Against the Current - Chapter 228

Chapter 228 - Embroidery Pavilion (Part 2)

During these past few days, Lin Jinglou had been driven half out of his wits by exhaustion and worry; his mother and sister had almost been kidnapped, and his beloved concubine had vanished. Feeling that both his face and his dignity had been utterly stripped away, he had spent his time frantically settling accounts and flying into rages, followed by scouring everywhere in search of Xianglan, to the point that he could no longer spare any attention for military affairs within the camp.

Madam Wang of the second branch and Lin Changmin had also come looking for him to intercede, but Lin Jinglou had found them so unbearable that he simply chose to lodge outside. Fortunately, with Lin holding down the fort at home, the second branch had gradually quieted down.

Over those months, there had been people inviting him out to drink and listen to music, but with no such heart for it, he had flatly refused them all. For the rare few he truly couldn't find a way to decline, he would go just to share a couple of cups before hurrying through the motions. Everyone in Jinling knew Lin Jinglou was in a foul mood during this period, so no one dared to crowd around him too closely. Unwittingly, he had abstained for all this time.

Now that he had found Xianglan, his heart could finally settle. At this moment, that little nemesis of his lay soft and boneless beneath his body. Lowering his head to look, Lin Jinglou saw her cheeks glowing like fire, her beauty outshining the peach blossoms. She was so mortified she could barely string a sentence together, trying only to push him away while stammering anxiously, "The window is still open, and the maids are all down below..."

"We're lying down, they can't see us from outside. Besides, which blind fool would dare come up here right now? See if I don't skin whoever lacks eyes." Paying no heed to Xianglan's struggle, he very efficiently stripped away her clothes. Beneath her bright red gauze-sleeved robe appeared an ivory-colored gauze shirt, while her faded red bellyband was slung over her powdered neck by a thin cord, tightly framing her rounded breasts. Burying his face to inhale deeply, he found himself filled with her alluring fragrance. Reaching inside, Lin Jinglou grabbed a handful. Xianglan gave a start, only to hear Lin Jinglou murmur by her ear, "Your body has grown even more exquisite lately, precisely the kind to hook a man's heart on fire. My hands were itching these past two days, but seeing you sick, I exercised restraint and let you off. Today, I'm going to enjoy myself to the fullest." As he spoke, he had already discarded her skirt, revealing her snow-white thin gauze trousers.

Hearing such lewd talk, Xianglan turned crimson from head to toe. She knew Lin Jinglou's word was law; once he took a notion, she had no choice but to obediently submit unless she wanted to invite trouble for herself. She turned her face aside and closed her eyes. With a few swift motions, Lin Jinglou had stripped Xianglan entirely bare, revealing her alabaster body stretched across the bed. Swallowing hard, he reached down with one hand.

Startled, Xianglan opened her eyes and reached out to grab Lin Jinglou's hand. Panting heavily, Lin Jinglou kissed her temple and moved to kiss her lips, leaving Xianglan completely unable to struggle as she melted weakly against the couch. Covered in sweat, Lin Jinglou gathered her waist and thrust straight in.

The sensation was so soul-stirring that Lin Jinglou let out a groan and nearly spent himself right then. Pinning Xianglan down onto the soft couch, he hoisted up her two pale, slender legs. The muscles across his back and shoulders strained taut as he drew a heavy breath and drove into her ruthlessly once more.

Lin Jinglou's member was thick and large, causing Xianglan to bite her lip as her dark, slender eyebrows knitted slightly together. Outside, the sounds of bantering grew even more wanton, with a woman holding a pipa singing lascivious tunes: "Willow waist and jade thighs, the jade pistils bloom bright; the dashing young gallant lightly lifts her legs upon his shoulder..." Mixed in were the raucous laughter and jeers of a whole crowd.

Clasping her earlobe in his mouth, Lin Jinglou mumbled thickly, "Did you hear that? That song is singing of exactly what we're doing right now... Tell me, do you think they saw us and sang that on purpose?"

Horrified, Xianglan found the outside voices of talking, laughing, and singing far too clear, as if they were right before her eyes. She already felt as though she were committing such acts in plain view of everyone, and the overwhelming shame made her panic even more, prompting her to start struggling in earnest.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jinglou pressed his sturdy, solid chest down to keep her from moving. Seeing her cascade of dark cloud-like hair scattered across the couch against her snow-white skin—a sight of unspeakable enticement—he gritted his teeth and drove harder. Xianglan inevitably melted into a puddle, losing herself to the sensation. Lin Jinglou chuckled, panting with immense triumph. Blushing furiously with mortification and annoyance, Xianglan could only turn her face away and bury it in the bedding.

