Against the Current - Chapter 205

Chapter 205 - Dharma Service

Meanwhile, two more rough-service maidservants fell ill in Zhichun Lodge. They had originally shared a room with Zhicao, and soon three or four more fell sick one after another. Panic spread among everyone, and a gloomy cloud hung over Zhichun Lodge. Lin Jinlou, however, maintained a calm expression, acting as though nothing were the matter, and ordered his men to pack up. He sent the Elder Master, the Old Madam, Madam Qin, Madam Wang, along with the young masters and young ladies, away to live at the country estate. Every affair within the Lin residence was handled personally by him, and he strictly forbade anyone from wandering about or coming and going at will, allowing only servant boys and matrons who had already survived smallpox to go out on errands. With him firmly in command, the entire Lin household quieted down.

Lin Jinlou, however, kept Xianglan behind. After making love that night, he broke out in a sweat, pinched her cheek, and chuckled, "I kept you here, aren't you scared? I was thinking that even if we die, the two of us will hold hands and go down to the Yellow Springs together. Since I cherish you so much, are you happy?"

Exhausted by Lin Jinlou for half the night, Xianglan was already too tired to keep her eyes open. Hearing this did not make her happy in the slightest; she thought to herself that being imprisoned by this tyrannical brute was already a grievance, and now he wouldn't even spare her in death? But she had grown wiser now and no longer provoked Lin Jinlou, merely fixing her bright, glistening eyes upon him.

Lin Jinlou had only meant to tease her, but seeing Xianglan open her round eyes in silence, he found it somewhat dull and said, "I've been through this business of smallpox before; those who fell ill were dealt with early, so it shouldn't get out of hand. Besides, those who entered the manor to serve from childhood were all inoculated with humanpox; only fragile things like Yingge couldn't withstand it. Zhichun Lodge was sealed off long ago, so outsiders can't get in and insiders can't get out. In ten days or half a month, if no one develops a fever, this disaster will be over." With that, he parted the bed curtains and called for tea.

Hearing a commotion outside, Zidai unexpectedly lifted a bronze kettle and stepped inside. She refilled the teacup and carefully brought it to the bedside.

Lin Jinlou sat up, the bedsheet sliding down to his lower abdomen, and parted the curtains with his robust, bare torso to take the teacup and drink greedily. Seeing his tall, slender figure, broad shoulders, and muscular arms bulging as he held the cup, with a single droplet of sweat rolling down his neck, Zidai was instantly struck dumbfounded. Her limbs grew weak, her face flushed crimson in a flash, her heart raced wildly, and a wave of feverish agitation swept through her entire body.

Because the room was lit by only a single dim, lingering lamp, Lin Jinlou knew a maid had entered and assumed it was Lianxin, Chunling, or one of the others. Giving it no further thought and failing to look closely, he finished one cup and ordered another. Recovering her wits, Zidai hastily poured a second cup. Lin Jinlou held the tea and shook Xianglan, saying, "Wake up and have a sip."

Xianglan was so tired she couldn't even lift a finger. Lin Jinlou had been stirred with desire and possessed endless tricks; at first Xianglan had been too bashful, but later she grew too exhausted to care about shame, keeping her eyes closed in a daze.

Lin Jinlou shook her a few times, and seeing Xianglan feign death, he said, "Hurry up and have a sip, or do you expect me to feed you mouth-to-mouth?"

Remembering that a maid was still standing in the room, Xianglan forced her eyes open, propped herself up to take a reluctant sip, and collapsed back down. Lin Jinlou chuckled softly, finished the rest of the tea, stretched his arm out from the bed curtains, and handed the teacup back out.

Zidai hurried to take it. She stood outside for a long while, listening to Lin Jinlou's low murmurs from within the curtains, to which Xianglan only responded with a half-asleep murmur after a long moment, before blowing out the candle and retreating on tiptoe.

