Chapter 271

Chapter 271 Five Portraits of Affection"How peculiar! I have never seen Yuruo look this way before," the Madam murmured to herself, her face painted with an expression of puzzlement.

"Eldest Miss turning red in the face? Hmm, I didn't notice," Lin Wanrong looked at the Madam in surprise, laughing, "Perhaps it's the chill of the cold. But in my view, your complexion is also quite rosy, just like—"

"Just like what?" the Madam queried.

"Just like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl! Ah, my only flaw is my honesty. I always speak the truth, please do not take offense, Madam," Lin Wanrong sighed.

Madam Xiao covered her mouth with a chuckle. Her mature, full-bodied figure shivered in mirth, so much so she could hardly stand upright.

"Why are you laughing, Madam?" Lin Wanrong asked earnestly.

Madam Xiao waved her hand, trying hard to suppress her laughter. Her face had turned beet-red. "Lin San, you're never serious. In my opinion, a woman who can put up with you hasn't been born yet. I must warn Yushuang about you, lest you take advantage of her gratitude towards you."

It seemed the Madam had seen through him. Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, offering it as his response.

Once he ceased his tomfoolery, Madam Xiao spoke, "Lin San, aren't you considering returning home? The new year is almost upon us, and everyone is missing you."

Lin Wanrong shook his head, smiling, "Madam, have you forgotten the story of the weed I once told you? These days, consider them my vacation. After working for a year, I deserve a break. When it's time to go to the capital, I will accompany the Eldest Miss and the others again."

Seeing his resolute stance, the Madam sighed in resignation, "If you insist so strongly, I won't force you. Yuruo is a little impatient, she has decided to leave home on the third day of the new year. You mustn't forget when the time comes."

This date had been set by the Eldest Miss a long time ago. Lin Wanrong knew her fiery temperament; she'd sacrifice even her life for her ambitions, let alone her new year's day? He grimaced, "The third day it is. If a lady can manage to leave so early, why should I be bothered?"

the Madam chuckled and nodded, "Thank you for your hard work. When the time comes, please take good care of her. Our Xiao family is counting on you."

Now that was a loaded statement. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Oh, come now, Madam, we are family now. We must help each other, don't you agree?"

Madam Xiao knew he was retaliating for her pushing him to join their family in front of Yu Shuang. She couldn't help but giggle, "You're something, Lin San. I asked you to look after Yushuang, and it's obviously to your advantage, yet you play the victim. As if my Xiao family owes you by default."

The Madam's soft laughter, her blushing brows, her gently trembling body, and her captivating demeanor caused Lin Wanrong's heart to skip a beat. Good heavens, all the women here had the same allure, clearly testing his resolve.

He firmly believed in his nature to get carried away in the throes of desire. Daring not to linger any longer, he hastily excused himself, bid the Madam farewell, and made his way back home.

Having spent the day flirting with the eldest sister and exchanging sweet nothings with the second one, Lin Wanrong returned to the boat with unexpected gains. His heart was astir, his face beaming with joy, humming a ditty under his breath. Yet, the pleasure boat was oddly quiet. Luo Yuan and Qingshan, the two youngsters, sprang out of the cabin at the sight of him and greeted him cheerily, "Big brother, you're back!"

Lin Wanrong scanned around, noticing the absence of Xian'er and Qiaoqiao. He found it odd and asked the duo, "What are you two doing here? Where are Xian'er and Qiaoqiao? It's getting late. They should be going home to bed."

Even though Luo Yuan and Qingshan were fearless, they were dumbstruck by his words and gave him a thumbs up in admiration.

Grinning, Luo Yuan said, "Big brother, I'm afraid you'll be the only one keeping watch over the empty room tonight. Sister Luo Ning has called away the two sisters-in-law for a meeting. They decided to spend the night in her tower. She sent us here to relay the message, so please don't take offense, big brother!"

Luo Ning had called Xian'er and Qiaoqiao for a meeting? What could those three girls possibly discuss? Could it be they were brainstorming how to serve their husband? This would be a long conversation, requiring dedicated attention. Yet, what struck him as strange was Xian'er's calm demeanor around Luo Ning. That was the real oddity.

