Against the Current - Chapter 317

Chapter 317 - Fulfillment 

Upon returning to the carriage, Xianglan remained completely silent, simply hugging her knees and staring blankly. It wasn't until she abruptly heard Jixiang's voice from outside the curtain saying, "Second Master, we're home" that she snapped back to her senses, realizing they had returned to the Lin residence. Stealing a glance at Lin Jinlou, she saw that his face was entirely devoid of expression, though his complexion was paler than ever. Once inside the room, Xianglan first helped him take off his cloak, then assisted him in changing his clothes, ordered a bowl of hot soup to be brought in, and checked the wound on his chest. Only after tending to Lin Jinlou's every need did Xianglan go into the partitioned alcove to change her own clothes. When she emerged, she found Lin Jinlou sitting on the bed, holding a small dagger and throwing it one by one with fierce force, driving them deep into the target hanging on the wall.

Xianglan frowned, stepped forward, and held out her hand, saying, "Give me all the daggers. You aren't allowed to throw them anymore; you'll tear open your wounds, and they've only just started to heal properly."

Lin Jinlou reached out in return, gripped her hand, raised his head to look at her, and remained quietly silent. Xianglan looked into his eyes, suddenly lost for words. She lowered her gaze and said in a low voice, "Today's events... I... thank you... That packet of bank notes was given to Mother Song in the carriage; later on, I'll make up for the silver..." Before she could finish the second half of her sentence, Lin Jinlou suddenly interrupted, "You draw such a clear line between us with these words—are you saying this purely to make me miserable?"

Xianglan was startled and looked up. Lin Jinlou gave her hand a firm squeeze and asked, "What on earth did you say to Song Yifei over there?"

Xianglan suddenly wanted to laugh. She had originally thought Lin Jinlou had turned over a new leaf and grown magnanimous enough never to ask again, but she hadn't expected him to ask after all. Yet, looking into Lin Jinlou's eyes, she couldn't manage a smile. After a brief pause, the corners of her mouth twitched as she said, "Nothing much, just bidding farewell."

"Just bidding farewell?"

"Mn." Xianglan held out her other hand. "Give me the daggers. Be careful not to cut your hands."

Instead, with a metallic clatter of "ding-dang," a dagger dropped to the floor. Lin Jinlou wrapped both arms around Xianglan, pulling her straight into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her. The kiss was deep and forceful, and his hand had already slipped inside the lapel of her blouse. Xianglan gave a start, immediately pressing one hand against him to push him away while dodging his lips. "No, you're injured..."

Lin Jinlou pulled her even tighter—so tightly that the pain from the wound on his chest made him shiver, yet he would rather endure the agony. Light, fragmented kisses trailed down Xianglan's white, smooth neck. Xianglan tried to struggle, but fearing she would bump into his chest wound, she anxiously grabbed the fabric at his shoulders. "It's already dawn. Before long, Grandfather and the Mistress will send people over, and there are still maidservants outside..."

Panting heavily, Lin Jinlou buried his face in the crook of Xianglan's neck. Fearing he would strain his chest wound by pressing against her like that, Xianglan pushed at him again and whispered softly, "Second Master, the wound on your chest has only just healed..."

He harshly cut her off, saying, "Never mind any of that wound nonsense!" Instead, he grabbed her arm and looped it around his neck. A moment later, his tone softened again, and he rasped out in a muffled voice, "Hold me for a while, Xianglan. Don't let go." Xianglan froze; there was a trace of supplication in that voice. Lin Jinlou raised his head, their eyes locking. Xianglan's heart trembled, her mind went completely blank, and she was left entirely at a loss. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Jinlou shook his head, pressed his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and whispered, "Hush, don't speak... Hold me for a while. Just a while..." He furrowed his brows as if bearing an unbearable weight of pain. A sudden ache pierced through Xianglan's heart, mixed with an inexpressible emotion. She seemed to vaguely understand, yet instinctively wanted to pull away, while tears rushed up to her eyes. A moment later, she raised her arms and slowly pulled Lin Jinlou into a tight embrace.

