Against the Current - Chapter 169

Chapter 169 - Catching a Cold (Part 2)

After working for a while, Lin Jinlou found that the night had grown deep without him noticing. Guiyuan came in to top off the tea and used silver chopsticks to pick and brighten the lamp flame. Just as she was about to withdraw, Lin Jinlou asked, "What time is it?"

Guiyuan replied, "It's already the second watch, almost the third."

Lin Jinlou stood up, stretched lazily, and said, "Let's go. Time to head back to the rooms to rest."

Guiyuan hurriedly went to fetch a lantern. Pushing open the door, Lin Jinlou saw that outside was a magnificent moonlight, so he said, "There's no need for a lantern." He strode away and headed back. Once through the ceremonial gate, he drifted toward Luan'er's quarters. Before even stepping inside, he heard voices coming from within near the window.

He heard Shuran say, "You're just courting death. Now you've gone and caught a cold—wearing summer clothes in this kind of weather, you brought this entirely upon yourself."

Then came the sound of Luan'er coughing.

Cunxin said, "My lady, drink a mouthful of water and rest. If you don't get better soon, we really must invite a physician."

Luan'er let out another fit of coughs and rasped, "You are not allowed to go! The master will be coming over later. If Madam and the others find out I've taken ill, they'll surely send me home to recuperate. I am not going back."

Shuran coaxed her, "Later on, I'll report to the master and tell him it's nothing serious, just a chill. We can invite a physician to check you over and let you recover right here in the manor. The manor is cleaner than your home, and there are people to wait on you; it's much better than going back. It's too late tonight, but first thing tomorrow morning, we'll invite a physician."

Before her voice had even faded, Huamei chimed in with a dry laugh, "Heh, this truly is what they mean by 'having connections in court makes things easy'! Two months ago, when I came down with a cough—which wasn't even a contagious illness—I was still sent home to recuperate for half a month before returning. Yet with Luan'er sister running a fever and catching a cold like this, not only does she not have to leave, but she's even fretting over having the master come over. Tsk, tsk! This is the changing of the seasons, you know. Catching something else might be a minor matter, but what if you end up passing it to the master? Sister Shuran, Luan'er sister is young and doesn't know better, so be it, but you are an elder veteran heavily favored by the master. Surely you shouldn't be acting as if you don't understand?"

Luan'er was lying on the bed when she heard this. Furious, she jerked upright in a single motion, screeched, and yelled, "Huamei, if you have something to say to me, come straight at me! Why drag my sister into this? If you think I'm sick and are afraid of catching my ailment, why don't you hurry up and crawl out of here? Just sitting here is dirtying the floor of my rooms!"

Shuran hurriedly pressed Luan'er down, saying, "Why are you flying into a rage over nothing? Lie back down quickly, or you'll catch another chill."

Huamei let out a cold, mocking laugh. "My kindness is taken as a donkey's lung! Cunxin came to my place to beg for cough medicine pills, and hearing you were sick, I came over to check on you. You certainly have a high and mighty shelf of airs, daring to tell me to 'crawl out.' Fine, very fine! Just remember what you said today. Tomorrow or the next day, there's no telling who will be crawling out of here!" With that, she turned on her heel and walked out.

Shuran hurriedly grabbed her and laughed, "She's young and doesn't know better, and since she's fallen ill, her internal and liver fires are running high. Mistress Yi, please don't lower yourself to her level."

Huamei merely offered a faint, chilling sneer and said to Shuran, "This younger sister of yours is far too imposing. Not only is she more imposing than you, she's even more imposing than a mistress like me! From where I'm watching with cold eyes, I'm afraid even the former head mistress didn't have as bad a temper as her." With a huff, she strode out.

Lin Jinlou slipped away and hid in the shadows as Huamei swayed her hips and sashayed toward the eastern wing.

Luan'er was so incensed that her moth-brows were drawn back in anger as she hurled curses blindly, "Wretched hussy! She fancies herself half a mistress now, and seeing me fall sick, she comes over to bully people. Just wait until your grandmother here recovers her health, I'll flay your skin off and make sure you know who I am!"