"Ah, Little Luo, did your sister mention why she asked for Qiaoqiao? This ship is too large, and without them, I'm afraid to sleep alone." Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, brazenly putting his fear into words.

"I don't know what my sister and the two sisters-in-law discussed. But judging from the look on sister Qiaoqiao, it seems like she has quite a bone to pick with you, big brother," Luo Yuan cryptically remarked.

‘Qiaoqiao was upset with me?’ Lin Wanrong thought for a moment, realizing that Luo Ning must have shared something with them, sparking this united front against him. It appeared that Luo Ning couldn't wait and had taken the two wives hostage, forcing his hand. That put him in a tight spot.

Seeing his furrowed brow, Dong Qingshan said, "Big brother, what's bothering you? With the thousands of us from the Hung Hing, what problem can't we solve?" After Cheng De fell and the Black Dragon Society disbanded, the Hung Hing was the most prominent gang in Jinling City. Qingshan said these words with full confidence.

Lin Wanrong shook his head and asked Luo Yuan, "Little Luo, how is your father's situation? When will the imperial decree arrive?" The scandal surrounding Luo Min had already created a stir in the court, with many clamoring for severe punishment. If not for Xu Wei's intervention, it would have become a much bigger issue.

Luo Yuan's face fell. "The imperial decree has not arrived yet. Judging from the current situation at court, being stripped of his title might be the least of his worries."

Lin Wanrong patted his shoulder and said seriously, "Little Luo, I don't aim to be a villain, but I also don't want to be an overly good person. However, I do admire your father. In this era, good officials who have ambitions and ideals yet can protect themselves are rare."

Luo Yuan wiped away a tear, smiling, "Big brother, I understand. No matter what, my sister and I will always stand by our father's side."

At the moment, he was unable to assist old Luo. Once in the capital city, he'd find a way. Lin Wanrong, always jovial by nature, laughed heartily. "Let's not talk about this for now, let's discuss something more entertaining. Little Luo, do you know about your sister and me?"

Sooner or later, he would have to deal with that lass Luo Ning, who was becoming a constant worry. It seemed like he would be forced to take drastic measures. Lin Wanrong shook his head in resignation, a wry smile on his face.

When Luo Yuan heard him mention his sister, he gave a thumbs up and said, "Big brother, honestly, I am genuinely impressed by you. How did my sister, who used to be so aloof and indifferent to everyone, surrender to you so easily? She used to scare off all the talented young men by saying that she'd only marry someone who was both literary and martial. Brother, when you have time, please teach me and Qingshan. We are very envious."

Qingshan's eyes sparkled as he swallowed hard, nodding eagerly. Lin Wanrong laughed heartily at the wolf-like gleam in the young boys' eyes. Was it spring already? He thought he could hear a mating call.

He chuckled, "You're my brothers, so of course I don't mind teaching you a few tricks. As for you, Little Luo, I plan to become your brother-in-law. Are you okay with that?"

Luo Yuan shook his head, "Big brother, you should be asking my sister. She is the one who makes the decisions. Asking me wouldn't do much good."

"Slick kid," Lin Wanrong laughed and patted his shoulder, "So, you're saying you have no objections?"

"Do I have a say in this? You and my sister have been flirting and acting lovey-dovey for a long time, even involving my father as your messenger. What else can I do?" Luo Yuan pretended to be aggrieved.

So, this little guy knew everything. Lin Wanrong let out a hearty laugh and commanded, "Bring me some paper."

With the two wives away, Qingshan temporarily played the role of a page boy, fetching a sheet of rice paper from the cabin. As Lin Wanrong pondered, he took a pencil from his pocket and recalled his encounters with that lass Luo Ning. As memories surged, his pencil danced across the paper with seemingly divine assistance. Before long, a remarkably vivid drawing appeared on the paper.

A beautiful woman stood inside a building, gazing at four couplets hanging in the air, a smile on her face as she pondered. Nearby, a carefree young man was playing a game of finger-guessing with two boys, all clearly having a great time. The woman, with her refined features and rosy cheeks, was exceptionally beautiful.

