Against the Current - Chapter 116

Chapter 116 - Return 

Aunt Song babbled on, "Ah, what bad timing! Had I known you had your eye on this girl, I would have sent her over to you sooner, or if you had come just a moment or two earlier, you would have caught her." Pausing, she asked curiously, "How on earth did you find out about this girl?"

The displeasure on Lin Jinlou's face had already vanished as he smiled, saying, "To tell you the truth, this girl was originally a person who served by my side, and I intended to elevate her status. Who would have thought that after I went away to fight a campaign and returned, I would find out she had already been sold off? Upon inquiring, I learned she was bought by Yifei. So here I am, swallowing my pride to come and ask for her."

This string of words left Aunt Song struck completely dumb, cold sweat rolling down her back as she thought to herself, "That damned little vixen Xianglan—so she was actually someone from Lin Jinlou's side all along! It wasn't enough for her to seduce the men of the Lin family; now she's come to seduce my son. If my son had taken her in, wouldn't that have caused us to fall out with Lin Jinlou? Amitabha, thank goodness she has already left, or else our household really wouldn't have known a moment of peace!" Piling a smile onto her face, she rattled off, "I had no way of knowing this; otherwise, I certainly would have had that little scoundrel Ke'er send her over to make amends. I'll keep an eye out for you, and if I see a good girl in the future, I will definitely buy one and send her over."

Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "Aunt is being too distant. Is my household really short of maids?" After exchanging a few more casual remarks with Aunt Song, he withdrew from the room.

Lin Jinlou only felt a stifling weight in his chest. When he returned, not a trace of a smile remained on his face, and even Little Cuiqiao did not dare to venture too close to wait on him. After a brief round of idle banter, the company dispersed. In the days that followed, Lin Jinlou was caught up in an endless round of welcoming guests, sending off visitors, and constant socializing, leaving him temporarily with no time to spare for Xianglan. Once the Lantern Festival had passed, an imperial decree arrived from the capital ordering Lin Jinlou to return to the capital for an audience with the Emperor. Lin Jinlou had no choice but to hastily pack his belongings, and on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, he took his trusted personal guards and headed north.

Meanwhile, Xianglan spent a few days at home walking on tenterhooks, and only after seeing that the Lin family made no move did she breathe a slight sigh of relief. Upon hearing later that Lin Jinlou had departed for the capital, she finally let out a long breath. At the same time, she felt that although she had redeemed her freedom, remaining right under Lin Jinlou's nose was hardly a long-term solution—who knew when that overbearing tyrant might suddenly remember her again and come back to stir up trouble? She began turning over the idea of moving away to live in another province, dropping hints to test her parents on the matter. Chen Wanquan glared and snapped, "You're having wild daydreams! Moving a house is not such an easy thing. Once we get outside where we don't know a soul, what will we rely on for food and drink? Besides, we're living perfectly well right here in Jinling—why would we want to move?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xianglan said, "The eldest master of the Lin family said he wants to take me as a concubine. I fought tooth and nail refusing to agree, and I'm only afraid he might use his power and authority to force the issue."

The Chen couple were stunned and hurriedly pressed her with questions. Once they understood the situation, Chen Wanquan's face lit up with joy, grinning from ear to ear as he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Aiya! No wonder the eldest master came to our house right after the New Year and even brought along so many things! My goodness, my goodness, I'm afraid smoke really is going to start billowing from the graves of our Old Chen ancestors! Back when you were in the house of the Lin family, there were already rumors that the eldest master had set his sights on you, but I didn't believe it. Who would have thought it was actually true! My child! If you become the Lin eldest master's concubine, you'll be a hundred times more majestic than you were in the Song family!"

Xianglan sprang up with a sharp motion, her face flushing with anger as she snapped, "What is Father saying? I would rather die than become a concubine to anyone. Now that I've struck my name from the household registers, when I marry, I will do so uprightly and proudly as a proper first-rank wife!"

Chen Wanquan knitted his brows, pointed at Xianglan, and stamped his foot in exasperation. "Foolish, utterly foolish! What do you children know about anything! If you become the Lin eldest master's concubine, aren't you a hundred times more glorious than being the legal wife in some humble, low-ranking household? Even though she's a secondary wife, the status is worlds apart! The Emperor's secondary wives are addressed as imperial concubines, and the secondary wives of high-ranking officials are respectfully called 'Mistress Aunt.' Only those who have a bit of spare cash to buy a cheap concubine end up as worthless, insignificant secondary wives. To think you even know how to read a few characters—how can you fail to grasp such a simple principle?"

