Against the Current - Chapter 155

Chapter 155 - Breakfast 

Xianglan stood there in a daze a moment longer before she finally collected her wits, walking with floating steps back into the eastern inner chamber. Chunling was already awake, busily directing a young maid to bring in hot water. Xianglan tucked a large towel into her collar, washed her face with jasmine soap, scrubbed her teeth with fine salt, and applied some fragrant face cream. Xiaojuan had already finished gathering her hair into a bun and was about to style it into an elaborate pattern when Xianglan hurriedly said, "This is fine as it is."

Xiaojuan went over to pick out some hair ornaments, exclaiming with exaggerated fuss, "Oh my, since the eldest master was away these past few days, Sister Xianglan hasn't dressed up at all. Most of the jewelry is still locked away in the vanity drawer in the eldest master's room, and the styles here are a bit too simple." With that, she picked up a gold hairpin adorned with kingfisher feathers in a flying phoenix design holding a pearl, held it up to test it against Xianglan's hair, decided it didn't look quite right, and swapped it for a jade-inlaid ginkgo hairpin instead. Feeling rather annoyed, Xianglan said, "This hairpin will do just fine." At that moment, one of the garden matrons brought over a plate of fresh flowers resting on a lotus-leaf dish, so Xiaojuan picked out two vibrant blossoms and pinned them into Xianglan's hair.

Chunling brought over a selection of garments: a bright red plum-blossom embroidered jacket, a turmeric-colored satin piped vest, a silver-red patterned skirt, and a matching pair of embroidered shoes. Dragging her feet sluggishly, Xianglan changed into the clothes and finally made her way step by reluctant step into the bedroom. Lin Jinlou had clearly washed and freshened up, though his hair was still somewhat disheveled. He wore a crab-shell green fine-ramie unlined jacket, fastened loosely with just two frogs, paired with loose-legged patterned silk trousers and cloth shoes slipped loosely onto his feet. He was sitting on the Luohan bed, a warm bowl of soup set out right beside his head.

Xianglan walked over at a snail's pace. Once dressed, Lin Jinlou didn't look quite as terrifying, yet he still radiated an overwhelming, imposing presence. Raising his head to glance at Xianglan, he said, "You're here?" He gestured to the opposite side of the heated brick bed and said, "Sit here."

Xianglan lowered her head and sat down.

Lin Jinlou picked up a small hand towel to wipe his hands and said, "Serve breakfast."

Lianxin and Nuanyue immediately stepped forward carrying a tray, setting down four light vegetarian side dishes, two meat dishes, a large platter of delicate pastries, and a small pot of broth. Lifting his chopsticks, Lin Jinlou said, "Dig in."

Xianglan picked up a small silver spoon to stir her soup, casting a covert glance at Lin Jinlou. Being in the presence of such a living grim reaper completely killed her appetite, but she couldn't afford not to eat, so she took a single spoonful of soup, waiting a long while before taking another.

Lin Jinlou ate with hearty relish. Once he finished the pastries, he had several varieties of dim sum brought out. As Xianglan sat with her head bowed in distracted boredom, a pair of chopsticks suddenly reached across and placed a crystal shrimp dumpling onto her plate. Xianglan looked up as Lin Jinlou said offhandedly, "I brought back a Cantonese chef from my trip. Try his cooking; if you like it, we'll keep him around." After stuffing a piece of beef into his mouth and chewing it thoroughly, he added, "The maids tell me you've been painting whenever you have free time lately—that's good. You can use the desk over there, and once you've painted something, let me have a look."

Xianglan lowered her head again, fixing her gaze on the plate of crystal shrimp dumplings without a word.

Lin Jinlou continued, "Don't just spend all your time painting either. Later on, I'll have someone fetch a zither or a guqin, and we'll hire a tutor so you can learn in your spare time, lest you get cooped up and fall ill."

Lianxin stepped forward to ladle a bowl of soup for Lin Jinlou. Xianglan remained seated with her head drooped. Lin Jinlou prompted, "I brought back two chests of fresh novelties from outside; go ahead and pick out whatever catches your fancy."

Xianglan kept her mouth firmly shut.

