Against the Current - Chapter 63

Chapter 63 - Uproar

Lin Jinlou was already annoyed that Xianglan did not know what was good for her, and when Zhao Yuechan unexpectedly burst in as well, his expression darkened even further. Still holding Xianglan without letting go, he stared coldly at Zhao Yuechan.

Trembling with rage in her hands and feet, Zhao Yuechan rushed forward within a few steps, attempting to grab Xianglan's hair and face while cursing, "You vile harlot! How dare you go about seducing your masters!"

Realizing things were taking a turn for the worse the moment Zhao Yuechan entered, Xianglan tried to dodge backward as Zhao Yuechan lunged to grab her. Lin Jinlou promptly thrust out his arm, shoving Zhao Yuechan back and sending her staggering.

Zhao Yuechan's eyes instantly turned red. Not daring to take out her anger on Lin Jinlou, she fixed all of her overflowing hatred onto Xianglan, pointing and cursing, "God-forsaken wanton bitch! You peddle your cheap charms to your master's bed, and if I don't break you today, I swear I won't stay alive!" Without allowing any explanation, she rushed forward to beat and claw at Xianglan, grabbing a handful of her hair.

Pain lanced through Xianglan's scalp as her hair bun was pulled apart. Filled with grievances and wronged agony, she thought to herself that she truly was suffering an unprovoked disaster—being molested out of nowhere by a vicious young master and envied and hated by a vicious wife. If she weren't a servant of the Lin household, she would have long since fought back after being subjected to such insults. For now, however, she could only use her arms to protect her face as she wept in frustration and anger.

Clutching Xianglan's hair fiercely, Zhao Yuechan cursed, "You still have the nerve to cry!" With her other hand, she landed several blows.

Lin Jinlou grabbed Zhao Yuechan's wrist and roared furiously, "Will you ever fucking finish!"

So furious that her entire body went weak, Zhao Yuechan trembled as she choked out, "Good... Oh, wonderful! You actually dare to side with her... What kind of bewitching spell has this little bitch cast on you that you'd even curse your own wife..." Her hatred surged further, and she still tried to tear into Xianglan. Xianglan wailed aloud, weeping bitterly as the room dissolved into complete chaos.

Jixiang stood by the doorway, not daring to intervene. Fortunately, Shuran had hurried over upon hearing the commotion and asked, "What is going on here?"

Jixiang threw a glance into the room and whispered, "What else could it be? The Eldest Young Master's good deed got interrupted by the First Young Madam, and now they're making quite a scene inside. Good sister, hurry and go manage it. If this blows up and lets the Master and Mistress know, we'll all end up taking the blame."

Shuran hurriedly stepped inside. Taking hold of Zhao Yuechan's hand, she smiled and said, "What is the matter with my lady? If you have something to say, say it properly. Don't make yourself sick with anger."

With her willow-leaf eyebrows raised in anger, Zhao Yuechan glared at Shuran and spat right in her face, "What kind of thing are you? Get the hell out of my sight! Do you think your own hands are clean? Don't think I don't know that all of you are cut from the same cloth, scheming to harm me. The Eldest Young Master has been completely corrupted by your incitement!"

When Lin Jinlou brought Xianglan to the study today, he hadn't planned anything too deep; he had simply intended to gift her a few items first, cultivate a bit of affection, and then make his intentions clear once Old Madam Zeng's mourning period ended, so he hadn't kept it very secret. Who would have thought that upon seeing Xianglan, her pretty little appearance would make his heart itch, and coupled with the fact that mourning had left him abstinent for so long, he couldn't entirely hold back. Now that Zhao Yuechan had broken in, he was already furious out of embarrassment, and seeing Zhao Yuechan throw a tantrum only infuriated him further. He grabbed both of Zhao Yuechan's wrists with his hands and roared, "You've grown quite bold, running wild right in front of me!" Applying force, Zhao Yuechan felt a sharp pain and involuntarily released her grip.

Filled with both hatred and fury, Xianglan thought to herself: Since things have already come to this, the more chaotic the better. If Madam Qin finds out and grows furious, she might just sell me off, and then I can beg Song Ke to take me in. With that, she wailed and sobbed, crying to the heavens and earth, "What a monstrous injustice! The Eldest Young Master told this servant to come over—how could this servant dare refuse? What can a servant do when the master demands it? If this makes me a wanton woman, then... I might as well just die." Crying, she bolted toward the wall, intending to bash her brains out and seek death.

