Against the Current - Chapter 279

Chapter 279 - Mansion Banquet (Part 1)

Rumor has it that Lin Jinlou pulled Xianglan back to Changchun Hall with him. The maidservants had originally gathered together to chat and amuse themselves, but seeing the two of them enter the door, they quickly clustered around in a circle. Lin Jinlou walked straight into the inner chamber, turning his head slightly to see Xianglan softly instructing Huashan to prepare his clothes for receiving guests.

As he walked, Lin Jinlou untied the woven-gold wide belt bound around his waist and casually handed it to Xiaojuan. Lingqing promptly handed over tea, Lingsu offered a hand towel, and Xueying presented a plate of seasonal fruits. Xianglan followed them inside and sat down on the imperial concubine couch. Lin Jinlou followed her over and sat down beside her on the couch, taking Xianglan's hand with a smile. Pointing his chin at the pendant hanging in front of Xianglan's chest, he asked, "Do you like it? Actually, I saved it specifically for you."

Shuran happened to enter just in time to catch those words. Being well-practiced in joining in the banter, she smiled broadly and said, "Oh my, this pendant is simply wonderful—both warm and exquisite. The best part is that it's an orchid flower, which covertly matches our mistress's name. There could never be anything more perfectly suited to one's thoughts. This sentiment alone is worth ten thousand pieces of gold."

Xianglan raised her head and saw Lin Jinlou smiling right at her. Not knowing what to say, she lowered her long, dense eyelashes once more. Lin Jinlou remarked, "Ten thousand pieces of gold, a thousand pieces of silver—it's just meant to coax you for a bit of fun."

Xianglan blinked and raised her head slightly again, meeting Lin Jinlou's smiling gaze. Seeing this dynamic, Shuran thought to herself: Alright, whatever important words need to be said can wait until this master has had his fill of dallying. Exchanging a glance with several maidservants nearby, the group quietly withdrew.

Looking at Xianglan's delicate and beautiful face, Lin Jinlou couldn't help lowering his voice to ask, "Do you like it or not? I'm asking you a question." He paused for a moment and then asked, "Or is there something you want to say?"

Xianglan looked up at Lin Jinlou's spirited, bold brows, and for some reason, the conversation Jiang Xiyun had just shared with her flashed back into her mind. Her heart suddenly felt heavy and weighed down; she couldn't tell if it was grievance or sorrow. Feeling that the hand Lin Jinlou used to hold hers was scorching hot, she pulled her hand back and remained silent.

Lin Jinlou furrowed his brows slightly, just about to speak, when he caught sight of Huashan carrying a stack of clothes as she walked in, saying, "Mistress, that dark green set washed this morning hasn't dried yet, but there are still a few similar ones in the chest, have a look..." Upon seeing Lin Jinlou glaring fiercely in her direction, she gave a frightened start, the rest of her words choking in her throat and refusing to come out.

This remark unexpectedly rescued Xianglan. She stood up to greet her and said, "Put it here, let me have a look."

Displeased, Lin Jinlou thought to himself: The maids Xianglan brought from her family simply lack the situational awareness of those raised in the Lin household, and on top of that, one of them has that grating name—what was it, Huashan? Damn it all, just because that pretty boy Song柯 once gave her a folding fan, she keeps clinging to that memory! Tomorrow I'll change this maid's name to Jade Pendant, or perhaps Screen—didn't I give her a peacock folding fan early on anyway? She was always so fond of it back then, staring at it blankly as if she wanted to burn a hole through the screen. Thinking this, he glared at Huashan again, whose face turned even paler from fright.

Impatiently, Lin Jinlou said, "Anything is fine to wear. Come here."

Pretending not to hear, Xianglan kept her head lowered as she inspected the clothes. Hearing the commotion, Shuran poked her head in to take a look, then stepped inside to report, "First Master, all the young masters have arrived and are currently drinking in the front. They asked you to head right over the moment you returned."

Lin Jinlou glanced at Xianglan once more before finally letting out an affirmative "Mn." He allowed the attendants to help him change his clothes, casting frequent glances at Xianglan all the while. A nameless tension gripped Xianglan's heart; Lin Jinlou's gaze was sharp and perceptive, and before him she had never possessed a shred of winning ground from the very beginning—every thought she harbored was seen right through by him and held firmly in the palm of his hand.

Before leaving, Lin Jinlou pinched Xianglan's chin, scrutinized her carefully twice, and finally spoke: "Is there truly nothing you want to say to me?"

