Against the Current - Chapter 132

Chapter 132 - Rescue 

With her bright eyes wide and unblinking, Xianglan stared straight at Lin Jinlou and said, "I am pleading with the eldest young master."

Lin Jinlou let out a scoff. "Begging me? Is this what begging looks like?"

Xianglan said quietly, "I am indeed pleading with the eldest young master... You have countless women of all shapes and sizes around you, and setting your sights on me is merely a passing whim for your amusement. I will serve the eldest young master to repay your kindness, but once the eldest young master finds someone new in the future, I only ask that you let me go..."

"What if master here refuses?"

"If the eldest young master refuses, there is nothing I can do, and I will simply blame it on having a poor destiny. If my father passes away, living holds no joy for my mother and me either. At most, a bowl of arsenic will let our whole family die together in the same place, so we can have someone to lean on down in the netherworld."

Lin Jinlou stared at Xianglan for a long while. Her heart pounded frantically; she had reached the end of her rope and could only risk everything on a desperate gamble. Lin Jinlou had a notorious reputation abroad—flitting east one day and west the next—and his romantic entanglements with women never lasted long. The only reason he had set his sights on her now was simply because she remained out of reach. To save Chen Wanquan, enduring a year or two by Lin Jinlou's side was something she could grit her teeth and push through. Afterward, when he took a wife and concubines and cast her to the back of his mind, she would finally have a chance to escape and find survival. If she were bound by a formal title, however, she would truly be trapped to death inside the Lin residence.

Maintaining an unreadable expression, his eyes like deep and murky wells, Lin Jinlou reached out to pinch Xianglan's chin and suddenly burst into laughter. "Little Xianglan, you've really grown bolder, trying to pull tricks right under my nose. Did you think I wouldn't figure out what you're plotting? Are you scheming to slip away from my side after a year or two?"

Xianglan's face turned pale.

Lin Jinlou chuckled softly and stretched lazily. "What kind of person do you take me for? If I couldn't see through these little plots of yours, I would have long since died without a burial site. There are plenty of people playing underhanded tricks, and countless individuals waiting to watch me make a fool of myself, but very few have ever managed to outsmart me. Even if someone does manage it, I make sure they pay a thousand or ten thousand times the price later on. I've always been one to cherish tender blossoms, so you'd better be a good girl, serve me properly, and there will be no shortage of benefits for you. Understood?" With that, he lifted the curtain and called out, "Jixiang, let's move!"

Jixiang hastily acknowledged the order, climbed onto the carriage box alongside Shuangxi, picked up the whip, and drove the carriage forward.

Startled, Xianglan blurted out, "Eldest young master, whether you believe it or not, every word I said just now was the truth... I want to get out of the carriage!" She reached out to lift the curtain as she spoke.

Lin Jinlou grabbed her wrist and yanked her backward, sending Xianglan tumbling into his arms. Panicking, she tried to straighten herself up. As she raised her head, she happened to catch sight of Lin Jinlou. His expression had already darkened as he said, "Do you treat the words I just spoke as wind blowing past your ears? I told you to be a good girl."

Xianglan already knew Lin Jinlou was displeased. The veneer of refinement, elegance, and unhurried composure had been completely stripped away; though expressionless, the chilling aura of tyranny, overbearing dominance, and absolute arrogance exuded from him in waves. Only now did Xianglan understand why Lin Jinlou was capable of commanding the battlefield and directing tens of thousands of troops. He was different from her father in either her past or present life, different from Song柯, and even different from those ruthless yamen runners. His gaze was fierce and chilling enough to make one's blood run cold; he was truly ruthless to the core. Even though she had witnessed major storms before, she was terrified into a cold sweat.

Her father was still unsaved, and she could not afford to anger him yet, nor could she continue trying to force his hand with her own life. She had to plan carefully and take things one step at a time.

Thus, Xianglan lowered her head and quietly sat up straight.

Lin Jinlou merely uttered a cold remark, "If you want to be a concubine, you should first see if you even have the face to deserve it." With that, he paid her no further mind, reverting instantly to the noble and refined demeanor of a scholarly aristocrat as he closed his eyes to rest. He had already sent people to keep an eye on the Chen family days ago, learning that her parents intended to find her a match, so he had prepared to set out within a couple of days anyway. Now that Xianglan was a commoner of free status, if she still stubbornly refused to submit, he inevitably would have had to resort to some methods. Who could have guessed that Chen Wanquan would actually get himself arrested by the yamen? This was truly a godsent opportunity—a task that would have otherwise required considerable effort could now be resolved with a mere wave of the hand. Yet this Chen Xianglan was an absolute thorn; talking to her never went smoothly, but he was determined to break her in. From childhood until now, whenever Lin Jinlou set his sights on something, there was never a time he failed to get his hands on it. Someday soon, he would turn this stubborn little mule of a Chen Xianglan into a kitten that meowed obediently and submissively at his feet.