Panicked, Shuran hurried forward and yanked Xianglan back. Zhao Yuechan shrieked, "This is rebellion, absolute rebellion! She still plays the victim with her false grievances! Let her die!" She lunged forward to strike Xianglan again.

Pushed past his breaking point, Lin Jinlou's temper flared. He lashed out with a kick against Zhao Yuechan's body and bellowed, "Shut your mouth!"

Though he held back his strength, Zhao Yuechan was a delicate creature like a tender flower in spring—how could she withstand such a blow? She instantly crumpled into a heap on the ground, wailing at the top of her lungs, "Heaven is trying to destroy me! These wanton bitches are all trying to drive me to my grave, and my muddle-headed husband wants to kill me too! I have no face left to live..."

Lin Jinlou bent down into a squat and whispered right beside Zhao Yuechan, "If you want to blow this matter out of proportion, I'm not afraid either. Cry anymore, and tomorrow I will take her as a concubine and divorce you on the grounds of malicious jealousy. Let's see what face your father, mother, uncles, and elders will have left to beg mercy for you."

Zhao Yuechan snapped her eyes open. Tears rolled down in torrents, but her gaze was utterly chilling as she gritted her teeth and hissed, "You wouldn't dare..."

Lin Jinlou smiled faintly. "There is nothing I wouldn't dare do."

Zhao Yuechan spitefully muttered, "If not for our Zhao family, do you think the Emperor would have let the Lin family off? You ungrateful, heartless wolf eating from both bowls..."

"Do you think the Zhao family only has you as a daughter?" Lin Jinlou sneered. "If you weren't somewhat pretty, do you think I would have married you? Rest assured, without you, your grandfather has plenty of granddaughters eager to become the mistress of the Lin household. I can divorce you and have a replacement sent over immediately—believe it or not?" He glanced sideways at Zhao Yuechan with a half-smile and murmured softly, "If you don't ask to step down voluntarily, then you had better behave yourself. That maid was nothing much to begin with—I merely took a fancy to her to amuse myself for a moment. Yet you grew so capable you actually dared to give me attitude? Hear this well: I've taken a liking to that little maid. If any harm comes to her, I will not let you off! If you didn't stir up trouble, these days would be peaceful enough. Weigh the pros and cons yourself." With that, he paid her no more heed, brushed off his sleeves, and strode away.

Trembling all over, Zhao Yuechan ground her teeth until they clicked. Lying on the floor with her eyes tightly shut, large droplets of tears rolled down.

Walking outside the room, Lin Jinlou saw Shuran comforting Xianglan and settling her into the side chamber. He beckoned Shuran over, paused in thought for a moment, and instructed, "Zhao's tantrums won't amount to anything. Have her wash her face later and send her back. As for that little maid... comfort her properly. I'll go check on her later."

Shuran nodded and started to leave, but Lin Jinlou called out, "Wait."

Shuran hurried back. Lin Jinlou thought for a moment and said, "Send someone quietly to the East Wing later and tell Mother Wu that Xianglan suffered a grievance. Have her offer some comforting words tonight, and tell the kitchen to prepare a calming soup to soothe Xianglan's nerves."

Shuran was sharp-witted and clever—how could she not understand? She figured that this maid named Xianglan was most likely destined for soaring success; the Eldest Young Master had dismissed the First Young Madam in just a few words, yet he cared so deeply for Xianglan. Even Qinglan, the most favored, had never made Lin Jinlou care this much. Secretly adding several weights to Xianglan's scale in her heart, she resolved to offer obsequious flattery first.

Here, Shuran finally managed to escort Xianglan to the inner room to settle her down, and when she came out to find Zhao Yuechan still lying on the floor, a headache struck her. She hurried over to help her up, saying, "My lady, why are you lying on the floor? Even though it's summer, there's still chill in the ground—don't hurt your health. Get up quickly, get up."

