Against the Current - Chapter 143

Chapter 143 - Hosting a Banquet (Part 3)

Xianglan glanced at Luan'er, a faint, cold smile playing in her heart as she lowered her gaze and remained silent.

Luan'er arched her delicate brows and snapped, "Hey, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"

Xianglan simply lowered her head and stayed put. Seeing this, Luan'er reached out to smooth her temples, a trace of smugness on her face as she said, "What's there to be shy about? It's just singing a little tune to liven things up. Could it be that you're unwilling? If you truly are unwilling, that would be a serious slap in the face to the young master. Our young master naturally loves listening to songs, and tonight's banquet was specially prepared for you by Sister Huamei. If you don't sing a verse, there's simply no way to justify it, wouldn't you say?" With a giggle, she added, "Could it be that you don't know how to sing? Even if you don't, it doesn't matter. Given how warmly the young master treats you, even if you sang completely out of tune, he'd still pretend it was an oriole singing!" As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Lin Jinlou.

Xianglan merely sat without moving an inch. Lin Jinlou acted as though he hadn't heard a thing, drinking his wine at his leisure while Huamei and Yingge diligently served him food. Huamei thought to herself, "Xianglan used to be a mere maid; although she caught the young master's eye, she was ultimately driven out by the head madam. They say 'what you can't get is what you yearn for most,' and that saying is certainly true. I heard the young master even went to the magistrate's office in person to have her father released, and now he carried her in cradled in his arms—he's clearly propping her up and giving her face. Luan'er is hopelessly dense and failed to see the young master's intentions, choosing instead to let jealousy get the better of her and try to put Xianglan in her place. From where I'm standing, she's just asking to make a fool of herself for nothing. Luan'er is more detestable than anyone else; a mere concubine's room-attendant who acts like she can tether the young master to her apron strings, putting on mistress-like airs every single day until it drives people mad. It's just as well—let the two of them fight it out while I sit back and reap the fisherman's profit."

Meanwhile, Yingge picked up her wine cup, presented it before Luan'er, and smiled, "You sang so wonderfully just now that you probably frightened her. Why make things difficult for her? Good sister, drink this cup of wine and sing another song for us."

Seeing that Lin Jinlou still maintained an indifferent expression, Luan'er grew even bolder. Ignoring Yingge's toast, she straightened her spine, remained seated, and sneered, "Sister Yingge is offering me a drink, so by rights I have no reason to refuse. But if Xianglan doesn't give me an answer today, I specifically refuse to drink this wine."

Yingge had only wanted to smooth things over and keep the peace, not expecting Luan'er to react this way. Struck momentarily awkward, she set her wine cup back down.

Growing even more displeased, Luan'er snapped at Xianglan, "Are you deaf or mute? I've asked you so many questions and you haven't made a single peep! It's one thing if you want to humiliate me, but don't you see the young master is still sitting right here?"

Xianglan slowly raised her head, looked straight into Luan'er's face, and sneered, "I am neither a singing actress, nor a courtesan, nor a servant. On what grounds should I sing tunes to amuse people?"

As soon as these words fell, the room descended into total silence. Lin Jinlou's hand paused for a moment, but he still finished the half-cup of wine in his hand.

Luan'er flushed red with anger, abruptly raised her hand, pointed at Xianglan, and stammered, "You, you, you—what did you just say?"

Xianglan replied, "Could it be that you're deaf? Didn't you hear what I just said?"

Flying into a towering rage, Luan'er swiped the wine cup off the table and sent it crashing to the floor, where it shattered into smithereens. She seized the sleeve of Lin Jinlou's robe and cried, "Young Master! You heard that!"

Xianglan let out a slight, cold scoff. "Such fine manners—your master is sitting right here, yet you dare smash cups. Truly excellent decorum."

Luan'er widened her eyes in fury, pointed at her, and cursed, "I may be a singing actress, a courtesan, or a servant, but just how high and mighty are you? You're nothing more than a cheap maid's life!"

Xianglan calmly retorted, "I may have a cheap maid's life, but at least I haven't sunk so low as to invite people to make sport of me and take me for a laughingstock while considering it a badge of honor. Unlike someone who hasn't even managed to secure the title of half-a-mistress or minor wife, yet treats singing tunes and serving people to please others as her bounden duty—that's your calling, not mine."

