Against the Current - Chapter 47

Chapter 47 - The Teahouse

Now, as for Song Ke, after parting with Xianglan, he made his way toward the Shunfu Tower. The proprietor was waiting personally at the entrance and, upon spotting Song Ke, hurried over without a moment's delay, bowing and scraping with a face full of smiles. "Please come right in, Eldest Young Master Song. The Luorui Pavilion on the second floor is all prepared."

Song Ke stepped inside and walked upstairs, faintly hearing the sound of strings and bamboo instruments. Lu'er was keeping watch at the doorway. Pushing open the door, he saw a seventeen or eighteen-year-old maiden seated in the corner of the room. She was dressed in emerald-green attire, with a bright crimson sash tied around her waist that looked brilliantly striking. Her fingers nimbly plucked the strings of the guzheng, producing a melodious tinkling sound. Catching sight of Song Ke, she offered a sweet smile tinged with thirty percent coyness, fifty percent gentleness, and another twenty percent of alluring charm. Although she looked proper, there was still an indescribable hint of lighthearted flirtatiousness about her—truly striking just the right balance.

Lin Jingting was seated in an armchair by the window, his elbow resting on the windowsill, holding a folding fan in one hand and leaning out to look outside. He was nodding and swaying his head to the rhythm of the zither music, looking thoroughly intoxicated.

Song Ke pulled out a chair and sat down. Just as he raised his teacup, Lin Jingting bantered teasingly, "Well, look who finally deigns to return after finishing your romantic rendezvous."

Song Ke paused, glanced at Lin Jingting without a word, and simply raised his teacup to take a sip.

Making exaggerated facial expressions, Lin Jingting leaned forward, blocking his mouth with his fan, and grinned broadly. "I was wondering why that girl stared at you with eyes as wide and blank as if she'd lost her wits—so it turns out you're the one who stirred up this romantic debt, my boy."

Song Ke rebuked, "Nonsense." He picked up a piece of mung bean pastry and shoved it straight into Lin Jingting's mouth to shut him up.

Chewing the pastry, Lin Jingting chuckled wickedly and said, "Still trying to put up a front? Let me ask you, where did that fan of yours go? Heh, your young master here saw the whole thing crystal clear from the second floor." With a loud snap, he unfurled the paper fan in his hand, fanned himself with a look of supreme contentment, and asked, "Come on, tell me, whose daughter is she? Who would have thought you were a wolf in sheep's clothing, saying one thing and doing another? I actually thought you had no interest in women, but it turns out the flowers at home can't compare to the fragrance of wild ones."

Hearing Lin Jingting casually making sport of Xianglan, Song Ke felt a slight flicker of displeasure. He gripped his teacup, his expression darkening somewhat.

Rubbing his chin as if savoring the aftertaste, Lin Jingting continued, "Tsk tsk, though she might be a bit young, her looks are truly exceptional... Yifei, you certainly have an eye for beauty. No wonder you turn your nose up at all the maids in the mansion."

Song Ke slammed his teacup down with a loud clatter, looked at Lin Jingting with a half-smile, and remarked, "When it comes to an eye for beauty, I can't hold a candle to you, Third Young Master Lin. Even when stepping out of the estate just to drink tea, you still have to summon a beauty to play music and liven things up—aren't you afraid someone might find out you're seeking amusement while still in the mourning period for your great-grandmother, and impeach your old man? It's plain to see that ever since you took in Suzuju, your disposition has completely broken loose, and your tongue is running wild with nonsense."

Lin Jingting said with total nonchalance, "Who the hell would have nothing better to do than impeach me? This Shunfu Tower is owned by my eldest brother; with the doors shut behind us, who could possibly know the two of us are here enjoying ourselves? Come on, tell me whose daughter that girl is. If you tell me something that pleases me, perhaps I can play the part of a chief matchmaker and go make a formal proposal to her family on your behalf."

Song Ke lowered his gaze and remained silent. After a long moment, he finally picked up his teacup for another sip, leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said to Lin Jingting, "That girl from just now is from your Lin household. I've crossed paths with her a few times. Right now, she's serving under Auntie Lan in your eldest brother's quarters. Her name is Xianglan. When the right opportunity arises, help me ask your brother for her."

Lin Jingting was in the middle of lifting a piece of fragrant pastry to his mouth when the shock caused the morsel to drop onto the table with a plop. He stared at Song Ke with wide, rounded eyes. "Hey, hey, you kid... I was just making a couple of joking remarks, but you've actually got your heart set on her?"

Song Ke simply drank his tea without a word.

Lin Jingting stared at Song Ke for a good long while before letting out a sudden snort of laughter. "Well, I never! That girl really does have quite some fortune. Fine, I'll go ask for her for you tomorrow. Eldest brother dotes on me the most; getting a maid from him is no big deal... How are you going to thank me once this is done?"

Song Ke smiled. "How would you like me to thank you?"

Lin Jingting thought for a moment and said, "I want that polychrome square vase with the 'Five Sons Offering Longevity' motif that you have. I'll give it to my mother as a birthday gift when she turns sixty next year."

Song Ke replied indifferently, "Very well."

