Against the Current - Chapter 225
Chapter 225 - Strolling Through the Garden
Lin Jinglou glanced at Xianglan and said, "Once I'm done with things tomorrow, I'll take you out to play. The peach blossoms at the Twenty-Four Bridges are all in bloom; it's crowded during the day, so we'll go appreciate the moonlight in the evening."
Hearing this, Xianglan promptly raised her head. She had long wanted to wander about, but earlier she had been dodging and hiding, and once inside the temple, it had been inconvenient to venture out alone. What with one thing and another, she had missed out on countless sceneries.
Seeing Xianglan stare at him with bright, wide eyes, Lin Jinglou felt immensely pleased with himself. He mused that his guess hadn't missed the mark—how could he not have realized sooner that someone like Xianglan, who could write and paint, truly possessed the temperament of a scholar or literatus? She naturally loved roaming among mountains and rivers, unlike those women in inner quarters who only knew how to dress up and wait on others. No wonder she had been so dispirited day in and day out back at the Lin residence; she had simply been too tightly cooped up. Yet he pursed his lips and said, "You're always so prickly with your small tempers. If you wanted to go out and play, all you had to do was tell me instead of acting like a sealed gourd. Whenever you see me, you have nothing to say, keeping your head down all day long until you're practically bent like an old man. In a couple more days when I'm done with my business, we'll head back to Jinling. Missing your parents, aren't you? Once we're back, I'll let you go home for a couple of days, or else have your parents brought in to stay for a few days."
Xianglan was taken aback. Of all things, what she missed most these days were her parents. A corner of her mouth curved upward in spite of herself, but then she recalled how, when Lin Jinglou had tracked her down and brought her back, she had spent the entire carriage ride thinking she was crawling out of a wolf's den only to enter a tiger's lair. Given Lin Jinglou's temperament, there was no telling how he might torment and discipline her; back then, when she had provoked him, he had nearly choked her to death. This time, she had only hoped he might spare her for the sake of her saving his mother and sister, never expecting him to let the matter slide so lightly... Could it be that Lin Jinglou had genuinely changed his nature? She fidgeted nervously, just wanting to murmur a "thank you" to him, when she heard him say, "They don't know anything about you running away, so you'd better keep your mouth shut about it."
"...Oh."
"Don't just give me an 'oh.' Just you dare try pulling that a second time and see what happens."
Lowering her head to stare at the pastries before her, Xianglan fell silent once more. She thought to herself that the moment she began to feel Lin Jinglou had grown softer, his very next sentence would start threatening her again. Indeed, this was the true face of Lin Jinglou.
Lin Jinglou knitted his brows, feeling a twinge of regret. Everything had been going well just a moment ago, but this woman was as timid as a mouse and easily spooked—how could he have forgotten that again? And she was at fault too; why couldn't she learn to be a bit more ingratiating? Any other woman would have known to sidle up, act spoiled, and say, "Master, I'll never dare do it again." What anger could he possibly have held onto after that?
Noticing the stiff atmosphere, Lin Jinglou let out a huff, reached out to pull the pastry Xianglan had been poking over to his own side, and wolfed it down in two or three bites with his soup.
When they finished eating, the maids cleared away the bowls and dishes, presented clear tea for rinsing the mouth, and brought towels to wash hands. A moment later, they served fresh hot tea and arranged fruit platters. Xianglan still wanted to flip through some books, but Lin Jinglou, figuring she hadn't fully recovered yet, ordered her to take an afternoon nap. Since Lin Jinglou's words were always as unyielding as military commands, Xianglan had no choice but to obey rather than resist. She obediently crawled to the inner side of the bed, tightly wrapped herself in the brocade quilt, while Lin Jinglou sat barefoot on the outer edge, sorting through the calling cards and gift ledgers piled on a silver platter.
