Against the Current - Chapter 164

Chapter 164 - Entreaty

Du Bin figured this place was no longer safe for a prolonged stay and that slipping away sooner rather than later would be his best move. After waiting a short while longer and hearing absolute silence outside, he vaulted out of the window, crept stealthily through the shadows, scaled the high wall, and made his escape through the small side gate.

Standing far off on the hillside, Lin Dongxiu watched Lin Dongling emerge from the cottage alongside Xianglan and Tinglan. Unable to tell whether her heart felt an immense sense of relief or an indescribable wave of disappointment, she gripped her handkerchief tightly, twisting it into a knot as she slowly made her way back. Though this incident was merely a minor disturbance, every single event that followed later would spring entirely from this very moment—though that is a story for another time.

Following Lin Dongqi's lavish wedding, Lin Changzheng packed up his belongings and set off for Shanxi accompanied by Concubine Bao, with Lin Jinlou dispatching a detachment of personal guards to escort them all the way. Lady Qin remained behind in the estate to manage household affairs. Because Lin Dongqi's marriage had been celebrated on a grand scale, everyone in the Lin household had exhausted their energy, leaving both masters and servants bone-tired and worn out. Lady Qin directed the maids and matrons in packing up and clearing away the remaining ceremonial items, a task that was not finished until the day Lin Dongqi returned home for her formal post-wedding visit. Once this whirlwind of activity finally came to an end, Lady Qin fell mildly ill. Out of deep affection for her daughter-in-law, Old Madam Lin instructed Wang Shi to temporarily take over the household administration for a few days. Lin Jinting also asked Wang Shi to oversee external affairs, while Lin Dongxiu volunteered herself to step forward and assist.

As for Lin Jinlou, his official duties at the military tribunal kept him constantly occupied, and with numerous social obligations on top of that, he spent his entire days handling official business whenever he returned home, or else conferring with the retainers and political strategists he kept in his employ. When meetings ran too late, he simply bunked down in his study. Xianglan, on the other hand, felt a profound sense of relief. She was someone who naturally preferred a quiet, unbothered life of complete leisure within the manor, and Lin Jinlou's absence suited her wishes perfectly. She spent her days quietly perfecting her painting skills while mulling over private plans in her heart.

That very afternoon, Lin Jinlou returned from outside. Just as he stepped into the study, he spotted Shuzhen—no, Shuran—emerging from the inner room holding a pair of books, and asked, "What books are those? Where are you taking them?"

Shuran smiled and replied, "Xianglan begged me to find a couple of books for her to pass the time and cure her boredom. If the Second Young Lady hadn't gotten married, she could have gone over to borrow some from her quarters, but that's no longer an option. So, I went and borrowed some poetry volumes from the Fourth Young Lady for her to read. She said she had already finished those, found them uninspiring, and wanted some collections of biographies and strange anecdotes instead. I had no choice but to come fetch a couple of volumes from your study, sir."

Lin Jinlou took a look, and sure enough, they were two volumes of records of strange tales. He pondered for a moment before saying, "Clear away the things on the desk later; I'll be back in my quarters to handle some official work today."

Shuran promptly acknowledged the order.

Hiding behind the multi-treasure pavilion, Xianglan peeked out quietly to glance at the desk situated on the left side of the main hall. Lin Jinlou was seated right behind it, turning the pages of several documents with rapt concentration and occasionally picking up a writing brush to add a few characters.

Lianxin carried a fine Ding-ware tea bowl resting upon a gold-inlaid foreign lacquer tray, inside of which brewed steaming hot tea, intending to serve it to Lin Jinlou. Catching sight of Bailan lurking behind the pavilion shelf, she stepped closer and whispered, "What are you doing standing here?"

Xianglan's cheeks flushed slightly, and just as she was about to answer, Nuanyue strutted over from the side, reached out to take the tray from Lianxin's hands, and chimed in, "If the two of you have chatting to do, I'll go deliver the tea instead. The master has already called for tea four or five times; if we don't bring it over right now, he's bound to get annoyed." With a toss of her head, she sashayed into the room with a radiant smile, presenting the tea right beside Lin Jinlou's desk. Lin Jinlou didn't even raise his head, merely giving a wave of his hand to dismiss her. A wave of disappointment washed over Nuanyue, and she had no choice but to retreat while clutching the tray.

Lianxin offered a cold, silent sneer, choosing to play deaf and dumb to the whole affair. After hesitating for a while, Xianglan ultimately turned back toward her room.

By the time evening rolled around, Lianxin glanced over toward the desk and saw that Lin Jinlou was still busy writing and sketching. Not daring to disturb him too much, she waited a little longer, then used a silver hairpin to trim the wick of a candle until it burned brightly. Carrying it over, she said, "Sir, it's already dark outside; it's time to have dinner."

