Against the Current - Chapter 141

Chapter 141 - Hosting a Banquet (Part 1)

Now, Huamei and Luan'er were standing in the corridor waiting for Xianglan's reply. Huamei was chatting quite warmly with Tinglan at the doorway, while Luan'er grew rather impatient. Waving her handkerchief, she sneered coldly at Huamei, "She's just a newly arrived little girl, yet she puts on such grand airs, making the two of us stand here at the entrance waiting with bated breath. I can let it go, but you are a concubine—how can you endure her riding roughshod over you like this?"

Huamei was still dressed in an extremely flamboyant style, wearing a purple damask jacket patterned with peony roundels, a bright red skirt, and a pair of water-green embroidered shoes peeking out from beneath. On her head, she wore gold hairpins, kingfisher feather ornaments, and double-bearded pearl earrings. Her face was heavily made up with powder and rouge, and as she shook a hand-fan to cover her mouth, she giggled, "She is someone the young master set his sights on long ago, not just anyone new. Sister, you must measure your words carefully. Didn't you see that the moment she arrived, she moved straight into the main quarters? As for me, I was already an 'autumn fan' waiting to be discarded whom no one loves; now more than ever, I need to keep out of her way. Why bother provoking her?"

These words only fanned the flames of Luan'er's anger. She had already harbored jealousy toward Xianglan and resented Lin Jinlou's fickle nature—he had elevated her not long ago only to take in a new favorite. Having bottled up a bellyful of grievances the previous night with nowhere to vent, she began to curse indiscriminately, "I never took you for such a spineless person, yet now you show no prestige whatsoever before that little concubine. She just arrived, so she ought to come pay her respects to you. Instead, when we come to her, she puts on airs and plays the grande dame. Pah! Does she really take herself for the true mistress of the house?"

Huamei merely fanned herself, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, but she said nothing at all. Tinglan had long since stopped speaking.

Feeling all the more emboldened, Luan'er took a step toward the doorway and said, "I don't believe in this nonsense. Let me have a go with that little concubine so she learns some respect!"

Before she could finish, Chunling stepped out right in front of the door and sneered, "Oh, early in the morning, who has such a fierce temper that they're trying to force their way inside? You must have forgotten the rules established by the master years ago: without the master's permission, concubines and maids alike are strictly forbidden from stepping foot into the main quarters. I wonder whose fault it was that suffered the young master's wrath over this very matter yesterday—have you forgotten the lesson already?"

Luan'er's face flushed crimson instantly. She pointed at Chunling and said, "Such unmannerly servant! Who do you think you're talking to?"

Chunling akimbo, she sneered, "Who am I talking to? I'm talking to fellow servant stock, aren't you one too? You've barely clawed your way up to a maid's position, you aren't even a concubine yet, and you're no better than the rest of us. Yet you carry on as if you're a proper mistress, casting all rules to the wind and shouting 'servant' at every turn. Don't make me blush on your behalf!"

Chunling was naturally a sharp-tongued creature. Luan'er clenched her fists tight, wanting to open her mouth to argue, but upon reflection, everything Chunling said was entirely justified. Not being particularly adept at debate, she was momentarily struck dumb, her face turning a purplish red.

Tinglan hurried over to tug at Luan'er's sleeve, saying, "Alright, alright, it's nothing major. Let's all go to my room for tea."

Luan'er forcefully shook off Tinglan's arm. Tinglan pulled her back a few more times, only to be shaken off again. Luan'er pointed at Chunling and sneered, "Fine, you wretched servant, this isn't over between us!"

Chunling sneered right back, "Even if you take this to Sister Shuran, I'm not afraid. If not, go straight to the young master and let him judge the right and wrong!"

Huamei naturally watched the fire from the opposite bank, gently waving her fan as her eyes darted from one to the other. A subtle smile played at the corners of her mouth, and she didn't utter a single word.

Only then did Chunling turn to Huamei and say, "Our young lady appreciates the concubine's kind intentions, but she truly isn't feeling well today. She just took some medicine and went to rest. We can talk after her health improves."

Huamei's face broke into a full smile as she said, "Oh my, it was my blunder for not thinking things through. That's fine too; another day the sisters can gather together." With that, she swayed away with an alluring grace.

