Against the Current - Chapter 296

Chapter 296 - Outing (Part 3)

A soft cough came from Xueying outside, startling Xianglan, who hurriedly pushed him away and lowered her gaze, saying, "Someone's here." Lin Jinlou frowned as he heard Xueying's low voice: "Eldest Master, Fourth Brother-in-law and Fourth Sister have arrived."

Xianglan rushed to her feet, smoothing down her hair on one side while straightening her clothes. Lin Jinlou muttered under his breath, "Couldn't come either sooner or later," and had no choice but to get up and head outside.

Before long, Lin Dongxiu led Deger into the room. Deger was wearing a double-layered, padded cloak faced with gray rat fur and lined with black rat fur, topped with a Guanyin hood. His small, dark face had been whipped red by the wind, and he sniffled from time to time. Xianglan quickly grabbed some soft paper to help Deger wipe his nose, stepping forward to touch his face. Concerned that he might have caught a chill, she secretly blamed the attendants for not taking proper care of him.

Complaining continuously about the cold, Lin Dongxiu sat down on the heated brick bed (kang) first, removed her cloak, and cradled a cup of hot tea. Seeing Xianglan fussing over Deger, she remarked, "He was sitting perfectly fine in the carriage, but he insisted on going out to ride a horse, and the Marquis just spoiled him. If he ends up catching a cold and falling ill, it'll look as though I wasn't attentive enough."

Hearing this, Deger lowered his head.

Xianglan felt this remark was rather inappropriate, but unable to say much, she gestured for Deger to climb onto the kang and instructed Xueying to set out a plate of fruit. She offered her own seat cushion for Deger to sit on, poured a steaming bowl of tea and pressed it into his chubby little hands, draped a small blanket over him, and tucked a hand warmer beneath his feet. Turning to Lin Dongxiu, she said, "Even on our end, we know how well you treat Deger. Even if the child happens to catch a minor sniffle, outsiders won't talk nonsense."

Lin Dongxiu sighed, "If only things were really that simple." She picked up a piece of cloud-cake from the table and handed it to Deger, saying, "You were crying about being hungry on the road, so eat this to line your stomach first—you're not allowed to eat too much."

Deger nodded, wiped his hands with a small towel, and obediently gnawed on the pastry.

Watching Deger, Xianglan thought to herself, How many children of this age are so well-behaved and know how to read people's expressions? This is all because his mother passed away so early. A wave of sympathy stirred within her, though seeing how well Lin Dongxiu appeared to treat Deger just now set her mind slightly at ease. Raising her eyes, she noticed Lin Dongxiu wearing a proper, neat matron's bun adorned with solid gold and jade hairpins, making her look a few years older than before. On her head she wore a sable-lined winter cap with cloud-patterned goose-yellow and gold brocade, and she was dressed in a bright crimson jacket adorned with a hundred-children motif, paired with a matching gold-threaded brocade skirt. Though her face was touched with powder and rouge, a faint trace of sorrow lingered behind it; if not for her vibrant attire, one might hardly take her for a joyous newlywed bride.

As the three of them conversed, Xianglan asked Deger about his studies. Hearing that he could answer most of the questions, she felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. Presently, Xueying entered to announce, "The Eldest Master and the Fourth Brother-in-law are drinking in the outer room, saying it's snowing outside and they'll wait for the snow to clear before going out to view the plum blossoms. They've asked the mistresses to partake in some refreshments first." With that, maidservants and older women carried in a kang table. Xianglan rose and stood to one side, but Lin Dongxiu grabbed her arm with a smile, saying, "I certainly wouldn't dare make you wait on my meals—if the Eldest Master found out, he'd be cross with me." She ordered the servants to serve the meal, with Qiangwei, Hanzhi, and Xueying attending nearby. Having finished eating, Deger was overcome by a post-meal drowsiness, his little head bobbing up and down until he curled up on the kang and fell soundly asleep before long.

Xianglan drew a damask quilt over him and spoke in a low voice to Lin Dongxiu, "Deger is different from ordinary children; he's always afraid of displeasing anyone in his heart, which makes people pity him all the more. If I may speak out of turn, Fourth Sister, please be mindful of how you speak to him in the future. We might mean no harm, but we worry the child will overthink things."

