Against the Current - Chapter 174

Chapter 174 - Benevolent Assistance 

A jade censer shaped like a resting duck sat upon a red sandalwood side table, its spirals of dark aloeswood smoke curling lazily upward. On the Xiangfei bamboo couch—fitted with ivory-inlaid mother-of-pearl, bamboo, and rattan, and layered with a thick, autumn-fragrant, golden-python-patterned mattress—sat a silver-gilt phoenix-and-treasures box on a small begonia-patterned foreign lacquer table. Inside the box rested several varieties of preserved honeyed fruits, alongside a soapstone banana-leaf cup. Chunling walked over with light, cautious steps, carrying a blue-and-white pomegranate porcelain pot to refill the amber-colored fragrant tea.

Dressed in a mulberry-dyed cotton-damask jacket, Xianglan sat on the couch making a pair of shoes, stitching the soles together until they were thick and sturdy. Once Chunling finished pouring the tea, she quietly consulted with Lianxin, Shuran, and the other junior maids about changing out the bedding, mattress quilts, curtains, and chair covers for the winter season, eventually selecting a few patterns to present before Xianglan for her approval.

Xianglan paused for a moment, surprised to realize that deep autumn had already arrived. She had been back from her family home for seven or eight days now, and Lin Jinlou treated her with extreme coldness. His expression was always stormy and overcast, and he did not spare her a single word. The entire Zhichun Lodge walked on eggshells, with Lianxin, Chunling, and the others holding their breath whenever they served, terrified of displeasing Lin Jinlou. Yet Lin Jinlou still retired to rest with her on the bed in the main chamber every night. Each evening, she would curl herself into a tight ball and shrink into the corner of the wall. Once Lin Jinlou fell sound asleep, he would roll over and pull her into his embrace, startling her awake every single time, though she could never break free from the iron cage of his arms. She would simply endure it in silence, taking quite a while before she could drift off to sleep again. Yesterday, joyful news had arrived: Lin Jinlou had indeed been promoted to Regional Vice Commander of the lower third rank. The entire household was brimming with celebratory cheer, and visitors coming to pay their respects streamed through the doors in an endless flow. That evening, he had returned heavily intoxicated, yet he still rose before dawn to practice his martial arts. Before leaving, he mentioned he would not be back for the evening meal—something Xianglan heard from inside the bed curtains and could not help exhaling a massive sigh of relief.

While Lianxin was still waiting for her to choose a color, Xianglan pointed out a reddish-purple hue, and Shuran immediately set about arranging to have it put up.

Xiaojuan glanced at the handiwork in Xianglan's hands and smiled, saying, "With soles this thick, they won't look very pretty when worn." Then, noticing that the sewing basket was piled entirely with coarse, heavy fabric scraps that, though tightly woven, were limited to dark green and indigo shades, she added, "Why are you using these for the shoe uppers? There are plenty of silks and satins in the wardrobe; we still have a lot of leftover satin from cutting new clothes not long ago. Using those makes the shoes look much better." As she spoke, she made a move to go fetch them.

Xianglan hastily stopped her, saying, "The weather is turning cold, so thicker ones will keep me warm. The silk ones are far too thin." Hearing a sudden commotion of talking and laughing out in the courtyard, she asked, "What's going on out there to make it so lively?"

Xiaojuan went out to inquire and returned a moment later, saying, "There's a female immortal-like figure who has come from the nearby Water Mirror Temple. Everyone calls her Daoist Master Cui. First Madam is benevolent and generous, donating incense oil money to her temple every year, so she often comes to walk about the estate. A few days ago, Young Master Yuan fell ill, and First Madam had a massive ocean lamp lit for him at the temple. Upon hearing the news, Daoist Master Cui came over to pay her respects. She just came out from First Madam's rooms and is heading straight here now. Does the First Mistress wish to see her?"

Xianglan frowned. She had heard some rumors about this Daoist Master Cui. In her youth, she was said to have been a rather dissolute woman of some physical charm who knew how to put on seductive airs. Alongside two other young daoist nuns in the temple, she engaged in secret flesh-trade transactions, running things so discreetly that only well-acquainted patrons came to stay overnight. On the surface, however, she wore a mask of strict righteousness, traveling everywhere to beg for alms and perform rituals to extract money from families. As she grew older, she began buying young, neat-looking girls under the pretext of taking them as disciples, though she actually forced them into prostitution. She enjoyed quite a notorious reputation among profligate young heirs, who gave her the private moniker "Flower Nun," though outsiders remained oblivious to the truth.

