Against the Current - Chapter 41

Chapter 41 - Inquiring 

Early the next morning, Xianglan took a long-spouted kettle and stood in the courtyard, watering the flowers while silently reciting the Great Compassion Mantra. As it was early summer, a few clusters of balsam flowers had bloomed beside the rocks near the courtyard wall. Several servant girls from the main household were gathered around, pinching off the blossoms to take back and dye their fingernails.

Xianglan always tried her best to avoid the servant girls from the main household. With nimble hands and feet, she finished watering the flowers, dragged the kettle, and kept her head down as she walked back along the shade of the trees, until she suddenly heard someone call out to her, "Little Sister Xianglan, Little Sister Xianglan."

Xianglan stopped in her tracks and looked back, only to see Yingfrost, Zhao Yuechan's senior personal maid, standing behind the flower trellis and waving at her with a wide smile. This Yingfrost was not particularly pretty, with high cheekbones and a pointed chin that gave her a somewhat fierce look, though her features softened considerably when she smiled. Seeing that it was Yingfrost who called her, Xianglan's scalp instantly went numb, yet she had no choice but to walk over. Lowering her gaze and assuming a meek posture, she asked, "Big Sister Yingfrost, did you need something from me?"

Yingfrost was eating a jujube and laughed, "Oh, what could I possibly need? I just saw you and wanted to have a chat." She thrust a handful of jujubes wrapped in a handkerchief straight into Xianglan's hands and said, "Eat some, eat some. These jujubes were picked last autumn, dried, and stored away in an earthen jar. They only take out a few grains when the masters boil porridge or soup. Being able to eat them in this season is still considered quite precious."

Xianglan hurriedly waved her hands and declined, "Since they're so rare, Big Sister should keep them to eat."

Yingfrost forcefully shoved them into Xianglan's hands and laughed, "I told you to eat them, so eat them. I still have more."

Having no other choice, Xianglan had to accept them, thinking to herself in secret, "Flattery without cause implies a hidden agenda. What on earth is Yingfrost up to? Eldest Master personally issued an order stating that Concubine Lan is in a delicate condition and need not present herself before the mistress of the house to pay her respects in the future. Concubine Lan also avoids people everywhere, so the main household and the eastern side-chamber have always minded their own business without interfering with each other. These past few days, the First Mistress has been rectifying internal affairs, dismissing quite a few people with both beatings and punishments. The Eldest Young Mistress is as timid as a mouse hiding from a cat and hasn't even stepped outside much. Why is Yingfrost suddenly trying to cozy up to a little maid like me?"

Seeing that Xianglan was silently eating the jujubes without chiming in, Yingfrost cleared her throat and said, "Little Sister is truly diligent, getting up at the crack of dawn to water the flowers. Are there many chores in the eastern side-chamber? Are they heavy? From what I've observed out of the corner of my eye, it seems like Little Sister is the only one managing everything inside and out."

Alarm bells rang in Xianglan's heart, but a smile still lingered on her face as she replied, "I just entered the manor, and since I'm young and don't understand anything, I still need people to teach me in every aspect. How could I possibly manage everything inside and out? I simply do as I'm told—whatever the concubine asks me to do, I do."

Yingfrost remarked, "What does being young matter? Though I'm not very capable, I've after all served by the Eldest Young Mistress's side for several years. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to come and ask me. If anyone bullies you, just let me know." Saying this, she paused, expecting Xianglan to offer some polite words of thanks. To her surprise, Xianglan merely gave a naive smile, lowered her head, and began fidgeting with the hem of her tunic. Yingfrost then probed further, "I wonder what Concubine Lan usually eats and drinks, or what kind of things she likes. Our mistress often talks about how hard it is for Concubine Lan carrying a child, and she thinks about sending her some things, but she doesn't know what would be best to send."

Xianglan grinned and answered, "The concubine's meals are not under my charge, so I don't know what she likes to eat either. Occasionally, when I go to the kitchen to fetch a dish, I'm even clumsy and awkward about it."

