had given up hoping for this; it’s like Heaven dropped a meat pie right on my head.”
Hearing him speak this way, Xiang Lan’s heart softened. Though still facing away, she glanced back at him, their eyes meeting. Lin Jin Lou winked at her, and Xiang Lan gave a “hmph” before turning away again. Lin Jin Lou chuckled: “Don’t be angry. On such a wonderful day, come, eat something first. We can’t let my son and his mother go hungry.” As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and attentively placed Xiang Lan’s favorite dishes into a small plate, bringing them to feed her.
Xiang Lan stared at him with bright eyes, seeing his delighted expression looking somewhat foolish, without any trace of his usual decisive authority. She felt like laughing, yet also felt touched, and couldn’t help but open her mouth to accept the food he offered.
Lin Jin Lou continued serving her different dishes. Xiang Lan wanted to say she could manage herself but didn’t want to move. She quietly watched him, eating the various dishes he fed her, listening to his concerned questions, watching him smile like a silly boy. Her heart grew peaceful and content. This feeling of satisfaction and comfort seemed familiar; thinking carefully, she had experienced similar moments in her previous life with Xiao Hang and in this life with Song Ke. Those brief yet beautiful moments had been her lifeline during difficult times. She never imagined she would find such happiness with Lin Jin Lou, not tentatively like before, but completely peaceful and full.
It was an early autumn afternoon. Xiang Lan gazed out the window, seeing clouds like bleached bones, thin and white against the desolate sky as a gentle breeze stirred her loose hair. The water around Qian Qiu Pavilion was clear and emerald, half-covered with lotus leaves, and lotus flowers in full bloom. Strange rocks lined the shore, surrounded by rare flowers and plants in their prime, like an embroidered screen. As one flower faded, another bloomed, creating a rich tapestry of colors. Another year had passed, things had changed, and people were different. Her first turning point at the Lin Manor had occurred at a banquet in this very pavilion when she had reported Cao Li Huan’s tampering with peach juice to Madam Qin’s confidante. Life was unpredictable – she never imagined she would one day sit here in fine silk garments.
After feeding Xiang Lan for a while, until she shook her head refusing more, and half-coaxing half-ordering her to finish a bowl of porridge, Lin Jin Lou finally began wolfing down his own meal. Xiao Juan and Hua Shan cleared the remaining dishes and brought fresh fruits and pastries, prepared hot tea, and draped a jade-colored double-happiness gold-threaded jacket over Xiang Lan.
The couple sat in the pavilion, making casual conversation, discussing recent household matters and congratulatory visits, then mentioned a letter from Lin Dong Xiu. Lin Dong Xiu had given birth to a daughter after ten months of pregnancy. Though disappointed, she deeply loved the child and wrote to Xiang Lan about daily trivialities, mentioning Jiang Hui Yun at the end.
Jiang Hui Yun had indeed found some good fortune, becoming a second wife in a prestigious family. However, the household was complex, with difficult relationships at every level. Her husband had concubines and children from his previous marriage. The mother-in-law, having heard rumors, disapproved of her but had to accept her son’s wishes. Still displeased, she immediately placed two charming concubines in her son’s chambers after the wedding. Jiang Hui Yun was sweet-tongued but firm in her actions, skillfully managing relationships, playing both sides, feigning ignorance when needed, showing strength when required, calculating every move, maintaining control, never losing face, and winning her husband’s favor. She outmaneuvered her mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and other wives in their schemes, establishing her position in the household. But such actions inevitably created enemies. Two months ago, while returning to her maiden home by carriage, someone secretly placed grains in the horse’s ear. The horse, irritated and uncontrollable, threw her off, causing her to miscarry. The doctor said she was fortunate to survive such a dangerous incident, but future pregnancies would be difficult.
Xiang Lan paused, sighing deeply: “Sister Xiu wrote at the end, ‘Thus we can see heaven’s net casts wide, and though its meshes are coarse, nothing slips through. Karma and retribution never fail.’ These were exactly my thoughts as well.”
Lin Jin Lou stroked Xiang Lan’s face, letting her lean against him, saying: “We all walk our paths. She was too focused on her interests, so this outcome is hardly surprising.”
They fell silent for a long while, hearing only the bubbling of the iron kettle on the red clay stove.
Lin Jin Lou played with the bracelet on Xiang Lan’s wrist and said: “Second Brother will remarry at year’s end. Don’t forget to prepare gifts to send.”
Xiang Lan started: “Second Master Xuan is remarrying? To whom?”
Lin Jin Lou explained: “It was just arranged. She’s the daughter of an old acquaintance. Her father died, her mother remarried, and the family fell into hardship. She’s been living with relatives, apparently having endured much suffering. They say she’s neat and fair, gentle in nature, and quiet. Her brother, showing promise, became a Provincial Graduate and Old Master’s student, known for his honest character. Old Master personally approved of the girl and settled the matter. Tsk, Second Brother prefers lively, flirtatious types like Madam Tan – I wonder if he’ll take to this simple, honest girl.”