Xianglan sneered, "Does Father think the inner quarters of the Lin family are some playground for amusement? Just how many human lives are lost there year in and year out? Are you trying to push me into that unspeakable abyss?"

Hearing this, Chen Wanquan paused in reflection. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Previously, it was only because his principal wife was formidable and intensely jealous. I heard she fell ill recently, so I imagine she wouldn't be able to throw her weight around anymore..."

Xianglan slammed her tea bowl down onto the side table with a sharp crash and said coldly, "Father's vision is so short-sighted that there is truly nothing more to say to you. I'll just tell you this: if Father dares to give your consent, or if the Lin family tries to use force to make me a concubine, I would rather smash my head against a wall and die." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Chen Wanquan trembled all over with rage and bellowed, "Listen to that! Just listen to that! What kind of outrageous nonsense is she spouting? Could I possibly want to harm you? Which time have you ever gone against my advice and turned out right?"

Xianglan turned back and said coldly, "If I had listened to Father, by this time I would have long since been married to that half-wit son of the Lin family's bonded servants, spending my generations as enslaved maids and footmen. Would Father have today's days of lifting your head proudly?"

Chen Wanquan was struck momentarily speechless.

Without looking back, Xianglan pushed the door open and walked out, leaving Chen Wanquan behind her still cursing away with phrases like "unappreciative of kindness" and "foolish and muddled." Xianglan returned to her side room, sat quietly on the edge of the bed, and stared blankly into space.

Xue Shi pushed the door open, walked in, and sighed to Xianglan, "Your father was only doing it for your own good. If you don't want to be a concubine, then we won't be one..."

Xianglan called out "Mother," her eyes instantly turning red as she felt half her heart turn to ash.

Xue Shi sat down beside Xianglan and sighed. "I originally came out of the Lin household myself, so I know all about the filthy, sordid business within those great noble gates. Moreover, Lin Eldest Master is not a gentle-tempered man. How could I bear to let you suffer, seeing as I have only you as my sole daughter?" Pausing for a moment, she continued, "You... do you still have Young Master Song on your mind?"

Xianglan was taken aback, lowered her gaze, and after a long silence said, "I do think of him, but if he wants me to be a concubine, I won't agree to that either."

Xue Shi sighed again. For some reason, she suddenly thought of the theatrical line "A heart higher than the heavens, a fate thinner than paper." Looking at Xianglan's bright eyes and fragrant cheeks, which resembled autumn fruits bathed in mist and rosy clouds, she stroked her dark, glossy hair and murmured, "My child, you are exceptional in every single way, and you even possess this fine skill in painting. Not a single young lady I've ever seen can compare to you—it's only a pity you were born into the wrong family... I'm just afraid that with your heart set so high, you'll end up with nothing in the end."

Tears slipped down Xianglan's cheeks as well. How could she not know? As the saying goes, "Deep affection does not endure, and excessive stubbornness invites the ultimate humiliation." Sometimes she thought she should simply resign herself to fate. Since she was already a maid in this lifetime, what good would striving so hard do? Since both lifetimes of affinity were tied to Song Ke, what difference would it make even if she became a concubine? It would just mean turning a blind eye and muddling through days like that. Yet deep down, there remained a surge of pride and unwillingness, telling her that if she fell to such a state, she would rather die. At other times, she thought she might as well find someone from a family of matching status, get married, and make do with a shared life. But time and the years stretched out so long; if she were to extinguish her own heart's lamp like that and live out a half-dead existence, it would fill her with a profound sense of despair. Now, she could only risk everything and take a gamble. Even if things turned out unfavorably, she would accept her loss gracefully.