Yingfrost grew anxious inside, thinking to herself, "This Xianglan looked somewhat sharp, but who would have thought she's a complete simpleton who knows nothing upon questioning and only breaks into silly grins... Or perhaps she's shrewd? She won't cast the hawk till she sees the hare, and refuses to open her mouth until she sees something to be gained? She was personally assigned here by the Eldest Master, so she certainly knows about the Eldest Master's affairs. I'd better probe her a few more times." With that thought, she pulled an old silver butterfly hairpin from her sleeve, pressed it into Xianglan's hand, and said, "The Eldest Young Mistress bestowed this hairpin on me the year before last. For someone of my age to still wear this style looks far too juvenile. If Little Sister doesn't mind, please take it."

Xianglan hastily declined, looking utterly terrified and uneasy as she said, "How could this possibly be appropriate?"

Yingfrost laughed, "Why wouldn't it be appropriate? What kind of gold and silver jewelry does the Eldest Young Mistress not have? A few days ago, she even rewarded me with a gold bracelet. She also told me that she noticed how clever and diligent Little Sister is, and she even thought about speaking to Concubine Lan to request you for the main household." With that, she forcefully shoved the hairpin into Xianglan's hand.

Xianglan stammered, "The Eldest Young Mistress is too kind, but how could I be that good?"

Yingfrost asked again, "Does the Eldest Master go to the eastern side-chamber every day when he returns from outside?"

Xianglan replied, "I don't know if it's every day. Sometimes the Eldest Master comes over to the eastern side-chamber to check in. Whenever the Eldest Master comes, Chunling is the one who goes to serve. My duties are just doing needlework, serving tea, and fetching water; I don't often go to the front." Seeing out of the corner of her eye that Chunling was standing by the window, casting frequent sharp glances in their direction, Xianglan added, "I should be getting back." She shoved the hairpin back into Yingfrost's hand and said, "Unearned rewards cannot be accepted; Big Sister should keep this hairpin to wear herself." Having said that, she turned and scurried back with quick little steps.

Just as she returned to the tea pantry and put down the kettle, Chunling walked over and demanded, "What were you and Yingfrost talking about under the flower trellis just now?"

Xianglan answered, "First Yingfrost gave me some jujubes to eat, then she showered me with praise and wanted to give me a silver hairpin. She asked me what the concubine usually likes to eat, drink, and do, and she also asked if the Eldest Master comes every day. Since I am the concubine's maid, how could I tell them such things? So I said I didn't know anything, and I returned the hairpin to her." Saying this, she spread out her hands, "I still have a few jujubes here, you can take them and have a taste."

Chunling sneered, "I knew those monsters from the main household didn't harbor any good intentions. Knowing that I can't stand them, they targeted you newly arrived maids instead. Bah, curses on their blind hearts! Yesterday, the mistress specifically sent Red Jian with nourishing medicine, asked after the concubine's health, and gave several instructions. If the Eldest Young Mistress and the others find out anything about the concubine and stir up any trouble, we'll all be in deep trouble. You did well today; in the future, have as little to do with the people from the main household as possible. Keep the jujubes for yourself, I'm going to help the concubine take a stroll in the garden." Catching sight of Xiaojuan wiping the window lattice with a rag, she added, "The sun is nice today, so go take the quilts out of the chests later and air them in the sun." With that, she lifted the door curtain and walked out.

The moment Xiaojuan saw her leave, she immediately said to Xianglan, "What does she mean by 'you did well today'? She's got a mighty high opinion of herself, putting on airs and posing every single day as if she were a top-tier senior maid. You're a second-tier maid too, why are you afraid of her?"

Xianglan shoved the handful of jujubes straight into Xiaojuan's hands and said, "If she's happy acting like a senior maid, let her be. Why bother arguing with her?"

Xiaojuan pouted, "She always orders me around to do this and that, pushing the chores that she's supposed to do onto me, and then she runs off to the mistress to claim credit... Xianglan, if you get promoted to a top-tier maid, you'll be able to keep her down."

