Against the Current - Chapter 234

Chapter 234 - Hidden Thoughts

Lin Jinlou stretched out his arm, pulled Xianglan into his embrace, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

The second day, Lin Jinlou rose before dawn as usual to practice martial arts. Xianglan slept a little longer before getting up, and the maids had already prepared everything needed for her bath.

Fanshan first handed a cup of warm tea to Xianglan. After drinking it, Xianglan went behind the screen to bathe.

Once she finished washing, Lingqing brought out a grayish-purple tunic embroidered with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, along with a dark green quilted silk skirt, and asked, "Does the Yiniang find these two pieces to her liking?"

Seeing that the clothes were smooth and lacked the creases usually caused by being pressed long in a trunk, Xianglan knew Lingqing had already sprinkled them with rice wine and ironed them, so she nodded and changed into them. Xuening then presented rock salt for brushing her teeth, while Lingsu held out the spittoon. After washing and rinsing were complete, Lingqing fetched the yellow jade beauty cream used for the face. Xianglan picked up a small jade spatula to scoop a portion and smoothed it evenly across her face.

By this time, Fanshan had already brought over a large octagonal lacquer box inlaid with mother-of-pearl peonies. Opening it, it was filled with matching pouches, jade pendants, and waist trinkets. Lingqing selected three items and tied them around Xianglan's waist. Xuening then presented a square box of the same design and pattern, holding various styles of bracelets, and invited Xianglan to choose. Xianglan selected a pair of jade bracelets, and Xuening smiled, saying, "Nowadays, it's fashionable to wear three bracelets on a single wrist—one of jade, one of gold, with a coral or tortoiseshell one in the middle." Having said that, she took out two more pairs and slipped them onto both of Xianglan's wrists.

At that moment, Xiaojuan walked into the room rubbing her eyes. Seeing that Xianglan was already washed and dressed, she stepped forward, picked up a boxwood comb, and smiled, saying, "The journey was too tiring, and I overslept this morning. Let me comb the Yiniang's hair." Xiaojuan had always been exceptionally fast and skilled at arranging hair into buns, and she excelled at devising new styles. Promptly instructing Fanshan to fetch the large round box containing the hairpins and ornaments, she selected accessories for Xianglan's hair and finally clipped a peony blossom from the large porcelain vase standing nearby, pinning it into her coiffure.

Fanshan watched intently from the side, stuck out her tongue, and whispered quietly to Xuening beside her, "The Yiniang is extraordinarily pretty. Wearing all these pearls, kingfisher feathers, flowers, and blossoms makes her look even more gorgeous—even better-looking than the Guanyin portrayed at the temple fair."

"Madam even said that if you tied all the young misses of the estate together, they wouldn't match the Yiniang's looks," Xuening replied as she closed the jewelry box and locked each clasp with a brass key. "In my view, it's not just the ones in the estate. Among all the young misses from prominent families who visit, I've yet to see a single one who surpasses the Yiniang. Some have fine brows and eyes, but their overall aura simply doesn't compare..." With a sigh, she swallowed the second half of her sentence—what a pity about her background—right back into her stomach.

Fanshan pouted and said, "The Yiniang is easygoing, but the Eldest Young Master is a bit fierce; he makes people too nervous to even breathe comfortably."

Just as she said this, Xianglan overheard. Thinking that Fanshan was only ten years old and still full of childish antics, she beckoned her close, scooped up a handful of dried fruits for her to eat, offered a few words of comfort, patted her head, and asked how she had slept the night before and whether she had grown accustomed to things yet.

Fanshan answered one question after another, adding that Xuening had given her two slightly small outfits that were still brand-new. Just as she was speaking with radiant excitement, she saw Lin Jinlou walk in with his chest open and a saber in hand. The moment he crossed the threshold, he bellowed that he was thirsty and ordered someone to serve tea. Taken aback on the spot, Fanshan stared with wide-open eyes, stammered out, "Yiniang, I... I'll go to the kitchen to fetch the dishes," and scuttled away with her neck shrunk, running faster than a tiny hare.

Lin Jinlou couldn't help pausing in surprise when he saw a little maid dart past him at lightning speed.

Fearing he would grow angry, Xianglan hurried to her feet and said, "I was the one who sent her to check on the kitchen."