Keeping his head bowed, Lin Jinlou answered, "Eat in a bit."

Lianxin had no choice but to step back.

Lin Jinlou busied himself for a while longer until he finished up his official paperwork. When he finally straightened up and looked around, he realized that pitch-making darkness had long since fallen outside. Feeling a hollow rumble in his stomach, he stood up, stretched his limbs, and rolled his neck and shoulders. Lianxin, who had been standing watch nearby for a long time, hurried forward. Lin Jinlou cast a glance at her and instructed, "Serve dinner." In his heart, he thought that while Lianxin might not possess Shuran's sharp cleverness and utility, she was a remarkably honest and dependable soul. Furthermore, coming out of the Old Madam's quarters, she always observed the rules, and her care in attending to people was consistently proper.

With these thoughts in mind, he walked back to his bedchamber, only to find several steaming hot dishes already laid out on the kang table atop the arhat bed. The small kitchen, fearing the food would grow cold, had kept it constantly warmed over low heat. Earlier, Lady Qin had even dispatched a little maid to inquire after him; upon hearing that Lin Jinlou had not yet eaten, she had been filled with maternal concern and sent over an extra couple of dishes. As a result, the table was loaded with an exceptionally lavish spread of fruits, delicacies, and vegetable dishes. Having an abundance of food was nothing out of the ordinary, but to his utter surprise, Xianglan was actually seated on the autumn-fragrant gold-threaded python-pattern cushion at the side of the arhat bed. Seeing him enter, she immediately scrambled to her feet, cast a quick glance in his direction, and hastily lowered her gaze.

A look of astonishment crossed Lin Jinlou's face, and he thought to himself, Could this little ungrateful wolf actually be waiting here for me to eat? Without saying a word, he took a seat on the opposite side, gestured toward Xianglan, and commanded, "Sit down too."

With a measure of nervous restraint, Xianglan took her seat.

A moment later, the maidservants began serving the dishes and poured out warm wine into marigold-patterned golden cups. As Lin Jinlou picked up his chopsticks, Xianglan lifted hers as well, plucked a couple of green vegetable leaves to put in her mouth, and cast a covert look at Lin Jinlou while plotting how to broach the subject. Lin Jinlou's mood seemed rather sour over the past couple of days; when he had returned for lunch two days prior, he had originally ordered his meal to be served in the main chamber, only to receive sudden word that the Marquis of Yongchang had beaten him to the punch, snatching away the credit for his early strategic deployment in suppressing the coastal pirates. Flying into a towering rage, he had flicked his wrist and smashed the bowl in his hand, spinning on his heel to storm off in a fury that left a whole sea of maids kneeling in terror across the floor. He had worn a dark, thunderous expression for days, causing everyone to steer clear of him out of sheer terror of marching to their deaths. The matter weighing heavily on Bailan's mind had rolled back and forth across the tip of her tongue on numerous occasions, yet she had never dared to voice it.

Lin Jinlou ate at a rapid pace, yet he maintained the graceful posture of a noble young master. Once the gnawing hunger in his stomach was appeased, he finally slowed down. After hesitating through round after round of inner debate, Xianglan picked up a blue-and-white porcelain sunflower bowl, ladled out a serving of ginseng and Solomon's seal braised old duck soup from a small earthenware pot, and slid it across the table toward Lin Jinlou.

Lost in thought as he ate, Lin Jinlou did not notice.

In a soft, timid voice, Xianglan murmured, "This—this is old duck soup braised with ginseng and Solomon's seal; drinking it in this season is the absolute best for nourishing the stomach..." Her voice trailed off as she faltered, growing softer and softer until she fell completely silent.

Hearing that voice, Lin Jinlou raised his head. He looked at the steaming bowl of soup, then shifted his gaze to Xianglan with her head bowed low. A look of genuine surprise crossed his features. Laying down his chopsticks, he wiped his hands with a warm damp towel and remarked, "Well, now this is a rare sight. You actually know how to wait on people. Earlier today when you saw me coming back, didn't you scurry off into your room like a little field mouse?"

Keeping her eyes cast down, Xianglan remained silent for a long moment before whispering softly, "There is something I would like to beg of the master..."

Lin Jinlou let out a cold huff, thinking to himself, I figured this ungrateful little wolf wouldn't come crawling over to show favor for no good reason. Squinting his eyes slightly, he demanded, "What is it?"

Clutching the letter tightly in her hands and staring down at the five-colored palace ribbon tied around her waist, Xianglan replied, "In a couple of days, it's my mother's birthday. I..."