Chunling glanced at Luan'er once more, let out a huff, and turned back into the room.

Xiaoquan stepped forward to greet her, saying, "Offending Luan'er like that might not be very good, right?"

Chunling replied, "What is there to fear? If Xianglan just stays cooped up in silence the moment she returns, they'll all think she's easy to push around. You know what kind of faces these people have." Having said this, she peeked back into the inner room and saw Xianglan still gazing fixedly at that pot of orchids, prompting her to let out a deep sigh.

Meanwhile, stung by Chunling's scathing remarks and burning with frustration, Luan'er went straight to find Shuran to lodge a complaint. Shuran tapped Luan'er on the forehead with her finger and scolded, "You, oh you, do give me some peace! You already brewed up a bellyful of displeasure last night, and the young master hasn't even returned yet. Now that there's a new arrival, goodness knows what will happen if you stir up more trouble."

Having failed to gain any sympathy and getting scolded instead, Luan'er muttered under her breath and departed in a huff.

Now, Huamei was a scheming sort. After returning to her quarters to ponder for a moment, she quietly dispatched a young page from the corridor to send a message to Lin Jinlou, claiming that she wished to use her own silver to host a banquet for Xianglan "to fulfill their sisterly affection," and inviting Lin Jinlou to return a bit earlier that evening to share in the wine. Lin Jinlou was naturally pleased, and before even the time of lighting lanterns, he returned from the military camp.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Huamei hurrying out to meet him. With a troubled look on her face, she said, "I must ask for the young master's forgiveness. Sister Xianglan is feeling somewhat indisposed, so tonight's banquet probably cannot take place. It's all my fault for not thinking it through." She glanced cautiously at Lin Jinlou's expression before continuing, "With a heart full of goodwill, I thought that since a new sister has arrived to serve the young master alongside us, eating and sleeping together so that we would soon be closer than blood sisters, I wanted to spend my own silver to arrange a feast. I planned to call Yingge and Luan'er as well, so we could all make merry in the room, and I even sent someone to give the young master the message. Who would have thought that when I went to invite Sister Xianglan, she never showed her face? She wouldn't even let me and Luan'er into the door, so I suppose she really isn't feeling well. Sister Luan'er has a straightforward temper and ended up exchanging a few sharp words with Chunling... Ah, it's all my fault..."

Lin Jinlou raised an eyebrow and asked, "Has the feast been prepared?"

Huamei was momentarily stunned, then replied, "I've already had the small kitchen stir-fry a few dishes that the young master loves..."

Lin Jinlou nodded and said, "Splendid. Send someone to ask what Xianglan likes to eat and add a few more dishes. Charge the silver to my account." As he spoke, he glanced at Xique, who stood beside Huamei, and Xique hurried off in a flurry.

Lin Jinlou turned and strode into the eastern side-room. Huamei quickly followed behind him to wait upon him, serving tea, arranging fruits, and fetching hot water for Lin Jinlou to wash his face, all the while chattering away, "Sister Luan'er is still young and has quite a fiery temper. Today, she merely waited in the corridor for a moment before getting angry and trying to march right into the room. Chunling came out and told her, 'You've barely clawed your way up to a maid's position, you aren't even a concubine yet, and you're no better than the rest of us. Yet you carry on as if you're a proper mistress, casting all rules to the wind and shouting servant at every turn.' Even I thought she was acting more high-and-mighty than the former head wife. She even said I was a spineless creature who shouldn't condone Xianglan's arrogance. Ah, watching her bicker with Chunling, I didn't dare try too hard to persuade them..."

As it turned out, in Huamei's mind, Luan'er was her primary rival. Even though Lin Jinlou had been yearning for Xianglan all this time, Xianglan had no backing whatsoever in the manor and possessed a meek temperament; Lin Jinlou was someone who usually tossed things aside after a couple of days of novelty. No matter what Xianglan did, she wasn't worth fearing. Luan'er, however, was different. She had been personally bestowed by the Old Lady, making her status a cut above the rest—even Huamei had to yield three paces to her, not to mention that Luan'er's cousin Shuran was one of the most trusted servants by Lin Jinlou's side and the head housekeeper of the Zhichun Pavilion. Although Luan'er had a difficult personality, she was pretty, skilled in playing instruments and singing, and whenever Lin Jinlou drank wine, he would always summon her to perform and add to the merriment, which filled Huamei with special envy. Furthermore, Luan'er was always striving to outdo everyone else. The moment she arrived, she had changed her name and placed herself above the rest. If such a person wasn't eliminated and was allowed to rise in rank to become a concubine, where would Huamei herself find a foothold?

