Against the Current - Chapter 241

Chapter 241 - Encountering an Old Acquaintance (Part 1)

Xianglan said, "Then let the master sleep a while longer." The entire courtyard revolved around Lin Jinlou; since he was still sleeping, breakfast in the small kitchen was prepared a bit later, and the guards out front who tended to the bows and martial practice had long since dispersed. Xianglan first partook of a couple of pastries, and as she was sipping her soup, Lin Jinlou woke up. Upon rising, he rubbed his temples and complained of a headache. After wiping his face with a hot damp towel and gulping down a bowl of sobering broth, he went behind the screen to bathe, calling for Xixiang and Shuangxi to come in and massage him. Once finished with his bath, Lin Jinlou only managed a single pastry and a couple of sips of soup, his appetite entirely lacking. Feeling restless and uncomfortable all over, he went out into the courtyard to run through a set of boxing forms, working up a good sweat before he finally felt somewhat better.

When he stepped back into the room, he saw Xianglan holding a brush and writing, so he pulled up a chair and sat down unceremoniously. Bare-chested, he used a hot towel to wipe the sweat from his body as he asked, "What are you writing so early in the morning?"

"A letter home. My parents said that once they arrived in the capital, they would send word back to let us know they'd made it safely. Right before we left, my mother caught a cold and was plagued by a cough; I don't know if she's recovered yet, and it's quite worrying."

"Oh, you can put your mind at ease about that. Before we left, I left a calling card for Mr. Qi, asking him to have the miraculous Physician Luo from Jiantang Pharmacy go examine your mother. He's one of the foremost doctors in Jinling City, and he's the one who checks pulses and keeps our household in good health."

"I know... Thank you..."

Watching Xianglan put down her brush with a rather bashful air, Lin Jinlou let out a low chuckle. "You're still so formal with me. If you'd just spend less time annoying me and acting so stubborn, it would be worth more than anything else."

Xianglan secretly rolled her eyes, kept silent, and lowered her head to continue writing her letter.

Xiaojuan served hot tea. Lin Jinlou took a sip, then asked, "Did you take your medicine?"

"...I took it."

"Imperial Physician Zhang said that medicine cannot be interrupted." Lin Jinlou raised his voice to call out to Shuran, "Keep a close eye on your mistress's medicine. Ensure she takes it continuously without a break."

Shuran was out front organizing a trunk and hurried inside to report, "Responding to the master, it's watched over every day. The medicinal ingredients were bought from the very best stocks, and Lingsu personally oversees the stove while it brews."

Lin Jinlou nodded, fell silent again, and simply stared abstractedly at Xianglan's profile. Setting his teacup down, he said, "Tidy up in a moment and come out with me."

"Where are we going?"

"Old Master Lu is celebrating a milestone birthday, and the Lu family is hosting a grand banquet. Even though the Lu family hasn't produced anyone remarkable in this generation, so long as that old gentleman is still breathing, we are still a long way from 'the tree falling and the monkeys scattering.' He was my father's imperial examination classmate and your eldest sister's father-in-law. Since we received an invitation, we naturally have to go pay our respects."

At these words, Xianglan immediately frowned. Given her awkward status, she truly had no desire to insert herself into such a lively affair. "...Can I not go? I don't know a soul, and going would be no fun at all. Besides, it's all officials' wives and young mistresses; it wouldn't look right for someone like me to attend... Furthermore, furthermore, these past couple of days I'm not feeling entirely well..."

"Won't you get to know people once you meet them? You must go today."

"..."

"That's settled. Shuran, give your mistress a proper styling tonight. Dressing shabbily would be throwing away my face."

Xianglan silently clenched her brush. The half-written letter home suddenly left her at a loss for how to continue; she simply stared blankly at the stationery before letting out a long sigh.

Meanwhile, over in Kangfu Residence, Lin Jinxuan had spent some time basking in the sun in the courtyard and grown fatigued after reading half a scroll of a book. Tan had helped him settle in to sleep, and having nothing at all to do, she took her young maid Zhen'er and went over to Xianglan's quarters to chat. Just as she stepped through the side gate into the courtyard, she saw Lin Jinlou walking out of the room. Tan hastily ducked behind the door, yet could not resist craning her neck to look. Lin Jinlou was dressed in a silver-gray direct-clasp robe patterned with peacock-blue clouds, a treasures-and-blessings jade girdle fastened around his waist, and court boots on his feet. His hair was bound in a golden-thread gauze crown, and against his broad shoulders and muscular back, he looked truly vibrant and imposing. He paused at the second gate, where a young gentleman was waiting respectfully. Upon seeing Lin Jinlou, the youth immediately cupped his fists, bowed in greeting, and advanced with a face full of eager attentiveness.