After scrutinizing the drawing, Qingshan exclaimed in surprise, "Big brother, this is our restaurant! Oh, I get it, this is when you first met Miss Luo and you put forth four absolute couplets."

Luo Yuan nodded silently, remembering the day when his big brother had written those four couplets and drank merrily with him and his brother, seemingly unconcerned with his sister. Now, it seemed that this big brother was truly going to become his brother-in-law. The mystery of fate was truly unfathomable.

Lin Wanrong didn't reply, only smiling faintly as he continued to draw following the first image.

A young man stood at the podium, sweeping his gaze over the crowd with cold determination. The gathered talented young men and women were visibly astonished. Luo Ning stood in the middle, her head lifted in a daze, gently biting her silver teeth, a worried frown on her face.

Luo Yuan clapped his hands, saying, "Big brother, this pair must represent the time you gave a speech at the Jinling Poetry Association with my sister. I've heard astounding tales about it. I suppose that was when my sister began to be drawn to you. Wonderful, just wonderful, big brother, you must teach me more."

The third drawing was of a woman on an embankment, looking at the hardworking peasants with a worried expression. With a swift flourish of her brush, she began to write. Standing next to her, a servant in green robes shook his head slightly, his face filled with regret.

It was clear that the scene depicted the infamous event at Jinling, when a servant had beaten up a scholar. Lin Wanrong recalled the scene on the embankment and couldn't help but smile. ‘This Miss Luo must have been deeply affected by the numerous blows she'd received to remember me so vividly.’

The fourth drawing depicted a young man on a flower boat, slightly tipsy, holding a jug in one hand, smiling at a poem. He stood out from the crowd. A lady stood behind the curtains, holding a silk handkerchief in her hands, her face slightly flushed and showing signs of unease.

Qingshan exclaimed, "I understand this! It's the scene when Miss Luo gave you the mandarin duck handkerchief. Big brother, you've depicted Miss Luo very accurately."

Lin Wanrong hesitated slightly, then continued to wield his brush. In the fifth drawing, a young man stood in the foreground, holding a piece of red silk, with a woman standing behind him. The woman's figure was graceful, but only an outline could be seen. From a distance, it appeared to be Miss Luo, but up close, it was a woman with a red veil partially covering her face, the details of which were not carefully depicted, making it unclear who she was.

After completing these five drawings in one breath, Lin Wanrong let out a long sigh, and looked at his work closely, very pleased with what he saw.

Luo Yuan clapped his head in annoyance and said, "Big brother, where do you get these ideas? How come I never think of them? With such ingenious ideas, which girl could resist being moved by you? Big brother, I truly admire you."

Lin Wanrong chuckled and nodded, "Qingshan, Little Luo, the rest is up to you guys."

"Big brother, what do you want us to do?" Qingshan asked loudly, "Thousands of brothers are waiting for your command."

Lin Wanrong laughed, "We won't need that many people, seven or eight hundred will suffice."

He whispered a few words to Qingshan and Luo Yuan, which lit up Qingshan's eyes. He exclaimed, "Brilliant! If we do this, Miss Luo will have to respond whether she wants to or not. Hey, Little Luo, I can't wait to celebrate your sister's wedding."

Luo Yuan forced a smile and said, "Big brother, isn't this too grand, too sensational? I'm afraid my sister will feel shy."

‘Too grand? The thing your sister is most worried about is that it's not grand enough, making everyone in Jinling think she's chasing me. I'm sure she'll even laugh in her sleep after what I've done.’

"Don't worry! Everything is under control." Lin Wanrong said mysteriously with unwavering confidence.

Luo Yuan could only nod and laugh, "Big brother, we'll get on these tasks tonight, ensuring both you and my sister will be pleased. But, if we're not here, what will you be doing?"

Lin Wanrong shrugged and said, "Just drink some wine and sleep. These are important tasks too, someone has to do them. Sigh, there's no high or low in tasks, just different divisions of labor." Qingshan laughed heartily, grabbed the five paintings, and pulled Luo Yuan away busy with their work.

