Against the Current - Chapter 244

Chapter 244 - Encountering an Old Acquaintance (Part 4)

"...She exudes an air of pure fox-spirit seductiveness from head to toe. Tch, women who look so frail and delicate are actually the cheapest, most venomous, and most hateful of all. In front of men, they always put on a pitiful, aggrieved act, full of tears and grievances, and they love pouring out soul-stealing brews. Once the men's backbones turn soft, they throw their wives and children to the back of their minds." Madam Jiao cast a sideways glance at Xianglan, her thick eyebrows nearly standing on end. "I originally thought she had some status, but it turns out she's nothing more than a maid who climbed into her master's bed." A few days prior, Third Master of the Dai family, Dai Rong, had secretly fooled around with a maid and nearly fathered an illegitimate child. Madam Jiao had cracked down fiercely to set things straight, only to end up soiled with scandal herself and earning the nickname "Hearthstone Lioness," and she was harboring a burning resentment right at that moment.

"It's just that the men happen to fall for this exact routine. Every single one of them has a cheap backbone, lifting up slave-bred filth above their own wives—they all deserve to be struck by divine lightning." Another married woman wore a half-smile as she cast two glances in Xianglan's direction.

Zhao Yuechan used her folding fan to cover her mouth while sneering repeatedly in her heart. Just moments before, when Madam Jiao had noticed Xianglan sitting by the lake, she had praised her appearance and brought up her background. Zhao Yuechan had chimed in, "I happen to know her background quite clearly. Coming from slave-bred stock, she relied on a couple of drops of good looks to constantly seduce the menfolk. I've heard quite a few of them had entanglements with her. Such an unchaste and worthless creature should have been chased out long ago, but that eldest young master of the Lin family... you all know his nickname as well. Ah... it's hard to even put into words. That little harlot was sold to a brothel, and who knows what filthy business went on there; that muddle-headed master of the Lin family accepted anything, clean or foul, and was actually wrapped around that little wanton's finger until his legs went soft. Even while his lawful wife beat and scolded her, he refused to let her go. Back then, when I offered a few words of advice, I ended up a target of annoyance and was detested to no end..." As she spoke, she even used a handkerchief to dab the corner of her eye.

The women gathered with her were all close acquaintances of the Dai family in their daily lives, and they all knew that Zhao Yuechan had previously divorced from the Lin family and remarried. However, seeing that Zhao Yuechan was striking in appearance, poised in her manners, and clever and pleasing in her speech, they had grown very fond of her. Furthermore, since Lin Jinlou bore the nickname of "Overlord" and carried a notorious reputation for romantic escapades, they readily believed Zhao Yuechan's inverted, black-is-white narrative. Filled with profound disgust as they looked toward Xianglan once more, they kept up their relentless stream of gossip.

While they were chatting away with great animation, they had no inkling that Xiaojuan, along with Zheng Jingxian's maid Yue'er and a few other servant girls, were conversing in the adjoining alcove and heard every single word of Zhao Yuechan and the others' gossip. Xiaojuan's face instantly flushed crimson with fury. Gritting her teeth and cursing under her breath, she jumped up with a start and dashed out. Yue'er thought to herself, "Earlier, Eldest Master Lin specifically instructed our young mistress to look after Xianglan. Now that these malicious rumors are spreading, Xianglan's reputation will be tarnished, and she will inevitably suffer idle insults, while Eldest Master Lin's face will also be compromised. This matter must be reported to our young mistress." With that thought, she hurried into the main hall. Seeing Zheng Jingxian conversing with several older noble matrons, she stepped over, leaned close to Zheng Jingxian's ear, and whispered an account of what had happened.

Zheng Jingxian was startled and looked at Yue'er. "Is this true?" Yue'er nodded. Zheng Jingxian frowned slightly in thought, started to rise, but then sat back down. Smoothing her brow, she said calmly, "I know. You may go." Yue'er accordingly withdrew.

