Against the Current - Chapter 287

Chapter 287 - Reluctance (Part 1)

Lin Jinlou felt as though a thunderbolt had crashed down upon his head. Swaying on his feet with bloodshot eyes, he grabbed Zhang Shiyou by the collar and said through gritted teeth, "What did you say?"

Qin Clan exclaimed, "Brother Lou, show some respect!"

Lin Jinlou felt a chill run through his entire body, yet sweat broke out profusely on his forehead. That bowl of medicine was one he had watched Xianglan drink with his own eyes... He did not dare to think any further. On the battlefield, having faced life and death multiple times, he could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Yet at this moment, he felt utterly weak and drained, while shock, fury, and regret all surged to his head at once. No wonder Xianglan's face had been devoid of a single trace of blood, frail and pitifully thin as she collapsed upon the bed. What kind of monstrous sin was this?

Zhang Shiyou gave a start and hurriedly said, "General Lin, please calm your anger and let your humble subordinate finish. Although the medicinal properties of this pill are potent, fortunately it had not yet completely dissolved, so the dosage was reduced, giving this affliction a three-tenths chance of treatment. Furthermore, the alternative prescription I prescribed previously contains medicinal ingredients that counteract the properties of this Child-Destroying Pill, which further neutralized some of its potency, thereby adding another two parts to our certainty. Just now, I promptly administered medicine to the Yi Niang—an ancestral secret formula of my family—which increases our chances by another three parts. With an eighty percent assurance overall, provided she is carefully tended to in the days to come and guarded against wind and dampness, the rest will depend on her medical affinity." Licking his lips, he added with trepidation, "Even the greatest and most miraculous medicine in the world cannot cure every ailment, but your subordinate... your subordinate will definitely do everything in our power..."

Lin Jinlou closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He released his grip, personally smoothed out the creases on Zhang Shiyou's robe, and with an icy gaze but an extremely gentle tone, said, "Then I must trouble Physician Zhang. Since Physician Zhang has exerted himself to the utmost for my household's affairs, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

Zhang Shiyou could already sense the chilling, murderous aura emanating from the man before him. Cold sweat poured down his face, and he hastily sidestepped, bowing repeatedly as he said, "I dare not, I dare not. This is merely my bounden duty, a matter of course..."

Lin Jinlou spoke in a soft voice, "I must also trouble Physician Zhang to stay at the estate for these next few days. Someone will prepare a top-tier guest room for you, and all necessary supplies will be fully provided. When treating this illness, we need not spare any expense on fine medicines; if anything is lacking, please speak frankly, Master Zhang."

Zhang Shiyou assented to every word. Lin Jinlou called for Shuangxi and ordered him to escort Physician Zhang away. Turning around, Lin Jinlou lifted the curtain and returned to the bedchamber, where Xianglan still lay with her eyes closed, resembling a withered little flower. Lin Jinlou stared at her for a long while before gesturing for Shuran to come over, asking, "Where is the maid who brewed the medicine?"

Shuran spoke in a low voice, "It was Chunling... I have already had her bound and locked in the woodshed. However, she has been crying, making a fuss, and swearing up and down that she didn't do it, and that it was—" Breaking off mid-sentence with hesitation, she raised her eyes to look at Lin Jinlou's gloomy countenance, could not help shuddering, and blurted out quickly, "Chunling said it was done by the Jiang family's fourth young miss." With that, she clamped her mouth shut, bowed her head, and heard Lin Jinlou command, "Drag her out into the courtyard."

Lin Jinlou cast one more glance at Xianglan, then turned and strode out. The moment he left, Xianglan opened her eyes and let out a gentle sigh. Xiaojuan and Huashan crowded around her, and Huashan asked with tears in her eyes, "Where does it hurt, Yi Niang? Would you like something to eat or drink? There is nourishing hot broth simmering in the kitchen, and Lingqing is personally standing guard there. Would Yi Niang care for some?"

Looking at Xiaojuan, Xianglan said, "Go to the front and keep watch for me. If the Master questions Chunling and then leaves, pay it no mind and come back to tell me. But if the Master questions Chunling and orders her to be dragged out and beaten to death, you must also hurry back and report it to me at once, so that I may go and spare Chunling's life."