With a fluttering heart, Xianglan twisted her skirt ribbons between her fingers. Where was Lin Jinlou taking her? Could he be planning to drag her straight back to the Lin household? Just as her mind raced with wild thoughts, the carriage came to a halt, and Jixiang respectfully announced, "Eldest young master, we have arrived."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and when Xianglan peeked out, she discovered to her astonishment that they had circled right back to the front gates of the county yamen. As she sat frozen in shock, Lin Jinlou had already stepped down from the carriage and urged impatiently, "Hurry up, what are you standing there daydreaming for! Isn't your father about to die?" Flustered, Xianglan scrambled up and reached for Jixiang's arm to steady herself, but Lin Jinlou grabbed her hand instead. Startled, Xianglan had no choice but to let him hold it as she stepped down with Shuangxi's assistance. Lin Jinlou then ordered Jixiang to go bang on the gates.

Back inside, Han Yaozu was making merry and joking around with Cao Lihuan when he suddenly heard a flurry of rapid footsteps. A runner dashed in shouting, "Master! Master, an honored guest has arrived!"

Han Yaozu hurriedly stood up and headed out, demanding, "What's all the panic about? Who's here?"

The runner stammered, "Lin Jinlou, the eldest young master of the Lin family, has arrived!"

Han Yaozu was struck dumb with shock, feeling as though a living dragon had just dropped out of the sky. He frantically ordered his men to set out the finest tea, fruits, and pastries, adjusted his cap and robes in a flurry, and rushed out front to welcome the guest in person.

From afar, Han Yaozu spotted Lin Jinlou walking over at an unhurried pace. Instantly piling twelve layers of smiles onto his face, he hurried forward a few steps, cupped his fists, and said, "Your humble subordinate truly failed to welcome you from afar, failed to welcome you properly! Please forgive me, General Lin." As he spoke, he gestured to lead the way toward the main hall.

Instead, Lin Jinlou came to a halt and said coldly, "There's no need to go inside and sit down. Where is the grand prison? Lead me there to take a look."

Filled with shock and suspicion, Han Yaozu thought to himself, "Lin Jinlou is famous for never showing leniency to anyone, yet here he is showing up uninvited at my doorstep. The very first thing he asks for is the grand prison, and there's a faint look of displeasure on his face. Could it be that I wrongfully arrested someone over the past couple of days and provoked this terrible joss stick?" He turned it over in his mind repeatedly but couldn't think of anyone; last month, some unruly scoundrels from the Lin clan had indeed caused trouble, but he had already sent a formal calling card to the Lin family, released the men without beating or punishing them, and later even received five taels of silver as a thank-you gesture—everything had been thoroughly amicable. Besides, such a trifling matter wouldn't warrant Lin Jinlou making a personal trip. He cast a covert glance behind Lin Jinlou and spotted two neatly dressed, imposing servants who looked identical—they must have been that pair of twin attendants who held considerable influence by Lin Jinlou's side. There was also a refined young lady of exquisite beauty whom he had never seen before; not daring to look too closely, he quickly averted his gaze and accompanied the group with a flattering smile. "Whatever commands the General has, your subordinate will gladly shatter bones and grind to dust to fulfill them. Whichever prisoner you wish to see, I shall have them brought right out."

Lin Jinlou sneered, "Bring them out? That man is probably beaten to a pulp by now. Han Yaozu, you've grown some daring fur on your gall—how dare you lay a hand on my people? Let me ask you: what law or statute did that Chen Wanquan you dragged in yesterday violate that you locked him up and beat him to within an inch of his death? He is no ordinary person. If he suffers even the slightest mishap, you might as well pack your bags and get lost right now!"

Hearing this, Han Yaozu was seized by terror and panic. He stammered repeatedly, "General Lin, please forgive me! General Lin, please forgive me! Your humble subordinate truly did not know he was your man. Yesterday, a concubine of Petty Official Xia Yun came to file a complaint, claiming that Chen Wanquan had assaulted an imperial court official. With Petty Official Xia suffering severe injuries and recovering at home, your subordinate had someone bring Chen Wanquan in..."