Looking slightly impatient, Lin Dongxiu replied, "I know. The Marquis treats him like the apple of his eye, and both the Madam and Aunt Xia have told me to treat him well. How could I ever dare mistreat him? Even while pampering and indulging him like this, I still find myself picked on and gossiped about by others every now and then."

Xianglan said, "People's mouths grow on their faces; we can't control what they say. As long as your own conduct is upright and your conscience is clear, that's all that matters."

Lin Dongxiu let out a long sigh. "If it were only that easy. You're no outsider, and there are some things I've been wanting to talk to you about." With that, she poured out an endless stream of grievances and bitterness.

It turned out that the general household affairs of the Yuan family were overseen by Yuan Shaoren's paternal aunt, Lady He. On the very second day after Lin Dongxiu entered the household, Lady He had handed over the management of the domestic finances to her. Naturally full of ambition, Lin Dongxiu had intended to roll up her sleeves and make sweeping changes, but after observing things closely for a couple of days, she realized that the household was not only weighed down by deep-seated abuses, but the relationships between masters and servants were also hopelessly entangled.

"...Lady He is the Marquis's aunt after all, and she was only managing things temporarily—how could she be willing to offend anyone? The servants in the estate aren't strictly disciplined; they drink and gamble, while the maids, pages, young concubines, and stewards close their doors and indulge in lawless nonsense. And that's not even the half of it—they've been embezzling public funds from the accounts, submitting false and exaggerated reports, and light-fingered servants have been stealing household items. The inventory records don't match the contents of the storehouses; almost all the white porcelain bowls have been pilfered away. To top it all off, they've dumped this rotting mess right in my lap. How can anyone not be furious? Worst of all are those unrelated relatives. The uncles, brothers, nephews, and cousins from the families of the Marquis's concubines all hold positions here, using their connection to throw their weight around and pull dirty stunts. Yet I can neither discipline them nor leave them be. The people I brought over as dowry attendants are being squeezed out in both obvious and subtle ways, and whenever I mete out the slightest punishment to those insolent servants, those old concubines wail and cry, coming out to kneel and beg for mercy—even the Marquis tells me to just let it go, I..." As she spoke, Lin Dongxiu choked up, dabbing at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief as she continued, "Everyone, inside and out, is just waiting to make a laughingstock of me. Lady He doesn't look favorably upon me either, picking faults in everything I do. Nowadays, whatever I say seems to carry almost no weight at all."

Xianglan asked, "Why don't you go back and ask the Madam for advice? And what about Mother Han? Didn't the Madam give her to you? She's experienced and worldly-wise; you should discuss the good and bad with her more often. And Aunt Xia—she's exceptionally shrewd. Didn't she promise to stay with you at the Marquis's estate for a while?"

With a reddened nose, Lin Dongxiu let out a long breath. "To tell you the truth, I had a chip on my shoulder. Back then, I knew Old Master and Madam looked down on me, so I was determined to prove myself and accomplish something for them to see. How could I swallow my pride and go begging the Madam for help? Mother Han did offer me a few ideas, but I felt they weren't very useful. Aunt Xia was summoned into the palace a few days ago—I heard that because Princess Yongcheng is getting married, Aunt Xia is an expert in handling such traditional matters and was specially called in to assist." She reached out to take Xianglan's hand. "Good Xianglan, there is actually one matter I want to ask of you."

Xianglan asked in surprise, "Ask of me?"

Lin Dongxiu said, "Indeed. I'm a newlywed, and the Marquis treats me with nothing more than polite respect. He's busy all day long, and we rarely exchange more than three or five sentences of conversation. Left all alone, how am I supposed to establish my footing in the Marquis's estate? The Eldest Master and the Marquis are on very close terms. If you could pay a visit to the Marquis's estate, or perhaps drop a word to the Marquis so he gives me a bit more leeway in handling things, it would make it much easier for me to exercise authority in the household. Everyone knows you are the apple of the Eldest Master's eye. Xianglan, my good Xianglan, I beg you to put in a good word with the Eldest Master for me."