Xianglan shook her head.

Squinting his eyes slightly, Lin Jinlou asked, "What did that Fifth Miss of the Jiang family say to you just now?"

What did she say? Naturally, it was to mount the tiger and shake the mountains—to warn me, and to test the waters regarding your intentions. A pang of distress struck Xianglan's heart. She looked up at Lin Jinlou, but ultimately uttered not a single word, shaking her head once more. "She didn't say anything. Just idle chatter, that's all."

With a pensive expression, Lin Jinlou released her chin, uttered an "Oh," and headed toward the door. Then he turned back and instructed, "Distribute those bolts of fabric sent by the shop as a tribute among the younger sisters. Also, among the jewelry sent from the silver shop a couple of days ago, there's a ring set with a pearl; send that over to the Fifth Cousin."

Xianglan acknowledged each order, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Chunling peering stealthily from outside the window. Shuran hastily smiled and said, "I'll go fetch the keys and open the storeroom right away."

Once Lin Jinlou had stepped out the door, Xianglan spoke softly to Shuran, "Keep an eye on Chunling these past couple of days; I sense her attitude isn't quite right."

Shuran sneered. "She hasn't been right since we arrived in the capital, and now she's getting thick with the Jiang family as well. To speak presumptuously, Mistress, you are far too soft-natured. A round of severe disciplinary beatings would show her how to behave."

Xianglan gave a bitter smile and replied, "I've already exhausted every kind word I could possibly say to her, but what she asks of me, I cannot give. With her fickle disposition, fondness for offending others, and refusal to listen to my guidance, there's no telling how she'd behave if she ever gained real authority. I'm not afraid of what she might do to me, but if she keeps this up, she's bound to take a massive tumble sooner or later. If she truly messes up in Madam's hands, I'm afraid even I won't be able to protect her. For now, let her be... It would be a lie to say my heart isn't stung, but some bonds cannot be forced. Let her go her own way; just keep a tight grip on our own doors and courtyard. As long as she doesn't cause a catastrophe, don't say anything to hurt her either. After all, we share a past friendship, and if she wishes to go to Miss Jiang's side, I won't stand in her way. Let's part ways on good terms."

Hearing this, Shuran let out a sigh, chanted a silent prayer to Buddha, and said, "My dear Mistress, after hearing you say all this, I don't even know how to respond. Just recently, even though she knew you were sitting right in the next room, she kept running her mouth praising Jiang's Fifth Young Miss—calling her 'magnanimous,' 'endearing,' 'as beautiful as an immortal maiden,' and saying she 'ought to be the true mistress of the house.' Ah, I know it pierced your heart when you heard it, and you even pricked your finger with the needle while sewing, only sending Huashan out to make Chunling collect the clothes drying outside. After that incident, you never heavily relied on her again, yet you still treated her just as well as before. Such magnanimity is truly beyond compare." She trailed off, hesitating and weighing her words several times before tentatively adding, "As for the Jiang family... Actually, Mistress, you shouldn't swallow all these grievances and sufferings into your own stomach. The First Master still treats you exceptionally well, after all..."

Xianglan naturally caught the unspoken subtext, but simply offered a smile. All of today's various incidents had been anticipated long ago back when she was forced into entering the Lin manor as a concubine; speaking of them wouldn't change the hard truth that she was merely a concubine, and furthermore, she had never enjoyed gossiping or stirring up trouble. She understood why Jiang Xiyun had shared such words with her. The young lady was indeed in a genuine dilemma—the Jiang family was in crisis, and while she had no desire to muddy these treacherous waters, Qin Shi had inexplicably set her sights squarely upon her. If Qin Shi had taken a fancy to her elder sister instead, it might have been a happy ending for all, but alas, Qin Shi hadn't even spared a single sidelong glance for Fourth Miss Jiang.

Xianglan felt as though she had been weathered and toughened into rough grain. If Jiang Xiyun had come to probe her with these words back when she first entered the Lin manor as a concubine, she surely would have felt deeply insulted and retorted with sharp sarcasm. Yet now, she could face it with complete calmness; words that once felt insufferable could now pass by like spring rain melting away, met with nothing more than a sigh and a smile. A trace of bittersweet pride inevitably welled up within Xianglan. The tranquil state of mind she now possessed had been polished through countless stumbles and falls, containing immeasurable amounts of grievance and helplessness. Yet in the very next instant, a surge of quiet pride bloomed in her chest: even after encountering so many sordid and degrading things, she had never transformed into a bitter, complaining, or scheming woman. She had never plotted against anyone else simply to make her own life easier; pain had only smoothed her edges and enriched her character, allowing her all the more to empathize with the hardships of others.

