Against the Current - Chapter 270

Chapter 270 - Five Maidens (Part 4)

Xianglan sat down beside Deger and asked, "Why did you suddenly ask something like that?"

Deger dangled his little legs, glanced outside, and quickly pulled his gaze back, lowering his head as he mumbled, "It's nothing..."

Seeing Deger looking toward the doorway, Xianglan instinctively followed his gaze. Hiding behind the curtain, Lin Jinlou muttered under his breath, "Tsh, you silly boy, you've gone and given the game away already. You don't have an ounce of old Yuan's craftiness and cunning." With a light cough, he parted the curtain and stepped into the room. The moment they saw him, everyone hastily stood up to offer their greetings. Lin Jinlou waved his hand with a smile and said, "Please, take your seats." Because of his sudden arrival, everyone felt somewhat ill at ease. Acting as if he noticed nothing, Lin Jinlou simply seated himself in the official's hat armchair behind the writing desk and said, "You must all stay and have a meal with us before returning. What were you discussing just now?"

Deger piped up, "I asked Aunt Lan what use there is in studying the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, prose, and verses."

Lin Jinlou looked at Xianglan and said, "Oh? Then why don't you explain it to him?"

Xianglan glanced at Lin Jinlou, hesitating for a brief moment. Then, lowering her gaze, she caught sight of Deger's eyes—eyes that bore a striking resemblance to those of her late younger sister. A wave of deep warmth and tender aching washed over her heart. She thought to herself, My sister passed away young, and this child is the only remaining thread of her bloodline. Who knows how long he will be able to stay in the Lin family? For as long as I set eyes upon him, I will cherish him; I must teach him well. Pausing to collect her thoughts, she smiled gently and said, "To dismiss poetry, prose, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting as useless trinkets that cannot be eaten or drunk is rather shallow and utilitarian. A good melody can relieve fatigue and dispel sorrow, or move one to tears; a fine painting can instantly dissolve stray thoughts, cleanse the dust from one's mind, purify the spirit, and lead one into a state of profound serenity. The arts of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting are the culmination of the wisdom of sages down through the ages. We study them not to show off our talents or to add a decorative sheen to our own reputations, but rather to cultivate our emotions, delight our spirits, and refine our moral character. For instance, playing chess hones one's self-restraint and spiritual composure. Pan Shenxiu of the Song dynasty used the Confucian principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness to describe the game of go, saying: 'The Way of go lies in tranquility, with the art of taking and giving serving as its urgency. Benevolence allows one to preserve whole, righteousness to defend, propriety to adapt, wisdom to encompass, and trustworthiness to prevail.' He meant that playing chess helps cultivate the virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Take calligraphy, for example. Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty stated in his Discourse on Brush Techniques: 'When wishing to write, one must withdraw the senses from external distractions and listen inward, banishing all stray thoughts and condensing the spirit. When the mind is upright and the qi is harmonious, one attains the marvelous.' This means letting go of all myriad entanglements, forgetting both honor and disgrace, and focusing with such absolute concentration and tranquil exclusivity that, through constant immersion in elegance, one's breadth of mind and spiritual realm are vastly expanded, providing lifelong benefits that are truly inexhaustible."

Deger blinked his large, round eyes and asked, "What is a spiritual realm?"

Xianglan smiled once more and explained, "A 'spiritual realm' is an extremely subtle thing; let me tell you a story. According to the Buddhist scriptures, when looking at the exact same river, the beings in hell perceive it as pus and blood, hungry ghosts see a dried-up riverbed, ordinary humans see shimmering, rippling water, and heavenly beings and deities behold a magnificent river of golden light and lapis lazuli. The object is identical, yet the visions they perceive are entirely different—that is because their spiritual realms differ. It is much the same with poetry, prose, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting: in the realm of some people, these things are useless trinkets that cannot be eaten or drunk; in the realm of others, they perceive their supreme elegance and infinite aesthetic beauty. The zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting all contain a Zen essence that points directly to the human heart, opening one's mind to clarity, steadiness, and subtlety. Possessing an eye trained to perceive beauty makes the days ahead far more colorful. If one judges everything solely by whether it can be eaten or drunk, then the pursuits of a lifetime become dreadfully dull indeed."

Lin Dongxiu laughed and said, "You really are something else! You manage to quote classics and even bring up Buddhist scriptures just when talking about the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If you were a man, you'd likely walk out of the examination hall with the top imperial scholar's honors."

Xianglan smiled faintly, while Deger nodded his little head, though whether he actually understood or not was anyone's guess. Lin Jinlou, however, let out a soft chuckle and directed his gaze toward Jiang Xiyun. Jiang Xiyun looked up, her eyes meeting his directly. Seeing the playful amusement in his gaze, she couldn't help but freeze for a moment. As an exceptionally sharp-witted young woman, she realized instantly that the words she had spoken earlier out in the courtyard must have been overheard by Lin Jinlou.