Sneaking her eyes open into a tiny slit, Xianglan peeked at Lin Jinglou. She saw him with his thick brows slightly furrowed and an expression of utter impatience as he piled the calling cards into different stacks. It was the first time Xianglan had ever noticed that Lin Jinglou was actually quite striking: his long brows slanted up into his temples, his eyes flashed like lightning, and his high, straight bridge of nose lent him a surging, heroic, and domineering aura. He sat tall and straight like a pine tree, though his temperament was far too explosive, ruthless, and devoid of scruples—someone who would raise his hand and strike people at the slightest disagreement. Even though Xianglan was grateful to him, she also feared and loathed him, dodging out of sight the moment she caught his shadow; how could she ever have paid attention to what he looked like? Closing her eyes to let her thoughts wander, she drifted off to sleep before she knew it.
Having finished sorting the cards, Lin Jinglou instructed Lingqing to hand them over to Jixiang. He stretched lazily, and upon turning his head, saw that Xianglan was already fast asleep, her cheeks flushed pink. He muttered under his breath once more, "Heartless woman." Recalling the gatekeeper telling him earlier that Yuan Shaoren had visited and dropped off a trunk containing items Your Ladyship had previously used, he ordered the chest brought in. Opening the lid, he found three or four rough cloth garments, a slightly thicker robe, and a crude little wooden box. Inside the box lay a mirror, a wooden comb, half a bottle of hair oil, and a container of face cream.
Lin Jinglou poked through them dismissively before shoving the box aside with utter disdain. The rest of the contents consisted of scriptures, manuscripts, painting drafts, and several scrolls of already-mounted artwork. Unrolling them one by one, Lin Jinglou inspected them closely and discovered landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds—all sorts of subjects represented. Some were grand and imposing, some freehand and expressive, some delicate, and others graceful. Truly unique and possessing an unspeakable elegance.
Lin Jinglou was instantly startled, unable to hold back an exclamation of praise: "Fine paintings!" He turned his head in astonishment to look at the woman sleeping on the bed, utterly failing to imagine that Xianglan possessed such talent. The most renowned talented woman of the present day was Jiang Feiyun, daughter of Grand Secretary Jiang Xuecheng of the Wenyuan Pavilion in the capital. She was proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, excelling particularly at fine brushwork. A set of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum paintings she had once given away to a friend from her boudoir had circulated widely, sparking a craze among young lords and nobles. He had once joined the crowd to take a look; while those paintings were indeed well-drawn, compared to Xianglan's work, they lagged behind by several mountains. Furthermore, Xianglan excelled in poetry and books, and could also play chess and the zither. It hadn't been apparent when she was merely a maid, but ever since he kept her in his quarters, he increasingly noticed how refined she was in her appreciation of food and clothing. She possessed all the etiquette and cultivation of a young lady of a great household, with an elegant style and an air even more distinguished than the likes of Zhao Yuechan. She was no mere seed of a servant girl; she clearly looked like someone raised with tender care in a prestigious noble family, and certainly not a girl nurtured in the cold simplicity of a temple.
Staring thoughtfully at Xianglan as she slept like a lotus for a long while, Lin Jinglou carefully placed the paintings back into the chest.
When Xianglan woke up from her nap, it was already afternoon. Everything outside was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the maids talking. Feeling her whole body soft and limp from sleep, she sat up, parted the bed curtains, and looked out. Lingqing and Lingsu were busy opening chests and cabinets to pack items. One was saying, "We should bring a couple more thick garments; it's still cold after nightfall." The other replied, "We need to pack bedding rolls too, just in case Your Ladyship wants to rest on the couch outside. Did you pack the pastries and tea leaves? How many boxes of dried fruits?" Right as they were speaking, they looked up and saw Xianglan awake, hurrying over to say, "Your Ladyship is awake. Would you like some tea?"
Opening her mouth, Xianglan spoke in a slightly husky voice, "What are you all so busy packing for?"