Xiaojuan said, "Yi Niang, she has committed such a vicious act, yet you are still showing her mercy and acting with misplaced benevolence?"

Xianglan shook her head. "It was not Chunling. Though she has this or that flaw, she could never do anything so ruthless, otherwise she would not have taken such a risk to save me that day."

With reddened eyes, Xiaojuan retorted, "That is hard to say; Yi Niang didn't see how brazen she looked... You should just rest properly and leave this matter alone."

Xianglan said to Xiaojuan, "After all, I share a past with her. There is no need to say any more; off you go." Xiaojuan acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Out in the courtyard, Chunling had already been pinned down by two matrons. She was by then frightened to the point of collapse; shortly after she delivered the medicine, Shuran had arrived with matrons to seize her with an air of overwhelming sternness. Only then did she realize that Xianglan had taken the medicine and fallen grievously ill, hitting her like a basin of freezing water. Though she defended herself in every possible way, Shuran merely listened coldly without uttering a single word. Now, with Lin Jinlou summoning her for interrogation, Chunling was trembling so violently that all strength seemed to drain from her limbs, and she dropped straight to her knees. Inside the room stood Jixiang and Shuangxi, holding thick wooden staves.

Lin Jinlou kicked her sprawling to the ground with one strike, demanding coldly, "Vile slave, do you know your crimes?"

Shaking like a chaff-sifter in terror, Chunling burst into a loud wail and cried, "Master, please show mercy! Master, please investigate! Even if you gave this slave ten thousand strands of courage, she would never dare commit such a base act!"

Lin Jinlou said, "If not you, then who? You brewed this medicine, and you were the one who brought it over with your own hands."

Weeping bitterly, Chunling cried, "When this slave was brewing the medicine in the tearoom, only the fourth and fifth young misses of the Jiang family came by. Both of them sat in the tearoom for a spell; the fifth Jiang miss led me to the doorway to speak, leaving the fourth Jiang miss alone in the room..."

Lin Jinlou sneered. "With your sharp tongue and stubborn teeth, you're still trying to falsely implicate others! Give her a beating with the staves!" Immediately, Jixiang and Shuangxi stepped forward. Jixiang pinned her down while Shuangxi raised the stave and struck some twenty blows, breaking her skin and drawing a crimson flow of blood. With every single blow, Chunling let out a shrieking wail and screamed, "Unjust!"

After a round of beating, they stopped. Though her face was the color of beaten gold, Chunling still cried out that she had been wronged. Lin Jinlou cross-examined the details repeatedly, but Chunling's account of the sequence of events contained not a single flaw. As he turned around, he saw Qin Clan standing at the threshold of the main hall, twisting her handkerchief and looking as if she had something to say.

Lin Jinlou walked over and said indifferently, "Mother had best refrain from interfering in this matter."

Qin Clan said, "You must not forget your upcoming marriage to the Jiang family. If this blows up, where will the elders on both sides save face?"

Lin Jinlou glared at Qin Clan with sudden fury, his teeth clenched as he said, "If the Jiang family has not done this, I naturally will not wrong them. But if they truly did it—Mother, they had better not push me too far. Even if he is a candidate favored by the Emperor, so what? If they want to play dirty in my estate, fine! Then let us see who plays it better. Even if the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the Jiang family won't be heavily favored—let's see whose ruthlessness prevails!"

Seeing the grim and ruthless expression on Lin Jinlou's face, Qin Clan recalled when he used to get into fights with aristocratic youths as a child. Back then, he was only six or seven years old, surrounded and beaten by three or four boys, yet he refused to utter a single plea for mercy. Even with his head split open and blood blinding one of his eyes, he was still fighting desperately right there, and the expression on his face was identical to the one she saw now.

Feeling her legs turn weak, Qin Clan collapsed into a chair with a dull thud.

Over in Mengfang Courtyard, Jiang Xiyun sat by the kang table practicing embroidery. Pausing once more to let her mind wander, she only snapped back to reality when a drop of ink from the tip of her brush fell onto the paper. She hurriedly set the brush down, stared at the ink slowly blooming across the snow-white paper, and let out a soft sigh. Madam Jiang was still sitting cross-legged at the head of the bed with her eyes half-closed, slowly turning a strand of eighteen golden-chestnut sandalwood prayer beads between her fingers, when she suddenly asked, "What is it? Losing your composure?"