Lin Jinlou let out a "hmph" as he sat down, saying, "As expected, maids take after their masters. Everyone from your Chen household is like a rat—timid as mice, acting like they've seen a ghost the moment they lay eyes on me." With that, he took the tea handed to him and gulped it down before saying, "After we've eaten, we're heading over to my second brother's place. Strictly speaking, they ought to have come to us, but my second brother is in poor health, so we'll go over there in a little while." Having spoken, he went behind the screen to wash up and change into fresh clothes.

After breakfast, Xianglan accompanied Lin Jinlou to the courtyard where Lin Jinxuan lived. The courtyard was exceptionally large, featuring lush trees and vibrant flowers, with various climbing roses sprawling across the walls and two lazy cats dozing in the sun by the entrance.

Xianglan praised, "This place truly possesses a wonderful slice of spring scenery."

Hearing this, Shuran smiled and said, "Second Young Master didn't originally live here; he resided in the side rooms of the main dwelling. When the time came for him to marry, they knocked down the walls between two courtyards, rebuilt the place, and moved him over."

As they spoke, the two of them followed closely behind Lin Jinlou as he stepped into the courtyard. Two maids dressed in bright red and emerald green were already waiting by the door. Upon seeing Lin Jinlou, they hurriedly lifted the door curtain and chimed in, "Second Young Master has been talking about you for ages. The Eldest Young Master has finally arrived."

Entering the inner quarters, they saw a slender young man seated in the main hall. He possessed clean and clear brows and eyes, fair skin, and an upright posture; refined and scholarly, he bore a six-tenths resemblance to Lin Changzheng, though his cheeks carried an unhealthy flush, suggesting a constitution suffering from chronic deficiency. Seeing them enter, he hastily rose and saluted, saying, "Elder Brother has arrived."

Beside him stood a tall young woman, accompanied by a woman well past forty. When he stood up, the two of them quickly reached out to support him.

Lin Jinlou also hurried forward a couple of steps to give mutual support, saying, "Between brothers, why bother with such formalities? Sit down quickly."

Once they were seated, the tall young woman stepped forward first to serve tea to Lin Jinlou. This person was none other than Lin Jinxuan's newly wedded wife, Lady Tan. Xianglan noticed that she possessed fair skin, a face round as a silver basin, and apricot-shaped eyes. Though lightly dusted with a scattering of subtle freckles, they only added a touch of piquancy to her looks. Wearing a gold-threaded topknot, a gold phoenix hair-clasp holding a pearl, a gold necklace strung with beads, and a bright red hundred-child gown over a red floral skirt, with a willow-slim waist and a full chest and sloping shoulders, she looked like a delicate figurine brought to life as soon as she dressed up, exuding a two-fold charm of romantic elegance.

As Lin Jinlou accepted the tea, Shuran immediately slipped Lady Tan an exceptionally thick red envelope. Holding the cup and taking a sip, Lin Jinlou said, "Before I set out, Grandfather specifically instructed me that since you married in while all the elders remain in Jinling, he feared you might be wronged."

Lady Tan hastily replied, "To have the ancestors keep me in their thoughts—this is truly too great an honor for me to bear." So saying, she hurriedly had the maids lay out the kneeling mat and kowtowed once in the direction of Jinling.

Sensing that Lady Tan was sensible and observant of the rules, Lin Jinlou couldn't help nodding and offered her a slight smile.

Lady Tan's heart gave a sudden thump, and her face flushed instantly as she lowered her head and stepped aside.

Unaware of this, Lin Jinlou pointed at Xianglan and said to Lin Jinxuan, "This is your new little sister-in-law." Then he introduced the others to Xianglan one by one: "This is my second brother, this is my second sister-in-law, and this is my father's concubine, Lady Yin." Xianglan paid her respects to each of them in turn.

Lady Yin possessed an oval face that revealed how remarkably pretty she must have been in her youth. Of average build, she looked somewhat more aged than Madam Qin, and her face wore a ingratiating smile. Hearing Lin Jinlou introduce Xianglan, she exchanged a glance with Lin Jinxuan and said with obsequious enthusiasm, "How exquisite! She looks just like a flower, and with such bearing, not a single young miss in the entire capital could find her match!"