The moment she stepped outside, she saw Xuening standing at the door, glaring daggers at her. Because Lin Jinlou disliked Zidai, despite being a first-rank maid, she wasn't even allowed to enter the bedchamber; those on night duty were strictly Lianxin, Tinglan, Xuening, and Chunling. Tonight happened to be Xuening's turn to keep watch. In the latter half of the night, feeling a cramping pain in her stomach, she had gone to the latrine. Coincidentally, Zidai woke up thirsty, went to the pantry for water, heard Lin Jinlou calling out, and walked right into the room.

Xuening had vaguely caught sight of Zidai carrying a kettle into the bedchamber and instantly grew frantic. Fearing Lin Jinlou's wrath, she could only stand guard at the door with a pounding heart. Seeing Zidai emerge, she suppressed her anger and sneered, "You're certainly diligent, Sister. Next time, don't trouble yourself with our duties."

Zidai, however, smiled warmly and lowered her voice, "You must have lost your mind somewhere just now, Sister. I only went in because the Eldest Young Master called, so you needn't thank me." With that, she gave Xuening's arm a gentle push and strolled away unhurriedly.

Xuening gnashed her teeth with vexation.

For a time, all remained quiet.

A few days later, Zhicao's corpse was carried out of Zhichun Lodge. The Lin residence lost two more people in succession, but no further cases of smallpox broke out. Xianglan chanted prayers morning and evening, and even found servant boys who had already survived smallpox to deliver food and drink to Yingge and the others. Right outside the second gate was a round-faced servant boy whom everyone called Little Piggy. Because he had been left with smallpox scars all over his face, he feared disgusting his masters and only did rough work; when this crisis struck, he was put to use and ran errands along the corridors. Hearing that Xianglan was looking for someone to run an errand, he eagerly stepped forward, took on the task, and left. Upon returning, he reported, "When Sister Yingge heard it was you sending her things, Young Lady, she cried for a while and specifically asked me to stand right outside her window and tell you that you have a heart of gold. In all her years in the manor, the only person she truly trusts is you. She said she has twenty taels of private silver and some jewelry in a small box under her bed. When she passes away, the Lin family will give her family some silver anyway; she begs you to take charge of her silver and jewelry and find a way to hand them directly to her younger brother, because she's afraid someone with sticky fingers might embezzle her things, or that the silver might fall into her sister-in-law's hands, leaving her father with no money for medicine and her brother with nothing to eat."

Xianglan felt a heavy ache in her heart. She could tell that Yingge had previously fawned over and flattered her deliberately, which had made her quite uncomfortable, but after all, they were just pitiful creatures caught in the same plight. Yingge had her sorrows, and she had hers; if they could be on good terms, they might as well be, so why make things difficult for each other? Living in this lukewarm fashion, although she and Yingge weren't exceptionally close, they were on congenial terms. Now, hearing Yingge entrust her with these final arrangements, Xianglan couldn't help sighing a few times. Through the curtain, she said to Little Piggy, "Go back and tell her that I agree to this." She then instructed Chunling to reward him with a red envelope.

That evening, past the third watch, Lin Jinlou was still reading official documents by candlelight. Xianglan lay half-asleep on the bed when she suddenly heard the cloud board at the second gate strike, and a matron reported at the door, "Sister Yingge has passed away."

Startled, Xianglan immediately sat up, and Lin Jinlou rose and left. A short while later, Shuran returned to report, "Because she died of smallpox, her corpse cannot be kept; it was hastily carried off to be cremated, leaving only her ashes to rest at the mortuary. The Eldest Young Master remembered her past service and elevated her to the status of a concubine. Her coffin was prepared long ago, and nothing she is due has been omitted."

Xianglan then relayed what Yingge had entrusted her with and added, "Good sister, I cannot go over there myself, so I must trouble you to keep this in mind for me."

This was the first time Xianglan had ever entrusted Shuran with a task. Shuran immediately patted her chest in assent, praised Xianglan for having the heart of a bodhisattva, and before long, she indeed returned with a pouch of silver and jewelry, adding, "Yingge's family has already arrived and is currently kneeling before the Eldest Young Master to express their gratitude."

Xianglan asked, "Who from her family came?"

