Against the Current - Chapter 137

Chapter 137 - Re-entering the Estate

Five days later, Lin Jinlou indeed dispatched a carriage to the Chen residence to fetch Xianglan into the estate. No matter how reluctant Xianglan was, she had no choice but to pack her luggage and go along. Before her departure, Lady Xue wept tearfully, clutching Xianglan's sleeve as she said, "Why don't I go beg Master Lin? No matter how much silver he wants, even if it ruins our family and exhausts all we have, we will give it to him. I only beg him to let you come back..."

The person who came to fetch Xianglan was none other than Jixiang. Hearing these words, he was startled and hastily advised, "Aunt Xue, you must never, ever utter such words again. Do you suppose the Lin family is short of silver? What the master has his eyes on is the person."

Tears poured endlessly down Lady Xue's face, while Xianglan forced a smile to comfort her. "It's not a parting of life and death, why carry on with such weeping and wailing? In any case, there will come a day when we've weathered through it, and in a couple of days I shall come home to visit Father and Mother."

Jixiang exchanged a glance, and Old Woman Liu, sent by the Lin family, immediately stepped forward to support Lady Xue's arm with a smile. "The young lady is entering the estate to enjoy a life of blessing—something countless people yearn for yet can never attain. For you to cry like this, Madam, will only make her feel uneasy in her heart." This Old Woman Liu originally served in the Zhichun Lodge and held a shred of prestige. When she saw Lin Jinlou assign her to the Chen family to wait upon people of lowly servant origins, she had been bitterly displeased in her heart. But now, seeing Jixiang personally come to fetch Xianglan, she couldn't help clicking her tongue in secret wonder, thinking to herself, "My nephew is exceedingly prominent and influential before the master, and everyone addresses him as 'Head Steward,' yet the master actually sent him to fetch Xianglan. This shows how deeply the master values this girl in his heart. Who knows what grand fortune she might have in the future!" Her attitude thereupon grew all the more ingratiating and warm.

Jixiang also offered a couple of words of persuasion, after which Xianglan finally shed her tears to bid a final farewell, and followed Jixiang and the others back into the Lin estate.

When they reached the side gate of the Lin mansion, Shuran was already standing there with two old women waiting for them. Seeing Xianglan, a broad smile spread across his face as he stepped forward to greet her, took the bundle from her hands, and affectionately supported her as she boarded the small sedan chair, which carried her all the way back to the Zhichun Lodge.

Once Xianglan stepped out of the sedan, Shuran led her straight toward the main chambers. The courtyard was dead quiet; not even the maids and old women watering flowers or sweeping could be seen. Lowering her head, Xianglan walked straight into the room, unaware that on both sides of the verandas, Thrush, Polly, and the others were pressing their eyes wide against the hollow-carved lattice windows, staring fixedly at her.

Upon entering the room, Shuran handed the bundle to a maid standing guard by the door, invited Xianglan to sit down, and smiled. "The master gave instructions that the young lady is to live in the eastern subsidiary chamber from this day forward. Everything you might need was prepared early this morning. I wonder what the young lady prefers to eat and drink, or what items she uses daily—are there any things you have an aversion to? With the estate currently lacking a grand mistress, everything is somewhat disorganized. Although I am married now, I still come in to oversee matters in the Zhichun Lodge; now that you've arrived, I can finally catch a breather."

Xianglan was feeling deeply dejected, but upon hearing Shuran's words, she managed to rouse her spirits. Looking up, she indeed saw that Shuran was wearing the hairstyle of a married woman. Shuran continued, "The master instructed me to assign two maids and old women to wait upon you. They are both old acquaintances of yours; if you don't like them, you can simply have them replaced." With that, she ordered two maids to be brought inside, who turned out to be Xiaojuan and Chunling.

Xiaojuan was clearly overjoyed; the moment she saw Xianglan, her eyes reddened. Chunling maintained a calm expression as the two bowed to Xianglan. Xianglan hurriedly stood up, stepped forward to take both of their hands in hers, and felt a tight constriction in her throat, leaving her utterly unable to utter a single word.