Jiang Xiyun gave a start, then lowered her head and said, "No."

Madam Jiang said calmly, "Your eldest brother went today precisely to accompany Lin Jinlou to the Duke of Zhenguo's estate to ask him to act as official matchmaker. By now the two of them have already gone. Once the matchmaker is finalized, unless the Lin family is willing to risk a complete falling-out with us, this marriage is an absolute certainty."

Jiang Xiyun replied, "I understand. Under the current circumstances, the Emperor still wishes to retain the Jiang family; Father is bound to be reappointed sooner or chief minister, and his future official rank will certainly not be low. Since the official matchmaker is already settled, even if the Lin family suspects it is us, they won't pick a fight with us and ruin relations over a mere concubine. The elders of the Lin family are all glad to see this marriage happen, and they will never allow Lin Jinlou to stir up any major storms or controversies over a concubine. A concubine who is currently at the height of her novelty is naturally treated like a precious treasure, but give it a couple of years once the passion fades, and if she fails to bear children, what storms could she possibly kick up? I will simply treat her well in the future." As she spoke, she walked over to the window, closed it, and quietly continued, "Furthermore, though Chen Xianglan is somewhat foolish and weak-natured, she is actually an extremely clever person. If she were an unruly shrew or a total fool, I would truly have to worry."

Madam Jiang asked, "How so?"

With a gaze of absolute clarity, Jiang Xiyun quietly answered, "An unruly shrew or a fool would fly into a blind rage, disregarding everything to make reckless accusations and throw a huge scene, desperate to make everyone know. But a clever person weighs options; once she perceives the pros and cons, she chooses to compromise rather than losing her wits, throwing a catastrophic tantrum, and burning down both jade and common stone together. She must realize that even if she kicks up a fuss, the marriage is already set and there is absolutely no room for reversal. From this day forward, her inability to bear children is likewise her opportunity; I will tolerate her and ensure she enjoys glory and wealth for a lifetime. In her own heart, she should calculate clearly that she has no second path left to walk other than forbearance." Here she smiled slightly, revealing two dimples. "As for myself, if in the future I cannot win back Lin Jinlou's heart—after all, no man's affection lasts forever—I will simply hoard more private wealth, enjoy a leisurely and carefree life, and raise my children well. Why should I worry about not living a good life?"

Madam Jiang opened her eyes, scrutinized Jiang Xiyun thoroughly several times, reached out to pull her into her embrace, and hugged her tightly. After a long moment, she let out a long sigh.

At that moment, Lusu announced from outside, "The Master has returned."

Grandmother and granddaughter could not help starting, exchanging glances. Madam Jiang said, "Quickly invite him in."

Lusu lifted the door curtain, and Jiang Shangxian walked in, his brow furrowed in evident displeasure. A moment later, Jiang Danyun also entered the room. After they exchanged formal greetings, Jiang Shangxian sank his face and said angrily, "This whole business is thoroughly aggravating. We hadn't even warmed our seats at the Duke of Zhenguo's place, and before a single word of official business could be mentioned, the Marquis of Yongchang arrived. He spoke with Lin Jinlou about something unknown, and Lin Jinlou suddenly insisted on leaving in a rush, whipping his horse into a gallop all the way until he vanished from sight. I assumed some tremendous disaster had struck at home, but when I came back and made inquiries, it turned out to be nothing more than one of his concubines falling ill. It is utterly preposterous!"

Jiang Xiyun's heart sank, but she put on a troubled expression and said, "That... that concubine is the apple of Eldest Brother-in-law's eye. Since she fell ill, it is only to be expected that Eldest Brother-in-law rushed back in a panic."

Jiang Shangxian gave Jiang Xiyun a light tap on the head and said through gritted teeth, "You foolish girl. What kind of household style does the Lin family have? With such undisciplined and chaotic household rules, wouldn't Fifth Sister be suffering if she married in?"

Jiang Xiyun sighed, looking utterly miserable. "Given the current state of our family, what choice do I have even if I don't marry?"