Lin Wanrong was restless, considering that Xian'er and Qiaoqiao were both with Luo Ning. They were the ones who entered the household first; he couldn't show favoritism. So, he grabbed a brush and paper, creating a portrait for each of the two women.

The painting of Qiaoqiao depicted the scene from the wedding night, the young girl's cheeks were flushed, her head slightly bowed, shyly extinguishing the candle. As for Xian'er, he painted the day he was injured by the cannonfire on Weishan Lake, a scene of deep affection between the two. These were all meaningful memories, he believed they wouldn't cause conflict among the three women.

When he reached a satisfying part in his work, he stared at the completely different faces of the women, feeling a deep sense of loneliness in his heart. He yearned to fly to Luo Ning's embroidered boudoir.

—---

"Sister Xian'er, did you sleep well last night?" A freshly groomed Luo Ning, holding Qin Xian'er's hand as she came out from the room, her face flushed as she spoke.

Hearing the address 'sister', Qin Xian'er was pleased and gracefully nodded, saying, "I slept very well. Miss Luo, where did you get this incomplete copy of 'Flat Sands Falling Wild Goose'? I spent all night looking at it and could not bear to put it down." She gently stroked the somewhat worn booklet in her hand, her eyes glowing with love.

Luo Ning saw her cherishing the booklet, her heart rejoiced and she shyly replied, "Sister Xian'er, we had such a pleasant conversation last night, you don't need to be so formal. You can simply call me Ning'er."

Luo Ning was a renowned talent, proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Qin Xian'er's background was even more exceptional. Despite her hardships, her knowledge and insights were no less than Luo Ning's. Last night, when Luo Ning invited her and Qiaoqiao, they found each other's company to their liking.

Seeing Luo Ning trying to win her favor, Qin Xian'er knew her intentions. She gently smiled and said, "You're the governor's daughter, normally no one dares to casually address you by your first name—" Seeing Luo Ning looking anxious, Qin Xian'er confidently smiled and continued, "However, since you're sincere, whether in public or private, I can call you by your name. Sister Ning'er, where did you get this 'Flat Sands Falling Wild Goose'? This ancient music manuscript has long been lost, only a few copies survived, they are invaluable."

Luo Ning nodded, "I received this copy while I was studying in the capital, a close friend gifted it to me. Sister, you're a lover of music and a kindred spirit. This manuscript has no great use for me, so I give this to you, I hope you won't dislike it."

Qin Xian'er, her mind clear as a mirror, looked at her and laughed, "Sister Ning'er, you're truly clever. You lured me with this manuscript last night, making me abandon my husband to talk with you. Today, you generously gift it to me. Tell me, sister, what exactly are you thinking?"

"This is out of true friendship. Seeing sister appreciating the sheet music, I simply want to give it as a gift. There's nothing more to it," Luo Ning's face flushed crimson, she hesitated, unable to speak clearly. She felt a surge of resentment towards her big brother.

"Really, no other intentions?" Qin Xian'er asked with a bitter feeling welling up inside her, pretending not to understand.

"That's enough, Sister Xian'er. Please stop making things difficult for Sister Ning," Qiaoqiao giggled as she walked out from the inner room, her face still flushed. "Sister Ning's intentions are known to all in Jinling, it's only us who are unaware...hehe..."

"You impudent girl—" Luo Ning, unable to act against Qin Xian'er, took out her frustration on Qiaoqiao, pouncing on her playfully. Both girls had stayed overnight in Luo Ning's room, talking until dawn. Qiaoqiao was the most innocent and charming of them all.

Both women were fond of her, often engaging in playful banter. Qiaoqiao had slept the latest and was thus the last to wake up.

Qin Xian'er pulled at Qiaoqiao, laughing, "And you're lecturing us about waking up late. If your husband saw this, he'd probably smack your little butt—" she burst out laughing as she spoke. Qiaoqiao's face also reddened slightly. The two women were deeply in love with Lin Wanrong, their intimate banter only added to the richness of their married life.