Xianglan cut in sharply, "That Xia Yun insulted me first! My father was filled with righteous indignation and merely gave him a push; Xia Yun failed to stand steady and thus fell and injured his head. Where on earth was there any 'assaulting an imperial court official'? When you hauled a man to prison, why did you order the wooden staves to be used before even investigating the cause? And when you ordered the beating, why were the blows so vicious, while refusing to let a doctor come to treat him? Magistrate Han, you listened to the incitement of a vile whore like Cao Lihuan and deliberately trampled on human lives. Do you still hold the laws of the nation in your eyes? An incompetent fool like you has no business wearing that official gauze cap on your head anymore!"

Lin Jinlou burst into hearty laughter. Looking at Han Yaozu, he said, "Did you hear that? My sweetheart says the official gauze cap on your head doesn't need to stay there anymore." He glanced at Han Yaozu again and continued, "What kind of piece of trash is Xia Yun anyway? Back when he was in my household, he tried to seduce a maidservant. Out of consideration for his reputation, I bestowed that woman upon him, but who would have thought he'd turn out to be someone who never learns his lesson? He set his sights on my person instead, going to the Chen family to propose marriage time and time again, and spewed foul nonsense when they refused. Tell me, does this little beast have the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard?"

The moment Han Yaozu heard the word "sweetheart," everything clicked into place. Cold sweat poured down his forehead in sheets, his legs turned to jelly, and half his soul vanished into thin air. He plopped down onto his knees, kowtowing frantically as he begged, "General Lin, please calm your wrath! Your subordinate truly did not know Chen Wanquan had ties to the General; otherwise, even if I had the courage of the heavens, I would never have committed such a foolish blunder..."

Lin Jinlou simply asked, "Where is Chen Wanquan?"

Scrambling up from the floor, Han Yaozu hurried to lead the way while babbling, "Please come this way, General." He led them straight to the grand prison, personally unlocked the door with a key, and ushered everyone inside. Seeing Chen Wanquan still sprawled unconscious on the ground, Xianglan rushed forward and let out a wail of bitter grief. Han Yaozu had already dispatched men to fetch a doctor, as well as ordering servants to bring out a padded couch to carry Chen Wanquan out, vacating the inner chambers of his own resting study for Chen Wanquan's use.

Before long, the doctor arrived. After a thorough examination, he reported, "This man's legs have been broken by beatings, though fortunately they can still be set, though he will have to suffer some hardship. His internal organs are also in a state of chaotic imbalance; I will write a prescription for a few doses to regulate his condition. However, his flesh and skin have been beaten to a pulp, so it will take a long time to heal."

Once the diagnosis was complete, the doctor began setting Chen Wanquan's bones. The excruciating agony jolted Chen Wanquan awake; he let out a few cries of pain before passing out again. With Xianglan's eyes glowing red with tears, Lin Jinlou pulled out his handkerchief to wipe them for her. Xianglan instinctively pulled away, but realizing how improper it was, she silently drew the handkerchief from Lin Jinlou's hand and wiped her tears herself. Though Lin Jinlou had been slightly displeased at first, seeing Xianglan take the handkerchief smoothed his expression back into an agreeable look.

Watching this unfold from the side, Han Yaozu spun around in frantic anxiety, thinking to himself, "To be favored by Lin Jinlou to this extent, she is clearly no ordinary concubine. To think I was completely blind to such a figure and committed such a grave blunder today! If this Grand Elder Lin decides to pursue the matter, the official cap on my head truly won't be saved! Thank the heavens, thank the earth, the man isn't dead yet." He wished desperately that the person who had been beaten was not Chen Wanquan—even if it were his own biological father, it would have been preferable! On the spot, he dug into his own pocket to pay for the medicine, sent his stewards to the treasury for top-grade ginseng, deer antlers, and other precious herbs, and eagerly implored them to stay: "Since Master Chen's injuries have not healed, he shouldn't be moved around casually. It would be best if he stayed right here to recuperate so that your humble subordinate can properly express his sincerity."

Unwilling to remain in the yamen for another second, Xianglan had Lin Jinlou's men use the bench to carry Chen Wanquan directly out to the carriage. As Xianglan stepped out the door, she caught sight of Cao Lihuan lurking behind a clump of banana trees near the winding veranda. Catching Xianglan looking her way, Cao Lihuan hastily darted back into hiding, though a corner of her apricot-red skirt still remained visible.