Against the Current - Chapter 26

Chapter 26 - Interrogation 

A blue-and-white white jade porcelain pot was currently warming over a small red-clay charcoal stove, and the faint aroma of wine drifted from the spout. Xiulan stood guard by the stove with a small fan, occasionally taking out her handkerchief to dab at the sweat on her forehead. Old Woman Liu walked in quietly, sniffing the air as she caught the scent, and remarked, "I was wondering where that wine fragrance was coming from—turns out it's right here with you."

Xiulan gestured with her chin toward the outer room and whispered, "Cousin Huan invited the First Madam over for a meal and chipped in half a tael of silver for the kitchen to prepare a few dishes, and she had me warm up a pot of wine."

Old Woman Liu scoffed, "Just half a tael of silver? That might do to dismiss someone else, but how could the First Madam ever think much of it? I heard that the Eight Treasures precious dumplings she had a while back cost a full tael of silver for just a single chopstick's worth of food. The First Madam only managed three bites before she grew tired of it, and she just rewarded the rest to the maids below to finish."

A single chopstick's worth of food costing a whole tael? Xiulan clicked her tongue in disbelief; even back in her past life at the Shen household, things had never been this extravagant. Inwardly, she sighed at how Zhao Yuechan squandered her blessings and fortune, but her hands moved swiftly all the same. She removed the warmed wine from the stove, placed it on a tray, and catching sight of Old Woman Liu's greedy expression, she couldn't help smiling faintly. Secretly taking a small white porcelain wine cup, she poured a measure, pressed it into Old Woman Liu's hand, and muttered, "Mammy, take this and have a sip, but make sure nobody sees you."

Old Woman Liu beamed, her eyes crinkling into slits. "But this wine is a bit less now..."

"It's just this tiny drop; nobody will notice." Xiulan picked up the tray and stepped into the outer hall.

On the eight-immortals table were laid out four cold dishes and eight hot ones, featuring poultry, meat, and fish in full array. Cao Lihuan was leaning forward, murmuring something softly to Zhao Yuechan, who sat listening with lowered head, a trace of impatience flashing across her face as she loudly interrupted, "You speak of it lightly, but how can things be so simple? You want to live in Embracing Emerald Lodge? Though that place is vacant and wasn't originally of any great importance, it is far too close to Cloud-Rest Pavilion. How could the First Madam ever let you move there?"

"Why ever not? Luoxue Lodge is far too secluded, while Embracing Emerald Lodge is just right—it boasts fine scenery and sits much closer to Sister-in-law's Knowing Spring Lodge, making it much more convenient for us to visit back and forth."

"No, absolutely not." Zhao Yuechan waved a hand irritably. "I cannot make any such decision." She didn't care in the least where Cao Lihuan wanted to live; if not for the box of precious gems and golden hairpins the girl had given her, she wouldn't even have bothered to come.

Xiulan curled her lips in a cynical sneer. This cousin of theirs was truly racking her brains over Lin Jinting, even going so far as to scheme about moving houses. Carefully, she placed the wine pot on the table, then retreated with measured, slow steps. Cao Lihuan eagerly lifted the pot to pour wine for Zhao Yuechan herself, a gentle smile gracing her face as she wheedled, "Why can't Sister-in-law make the decision over such a small matter? Just say that my Luoxue Lodge needs repairs and that you want me to move into Embracing Emerald Lodge for a spell—I will certainly never forget Sister-in-law's kindness. To match that box of golden hairpins, there are still other accessories, all embedded with precious stones as well..."

Zhao Yuechan glanced indifferently at Cao Lihuan, raised the wine cup to her lips, took a small sip, and after a moment of thought, said, "How about this: there is also a vacant place in the garden called Mountain Moon Pavilion. Why not—"

Cao Lihuan cut her off. "I only fancy the elegance of Embracing Emerald Lodge."

Suspicion narrowing her eyes, Zhao Yuechan stared at Cao Lihuan's face. "Why on earth have you set your heart on Embracing Emerald Lodge? That place isn't large, and apart from a grove of bamboo next to it, there's nothing particularly special about it..." As lightning flashed through her mind, she gasped aloud, "Could it be that you truly have your eyes on Cloud-Rest—"

Seeing that Zhao Yuechan had guessed the truth, Cao Lihuan stopped trying to conceal it. Filling up Zhao Yuechan's cup, her cheeks flushing slightly, she said quietly, "Sister-in-law can wonder whatever she likes about my motives, just give me a straight answer: can I move over there or not? If this is accomplished, my brother's official post won't need to be lobbied for anymore, and I will additionally honor Sister-in-law with a pair of ruby-inlaid earrings."