Xianglan picked up a jujube, stuffed it into Xiaojuan's mouth, and said, "Save it. Can't even a mouthful of food keep your little trap shut?" Chuckling, she patted Xiaojuan's head, turned, and went inside the room. Standing before the bed, she let out a long sigh. Even though she felt her stay in the eastern side-chamber offered no grand future, she certainly had no intention of cozying up to the Eldest Young Mistress. Playing with tigers was no child's play! She poured half a bowl of warm tea to drink, opened the storage chest, took out a light jade-colored short jacket she had made yesterday, and began piping the edges along the back.

Xiaojuan chewed on her jujube, followed her inside, sat down on the edge of the bed, and drooped her head as she said, "I originally thought that after suffering grievances over at the Eldest Young Mistress's place, coming to Concubine Lan's would mean our hardships were finally over. Who would have thought that after barely a few good days, someone like this would pop up to ruin the mood."

Xianglan smiled. "Isn't life just like that? You push through one barrier after another. You think that once you've crossed the Flaming Mountains, the road ahead will be a wide open highway where you can roam freely and happily. But just as you let your guard down slightly, you realize there's an even bigger cauldron of boiling oil right ahead. Old troubles haven't vanished before new troubles arise, and it never stops." While speaking, her hands didn't stop either, flying skillfully with needle and thread.

Xiaojuan blinked. "It never stops? Then what's the point of living? It sounds so meaningless."

"There's a common saying: 'Eight or nine out of ten things in life do not go as one wishes.' That shows things going smoothly only happen once or twice. Think more about those 'one or two' times and less about the 'eight or nine.' When you fret less, your heart feels much brighter. Back when I was with the Cousin Miss, I did the work of three people, was often scolded and squeezed out, and had to make do with everyone else's leftovers. But now, here at Concubine Lan's, the chores are fewer, the silver is more, nobody gives us dirty looks, and we frequently receive rewards from the masters. True, there's Chunling who loves to steal the spotlight, but compared to how things were before, what does that even amount to? Let her steal the spotlight all she wants; why bother fighting for attention right now?" Xianglan bit off the thread and shook out the garment.

Xiaojuan grumbled, "Why let her steal it? I can't swallow this anger... Besides, what do we even count for here? You didn't see the mistress's rooms. Big Sister Red Jian and Big Sister Lilan are so majestic! They're top-tier senior maids, practically young ladies of the Lin household. Not only do they have their own rooms and personal servant girls, but their monthly stipends are several notches higher than ours, and they get lavish rewards too. Do you think Concubine Lan is generous just for giving out a silver ring? Any random bracelet the mistress bestows on Red Jian is made of pure gold."

Xianglan burst out laughing. "You envy the prestigious maids by the mistress's side, but perhaps they are currently jealous of the young ladies of the Lin household, living in silk and brocade while having others wait on them, hoping to brilliantly marry into a good family as young madams to enjoy a life of ease. And as for the young ladies of the Lin household, perhaps they are jealous of the daughters of imperial relatives, born as princesses or county princesses whom they must bow to and serve with utmost caution... Comparing yourself to others only leads to frustration. As long as we keep our own minds made up, why compete with others? If you want to live a comfortable life, you must first learn to cherish your blessings and be content."

After saying these words, seeing that Xiaojuan still looked bewildered and knowing that she was still young and hadn't tasted the full hardships of life, Xianglan smiled and pinched Xiaojuan's cheek.

With a yelp, Xiaojuan lunged forward. "Audacious! How dare you flirt with a respectable young lady!" She reached out to tickle Xianglan, and the two of them tumbled together in a fit of laughter.

Just at that moment, someone called out from the outer parlor, "Is anyone there? Where has everyone gone?"

Xianglan hurriedly pushed Xiaojuan away, straightened her clothes and hair, and went out to take a look. There she saw Lin Jinlou reclining lazily on a begonia-wood daybed, his official hat tossed casually onto a nearby begonia-wood table. He leaned back against two autumn-fragrance-colored embroidered silk soft cushions, wearing his military officer's everyday uniform, with an eight-treasure brocade belt cinched around his waist that made his majestic frame, broad shoulders, and wide back look even more imposing. On his feet were a pair of black satin court boots, and his eyes were half-closed in a lazy, languid posture.