Against the Current - Chapter 71

Chapter 71 - Punishment 

To begin, on this day, several friends familiar with Lin Jinlou arrived from the capital. They were all scions of noble families who maintained cordial relations with the Lin family. Naturally playing the part of a gracious host, Lin Jinlou called upon Lin Jin Ting, and the two brothers hosted a banquet for them at the Quanquan Pavilion. They also brought in several sing-song girls capable of singing and playing instruments from the pleasure quarters to liven up the mood, making the atmosphere quite bustling for a time.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, the company grew increasingly unrestrained. Among them was a young gentleman named Liu Xiaochuan, the grandson of the Valiant General. The household of Old General Liu was sparse in descendants, and in the third generation, Liu Xiaochuan was the sole grandson raised to adulthood. Cherished like the apples of their eyes, indulgence was inevitable. Liu Xiaochuan had grown up playing intimately with Lin Jinlou in the capital; now, having stirred up trouble back home, he had fled south to the Jiangnan region to seek refuge and lie low under Lin Jinlou's protection.

Swaying unsteadily as he held his wine cup, Liu Xiaochuan spoke to Lin Jinlou in fluent, polished official jargon, "This Jiangnan is truly a splendid place. Only after coming here do I realize that not only are the mountains and waters beautiful, but the people are even more breathtaking! Tell me, my brother, this young master has taken a fancy to your favorite at the Yihong Courtyard, Cuixian. Since it is rare for me to make a trip here, won't you part with her and gift her to me?"

Upon hearing this, the young gentlemen burst into rowdy jeers.

Lin Jinlou laughed and scolded, "You rascal really know how to pick. Among all the courtesans in Jinling, she is the most tactful and understanding. Originally, I wasn't willing to part with her, but since it's you who asked, I must give her to you even if I'd rather not."

Xie Yu, the fourth son of Vice Minister of War Xie Zu, burst into loud laughter, clapping Liu Xiaochuan on the shoulder as he said, "Oh my, my brother, you already ran away after getting into a brawl at a brothel over a jealous dispute. If you take a courtesan back with you this time, won't your honorable grandfather keel over from anger on the spot?"

The entire company roared with laughter.

Liu Xiaochuan rolled his eyes and retorted, "To die beneath the peony flower, one remains a romantic ghost even in death—do you understand? Ignorant vulgar folks like you lot know nothing of such sentiment!"

Chuckling, Lin Jinlou drained his cup in one gulp, shook a handbell to summon Shuangxi—the young servant keeping watch at the doorway—and instructed, "Deliver three thousand taels of silver to the Yihong Courtyard. Tell the bawd it's to redeem Mistress Cuixian, and have her sent in a sedan chair to the Liu family residence."

Raising his cup once more, Xie Yu laughed heartily, "Come, come, congratulations to Brother Liu today on becoming a bridegroom once again."

Another wave of laughter swept through the company.

Meanwhile, a thought stirred in Lin Jin Ting's mind. Pouring a cup of wine for Lin Jinlou with his own hands, he smiled and said, "Since my older brother is so generous today, I shall brazenly ask my brother for a person as well."

Liu Xiaochuan cried out in surprise, "Oh-ho, listen, just listen! So the third young master of the Lin family is finally starting to understand the finer things and asking for people. I thought he was still a green and clueless novice."

Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "Speak, who is it?"

Lin Jin Ting replied, "It's none other than Xianglan, the one serving in your concubine's quarters."

Lin Jinlou's hand paused. He cast a sidelong glance at Lin Jin Ting, asking, "You've taken a fancy to her?" Though Lin Jinlou was smiling, his expression carried an icy chill.

Startled, Lin Jin Ting looked again, only to feel that Lin Jinlou was once more smiling as warmly as a gentle spring breeze. Licking his lips, he ventured, "It's not me; it's Brother Yifei. He wishes to claim this maid."

Lin Jinlou downed the wine in his cup in a single draught. A courtesan seated beside him hurriedly poured him another, and Lin Jinlou remarked, "Him? How on earth did he even lay eyes on the maid in my quarters?"

