Against the Current - Chapter 161
Chapter 161 - The Wedding
At that moment, Lin Zhaoxiang gave Lin Jinlou a few more instructions. Because Lin Dongqi's wedding date was drawing near, Lady Qin had sent someone over to brief them on the arrangements for the wedding day—which essentially amounted to a list of invited guests, where the bride would be seen off, where the family would sit to receive guests, and where the banquet would be held. Just then, the garrison commander of Jinling arrived at the estate, and Lin Jinlou naturally went off to greet him, leaving that aside for the moment.
When Lin Jinlou returned late that evening, Xianglan had already blown out the lamps and fallen asleep early in the east side room. Only Lianxin, Nuanyue, Rushuang, and Tinglan remained awake, doing needlework while waiting for Lin Jinlou to return.
Seeing him step into the room, they hurried to their feet, chorusing greetings while bustling about to brew tea and pour water. Lin Jinlou swept his gaze over their faces and asked, "Where is Xianglan?"
Lianxin replied, "She has already gone to sleep." Lin Jinlou turned and headed into the inner chamber. Finding the bedroom empty, his expression darkened. He strode straight into the side room, flung aside the bed curtains with a yank, and pointing straight at Xianglan, his face like thunder, he said, "I was out front attending to guests, yet you had the audacity not to wait and serve me, choosing to go to sleep ahead of time! Just whose patience are you testing?"
Xianglan had no choice but to sit up, keeping her head lowered in silence.
Lin Jinlou let out a cold snort and swept out of the room.
Xianglan slowly put on a jade-colored patched vest and made her way to the main room. Lin Jinlou had already finished cleaning his teeth and was washing his face with fragrant soap. Tinglan wrung out a hot damp towel and quietly handed it to Xianglan, giving her a pointed look. However, she saw that Nuanyue had already eagerly stepped forward to place the hot towel directly into Lin Jinlou’s hands. Tinglan frowned slightly. Xianglan handed the towel back to Tinglan and shook her head.
By the time Lin Jinlou finished washing and grooming, Nuanyue and the others came forward to help him change. Staring at Xianglan with a cold expression, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, Lin Jinlou said, "What are you standing there like a statue for? Who do you think you're putting on that face for?"
Tinglan gave Xianglan a gentle nudge, leaving her with no choice but to step forward. Her small hands reached out to untie the buttons on his robe. Nuanyue made a move to undo his belt as well, but Lin Jinlou waved an impatient hand and snapped, "All of you, get out. Let her do it."
The attendants picked up their things and withdrew from the room.
Lowering his head slightly, Lin Jinlou gazed at Xianglan’s drooping little head, a wave of annoyance surging in his chest. This woman truly was an ungrateful wretch; had he not treated her well enough? Just that afternoon she had been tangled in his arms, yet by nightfall she brushed him aside to sleep alone, wearing a wooden expression without even the hint of a smile. Was this any way to show a shred of warmth or affection? She was simply like a stubborn stone in a latrine pit.
Xianglan was also trembling with fear, terrified that Lin Jinlou would grab her and pull another stunt like before. Her body still ached all over, and she walked with a certain awkward stiffness. Burdened by shyness, she had gone to sleep early precisely to avoid him. She wanted nothing more than coax him with a gentle expression and sweet talk, hoping to put him in a good mood so he would let her return home. Yet standing before this living Yanluo, she simply could not force herself to put on that kind of demeanor.
Glaring fixedly at Lin Jinlou’s broad, solid chest with sweat beading on her palms, she hurriedly removed his outer robe and draped it over the nearby warming frame. Lin Jinlou sat down on the edge of the bed, patted the mattress beside him, and commanded, "Come here."
Xianglan walked over with her head bowed.
Lin Jinlou said, "I told you before that you're sleeping in this room from now on. Did you treat my words as wind passing your ear?"
Xianglan whispered, "If word gets out that I'm sleeping in this room, I'm afraid it won't look proper..."
"If I say it's proper, then it's proper."
"Sooner or later, the First Young Master will take a principal wife. For someone like me to..."
"What is all this talk about 'this and that'? Since you are told to sleep here now, you sleep here."
Xianglan bit her lip and stayed silent.
Annoyed once more, Lin Jinlou said, "Blow out the lamps. It's time for bed."
Xianglan extinguished the candle, let down the bed curtains, and climbed into bed with the utmost stealth. She lay rigidly on the very edge of the mattress. Lin Jinlou turned over, threw an arm around her, and pulled her tight. Terrified out of her wits, Xianglan did not dare to make the slightest movement. Lin Jinlou, however, made no further advances and simply drifted off to sleep.
