Against the Current - Chapter 187

Chapter 187 - Talisman (Part 8)

Unfastening a waist plaque, Lin Jinlou said, "Go pick a few courtyard guards, and also call the two personal soldiers keeping watch at the front tonight. Have them go to the Water Mirror Temple and bring me the Daoist nun Cui."

Jixiang acknowledged the order in a flurry of overlapping assents, received the plaque with both hands, and spun around to leave. Not daring to run, he broke into a rapid, brisk stride that carried him forward with the speed of flying feet. He shot out like a wisp of smoke through the ceremonial moon gate before finally letting out a long breath. A room full of people had been kneeling back there, even Madam Qin had come, and Nuanyue had been pressed against the floor by matrons with her face to the ground. Even someone as shrewd as Aunt Meimei was kneeling there with a sickly, sallow expression—it was clear something momentous had happened. Though brimming with curiosity, he lacked the guts to inquire, keeping his feet light as he jogged off to assemble the men.

Madam Qin called Lin Jinlou into the eastern inner room and recounted everything in low tones: how Nurse Wu discovered the talisman, how she herself had come to catch them red-handed, along with the details concerning Luan'er and the rest.

Lin Jinlou nodded, then said, "Mother, it is getting late, please go back and rest. I will handle things here and send word to you tomorrow."

Madam Qin waved her hand; until this matter was brought to a definitive conclusion, sleep would evade her tonight. Seeing that he could not persuade her otherwise, Lin Jinlou instructed Lianxin to pour tea for Madam Qin. Noticing the fatigue shadowing Madam Qin's face, he invited her to rest in the western inner room. Desiring nothing more than to be away from the mess, Madam Qin let herself be supported away by Mother Han.

Returning to the main hall, Lin Jinlou found that Rushuang, having kowtowed until she saw stars, had finally reached her limit and collapsed limply to the floor.

Stroke his chin in silent contemplation for a moment, Lin Jinlou dropped all further questioning, pointed at Rushuang, and ordered, "Someone come, strip this scheming wretch's outer garments, give her ten board beatings, and make her kneel out in the courtyard." With Rushuang's body turning limp, two burly matrons stepped forward, one stuffing a rag into her mouth while the other grabbed her arms and dragged her out. Pointing next at Nuanyue, Lin Jinlou commanded, "Drag her out as well and beat her—beat her hard!"

Dizzy and disoriented, Rushuang drifted in a hazy daze, thinking to herself that even if the Eldest Young Master's wrath was provoked, he would merely administer a round of board beatings before expelling her from the manor. Even if she were sold off, she wouldn't be afraid... Nuanyue, please don't hate me. My cousin is currently making a living under Aunt Meimei's older brother; he was originally betrothed to me, but when our family's fortunes plummeted later on and my family was forced to sell me to the Lin household as a maidservant, his parents called off the marriage. Yet my cousin still loves me deep down. The last time I went home, he met me in secret and told me to follow Aunt Meimei's instructions. Once I carried this task out successfully, he would have Lord Du make the decisions and return to marry me. Your sister here was only striving for her own future... Good sister, you too acted for your own future when you framed Xiulan; surely you can understand me...

Setting aside how Rushuang was dragged away and subjected to her beating, Lin Jinlou stood rigidly upright, uttering not a single word. The room grew so deathly still that the drop of a pin could be heard. Xiulan stood quietly off to the side, silently pondering, I wonder how Lin Jinlou intends to deal with this, and how this drama will finally end. Meimei and her cohorts were so certain of pinning the blame on Luan'er—Luan'er is bound to meet a wretched fate this time. Casting a glance toward Meimei, she saw her still kneeling on the ground, looking utterly drained and exhausted. Her hair was somewhat disheveled, and the rouge and powder on her face had smeared into a messy paste mixed with tear tracks, exposing a sallow complexion where tiny freckles were faintly visible upon close inspection. Xiulan finally understood why Meimei always insisted on wearing heavy, elaborate makeup before allowing herself to be seen by others. Stripped of those thick cosmetics and the charming, wind-swept smiles of her usual self, this appearance—though possessing a fragile, delicate beauty—diminished her actual looks by several notches.

Meimei could no longer spare a single thought for her appearance. Cold sweat poured from her in sheets, completely soaking her undergarments as she felt the chill of a razor-sharp blade suspended directly above her head. Lin Jinlou was peerlessly shrewd and ruthlessly severe; given how heavily he had just dealt with Rushuang and Nuanyue, he must have already seen through the fallback plan she had prepared for herself...