A hundred different emotions swirled within Jiang Xiyun's heart. No matter how fastidious she might be, she understood full well that a major marriage alliance was decided by the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. Her father placed immense importance on the marriage tie with the Lin family, her grandmother had repeatedly offered words of high praise for Lin Jinlou, and Madam Qin held her in exceptionally high regard. The marriage was separated by no more than a single layer of window paper, making it a near-certainty. Lin Jinlou held immense power and authority, and radiated a bold, vigorous spirit. Previously, given the deep lineage and standing of the Lin family, she had never understood why he had singled her out—until she laid eyes on Xianglan, at which point everything became crystal clear. This marriage was indeed a match where she climbed high above her station; if not for Chen Xianglan, how would it ever have fallen to her turn? Xianglan possessed both striking beauty and superior talent, which left Jiang Xiyun feeling somewhat stifled and unsettled, yet she did not view her as a true enemy. Lin Jinlou had a notoriously romantic disposition, and what noble scion was not fickle? Only family standing, future prospects, and male heirs formed the bedrock of one's standing. No matter how deeply favored a concubine might be, as time dragged on, affection would inevitably fade and wane. She had ritual propriety and the laws to support her, a mother-in-law to safeguard her, coupled with her own looks, wits, and scheming methods—she had no fear that this Chen Xianglan could ever topple her. Moreover, Chen Xianglan still maintained the detached, unworldly demeanor of someone untainted by mortal dust; toward such a woman, Jiang Xiyun had always held a quiet contempt.

Yet Lin Jinlou was someone she simply could not read. She was strikingly beautiful, sweet-tongued, and clever; countless young lords and scions had fallen beneath her pomegranate skirt. Among them were those of illustrious lineage, those of impeccable looks and character, and those of brilliant literary talent, all of whom she had handled with ease and grace. Only with Lin Jinlou—as he sat quietly right before her—did she inexplicably feel a trace of dread.

Lin Jinlou suddenly broke the silence, asking, "Fifth Cousin, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Jiang Xiyun was momentarily startled, then smiled sweetly and replied, "Why is the Eldest Cousin asking me? Sister Xianglan speaks in perfectly formed prose, and I am incapable of such eloquence. With pearls and jade right beside us, if the Eldest Cousin is trying to use this to tease me, I certainly won't stand for it."

Jiang Danyun curled her lips and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a sound, Jiang Xiyun continued, "Though Sister Xianglan's words are entirely reasonable, the matter is not quite as simple as she makes it seem."

Xianglan raised her head to see Jiang Xiyun seated on an embroidered stool, holding a cup of tea in her hands as she smiled gracefully and said, "Even if these arts provide lifelong benefits, of what actual use are they? Are there really so few impoverished scholars in this world who possess bellies full of learning and are thoroughly versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, yet remain utterly destitute and down on their luck? When one is starving with an empty stomach, or struggling desperately within the murky waters of officialdom and worldly advancement, what leisure is there to chant breezes, admire the moon, and indulge in poetry and prose? Putting these before the essentials is putting the cart before the horse. The 'gentleman remains steadfast in poverty'—it is all terribly pedantic and sour-tempered."

Xianglan replied, "The destitution of impoverished scholars is a matter of their personal destiny and life encounters; what does it have to do with being well-versed in poetry, prose, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting? On the contrary, when many scholars find themselves pushed to a dead end, they rely on selling their calligraphy and paintings just to make a living and support their families." Unwilling to engage in a petty verbal dispute with Jiang Xiyun, Xianglan lowered her head to stroke Deger's head and continued, "When Su Dongpo was demoted to Huangzhou and passed by Pingshan Hall along the river, he looked out at 'the misty rain over the southern river leaning against his pillow, with solitary wild geese fading into the distant haze,' leading him to sigh: 'A breath of heroic qi, a thousand miles of joyous wind!' Even when a person is crushed from the clouds down into the mud, demoted from the bustling capital to a remote and desolate backwater, if they still retain the mind to gaze at the sky and observe the rain, and maintain that boundless heroic spirit within their heart—that is true resilience. Nowadays, people keep their eyes fixed firmly on the dirt. They observe reality through the lens of utility and profit, calculating and fighting endlessly with one another, meticulously scheming with tricks and stratagems. Scarcely anyone can pause to gaze quietly at the misty rain, sit watching the setting sun, and live their days true to their original intentions. Because we calculate worldly gains and losses, judging every person and action by whether it benefits us personally, arts like the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose appear useless to us. Most people's hearts are covered in dust, completely weighed down by heaviness and greed."