"Smack what little butt—" Luo Ning asked, surprised. She abruptly fell silent as her face flushed, understanding the meaning behind those words.

"I wonder what my husband is doing now, and whether he's thinking about me?" Qin Xian'er pouted. Although she and Lin Wanrong shared a bed every night, their relationship, influenced by the love bug, had not yet progressed beyond the physical touch, and she couldn't help feeling insecure.

"Of course, big brother thinks about you. Didn't you see how he loves to touch your chest—giggle—" Qiaoqiao teased. She understood Luo Ning's thoughts well, realizing that the talented Lady Luo had no chance of escaping her big brother's charms. All the intimate moments between herself and Lin Wanrong had been witnessed by Qiaoqiao, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Luo Ning blushed, her gaze falling away from the two women. Qin Xian'er looked at Luo Ning's crimson cheeks and felt a pang in her heart. She suddenly asked, "Sister Ning, do you truly love him?"

This question rendered Luo Ning speechless. Her face burned, and it took her a while to muster the courage to whisper an affirmative answer, exhausting all her energy.

Qin Xian'er's eyes shone with an unusual light as she took Luo Ning's hand, "Then let's be good sisters. Don't worry, he will certainly treat you well, as long as you sincerely care for him, I will never harm you."

Neither Luo Ning nor Qiaoqiao understood her words, but Qin Xian'er seemed to have resolved a big issue and gave a charming smile, "Sister Ning, I took up your time yesterday. Today, let me play host and we'll go to Xuanwu Lake. He's also there, I believe he would be happy to see you."

Luo Ning's heart fluttered, she was about to blushingly accept the offer when a maid hurriedly burst in, her voice shrill, "Miss, something terrible has happened, terrible—"

Qin Xian'er was of extraordinary birth and knew naturally how to dodge discomfort. As she was about to step away, holding Qiaoqiao's hand, Luo Ning had already seized her hand, "Sister, from now on, we are family. You and Qiaoqiao should not treat me as a stranger."

Knowing that this woman was trying to please her for the sake of her husband, Qin Xian'er did not decline, and nodded with a smile.

Luo Ning turned to the young maid, "What's the matter that's causing such a panic?"

The maid replied, "Miss, outside our mansion, there are portraits plastered everywhere. One of them is you, Miss—"

"A portrait?" Luo Ning questioned, "Who else is in the portrait?"

The maid said in a low voice, "The other person in the portrait is Young Master Lin!"

"Big brother (Husband)?" All three women cried out in unison.

Luo Ning seemed to have remembered something, a hint of joy filled her heart, and a soft blush appeared on her face. She stole a glance at Qin Xian'er, quickly suppressed her excitement, and said softly, "Who's so idle as to draw me and big brother together? Let's go out and see." Unable to suppress her joy, she didn't bother to greet the two sisters, lifted her long skirt, tiptoed, and pitter-pattered down the stairs, heading straight to the mansion's entrance.

Qin Xian'er and Qiaoqiao exchanged glances, puzzled as to why the typically composed Miss Luo would be so excited.

Luo Ning opened the main door and had just stepped out when she heard a commotion outside, "Miss Luo is coming out, Miss Luo is coming out—"

She looked up to see hundreds of townsfolk gathered at the gate, smiling at her. Looking around, her portraits with Lin San were pasted everywhere, with passersby pointing and whispering. Indistinct phrases like "poetry contest", "choosing a suitor", and "a match made in heaven" were being murmured.

"Hey, Miss Luo—" A nearly frivolous call came from the opposite building. Luo Ning looked up to see a man standing on the upper floor of the tea house across the street, grinning and waving at her.

"That scoundrel, big brother, laughing so mischievously, utterly annoying!" Luo Ning's face flushed, and she quickly turned her head, her heart filled with both surprise and joy.

‘What's the matter, am I not looking flashy enough? Why did she turn her head away after just one glance?’ Lin Wanrong examined himself from head to toe, finding nothing wrong. This was an outfit that had been meticulously scrutinized by Luo Yuan and Qingshan; he had never worn so much even when going out to fight. Describing him as handsome was an understatement.

