To Lin Fengsong, these were not significant matters. But since both his mother and his eldest brother deemed them important, they were important.
Lin Yanran did not believe Lin Fengsong’s way of thinking was wrong; after all, this second brother was a man of his era, raised with the education that a man taking concubines was merely a triviality. She could not use the mindset of her own era to demand different standards from someone in this one. Furthermore, even if her brother didn’t agree with the morality of it, the fact that he was willing to put a sack over a Marquis for her sake meant he was already a very good brother.
Lin Yanran smiled and apologized, “Just now, I spoke without thinking and wronged you, Second Brother; please don’t hold a grudge. Next time Mother beats you, I will certainly help you plead for mercy.”
Hearing this, Lin Fengsong was pleased and patted his chest in assurance. “Don’t you worry. If this Wenxuan Marquis ever dares to favor a concubine over his wife, even if Mother and Eldest Brother don’t approve of me sacking him, I will do it anyway.”
The Eldest Princess, Consort Lin, and Lin Fengyu all felt their eyes hurt from looking at this silly son/brother, yet both the Princess and the Consort felt heartened seeing the close bond between the siblings.
Afterward, Lin Yanran distributed the gifts she had brought for everyone at the Princess’s residence—each master received something excellent—and she was met with a chorus of praise.
In the afternoon, Lin Yanran spent time playing with her niece. When the original owner was around, she had always been kind to the only girl in the Princess’s residence. As soon as Lin Yanran arrived, her fourteen-year-old niece, Lin Jiangzhuo, was overjoyed. Everywhere Lin Yanran went, her niece followed cheerfully behind.
When it was time for Lin Yanran to leave, Lin Jiangzhuo was the most reluctant to let her go. She had no sisters in her own home, and although her grandmother was kind, she couldn’t burden her with the delicate thoughts of a young girl. Her mother, Han, who managed the vast Princess’s residence, lacked the time and energy to listen to these private matters. Only her aunt, Lin Yanran, was willing to spend time with her and listen.
Watching the carriage pull away, Lin Jiangzhuo couldn’t help but vent her frustration at her older cousin, Chu Yunxuan: “I don’t know why Cousin Xuan didn’t come along two or three years earlier. If he had, it would be so wonderful if Aunt could be my mother-in-law.”
Han knew her daughter didn’t have romantic feelings for Chu Yunxuan; it was simply that because her aunt treated her well, she felt resentment toward the cousin. Han smiled and patted her daughter’s head. “Even if you marry into another family, your aunt will still be your aunt and will still cherish you. Besides, you don’t even like Cousin Xuan.”
“Aunt loved her husband so much, yet he still kept a mistress, and Aunt is a Princess! It makes the word ‘love’ feel so worthless…” Seeing her aunt, who used to be full of happiness, become so much more composed and steady, Lin Jiangzhuo felt the irony in the concept of love.
Han did not rebuke her daughter for these slightly transgressive words. Instead, she stroked her hair again, feeling a sense of relief in her heart. She only hoped her daughter could live a life of wealth and comfort; she didn’t want her to suffer for the sake of love. “With us adults here, we will always protect you. But as for your aunt’s son, don’t think about it; he is over four years younger than you—you can’t wait that long. Don’t worry, your grandmother and I will find you a good match.”
“Mm, Mother and Grandmother can decide. I just feel that Aunt would make a good mother-in-law, that’s all.” As she spoke, Lin Jiangzhuo hooked her arm through Han’s and they walked into the residence.
In her heart, Han actually thought Chu Yunxuan was a good choice, but the age gap was simply too large. If a girl waited too long to marry, it would damage her reputation.
As soon as Lin Yanran arrived at the Marquis’s residence in her carriage, Chu Mochen, who had been waiting, immediately stepped forward to help her down. Lin Yanran did not refuse; she allowed him to support her. Since life had to go on, she couldn’t be too standoffish. If a man and woman remained distant, calculation would inevitably arise. If there was no intimacy, he wasn’t a fool; he would surely guess her underlying intentions. It was harder to scheme against someone who was already on guard. Living in this era, she had to adapt—she could only console herself by treating him as a special kind of “pet.”
After these few days of buffering, Lin Yanran could calmly accept Chu Mochen’s presence. “Marquis, why didn’t you come to the Princess’s residence to pick me up today?”
Seeing his wife, who had been cold for so long, finally willing to offer an olive branch, Chu Mochen touched the scar on his back—not yet fully healed—and replied tactfully, “I wasn’t sure how to face your parents yet.”
Lin Yanran gave him another opening. “Don’t worry, I spoke well of you today; this matter is behind us. But there must never be another incident of keeping a mistress outside. If you have someone you fancy, just bring them into the mansion directly. Once a concubine enters, the affairs of the backyard will be under my control, and you can focus on your career. Also, from now on, you must bathe and change before entering my main courtyard.”
Chu Mochen excitedly grabbed her hand. “Rest assured, Wife. I will never fail you again.”
Lin Yanran smiled on the surface but ignored his words in her heart. Believing the words of a scoundrel was the beginning of misery. Since Chu Mochen was still young, she would let him continue to earn status and rank for the sake of her and their sons.
That night, Chu Mochen stayed in the main courtyard, and the next day, he departed for court feeling refreshed. Lin Yanran, who no longer needed to pay respects to the Old Marchioness, slept until she woke up naturally, then leisurely reviewed the mansion’s ledgers and managed her dowry.
After a few days, Lin Yanran brought the three beauties her mother had selected into the mansion for Chu Mochen. As soon as the newcomers arrived, Lin Yanran no longer had to perform for Chu Mochen, and her life became exceptionally comfortable.
The three women Lin Yanran chose each had different beauty and backgrounds. Concubine Jin claimed to be a refugee who had lost her family, but in reality, she was a courtesan who hadn’t yet begun serving guests; having grown up in such a place, she possessed all the necessary skills. Concubine Shui was the legitimate daughter of a small merchant who had money and was delighted to be a concubine to the Marquis. Concubine He was the concubine-born daughter of a minor official, with no future at home, seeking her own path. All three were willing to serve the Marquis; to them, this was a magnificent stroke of luck. Thus, Lin Yanran felt no guilt in involving them—it was simply a case of everyone getting what they needed.
In contrast to the high spirits of Lin Yanran and Chu Mochen, Concubine Sun felt that the world was collapsing. She never expected that the wife who was described by the Marquis as being “jealous” would actually take the initiative to bring in concubines for him. The Marquis accepted them with great joy and spent his time lingering in their courtyards, never thinking of her as she waited for him.