Ever since returning home, Lin Jinlou was constantly caught up in a flurry of social engagements. Between managing his official duties at the military yamen and the endless daily commotion, he rarely returned home. Lin Jinling, on the other hand, proved quite capable. He bustled about managing matters top and bottom—purchasing gold and silver utensils, various fine gauzes and silks, replanting flowers and plants, and hiring theater troupes. Even Lady Qin remarked to Lin Changzheng, "Don't let appearances fool you. Though Tingge's scholarship is merely mediocre, he handles affairs in a most professional and reliable manner. If he still fails to pass the imperial examinations in the upcoming session, we should figure out a way to pull some strings and buy him an official post to secure a minor vacancy." Lin Changzheng sighed and replied, "I originally thought the same, but Father's wish is for Tingge to pass the provincial examination on his own merit so that the family can hold its head high. As for my second brother, he only ever looks out for himself; when I consulted him, he simply said we should defer to Father's wishes. Let's put this matter aside for now." Hearing this, Lady Qin dropped the subject.
Meanwhile, with Lin Jinlou gone all day long, Xianglan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Every day, she would go through the paintings she had created, select the best ones to roll up and store away in a trunk, and burn the rest. She also gathered up her more modest gold and silver jewelry, stashing them in a small brocade pouch, while leaving the truly valuable items in Chunling's custody. The bustling preparations for the Second Young Lady's wedding brought a lively revival to Zhichun Pavilion. Shuran and Lianxin opened up the storage rooms to select bolts of brightly colored silk and gauze, hanging lanterns and festoons everywhere, and even hired Lin Jinling to bring in workers to plant flowers and completely rejuvenate the courtyard. Upon seeing this, Xique said resentfully, "They always say 'if you do not hold the office, do not meddle in its governance.' Shuran is already a married woman, yet she comes to Zhichun Pavilion day after day to throw her weight around and take charge. Lianxin has no particular competence either, save for being stubbornly docile. By rights and reason, the concubine should rank first now, taking the lead and managing affairs in the Eldest Young Master's courtyard. How did those two end up barking orders at everyone else?"
Maomu chimed in, "The two of them aren't much to fear; what we really need to worry about is the one residing in the main quarters. Ever since she arrived, the Eldest Young Master hasn't set foot in this room once. When I went to see her, she kept the door shut and refused to see anyone at all—she acts like she has nothing left to lose. If we don't come up with a strategy soon, we'll just be sitting here waiting to be ruined." After pondering for a moment, she took a purse from her drawer along with two taels of silver, and said to Xique, "When the opportunity arises, give this silver to Shuangxi and have him show that purse to the Eldest Young Master. Tell him I made it myself over the past few days, and knowing the Eldest Young Master is prone to internal heat, these are cooling pills I personally ground and prepared inside the pouch."
Xique tucked the items away, and we will leave that matter aside for the present.
By the evening of the day before Lin Dongqi's wedding, Lin Jinlou finally returned home. As soon as he stepped through the doors, he bathed, changed his clothes, and headed out front to entertain guests. Naturally, Xianglan found it difficult to sleep. While everyone else rushed off to join in the excitement, she felt too listless to move. Seeing the eager excitement shining in the eyes of Chunling and Xiaojuan, she told the two of them to go ahead and enjoy themselves. She then retrieved a half-finished pair of shoes from her basket and began stitching them together, one careful needle and thread at a time.
Tinglan, who had always been steady and reliable, stayed behind to keep watch over the rooms and even gave the younger maids the evening off. Bringing her own sewing basket, she joined Xianglan. The two exchanged occasional remarks as they quietly worked on their needlework, lost in their own thoughts. The room was so still that the faint sounds of strings, wind instruments, and brass cymbals from the theatrical performances out front drifted in. Beyond the bounds of Zhichun Pavilion, the estate was bursting with activity. Guests arrived in a steady stream, their cups clinking amidst a vibrant scene of colorful blooms and fluttering silk ribbons. Women, young misses, and maids alike were dressed in brilliant reds and greens, decked out in finery so stunning it put blushing peaches and envious orioles to shame.
Meanwhile, Lin Dongxiu stood with solemn propriety by Lady Qin’s side, lightly supporting her arm. Although Lin Dongqi had already departed in her bridal sedan chair, Lady Qin had not yet recovered her composure, continuously wiping away tears with a handkerchief, her eyes still rimmed with red. A cluster of aristocratic matrons surrounded her, offering words of comfort.
