Against the Current - Chapter 265

Chapter 265 - Loved Ones

Now back in Changchun Hall, after Lin Jinglou and Xianglan finished their meal, Lin Jinglou picked up a brush under the lamplight to review official documents, bidding Xianglan to wait upon him nearby. Xianglan brightened the lamp, carefully ground the ink, brewed a pot of tea, and neatly organized various incoming letters and documents. Lin Jinglou handed her a list, instructing her to write out invitations for weddings and funerals based on the names upon it. Sitting at the other side of the desk, Xianglan spread out various types of letter paper and began to write.

Not long after, Qiaohui, a married maid who frequently attended Lady Qin, entered and said, "Second Young Master's father, Official Tan, will set off for his post in Shandong next month. Because the Master is away, he wishes to pay a visit to the Eldest Young Master. Having previously sent an invitation card to the Eldest Young Master without receiving a reply, he has appealed to the Mistress. The Mistress's view is that since we are family by marriage, the Tan family should be invited over for a small gathering tomorrow, and the Eldest Young Master should spare the time to see him."

Lin Jinglou frowned. Tan Siyew had indeed sent him a calling card, but the wording on it had been somewhat discourteous, carrying a strong undertone of using senior status to pressure him. Lin Jinglou was not one to tolerate such tactics, so he had crumpled the calling card into a ball and tossed it straight into the wastebasket. He therefore replied, "I have no time tomorrow. The Mistress can see them herself."

Looking troubled, Qiaohui said, "This is the Mistress's wish; she said you should see him no matter what..." Seeing Lin Jinglou knit his brows again, she dared not say more and hurriedly shot a glance at Xianglan.

Seeing this, Xianglan laid down her brush and said, "Since they are family by marriage and also elders, you really ought to see him. Besides, once he goes off to Shandong, who knows how many years it will be before he returns."

Lin Jinglou patted the back of Xianglan's hand and said offhandedly, "Tan Siyew had already offended his superiors and lost all prospects of advancement. If not for our family pulling strings, how could he have secured an official post in the capital? I am deliberately leaving him out in the cold to let him sweat. Rest assured, that fellow is craftier than a monkey; leave him hanging for a couple of days and he'll understand his place and our rules, which will keep him from stirring up trouble outside by dropping the old master's name later on." He then instructed Qiaohui, "Go back and tell the Mistress that the female family members can meet whoever they ought to meet, but I truly have no time tomorrow."

Hearing this, Qiaohui took her leave.

Lin Jinglou put down his brush, closed his eyes to massage the bridge of his nose, glanced over a couple of the invitation notes Xianglan had written, and then reached out to pull her over, settling her onto his lap. Giving the tip of Xianglan's nose a gentle tap, he grinned and said, "Whose handwriting did you learn this from, hmm? If you were a man, I'd make you my private secretary." With that, he grabbed Xianglan's hand and examined it repeatedly under the lamp.

Xianglan pulled her hand back and said indifferently, "I should have learned to become a top courtesan instead; calling me a private secretary is giving me too much credit." With that, she made to stand up.

Lin Jinglou was momentarily taken aback, then burst into a hearty laugh. Wrapping his arm firmly around Xianglan's waist, he forcibly turned her face back and planted a kiss on it. Looking at her slightly flushed cheeks, he smiled slightly and said, "Oh, I never took you for someone who holds a grudge. Are you upset just because I said you weren't as good as a courtesan? Let me tell you, you are far better than any of them—I wouldn't even care for those brazen ones who throw themselves at me."

Xianglan turned her face away and ignored him.

Pulling her hand back, Lin Jinglou toyed with her fingers and said, "Old Yuan's youngest son has fallen ill. Tomorrow, see to it that you pick out a few gifts and send someone to deliver them."

Turning her head back at this, Xianglan asked, "Master De? What kind of illness?"

"Just a cold. The poor child—his biological mother died young, and his stepmother passed away early as well. Old Yuan has raised him personally by his side. Men are naturally rough around the edges, and out of consideration for the boy, the wet nurses never dared to discipline him too harshly."

Xianglan could not help sighing with emotion, "The Marquis of Yongchang is truly a rare, deeply affectionate, and good man."

Lin Jinglou raised his eyebrows high. "Rare? A deeply affectionate and good man?"