Xianglan's master, Abbess Danyi, had been well aware of these illicit dealings and had explicitly warned Xianglan to keep her distance from the woman. The moment Xiaojuan brought her up, all of this rushed back to Xianglan's mind, prompting her to reply, "I won't see her. Just say I am feeling unwell."

Nuanyue was currently laying out thick seat cushions on the chairs and hurriedly chimed in upon hearing this, "Why won't the Mistress see her? This Daoist Master Cui is exceptionally famous! When Third Young Master caught a chill, Daoist Master Cui performed a single ritual and cured him right away!"

Xianglan said, "I'm not sick, why would I want to see her? I'm not seeing her."

Nuanyue argued, "Whether you're sick or not, it's good to meet her. She can read faces and cast divinations, avoiding misfortune and seeking good fortune—she's remarkably accurate!"

Xianglan glanced at Nuanyue and stated, "I said I am not seeing her."

Nuanyue tried to persuade her further, but Xianglan stared straight at her and said, "I said, I am—not—seeing—her."

Nuanyue looked a bit taken aback, opening her mouth before closing it again. When Xianglan returned from her family home this time, she had had to be supported into the rooms, and the dark purple finger marks bruised into her neck were a shocking sight. Coupled with Lin Jinlou's perpetually darkened expression, anyone could easily deduce that Chen Xianglan had courted disaster and provoked Lin Jinlou into a towering rage. Many people behind the scenes were gloating, fully expecting Xianglan to fall out of favor immediately, an outcome Nuanyue herself had prayed for day and night. Yet Lin Jinlou had still kept her by his side, leaving her food, clothing, and daily provisions completely unchanged. Yesterday, when he received his promotion and distributed bonus silver to the staff in his quarters—even giving Huamei a mere twenty taels—he had actually bestowed fifty taels upon Xianglan, leaving her status entirely unshaken.

Furthermore, upon her return this time, Xianglan had changed in subtle ways from her usual self. Previously, she spent her days painting, reading, and staring into space, completely devoid of personal initiative and letting others make all decisions for her, as if sticking a needle into her skin wouldn't even make her flinch—earning her the private nickname "Wooden Beauty" among the staff. Yet now, she seemed to possess a spark of vibrant life, faintly radiating the authoritative aura of a true mistress, as though Lin Jinlou's fierce choking had somehow jolted her fully awake.

Xianglan gathered up her sewing, placed it into the cabinet, turned around, and walked out. Nuanyue constantly tried to curry favor with her in various overt and subtle ways, yet her gestures always felt hypocritical, making Xianglan quite uncomfortable. After quietly asking Tinglan about it, Xianglan learned that Nuanyue had once been favored by Lin Jinlou, realizing that Nuanyue's sycophancy was likely driven by a desire to gain more opportunities to catch Lin Jinlou's eye. Xianglan was more than happy to oblige; she ordered Nuanyue to come inside to serve tea and water and handle chores, giving her plenty of opportunities to shine.

Upon returning from her family home this time, Nuanyue had looked rather smug for two days, even humming tunes as she walked when Lin Jinlou was absent—until Lin Jinlou awarded fifty taels of silver to Xianglan for his promotion, whereupon Nuanyue instantly fell silent. Observing such poor character firsthand, Xianglan resolved to keep her at a respectful distance from then on.

Stepping out of the bedroom to pluck osmanthus blossoms behind the quarters, Xianglan heard voices drifting from beneath the rear corridor. She tiptoed over, hid behind the back wall, and peered around the corner to see Yingge speaking to Tinglan. "...The prescribed medicine isn't being provided properly either. I didn't take my medicine last night, and I couldn't sleep soundly at all through the night."

Tinglan replied, "I'll mention it to them later and have your regular medication supplied consistently just like before so it doesn't get interrupted. You can rest easy about that."

Yingge knitted her fine eyebrows, her face etched with worry as she said, "It's not just that... I... I don't even have any clothing materials to make clothes or shoes anymore. Winter is almost here, and my chests and trunks still hold only that old padded cotton jacket. The pair of shoes on my feet right now still have uppers cobbled together from scraps of leftover silk, making them look completely presentable..."

"Didn't the First Master reward us with silver?"