Zheng Jingxian held her teacup, using the lid to gently brush aside the tea leaves. If it were anyone else, she would genuinely be inclined to step in and manage the situation; she knew full well what kind of person Zhao Yuechan was and held the utmost contempt for her character. Moreover, Lin Jinlou's future was currently radiant with promise—even her own father had remarked that he should be treated with a high degree of respect. This man navigated all circles with ease, possessed supreme shrewdness, excelled at maneuvering, and wore the guise of a loyal subject devoted to the people. He had even been willing to spend his own silver to maintain a private army to fight for the imperial court, neither claiming credit nor acting arrogantly. It was rare for someone so young to possess such a mindset, earning him considerable favor from both the Emperor and the Grand Secretaries. Who could tell how high an official post this fellow might attain in the future? Clearing up this mess for him would also serve to forge a favorable bond of good karma with Lin Jinlou. It was just that Chen Xianglan... she found her deeply grating.

Long before she married Song Ke, she had visited the Song household as a guest and witnessed with her own eyes how tenderly Song Ke treated Xianglan. A man of such mild temperament as Song Ke had actually fallen out with the two young misses of the Lin family on account of Xianglan, which showed how deeply he cherished her. What made it even more unbearable for her was the lingering depth of affection in the gaze Song Ke cast toward Xianglan—to this very day, Song Ke had never looked at her with such a look. Back then, when she insisted on marrying Song Ke, she had actually gritted her teeth and steeled herself for the possibility that Chen Xianglan might enter the household as a concubine. On the surface, she pretended not to care, but she had poured every ounce of her strength into a battle of wits against Chen Xianglan. How could a woman of humble birth with merely passable looks ever rival a high-born wife married through proper formal rites, let alone one whose family could pave a brocaded path of brilliant prospects for Song Ke? Rather than saying she believed in her own ability to control everything, it was more accurate to say she believed in the power of her maternal family and Song Ke's ultimate choice—after all, her dear Song had chosen her in the end. It was just that when she originally heard Chen Xianglan had requested her own departure, she had felt a profound sense of relief. She had originally assumed the matter was concluded right there, only to unexpectedly encounter Chen Xianglan once more in this setting today. Remembering the desolate, lost expression on Song Ke's face earlier, Zheng Jingxian felt a sharp pain in her chest. Thus, when Yue'er told her about Xianglan being slandered by Zhao Yuechan, she actually experienced a latent sense of gratification and excitement upon hearing it, firmly resolving to leave the matter alone.

Meanwhile, Xiaojuan had relayed the matter to Xianglan. Xianglan nodded with a numb expression and said, "I know."

Xiaojuan was bursting with indignation, still waiting for Xianglan to share in her bitter hatred, only to find that Xianglan had merely uttered a single sentence before asking, "Is that it? Just... just let that bitch Zhao Yuechan off so easily?"

Xianglan was nursing her own sorrow, but hearing Xiaojuan's words, she couldn't help curving the corners of her lips upward slightly and said, "Weren't you terrified of her to the bone, wanting to hide the moment you caught a glimpse of her shadow? How is it that now you're shouting her full name and cursing her as a bitch?"

Xiaojuan snorted. "Previously, she was the eldest young mistress of the Lin family, and my very life and livelihood were clutched in her hands. Naturally, I was afraid of her since she was so vicious. Now that she's long since been kicked out of the Lin family, why should I be afraid of her a single bit!" She then smiled at Xianglan and said, "Besides, aren't you and the Eldest Master backing me up? She hasn't held back in speaking ill of the Eldest Master either; if he hears of this, he'll practically burst with fury."

Xianglan chuckled, rolling the remaining pastry in her hands into fine crumbs and tossing them all together into the lake. Then she clapped her hands and wiped them with her handkerchief. Xiaojuan hurriedly asked, "Shall I go fetch some mung bean flour for you to wash your hands?"

Xianglan shook her head, stood up, smoothed down her garments, and said, "You're right. She's no longer the eldest young mistress of the Lin family now—why should we be afraid of her a single bit!" With that, she stepped forward and walked toward Zhao Yuechan's group.

Xiaojuan's eyes widened into perfect circles as she scrambled to keep pace, blurting out, "Young Mistress, walk a bit slower! Let me go call someone."

Xianglan halted her steps and asked with a puzzled look, "Call someone? Call who?"

Xiaojuan said, "Aren't you going to go argue with Zhao Yuechan, Young Mistress? A vicious shrew like her might try to physically claw and tear at you. Someone like you probably wouldn't be a match for her. Let me go tell the Eldest Young Mistress and borrow a few maidservants to pump up our momentum. Just in case things go wrong, Young Mistress won't get the short end of the stick."

