Against the Current - Chapter 72

Chapter 72 - Entreating with Tears

Madam Qin gave a slight smile. "You wish to marry an ordinary commoner as a proper wife, and I shall grant your wish. Mother Han is my personal attendant; her nephew is of suitable age, upright in character and appearance, and though their family background is somewhat humble, he is a studious and ambitious young man. Who is to say he might not attain official rank in the future and bring honor to his wife and descendants? Mother Han once spoke on his behalf, wishing to take a maid from the Lin family as her bride. Such a fine match I originally intended to reserve for Hongjie or Lulan, but now you have encountered a blessing in disguise. I will make the decision to grant you two this marriage, releasing you from the estate to go get married and live far away from here. Are you willing?"

Xianglan trembled all over.

Mother Han's nephew? What did Mother Han's nephew even look like? She had never so much as laid eyes on him, and now she was expected to nod and pledge herself in marriage to a complete stranger?

What kind of karmic retribution had she committed in a past life to be reduced to a slave and a maid, tossed about at the mercy of others? Xianglan bit down fiercely on her teeth, pressing all the bitter hatred in her heart deep down beneath her tongue.

Madam Qin raised an eyebrow and said, "What? Are you unwilling?"

With a pale face, Xianglan thought to herself: Unwilling, and what of it? Madam Qin clearly intended to deal with her severely, and this option presented a clear path out. For some inexplicable reason, Song Ke's features flickered into her mind, growing hazy in her memory before shifting to resemble Xiao Hang instead. Xianglan let out a desolate smile; she would treat it all as a dream. Even if Madam Qin had truly permitted her to be released from the estate, her status remained unworthy of Song Ke.

Biting her lip hard, Xianglan kowtowed and said, "Then this slave thanks Madam for her gra..." Before the word "grace" could pass her lips, a sudden "bang" echoed from behind her as the door was kicked open.

Xianglan turned her head sharply to see Lin Jinlou striding into the room, the rose-red and gold-threaded trim on his crane-cloak flashing with a dazzling brilliance.

Madam Qin was startled. Lin Jinlou had already walked right up to them. Seeing Xianglan prostrated on the floor, he stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her upright, demanding of Madam Qin, "Why did Mother summon her here? Could it be that knowing your son has taken a fancy to her, you wished to elevate her status in advance? But since we are still in the mourning period for the old matriarch, I fear it would hardly be appropriate."

Furious, Madam Qin snapped, "Uttering utter nonsense! I've covered up your daily reckless behavior to your father, yet now you grow increasingly heedless of propriety. Get out of my sight and let me clean up the household for you."

Standing straight, Lin Jinlou replied calmly, "Affairs in my own quarters do not require Mother's concern. If there is nothing else, your son will take his leave." With that, he tugged Xianglan toward the exit as if to depart.

"You wretched obstacle! Stop right there!" Madam Qin stood up, took a few steps forward to block their path, and scolded, "Are you trying to anger me to death?"

With an impudent grin, Lin Jinlou retorted, "How could your son possibly anger Mother to death? Your son has merely taken a fancy to a maid; surely that is no heinous crime? Your son knows Mother is feeling protective of Qinglan, but the truth is Qinglan gave in to jealousy and fainted on her own. Mother mustn't be unreasonable and pin this blame on this lass!"

Hearing Lin Jinlou defend Xianglan with every single sentence, Madam Qin's anger flared even higher. Driven to the point of rage, she let out a cold laugh, "Fine, very well indeed! Now you won't even listen to my words because of a mere maid."

Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "Your son wouldn't dare; your son is filled with filial devotion. But Mother ought to feel some pity for me as well. Among all the maids up and down the Lin household, I've laid my eyes on her alone—Mother must not rob someone of what they hold dear."

Madam Qin retorted, "Nonsense! Just laid eyes on her? Then where did Yingge and Huamei come from?"

Lin Jinlou replied, "Those two simply cannot compare to her in tact and understanding."

Shrinking her neck back, Xianglan muttered inwardly: Every time I encounter this master, I feel as though I'm meeting the God of Plague. Exactly where was there any tact or understanding?

The color in Lin Jinlou's eyes deepened as he stared at Madam Qin. "Mother, I have my own plans regarding the matters in my quarters, and I dare not trouble Mother to labor over them."