Zhao Yuechan smacked her lips, leaned back against her chair, and using her handkerchief to fan herself lazily, she looked at Cao Lihuan and laughed. "You little hussy, you certainly harbor wild ambitions. Can you actually swallow a lump of oil-cake that large? Aren't you afraid it'll burst your stomach?"

"In this day and age, fortune favors the bold and starves the timid. Even if I die, I want to be a well-fed ghost. Sister-in-law, just tell me whether you will help or not."

Zhao Yuechan paused in slight hesitation, and just as she was about to speak, a voice rang out from outside: "The First Madam has arrived." Even as the words were spoken, Qin Shi had already lifted her skirts and stepped up onto the porch. Xiulan hurried forward to raise the door curtain, and Qin Shi walked in, pausing briefly to eye the dishes spread across the table before looking at the two figures standing behind the eight-immortals table. The corners of her mouth ticked upward in a cold smile. "Well now, you two certainly seem to be having a lively time here."

Upon seeing Qin Shi, Zhao Yuechan felt a familiar trace of apprehension. She hurriedly stepped forward to support Qin Shi's arm, pasting on a smiling face as she placated, "We were just having some free time, so I came over to chat with my cousin and happened to stay for a bite of lunch."

Cao Lihuan hastened forward as well to pay her respects, smiling warmly. "Why has my respected cousin-in-law come over?" Then, raising her voice, she called out, "Quickly, set another pair of chopsticks and tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes..."

Taking the seat of honor, Qin Shi smoothed her skirts and replied, "No need. I didn't come here with an appetite today."

Cao Lihuan's heart sank, and she exchanged a quick glance with Zhao Yuechan. Being clever-witted, Zhao Yuechan sensed the ominous tone in Qin Shi's voice and immediately retreated behind her with a submissive, lowered gaze, keeping her mouth shut.

Suffering from a guilty conscience, Cao Lihuan scrambled frantically to pour tea, presenting it with her own hands. Qin Shi didn't even look at her, merely issuing a cold command: "Have the doorway strictly guarded, and bring the people in!"

A few heavy-footed maidservants entered from outside, dragging three individuals in tow. Peeking out from behind the partition, Xiulan strained her neck to look and recognized two of them: one was Wu San's wife from the kitchen, another was Feng Shuang's wife who tended the gardens, and the third was a girl of around fifteen or sixteen dressed in a light-jade short jacket, attired like an ordinary maid. All three trembled, their shoulders hunched as they knelt down before Qin Shi.

The moment she laid eyes on these three, all color drained from Cao Lihuan's face. Qin Shi cast an indifferent glance at her and sat up straight. "For days now, some unclean whispers have kept blowing into my ears. At first, I thought they were just a few idle maidservants and foot-servants chewing the fat to pass the time, but I never imagined it was actually a pack of black-hearted, base-born wretches intentionally plotting to ruin a master's reputation!" Turning her head to look straight at Cao Lihuan, Qin Shi continued, "Huan'er, this matter actually concerns you as well. I heard that these three individuals usually run close with your personal maid, Hui'er. I've specially brought them here for you to see what it means to look a person in the face without knowing their heart."

Palely biting her lips, Cao Lihuan stood silent and speechless. Wu San's wife, however, broke down into howling tears: "Madam! Madam, please clear my name! I was only following the instigation of that little hussy Hui'er when I spread those idle words outside!"

Spurred by her howling, Feng Shuang's wife and the young maid could no longer hold back their tears either. Qin Shi said coldly, "She acted under instigation, what about the two of you?"

Feng Shuang's wife bit her lip and stammered, "That day, this old servant happened to see the Third Young Master cross paths with Cousin Huan in the garden. The two of them merely exchanged greetings and spoke a couple of polite words, but Hui'er slipped me a golden hairpin and told me to claim that I had seen the Third Young Master and Cousin Huan strolling and laughing together in the garden... This old servant... this old servant..."

The young maid was already crying so hard she was gasping for breath, capable of doing nothing more than pleading for mercy. Qin Shi stiffened her brows and demanded sharply, "Which one of you is Hui'er? Step forward!"