Xianglan reached out and flicked Xiaojuan on the forehead. "You really do love watching a spectacle without fearing how big it gets. In the future, spend less time playing around with Guiyuan; all those young rascals are mischievous, and you've picked up a bellyful of naughtiness yourself. Next thing I know, you'll be corrupting Huashan." Pausing for a moment, she added, "Who said I was going to argue with her?" With those words, she strode off, and Xiaojuan hastily hurried after her.

Seeing Xianglan walking straight toward them, the group of noble matrons wore expressions of astonishment that quickly curdled into disdain. They nudged one another, exchanged shoves, and traded meaningful glances. Reaching the vicinity, Xianglan offered a graceful curtsy and smiled at Zhao Yuechan, saying, "Trust you have been well since we parted, Elder Sister Zhao? Before we knew it, nearly two years have slipped away. Meeting an old acquaintance today, I couldn't help feeling a surge of joy and wanted to come over to chat and catch up with you."

Seeing Xianglan's warm and enthusiastic attitude, the others all turned their gazes toward Zhao Yuechan.

Waving her folding fan, Zhao Yuechan offered a cold sneer. "I have nothing to say to you."

Xianglan maintained her gentle smile. "Before I set out for the capital, the mistress gave me some very specific instructions, telling me that if I happened to run into Elder Sister Zhao, I must convey her regards. Might I borrow a moment of your time for a private word, Sister?"

Zhao Yuechan thought to herself, I wonder what kind of mischief this little hussy is trying to stir up, but under the watchful eyes of everyone here, she surely wouldn't dare pull anything outrageous. With that thought, she followed Xianglan away. The two of them walked to a secluded spot near the rockery behind the building, where Zhao Yuechan coldly demanded, "Well? What is it you have to say? Speak."

A smile still lingered on Xianglan's face as she said, "Seeing you today, it seems you've been doing quite well for yourself."

Zhao Yuechan sneered coldly. "Not bad, I suppose—just muddling through as the legitimate mistress of a fifth-rank official. Look at you, though—you've really risen in the world! Back then, you were just a little frozen field-mouse hiding in who knows what dark corner, and overnight you've managed to latch onto a high branch."

Xianglan smiled gently. "Is Sister speaking out of jealousy? The Eldest Master hasn't been running out to carouse and drink lately, and he's even dismissed all the concubines in the household, letting me sleep in the main chambers. Now he even insists on bringing me along to social gatherings in elite circles. Though I am unworthy, I actually do enjoy quite a bit of prestige."

These words pierced straight to Zhao Yuechan's chest, leaving her suffocating and her face pale. Suppressing the raging fire in her heart, she looked Xianglan up and down and scoffed, "Dressed like that, you almost look the part. What a pity, though—you'll never be able to sit as the true mistress of the house for the rest of your life. Once Lin Jinlou grows tired of you, we'll get to see what kind of miserable end awaits you."

Xianglan smiled. "That's hardly anything you need to trouble yourself over. Come to think of it, you were married to the Eldest Master for several years, yet he never once deigned to grant you a genuine look. It's truly a pity—you blessed with such a flower-like appearance, while a man as romantic and lustful as the Eldest Master could still harden his heart to make you live the life of an empty-chamber widow. How did those years taste? Weren't they awfully hard to endure?"

Glaring viciously at Xianglan, Zhao Yuechan extended a trembling finger and accused, "You—what did you just say?!"

Xianglan placed her index finger against her lips, gave a soft "shh" sound, and smiled. "Keep your voice down. Don't go attracting unrelated people over, or it'll be Sister's face that gets dragged in the mud. This is precisely what the Eldest Master told me: he said your body is so filthy that he'd rather embrace a sow than touch you even once."

Teetering on the verge of tears, Zhao Yuechan felt her face flush red with fury as she gritted her teeth and spat, "You bitch, are you any cleaner? Weren't you sold off to a brothel..."

Xianglan let out a cold laugh. "It was simply my good fortune to meet a noble soul; the heavens opened their eyes, and I never sank to such a despicable place." Her expression softening slightly, she smiled again and said, "Since the Eldest Master didn't know how to cherish a beauty like you, I suppose Sister must have found her boudoir rather lonely. No wonder you used to frequent the Ganlu Temple to burn incense—was that genuine devotion to the Buddha, or were you searching for someone..."