Just as both sides were locked in a stalemate, Mother Han suddenly emerged from the inner parlor. Wearing a look of feigned surprise, she smiled and said, "Why are you all standing around here? The eldest master has arrived just in time. Just a moment ago, Madam was speaking of the eldest master and had me personally brew a heat-relieving soup for him to drink." She stepped forward, took hold of Madam Qin's hand, and said in a low voice, "Why must Madam upset herself and quarrel with the eldest master over a maid? You know what the master's temper is like—he is as stubborn as they come."

Madam Qin paused, her expression shifting uncertainly.

Lin Jinlou's temper was as fierce as a sudden storm; at this point, even his own father could barely keep him in check, and Madam Qin held a three-part wariness toward him as well. Furthermore, Madam Qin had always doted on her eldest son, and naturally, she had no wish to push the conflict to such an extreme.

With a beaming smile, Lin Jinlou declared, "I'll be taking this lass back with me for now. Tomorrow I'll have her come over and kowtow to Mother." Having said that, he hoisted Xianglan up like a little chick and hauled her out.

Lin Jinlou brought Xianglan straight back to his outer study. After dismissing everyone else, he pulled Xianglan toward him by her small hand, smiling as he said, "Your master has saved you once more; aren't you going to give me a kiss?" With that, he leaned his face in close.

Dropping her head, Xianglan averted her gaze.

A dark cloud passed over Lin Jinlou's face, though he quickly replaced it with an expression of utter nonchalance. "You suffered a fright this time, but rest easy—with me backing you up from now on, no one will dare bully you." He pushed her toward a table where four dishes of pastries and four dishes of fruit were neatly set out, and said, "These are pastries bought from a large establishment, different from the flavors in the manor. Taste them and see which one you like best. I'll have the servants buy more for you."

Stealthily, Xianglan glanced at Lin Jinlou. He had clearly just returned from outside, still clad in the formal attire he wore for hosting guests. His pitch-black hair was secured in a blue-jade crown, accentuating his heavy, imposing, and tyrannical aura—he cut the figure of a truly formidable martial man. Yet Xianglan knew all too well that he was by no means a benevolent soul; if she wasn't careful, he would bury her right here within this courtyard.

Clasping the corners of her garments tightly in her small hands, she murmured, "M-Master, Madam already stated just now that she intends to release this slave from the estate to go get married..." Lin Jinlou's movements stalled. Licking her lips, Xianglan added cautiously, "It was entirely this slave's fault for causing Madam and the young madams to be upset. Please don't let this cause discord between you and your mother. This..."

Lin Jinlou turned around to fix his gaze upon her, choking the remainder of Xianglan's words back in her throat. Reaching out, Lin Jinlou stroked Xianglan's cheek, a sudden smile breaking across his gloomy countenance as he chuckled, "Tsk tsk, what a heartless little ungrateful wretch. Your master is missing you dearly, yet you actually want to go outside and marry some wild man? Tell your master then, which fellow is he that is worth you yearning for him so deeply?"

Dropping to her knees before Lin Jinlou with a heavy thud, Xianglan pleaded, "This slave... I beg you... This slave truly has no wish to become anyone's concubine. I beg the eldest master to show mercy. If you release this slave from the estate, I am willing to spend my entire life as a nun, chanting scriptures and praying for blessings for the eldest master, and I will never marry." As she spoke, her voice choked up, and teardrops rolled down her cheeks.

Remaining all smiles, Lin Jinlou bent down and used the brand-new sleeve of his robe to wipe Xianglan's tears, his tone turning exceptionally gentle as he coaxed, "Oh my, why are you shedding golden beans now? What is wrong with following your master? With your precious little look and your clever, pleasing disposition, your master has no telling how much he might dote on you. If you go off to become a nun, your master wouldn't bear it..."

Pulling away from Lin Jinlou's sleeve, Xianglan kowtowed and cried, "I beg the eldest master to show mercy..."

After attempting to soothe her with a few words and seeing that Xianglan remained inconsolable, the smile vanished abruptly from Lin Jinlou's face. A sneer escaped him as he scoffed, "'Unwilling to be someone's concubine'? What about that young fellow from the Song family then? Did he promise to take you as his legitimate first wife?"

Xianglan's eyes flew open wide in shock.

Lin Jinlou let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Speak up? Did he promise to make you his principal wife?"

Hastily, Xianglan shook her head. "This has nothing to do with Young Master Song... He... he and I are not close..."