At this thought, Xianglan dipped a handkerchief to dab the corners of her eyes. The days of lingering panic instead melted away, replaced by a sudden calm as she said, "Why must Mother speak like that? We've made it through so many hardships before, so we can certainly push through even a mountain of flames in the future." She then retrieved her private savings and said in a low voice, "I have seventy taels of silver in total here—some from selling paintings, some from the Song family's monthly stipend, and some from pawning my hair ornaments. Let's pool these together. If Lin Jinlou returns and still tries to force me, our family will go live outside the city walls of Jinling, find a place to hide for a few days, and then quietly move away altogether." She thought to herself, "Lingering here in Jinling is only because I'm waiting for news from Song Ke. If my fate with him is truly exhausted, our whole family will pack up and move out of Jinling City. Whether we go to Yangzhou or Anhui, there will always be a place that can shelter us."

Although Xue Shi did not think the situation was all that grave, seeing Xianglan's solemn expression, she had no choice but to agree.

From then on, Xianglan applied herself even more diligently to her painting, meticulously crafting an album of twelve plum blossom paintings. She sold them for a tidy sum of silver, wholeheartedly hoarding the earnings to prepare for any unexpected emergencies.

To keep the narrative brief, we will skip the minor details.

In the blink of an eye, the first lunar month passed. On the ninth day of the second month came the spring imperial examinations, followed by the palace examination in April. Soon after, news arrived that Song Ke had placed in the second rank of the imperial graduates (jinshi), bestowed with the title of "Jinshi Graduate," and had entered the Hanlin Academy to serve as a seventh-rank compiler. Hearing this, Xianglan clapped her hands together in ceaseless prayer to the Buddha.

One evening around dusk, Xianglan finished tidying up the courtyard and placed a few pots of newly purchased flowers under the eaves. Seeing that the jasmine was blooming with a rich and fragrant aroma, she intended to pluck a few blossoms to tuck into her sachet.

At that moment, she heard someone knocking on the door. After calling out a few times and receiving no response, she walked up, peered through the crack in the door, and saw that the person standing outside wore a green satin robe with a treasure-inlaid belt around his waist. His hair was secured with a single jade hairpin, which only served to make his white-jade face appear all the more distinguished and handsome. Who could it be if not Song Ke?

Overjoyed, Xianglan hurriedly unlatched the door. Before she could even speak, Song Ke squeezed inside, nudged the door shut behind him, pulled Xianglan into an embrace, and buried his face in her shoulder, murmuring, "Don't move for a moment, let me hold you for a while..."

Blushing crimson from head to toe, Xianglan gave him a light push and protested, "You're asking for death! What if someone sees us, how would that look!"

Song Ke chuckled with a muffled laugh and said, "Your father is at the shop right now, and your mother just went to visit a neighbor down the street. I watched carefully before I came to knock on the door."

Blushing brightly, Xianglan smiled and scolded, "Shameless, you still have the face to say that." With that, she broke free from his embrace.

Knowing that Xianglan had a thin skin and was a stickler for propriety, Song Ke let go of her hands and stood staring at her unblinkingly. The two of them stood looking at each other in silence before breaking into simultaneous smiles.

Unable to help himself, Song Ke quietly reached out to take Xianglan's hand and asked, "Did you miss me these past few days?"

Xianglan pursed her lips in a smile and didn't answer, only asking, "When did you get back?"

Song Ke replied, "I got back this morning. When I reached home and found out you weren't there, I asked and learned my mother had released you. Because I was too tired, I slept at home for a bit, and as soon as I woke up, I came to look for you... I even brought you a bunch of toys from the capital, but I was in a rush coming over today, so I'll bring them for you next time."

Xianglan smiled. "Don't trouble yourself." She then made a slight bow of greeting and teased, "This humble one pays her respects to the Compiler Adult."

Song Ke waved his hand, his eyes curving into smiles. "A paltry seventh-rank official—who knows what that's worth in the capital. At first, I thought I would surely be posted to a provincial assignment, and I had already prepared silver to lobby for a good post. Who would have thought I'd be kept right here in the Hanlin Academy instead?"

Xianglan said, "The Hanlin Academy is the finest place there is; countless cabinet ministers come out of there. Although it's somewhat impoverished, it carries the title of 'Reservoir of Prime Ministers.' Being posted to the provinces would actually be a step down."

Song Ke was taken aback, staring at her in astonished suspicion. "How do you know all this?"

Xianglan froze as well, hesitating in her heart whether she should tell Song Ke about her past life. She bit her lip and stood in silence for a long moment, but when the words reached her lips, they instead turned into: "Regarding the matter between you and me, do you have a definite resolution in your heart yet?"