Only then did Xianglan understand. No wonder Lin Dongxiu had been ten times more courteous than usual today and had poured out her grievances—it was all an indirect plea to enlist Lin Jinlou's backing at the Marquis's estate. She replied, "If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to speak to him yourself? Why bother going through me?"

Lin Dongxiu shrank her neck slightly and muttered, "I brought it up with him a few days ago, but Big Brother didn't agree..."

Judging by Lin Dongxiu's expression, Xianglan could well imagine that Lin Jinlou hadn't given her a pleasant response. Since he was unwilling to help, it suggested that the reality of the situation might not be entirely as Lin Dongxiu described. Yet, although Lin Dongxiu loved to instigate trouble, her core nature wasn't truly malicious, and having been disciplined by Aunt Xia, she had gained some proper manners. Seeing her so wronged now, it was clear that managing the Yuan family household was no easy task.

The wife of a wealthy and powerful clan always appeared glorious and respectable in the eyes of others, but the women who married into such families each bore their own hidden sorrows. Without comparable breadth of mind, insight, patience, and virtue, how could one possibly shoulder the heavy responsibility of ruling a noble household from such an exalted position?

Xianglan said, "I can certainly mention it to the Eldest Master, but as for whether he'll agree, I can't say for sure. You know what his temperament is like."

Delighted, Lin Dongxiu said, "I'll have to trouble you to say a few nice words on my behalf. If you help me with such a huge favor, I'll be deeply grateful."

Xianglan paused for a moment. "It's just a few words; it's hardly worth thanking me for. However, Fourth Sister, you must still weigh and handle matters yourself. If you run into difficulties next time, the Eldest Master cannot step in to back you up every single time."

Lin Dongxiu gave a cold laugh. "I know. Once I get past this hurdle, I've already drawn up a plan in my mind. Every single one of them is logged in my head. Once I've firmly established my footing in the estate and am calling the shots, I'll make those who dared to step on me, bully me, and try to manipulate me pay it back a hundred or a thousandfold!"

Startled, Xianglan couldn't help saying, "An eye for an eye only breeds endless enmity. If you harbor such hostility, there will surely be endless strife in the household with not a single day of peace."

Lin Dongxiu scoffed, "You think there's peace here right now? They've already climbed over my head. If I don't utter a peep, everyone will assume I'm dead, and before long they'll stage an open rebellion. How am I supposed to govern and manage the household then?"

Xianglan persuaded, "Managing a household relies above all on harmony. Establish clear rules, enforce them fairly with clear rewards and punishments, and lean toward moderation and benevolence. Looking at the long term, to suffer a loss is a blessing in this life. Everyone has eyes; if you treat your subordinates with generosity and kindness, you will naturally win their hearts. When the household flourishes and enjoys peace, the Marquis will be pleased and naturally show you respect. Compared to that, the grievances you suffer on ordinary days amount to very little."

Lin Dongxiu sneered, "I don't have such a good temper as you. I am the mistress; it is naturally their place to endure me. Why should it be turned around and require me to be patient with them?"

Observing Lin Dongxiu's expression, Xianglan knew that saying more would be futile, so she closed her mouth. Unwilling to dwell on the topic either, Lin Dongxiu changed the subject and asked, "How is your health? I see your complexion is much better than before." She looked closely at Xianglan's face and added, "It's not just your complexion—even your features seem to have changed."

Xianglan smiled. "I never knew Fourth Sister had learned physiognomy. Would you care to divine a fortune for me?"

Lin Dongxiu shook her head. "I'm not joking. When I first met you, I only thought you looked pleasant and gentle, but there was an aloof pride running straight through your bones. I couldn't understand what a mere maid had to be arrogant about, which naturally made people dislike you. Later on, it got even worse—if someone said a single word against you, you'd throw ten back in their face with that sharp tongue of yours. But gradually, you grew more peaceful, as if you could stomach anything life threw at you. I originally thought that with something as wicked as the Jiang family's betrayal, you would kick up a massive storm. If it were me, I'd have turned the whole city upside down and let everyone know what kind of scoundrels the Jiangs were just to vent my hatred. Who would have thought you'd take it all so silently? Could it be that Big Brother somehow managed to grind away your temper entirely?"