"Not close? Not close enough for him to send you food and drinks day in and day out?" Lin Jinlou turned back around, seated himself on a stool, crossed one leg over the other, and narrowed his eyes at the kneeling Xianglan as he sneered, "Did you take your master for a fool who knows nothing? To quietly and stealthily hook up with someone behind my back—you truly are a little vixen with quite the talent. Why don't you let your master witness a sample of your methods?"

Turning pale, Xianglan wrung her hands desperately. "N-No... Master, it's not like that..."

"If it's not like that, then what is it?" Lin Jinlou's expression chilled as though coated in a layer of frost. "Didn't he even commission the third young master to ask me for you? Were you bursting with joy in your heart?"

Trembling at the lips, Xianglan could no longer utter a single word.

Waving a hand, Lin Jinlou commanded, "Stop kneeling there, get up. The floor is cold; if you fall ill, your master's heart will ache. Come here." Seeing that Xianglan remained kneeling and unmoving, he raised his voice. "Hurry up, or must your master come over and invite you personally?"

With no other choice, Xianglan forced herself to her feet, walking over with completely numb limbs. Lin Jinlou yanked her straight into his arms, settling Xianglan onto his lap as he grinned, "Tell your master, what did you see in that Song boy? Or did he promise you something?"

Stiff all over, Xianglan bit the bullet and fabricated a story in a tiny voice, "Nothing at all. He once saw the cousin miss beating and scolding me, so he helped me fetch water. Seeing how pitiful I was, Young Master Song merely said that if the opportunity arose in the future, he would ask for me to go serve his younger sister."

Lin Jinlou burst into roaring laughter, leaning backward as he laughed, though his gaze grew increasingly frigid and sharp. Pinning Xianglan's small chin between his fingers, he murmured, "My little Xianglan, you truly are a lovable little creature. He just happened to take a fancy to you like that? And so he began sending fans and food? Tsk tsk, are you playing out some scholar-and-beauty script straight out of a romance novel? Tell your master what kind of fan he sent you."

Her heart sinking, Xianglan realized Lin Jinlou was already aware of the inside story. Biting her lip, she stubbornly refused to speak another word.

Maintaining his smiling demeanor, Lin Jinlou said, "You two are quite daring, playing your little games right under your master's nose. Leaving aside the current standing of the Song family, even back when they were at the height of their power, in your master's eyes they were worth no more than a fart."

Trembling, Xianglan wept as she pleaded, "Master, Young Master Song and I are innocent... This slave has never harbored any improper thoughts..."

Pressing a finger against Xianglan's lips, Lin Jinlou leaned in intimately, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "Your master will tell you today: whether it's that Song boy or anyone else's son, you'd better put an end to those thoughts right now and obediently stay right here. Don't forget, not only you, but your entire family is firmly gripped in your master's hands. As the saying goes, 'He who adapts to circumstances is a hero'; if you want to make a fuss, you still have to look at who you're dealing with, don't you?" Gently stroking Xianglan's temples, he continued, "Your family is so harmonious and pleasant, and your master has no wish to tear you all apart from your flesh and blood. However, should you make your master unhappy, perhaps your family will find themselves scattered to the four winds, leaving a rather desolate picture for all to see."

Understanding that Lin Jinlou would never let her go, Xianglan felt a wave of utter despair wash over her. She hated herself for being a servant, and she hated her parents for being servants, leaving them all firmly caught in the palm of another's hand.

She wanted to viciously slap Lin Jinlou across the face, to pierce him with blades until he was covered in wounds. Yet she dared not. She could recklessly throw away her own life, but she could never place her parents in mortal peril.

With arduous effort, she nodded, wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, and whispered, "I understand, Master."

Such a submissive posture naturally delighted Lin Jinlou. Stroking Xianglan's hair, he smiled, "You've suffered a fright today as well. Since those wretched things in the Chunzhi Quarters bullied you, you needn't go back there. In a bit, I'll have Shuran go pack your things, and you can move right in here."

Startled, Xianglan protested, "Master, let's wait a few days before moving." Then she added in a soft, pleading tone, "I beg of you..."

After a moment's reflection, Lin Jinlou finally nodded. "Then we'll wait a few days." With that, he rose to his feet and personally escorted her back.

Xianglan had no idea how she managed to walk back the entire way; she only felt that her heart was filled to the brim with utter despair.