Shuran urged, "Can't you change that temper of yours? I know you're an ambitious one, but she is an imperial concubine and mistress all the same. Why must you lock horns with her?"

Panting, Luan'er said, "How can I swallow this breath? So what if she's a mistress—is that anything so great? Everyone in this world has their own karmic causes and conditions. How can anyone be so sure I won't become the mistress of the house myself?"

Cunxin hurriedly advised, "Mistress, say a little less and rest properly. Just tend to your illness." With that, she stepped forward to tuck in Luan'er's quilt.

Luan'er glared at Cunxin. Terrified, Cunxin forced an ingratiating smile and asked, "What is the young mistress doing? Would you like some water?"

Luan'er grabbed Cunxin and began raining blows upon her head and face, cursing, "You courting-death little hoof! Who told you to go asking Huamei for medicine? Am I about to die, that you must eagerly run off to that hussy? Or were you hoping I wouldn't die, making a public spectacle of me and letting that vixen come over to add to my aggravation? I'll beat you to death, you blind, unobservant rotten hoof!"

Cunxin, in both pain and grievance, burst into tears. Shuran hurriedly pulled Cunxin away, blocked her in front, and scolded angrily, "Why are you beating her for no reason? You were the one who eagerly sent her off to find cough medicine, and when she couldn't find any, she came to me! In the dead of night like this, where on earth do you expect me to get medicine for you? It was only because Huamei had a bout of coughing a while ago that I told Cunxin to go to her rooms and ask for a couple of pills. Who could have expected that she'd come over herself?"

Only then did Luan'er realize she had beaten the wrong person. Yet, stubborn as she was, she refused to admit fault. She simply stayed silent, turned her face away, and closed her eyes to lie down.

Shuran sighed, pulled Cunxin outside to comfort her, and was in the middle of offering gentle, detailed consolations when she caught sight of Lin Jinlou standing right there in the veranda. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she thought in a panic, How long has the master been here? I wonder how much of what was just said he heard. Forcing a smile, she hurried forward to greet him, saying, "The master has returned."

Without a word, Lin Jinlou cast a glance at Shuran, spun around, and began to walk away.

Right at that moment, Xique was carrying a basin out to pour away dirty water. Catching sight of Lin Jinlou, she hurried back inside to inform Huamei. Huamei instantly popped out of her room, called out, "Master," and rushed forward with a face full of ingratiating smiles. "It's been many days since the master came to my place. I've recently come into possession of a fine article, so I invite the master to come take a look." Without waiting to see if Lin Jinlou agreed, she grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the eastern wing.

Back in her room, Luan'er had already heard Shuran call out "Master." She sat up in a rush, completely disregarding her dizziness, and as she scrambled to tidy her hair and slipped off the bed, she leaned out the window to look—only to see Lin Jinlou being hauled away by Huamei. Instantly, burning rage rushed to her heart. She opened her mouth to hurl a vicious curse, but her head swam dizzy, and with an involuntary cry of "Oh!", she collapsed limply back onto the bed.

Huamei dragged Lin Jinlou into the room and ordered Xique in a flurry of instructions, "Quickly brew a pot of piping hot tea! The master has two sets of everyday clothes here, fetch them out right away." With that, she pulled Lin Jinlou to the edge of the bed, invited him to sit down, and asked with soft tenderness, "Is the master hungry? I have a few varieties of pastries here, all in flavors the master is accustomed to loving."

Lin Jinlou leaned back against the head of the bed with his eyes half-closed, and after a long moment, let out a grunt of acknowledgment.

Huamei scrambled to make preparations without a moment's rest. Walking with light, cautious steps to the doorway, she instructed Xique, "Change the heart-character jasmine incense inside the burner; there's some warming begonia-patterned incense, drop two pieces into it." Xique acknowledged the order and hurried off.

Huamei walked over to the vanity table to check her reflection, reapplied a bit of powder, touched up the rouge on her lips, and then stepped lightly back to Lin Jinlou's side to sit down. Reaching out, she began unfastening the buttons on his outer garment, murmuring softly, "Let me wait upon you, Master, to change out of these outer clothes so you can wear something more comfortable for lounging."

With his eyes still closed, Lin Jinlou grunted once more and allowed Huamei to have her way with him.