Against the Current - Chapter 51

Chapter 51 - Fatal Praise

Lin Jinlou went out the very second day, and Zhao Yuechan personally escorted him as far as the second inner gate before turning back. The concubines of the various courtyards, dreading Madam Zhao's stern authority, dared not crowd around and instead quietly dispatched their trusted personal pageboys to the outer side of the second gate to send off various tokens of affection to Lin Jinlou. Qinglan, whose every thought was for Lin Jinlou's physical well-being, sent a vial of invigorating restorative pills; Yingge, fond of sentimental and romantic sentiments, wove a knot using a strand of her own hair intertwined with five-colored silk threads, capturing the poetic meaning of "yearning in both horizontal and vertical threads"; Mimei simply sent a magenta five-colored embroidered mandarin duck bodice that she wore right against her skin.

Outside, Xiaojuan pried into what every room had sent and came back to gossip secretly with Xianglan. In her heart, Xianglan silently reviewed the gifts: Concubine Lan was the most virtuous, Yingge the most poetic, and Mimei the most... unrestrained. She also secretly guessed which one Lin Jinlou would like best, and after mulling it over, figured that given that eldest master's personality, he probably favored Mimei's magenta mandarin duck bodice most of all.

While she and Xiaojuan were chatting away while doing needlework, Yindie walked in, tossed a piece of everyday cinnamon-pink short jacket down beside Xianglan, and spun around to leave.

Xianglan picked up the jacket, called out to stop her, and said, "Wait a moment." She stood up, walked forward, and handed the garment back. "Did you sew this? The stitches are so rough and crooked—how can anyone see this? Take it back and redo it."

Yindie huffed and said, "This is just the handiwork I'm capable of. If you think it's no good, you can sew it yourself."

Xiaojuan said indignantly, "How are you talking? This is your assigned chore, and you're still acting justified when you can't even do it right?"

Xianglan pulled Xiaojuan back and said calmly, "It doesn't matter if you can't do it well. I will teach you. Go bring the sewing basket over."

Yindie glanced sideways at Xianglan and retorted, "I have other chores here. Sister Chunling also told me to go air out the books." With that, she turned on her heel to leave.

Xianglan rushed forward to block her path and said, "Let Xiaojuan go air the books. You do your needlework first, and I will go speak with Chunling."

Yindie still wanted to carp and complain, but Xianglan's face sank as she said in a cold voice, "I gave you this task three days ago. You've dragged it out this long, and it's turned out this poorly. When I offer to teach you, you still make endless excuses. Just what do you want?"

Yindie had always thought of Xianglan as gentle and easily bullied, and she never expected her face to darken so abruptly and carry such imposing authority. For a moment, she was stunned. Xianglan handed the jacket forward and said, "Go on, resew this jacket. Let me tell you, this fabric is top-quality tribute satin. If you ruin it, the cost will be deducted directly from your monthly allowance. Do you understand?"

Yindie's face flushed bright red, and she took several heavy, angry breaths. She stared at the jacket but refused to reach out and take it, leaving the two of them at a temporary stalemate. At that moment, the door curtain was lifted and Chunling walked in. Taking in the scene, she understood the situation well enough and smiled faintly. "My, what play are you two performing?"

Xiaojuan was quick-witted and spoke right up, "Yindie didn't do her work properly, and when Xianglan offered to teach her, she still refused to learn."

Yindie sneered, "You're close with her, so of course you take her side." She glared at Xianglan. "Don't think we don't know what you're really thinking. Aren't you just acting all high and mighty with a stiff spine because the master gave you that ointment bestowed by the palace? Pah! There's still the grand madam and the concubines above you—do you really think you can climb high branches just like that? Look at how pleased with yourself you are; you're clearly just picking bones in an egg! Hmph!" With that, she shoved past Chunling, whipped the curtain aside, and stormed out.

Xianglan stood frozen, while Xiaojuan stamped her foot in frustration. "Black-hearted little wretch! If you've got the ability, make the master reward you with one too! She's clearly burning with green-eyed jealousy." She went to pull Xianglan's hand. "Let's not pay any mind to her, good-for-nothing!"

Chunling felt a secret wave of satisfaction, gave a feigned cough to smooth things over, and consoled, "Now now, Yindie is still young, so her words are bound to be a bit sharp. I'll go talk to her later." With that, she turned to leave, but glanced back as she reached the door. "Concubine Lan said you don't need to come inside to wait on her these next few days. Focus instead on finishing a few pieces of children's clothing."

Xianglan was sharp-witted and understood the subtext immediately. This was Concubine Lan giving her the cold shoulder—ever since Lin Jinlou rewarded her with facial ointment, the Eastern Wing had grown distinctly peculiar. Qinglan had originally treated her warmly and affectionately, but afterwards grew somewhat distant, and now she wouldn't even let her close enough to wait on her personally. Mother Wu, however, grew increasingly warm toward her; whereas she used to call her straight by her name, she now addressed her as "Miss Xianglan." Chunling had grown much more polite, yet kept a silent distance of two paces from her. As for Yindie, she wore her hostility right on her face, tossing attitude directly and refusing to obey even simple instructions for chores. Only Xiaojuan remained as warmly devoted to her as ever.