Lin Jin Ting chuckled, "Brother, you wouldn't know. The very first time Song Yifei laid eyes on that lass, he lost his wits and even went so far as to gift her a folding fan. At first, he stubbornly refused to room with me at the Wuyun Courtyard, but later, for some unknown reason, he moved over anyway. It was only afterward that I found out: Mistress Lan was establishing a poetry society, and Xianglan was managing affairs at the Longcui Residence. Just so he could gaze upon the beauty a few more times each day, he stubbornly moved in there, and every day he sends over soups and delicacies prepared in all sorts of different ways. I caught them stealing glances just once—like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl gazing at each other across the Milky Way—and oh, it gave me goosebumps all over."

Burping from the alcohol, Liu Xiaochuan laughed, "My, what a hopelessly devoted lover! He almost matches your granddad Liu's style."

Another round of bantering broke out among the group.

Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "If he wants that maid, he can come ask me himself." With that, swaying unsteadily, he went off to use the privy.

The moment he stepped out, his smile vanished instantly, and his expression turned grim and frosty.

Holding a bowl of medicine, Mother Wu peeked into Qinglan's room to find that Huamei had not yet left and was chatting and laughing merrily with Qinglan. Mother Wu shook her head; today she had completely lost any favorable impression of Qinglan, and she couldn't be bothered to manage her affairs any longer. She only waited for Qinglan to safely deliver the child so that she could retire with accomplished service. Thrusting the medicine in her hand toward Chunling, she instructed, "Take this in to the concubine and tell her to drink it while it's hot."

Watching Chunling depart, Mother Wu let out a sigh, only to suddenly catch sight of Lin Jinlou striding in from outside with a look of fury on his face. He demanded of Mother Wu, "Where is Xianglan?"

Sighing heavily once more, Mother Wu replied, "Ah, does the eldest master not know yet? Madam came by just a moment ago. Because this old servant spoke out of turn earlier and told the master of Xianglan's good qualities, it caught the master's attention. The eldest young madam then made a grand show of sending over gifts—glittering gold jewelry and fine silks and satins—while also declaring she would prepare a room and maids for Xianglan. Upon hearing this, Mistress Lan fainted on the spot. Although the physician examined her and found nothing gravely amiss, I had planned to comfort her once she felt a bit better. Yet somehow, word reached Madam, and she rushed over to mete out punishment."

Lin Jinlou was taken aback. Displeased by Zhao Yuechan's actions and equally unhappy that Madam Qin was meddling in affairs within his quarters, he said, "I took a fancy to that lass myself; what does it have to do with anyone else?"

Mother Wu answered, "Madam did it out of concern for the eldest master, but the most pitiful one is truly that child Xianglan. Madam took her away, and she hasn't returned yet. Who knows what sort of punishment she is currently enduring?"

Lin Jinlou's expression shifted. Hearing Lin Jinlou's voice from outside, Huamei hurriedly hurried out alongside Qinglan to greet him, calling out, "The eldest master has returned!"

Qinglan spoke with utmost gentleness, "It is nearly noon. Has the eldest master eaten yet?"

Unexpectedly, however, Lin Jinlou turned around, lifted the doorway curtain, and walked straight out.

In the main rooms of the Zhuoshou Garden, the courtyard was quiet and secluded, surrounded by dense, flourishing trees.

Madam Qin sat upright in a grand master's chair in the parlor, watching Xianglan kneeling before her, scrutinizing her carefully for the very first time. Over these past days, Xianglan's figure and facial features had blossomed significantly. Madam Qin saw that her appearance was exceptionally lovely, her face strikingly bright and exquisite, her hair arranged in elegant clouds above temples framing a graceful and refined demeanor. Though she wore somewhat worn, plain attire, it failed to conceal her remarkable beauty. Timid though she appeared, she entirely lacked the cringing, petty air of a lowborn person.

Madam Qin narrowed her eyes slightly. No wonder Brother Lou had been bewitched by her; she was an absolute peerless beauty who completely eclipsed all the madams and young misses in the household.

Yet just how many schemes did this little vixen harbor in her heart? Madam Qin's grip on her handkerchief suddenly tightened.

She truly possessed formidable skills!

First, she had quietly stirred up winds and waves, seizing evidence of Cao Lihuan's wrongdoing and staging a brilliant performance before the masters to have Cao Lihuan expelled. Now, she had also captured Brother Lou's attention, throwing the relationship between husband and wives into disarray. What if Qinglan's fainting spell this time had harmed the child in her womb?

Xianglan remained kneeling properly. Now that disaster had arrived on her doorstep, she surprisingly felt no panic. Since ancient times, it was always the masters who caused chaos while the servants took the blame; Madam Qin could not easily punish Zhao Yuechan or Qinglan, so this debt would undoubtedly be tallied upon her own head. Under such circumstances, panicking was useless.