"Indeed. I heard the maids and matrons say that he shared a profound affection with Master De's biological mother. Because she passed away young, he took the child and raised him personally. Hearing that the lady had died prematurely, he dismissed all the concubines in his quarters, leaving only two who had borne him children, while letting the rest leave or stay according to their own wishes. Every year, the Marquis donates silver to relieve the poor, performing good deeds in the name of Master De's biological mother. Yet he remains extremely modest and easygoing, treating others with sincere kindness without ever acting arrogant or domineering despite his high position."

Lin Jinglou pinched Xianglan's chin, pulling her face toward him, and said, "Little Xianglan, why do I feel like you're hinting at something?"

"...I am not. You are just overthinking it."

"Tsk, I thought you were blessed with good sense, but why are you getting more and more foolish? How many times have you even laid eyes on him? You haven't even exchanged a single word with him, yet you've already decided he's an absolute saint?"

Xianglan pursed her lips and remained silent. She remembered the last time she had accidentally crossed paths with him at the doorway of the storage room. Yuan Shaoren had personally come to fetch the child, his expression gentle and his speech mild, even cupping his hands and bowing to her repeatedly in thanks without the slightest trace of overbearing arrogance, which had naturally left a favorable impression.

Hearing Lin Jinglou murmur by her ear once more, "Silly girl, let me tell you: men across the entire world are cut from the exact same cloth. You might think someone is a noble gentleman, but behind closed doors, that fellow is just as likely to be engaged in every sort of shady vice."

Glowering at him, Xianglan retorted, "How can the Master speak so ill of a friend? The Marquis of Yongchang is about to become your brother-in-law."

Staring in disbelief, Lin Jinglou said, "Have you grown bolder lately? What kind of tone is that?" Seeing Xianglan lower her head, he paused before continuing, "Old Yuan used to run in the same wild crowds, indulging in wine, women, and every worldly amusement. A few years ago, after catching sight of Master De's biological mother, a woman named Lianniang, he insisted on taking her as a concubine no matter what. Lianniang refused at first, but somehow she eventually gave in. However, Old Yuan's wife refused to let her cross the threshold to offer formal tea to the family, so he simply set her up in an outside residence. For a time, Old Yuan even practiced self-discipline, but after a while, he went back to his old carousing ways, and it wasn't until Lianniang passed away that he finally changed like a completely different person."

Startled, Xianglan asked, "How did that Lianniang die?"

"Who knows? Some say postpartum complications, others say a severe illness, and some even claim she took her own life. She originally came from a prominent background—the Shen family of the capital in earlier years, the direct granddaughter of Senior Grand Secretary Shen Wenhan... But even if I told you, you wouldn't know. By the time the entire Shen family was executed, you probably hadn't even been born yet."

These words struck Xianglan's ears like a sudden, deafening thunderclap, leaving her mind reeling and her senses suspended in a daze. Her heart threatened to leap straight out of her throat, and, unable to stop herself, she grabbed Lin Jinglou's arm and asked, "Are there... any survivors left from the Shen family?"

Casting a surprised glance at her, Lin Jinglou replied, "None. The Shen family was virtually wiped out. As for the female family members who were originally relegated to the Ministry of Rites' music bureaus, most of them took their own lives. Lianniang was still very young back then; before her mother committed suicide, she tried to strangle her with a silk cord but failed. When Old Yuan's uncle rushed to the music bureau, Lianniang was left with only a breath of life, while her mother's corpse was already wrapped in a straw mat. Because Old Yuan's uncle had once received a favor from Shen Wenhan, he went to extraordinary lengths to rescue Lianniang from the bureau. Although she was registered as an official bondservant, she was raised in a half-servant, half-master arrangement. Even though the Emperor's grave verdict on the five cardinal vices makes it difficult to clear her servile status, at least she managed to preserve her safety." As he finished speaking, he noticed that Xianglan was already bathed in tears, her mind drifting and lost in a haze. Startled, he shook her gently and asked, "What has come over you?"

Feeling as though her heart were breaking, Xianglan lowered her head to wipe her tears with her sleeve, choking out, "It's nothing... I was just imagining how tragic it must have been for a mother to try and strangle her own daughter with her bare hands on that fateful night, and I couldn't help..." Grief overwhelmed her; she had already known her family had suffered a horrific death, but hearing Lin Jinglou recount it in person revealed just how agonizing and brutal the reality truly had been. Were it not for Lin Jinglou's presence right beside her, she feared she would have already broken down in uncontrolled sobs.