Lingqing smiled and said, "The Master told us to pack. He said he's going to take Your Ladyship out for a stroll, and we'll be leaving shortly."
Xianglan was taken aback once more. Didn't Lin Jinglou say he would go "in a couple of days once he finished his work"? Still, the prospect of going out for a wander was genuinely exciting. Just as she finished half a bowl of tea, Lingsu bustled over to present a set of clothes for Xianglan to change into, helping her put on hair ornaments while slotting four or five bracelets onto her wrists. Right in the middle of these preparations, Lin Jinglou strode into the room. Xianglan hastily stood up. Lin Jinglou took a look at her, seeing she was dressed in a bright red multicolored sleeve-threaded gauze robe, paired with a gold-threaded leaf-patterned green-gauze skirt featuring a hundred flowers, a mandarin duck belt cinched around her waist, gold sleeve-clasps fastened on her wrists, and pearls and kingfisher feathers piled high in her hair. It made her face—resembling white jade and peach blossoms—look all the more delicate and charming. Squinting as he looked her up and down, Lin Jinglou saw Xianglan looking somewhat uncomfortable, but then he nodded and said, "Oh, wearing it like this suits you very well." With that, he walked with an elegant stride out to the main parlor room.
Before Xianglan could fully recover her wits, Lingqing said triumphantly, "Did Your Ladyship hear that? The Master said it looks good, and I said so too! Your Ladyship has snow-white skin, so wearing bright and dazzling colors like this is the only way to look truly gorgeous." It was only when Xianglan looked at herself that she received a shock. Earlier, preoccupied with the thought of going out, she had let herself be dressed by the maids in a daze, never expecting they would put her in such vibrant clothes and adorn her with so many hairpins and rings. In her past life at the Shen family, she had actually loved dressing up in such brilliant attire; later, after marrying Xiao Hang as a bride, she had grown even fonder of bright red... But afterward, she had never worn clothes like this again. Ever since becoming Lin Jinglou's concubine, she had indeed had a few red garments tailored, but she had always avoided such proper wedding-grade colors—whether out of a sense that she wasn't worthy or simply out of spite, she couldn't be sure. Wearing this bright red dress today felt like crossing through lifetimes, giving her spirits an invigorating jolt.
Once she finished tidying up, Xianglan went out to the main parlor. Lin Jinglou was sitting on a nearby Arhat bed reading some letters. On the Kang table beside him sat a bowl of goji berry and pork rib soup, a bowl of extra-nourishing soup, a pale pink dish holding exquisite steamed buns and pastries, along with two or three small side dishes like spiced chicken feet and wings. By now the rain outside had long since stopped, and sunlight streamed through the half-open carved lattice windows onto him, making his build look exceptionally imposing. Within a short while, he had somehow changed into outdoor clothing as well: a lotus-cyan patterned brocade-on-brocade western-threaded crane cloak, over a blue python-patterned jacquard cotton robe with dark trim, secured with a treasured jade belt, his hair gathered within a white jade crown. Xianglan thought to herself that when he dressed up like this, he looked quite presentable; anyone ignorant of his true character would genuinely take him for a majestic and spirited hero among men.
Hearing the commotion, Lin Jinglou raised his head, glanced at Xianglan, and pointed his chin toward the other side of the Kang table. "Sit."
Xianglan sat down. Lingqing had already brought over a bowl of soup, removed the lid, and said, "Have a bowl of nourishing soup first to open your appetite. Does Your Ladyship want a vegetarian bun?"
Xianglan had no idea what meal this hour was supposed to count as.
Lin Jinglou said, "Bring her a portion just like mine." Lingqing acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Watching the way Xianglan drank her soup and chewed her food, Lin Jinglou felt satisfied, finding the meal harmonious and delightful. Once finished, they rinsed their mouths with tea, and he led Xianglan outside, ordering some people to carry Xianglan into the garden in a bamboo sedan chair.