"Miss, Miss, you have to see this—" The maid by Luo Ning's side suddenly cried out. Luo Ning hurriedly turned her head back. A long scroll was suddenly lowered from the tea house, from left to right it consisted of five drawings.

Upon seeing the content of the painting, Luo Ning was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with joy, and her cheeks flushed. In the painting, she looked graceful, proud, or shy, while big brother always seemed to not care about anything. Discussing poetry in a wine shop, talking about the Dao in the poetry society, speaking about the livelihood of the people on the embankment, and standing out from the crowd in the poetry contest. This was the process of how she and big brother got to know each other and fell in love. The full scroll, though without a word, was more expressive than a thousand words.

Especially that last image, with the woman led by the red silk ribbon, looked just like herself, yet her face was purposefully left vague. Her "big brother" must have done it on purpose. A wave of shy delight washed over Luo Ning. She never thought that Lin Wanrong would satisfy her heart's desire in such a way. With this, everyone in Jinling must have known.

"Sister, how is it? Have your wishes been fulfilled?" Luo Yuan came running over, grinning from ear to ear.

Luo Ning's face flushed as she bit her lip, abruptly turning and darting back into the house. Luo Yuan hurriedly followed. In an instant, the large doors of the Luo estate closed.

"No, no, don't run!" Lin Wanrong, standing on the upper floor, panicked internally. He had never failed this kind of "pick-up" trick before. Could today be the day he capsizes in the gutter?

"Miss Luo, Miss Luo!" Lin Wanrong hastily shouted. He had originally planned to satisfy Luo Ning's longings with a simple show, yet he hadn't expected her to turn and run away. It was a real failure.

"Big brother, this move seems ineffective," Qingshan said, doubtfully, adding salt to the wound.

"Well, perhaps Miss Luo was just too excited. Think about it, if you were suddenly faced with such a scene, how would you react?" Lin Wanrong chuckled dryly, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Qingshan pondered for a moment, then said, "I might faint!"

"Exactly!" Lin Wanrong slapped his hand, finding some comfort in Qingshan's words. "I bet Miss Luo just went to calm down, to quell her excited emotions. Just wait, she'll come out soon, I guarantee it!"

The two of them waited for a while, but the doors of the Luo estate remained tightly shut. There was no sign of anyone, not even a cockroach, emerging from the estate. The crowd that had gathered began whispering among themselves.

"Brother, what should we do? Should we gather the brothers and storm in?" Qingshan suggested.

Lin Wanrong nearly fell from the building at his words. This kid, has he gone mad with fighting? This was the woman he intended to marry. Could he really go in with swords drawn? He gave a helpless smile and was about to speak when the doors of the Luo mansion creaked open. Several maids and servants rushed out and carefully removed the large scroll hanging from the tavern, carrying it back into the house.

What was going on? Lin Wanrong didn't understand, and Qingshan was even more confused. "Big brother, I will go down and look for Little Luo," he suggested.

"Looking for Little Luo for what? That's too low! Just find a couple of agile brothers, let them climb over the wall and take a look," Lin Wanrong said solemnly.

Qingshan laughed and descended the stairs, just as the gates of the Luo estate opened once more. Luo Yuan was the first to emerge, followed by a line of servants who held up the painting.

The first four images were unchanged, but the fifth one was vastly different. The woman led by the red silk ribbon, whose face had been somewhat vague, was now clearly drawn with just a few strokes. Her half-concealed red veil lifted at the corner, revealing phoenix-like eyes, cherry lips, and a blush on her melon-seed face. It was unmistakably an image of Miss Luo Ning.

He'd succeeded! Lin Wanrong's heart swelled with joy, and he hurriedly rushed down from the building. The crowd, seeing this, instantly understood that Miss Luo had accepted the offer of marriage. The talented man and the beautiful woman from the poetry competition had finally come together, fulfilling everyone's expectations. The crowd cheered loudly in approval.

"Brother-in-law, congratulations, many congratulations!" Luo Yuan changed his tone.

"Congratulations to us all," Lin Wanrong replied with a shameless grin. "Oh, where's your sister?"

