Against the Current - Chapter 151

Chapter 151 - Living Under the Same Roof (Part 2)

Lin Jinlou pulled her into a tighter embrace, holding her close as he pressed a kiss to her face, his demeanor shifting with a commanding yet possessive intensity as he sought to break through her guarded silence.

Xianglan's entire body stiffened violently as she pushed and pounded at Lin Jinlou in desperation, crying out, "Let me go, let me go..."

Lin Jinlou effortlessly captured both of her wrists, breathing heavily near her ear as he murmured low, "Don't move, don't move, my little Xianglan... Soon enough, you'll see how this brings us closer."

Xianglan trembled uncontrollably. Yet after a moment, finding her still and unresponsive, a deeper frustration took hold of him, and he pressed his will upon her with unyielding force. His strong arms clamped around her until she felt nearly suffocated, the overwhelming pressure leaving her deeply uncomfortable. She twisted the bedsheets beneath her, burying half her face into the jade-gauze pillow—a pillow filled with the sweet, clear fragrance of jasmine that now tasted entirely bitter to her. She felt like a helpless captive caught in a storm of absolute dominance, the emotional toll leaving her somewhat dazed. With bitter resentment, she thought that since Lin Jinlou wished to bend her to his will, she had originally intended to endure it in silence, but now she felt she simply could not bear it any longer. She was determined to make him understand her defiance.

Lost in the heat of the moment, Lin Jinlou found this young woman to be like a delicate flower, both fragrant and tender, bringing him a sense of absolute conquest. After indulging his dominant mood for quite a while, he finally exhaled a ragged breath and drew back, pulling Xianglan into his arms. Glancing down, he saw that Xianglan's forehead was covered in sweat, her dark hair plastered against her cheeks, her teeth biting firmly onto her lower lip, and her eyes half-closed. Though she looked exhausted, she possessed an exquisite, fragile vulnerability that stirred a complex mix of triumph and agitation within him.

As Lin Jinlou reached out to hold her close once more, his persistent desires flaring up again, he suddenly heard Xianglan ask in a calm, flat tone, "Is the First Master not going to call for water to be brought in?"

Shifting closer, Lin Jinlou looked down at the striking face beneath him, his voice tight with lingering passion as he muttered, "In a moment, after this is finished..."

Xianglan replied indifferently, "Then make it quick, First Master. When it's over, don't forget to have the maidservants brew a cooling herbal remedy for me."

The sweat on Lin Jinlou's forehead rolled down his cheeks as he said, "There's no need. You don't need to take that kind of thing." With that, he leaned down toward her lips.

Xianglan turned her face aside to dodge him, saying, "To save my father, I agreed to be here at your side, but I never agreed to a future beyond that."

Lin Jinlou paused. It felt as though a basin of cold water had been dumped straight over his head, instantly scattering his ardor. Following closely behind, a sharp spike of anger surged up from his heart. He grabbed a handful of Xianglan's hair, forcing her to look directly into his eyes, and let out a chilling, grim laugh, "You wish to distance yourself? Who do you think you belong to? Could it be Song Ke? He has already married the Duke of Xianguo's daughter; they are newlyweds building their own life, tsk tsk. It's truly pitiful that you're still holding onto thoughts of him here."

The pressure forced Xianglan to arch her neck upward, her gaze unwavering despite the quiet storm in his eyes. She lowered her eyelids, and after a long silence, she said, "I am not holding onto thoughts of him. I only wish to have some peace and quiet on my own..." Having said that, she fluttered her eyelashes and smiled at Lin Jinlou with a helpless, tragic expression, "First Master, when will you ever grow tired of me?"

The tension in Lin Jinlou's posture tightened sharply. Letting out a cold sneer, he declared, "Whether I grow tired of you or not is entirely up to me to decide. Let me tell you, even if I do grow tired of you, you will still stay right here under my watch. Did you really think you could slip away from me?" With that, he sealed her lips with an overwhelming finality, his actions reflecting a fierce determination to bind her entirely to his world.

