Against the Current - Chapter 351

Chapter 351 - Living Together (Part 1)

Night fell, and Lin Jinlou had a late-night snack sent to the study. Lusu and Lingqing carried in the short kang table, only to find Xianglan still asleep beneath the covers, half of her smooth shoulder faintly exposed. Lin Jinlou instructed them to place the table on the Luohan bed, and the two maids, not daring to look around, kept their eyes lowered and hurried out. On the table were eight delicate dishes, two bowls of rice, a plate of pastries, a casserole of congee, a casserole of soup, and diced seasonal fruits. Lin Jinlou shook Xianglan awake, alternately feeding her dishes and ladling soup for her, even bringing the spoon right to her lips as he asked, "Does it taste good? Is there anything else you'd like? I can have the cook make it."

Rubbing her eyes, Xianglan sat up. Having already grown quite hungry, she absentmindedly drank a couple of sips of soup. Seeing her heavy with sleep, her cheeks flushed pink—truly resembling a crabapple blossom waking from spring—and as endearing as a sleepy little cat, Lin Jinlou couldn't resist reaching out again to stroke her cheek and pull her into his arms for a kiss. Xianglan dodged this way and that, but he managed it anyway. Giving him a sharp glare, she slapped his hand away, got up to put on her clothes, picked up her chopsticks, and began eating.

Humming a little tune, Lin Jinlou ate his meal while periodically reaching out to touch Xianglan, his face beaming with unconcealed delight as he managed an extra bowl of rice. Xianglan glanced sideways at him. "Tomorrow morning, I need to head back to my old residence."

Lin Jinlou frowned, halting his chopsticks. "What are you going there for?"

"I still have some things left behind..."

"How much could those things possibly be worth? Just leave them."

"I have my needlework there, every single stitch embroidered with my own hands."

"Don't bother going back. Just send someone else to fetch them; you're staying right here to keep me company."

"That won't do. The old woman in that courtyard took good care of me during my stay, so I need to go in person to thank her."

"Charge some silver to the accounts and let that fellow Bao'er go thank her."

Xianglan's face flushed red. "Just a moment ago you said you wanted to treat me well, so why are you acting so overbearing again?"

Lin Jinlou fell silent, sullenly shoveling down a couple of bites of rice. He had only just managed to find her again and hadn't gotten his fill of clinging to her; he wanted nothing more than to keep her tucked by his side every single second, so naturally, he was reluctant to let her venture outside.

The next day, though Xianglan woke up late, she still set off for the small courtyard where she used to live. Lin Jinlou cast aside his official duties and tagged along. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he frowned, and upon entering the east room where Xianglan had stayed, his brows knitted into a tight knot. "Can people actually live in this dump? It's so dark and damp—even a healthy person would fall sick here."

Pretending not to hear him, Xianglan began packing up the needlework she had done over the past few days, folding her clothes neatly away. Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou wandered around the courtyard inspecting everything. Spotting a broken pot on the windowsill with a chrysanthemum growing inside, though it didn't catch his eye, he figured it was planted by Xianglan's own hands, so he pointed at the pot and told Shuangxi, "Take this with you. Find a nice pot to replant it in later and put it inside the house." Shuangxi hurriedly agreed, scooped up the flowerpot, and left.

Lin Jinlou re-entered the room and noticed several sheets of paper scattered across the crude wooden table beside the kang. As a breeze drifted through, the top pages fluttered down, revealing a drawing underneath—a portrait that seemed to sketch a man. Lin Jinlou immediately picked up the sketch and examined it closely, feeling that the face portrayed on the paper looked remarkably familiar. Could it be... him?

Just then, Xianglan turned her head back and caught Lin Jinlou staring straight at the drawing—the very portrait she had drawn of him that night. Her face instantly flared bright red. Rushing forward, she snatched the paper from his hands, clutched it tightly, and looked away. "I always draw flowers and birds, so I'm not good at drawing people... It was just casual doodling, not drawn for you on purpose!"

Watching her rosy cheeks and blushing earlobes, Lin Jinlou felt an itch in his heart. How utterly adorable and beguiling she looked—fresh and glowing like a dewy flower. A smile touched the corners of his lips. "Oh? You just randomly doodled and happened to draw me? Did you draw this at night, too? And you still claim you weren't missing me, hmm?"