Zhao Yuechan was an intelligent woman and naturally understood the art of seizing a downhill slope. She smoothly allowed Shuran to help her up, covering her face with a handkerchief as she wept bitterly. Shuran helped her sit in a chair, then quietly instructed a young errand boy waiting under the veranda to fetch hot water for Zhao Yuechan to wash her face. Seeing her wash up and calm down somewhat, Shuran cautiously advised, "Why must the First Young Madam lock horns with the Eldest Young Master? If this truly blows up and reaches the Mistress, not only will it anger the higher-ups, but it will also worry them. Besides, Auntie Qinglan just won a massive amount of face today... You know the Eldest Young Master's temperament; no matter what he does, aren't you still the one who rules the inner courtyard?"

Tears still lingering, Zhao Yuechan said, "I understand, but why is a woman's lot in life so bitter..."

Shuran inwardly scoffed: Your bitter lot is entirely of your own making. If I were you, I'd let the Eldest Young Master carouse to his heart's content while I sat pretty as the mistress of the Lin household, occupying the best rooms and lands with swarms of servants at my beck and call. I wouldn't waste my breath borrowing trouble. On her face, however, she put on a look of sorrow, sighed, and said, "Who is to say otherwise? My lady shouldn't overthink it; aren't days just lived by enduring them one by one?"

After gracefully exchanging a few more pleasantries, she finally saw Zhao Yuechan out. As she was leaving, Zhao Yuechan clutched Shuran's hand and said, "Good sister, my mind was clouded by phlegm just now, and I said a lot of unpalatable things. Please don't hold it against me, I'm apologizing to you."

Shuran hastily turned aside slightly and said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Zhao Yuechan chided, "What is there that you wouldn't dare?" She furrowed her brows and sighed lightly, "Now that you have the opportunity, you must urge the Eldest Young Master more so that he takes proper care of his own health..." In her heart, however, she thought: Shuran, this slippery little hussy, yingshuang has tried to bribe her several times; she kept the gifts, but didn't handle a single task. Just wait until I get an opportunity to deal with you!

Shuran nodded repeatedly and smiled, "I will definitely relay this sentiment from the First Young Madam to the Eldest Young Master. In truth, from my cold observations, the Eldest Young Master still holds the First Young Madam in his heart..." Inside, however, she was thinking: A primary wife who can't even pop out a single egg—who knows when the Eldest Young Master might divorce her? What's she putting on airs for? In the end, she might not even be as well-off as a servant like me!

The two of them harbored their own hidden agendas and mutual contempt, yet smiled with apparent genuine warmth, bidding each other a lingering farewell like loving sisters.

Having sent away this formidable Buddha, Zhao Yuechan, Shuran heaved a sigh, lifted the door curtain, and returned to the inner room. Seeing Xianglan sitting on the bed, sobbing with grief she could hardly suppress, she stepped forward, patted Xianglan's back, and soothed gently, "Good sister, stop crying now. Dry your tears and let me look at you—you've cried yourself into a little kitten."

Recalling Zhao Yuechan's ferocity and Lin Jinlou's overpowering might, Xianglan felt genuine terror in her heart; how could she possibly stop crying? She merely shook her head, weeping nonstop as she muttered, "Whose toes did I step on? I was just dutifully serving the Auntie, so why did I provoke that ancestor and suffer an unprovoked disaster for nothing?"

Shuran smiled and said, "There's an old saying that goes, 'Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others.' The bitterness and suffering you took today will all turn into nectar tomorrow. You're a sensible person; you mustn't think our master is bad to you just because the First Young Madam threw a tantrum and made a scene. Didn't you see how he kept protecting you the whole time? If it were any other maid, her face would have been scratched to shreds by the First Young Madam long ago."

Hearing this clearly, Xianglan knew Shuran was here to put in a good word for Lin Jinlou. She kept her head down in silence, secretly resolving to leave this right-and-wrong-filled place before Old Madam Zeng's full mourning period ended.

Shuran continued, "You saw the market rate today: the Eldest Young Master was willing to fall out with the First Young Madam rather than let you suffer any grievances. You must accept this sentiment and keep it in your heart. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Xianglan thought to herself: Lin Jinlou and Zhao Yuechan haven't been on good terms as husband and wife for a day or two. The two of them clash and fight, yet I end up being the punching bag, and on top of getting unlucky, I'm supposed to appreciate their kindness—sigh, this really is misfortune upon misfortune. Outwardly, however, she had no choice but to say, "I understand."

Standing outside the door eavesdropping, Lin Jinlou heard Xianglan say she "understood," and couldn't help nodding in approval.