Looking thoughtfully at Xianglan, Lin Jinglou patted her back and said, "You really are prone to melancholy." He picked up the warm tea from the table to let her drink, reached out to wipe her tears, and remarked offhandedly, "The Shen family's fate was indeed tragic. They were all people of unyielding backbone—come to think of it, they bear a striking resemblance to you."

Lifting her head, Xianglan caught sight of Lin Jinglou's sharp, piercing gaze through her misty, tear-filled eyes. A jolt of panic shot through her, but her thoughts were in complete turmoil and her mind utterly exhausted. Leaning gently against Lin Jinglou's chest, she murmured, "How could I possibly resemble anyone from the Shen family? I've never even heard of them before today—I was merely moved by the plight of that mother and daughter..."

Hugging her close, Lin Jinglou stroked her back the way one would stroke a cat, and after a long silence, he simply said, "Oh, is that so?" Pausing for a moment, he added, "I've been busy outside these past few days. If you're feeling cooped up at home, you can invite a troupe of female performers in to sing, or have a female storyteller come over to tell a few tales. If you spend every day staring at paper and drawing pictures, you'll end up blinding yourself. The Jiang family has brought along two young cousins; when you have free time, you can go and chat with them."

Lowering her dense, dark eyelashes, Xianglan suddenly asked, "How are those paintings of mine doing out there—have they sold any?"

Lin Jinglou paused. After the banquet celebrating Lin Jingtian's wedding, Xianglan had indeed handed him a few paintings, begging him to display them in a shop for sale. At present, those paintings were still gathering dust in his study, so he gave a dry cough and said, "Oh, those paintings? They've probably sold a few. I'll go ask about them for you tomorrow."

Resting against Lin Jinglou's chest, Xianglan murmured an assent as her tears silently slipped down once more.

Before retiring for the night, Lin Jinglou walked outside and ordered someone to summon Jixiang from the second gate, instructing him, "Tomorrow, draw twenty taels of silver from the accounts and give it to your Second Mistress's aunt, telling her it's the proceeds from selling her paintings, just to cheer her up."

Jixiang readily agreed and took his leave, which need not be dwelt upon.

Rising early the following morning, Lin Jinglou practiced a routine of boxing, ate breakfast, and then left the house. Xianglan first carefully selected a few gifts for Master De and sent someone to deliver them. Afterward, she went to pay her respects in Lady Qin's chambers. She had not been seated for long before the visitors from the Tan family arrived, making it awkward for her to stay any longer. Nanny Wu pulled her aside with a smile and said, "You and I have never had a chance to properly talk. Come sit in this room for a while." Xianglan thus followed Nanny Wu into the inner alcove. A young maid came in to brew tea, and after the two exchanged warm and attentive pleasantries, Nanny Wu smiled at Xianglan and said, "My child, I knew from the very beginning that you were out of the ordinary. Your conduct and demeanor are completely different from other girls—both gentle and quiet. To speak a blunt truth, all the young mistress-ladies I've ever laid eyes on put together still can't compare to you. The Eldest Young Master always looked at you differently before, like a starving cat eyeing a delicious morsel. Now that he has even dismissed all the concubines in his quarters, once next year rolls around and the Eldest Young Master formally hosts a banquet to install you as a concubinely-wife, whatever grievances you've suffered in the routine days won't amount to anything anymore."

Xianglan looked at the beaming smile on Nanny Wu's face. She knew Nanny Wu was genuinely happy for her, but this happiness pressed down upon her so heavily that she could hardly breathe. She could only offer a faint smile and lower her gaze slightly. Suddenly hearing footsteps outside, she glanced through the hollowed-out partition and saw Tan Luhua leading another young woman to sit in the adjacent side room. Peering through the screen, Xianglan saw that this person was tall and plump, with a yellowish complexion, small eyes, a round nose, and a somewhat vulgar appearance, yet she carried an air of pretentious haughtiness and wore exceedingly opulent clothing.