After thoroughly enjoying himself for a spell, Lin Jinglou scooped Xianglan up again, intending to hold her in his arms for another round. Yet seeing her flushed cheeks, her lips still bitten raw in a death grip, and her eyes brimming with tears, he paused and quickly understood. Breaking into an amused laugh, he said, "People outside can't see us. Listen, the voices are gone now—the day must have grown dark, and they've already cleared the tables."

At that, Xianglan finally burst into soft, whimpering tears, feeling she truly had no face left to show anyone. She began to rain weak, heavy blows against Lin Jinglou's chest. Instead, Lin Jinglou burst into a hearty laugh, caught both of her fists in one hand, and drove into her again. Xianglan drew in a sharp gasp and, terrified of losing her balance, instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Jinglou's neck. Growing even more ferocious, the veins bulging on his forehead, Lin Jinglou drove her to a delicate moan through her tears, leaving a half-moon imprint of teeth bitten deep into his shoulder.

By the time the tempest cleared and the rain subsided, the hour had long since passed lamp-lighting time.

Outside, Lingsu used a hand fan to tend to a small stove, atop which sat a bronze pot keeping half a kettle of boiling water warm.

Stepping out from the embroidery pavilion, Lingqing said, "Let me take over, you go rest for a bit."

Lingsu asked in a quiet whisper, "Is it over? Did the Master give any orders?"

Blushing and slightly awkward, Lingqing replied, "It sounds like there hasn't been any movement, but since the Master hasn't called for us, barging up there blindly wouldn't do..." Just a moment before, as the Arhat bed on the upper floor had rocked, the wooden floorboards had creaked and groaned. Finding it inappropriate to linger inside the embroidery pavilion, Lingqing and Lingsu had come out to stand guard by the entrance, passing the time with idle chatter.

Suddenly, a cough from Lin Jinglou echoed from within the pavilion. Lingqing hurried back, standing at the foot of the stairs to muster her courage and call out, "Does the Master have any instructions?"

A moment later, Lin Jinglou replied, "Bring up some hot tea."

Lingqing hastily picked up the warmed water from the stove, brewed a fresh pot of tea, and carried it carefully upstairs. Not daring to look around, she placed the tea on the small side table beside the Arhat bed. Glancing briefly about, she saw that the embroidery pavilion had not yet been lit with lamps; a single window facing the lake had been pushed open just a crack, letting a cool breeze drift in to dissipate the lingering haze of indulgence. Lin Jinglou sat on the edge of the couch wearing loose-legged silk trousers and an unbuttoned outer robe, exposing his robust chest. Xianglan lay deep within the bedclothes, seemingly fast asleep.

Though tired, Lin Jinglou felt an indescribable comfort throughout his entire body. Humming a tune, he drank his tea and ordered hot water to be brought up. First washing himself down, he fetched fresh water to help wipe Xianglan clean. Once finished, feeling a pang of hunger in his stomach, he ordered some food to be sent up as well.

Xianglan had long since fallen soundly asleep. From time to time, Lin Jinglou would gently shake her awake and hold a bowl of soup to her lips; she would mumble sleepily through a couple of sips before drifting right back off.

Lin Jinglou had originally intended to spend the night in the embroidery pavilion, but given his tall, strapping frame, sleeping on the Arhat bed made him feel cramped and uncomfortable. Moreover, the night breeze was turning chilly, and since the octagonal embroidery pavilion was made of wood, it wasn't particularly warm. Seeing that Xianglan was still sleeping soundly, he wrapped her snugly in a quilt and carried her back.

To cut a long story short.

Lin Jinglou stayed in Yangzhou for one more day before having his men pack their luggage in preparation for returning to Jinling. With no one to rein him in these past few days, and Yangzhou being such a bustling place, Lin Jingting had long since been having too much fun to remember to go home. Hearing that Lin Jinglou was leaving, he was quite reluctant to part and agitated to stay a couple more days.

With a cold smirk, Lin Jinglou replied, "Shall I leave you behind here, then, and have Grandfather specially write a letter to summon you back?"

Hearing that, Lin Jingting instantly drooped his shoulders and, looking utterly crestfallen, shuffled off to pack his bags.