Luan'er was so incandescent with rage that her entire face turned crimson. She hissed, "Spawn of a concubine, let me hear you say one more word and I'll tear that mouth of yours to shreds!"

Sensing things were turning sour, Yingge hurried to her feet, stepped forward to pull on Luan'er's arm, and pleaded, "Good sister, say a little less!"

Huamei also chimed in with unctuous persuasion, "For goodness' sake, what is all this about? Both of you, say less. The young master is still right here." Yet she remained firmly seated, her tone dripping with a thinly veiled gloating schadenfreude.

Luan'er pointed and cursed, "Little wretch, you really think you're somebody special? Asking you to sing is doing you a favor..."

Xianglan cut her off, "Spare me. What kind of favors could you possibly bestow? As if everyone couldn't hear the barbed thorns in your remarks earlier! If you find me an eyesore, hurry up and beg your young master to chase me out of here so we can all have some peace and quiet."

Trembling all over with rage, Luan'er was about to step forward and slap Xianglan across the face, but remembering Lin Jinlou's presence, she prepared to burst into loud tears and demand that he render justice. To everyone's astonishment, however, Lin Jinlou suddenly burst out laughing. Turning sideways toward Xianglan, he chuckled, "I truly never expected this. I thought you were just a gourd with a sealed mouth, but it turns out you're a little firecracker after all."

Keeping her face solemn, Xianglan retorted, "I'm no firecracker. They were about to tear my mouth to shreds."

As if completely unbothered, Lin Jinlou extended his own wine cup toward Xianglan and coaxed, "Have a taste. This is authentic sweet-scented osmanthus aged wine. This small jar was buried beneath an osmanthus tree for over a dozen years, and even the imperial wines in the palace can't match its mellow purity."

None of them had anticipated that Lin Jinlou would act this way. Xianglan was also taken aback, but shook her head and said, "I never drink alcohol."

Lin Jinlou laughed, flashing a row of white teeth as he pressed the wine cup right against her lips and urged, "Just take a tiny sip. This is the very cup I drink from, and since I'm offering it to you as a toast, you should at least know what's good for you."

Xianglan stared at Lin Jinlou with wide, bright eyes, not moving a muscle. Lin Jinlou's expression gradually darkened, and without a trace of emotion, he commanded, "Hurry up, take a sip and just try the flavor." His tone brooked no refusal.

Left with no alternative, Xianglan leaned in and took a tiny sip. A sudden wave of fiery heat rushed up her throat, choking her into a fit of coughing. Lin Jinlou pulled her close, gently patted her back, and instructed Huamei and the others, "If she doesn't feel like singing, she won't sing. The rest of you go ahead and sing."

Feeling as though the world were spinning upside down and with her lips trembling so much she couldn't form words, Luan'er finally let out a wail of bitter tears, hurled her pipa onto the ground, and bolted from the room covering her face, with Cunxin scrambling in hot pursuit behind her.

Maintaining a composed demeanor, Huamei merely smiled and said, "Sister Xianglan, come sit a bit closer. These vegetarian dishes are exceptionally fresh—they're all tender vegetable hearts. Have a few more bites." While urging Xianglan to eat more, she covertly signaled Xique to pick up the shattered pipa and remove it, acting as though Luan'er had never been there at all. Fresh bowls and chopsticks were laid out for Xianglan, and both Huamei and Yingge vied with one another to serve her food.

Huamei held forth with great animation, turning the atmosphere lively with laughter and witty banter as she shared lighthearted anecdotes. Beaming with radiant hospitality, she anticipated every conceivable need. Xianglan mused inwardly, "Even though Luan'er can play and sing, and looks somewhat more youthful and pure than Huamei, her conversational poise, insight, and tact fall far short of Huamei's. No wonder Lin Jinlou elevated her to a concubine. It's just a pity her heart is crooked; otherwise, she'd be quite an admirable person."

Yingge, on the other hand, remained quiet and tight-lipped. She silently shelled a small dish of clams, added a dash of chili oil to the vinegar saucer, and placed it before Lin Jinlou. Only then did Lin Jinlou look at Yingge properly. Noticing that her cheeks had grown hollow and that while she still possessed the delicate charm of a "sick Xishi," she also carried a sickly pallor, he asked, "How has your health been these days? What medicine are you taking? Has the doctor been by to check on you?"