Shuran smiled and said, "I'll go check whether your belongings have been properly arranged. The subsidiary chamber has already been cleaned out, so the young lady should go over and rest for a bit. If anything is lacking, just say the word." With those remarks, she withdrew.

Instantly, Xiaojuan grabbed onto Xianglan's sleeve and beamed, "Oh my heavens, oh my earth! Just yesterday I was still talking about you, and I never expected you'd be back again! This is simply wonderful!"

Seeing that Xianglan's face was clouded with lingering sorrow, Chunling gave Xiaojuan a tug and said to Xianglan, "How... how is it that you've come back again?"

Xianglan sighed. "It's a long story." She then turned toward Chunling and made a deep, formal bow, saying, "I have yet to thank you for saving my life."

Chunling stepped aside, extended an arm to support Xianglan, and smiled. "That bow of yours is something I can no longer accept."

Xianglan gave a cynical, bitter laugh, shook her head, and turning her gaze to the lush green branches and leaves outside the window, murmured under her breath, "What is there to accept or not accept? Formerly a servant, now I'm nothing more than a plaything."

Hearing this clearly, Chunling hastily pulled Xianglan back, looked around to left and right, and lowered her voice. "Quickly hush with such talk! If someone with ulterior motives overhears, goodness knows what stories they might twist it into! Although that fierce she-devil has left, the Zhichun Lodge is hardly a peaceful place." Having said this, she led Xianglan into the eastern subsidiary chamber and added, "The master has gone out to the military camps, and there are various social engagements outside as well, so he won't be back until tonight."

Xianglan had been gripped with anxiety, but upon hearing that Lin Jinlou was not present, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The eastern subsidiary chamber closely adjoined the bedroom, separated only by a multitreasure display cabinet. A bed was set against the window, laid with a crimson gold-threaded python-pattern large mattress, backrests of green damask printed with multicolored rolling-wave mandarin-duck embroidery, and a brownish-yellow decorative bolster, all shaded by pale lotus-pink silk soft curtains. On one side stood a begonia-shaped lacquered small table holding a dark gold-inlaid enamel vase, inside of which was stuck a cluster of tuberoses. Beside the table stood an ebony cabinet, while the other side featured two chairs and a small square side table set with tea bowls and other items.

Xianglan simply sat on the edge of the bed in a daze.

Seeing that there was no one else around, Chunling sat down beside Xianglan, pondered for a moment, and said, "I don't know how you ended up back in the estate either, but since the master asked me to wait upon you, it's clear he has the intention of favoring you. Now that you're here, don't let your mind wander with idle thoughts, or you'll only be manufacturing your own grief. The Zhichun Lodge is much quieter than before; Thrush has been elevated to a concubine and lives in the eastern wing. Polly stays cooped up in her room all day long, only claiming to be sick to the outside world. Then there's Luan'er, a girl given to the master by the Old Madame; when the master went to the capital, she insisted on following him to wait on him. She is Shuran's cousin, and because of this connection, the master favored her and she became a concubine-in-waiting."

Xiaojuan chimed in, "She is a formidable one, too. She can play a few tunes on the pipa, and whenever the master eats at home, he always wants her to wait close by and play a tune or two every now and then. She's even more favored than Thrush. Her original name was Keer, but later, taking advantage of a moment when the master was in a good mood, she asked to change her name to Luan'er, claiming she was called that before entering the estate. Good gracious, a luan bird—isn't that far more noble than a petty little bird like a thrush? The master actually agreed! Neither Thrush nor Polly has looked very pleased about it."

Chunling continued, "However, a few days ago, for reasons unknown, she dropped the master's jade pendant from his waist and cracked it, which displeased the master. He scolded her a couple of times, but who would have thought she actually dared to talk back? The master didn't pay her any mind, but ever since then, he has grown somewhat cool toward her and hasn't let her wait on him lately. On the contrary, Thrush made a couple of outfits for the master and put on a virtuous front, which won her a night lodging in the eastern wing."