A wave of secret anxiety washed over Chunling, her heart leaping straight into her throat as she thought, My dear little mistress, the eldest master is speaking to you! Not answering him is practically courting death! She glanced anxiously at Lin Jinlou, but seeing no trace of anger on his face—instead looking entirely calm and composed as he sat holding a bowl of warm soup—she felt slightly reassured. She shot frantic glances at Xianglan, but alas, the girl refused to even lift her head.

Xianglan kept her head down and ate at a snail's pace. After finishing a small round cake, she picked at some vegetables, ate a tiny morsel of pastry, and sipped some soup before putting her spoon down. Seeing that she had finished, Lin Jinlou downed his soup in one go, after which Lianxin and Chunling brought out tea for both of them to rinse their mouths.

Wiping his mouth with a towel, Lin Jinlou instructed the maids to remove the heated bed table, waved the attendants away, and sat down right next to Xianglan. Staring at her for a moment, he asked, "Lianxin said you were bedridden for a few days—are you feeling better now?"

Xianglan started, instantly understanding what he was referring to. Her face flared a bright crimson, and she bit her lower lip, still refusing to speak.

Lin Jinlou chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around her waist. Xianglan let out a gasp of shock and instinctively tried to struggle, but she was no match for Lin Jinlou's formidable arm strength. Like a panicked little bird fluttering its wings in vain, she was pulled tight against his chest. His warm breath brushed right against her ear as he murmured in a low voice, "What's this? Are you still hurting? Judging by that long face of yours, are you still holding a grudge against me?"

Xianglan struggled again, prompting Lin Jinlou to chuckle softly. "Such a stubborn temper you have—you made my heart, liver, and lungs ache with fury. Did you enjoy yourself either of those times? If I hadn't been blinded by anger, I wouldn't have... Alright, alright, stop fighting me. I won't talk about it anymore, okay? No more talking about it."

Hearing the lazy, teasing tone in his voice, Xianglan felt an even greater surge of shame and indignation. She let Lin Jinlou hold her, but resolutely turned her face in the opposite direction.

Lin Jinlou chided, "You too—why can't you just go along with me? Making such a fuss only brings trouble upon yourself in the end." Seeing that Xianglan ignored him, a mischievous grin spread across his face as he teased, "Oh, is it still uncomfortable down there? Should I take a personal look and see whether you've fully recovered?" With that, his hand slid under Xianglan's skirt, reaching toward her trousers.

Horrified, Xianglan hurriedly pressed her hands down over Lin Jinlou's hand, her face burning even more fiercely. Terrified of being heard by the maids outside, she whispered frantically, "I'm better! I'm already better."

Pinching Xianglan's delicate little chin, Lin Jinlou said, "Then wipe that gloomy look off your face. I'm apologizing to you, hmm?"

Xianglan lowered her long eyelashes once again. Gazing at the reluctant expression lingering between her brows, yet taking in her peach-blossom complexion—truly matching the description of "powdered grease and melting skin, delicate enough to drip"—Lin Jinlou felt a wave of delight bloom in his chest. His voice unconsciously softening, he asked, "What did you get up to while I was away from home?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued on his own, "These past few days, I've been worked half to death out there, dealing with battles or arguing with a bunch of crafty old foxes. Wokou pirates launched a night raid, and two county towns sent out urgent distress calls. Those bags of wind and buckets of slop only knew how to pass the buck to one another, even closing the city gates to keep me from going to their rescue because they were afraid the government troops would leave and the pirates would lay siege to the town. I lost my temper, slapped my blade right against Prefect Sun's neck, and only then managed to get out the city gates. Thank goodness I went early; otherwise, there would have been fires everywhere and every house would have been burned to the ground. When I got back, I had to be on guard against that scoundrel Sun trying to strike first with a false accusation, so I had my political advisors draft a memorial to impeach him first. I haven't even told the old man at home about this yet; if he finds out I beat up a civil servant of the imperial court, he'll start dragging out Master Confucius to lecture me all over again."

Xianglan had been born into a scholarly family in her past life, surrounded by civil officials and scholars. This was her very first time hearing firsthand accounts of warfare. Though Lin Jinlou made it sound effortless, she knew how perilous it truly was, thinking to herself that this scoundrel wasn't entirely useless after all—at least he understood the duty of a general fighting to the death, serving his country with absolute loyalty, and protecting the common people.