Overjoyed beyond measure, Yingge hurriedly replied, "I'm only taking a few nourishing remedies, and the doctor comes regularly to check on me."

Lin Jinlou nodded and said nothing more.

Yingge chimed in, "These past few days I've also learned a novel tune, and I'd like to ask the young master to listen." Seeing Lin Jinlou nod, she quickly sent someone to fetch a vertical bamboo flute (xiao) and played a melodious tune. However, ever since her miscarriage, her health had remained poor, and she inevitably lacked breath; she could only play a single piece before stopping, her face turning deathly pale as she panted for air.

Xianglan let out a silent, internal sigh. Just to win a man's favor, is all this truly necessary? Thinking back to how Luan'er had just bickered with her, she realized that at its core, it was nothing more than a struggle for favor. A wave of desolation washed over her once more, leaving her feeling utterly listless.

Presently, Lin Jinlou rewarded Yingge with a bolt of high-grade silk fabric. Instantly feeling she had regained face, Yingge thanked Lin Jinlou with a toast of wine. From time to time, Huamei also played the guqin to add to the merriment, earning rewards from Lin Jinlou as well.

After they had eaten a while longer, Lin Jinlou ordered the banquet to be cleared. Yingge hastily protested, "We've barely been eating for an hour. Let's sit a while longer before heading back. What else would the young master like to eat?"

Lin Jinlou replied, "I have to head out early tomorrow morning. It's getting late, I should leave."

Though Huamei and the others wanted him to stay, seeing that Lin Jinlou had already put his feet to the floor, she and Yingge joined hands in stepping forward to help him put on his shoes. They urged, "In that case, let's have one more cup before you go."

Lin Jinlou drank one final cup and instructed the maids to pack a large food box with various fruits and side dishes, telling them to send it to the main quarters for the senior nurses and maids to enjoy. Huamei brightened the lamps, intending to fetch a pair of her own shoes for Xianglan to wear, but Lin Jinlou simply picked Xianglan up in his arms once more and carried her away.

The main quarters were brightly lit. Lin Jinlou laid Xianglan down upon the large bed in the inner chamber. The moment she laid eyes on that bed, Xianglan turned pale with fright, her heart fluttering with dread as she repeatedly urged Xiaoquan to fetch her shoes. With a mischievous grin, Lin Jinlou said, "What are you panicking about? We didn't quite get our fill over in the eastern side-room, so let's have a couple more cups here." True to his word, he ordered the servants to bring over the kang table. Chunling went to the small kitchen to fetch three or four side dishes, while Tinglan and the others went to warm up the wine.

Pinching Xianglan's cheek, Lin Jinlou chuckled, "I backed you up today, so you can't keep pulling that long face anymore. Pour me a cup."

With no other choice, Xianglan had to pour wine for Lin Jinlou.

Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "I know you're embarrassed and don't like singing in front of others. But there's no one else here now, so sing a tune for me to hear."

Lowering her eyelids, Xianglan said, "I don't know how."

Reclining against the bolster with his long legs stretched out, Lin Jinlou smiled, "Who says you don't know how? I still remember when I first met you, you were singing away—something about 'Snowy waves beat against the vast sky, autumn clouds roll across the edge of the horizon.' Isn't that an aria from The Romance of the Western Chamber?" Seeing that Xianglan still kept silent, he took a sip of wine, chuckled, and said, "Little Xianglan, haven't you figured out your own status yet? Luan'er went a bit too far just now, and because my heart ached for you, I gave you face. But as for what you truly are, you ought to understand very clearly. When the young master elevates you, you are a mistress; when the young master doesn't elevate you, you're worth less than a servant. Do you understand?"

Xianglan sat numbly, feeling a painful lump constricting her throat.

Standing outside to keep watch, Chunling heard every word clearly. Unable to bear it, she used fetching dishes as an excuse to come inside. Catching Xianglan's eye with a subtle look, she said to Lin Jinlou, "The young lady is probably thirsty; I'll pour her some tea to soothe her throat." Hurriedly pouring a cup of tea, she brought it over and whispered, "Just sing a song, even two or three lines will do."

At that moment, Xiaoquan stepped inside and reported, "Jixiang is outside in the corridor saying he has an urgent matter to discuss with the young master."

Lin Jinlou threw on his outer robe and strode out, and once he left, he did not return.

Only then did Xianglan let out a breath of relief. After washing up hastily, she turned in for the night.