Lin Jinlou offered only a faint, composed smile, his bearing effortless as he stepped forward with supreme elegance to exchange pleasantries, looking every bit the naturally superior aristocrat who deserved to be fawned upon and welcomed.

Zhen'er craned her neck for a look and exclaimed in astonishment, "My, is that a golden-thread gauze crown the master is wearing? I've heard that no one below the third rank is permitted to wear a golden crown. It's a wonder the master has attained such a rank at such a young age; even if he never gets promoted another level for the rest of his life, he's lived a life worth living." Seeing Tan clutch her handkerchief and stare fixedly, Zhen'er added in a lower voice, "I see the Second Master has such a frail constitution, and as for those who take the imperial examinations, merely sitting through those three days of exams strips away half their life. Why not suggest to the master that he purchase an official title first to secure a lucrative post? That way, we'd have something to lean on in the future?"

Tan had no idea what kind of feelings were churning in her chest as she watched Lin Jinlou. Zhen'er's suggestion immediately reminded her of her sickly husband, instantly stirring up her irritation. She scolded, "Bite your tongue! Who gave you permission to chatter nonsense?"

Zhen'er knew Tan had a fiery temper, but also that her "thunder was loud, but her rain was small," so she wasn't the least bit frightened and kept a cheeky grin on her face.

At that moment, Xianglan emerged from the room, supported by Xiaojuan. Her hair was adorned with a profusion of pearls and kingfisher feathers, the most eye-catching of which was a pair of pure gold, kingfisher-inlaid, jeweled double-butterfly hair ornaments. The butterfly wings were as thin as cicada shells, fluttering gently amidst her coiffure, drawing the gaze of anyone who laid eyes upon them. Around her neck she wore a pure gold filigree necklace paired with a jade lock, and on her wrists she wore three pairs of bracelets apiece. She was dressed in an apricot-yellow spring tunic fully embroidered with white magnolia flowers, paired with a pale-purple patterned brocade skirt that set off her slender waist, making her look as though she could be snapped with a single grasp. Seen from a distance, she looked as though she had stepped right out of a painting. Attended by a bustling retinue of maids and matrons, the moment she stepped out through the moon gate, she boarded her sedan chair.

Seeing this, Tan turned to Zhen'er and said, "Go find out where the master and the concubine are headed."

Zhen'er went off, returning shortly to report, "The Eldest Elder Sister's father-in-law is celebrating his birthday, and the master is taking the concubine to offer birthday congratulations."

Tan froze, staring blankly at the cluster of climbing roses by the wall for a moment before letting out a wistful sigh. "Oh, so they've gone to celebrate a birthday..." She had been aware that the Lu family's old patriarch, Lu Guiyi, was celebrating a birthday, but when Lin Dongwan had mentioned it previously, there had been no formal invitation. Thinking that Lin Jinxuan's health was poor and that she herself was a newlywed bride who shouldn't be showing her face in public, she had decided not to join in the bustle. Yet seeing Lin Jinlou take Xianglan today left an inexpressible weight in her heart.

In truth, Lin Jininxuan and Lin Dongwan were full blood-siblings born of the same mother. If Lin Jinxuan had only shown some ambition, she too could have dressed up in full splendor and followed along grandly...

Seeing Tan staring blankly at the withered tea-roses on the wall, Zhen'er called out, "Second Young Mistress? Second Young Mistress? Don't stand here in the shade; let's go back."

Tan finally smoothed down her sleeves, took support from Zhen'er, and slowly walked back.

Meanwhile, Xianglan was carried in her sedan chair toward the Lu residence. The chair was exceptionally spacious, and Xiaojuan sat inside with her, from time to time helping to straighten her clothes and jewelry. With Chunling gone, Xianglan had come to rely heavily on Xiaojuan, leading the other maids in the courtyard to tacitly take cues from Xiaojuan. Yet Xiaojuan had a naturally lazy disposition; aside from combing Xianglan's hair each morning, she let go of all other chores and refused to manage anything. Fortunately, Xueling disliked stirring up trouble, Lingqing and Lingsu were newcomers, and Huashan was still quite young, so Xiaojuan's laziness didn't draw too many complaints.