The more Meimei dwelled on it, the more terrified she became, until her legs turned to jelly and she collapsed entirely onto the floor. Chunling hurried over with a handled kettle, trembling visibly as she poured tea for Lin Jinlou before hastily retreating.

Lifting the teacup to take a sip, Lin Jinlou beckoned with a wave of his hand, calling Xiulan to his side. "Madam is resting in the western inner room; go over there and attend to her properly." Seeing Xiulan lower her head with apparent reluctance, he glared at her and scolded, "Unappreciative wretch, I am raising your status—do you think just anyone is qualified to wait on Madam? Hurry up and go."

With no other choice, Xiulan could only shuffle off at a snail's pace.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Lin Jinlou muttered to himself, What a blockhead of a girl. I can never tell if she's actually clever or just plain foolish.

Stepping into the western inner room, Xiulan raised her eyes slightly to see Madam Qin seated in the premier sandalwood armchair, her eyes half-closed as she rolled a strand of prayer beads between her fingers and chanted silently under her breath. Nurse Wu was standing close by; catching sight of Xiulan, she flashed a brief signal instructing her to refill Madam Qin's teacup.

Xiulan picked up the kettle and moved with light, cautious steps to fill the cup to the brim.

Lifting her eyelids slightly, Madam Qin cast a single glance at Xiulan before closing them once more, plunging the room back into silence. Retreating toward the doorway, Xiulan stood with her hands lowered, staring blankly at the sash tied around her waist. Suddenly, a matron's voice sounded from outside the entrance to report that Jixiang had returned. Stealing quietly out, Xiulan hid behind the hanging screen and watched as Jixiang dropped to his knees, kowtowing as he reported, "Answering the Eldest Young Master, by the time your small servant rushed over, Daoist Nun Cui had already hanged herself, locked inside her room. It is unknown how many days she had been hanging there. I found this on her person." With those words, he produced a slip of paper and held it up respectfully.

Unfolding it for a look, Lin Jinlou saw that it was an IOU written by Luan'er to Daoist Nun Cui in exchange for purchasing the life-claiming talismans. With his face as dark and calm as still water, Lin Jinlou dismissed Jixiang and commanded, "Bring Luan'er here."

Luan'er had already regained her senses by this point. Overwhelmed by terror and bitter regret, she knew deep down that her life was effectively ruined, yet rebellion flared alongside her despair. Seeing Lin Jinlou now, a crushing wave of fright mixed with a surge of deep-seated grievance welled up from the bottom of her heart, and she covered her face, weeping softly.

Standing up, Lin Jinlou flicked the slip of paper with his finger and said, "Speak. How many talismans did you buy, and whom were you trying to curse?"

Pale-faced, Luan'er offered nothing but tears in response, keeping her lips tightly sealed. Meimei, too, felt her heart leap straight into her throat; pressed flat against the floor, she wished nothing more than to vanish from existence entirely.

Glancing at Meimei, Lin Jinlou spoke coldly to Luan'er, "Starting tomorrow, you no longer need to stay in this manor. I will have your parents come in to take you outside, sparing you from making a public spectacle of yourself and making me sick just looking at you!"

Startled, Luan'er lunged forward abruptly, grabbing onto Lin Jinlou's leg as she wailed, "Eldest Young Master, Eldest Young Master, I beg of you! Do not drive me out; I would rather die than step foot outside this gate!" She sobbed bitterly, pleading, "Eldest Young Master, I truly know I was wrong. I beg you to take pity on my devoted affection for you, and on our past fondness for one another... I was only momentarily muddled, I swear I will never dare do it again..."

Remaining completely still, Lin Jinlou wore an expression that seemed coated in a layer of bitter frost. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "I favored you for your lovely singing voice. If you had kept your words and actions disciplined, you would always have had a place here in the Lin household. Yet you grew arrogant and overbearing, repeatedly stirring up trouble until you finally resorted to such base and despicable tactics. This place can no longer tolerate you. The fact that I am not punishing you further is already an act of extraordinary mercy outside the law. Or perhaps you would prefer it if I stripped away your garments, made you kneel out in the courtyard, and dragged you off to be sold come tomorrow morning? Would that finally make you content?"