Suddenly, Xianglan felt a sense of utter futility. She let out a deep sigh, sat back down, and tossed the jacket in her hands to one side.

In the small reception parlor of the Eastern Wing, Mimei was seated in a chair, leaning slightly forward as she spoke to Qinglan. "...Actually, Second Young Miss is simply someone who appreciates elegance and refinement. In the past, she always loved organizing poetry societies and chess clubs, but she had to suspend them for a few terms due to the period of mourning for Old Madam Zeng. Now she's got the enthusiasm again, and that's why she's calling out to everyone to ask around. If Elder Sister has the artistic inclination, you might as well go join in and clear your mind." On her head, Mimei wore a glossy bun pinned with an agate cloud-dragon hairpin, her face still heavily made up, which made her look all the more alluring. She wore an azure-ground intertwined floral embroidered-edge indigo twin-breastlined pei-zhe, over a skirt as white as snow, from beneath which the upturned pearl-embellished tips of her embroidered shoes peeked out—both playful and novel.

Qinglan was reclining on a Arhat bed, toying with a pot of orchids on the green sandalwood flower stand nearby, and said with a smile, "I don't understand any of that poetry business. Besides, my body feels fatigued, so you girls go ahead."

Mimei smiled and said, "For this poetry society, sometimes even the Madam will come join in the fun, so Elder Sister should really go. What's the point of cooped up inside the house? Besides, there will also be wives and young misses from official households who frequently visit the inner quarters—it's good to go out and get a familiar face... That she-devil in the main courtyard, though she doesn't know a dozen characters, still has to go join in the excitement. Usually, I don't get along with that little wretch Yingge, but whenever I see Elder Sister, I feel a natural affinity. If we sisters go together, we can keep each other company."

Although Qinglan had grown up in a scholarly household, her nature was lazy, and she had never had any interest in reading since childhood. She was entirely clueless about the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, knowing just enough characters to stumble through books like The Collection of Virtuous Women. Hearing that Lin Dongqi was going to host a poetry society, she inevitably feared losing face and exposing her ignorance, so she didn't dare agree. But when Mimei mentioned that "the Madam will go" and spoke of "wives and young misses from official households who frequently visit," her heart wavered.

Mimei watched Qinglan's expression and took a smiling sip of tea. "Besides, Elder Sister comes from a scholarly background and is a hundred times more brilliant than any of us. Surely you aren't afraid of composing a single poem? I'm only worried that when the time comes, you'll display your grand talents and outshine them all! If you ask me, Elder Sister should take the lead in hosting this term of the poetry society. If you show off a little skill like that, your good name will spread far and wide!" She then whipped up enthusiasm by recounting how the concubine of so-and-so's family had hosted a poetry society, handling every detail meticulously and coming out on top among the madams, gaining even more prestige than the main wife; or how the illegitimate daughter of so-and-so's household had composed brilliant poetry at a poetry society, spreading her fame far and wide and ultimately marrying a brilliant young scholar with a bright future. Yet, in Mimei's eyes, none of these women compared to Qinglan's cleverness and broad knowledge. If Qinglan could host a poetry society while her belly wasn't yet too large, and build her prestige among the madams and mistresses, not only would she win the Madam's high regard, but her unborn child would also carry greater weight thanks to its mother.

With this blend of triple praise and fivefold flattery, Qinglan was spun into a dizzy daze, thinking inwardly: Indeed, what Mimei says is true. Although I am a concubine in the Lin family, I come from a respectable family background, and I was carried into the Lin family through the front gates with proper wine, banquets, and a bridal sedan—altogether different from them. Right now in the Lin family, I have some status but no real reputation. If this poetry society succeeds, my name will spread far and wide, and everyone will praise me. Only then will I truly live up to the flesh growing inside my belly.

Her mind heated up, and she blurted out, "Splendid! Then I will speak with Second Young Miss, and I shall organize this term of the poetry society."

Mimei's eyes crinkled with smiles as she clapped her hands. "Elder Sister truly is a decisive person—a genuine heroine among women. If this matter succeeds, not only will the Madam and the Eldest Master hold you in higher regard, but even the official ladies will praise Elder Sister's literary talent and virtue."

She rambled on with a few more words, heaping heavy flattery onto Qinglan before finally taking her leave and departing.

The moment Mimei stepped out of the Eastern Wing's doorway, the smile on her face dropped instantly with a sharp clack. She cast a cold glance back at the Eastern Wing, sneered to herself, and muttered, "Foolish woman, driven mad by vanity to actually agree to this. You've got quite a storm coming to you!"