Displaying the picture of a thoroughly dutiful and filial daughter, Lin Dongxiu blinked back her own shimmering tears and chimed in, "Mother should dry her tears now. Today is a day of great joy, and Second Sister is marrying into a life of ease and fortune. If Mother carries on this way, it will only make Second Sister feel uneasy about her marriage. Second Sister may be leaving, but I am still here by Mother's side to fulfill my filial duties."
As soon as these words left her lips, they drew a chorus of warm praises from the surrounding ladies.
Lady Qin glanced at Lin Dongxiu. The girl was dressed in a magenta cloud-brocade vest embroidered with auspicious flower and bird motifs, a golden-yellow and white silk long gown patterned with embroidered coins, and a sea-blue chrysanthemum-patterned skirt. On her head she wore a pure gold magnolia flower hair-pin dangling with kingfisher-feather inlaid fringes, a matching patterned floral diadem, and spiral-spun gold hairpins set with dangling pearls. Around her neck hung a golden collar adorned with a beaded tassel and a golden lock, while a pair of long red agate earrings graced her ears. Her face was meticulously dusted with powder, her brows and temples delicately traced, giving her a radiantly vibrant appearance. She was naturally a striking girl, and such meticulous styling added an extra layer of allure, making her look all the more captivating.
Lady Qin had never been particularly close to Lin Dongxiu. For one thing, Lady Qin had her own biological children to raise. For another, she had initially entertained the notion of elevating Lin Dongxiu a little—after all, being a concubine-born daughter, the girl posed no real threat to her position, and if she turned out well in the future, she might serve as a helpful asset among the siblings. Furthermore, the child was bound to address her as "mother" regardless. However, as time went on, Lady Qin sensed that the girl was petty and calculating by nature. Though she had attempted to guide her a few times, she realized Lin Dongxiu only ever put on a superficial show of obedience, causing Lady Qin to gradually withdraw her affection and let the matter drop, though she had never treated her poorly.
Lin Dongxiu, however, harbored different ambitions. With her second sister now married off, it would soon be her turn to be betrothed. Among the various scholars Lin Changzheng had considered for her, she found none of their family backgrounds satisfactory. This time, she was firmly resolved to make a stellar impression at Lin Dongqi's wedding, causing the aristocratic matrons to view her in a new light so she could secure a top-tier match for herself. Now, hearing her flowery words, Lady Qin instantly saw through her intentions. With a flat, indifferent tone, Lady Qin remarked, "Our Xiu'er is certainly a thoughtful child who knows how to care for others."
Hearing this, several of the aristocratic matrons reached out to take Lin Dongxiu's hand, asking her age, what games she usually played, what books she read, and what kind of needlework she excelled at. Lin Dongxiu answered with a smiling face and a poised, graceful demeanor. Being a daughter of the Lin family—even if born to a concubine—she possessed a natural refinement, not to mention the weight of her prominent family background. Moreover, given how warmly Lin Dongxiu stood beside Lady Qin, there was every possibility she was being raised directly under Lady Qin's wing. For a moment, several households took note, resolving to make inquiries.
Lady Qin went about her socializing while Lin Dongxiu remained glued to her side, stepping forward at a moment's notice to hand her water, offer a handkerchief, or smooth down the creases of her garments. Hongjian frowned and subtly shot a warning glance at Lady Qin, but Lady Qin merely shook her head, signaling her to let it be. Lin Dongxiu was desperate to outshine the rest and climb higher; Lady Qin was willing to give her that chance. Whether she succeeded or not would depend entirely on her own fortune, as long as she did not disgrace the Lin family name.
After bustling around by Lady Qin's side for a while, Lin Dongxiu finally returned with a sense of satisfaction just before the midday banquet to sit at her assigned table. Noticing that Lin Dongling was nowhere to be seen, and with Green Luan about to go look for her, Lin Dongxiu decided she wanted a quiet place to reapply her rouge and powder. Standing up, she announced, "I'll go look for Third Sister," and slipped away from the company, quietly making her way toward a small, secluded parlor nearby. The room was completely empty. Lin Dongxiu unfastened the brocade pouch from her waistband, pulled out a hand mirror to inspect her temples, and then produced a small enamel-inlaid blue decorative box. Extracting a sheet of rouge, she was just about to press it against her lips when she heard voices coming from outside the door curtains—they belonged to Shanhua and Yingluo, the maids serving Lady Wang.