Lin Jinlou shuddered all over, pulling her even closer still. He had never known that simply holding someone could fill his heart with such overwhelming satisfaction, a blend of sorrow and joy that made everything feel completely fulfilled. A moment ago, watching from afar as Xianglan stood in quiet communion with Song Ke—her expression serene and peaceful, yet unable to conceal the lingering sorrow of parting—and seeing them gaze at each other so deeply as if the entire universe had narrowed down to just the two of them, he had felt like an outsider, a mere passerby. He had almost been unable to bear it.

In the past, he had merely regarded her as a pretty plaything—much like a vase placed in a room, a bird in a cage, flowers casually clipped, or a pastime for idle hours. He knew she hated him, but he didn't care; he held her in the palm of his hand and bent her waist to his will. Yet he had never realized that this woman, who appeared so delicate and frail, possessed such stubborn resilience and a broad-minded detachment deep within her bones. Time and again, she had forced him to look at her in a new light, sparking his respect and winning his heartfelt, tender affection.

When he had lain injured and bleeding in the reed marshes, hanging on the precipice of death, the thoughts occupying his mind were not loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country, filial piety and ethical norms, the rise and fall of his family, or the inheritance of military power. Every single thought in his mind had been focused on the woman shivering in the cold wind, guarding by his side. Only by ensuring she was safely provided for could he have closed his eyes in peace and died. He understood how desperately she wished to leave the Lin family, fearing that the moment he drew his last breath, she would immediately request her release and depart. But she was so bright and beautiful, and with her aging parents so frail and alone, how could she possibly protect herself amidst the turbulent and chaotic world? Thus, he had entrusted her to Yuan Shaoren, making him swear to lend her a helping hand in the future.

Yet he had survived.

He had lain awake all night pondering this. In the past, he had wronged Xianglan at every turn simply to gratify his own whims, and it was only natural that she hated him. What if he changed from now on? Would she be willing of her own accord to stay by his side? Lin Jinlou had always been supremely astute, fierce, and indomitable, but at this thought, he didn't dare—nor did he wish—to delve any deeper. He only knew that holding Xianglan in his arms right now made everything feel completely fulfilled.

Two light coughs sounded from outside, and Xueying's voice announced, "Second Master, Third Master is here, saying there is an urgent matter."

Xianglan tried to push him away, but Lin Jinlou continued to hold her without moving. Xianglan whispered, "Quickly sit up properly, there's an urgent matter." Then she called out toward the door, "Please ask Third Master to come in."

Only then did Lin Jinlou release her with extreme reluctance. By this time, Lin Jinlong had already strode in with long strides, and Xianglan hurriedly got up to pour tea.

Without even lifting his eyelids, Lin Jinlou asked, "What is it?"

Lin Jinlong said, "It's about Second Sister-in-law..." Catching sight of Xianglan serving tea nearby, he abruptly cut himself off and shot Lin Jinlou a meaningful look. Lin Jinlou demanded, "What are you blinking for? Did you get sand in your eyes or are you having a cramp?"

Xianglan caught on immediately and said, "I'll go outside to find a calligraphy copybook to practice my brushwork."

Lin Jinlou commanded, "Don't go." Turning to Lin Jinlong, he said, "Speak. There's nothing here to hide from her. Whatever family business you have to report can be told to me now, and I'll fill her in later anyway."

Because Xianglan had gone out to see off Song Ke that very morning, Lin Jinlong's impression of her had improved quite a bit. He cleared his throat and said, "Well, Second Sister-in-law's condition has improved somewhat, though it's left a lasting ailment: one of her ears seems deaf to sound, her speech isn't as fluent as it used to be, and she's constantly forgetting things. Today, Grandfather personally went over to question her about what happened that day and how Concubine Yin died. At first, she refused to talk, but with Grandfather being the man he is, he undoubtedly had a pretty good inkling of the truth already. After putting her through several rounds of interrogation methods, she finally broke down and confessed. Tsk tsk, Elder Brother, guess what? It's a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering piece of news! This Madam Tan is no ordinary woman—she actually cuckolded Second Brother! She hooked up with the Dai family's third son! None of us ever saw that coming, did we? Concubine Yin simply had bad luck, walking right in on the illicit affair and losing her life over it. Alas, what a tragedy, what a tragedy." Having finished, he held his breath in anticipation, waiting to see the look of utter shock on Lin Jinlou's face.