Xianglan was stunned for a moment, then gave a faint smile without replying. It wasn't just Lin Jinlou; through all the stumbling and falling over the past few years, every step she took had been paved with blood and tears. Each step had transformed her, helping her recognize her own insignificance, stripping away her pride and stubbornness, and rendering her humble and soft-hearted. Having suffered hardships herself, she understood even better not to impose upon others what she herself disliked, learning to feel compassion and pity for the sufferings and mistakes of others.

When the drugging incident first broke out, she had desperately hoped to leave the estate, only to be left utterly disheartened in the end. Confined to her sickbed, she had relived every single detail of her two lifetimes, suddenly realizing how foolish and overly attached she had been. If her fate truly was so ill-fated that she remained trapped in the Lin family forever, was she really going to follow in Jialian's footsteps and let herself wither away into dead ashes of sullen depression? In truth, all the self-torture through a thousand trials, the inability to let go, the tossing and turning in tears, and the heart-shattering pain were caused by nothing more than a single obsession. To this day, she still longed to leave the estate, but there were far too many blessings left to appreciate in daily life. As circumstances shift with the mind's intent, she slowly learned to stop letting this obsession gnaw at her heart day and night, turning her suffering into something bearable.

Xueying came in to replenish the tea and rearrange the fruit platter. Taking a sip of hot tea, Lin Dongxiu suddenly remembered something and said, "On our way here today, we actually ran into an old acquaintance. Guess who?"

Xianglan asked, "Who?"

Lin Dongxiu said, "It was none other than Song Ke! We ran into him at the post station along the main highway. The Marquis asked for hot water at the station to brew some tea, and since we also got down to rest our feet, we never expected Song Ke to be passing through with his family as well—his wife Zheng Jingxian and their son, who is already running around all over the place. They said they were visiting relatives in the suburbs of the capital. Because of our past family ties, we exchanged a few words. Song Ke hadn't changed much in appearance, while Zheng Jingxian exchanged some polite pleasantries, though there wasn't much else to say."

Xianglan murmured under her breath, "So it was him. I wonder how he's doing nowadays..." A faint sense of melancholy lingered in her heart.

After chatting and laughing with Xianglan for a while longer, Lin Dongxiu grew sleepy as well. She lay down fully clothed on the kang next to Deger and fell asleep. Xianglan, however, felt no trace of drowsiness. Thinking of Lin Dongxiu's request, she mused, Perhaps I should call Lin Jinlou over right now and speak to him about this. Whether he agrees or not, I will have done my utmost, and that will give me a clear conscience. She called out Xueying's name twice, but received no answer. As it turned out, the maidservants had been worn out from the bumpy carriage ride, and seeing the mistresses chatting and laughing without any immediate commands, they had all retreated to the side room to rest.

Xianglan stepped out to look for them. A large screen stood outside the room, and Lin Jinlou and Yuan Shaoren were drinking and talking in the outer hall. Just as Xianglan was about to skirt around to the side corridor, she heard Yuan Shaoren say, "We actually ran into Song Ke on the road here today, traveling with his wife and child, claiming they were going to visit relatives in the suburbs. What relatives are there to visit in this freezing weather? It must be because the political climate in the capital is uneasy, and his father-in-law ordered them out to lie low."

Hearing this, Xianglan stopped in her tracks.

She heard Lin Jinlou reply, "Song Ke's father-in-law has always been a loud supporter of the Second Prince, jumping around far too aggressively. Two months ago, his colleagues joined together to impeach him, and in his fury, His Majesty stripped him of his official position and confiscated the greater part of his family property, making an example of him to deter others. Anyone with eyes can see this was the Eastern Palace's handiwork. The Second Prince didn't take it lying down either—yesterday, he pulled strings to have Zhao Jin killed, so both sides have effectively cut off one of each other's arms."

"Song Ke genuinely possesses real talent and learning; it would be a terrible pity if his career were ruined by the fallout of the struggle for the succession."

Lin Jinlou gave a cold hum, clearly in sharp disagreement.