Upon hearing these words, the listeners reacted in various ways: to some, it was like a mighty temple bell tolling right beside their ears, its lingering echoes vibrating in the air; to others, it was like a pebble tossed into a calm lake, stirring layer upon layer of ripples; while to others still, it was entirely inconsequential, drawing only hidden sneers.

A profound silence fell over the room.

Lin Jinlou watched Xianglan. She was bending over to fasten a loose button on Deger's vest, a stray lock of hair falling softly against her cheek, adding an extra layer of gentle warmth to her appearance.

Mother Xia raised her teacup to her lips, blew away the rising steam, and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Tan Luhua stood up and announced, "I am leaving." She stepped inside to take her formal leave of Lin Jinlou, while Xianglan did her utmost to urge her to stay: "Second Young Madam, please wait a little longer before leaving; I still have things I wish to discuss with you."

The moment Tan Luhua made her departure, Jiang Xiyun also stood up to take her leave. Jiang Danyun had no desire to leave; when Lin Jinlou had first entered the room, she had frantically searched for every opportunity to speak with him, but to her dismay, Lin Jinlou hadn't even spared her a single glance. However, since Jiang Xiyun had already initiated their departure, she could not very well remain seated by herself. Recalling from her mirror practice that her profile presented her most alluring angle, she deliberately turned that side toward Lin Jinlou while offering a radiant, shallow smile.

Xianglan accompanied Tan Luhua back to the adjoining room, pointed to the embroidered patterns and two or three garments laid out on the bed, and said, "These garments are completely new. If the Second Young Madam doesn't disdain them, please pick one and take it with you."

Tan Luhua had been eyeing Xianglan's extensive wardrobe with envy, and upon hearing this, her face instantly broke into a smile as she demurred, "Wouldn't that be rather improper..."

Xianglan smiled warmly. "What could possibly be improper? They were tailored a bit too large to begin with, so they might not fit me properly anyway. Someone of Second Young Madam's graceful stature will wear them to absolute perfection."

Lin Dongxiu had followed right behind the two of them. Seeing Xianglan generously offering garments to Tan Luhua, she couldn't help but shoot meaningful, disapproving glances her way, though Xianglan merely gave a gentle, dismissive shake of her head.

Tan Luhua was genuinely delighted. She selected a garment, picked out two of Xianglan's hand-drawn floral patterns, and departed while showering her with expressions of gratitude. The moment Tan Luhua left, Lin Dongxiu rounded on Xianglan in exasperation: "I keep telling you that you're a fool, and you certainly prove it time and time again! That woman Tan treated you with such utter disrespect right in your own room just moments ago, yet you're still handing gifts over to her—have you completely lost your senses?!"

Xianglan replied calmly, "I am cultivating good karma with her so that we might live together in peace and mutual harmony henceforth." Seeing the lingering indignation on Lin Dongxiu's face, she pulled her down to sit beside her and spoke in a soothing tone: "Fourth Young Miss, you are naturally a clever and sharp-witted person, and as a young lady of a distinguished family, your conduct ought to be a cut above ordinary people." Having offered this subtle compliment to soften Lin Dongxiu's expression, she continued, "Since you are marrying into a prominent lineage like the Lin family, you must realize how difficult it is for sisters-in-law, co-wives, mothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law to get along harmoniously, let alone managing the household budget and overseeing hundreds of subordinates day in and day out. If you respond with hostility every time someone displeases you, refusing to swallow even a single slight, and constantly putting on a harsh, forbidding face—cursing someone today and plotting against someone tomorrow—how could any household ever find peace? Leaving aside mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law living under the same roof, even the maidservants and old hags under your command would refuse to submit."

Lin Dongxiu asked, "Then what should one do instead?"

Xianglan answered, "First, cultivate good karma by speaking kindly on all occasions, treating even the maidservants and old women with kindness. When you have spare resources, be generous and frequently bestow favors upon others; when people receive joy from you, they will naturally feel affection toward you in return."

Lin Dongxiu countered, "What if you encounter one of those ungrateful, unappreciative ingrates who can never be fed full?"

Xianglan smiled. "Ungrateful wretches do exist, though they are exceedingly rare. Once you identify them later on, simply keep your distance and have nothing more to do with them. Second, you must be willing to suffer small losses; as the saying goes, 'To suffer a loss is to be blessed.' If someone takes advantage of you or causes you minor offense, magnanimity and broad-mindedness are your highest virtues. A petty verbal dispute is simply not worth engaging in."

Just as she finished speaking, Lin Jinlou's voice could be heard calling Lin Dongxiu's name from outside, prompting Lin Dongxiu to hurry out to answer him.