Helplessly, Luo Yuan said, "After completing the painting, my sister couldn't bear to face you. She's hiding in the embroidery room right now."

"Is that so?" Lin Wanrong queried, "Why be shy? Look at me, I'm not bashful at all." Luo Yuan and Dong Qingshan both fell silent.

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"Hmph. My husband only knows how to play favorites!" Xian'er complained to Qiaoqiao after witnessing the drama unfold.

"Who says that my husband is playing favorites?" Lin Wanrong's voice echoed in her ear.

"Husband—" Delighted, Qin Xian'er quickly turned around.

"Speaking ill of your husband behind his back deserves a spanking." Lin Wanrong grinned, reaching out to lightly pinch Qin Xian'er's rear, but handed her the scroll in his hand.

Xian'er blushed as she hurriedly unrolled the scroll, revealing a delicate portrayal of the two of them feeding fish soup to each other on a fishing boat. His hand was still exploring her body. "Ah!" She gasped, heat flooding her body as she quickly rolled the scroll back up. Her heart pounded with a mix of joy and embarrassment; all the grievances she'd felt before had vanished without a trace.

"Little darling, this is for you. I'm sure you'll like it." Lin Wanrong winked at Qiaoqiao and handed her another scroll.

Unrolling the painting, Qiaoqiao saw a romantic scene under the glow of red candles. A young woman in bright red lingerie, her snow-white wrists embracing Lin Wanrong's neck. Her slender legs were wrapped around his waist, her eyes filled with love, depicting their intimate moments on their wedding night.

"Big brother—" Qiaoqiao quickly put away the scroll, her cheeks flushed pink. She leaned weakly against his chest, speechless.

Seeing the success of his strategy, Lin Wanrong wished he could burst out laughing. Every time he'd take a wife in the future, he’d create such a "masterpiece" for her to cherish. This was art, far more sophisticated and intimate than any mundane self-portrait.

"Oh, where is Miss Luo?" Lin Wanrong asked, pretending not to notice the blushing faces of the two women.

"Sister Ning is upstairs!" Qiaoqiao quickly replied.

"Well, let's go up and see her then. While everyone is here, we should hold a meeting."

"A meeting?" Qin Xian'er, her cheeks still tinged with blush, asked as she lifted her head.

"A family meeting. We can schedule rotating shifts or joint shifts, and I can tell you sisters some stories!" Lin Wanrong responded seriously.

"A story? What kind of story?" Qiaoqiao, having her hand held by her big brother as they dashed towards Luo Ning's floor, asked curiously.

"The story of the monk beating a drum in the temple!"

"Ugh—" The two women blushed and spat out lightly, pushing him forward, "Big brother (Husband), you go find Sister Ning by yourself. It's not convenient for us to follow."

Well, they made it seem like it would be more convenient if they were all together. As Lin Wanrong climbed to Luo Ning's embroidery floor, it was quiet, but he could hear a rush of quickened breaths. This girl, why was she so shy? Where had her usual assertiveness gone?

"Miss Luo, Ning'er, Lady Benefactor—"

Luo Ning hid in her boudoir, staring at her blushing reflection in the mirror. Her heart pounded wildly, and she barely mustered a response, "Big brother—" but dared not say anything more.

Upon entering Luo Ning's boudoir, Lin Wanrong found the renowned beauty of Jinling sitting gracefully on a stool. Her long skirt hung naturally, and her face was as red as if she'd applied rouge. Her ruby lips parted slightly, and the soft, watery glow in her eyes was utterly captivating.

"Miss Luo, these past few days, I've been trying to find a way to make all of Jinling aware of you, but without causing your displeasure. It's truly been a troubling task, leaving me sleepless and tasteless. It wasn't until yesterday that I thought of this method. If you think I was late, feel free to beat me up. Even if it hurts to death, I won't utter a sound." Lin Wanrong held Luo Ning's hand with utmost sincerity.

Shyly, Luo Ning responded and collapsed into his arms, "Big brother, thank you for caring so much for Ning'er. I'd work as hard as an ox or horse to repay you for a lifetime!"

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