Lin Jingting's eyes widened all over again. "Oof! That vase is an antique from a previous dynasty, and you're actually willing to part with it? Tsk tsk, you really are putting your heart into this. If I'd known, I should have asked you for that mutton-fat jade pendant instead."

Song Ke tapped Lin Jingting on the head with his chopsticks. "Greed knows no bounds; you certainly know how to strike while the iron's hot and shake me down. You aren't getting that vase for nothing, though. I hear that girl is a family-bound servant with parents still living; when the time comes, make sure you get her entire family released as well."

Patting his chest, Lin Jingting promised, "No problem at all. Surely a trivial matter like this is something I can handle."

Song Ke felt somewhat reassured. At the thought of Xianglan's white-jade-like face, a gentle warmth spread through his chest. He took a fierce gulp of tea, imagining that very soon this girl would be able to stay by his side. A trace of irrepressible joy surged up from the depths of his heart, making even the string and bamboo music outside sound infinitely more melodious and sweet.

Let us set aside how Song Ke and Lin Jingting conversed and jested. Now, let us turn to Xianglan, who was walking home holding Song Ke's fan, her heart fluctuating between sudden joy and sorrow. As she stepped into the courtyard, she spotted three or four matrons gathered around Mrs. Xue, gossiping away. They were all neighbors from the surrounding area. Upon catching sight of Xianglan, their faces broke into beaming smiles, and they chimed in, "Well, if it isn't Eldest Chen girl coming home for a visit!"

Some stepped forward to affectionately pull Xianglan by the hand. "Let me look at you, let me look at you. Tsk tsk, truly the atmosphere and nourishment of the noble mansion do wonders; the eldest girl has grown more stunning by the day, looking just like an immortal maiden."

"I've always said this girl has wonderful features. Look at how broad her forehead is and how pretty her face looks—she has the look of someone destined for great fortune. In the future, she'll either be a wealthy lady or a high-ranking official's wife."

"Indeed! She's only been in the mansion for such a short time, and she's already been promoted to a second-class maid. The Zhang family's daughter has been in the estate for three or four years, and she hasn't even managed to get promoted to a third-class position."

Others took hold of Mrs. Xue's hands, saying, "A daughter like yours is bound to rise in the world sooner or later. Look, today she even came back carried in a sedan chair! In a few days, when the concubine gives birth to a young master, our eldest girl's prospects will be even more boundless. Just wait to enjoy the blessings your daughter brings you."

This cascade of praises made Mrs. Xue beam from ear to ear, though she put on a modest front, waving her hands repeatedly. "It's nothing like that; you're all flattering her far too much." As she spoke, she glanced at Xianglan, feeling more than ever that her daughter was truly blessed with a peerless countenance and an extraordinary air, far beyond what any ordinary neighbor's daughter could compare to. And such a daughter had sprung right from her own womb!

Puffing out her chest with renewed pride, she added, "Still, when you talk about our Xianglan, she really is out of the ordinary. Before I gave birth to her, I had a dream filled with orchids; the fragrance made every single part of my body feel completely at ease, and they were glowing with a golden light. Taoist Master Ma even told me I would give birth to a daughter with a destiny of wealth and honor, and that she would bring me a life of peaceful leisure later on."

Hearing this, the onlookers showered her with even more extravagant flattery.

Amidst the flurry of voices, Xianglan felt thoroughly ill at ease. Just as she was about to find an excuse to slip away, she heard someone sneer in a sarcastic tone, "Hmph, a mere second-class maid, yet carrying on as if she's the mistress of the house."

Xianglan looked toward the source of the voice and saw a plump woman in her forties, wearing an old-fashioned blue silk jacket with neatly combed hair, looking as though she held some status. Catching Xianglan looking at her, the woman glared fiercely, flicked her handkerchief with a huff, and walked away.

An elderly woman nearby, known to everyone as "Granny Li the Third"—who had moved into the neighborhood after Aunt Lü's family was sold off—had a son and a daughter both serving in the Lin household, making them an honest, hardworking family. Granny Li tugged at Xianglan's sleeve and lowered her voice to say, "Don't pay her any mind. As it happens, her daughter also works in the mansion and goes by the name of Chun Ling. That girl of hers has worked herself to the bone for years in the estate, and when she finally got promoted to a second-class position recently, their family acted as though they should beat drums and sound gongs to celebrate. She's simply green with envy seeing how quickly you managed to reach second-class."

Xianglan understood immediately. No wonder the woman looked somewhat familiar—she was Chunling's mother. Shaking her head, she smiled at Granny Li and said, "Chunling is far more capable in the concubine's quarters than I am; she'll surely be promoted to first-class before long. Her mother really has no need to be in such a rush."

Granny Li squinted her eyes with a smile and said, "My good girl, you truly have a remarkably magnanimous heart."

Xianglan smiled with her lips pressed together. Her ambitions had never truly rested within the confines of the Lin residence. While some people viewed the Lin family as the entirety of the world above them, Xianglan regarded the estate as nothing more than a cage. Managing maids, maintaining respect and status—let the others fight tooth and nail for those positions; she was merely a transient traveler here. Her vision and her true perspective lay far beyond the walls of the Lin manor, in the vast and boundless world outside.