After that incident, Lin Jin Xuan fell seriously ill, his health fluctuating. Though he eventually recovered, he became dispirited. While others managed, Old Madam Lin couldn’t help but worry day and night. Lin Jin Lou had laughed, saying, “I know how to cure Second Brother’s illness – a beautiful concubine will help.” Xiang Lan couldn’t help but roll her eyes, while Lin Jin Lou winked at her. Old Madam Lin took it seriously, and finding no suitable maids in the household, spent silver to buy a beauty from outside and placed her in Lin Jin Xuan’s chambers. Within days, Lin Jin Xuan’s spirits lifted, and he began eating more. Soon after, servants reported that Lin Jin Xuan was tenderly teaching her to write. The portrait of Tan Lu Hua that Xiang Lan had painted, which Lin Jin Xuan used to gaze at daily while shedding tears in remembrance, had been quietly removed, its new location unknown.
Xiang Lan could only sigh, reflecting that ordinary romance typically follows such patterns. Undying love and eternal devotion are rare in this world, becoming legendary tales when they do occur. Whether passion runs deep or love seems eternal, most cannot withstand the erosion of time. When new love blooms like fresh flowers, old love gradually fades to shadows, leaving only ripples that eventually disappear – life must go on.
Xiang Lan sighed softly: “Tan Lu Hua is still confined in the temple. In a year or two, if she’s willing, let her marry into an ordinary family.”
Lin Jin Lou placed a piece of lotus cake on a small plate and pushed it toward Xiang Lan, saying: “You’re still worried about her? She’s craftier than you think. The old nun’s supervision has grown lax, and she’s already preparing herself with powder and rouge, exchanging glances with traveling scholars staying at the temple. She just doesn’t dare act yet. Old Master intends to release her in three to five years, but not now.” Looking at Xiang Lan’s dumbfounded expression, like a porcelain doll so naive and lovable, he couldn’t help but laugh, pinching her nose, “You’re truly the most innocent person in heaven.”
Xiang Lan batted his hand away, giving him a sidelong glance: “This is profound wisdom, simplifying complexity.”
Lin Jin Lou snickered and couldn’t resist kissing her cheek. Seeing no one around and noting his smug yet endearing smile, Xiang Lan embraced his neck and kissed his face in return. Lin Jin Lou froze, then laughed: “Oh my, how extraordinary! My little pedant has kissed me outside the bedroom. Am I dreaming today?”
Xiang Lan blushed, releasing him and pretending not to hear. Lin Jin Lou wanted to tease her more seeing her shy demeanor, but thought better of it – truly angering her would be unwise, as she might never kiss him outside again. So he held back, just smiling and serving her more food: “You’re bearing my child yet still so shy. Do you remember what I told you the night before I left?”
Xiang Lan blushed deeper, and glared at him, but couldn’t help asking: “What if it’s a daughter?”
Lin Jin Lou said happily: “A daughter would be wonderful too. I’ll love any child you bear. Having a son just makes it easier to answer to the elders, saves them from nagging.”
Xiang Lan’s face brightened with a smile, finally reassured. After eating half a cake, she remembered something: “Master sent a letter days ago about the Ghost Festival. The temples are holding Water Land Dharma assemblies, and he asked the manor to donate silver for merit-making for the ancestors and deceased. I’ve already allocated the silver, but I noticed Third Miss’s name on the memorial tablet list… Has she died? A few days ago when I was out, I saw a woman in an apricot jacket and reddish-brown skirt pass by, her figure exactly like Third Miss, but sadly it wasn’t her.”
Lin Dong Ying’s whereabouts remained unknown. Some claimed to have seen her dressed as a farm woman on a market cart in Qing County, others said they spotted her heavily made up, beckoning from a brothel balcony in Yangzhou. Some reported she’d become an elder’s adopted daughter in Baoding, while others said she’d married into a family near the capital. The Lin family investigated each lead, but none proved true. Though Lin Dong Ying had been selfish, willful, and held life in her hands, spoiled by Madam Wang, Xiang Lan held no fondness for her but now couldn’t help feeling some pity.
Lin Jin Lou gazed at the sky, deep in thought. Since Lin Dong Ying’s disappearance, the Lin family has searched extensively, both openly and secretly. On the tenth day after she went missing, the City Guard reported finding a young woman’s corpse in the northern moat’s marsh. The coroner determined she had been raped and murdered. Lin Jin Lou personally went to identify the body, finding it too decomposed to recognize the face. Half-submerged in water, the body was too bloated to determine the build, and though the clothes were in tatters, their color resembled what Lin Dong Ying had worn when she disappeared. Unable to confirm, Lin Jin Lou still took the body and buried it in a chosen spot. Returning home, he kept silent, fearing Madam Wang’s reaction if she learned of any misfortune, and buried the knowledge in his heart.