Jiang Shangxian was taken aback, speechless for a long moment, before letting out a sympathetic sigh of his own. Just then, shrieks of a woman's agonizing cries drifted in from outside. Madam Jiang frowned and asked, "What is going on out there?" Lusu came in to report, "The Master of the Lin family is currently torturing a maidservant in the courtyard, accusing her of harboring malicious intentions and poisoning a concubine of the household."

Jiang Danyun had kept her lips sealed ever since she entered, but upon hearing these words, her face instantly drained of all color, her hands and limbs began to tremble violently, and feeling a sharp, agonizing pain in her chest and blackness before her eyes, she actually fainted dead away. Everyone in the room was thrown into consternation and rushed to crowd around her. Just as they were in the thick of the chaos, Shuran walked in and announced, "The Master says he requests Miss Dan and Miss Xi to come to Changchun Hall."

Meanwhile, over at Changchun Hall, Xianglan sat up from the bed and instructed Huashan to open the wardrobe and fetch a light purplish-gray gauze tunic paired with a dark green skirt. Disregarding their attempts to dissuade her, she forced herself to sit up, dressed properly, and ordered Huashan to use a few golden longevity hairpins to twist her hair into a bun. Catching sight of Huashan's worried expression as she combed her hair in the mirror, Xianglan said, "What are you worrying about? The sky hasn't fallen yet."

"Yi Niang, the Jiang family... if it wasn't Chunling, then it must have been the Jiang family that poisoned you... Most likely it was Jiang Xiyun, right? But since we can't catch her in the act or get hold of any proof, what will Yi Niang do in the future..."

Xianglan smiled faintly. "Jiang Xiyun is exceptionally clever; naturally, she plans her moves before acting, and laying hold of evidence against her is indeed no easy task." She shook her head again. "She finds me an eyesore—that is only natural. Resorting to underhanded tricks is also within expectations. What I didn't expect was that someone of such 'pure and honest nature' could act with such venom."

Seeing Xianglan's expression so calm and nonchalant as if nothing at all had happened, Huashan could not help whispering, "Yi Niang, if... if you feel upset inside, just cry it out..."

"Cry? Why should I cry?" Xianglan smoothed her garments before the mirror, straightened her temples, and her expression grew even more tranquil. "To tell the truth, my anger has reached its absolute peak. Chunling cast aside old ties, Jiang Danyun administered the poison, and on top of that, Jiang Xiyun deliberately connived, fueled the fire, and borrowed a knife to kill someone—ah, what a brilliant stroke of borrowing a knife to kill! Does she truly think this matter can be brushed aside so lightly?"

"Then what you mean is..."

"I have cried enough over the past two years; I've practically shed enough tears for two lifetimes. All of it was because of helplessness, grievances, and all sorts of unspoken heartache. This time, I am so enraged that not a single tear is left to fall." Xianglan turned to look at Huashan and slowly said, "Jiang Xiyun is skilled at calculation, reckoning that she had grasped my temperament and that once this affair broke out, I would simply swallow my grievance and endure it. Xianglan removed the magnolia jade pendant from her neck, tossed it casually aside, and laughed coldly, "But this time she calculated wrong—I, damn it, am done enduring!"

Huashan was struck dumb with astonishment. She never expected that the always gentle and refined Yi Niang would actually swear a vulgar curse!

Huashan was the maidservant Xianglan had brought out from the Chen family, so she naturally planned and plotted wholeheartedly for her mistress. Sensing that Xianglan was different from her usual self, her heart fluttered with unease. Swallowing hard, she asked, "Then what does Yi Niang plan to do..."

"What do I plan to do? Watch her marry gloriously into the Lin family while my own fate depends entirely on her grace? She has harmed me to this degree, yet day and night I am supposed to gnaw at my own heart while elevating her high above my head? Once I calculated and weighed everything clearly, I naturally should have endured it all, but right now I simply refuse to do so!" Xianglan sighed as she spoke. "Years ago, there was the daughter of a disgraced official who married into a wealthy family as a concubine and was driven to her death by the principal wife. I sighed in sorrow and pity, feeling it was an injustice for her. Now, that very scenario is playing out upon my own person. I naturally disdain using low, filthy methods to harm others, but when people push me to such a desperate pass, I will certainly demand an explanation for myself."