Xianglan's face turned even hotter. "What are you talking about... What nonsense are you saying, who drew anything at night..." She whirled around, feigning busyness as she tucked the drawing away beneath a piece of embroidery.

"Fine, then you drew it during the day." Suddenly reaching out from behind, Lin Jinlou wrapped his arms around Xianglan, pressing a fierce kiss to her lips, then another, and then a third. Startled, Xianglan struggled and hissed in a low voice, "It's daytime! What's gotten into you? There are people outside!"

Reaching out, Lin Jinlou pulled the drawing back out from beneath the clothes. Xianglan lunged forward to grab it, stamping her foot in a panic. "Give it back to me!" Holding it high out of reach, Lin Jinlou grinned, "No way, what if you tear it? I love this drawing far too much."

Once everything was packed, before leaving, Xianglan went in person to thank the old woman, presenting her with silver and gifts. Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou beckoned to Jixiang, pulled the drawing from inside his tunic, and handed it over. "Find the finest craftsman to mount this painting. Use an aged rosewood roller and inlay it with hawksbill turtle shell and agate. Once it's mounted, hang it in the study, and don't forget to pack it away when we return to Jinling."

Jixiang accepted it with both hands, assuming Xianglan had created some peerless masterpiece. But when he unfolded it in a secluded spot, he saw it was merely a portrait of the Eldest Young Master—and though remarkably vivid, it consisted of only a few casual strokes, with a large blot of ink smudged in one corner of the paper.

Now that Xianglan was back by his side, Lin Jinlou was naturally thoroughly content. On one hand, he led Xianglan to formally pay her respects to the elders; on the other, he set a date to prepare for their wedding. Seeing the bright smile on his eldest grandson's face for the first time in half a year, Old Madam Lin was overjoyed and showered Xianglan with generous gifts.

Lin Jinlou specifically invited Madam Xia to preside over the wedding. Madam Xia understood the situation inside and out; she had carried the imperial jade seal, held up court pillars, and served empresses dowager and princesses. Lin Jinlou inviting her wasn't merely to enlist her help with the preparations, but to bestow honor and prestige upon Xianglan. In truth, she held genuine affection for Xianglan. Taking her by the hand to look her over carefully, Madam Xia sighed, "From the very first day, I knew you were different from the others. It's only right that you've achieved this good fortune. In my view, winning you over is truly General Lin's blessing—he's carrying a priceless treasure back home." A few days later, an imperial eunuch arrived to transmit a decree: the Empress Dowager summoned Xianglan to an audience, throwing the entire Lin household into a state of awed commotion. When Xianglan entered the palace and presented four paintings of her own creation, the Empress Dowager was naturally delighted, questioning her at length about The Legend of Recluse Lanxiang. Hearing her gentle speech and refined elegance, the Empress Dowager bestowed numerous additional treasures upon her.

Lin Jinlou, however, could not share in the joy. After Xianglan left the palace, Madam Xia had taken her directly to her own estate, sending someone back with this message: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has decreed that since this is a marriage, it is improper for her to be carried back and forth from her own home. Let Xianglan stay at Madam Xia's residence to serve as her maternal family home before the wedding." Because this was an imperial command, Lin Jinlou could not argue and could only urge his family to expedite the wedding preparations.

Madam Qin approached this marriage with meticulous care, personally overseeing every detail and discussing it in confidence with Lin Zhangzheng during the night: "This past half-year has put me through absolute hell. At my age, children are all one cares about. Firstly, one hopes they make something of themselves; secondly, one prays they live in comfort. Lou'er has finally managed to win a woman after his own heart, so we should just let him be—Xianglan is a good person. You should do the same, Husband; stop walking around with a long face. Now the Empress Dowager herself has summoned Xianglan to the palace and showered her with all these rewards. I hear the Empress Dowager even asked Xianglan to submit paintings on a regular basis, and she's made a name for herself within the imperial court. You mustn't be difficult anymore; greet that child with a smile. In the future, she'll be your daughter-in-law, and your son's well-being will depend entirely on how she manages the household."