Having been ill these past few days and practically confined indoors, Xianglan had never expected that a whole other world lay hidden behind this courtyard. Passing through the half-moon arched gate, she was greeted by a dense grove of bamboos, flowering trees, and artificial rockeries arranged with exquisite taste, creating a deeply captivating scene.
Xianglan could not help stepping down from the sedan chair to walk along the pebble-paved path deeper into the grounds. Lin Jinglou remarked, "This garden is a bit small, but it's considered rather refined. At any rate, it belongs to our own home; take your time strolling around, and in a few days I'll take you to an even better one." As he spoke, he too looked around to enjoy the scenery.
This residence was the first property he had acquired in Yangzhou. Later, Chu Dapeng and the others had taken some of their dividend silver from the winter salt merchants' assembly and quietly purchased the plot of land behind his estate. Tearing down the structures, they had actually built a garden stretching along the lake as a token of gratitude. Although the garden wasn't particularly large, its layout was unique, filled with exotic flowers, rare plants, and bizarre rocks of all shapes. Lin Jinglou had accepted it with a smile.
After walking only a short distance, they indeed spotted a hill upon which an octagonal embroidery pavilion stood. The two of them climbed up via the bluestone steps. The interior of the pavilion had already been swept clean by servants; it was laid with brocade carpets, hung with embroidered curtains, and wreathed in thin blue smoke slowly curling from the mouth of a sandalwood-and-jade beast incense burner. Upon seeing their master arrive, the maids and matrons eagerly stepped forward to serve tea and set out fruit platters.
Xianglan pushed open a set of intricately carved vermilion windows featuring fresh floral patterns, revealing the sparkling, rippling surface of the lake outside the wall. Not far away, a flying rainbow bridge spanned the water like a floating piece of jade or a rainbow lying across the waves, instantly opening up and refreshing anyone's mood who looked upon it.
At that moment, the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted over, accompanied by the gentle, melodious singing of a woman. Lin Jinglou frowned slightly, stood up, and pushed open the vermilion window on the opposite side. Xianglan also couldn't help poking her head out to look. As it turned out, Lin Jingting, having nothing better to do, had invited Liu Xiaochuan and the others to drink and make merry in a pavilion within the garden named "Chuntai Mingyue" (Bright Moon on the Spring Terrace). Because the afternoon rain had stopped and the weather had cleared up nicely, they had set up a table outdoors where they could also admire the blooming plum, peach, and apricot blossoms. They had even hired several famous courtesans to play music and sing for entertainment. Some held pipa lutes in their arms, some strummed zithers, while others poured wine among the banqueting guests. Heavily made-up yet lightly powdered, each possessed her own distinct charm. One courtesan, dressed in a peach-red patterned brocade jacket and a blue satin skirt while holding small red-ivory clappers, was singing in a soft, trilling voice. Another girl, wearing a green gold-threaded vest with her phoenix hairpins half-loosened and a flushed, powder-radiant face, was speaking animatedly until her words provoked a roar of laughter from the group of men, who all raised their wine cups and drank. The woman drank along with them, her face flushed and slightly tipsy. One of the young lords, overcome by passion, pulled the woman over to kiss her. The woman acted shy, putting up a coy resistance, while the young master's companions burst into thunderous cheers and applause.
Though having lived through two lifetimes, it was the first time Xianglan had ever witnessed such a scene. Her eyes widened in shock, and parting her lips, she asked, "Is... is this what they call drinking with courtesans?" Kissing and smacking lips in full view of everyone left Xianglan too stunned for words.
Lin Jinglou raised an eyebrow, finding Xianglan's shocked little expression rather amusing. He thought to himself, What is this? Once the wine flows three rounds and the dishes are served five times, things get truly uninhibited. They play drinking games with lewd lyrics, or the prostitutes strip off their clothes and strike all sorts of poses to add to the merriment. If little Xianglan were to see that, her eyeballs would drop right out of her head.