At these words, Zhao Yuechan's complexion changed utterly, as if a thunderbolt had struck her crown. Her very first thought was that Lin Jinlou had leaked her secrets to Xianglan! But on second thought, she decided that couldn't be true; a man as proud as Lin Jinlou would never broadcast the fact that he had been fitted with green cuckold's horns to outsiders.

Her lips trembling, Zhao Yuechan burned with a rage that made her eyes look as though they were spitting fire. "You bitch, talking utter nonsense! What Ganlu Temple? I've never set foot in such a place."

Xianglan took a step forward and smiled faintly. "What a coincidence—I happened to visit the place once myself, and I chanced to see Sister right inside a monk's quarters... It took the Eldest Master himself leading troops to catch you in the act of adultery, making such a tremendous uproar that I hid at the root of a window and didn't dare utter a peep. That was probably right around the day the Eldest Master divorced you, wasn't it?"

Watching Zhao Yuechan's increasingly pale face, Xianglan let the smile fade from her lips, took another step closer until she was almost nose-to-nose with Zhao Yuechan, and said softly, "Someone informed me just now that you've been spreading all sorts of unspeakable rumors about me outside. You'd better hurry back and figure out how to clear my name. If a single word or half-phrase of gossip leaks out there, the blame will rest entirely on your shoulders. If Sister insists on treating me this way, well, perhaps if I loosen my tongue a bit, the incident at Ganlu Temple might find its way to other people's ears. And then there's the tragic death of Mistress Lan... Tch, how unfortunate that would be! After all, we've known each other once upon a time. If these rumors quietly vanish into thin air, then the whole business about Ganlu Temple can just rot in my belly. It's already rested quietly in my heart for all this time, and I never intended to air it anyway—don't you agree?"

Zhao Yuechan stared blankly, her chest heaving violently.

Observing her complexion, Xianglan lowered her gaze, reached out to straighten Zhao Yuechan's lapel, gently smoothed away a crease in her garment, and murmured softly, "Seeing that Sister is doing so splendidly now, having become a fifth-rank lady of title with such a prestigious, clean family background, and looking forward to enjoying a lifetime of wealth and glory—wouldn't it be the height of stupidity to do something that harms others without benefiting yourself? Sister really ought to treasure the days you have left." With those words, she turned and walked away.

Zhao Yuechan stood frozen in her tracks, her eyes burning bright red with fury. Pressing both hands against the nearby rockery, she grew so dizzy with anger that the world went black and she nearly lost her footing, prompting a stifled, furious shriek of "Ah—!" that was completely drowned out by the crashing cymbals and gongs inside the building, merely startling a foraging sparrow into fluttering away in a frantic panic.

Xiaojuan was keeping watch not far away, terrified that Xianglan might come to harm. Seeing Xianglan finish her talk with Zhao Yuechan and stroll back out, she breathed a massive sigh of relief, scurried over, and asked eagerly, "Young Mistress, is it all settled?"

Xianglan looked somewhat fatigued as she replied, "Settled. I imagine she won't be spouting any more nonsense."

Blinking her round eyes in wonder, Xiaojuan marveled, "You're truly miraculous, Young Mistress! Even an ogress like Zhao Yuechan can be made to behave? What... what did you say to her, anyway?"

Xianglan shook her head. They say that "a barefoot person has nothing to fear from one wearing shoes." At this point, she herself had nothing left to lose, but why should someone like Zhao Yuechan, who had managed to climb back out of the mud and up into the clouds, invite unnecessary misery for herself and foolishly ruin her own wonderful days?

Xianglan was naturally mild-tempered, and even when she had disputes with others, it was always out of unavoidable necessity. If Zhao Yuechan hadn't deliberately picked a fight with her, she would certainly have given her a wide berth and saved herself the trouble of paying her any heed. Yet this sharp, tit-for-tat confrontation with Zhao Yuechan had served to vent her suppressed inner frustrations, leaving her feeling abruptly and wonderfully invigorated inside.

At that moment, Lin Dongwan could be seen standing on the steps, craning her neck and looking around. Catching sight of Xianglan, she hurried over with a beaming smile.