Lin Zhangzheng retorted, "Who's being difficult? Do you take me for a three-year-old child? My anger earlier was mostly directed at Lou'er anyway."

Knowing his pride, Madam Qin let out a chuckle.

Feeling somewhat exposed, Lin Zhangzheng brushed it off. "Alright, it's late. Go to sleep. Why do you have so much to say?"

Chen Wanquan and Madam Xue had also been brought over earlier, temporarily staying at Madam Xia's residence. Ever since the day they received the news, the couple felt as though they were sleepwalking, followed by an overwhelming wave of elation that made their very footsteps feel light. Madam Xue beamed with joy. "Old man, do you remember the prenatal dream I had when I was carrying Xianglan? Thousands upon thousands of orchids were blooming, and Fortune-teller Ma even said I would give birth to a noble daughter. You refused to believe it, but look now—didn't it come true?"

Chen Wanquan was immensely pleased with himself, his beard twitching with mirth. Yet after a moment of joy, he sighed anxiously, "The entire Lin household is full of snobs. I'm just afraid our girl’s humble background will cause her to suffer grievances down the line." The thought of soon becoming Lin Jinlou's father-in-law made him tremble with excitement, his heart bursting with joy while his face struggled to figure out how to smile. Yet the moment he remembered Lin Jinlou's formidable power and authority—whom he had always regarded with the reverence due to a deity—his knees would turn weak and words would fail him. Instead, terror would set in, making him reluctant to interact with the man. Tossed between such bouts of joy and anxiety, worrying and rejoicing by turns, he grew so restless and overwhelmed with internal heat that he actually fell ill. Madam Xue, on the other hand, was purely and truly happy, focusing entirely on preparing her daughter's trousseau in anticipation of a glorious future.

On the wedding day, Lin Jinlou dispatched a hundred armored guards under his command to lead the way through the dark night, carrying deep red gauze lanterns that illuminated the pitch-black streets as bright as day, coming to escort his bride home. Such a grandiose display truly caused a sensation across the capital, and busybodies later incorporated the event into The Legend of Recluse Lanxiang, sparking endless discussions across every street and alley. On their wedding night, Xianglan felt a lingering unease and whispered to Lin Jinlou, "Wasn't such a massive fanfare for the wedding procession a bit inappropriate?"

Lin Jinlou smiled triumphantly. "Rest assured, I reported it to His Majesty beforehand. Didn't I do this because I was afraid of wronging you? Nowadays, human affection is as thin as gauze, and everyone's eyes are glued to wealth and status—especially the servants in the household and those aristocratic wives. They might not say anything to your face, but they're petty behind your back. I did this to build up your prestige so everyone can witness it firsthand, ensuring no one dares to bully or wrong you in the future."

Hearing this, the corners of Xianglan's eyes grew moist.

"Well, what's this? Shedding golden beans again? Are you moved?" Lin Jinlou chuckled as he pulled her into his arms.

Wiping the corners of her eyes with one hand, Xianglan protested, "I am not!"

Pointing to his cheek, Lin Jinlou grinned, "Still saying you're not? You ungrateful wretch, look at how well I treat you. Hurry up and give me a kiss."

Wiping away her tears, Xianglan glanced at Lin Jinlou, slowly extended her arms to wrap them around her husband's neck, and with a demure expression, planted a quick muah on his cheek.

After the New Year celebrations passed, the lively bustle gradually subsided. Lin Jinlou packed his bags to return to Jinling. Because of the bitter winter cold, Lin Zhaoxiang and Old Madam Lin remained in the capital for the winter. Lin Zhangzheng had entered the Grand Secretariat, so the Eldest Branch naturally stayed behind in the capital as well. In the Second Branch, Lin Jinoting still needed to study for his examinations, and Lin Zhaoxiang personally oversaw his progress, so he did not leave either. With Lin Jinoting staying, Madam Wang remained as well.

Before their departure, Xianglan made a special trip to check on Dige'r. Finding that he had grown a bit taller and remained as spirited and bold as ever, she felt a great sense of comfort. She praised Dige'r before Lin Dongxiu, hoping to encourage his stepmother to show him more affection and treat him kindly in the future.