"My father contracted consumption, and all the silver was sent back home to pay for his medical treatment."

"Then... didn't the household issue winter garments last year?"

"Sigh, it's quite humiliating to speak of... Sister, you know as well that my eldest brother burned his brain during a fever when he was ten years old. He only grew up tall with a strong physical build, but he has never even been able to find a wife. Last year, when someone finally agreed to marry him, my eldest sister-in-law insisted that I beg the First Master to secure her younger brother a respectable position in one of the First Master's shops. You know what kind of standing I have before the First Master, and besides, her brother has no ambition whatsoever... Because of that, my sister-in-law threw tantrums and cried every single day at home. During the New Year last year, I gritted my teeth and handed over my brand-new winter clothes and a set of jewelry to my sister-in-law, and only then did things quiet down for a few days." As Yingge spoke, her eye rims reddened, and she choked back a sob.

Tinglan let out a long, heavy sigh. "You have had it far too difficult. It's just that fabric allocation doesn't fall under my control. However, I happen to know there is a bolt of old heavy woolen fabric left in the storehouse. There isn't much left, but it's enough to cut a jacket. There is also a bolt of silk whose colors clashed, which is why it was left sitting unused. I can tear off a length for you so you can at least make a pair of shoes when you get back."

Yingge nodded hurriedly.

Tinglan warned, "Not a word of this is to be breathed to anyone. If word gets out, I'll be the one to take the blame! Run along back now, and I'll quietly send it over to you shortly."

Yingge hastily replied, "I won't say a word, absolutely not—even if you beat me to death, I won't say it!" She departed with profuse expressions of gratitude.

As Tinglan turned back, she was startled to see Xianglan standing right around the corner, causing her to pat her chest and exclaim, "What are you doing here? You gave me such a fright."

Xianglan smiled and said, "I came to catch you doing a good deed."

Tinglan sighed again. "Sigh, Yingge and I are both born-servants of the estate, related by marriage through distant branches. Because we both entered service here together, we've always been closer than the others. Thinking about it, it's truly heartbreaking. Yingge's health was already poor, and ever since she lost her child, her illnesses have grown even worse. The First Master knows her constitution is weak, so he no longer visits her quarters. Yingge's father used to be a steward, but he contracted consumption. With only an intellectually disabled brother and a ten-year-old boy left at home, their household is practically finished. The people down below are all fair-weather friends who chase prosperity and shun adversity. Yingge has a hard time of it; she can't even afford her regular medicine in the estate, let alone worry about her family... I'm simply doing what little I can to help."

These words struck a chord deep within Xianglan's heart. Lowering her head in thought for a moment, she said to Tinglan, "Follow me."

Once they reached the bedroom where no one else was present, Xianglan opened her chest, extracted twenty taels of scattered silver, and retrieved a brand-new lined jacket. Handing them to Tinglan, she said, "Good sister, please take these things and give them to Yingge. I'm not close with her, so presenting these things to her abruptly might have the opposite effect."

Tinglan was taken aback, exclaiming, "You... what are you doing this for?"

Xianglan said, "My father was once on the verge of losing his life in a prison cell as well, so I understand the kind of anxiety Yingge must be feeling. It is rare to find such a devoted daughter, and I want to help however I can, offering just a tiny measure of assistance. I trust your character, Sister, so I am troubling you to deliver these items on my behalf. Better yet, don't tell her these things came from me, lest she overthink it."

Tinglan stood stunned for a moment before finally saying, "Oh Xianglan, you are so kind-minded that I hardly know what to say. Let me thank you properly on Yingge's behalf first." With a deep bow, she took the items and left, leaving the rest aside for now.

Meanwhile, Daoist Master Cui had first spent some time sitting in Yingge's quarters before pivoting around to visit Luan'er's rooms. After exchanging pleasantries, Luan'er instructed Cunxin to pour hot tea and offered fresh fruits for Daoist Master Cui to sample. As Daoist Master Cui chewed on a preserved fruit, she noticed that Luan'er's hair was disheveled and her face bore no cosmetics—exhibiting a sallow, haggard, and worn-out appearance—prompting her to cry out in alarm, "Oh dear, oh dear! When I last saw the young lady, you possessed the radiant countenance of spring blossoms and autumn moons, and this old woman assumed you were an incomparable beauty hard to find anywhere under heaven. How is it that after just a single month apart, you've grown this emaciated!"