Xianglan found these petty tricks of vying for favor entirely uninteresting, but knowing that Chunling and Xiaojuan meant well, she rallied her spirits and said, "Let them do as they please. As long as they don't cross my path, we'll mind our own business. I only came in to serve because the master saved my father, and I look upon it merely as repaying his kindness. As for anything else, I have no desire to dwell on it."

Chunling and Xiaojuan exchanged glances. Xiaojuan looked as though she wanted to say more, but Chunling tugged at her sleeve and smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere. "Aside from the two of us, there are two other maids specially assigned to needlework, plus nine junior maidservants who handle sweeping and errands, and four elderly matrons." Turning to Xiaojuan, she added, "It's almost noon, I wonder what the kitchens are preparing for the meal."

Xiaojuan leaped up with a grin and said, "I'll take a little maid with me to fetch the food." With those words, she darted out like a wisp of smoke.

Chunling immediately set about organizing Xianglan's luggage, locking her two or three pieces of jewelry into the small drawer of the ebony cabinet, and directing the little maids to fetch water to water the flowers. She arranged everything in an orderly, methodical fashion, radiating the complete demeanor of a senior head maid, appearing even more seasoned than before.

Originally, after Qinglan's death, Chunling had been left idle in the Zhichun Lodge. She had wanted to return to serve in Madam Qin's quarters, but failing to find an opening, she had no choice but to take on odd jobs in the main quarters, losing every shred of her former prestige. Yesterday, Shuran suddenly summoned her and Xiaojuan, announcing that starting tomorrow the two of them would begin serving Xianglan. Chunling had been startled; though she felt a bit awkward inside, she also recognized it as an opportunity. Fairly speaking, Xianglan was mild-tempered, uncontentious, and easy to get along with. Although she and Xianglan had experienced some friction in the past, Chunling had saved her life at a critical moment, and because of that grace, she could be considered part of Xianglan's inner circle. Chunling made up her mind right then and there to treat Xianglan just as she had once served concubines like Qinglan, so that by carving out a position of respect for herself in the future, she wouldn't waste her own talents. Therefore, she applied herself with utmost diligence.

Before long, Xiaojuan returned with the meal. Chunling arranged the food on the heated platform table, and noticing that Xianglan only ate light dishes, she silently stored that detail in her mind. Xiaojuan was simple-minded; she merely felt that since Xianglan was her good friend, she would never suffer grievances again. Her spirits soaring with relief, she even ate an extra bowl of rice. Once the meal was over, Xiaojuan chattered away non-stop, first complaining about how detestable Zhao Yuechan was, then gossiping about Lin Jinlou's concubines, and finally mentioning that Lin Dongqi was getting married in a couple of days.

Xianglan listened with half an ear.

Chunling light-footedly fetched a set of everyday garments, smiling as she said, "The master won't be back until evening. It's terribly uncomfortable wearing those formal clothes, so let's change into something easier."

Xianglan glanced over and saw that Chunling was holding a soft gauze silk garment patterned with chrysanthemums and red-gold bamboo leaves. Inspecting it, Xianglan said, "This isn't my clothing."

Chunling smiled. "It was prepared inside the chests long ago. The master ordered two chests of seasonal clothes to be brought over, and every single piece is brand new."

Seeing that the garment was extremely sheer and translucent, such that wearing it against her skin would surely reveal the color of her inner bodice underneath, Xianglan gave a cold laugh and said, "How could anyone wear such clothes? Could it be he takes me for some plaything meant to amuse him like a common courtesan?" She disregarded the clothes and changed into one of her own garments instead.

Chunling's expression turned awkward, and she thought to herself, "This fabric is of the highest grade; several of the young misses in the estate have been longing for a bolt of it to make undergarments. It's both pretty and light—though it might be a bit too revealing for everyday house clothes, what does it matter if you're just staying indoors and not going out to meet guests?" Unwilling to press the point further, she simply helped Xianglan change into her own attire.