Lin Jinxuan, however, was turning a different thought over in his mind. Although his eldest brother had a notorious reputation for being extremely romantic and dissolute, his standards were also exceedingly high; the women he kept in his quarters were merely pretty maids, and only Qinglan had been elevated to the rank of concubine by the decision of the legal mother. Back in the capital, Qinglan had lived quite grandly, treated by everyone with the respect due to a proper primary wife. Yet even under those circumstances, his eldest brother had never made such a solemn introduction, even instructing him to address her as "little sister-in-law." It was plainly evident that this woman was deeply favored and quite extraordinary. Looking at her more closely, she indeed possessed twelve-tenths of beauty and uncommon poise, so he dared not show any negligence and hurriedly delivered a most solemn bow.

Xianglan turned sideways, declining to accept the full courtesy.

Seeing Lin Jinlou merely sitting there with a smile, Lady Yin felt a surge of irritation internally, thinking, Where on earth did this little vixen crawl out from? She's not even a proper primary wife, yet she makes a young master and gentleman like my son bow to her in deference! But fearing to offend Lin Jinlou, she could only keep her mouth shut and stand quietly.

After a moment, Lin Jinlou inquired about Lin Jinxuan's health, what medicine he was taking, and whether he had been reading lately.

Lin Jinxuan replied, "I fell slightly ill during the seasonal transition between winter and spring, but I've largely recovered now. I've had a physician from the Imperial Hospital come examine me and adjust the prescription, focusing on gentle nourishment. I've been much better these past few days, and my old ailments haven't flared up again, though I still experience night sweats. I only just picked my books back up a few days ago... and I still intend to sit for the autumn imperial examinations next year."

Lin Jinlou said, "Restoring your health is what matters most; studying isn't urgent. We can purchase an official title for you later on. If you wish to enter the Hanlin Academy, our family is certainly not without connections."

Lin Jinxuan inquired about the health of the elders at home, and Lin Jinlou answered them one by one. After exchanging some idle chatter and noticing that Lin Jinxuan's spirits were flagging, Lin Jinlou rose to take his leave.

On the way back, Xianglan reflected on how Lin Jinxuan truly was a frail and sickly person, practically whittled down to a skeleton. Yet his new bride, Lady Tan, was an attractive young woman and the concubine-born daughter of a fourth-rank civil official. Privately weighing the matter, Xianglan concluded that given Lady Tan's background and appearance, she should never have been married off to a sickly, weak collateral son like Lin Jinxuan. Mulling this over in her mind, she eventually spoke of it to Shuran.

Lin Jinlou paused in his stride, turned his head, and sneered, "Though Tan Siye is a fourth-rank civil official, he offended his superiors in some backwater province, leaving him with no hope of future promotion. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to throw his daughter at us? By next spring at the latest, my father will recommend him for a posting in Shandong; though it's neither a promotion nor a demotion, it's a prosperous region. Originally, he wanted to marry off a legitimate daughter, but Grandfather felt it wouldn't look good if word got out. This Lady Tan was the best-looking and best-tempered among the Tan family girls; I heard she's skilled in needlework and double-six chess, and can play a fine moon-lute to boot. My father inspected her in person before making the choice."

Xianglan was taken aback. "What if she wasn't willing..."

"Nonsense, how could she possibly be unwilling? She jumped at the chance."

Xianglan thought to herself, She was probably happy to agree at the time, but after marrying over and discovering Lin Jinxuan's sickly state, it's too late even if she regrets it now.

By then they had already reached the courtyard where the two of them stayed. Lin Jinlou pinched Xianglan's cheek and said, "Go back and rest. Once I'm done with my business later, I'll take you out for a stroll." Pausing for a second, he gave a light cough and added, "Second Brother has a simple disposition, but his concubine is a meddlesome busybody. You can deal with his side as much as you like, or ignore them completely if you don't care to see them."

Lowering her gaze, Xianglan murmured an "en."

Feeling somewhat piqued, Lin Jinlou thought to himself, What kind of temperament does this woman have? I even thought of this for her, and all she gives me is a single 'en'? Other women would have already been looking at me with deep, lingering affection. His expression darkened immediately, and with a grim face, he said, "Then I'm leaving."

Shuran saw the situation clearly, but could only stand to the side playing dead. Wanting to prompt Xianglan, she didn't dare.

Seeing that Lin Jinlou hadn't left yet, Xianglan searched for something to say and remarked, "Will the Eldest Young Master be back for lunch?" It was framed as a question, but because she spoke softly, Lin Jinlou heard it as Xianglan inviting him back to eat midday. Instantly, his expression cleared up, and he replied, "Mn, I'll be back." With that, he turned on his heel with an air of unhurried elegance and departed.