Shuran replied, "Her brother, her sister-in-law, and her younger brother. Her younger brother is ten years old and serves in Second Master's quarters; his name is Zhao'er."

Xianglan added another forty taels to the pouch of silver and ordered someone to summon Zhao'er. She said to him, "Your sister and I had old ties, and before her passing, she entrusted me to hand her personal savings over to you. This pouch contains her belongings; keep it safely. If you ever face any hardships in the future, come find me."

Zhao'er bore a striking resemblance to Yingge. With his eyes red and swollen from crying, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed to Xianglan, saying, "Bodhisattva Grandmother, Zhao'er kowtows to you and will remember your immense kindness forever." Wiping away his tears, he departed, his subsequent affairs set aside for now.

After Zhao'er left, Xianglan lay on the bed with her clothes still on. Half-asleep and half-awake, she suddenly saw Yingge walk in and say to her, "Sister Xianglan, I am leaving. You are affectionate and righteous, and since you fulfilled my request, our family will surely repay this kindness in the future."

With a start, Xianglan opened her eyes, only to see Lin Jinlou walking in from outside—there was no sign of Yingge anywhere.

Another ten days or so passed, and no one else in the Lin residence developed a fever or smallpox. Seeing that the New Year was approaching, Lin Zhaoxiang ordered his sons, daughters-in-law, and the rest to move back into the Lin family estate. The very first thing on Madam Qin's agenda upon returning was to have the entire family go to Xixia Temple to hold a dharma service and offer a peace ritual.

"We've been living in constant anxiety all this time, and with seven or eight people dying in the family, gods know what kind of rumors are spreading outside. I've already made a vow at the temple, and now that it's fulfilled, we must hold a grand dharma service to bring everything to a proper close. Even the Old Madam is going this time," Madam Qin said. "Ling'er has been complaining to me nonstop, saying that going to the temple last time was boring and she couldn't even watch operas. This time there's a tall pavilion at Xixia Temple where they can actually set up a stage and put on a show."

Madam Wang remarked, "What does a child like her know? With lives hanging in the balance at home, she still only cares about playing around and watching the commotion."

Madam Qin teased, "She's practically of an age to be betrothed and is already a young lady. Ling'er has become much more composed and demure lately, even speaking much less—you can tell she's someone about to be married off."

Lin Dongling instantly blushed scarlet, and everyone burst into laughter. Lin Dongling, however, quietly turned her head away and let out a soft huff.

Madam Qin sent Xiaohua to Zhichun Lodge to inform Xianglan that she would be taking her along. Xiaohua smiled and said, "Madam also said she wants you to ride in her carriage, Young Lady!"

Chunling hurriedly asked, "Is Zidai going?"

Xiaohua replied, "Madam didn't mention her, but Mother Han pleaded on her behalf before Madam, and Madam agreed to take her along."

After Xiaohua left, Chunling clapped her hands and laughed, "See that? Time reveals a horse's stamina; Madam has finally seen through what kind of vixen Zidai really is. Now Madam has specifically called for you to go with her, which means she intends to elevate your status."

Xianglan shook her head inwardly. She didn't care at all about Madam Qin's art of managing people, but after being cooped up in the manor for so long, being able to go out and clear her mind was always a good thing.

When the day of the trip to Xixia Temple finally arrived, carriages and horses bustled before the Lin gates. Xianglan shared a carriage with Madam Qin. The journey was mostly quiet; occasionally, when Madam Qin wanted tea, Xianglan would hand her the cup or add plum-scented charcoal cakes to Madam Qin's hand warmer, after which she would sit quietly in the corner of the carriage. Madam Qin was much more affable than before, occasionally asking Xianglan a question or two without her previous cold detachment. Xianglan felt secretly astonished, unaware that Madam Qin had learned of her righteous aid to Yingge, which had added several points of favorability toward her. In truth, even Madam Qin herself had to admit that previously, when Xianglan was in her courtyard, though she wasn't particularly pleasing, she simply stayed quietly in her place, yet every gesture of hers possessed the poise of a young lady from a great family—one that perhaps even her own biological daughter could hardly match. Moreover, Xianglan could write and paint, possessed a gentle temperament, and was an exceedingly rare find. Perhaps this girl was simply too outstanding and dazzling, or perhaps it was because her own son had forcefully dragged her into their doors as a concubine, but Madam Qin's heart never felt entirely at ease regarding her.