To his astonishment, Lin Jinlou didn't even twitch an eyebrow. He simply picked up his teacup, took a leisurely sip, and remarked, "Look at you making such a big fuss over nothing. It's just Madam Tan taking a lover—how on earth is that heaven-shaking or earth-shattering? You're a grown man standing seven feet tall, why are you gossiping about this like a bunch of old hags?"

Lin Jinlong muttered resentfully, "Fine, your horizons are broad and your heart is magnanimous, I'm leaving." With that, he stood up.

"Come back." Lin Jinlou set his teacup down and said, "Is that all you came here to tell me?"

"No. The entire Dai family is to be executed, which cuts off any future troubles. Grandfather wants it announced to the outside world that Madam Tan died of a sudden illness. Once Second Brother's health recovers down the road, we can select a virtuous wife for him. But this mess with Madam Tan has been left for me to handle, and I haven't the slightest idea what to do. Am I supposed to actually butcher her? That's why I came to ask you for an idea."

Lin Jinlou fell into deep thought. Left to his own devices, even dying a hundred times over wouldn't be too many for Madam Tan. He raised his gaze, however, and saw Xianglan looking at him with a pleading expression in her eyes. "Let me think about it," he said. "Come back in a little while." With that, he dismissed Lin Jinlong.

Xianglan cleared away the tea set and asked in a low voice, "How does the Second Master plan to deal with her?"

Lin Jinlou reached out, took Xianglan's hand, pulled her close to his side, and said, "If you have something to say, just say it. Stop beating around the bush."

Xianglan said, "I want to put in a good word for Madam Tan... She has committed countless wrongs, but when all is said and done, she isn't an irredeemable monster. It's just that she brought a catastrophic disaster upon herself, and once a person steps down that path, it's hard to turn back. Heaven holds a supreme virtue in cherishing all life, and she has her pitiful side as well. In any case, please spare her life."

Lin Jinlou let out a breath. "She used to bully you back then—have you forgotten?"

Instead, Xianglan smiled. "Yet later on, she treated me exceptionally well. Fearing I would be wronged, she even stepped forward to stand up for me."

Lin Jinlou was struck dumb, remaining silent for a moment before saying, "Right, that's just your nature—you always remember the good things others do and forget their misdeeds." He raised his head, looked straight into Xianglan's eyes, and said, "Can you also forget those misdeeds of mine? Forget how much of a bastard I was before, and let the two of us live a good, proper life together from now on?"

Xianglan froze, completely at a loss for how to answer. Just as she was floundering, Lin Jinlou acted as if he had never asked the question at all, steering the conversation elsewhere. "Fine, for your sake, we'll spare her life. We've escaped death through a great disaster, so we truly ought to accumulate some hidden merits." As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Xianglan, seeing her let out a long, heavy breath of relief.

After finishing lunch, Xianglan donned a cloak and took Xiaojuan and Huashan with her to visit Madam Tan. Tan Luhua was currently housed in a row of utility rooms in the backyard of Kangshou Courtyard, with an elderly servant woman guarding the entrance. Seeing Xianglan approach, the old woman hurried forward, overflowing with eager flattery as she smiled and said, "Well, if it isn't Grandaunt. What brings you here today?"

Xianglan smiled and replied, "I've come to take a look." At that, Xiaojuan drew a handful of coins from her bosom and slipped them to the old woman, saying, "The Second Master sent Grandaunt over. Take these few coins to buy some wine to warm yourself against the chill."

The old woman beamed from ear to ear, her face breaking into a wide grin. "My thanks to Grandaunt for the reward," she said, unlocking the door and adding, "Grandaunt shouldn't stay too long, though. Grandfather left strict orders."

Xianglan nodded and stepped inside. The room was dim, and directly opposite the entrance stood a large brick kang bed where servants used to sleep. Tan Luhua lay resting upon it, while beside her stood her young maidservant, Zhen'er, who was slowly feeding her medicine one spoonful at a time.