Xianglan sat quietly in a daze for a moment until Shuran ordered someone to bring over the ledger of fabrics. Gathering her spirits, she inspected and distributed the materials one by one, then instructed Xiaojuan to locate the rings, sending people off to deliver them individually. That goes without saying.

Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou strode out of Changchun Hall with a deeply furrowed brow the entire way. Guiyuan, seeing that his master seemed to be in a foul mood, dared not even breathe loudly, secretly lamenting his fate as he thought: Jixiang and Shuangxi are up front serving those young masters, so why on earth did they pick me to greet this fierce Buddha? Could it be that Grand-Auntie Xianglan said something else to pierce his heart and lungs again? That shouldn't be; ever since they arrived in the capital, those two have been getting along much better. Just as his mind was wandering wildly, he suddenly heard Lin Jinlou ask, "The paintings your mistress drew—they've all been stored in the study, haven't they?"

"Ah?" Guiyuan was startled for a moment, then instantly piled a smile onto his face. "Indeed they have! Every time the Mistress gives me paintings, this subordinate takes them straight to the First Master's front study."

"Oh. Well then, go to the study and find them out for me."

The pair proceeded to the study. Holding a bowl of summer-cooling soup, Lin Jinlou settled into an armchair while a sweating Guiyuan rummaged back and forth through several large porcelain jars, finally pulling out over twenty scrolls. Lin Jinlou unrolled them one by one to examine them. Noting the dates and signatures, he suddenly realized that ever since he had granted Xianglan permission to sell her paintings externally, the standard of the pieces she subsequently submitted had visibly risen by several notches. Lin Jinlou let out a soft hrumph through his nose. Picking and choosing, he selected about a dozen pieces, instructed his pages to carry them, and leisurely walked over to the banquet hall where he was entertaining guests.

Inside the hall, officials were playing drinking games and casting bamboo tallies, goblets and wine cups crisscrossing, voices raised in a din. Several pages attended nearby, while a troupe of delicate-looking child actors sang operatic tunes off to the side, the atmosphere reaching the absolute pinnacle of liveliness.

The moment everyone saw Lin Jinlou step inside, they burst into loud laughter. "Just look who's here! The ultra-busy man has finally arrived. He's neglected his guests—he simply must be fined a few cups for this!"

Someone egged the room on, shouting, "He has to finish this entire jar before it counts!"

Clutching his belly with laughter, Liu Xiaoluan chimed in, "This young master hears that you, Bandit Lin, are vetting a wife in the back courtyards. Come on, tell your brothers how the inspection went!"

Xie Yu kicked him from below and muttered, "An ivory tusk never comes out of a dog's mouth!" as he shot him a warning look. Lu Chaozong, the eldest legitimate son of the Marquis of Loyal Bravery and husband of Jiang Feyun, was sitting at a neighboring table, making it inappropriate to tease him with such remarks.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xiaoluan had always been an unbridled rascal who had previously crossed paths with Lu Chaozong. Glaring at Xie Yu, he snapped, "What kind of cheap habit is it for you kid to kick me? Since people are falling over themselves to send their daughters over, why aren't you letting me speak a few words?"

Xie Yu grew displeased and retorted, "You're nothing but a blockhead. As your sworn brother, I was kindly giving you a hint, but if I ever meddle in your damn business again, I'll be your grandson!"

Liu Xiaoluan chuckled lazily. "You've said those exact words several times already. Come on, call me grandpa and let me hear it..."

Xie Yu instantly rolled his eyes and started rolling up his sleeves. In the past, whenever the two of them argued, Chu Dapeng would step in to mediate, but at this moment Chu Dapeng had stepped away to relieve himself. Meanwhile, Yuan Shaoren was holding little Deger in his arms and feeding him vegetables, softly attempting to mediate the quarrel: "Alright, the pair of you—you bicker the second you lay eyes on each other, just like two dogs biting each other over scraps of fur. Aren't you going to look at whose home you're currently in? If Tyrant Lin gets irritated in a moment, the two of you had better weigh your chances." With that, he stood up, handed Deger a cup of tea, and instructed him to go toast Lin Jinlou.