Seeing this, Nanny Wu lowered her voice and said, "That is the Second Young Mistress's full elder sister, whose maiden name is Tan Lufang. Earlier, when the Master was arranging a marriage for the Second Young Master, he asked the families we are connected with, and several famous young ladies from the capital entered the estate. The Second Young Master took one look at the Second Young Mistress through the screen and immediately set his heart on her. However, Official Tan had married a wife from a high-ranking lineage who was fiercely overbearing; she forced him to send her own daughter to be matched with the Second Young Master. But when the Master saw that this girl looked like this, he flatly refused, saying that the Second Young Master had suffered enough hardship over the years and must find someone beautiful and gentle. He told the Tan family that because the Second Young Master's health was poor, marrying a high-born daughter would inevitably look like an abuse of power. When Tan Lufang learned that the Second Young Master was a sickly invalid, she threw a tantrum at home and refused to marry in either. But later, hearing how lavishly the Second Young Mistress dressed and ate when she returned to visit her maiden home, and seeing how handsome and refined the Second Young Master was, she grew truly regretful. The maids over at Kangshou Residence haven't stopped gossiping about it."

Xianglan nodded slightly and took another glance, realizing that the two Tan sisters truly differed as much in appearance as jade and clay. The two sisters were speaking in lowered tones, and fragments like "Shandong," "Qingzhou," and "the Lin Family's Eldest Young Master" drifted over, making it sound as though Tan Lufang was asking Tan Luhua to lobby the Lin family on behalf of Tan Siyew for an official post. A moment later, Tan Lufang abruptly stood up with a start, sneering, "If Father regains his standing, wouldn't your backbone be a lot stiffer here in the Lin family? It's clear you've grown wings now. Don't forget, if I hadn't yielded to you back then, how would you ever have married into the Lin family? You're just a concubine-born wench of a secondary wife who climbed up high and started putting on airs overnight. I truly can't stand this behavior of yours. If you've got the ability, just hang on that high branch indefinitely and make sure you don't commit any of the seven grounds for divorce that get you kicked out by the Lin family—I'll recite Amitabha Buddha for you if you manage that!" With those words, she turned on her heel as if to leave.

This mention of the "seven grounds for divorce" struck right at the heart of Tan Luhua's deepest insecurity, instantly provoking her into trembling with rage. She sprang to her feet, grabbed hold of Tan Lufang, and shouted fiercely, "What utter nonsense are you spouting? If you have the guts, say it again! Call me the daughter of a concubine—then what do you take the Second Young Master of the Lin family to be? You're not going anywhere; come with me straight to the Mistress to settle this!" Sensing that the situation was on the verge of erupting into a bitter conflict, Nanny Wu hurried over, her face dark with displeasure, and said to Tan Lufang, "Eldest Miss Tan is a guest here—how can you raise your voice and make such a racket in the master's house? Even if the Second Young Mistress is in the wrong, the Mistress is here to discipline her; what business is it of yours, Miss?"

Neither Lufang nor Luhua had expected anyone to be in the adjoining space, and both were momentarily stunned. Bursting into tears, Tan Luhua cried, "Even if we are family, there is no reason to humiliate me like this! I'm going to tell the Mistress!"

Inwardly, Nanny Wu sighed at Tan Lufang's utter lack of tact. Sighing as well, Xianglan felt that although she did not care for Tan Luhua's personality, seeing her married off and still subjected to such mockery by her own elder sister made it clear that her life in her husband's family was far from smooth—which explained why she had developed such a prickly disposition. Hurrying over, Xianglan pulled her to one side and said in a soft voice, "Second Young Mistress, please stop crying. Nanny Wu speaks with the authority of the Mistress, and since she has stepped in to uphold your dignity, what further grievances could you have? Yet after all is said and done, this remains the Second Young Mistress's private family matter; making a scene benefits no one. Although the Mistress is kind, the maids and matrons have wagging tongues, and if word gets out behind our backs, even if the Second Young Mistress in your magnanimity don't mind, it still sounds terribly unseemly. Since the Second Young Mistress ultimately still relies on her maiden family for support, why tear down the last shred of face with them?"

These few sentences instantly stemmed Tan Luhua's tears. Lowering her voice, Xianglan coaxed, "Second Young Mistress, go next door and freshen your face. Don't act out of spite like this, or the Mistress won't be pleased when she sees you." With that, she gently pulled Tan Luhua along and led her away.