Lin Jinlou escorted them the whole way on horseback. When they reached Xixia Temple, the abbot had already led a host of monks out to welcome them, and Lin Jinating was busy entertaining the various stewards, managers, and clan relatives.

How Madam Qin and her party worshipped and paid homage at the temple can be skipped for now. Lin Jinlou took a turn around the temple grounds, instructed the bodyguards they brought from home to secure the perimeter, and went to Xianglan's quarters to give instructions: "Serve Madam well. I am heading back first and will come fetch you all back to the manor in three days." Xianglan gave a desultory acknowledgment. Lin Jinlou gave a few more parting words and left.

Watching him go, Chunling opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, then hesitated and mumbled, "Young Lady, you really ought to pay more attention to the Eldest Young Master... As it stands, Young Lady doesn't even have an official title, and the Eldest Young Master is so used to romantic escapades..."

Xianglan smiled faintly. Ever since smallpox ceased to be an issue in the Lin residence, Lin Jinlou had reverted to leaving early and returning late, occasionally spending the night outside. Rumors had quietly spread that Lin Jinlou had acquired a new favorite outside—word had it he had deflowered a girl named Yuntian from Yihong Courtyard, a beauty peerless in both looks and artistry with a remarkably bright, clear voice. She had heard these rumors whispered among the lower servants long ago, though Chunling and the others still assumed she was in the dark.

Shuran was a shrewd woman and remarked while chatting and laughing with her, "Young Lady is a person of blessed fortune. I can see that the Eldest Young Master truly holds Young Lady in utmost regard; don't listen to outsiders chewing the fat. Previously, the Eldest Young Master was out constantly day after day, but now he only goes out occasionally for social engagements, and whenever he leaves his office, he comes straight home. There's only Young Lady left in the courtyard; just recently, a garrison commander offered the Eldest Young Master a fairy-like young girl as a tribute, and the Eldest Young Master refused her outright and simply sent her away to someone else." Hearing this, Xianglan still responded only with a smile.

Lin Jinlou's romantic nature wasn't a matter of a day or two; she was merely a plaything in his chambers, and she barely had the bandwidth to worry about her own future, let alone spare any energy to eat the bitter fruit of jealous spite. If Lin Jinlou did find a new favorite and chose to cast her aside, she would actually breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing that Xianglan offered no reply, Chunling had no choice but to let the matter drop. For a moment, when Madam Qin prepared to attend the dharma ceremony, Xianglan went along. After the chanting and rituals concluded, Lin Dongling first complained of a headache and went back to rest, while Lin Dongxiu lingered for a bit before quietly slipping away, thinking to herself, "They all say the divination slips at Xixia Temple are the most miraculous; I must go draw one." She thus made her way to the Hall of the Three Sages on the eastern side, which was entirely empty. Stepping inside alone, just as she was about to reach for the bamboo divination cylinder on the altar table, she caught the faint sound of a man and a woman talking behind the Buddha statue. Moving on tiptoe, she hid behind a pillar to take a look, only to discover that it was none other than Lin Dongling talking to a tall, robust actor painted with facial makeup, which gave her a profound shock.

Lin Dongling was saying, "...Dulang, my right eyelid has been twitching all these past two days, and my heart won't stop fluttering... Will this plan... truly succeed?"

The actor replied, "Of course it will succeed, how could I trick you? I've already prepared everything, just wait until tomorrow night, and make sure you stay alert while sleeping. The other day when you were at Ganlu Temple, you didn't spend the night, which is why we didn't have a chance to make a move."

"...I'm still scared... Seven or eight people have already died at home, and every time I close my eyes I worry whether they'll come back to demand my life, especially Hanfang, who served me after all..."