Lin Dongxiu was already pregnant and spent her days confined to the bed to nurture the fetus. Though her complexion was sallow, her spirits were high, and she spoke with a sour edge: "He's the Marquis's apple of the eye, after all; reading and literacy are taught personally by his father, so who would dare treat him poorly?" She reached out to stroke her own belly. "Who knows if this child will be a boy or a girl? If the Marquis treats my child even half as well as Dige'r, it'll be a blessing." Xianglan remained silent. Lin Dongxiu was not favored by Yuan Shaoren; their marriage was maintained merely through formal courtesy without much genuine affection. Now that Lin Dongxiu was carrying a child of her own, if Yuan Shaoren ended up favoring Dige'r more, it was hard to guarantee she wouldn't harbor resentment and bitterness, making this unborn child's situation precarious. Gathering her spirits, Xianglan helped Lin Dongxiu select fabrics for baby clothes. Lin Dongxiu muttered, "Sigh, the child isn't even born yet, and I'm already worrying myself sick over it. I want to have everything prepared down to the food and clothing within a single day, hoping only for the absolute best."

These words gave Xianglan a sudden breakthrough in understanding. Indeed, she thought to herself, parents and elders always hope their children will suffer fewer hardships, secure a bright future, and pass through life in peace and comfort. Yet everyone must walk their own path; the karmic bonds of kindness and enmity destined for them will inevitably cross their path, and hardships are unavoidable. Fretting and worrying alongside them accomplishes nothing. As long as one teaches them to be good people, descendants have their own innate destinies, and everyone ultimately carves out their own fortune. With this realization, her mind cleared even further. She quietly called Dige'r to her side, bestowed numerous gifts upon him, and offered parting advice: "Listen to your father's words, treat others and handle matters with a magnanimous heart, hold onto no grudges, and learn to let go. Then your days will run smoothly." Dige'r grabbed Xianglan's hand with his chubby fingers and whispered, "I know. I remember every single word my aunt told me." Seeing his sensible demeanor, Xianglan felt a bittersweet ache mingled with comfort. "If there's ever anything you need that you can't tell the family, just write to tell me. If there's ever anything on your mind and you need someone to talk to, just write to me." With that, she gently stroked his little head, pulled him into her arms, and planted an affectionate kiss on his chubby face.

Upon returning to Jinling, Lin Jinlou was so busy his feet barely touched the ground. Having spent over a year away in the capital, official duties in Jinling had piled up like mountains. Xianglan enjoyed a relatively leisurely time. With fewer family members in the household, more than half of the complex squabbles and miscellaneous matters had vanished, allowing her to systematically manage the inner quarters each day. Having lived in the Lin estate for three years previously and having helped manage household affairs in the past, she had assumed she would find the work familiar. Yet within a few days, she realized that being a maid, a servant, or a half-mistress was vastly different from acting as the legitimate first wife. The servants and runners throughout the estate had previously treated her with respect solely due to Lin Jinlou's favor; now that she was the legitimate mistress, that respect carried an added layer of awe and dread, particularly among those who had deliberately bullied her back when she was a maid and concubine—they could not help trembling in her presence. Previously, when she issued commands, some of the prestigious servants only maintained superficial politeness; now, they genuinely tripped over themselves to lavish her with flattering words and smiles. Glancing around, she saw how the malice that had once sought to grind and belittle her had been entirely replaced by warm, fawning smiles, leaving her with a lingering sigh of reflection. The mind was meant to be pure and egalitarian, yet people cast judgments and divisions based on status and power—the fickleness of the world was truly no more than this.

Since his return, Lin Jinlou spent his days entirely outside. Every evening when he came back, too exhausted to even change his clothes, he would collapse face-up across the bed like a demanding child, insisting that Xianglan wipe his face and hands, take off his boots, change his clothes, peel chestnuts to feed him, and cater to his every whim. He would have her read official notices and letters aloud to him while he dictated his replies. Seeing him covered in dust and worn down with a trace of haggardness, Xianglan tended to him meticulously, showing tender care for his warmth and cold, and even brewed several warming, restorative herbal dishes to nourish his health. Yet she resolutely refused to admit that her heart ached for him, knowing that otherwise, the scoundrel would only push his luck and become insatiably smug.