Just as Lin Jinlou was about to speak, he noticed Liu Xiaochuan glance up at the embroidered tower, his eyes widening as he nudged Xie Yu with his elbow, pointing upward, causing everyone at the table to look in their direction. Seeing Xiang Lan still standing beside him, Lin Jinlou’s face immediately darkened, and he slammed the window shut with a “bang.”

Liu Xiaochuan smacked his lips and said, “My goodness, did you see? That must be Lin the Tyrant’s chamber lady, right?” He looked at Lin Jinting as he spoke.

Lin Jinting lazily picked up some food with his chopsticks and nodded, “That’s her.”

Xie Yu smiled and said, “I thought it was her, but she was too far away to see clearly.”

Liu Xiaochuan perked up and said, “Then let’s go take a look, say we’re paying our respects to our little sister-in-law.”

Chu Dapeng held up his wine cup and said, “Give it up. Lin the Tyrant keeps her under tight wraps, he won’t let you see her. Don’t end up causing trouble for nothing. Didn’t you see how he just shut the window? You’re just asking for trouble.” He glanced at Yuan Shaoren and added, “Brother Yuan, don’t you agree?”

Yuan Shaoren smiled without speaking. Today Lin Jinting was hosting and had insisted he come. He had wanted to decline, but considering they would be in-laws in the future, and he had almost married Lin Jinting’s sister from the same mother, he had come. Although courtesans had been invited to play music and sing, the atmosphere was rather refined, and with Chu Dapeng and others making every effort to be friendly, the mood was harmonious, so he had been content to watch and listen to their banter.

Xie Yu chuckled and ordered the courtesan beside him, “Go pour a cup of wine for your Master Liu, let him settle down.”

Liu Xiaochuan twisted in his seat and muttered, “I don’t believe you all aren’t curious.” Being impetuous, he couldn’t wait even a moment once he got an idea in his head. He jumped up from his seat and said, “No, no, I must go see what kind of great beauty she is to make Lin the Tyrant treasure her so.” He rolled up his sleeves as he spoke and left.

When Liu Xiaochuan was determined to make trouble, no one could stop him. The others didn’t bother trying to dissuade him, and being quite drunk themselves, they followed behind him laughing, eager to see what would happen.

Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou was making small talk with Xiang Lan when they heard Ling Su announce from the bottom of the stairs, “Master, several gentlemen are here to see Master and…” She didn’t finish saying “sister-in-law” as she caught Ling Qing’s warning glance and swallowed those three words.

Before she could finish, Liu Xiaochuan called out loudly, “Brother, this isn’t right of you! We spent half the night helping you search for someone, and now that you’ve found her, you’re burning the bridge behind you and ignoring us? At least let sister-in-law come toast us a cup of wine!”

Hearing Liu Xiaochuan publicly reveal that Xiang Lan had gone missing at night, Xie Yu frowned and immediately kicked him. Liu Xiaochuan yelped “Ouch!” and glared at Xie Yu, saying, “What did you kick me for!”

Xie Yu glared back at him fiercely, shaking his head with a sigh.

Soon they heard footsteps as Lin Jinlou came down the stairs. Seeing the group standing below, he said, “Well, quite lively here. Weren’t you all just enjoying your drinks? What brings you to my place?”

Liu Xiaochuan grinned and said, “Brother, don’t play dumb. We’re here to see sister-in-law.”

Lin Jinlou pretended not to hear and smiled at Yuan Shaoren instead, “These fellows always make trouble when they’re full, but why are you here too? Just this morning, General Wu was saying how well you handled your duties, earning top marks. When you go to the capital, His Majesty will surely reward you – don’t forget your brother when good fortune comes your way.”

Yuan Shaoren noticed how Lin Jinlou was deflecting and unwilling to let the woman come out. He was secretly amazed, thinking how differently Lin Jinlou treated this woman compared to others. Previously, when Lin Jinlou was fighting abroad, he had a concubine named Huamei who had specifically sought him out, and Lin Jinlou never avoided showing her in public, letting her serve tea and water like a well-treated maid. But now he kept this one locked away like a precious treasure as if he would suffer a great loss if anyone even looked at her.

Yuan Shaoren smiled slightly and said, “I just had some good luck, that’s all. Not like you, who’s not only good at fighting but also at business.”

Liu Xiaochuan interrupted, “Come on, brothers, this mutual flattery is boring. Stop the useless talk, please invite your sister-in-law down?”

Lin Jinlou glared at Liu Xiaochuan, thinking this fool couldn’t read the atmosphere – he’d deal with him later. But since things had come to this point, and seeing Yuan Shaoren nodding at him with a meaningful smile, he felt somewhat awkward and cleared his throat, ordering Ling Qing, “Go invite your Madam down.”

Xiang Lan had heard the conversation below and knew this was unavoidable. She sighed, stood up to adjust her clothes, picked up her skirts, and went downstairs. The group saw a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl slowly descending, her skin whiter than snow, her features like a painting, truly radiating elegance. She stopped, gracefully gathered her skirts, and curtsied with fluid grace.

Everyone was stunned by her beauty and hurried to return her greeting.

Xiang Lan turned sideways, and accepted their greetings with a graceful curtsy, her head slightly bowed, her movements elegant.

Chu Dapeng couldn’t help saying to Xie Yu, “Did you see? Truly extraordinary. Her every movement is like she was taught by palace matrons. My sisters once had palace matrons teach them for some time, but none could achieve this level… tsk, what’s her background? Was she truly a servant of the Lin family?”

Xie Yu stroked his chin and said, “Third Brother said she was his family’s servant who was later freed.”

Chu Dapeng said, “For the Lin family to raise a maid of such quality, well, that’s truly something else.”

As Xiang Lan curtsied, she felt someone’s gaze on her was rather strange. Her eyes flickered, and in her peripheral vision, she saw it was the man who had watched her from the front courtyard that day. Yuan Shaoren also noticed Xiang Lan glancing at him and was startled, then smiled slightly at her. Xiang Lan quickly withdrew her gaze and moved to stand beside Lin Jinlou with a lowered head.

Lin Jinlou was inwardly pleased. Unlike before when Xiang Lan always hid in her room and seemed unwilling when meeting people, she had now given him a face. His expression showed some pleasure. Seeing the admiration on everyone’s faces made him even more proud. After Xiang Lan had paid her respects, Lin Jinlou quickly sent her back upstairs and dismissed the visitors.

Yuan Shaoren walked out of the embroidered tower with his arms crossed, gazing at the peach blossoms below and taking a deep breath. From the moment Xiang Lan appeared, he had felt as if his heart had been struck heavily, leaving him breathless. He had seen Xiang Lan from afar before and knew she shared the same air and build as his deceased beloved concubine Shen Jialian, looking almost identical from a distance. But today, up close, the similarities were even more apparent, yet she was also extremely unfamiliar. Yuan Shaoren felt his long-quiet heart beginning to pound again. He looked back and through the open vermillion window on the second floor saw Lin Jinlou embracing Xiang Lan from behind, one hand holding hers as she wrote something on the table. He withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and let out a deep breath.