After a moment of silent reflection by Madam Qin, Hongjian stepped light-footedly forward to serve a cup of warm tea before quietly withdrawing.

"The eldest master has taken a fancy to you and wishes to elevate your status," Madam Qin said extremely slowly, making it impossible to discern whether she was pleased or angered.

Xianglan hurriedly kowtowed and said, "This slave is blessed with meager fortune and dares not harbor such aspirations."

"Oh?" Madam Qin arched a brow. "Does that mean the eldest master was just engaging in wishful thinking?"

Clenching her teeth, Xianglan offered no reply to Madam Qin's remark. Prostrating herself on the floor, she stated, "All faults and errors rest entirely with this slave. Now that I have caused both the eldest young madam and the mistress to feel deeply displeased, and even troubled Madam into an episode of anger, I beg Madam to issue a punishment."

Madam Qin was startled. She had anticipated that Xianglan would plead for her favor and beg to be taken in by Lin Jinlou. She had never expected Xianglan to utter such words and actually take all the blame upon herself.

Fairness dictated that she knew it wasn't entirely Xianglan's fault; her eldest son was naturally romantic and lustful, and he could hardly be expected to let go of a maid with such appearance and talent. She had heard plenty of rumors about Lin Jinlou's outrageous behavior outside, but she simply couldn't be bothered to interfere—her own son worked hard outside, so what harm was there in a little wild behavior?

Madam Qin looked down at Xianglan and sighed silently. If she were merely an ordinary maid with decent looks, it would be one thing; if Lin Jinlou took her into his chambers, she might find good fortune down the line, bear a child or two, and be elevated to a concubine, securing a lifetime of wealth and ease. Every single action within the inner courtyard escaped neither her notice nor her control; she was already well aware that the poetry society hosted by Qinglan was actually managed behind the scenes by Xianglan. This girl was born too beautiful, too capable, and far too calculating. If she were kept around, she feared the household would never know peace. Furthermore, the crime pinned upon her today was "seducing the master during the period of mourning for the old matriarch." Toward the others, Madam Qin had raised the paddle high only to let it fall lightly, but if she failed to severely punish this girl to serve as a warning to others, the seductive and devious elements in the inner quarters would turn the household completely upside down.

Madam Qin spoke, "You certainly know how to be sensible, but what good would punishing you do?"

Xianglan's heart pounded frantically as she replied, "This slave knows her transgressions and dares no longer serve before the masters. I only beg Madam to display boundless benevolence and allow me to leave the estate. My parents will prepare the silver for my redemption and deliver it. Even if this slave were to weave grass into rings and shatter her body to pieces, it would be difficult to repay your great kindness."

Madam Qin was startled once more. Among the maids in the Lin household who had grown accustomed to a life of luxury and comfort, scarcely any were ever willing to leave the estate; yet this girl actually desired to leave. Upon second thought, however, her expression darkened into a cold sneer. "You claim to be sensible, and sure enough, your cleverness has shown through. Your calculations are running quite smoothly now, aren't they? You wish to leave so that once your status is changed to a free commoner, you can be married in by the eldest master just like Mistress Lan as a concubine, isn't that right?"

A silent sigh arose in Xianglan's heart. Lifting her delicate face, she said, "This slave has never once entertained such a thought. No matter how wonderful the eldest master might be, this slave only wishes to find an ordinary man to marry, become a proper wife, and live a life where mutual warmth is shared for my sake alone. If Madam refuses to believe me, you may send me to Jingyue Convent to become a nun. This slave grew up in that convent since she was small, and returning there would at least grant me tranquility."

Madam Qin opened her eyes wide, thinking that this little maid actually harbored such aspirations. Gazing at Xianglan's refined brows and eyes, a trace of pity stirred within her heart—if she were not a maid, and possessed a more respectable status, then this beauty and cleverness would no longer be considered crimes. Yet she still didn't entirely trust Xianglan's words. After a brief, thoughtful pause, she finally spoke, "Sending such a delicate, beautiful creature to a temple to keep company with green lamps and ancient Buddhas is ultimately something I cannot bear to do in my heart. Besides, you previously saved the second young miss, so I certainly have no grounds to repay kindness with enmity."

With clear, limpid eyes, Xianglan gazed up at Madam Qin, "How does Madam wish to punish me?"