Xianglan closed her eyes and leaned back against the soft cushions. Suddenly, she felt the sedan chair come to a halt amidst a bustling commotion outside, causing her to open her eyes. Xiaojuan instantly displayed her alertness, saying, "I'll go look," and prepared to step out of the chair. Xianglan tugged at her sleeve and said, "Don't bounce around like a little monkey. It looks unseemly for you to go hopping out like that. Tell Guiyuan to go see what's happening."

Before Xiaojuan could even lift the curtain to call out, Guiyuan arrived, bowing respectfully with a half-bent waist. "A carriage from the Dai family is blocking the alley up ahead. We have to wait until they pass."

Hearing this, Xianglan lifted the curtain by a narrow slit and looked out. Sure enough, several carriages were blocked up ahead, led by a young mounted gentleman of about sixteen or seventeen. He was dressed in brocade and fine silks, boasting cherry-red lips and ink-black eyes. His demeanor was exceptionally frivolous—looking him over from head to toe made the romantic air stream downward; looking from foot to head made the romance stream upward. He truly cut the figure of a dashing and handsome young master.

Guiyuan followed the direction of Xianglan's gaze and immediately chimed in, "Mistress, the one you're looking at is Dai Rong, the Third Young Master of the Dai family. He's got a fiercely formidable wife."

Seeing Guiyuan's secretive expression, Xianglan couldn't help smiling as she asked, "How do you know all that?"

Guiyuan perked up eagerly. "Everyone in the capital knows. The Dai family's Third Young Mistress scratched up the face of the Third Young Master's concubine." Guiyuan rarely had the chance to show his face before Xianglan; whenever she sent him out on errands, it was usually through the maids' relay. Hearing her question, he frantically rummaged through his memory for anything else to add, regretting all the more that he'd only caught half an earful when Shuangxi and the other footmen had been discussing the matter the other day. After racking his brain for a long time, he managed only one more sentence: "Dai Third Young Master once sent a calling card inviting the master to drink, but the master didn't even deign to acknowledge him."

Xianglan nodded, let the curtain fall back down, and thought to herself that since the Dai family was currently no better than a third-tier official household, it was only natural that Lin Jinlou looked down on them. Seeing this Dai Rong acting like a playboy while eagerly sending calling cards to Lin Jinlou proved the old saying that "birds of a feather flock together." The thought of Lin Jinlou smelling of powder and perfume the previous night crossed her mind, and she emitted a soft, internal harrumph.

After waiting a little longer, Xianglan finally arrived at the Lu residence. The moment she stepped out of her sedan chair, she noticed a carriage parked nearby. The serving women lifted the curtains, and two maids jumped down first, carefully assisting a young married woman to alight. She was somewhat tall and robust, with a melon-shaped face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes that carried an air of youthful, spirited majesty. A large mouth lent her a remarkably charming look. This person was none other than Lady Jiao, the Third Young Mistress of the Dai family.

Lady Jiao caught sight of a woman of extraordinary beauty and striking bearing watching her. Seeing how exquisite her attire was, Lady Jiao assumed Xianglan was the female relative of some high-ranking prince or noble, and hurriedly nodded and smiled at her.

Xianglan smiled and nodded back.

Lady Jiao then turned around and, with the assistance of those two maids, helped another noble matron descend. That woman wore a large phoenix coronet facing the sun adorned with five phoenixes, a dazzling coiled-dragon pure gold neck ring with a jade lock hanging from it, an onion-red silver-threaded peony-patterned embroidered-gauze beizi, and a pale-crimson, double-happiness patterned, gold-threaded pleated skirt. Her lavishly adorned and striking appearance commanded attention; the moment she stepped out of the carriage, all the other women in the vicinity were instantly reduced to mere backdrops. Lady Jiao bowed respectfully and called out, "Mother."

The woman was waving a white-satin, peacock-and-pine-embroidered round fan back and forth before her chest. As the corners of her mouth curled upward, her bright, liquid eyes suddenly caught sight of Xianglan. Her hand froze mid-motion, and the smile on her face stiffened instantly.

Xianglan opened her wide, bright eyes. This woman was none other than Zhao Yuechan!