Lin Jinlou felt a deep knot of frustration in his chest. This defiant young woman always managed to upset his equilibrium, so he was determined to make her yield completely. She was already bound to his household, yet her mind remained stubbornly distant, playing out an endless internal resistance. She wanted him to finish quickly; she wanted to distance herself entirely—that look in her eyes had been pure alienation. Fine, he was not someone who could be easily dismissed, and he was resolved to break through her emotional walls until she learned to accept her reality!

Xianglan had no idea how much time had passed. When Lin Jinlou finally stepped away and went outside to call for attendants, her head lolled to the side, and she drifted into a heavy, exhausted sleep. When she woke up the next day, Lin Jinlou had already left. She felt a dull ache throughout her entire body, a testament to the exhausting emotional and physical strain of the previous night. Struggling to get up, she asked Chunling for hot water and soothing ointment, gently tending to herself before putting on her undergarments and curling up tightly beneath the covers. Her whole body ached, and her heart ached just as much. She consoled herself that once she endured it, the days would pass—after all, what else could she do? But what would happen if things went further? Since Lin Jinlou had made it clear he would not let her leave, wouldn't that mean she was trapped in this gilded cage indefinitely?

Xiaojuan called out to her through the bed curtains to come have breakfast, but Xianglan felt too listless to move. Noticing that there was no one else in the room, Xiaojuan quietly lifted the bed curtains, poked her head inside, and smiled, "Xianglan, get up and eat something. At least have some congee before resting again."

Xianglan shook her head and murmured, "I can't eat."

A troubled expression appeared on Xiaojuan's face as she said, "Ah? Then what should we do? The First Master specifically instructed me to watch over you."

Xianglan asked in a low voice, "Has anyone brought any specialized herbal remedies for me?"

Xiaojuan was startled, exclaiming, "Of course not!"

Xianglan forced herself to sit up straight, reaching out to take Xiaojuan's hand as she pleaded, "Good sister, tell me, where might one find a way to manage such things?"

Xiaojuan looked at Xianglan with a mixture of shock and uncertainty. Seeing her pale complexion, swollen eyes, and exhausted appearance, she asked in a small voice, "You... why are you asking about this? There are many in the estate who look toward the future with different hopes."

Xianglan said softly, "I don't belong here... I want to return to my own home one day." As she spoke, she could not stop the tears from rolling down.

Xiaojuan sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "The First Master's temperament is overwhelming. If I were in your shoes, I would feel the same way." She cast a sympathetic look at Xianglan, squeezed her hand, lowered her head in thought, and said, "I remember whispers from the Third Master's quarters regarding such matters... Once, when I went to Cloud-Gazing Courtyard, I overheard staff members discussing how the Third Master's attendant, Xianxia, had sought out similar traditional remedies to keep to herself, leading to quite a bit of estate gossip."

Xianglan lowered her head to ponder this, thinking to herself, "Finding the right guidance might be possible, but doing so quietly within this estate requires careful planning."

After mulling it over, she felt too physically drained to stay awake and collapsed back onto her pillow to rest. When she opened her eyes again, the sky had already grown dusky, and she forced herself up to wash and groom. Lin Jinlou did not return that night, nor did he come back for the next three days. Shuangxi returned to fetch Lin Jinlou's everyday clothes, mentioning that he had official business and would be staying in the military camp for a few days. Xianglan let out a massive sigh of relief, finally feeling a momentary sense of breathing room.

During these days, the entire Lin household was extraordinarily busy. First, Lin Zhangzheng was preparing to set off for Shanxi to assume office as the Governor-General, requiring a great deal of packing and preparation for the journey. Second, Lin Dongqi was getting married right before Lin Zhangzheng's departure. Madam Qin devoted herself heart and soul to the management of the household, wishing she could manage a dozen things at once. At one moment, she dispatched people to oversee Lin Zhangzheng's travel arrangements; at the next, she had to supervise Lin Dongqi's dowry and wedding preparations, all of which involved handling fine silks and valuables. With very few capable female elders in the Lin household, Madam Wang was brilliant at bookkeeping and verifying items, but utterly stretched thin for anything else, leaving them with no choice but to invite women of the same clan to come help manage affairs.