Lin Jinlou waved his hand and said, "Come here. I have something to say to you."

Huamei let out a soft giggle, darted like a stream of water right up to the window sill, and said coquettishly, "Oh, looking at that gloomy face of yours is rather frightening. I wouldn't dare come over."

Lin Jinlou's expression remained calm, his dark eyebrows lifting slightly as he commanded, "Come here."

Huamei, being quick-witted and sharp-eyed, saw that Lin Jinlou's demeanor was not one of playful banter, so she reined in her smile and walked obediently up to him. Lin Jinlou said, "Huamei, you are the most clever one in the rooms. Just don't let your cleverness overreach and treat your master like a fool, or you'll end up stinking to high heaven in the end."

Huamei felt her heart skip a beat. Looking up, she saw Lin Jinlou wearing a half-smile, his eyes gleaming like cold lightning. She shuddered involuntarily, forced a laugh, and said, "What is the young master talking about? I don't understand a word."

Lin Jinlou gave her a cool glance, picked up his tea bowl to drink, and said nothing more.

With a drum beating in her heart, Huamei could only redouble her attentive service. Before long, the maid indeed brought up four small jade-green plates containing exquisite silver-thread delicacies, along with preserved fruits and delicate pastries. Yingge and Luan'er arrived shortly after, both dressed in their finest attire.

Lin Jinlou sat upon the heated brick kang, with Huamei seated on his right. Luan'er promptly rushed over to claim the seat on his left, while Yingge sat below them on the right.

Lin Jinlou asked, "Why hasn't Xianglan come yet?"

Xique entered the room and reported, "Sister Xianglan says she is not feeling well and cannot come."

Luan'er sneered coldly, "Such grand airs! She says she won't come, so she just doesn't show up."

With a dark expression, Lin Jinlou abruptly stood up and strode straight toward the main quarters. He found Xianglan lying sideways on the daybed in the inner alcove, covered by a brocade quilt with her eyes tightly closed.

Lin Jinlou ripped the quilt away in one swift motion and pointed at her, saying, "Playing hard to get, are we? You'd rather make me invite you personally?"

Xianglan lay motionless. Chunling hurried forward and said, "Young Master, our young lady is truly unwell..." Her voice trailed off until it sounded like a mosquito's buzz, "...she just applied medicine earlier..."

Lin Jinlou was taken aback for a moment, immediately guessing the reason. He rubbed his nose, sat down on the edge of the bed, and after a long pause, said in a moderated tone, "No matter how unwell you are, you still have to eat. A table has been set in the eastern side-room, and the dishes stir-fried are your favorites."

Xianglan still lay motionless, thinking to herself how hateful this bandit and tyrant could be. He had already trampled upon her dignity, yet she couldn't even hide away for a moment of peace? What did it matter to her if he made merry with his concubines? She would rather go hungry all night than share a meal with him.

Lin Jinlou let out a scoff. Chunling and Xiaoquan exchanged glances; just as Chunling was about to speak, Lin Jinlou said, "Both of you, withdraw." Left with no choice, the two of them had to leave.

Lin Jinlou leaned down, pressed close to Xianglan's ear, and murmured, "Being stubborn is useless. Think of your parents; don't assume that just because your household registration was removed, I have no hold over you. You know very well what my temper is like."

Xianglan kept her eyes closed, but tears began to stream down her long eyelashes.

Suddenly, she felt herself being hoisted up. Opening her eyes in shock, she saw that Lin Jinlou had swept her up horizontally in his arms. He smiled down at her and said, "I'm carrying you over myself—this is giving you the utmost face. Wipe away those tears of yours; don't ruin the mood with your weeping."