Lin Jinlou interrupted, "Oh, so it's your mother's birthday. Just mention it to Shuran; when I came back last time, there were still some leftover gold and silver ornaments—go pick out a couple of pieces you like for your mother. Afterward, go draw forty taels of silver from the accounts department, and take a few bolts of seasonally appropriate silk fabric as well. I'll have someone write out a formal calligraphic gift card for you so the tailors at the Xianyizhai shop can make a couple of new outfits for your mother."

Bailan said, "What I really want is to see my mother..."

Lin Jinlou said, "Very well, tomorrow I'll have someone bring your parents into the estate so you can have a proper family reunion." Tapping the rim of his wine cup on the table, he added, "Pour me a cup." The white jade porcelain wine vessel was empty, so Xianglan walked over to the small brazier on the floor to fetch a fresh pot and stepped forward to pour the wine for Lin Jinlou. Reaching out, Lin Jinlou grabbed her delicate little hand, pulled her right toward him, and settled her onto his lap in an embrace.

Xianglan raised her head slightly to see Lin Jinlou staring at her with an unwavering gaze. A sudden wave of nervousness washed over her, and she dropped her head even lower, nervously twisting the sash of her skirt as she muttered, "I want to go home and stay for a couple of days..." Stealing another peek at Lin Jinlou, she saw a lazy, languid smile lingering on his lips and quickly buried her head again, adding, "They aren't used to staying in the manor; it's uncomfortable for them, and if other people saw them, it would invite gossip. So... my mother also sent word that the dog at home just had a litter of puppies, and I'd love to go back and see them..."

Seeing her rosy, flushed cheeks and her docile, yielding demeanor, Lin Jinlou felt his heart soften considerably. Lowering his voice, he coaxed, "So you were just homesick. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Bailan thought to herself, With your cruel, tyrannical, and volatile temper, people stay as far away from you as they possibly can out of self-preservation—who on earth would dare bring this up to you?

Seeing that she remained silent, Lin Jinlou didn't press further. Suddenly raising his voice, he bellowed, "Shuran! Where is Shuran?"

Nuanyue, who had been keeping watch outside, shot into the room like a bolt of lightning and beamed with a wide smile, saying, "Sister Shuran has already gone home for the day." Catching sight of Xianglan seated squarely in Lin Jinlou's lap, a flicker of awkwardness crossed her face.

Looking annoyed, Lin Jinlou waved a hand and dismissed her. "Get out, I'm not calling for you. Go yell for Jixiang to come inside."

Nuanyue had no choice but to retreat. Jixiang was currently killing time playing tile games with a few page boys in the corridor rooms; hearing Lin Jinlou call his name, he hurriedly tossed aside his tiles, stepped across the moon gate, entered the room, and stood with his head bowed and eyes fixed strictly on the floor, bending slightly at the waist to await orders.

Lin Jinlou instructed, "It's Xianglan's mother's birthday. Tomorrow, prepare a carriage to take her home for a two-day stay. Send a matron along, take two maids, and have Chunling tag along as well."

Jixiang rattled off a string of eager assents, and Lin Jinlou waved a hand to dismiss him.

Xianglan stood there stammering, unsure of what else to say. Having lived through two lifetimes, she was never the type of person to win people over with honeyed words and sweet flattery, let alone when it came to managing someone as hot-tempered and ruthlessly decisive as Lin Jinlou.

Noticing Xianglan's flushed cheeks and her bewildered, at-a-loss expression—though her brows and eyes carried a faint trace of excitement—Lin Jinlou gave her cheek a playful pinch and chuckled, "I've granted your every wish, so won't you share a cup of wine with me?" With that, he picked up his own wine cup, brought it straight to Xianglan's lips, raised an eyebrow, and smiled with a corner of his mouth curling upward. "You certainly carry quite the high airs. Normally, you ought to be the one offering a toast to me, but now that I've brought the cup right to your lips, are you really going to refuse to drink?"

Xianglan took the wine cup from his hand and took a small sip.

Lin Jinlou laughed, "A single sip won't do." He finished off the remaining wine in the cup himself, cupped Xianglan's chin in his hand, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to hers. The wine was passed directly from his mouth into hers. A jolt of shock ran through Xianglan; her first instinct was to struggle away, but remembering that she still needed to rely on him to grant her permission to go home, she forced herself to endure it, clenching her hands into fists and pressing them against Lin Jinlou's chest. Kissing and sucking with growing fervor, Lin Jinlou felt his passions instantly ignite. Pulling her into a tighter embrace, he slid his hand straight beneath her garments.

At that exact moment, a loud clang rang out as someone knocked over an object. Startled out of her wits, Xianglan frantically jerked away and shoved Lin Jinlou back, only to see Nuanyue standing frozen in the doorway with a tray of pastries spilled all over the floor.