Madam Qin had originally intended to invite Lin Dongling and Lin Dongxiu to assist in the administration—first, to let the two young girls gain some experience, and second, out of an intention to guide them. Lin Dongxiu was a concubine-born daughter of the First Estate, over whom Qin had a duty of instruction. Although Qin privately felt that Lin Dongxiu was full of complex ambitions and lacked genuine sincerity, and thus didn't care for her much, the child still addressed her as "Mother," and both Dongxiu and her biological mother, Concubine Bao, had behaved peacefully over the years. Therefore, Qin was fair when it came to giving guidance where it was due. Lin Dongling, however, was someone Madam Wang had personally asked Madam Qin to mentor. Qin had originally not wanted to burden herself with extra matters, but she got along with Madam Wang like a sister, and because she valued Wang's generous nature while pitying her domestic situation, she agreed.

Who could have foreseen that Lin Dongling had always been naturally reluctant to exert herself. At first, she reported to Madam Qin's side every morning at the hour of the Dragon to assist, but after barely two or three days, she grew weary of the routine. One day she claimed a headache, the next she complained of feeling unwell. Initially, she would step away for half a day to rest at home, but eventually, she stopped showing up entirely. Madam Qin sent Hongjian to inform Madam Wang: "It is not that our household is being strict, but Third Miss has frequently not been feeling well lately. Young ladies of prominent families are delicate, and we are concerned about her health under the summer sun. Since our household is busy all day, there are bound to be times when we cannot provide constant attention. If Second Madam could look into it, and if Third Miss's condition truly isn't improving, she should stay home to rest properly. If she feels better tomorrow, she is welcome to arrive promptly."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang went to question Lin Dongling. Wearing a water-green gauze dress and soft silk trousers, Lin Dongling was lounging lazily on a cooling bed eating cherries. She said to Madam Wang, "It's so hot out, Mother, just let me rest. Going there day after day under the scorching sun is exhausting. Besides, Eldest Aunt hasn't taught us anything new—checking ledgers and comparing account books are things you've already taught me, Mother, and I already know all about managing household affairs. Why on earth should I trudge all the way over there?" Seeing Madam Wang knit her brows, she threw her arms around Wang's sleeve, acting coquettishly, "My good mother, take pity on me. I really haven't been feeling well lately. If you don't believe me, ask Nange or Hanfang; I've had a persistent cough lately, waking me up every single night, and I'm currently taking medicine for it."

Hearing this, Madam Wang was startled and said, "My child, could it be a lingering seasonal cough? Quickly, send for Doctor Luo of Ji安 Hall to examine you."

Lin Dongling replied, "It's just a minor cough, but I still have to take herbal remedies all day long without a moment of peace. Mother, please have mercy on me!"

Her heart aching for her daughter, Madam Wang hurriedly dispatched servants to brew soothing tonics for Lin Dongling, and had Coral carry a message to Madam Qin: "Our household says Third Miss is indeed unwell, and we are afraid of adding trouble to Eldest Madam. She will come again once her health recovers."

Madam Qin maintained a calm expression as she replied, "If she's feeling unwell, she should rest properly. Later, fetch some fine herbal supplies from the public dispensary and send them over to Third Miss."

As soon as Coral left, Madam Qin said to Hongjian, "Second sister-in-law's indulgence toward her child is understandable, but excess rarely leads to good habits. Miss Ling has grown increasingly accustomed to avoiding responsibilities."

Hongjian remarked, "Third Master was raised by the Old Madam from childhood, and Second Madam has only this single daughter left by her side, so it's natural for her to be indulgent. Besides, Second Miss is about to be married, and there is only Fourth Miss left afterward. A mother naturally focuses on her own children; if we try to comment too much, we might only cause friction."

Madam Qin smiled. "What you say is true; that is indeed how these matters go." With that, she set the topic aside and asked no more.