Against the Current - Chapter 88

Chapter 88 - Lotus Lanterns 

Junxi and Yuexi peeked through the gap in the door curtains, catching each other's eyes as they thought inwardly, 'Who would have thought it? Xianglan is usually so quiet and always smiling, yet she turns out to be a formidable figure.'

Though Fangsi wanted to turn on her heel and leave right then and there, her frustration was simply too much to bear. She sneered, "Since we've already ripped off our disguises, I won't bother hiding things anymore either. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting."

Xianglan raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? What am I plotting? Tell me, Sister, let me hear it."

Fangsi scoffed, "Isn't it just wanting the Eldest Young Master to elevate your status? Otherwise, why would you be eagerly pushing yourself forward?"

Xianglan smiled faintly. "Sister, don't assume that because you harbor such intentions, everyone else must be just like you." She slowly manipulated her brush, sketching a auspicious cloud pattern on the paper. After blowing on it lightly, she said with casual indifference, "Sister Fangsi really needn't hold a grudge against me. If the Eldest Young Master has that intention toward you, even if the Chang'e descended from the moon, she couldn't stop him from taking you into his chambers. But if he doesn't have that intention, I'm afraid even forcing the issue wouldn't work."

This remark struck right at Fangsi's most vulnerable spot. Whether out of shame or anger, she stamped her foot, flung aside the curtain, and stormed out.

Xianglan let out a slow, steady breath.

In her past life, she had always been a mistress, spending her days among high-ranking officials, noble ladies, and young misses. Everything she learned was about maintaining poise, dignity, tolerance, generosity, and kindness toward subordinates. Later, when her family fell on hard times, she learned to be sharp and fierce. After entering the Lin household, however, she had been like duckweed floating on water without a single supporter, forced to endure and grit her teeth through each passing day. But now, arriving at the Song household, Song Ke was her supporter. Naturally, she would treat everyone in the mansion with respect and avoid provoking trouble unprovoked, but if pushed too far, she possessed her own means of retaliation.

For a time, all was quiet.

That evening when Song Ke returned, he first went to pay his respects to Madame Song, then came back to have his evening meal. Hearing that Xianglan had specially stir-fried two dishes for him, his heart filled with delight. He gave Xianglan a gentle tug and said, "Go change into an outfit for going out."

Without fully understanding why, Xianglan changed into a dark beige tunic, and Song Ke pulled her along with him. They slipped out of the estate through the back door, traversed several alleys, and walked straight out onto the main street. They found crowds of pedestrians weaving back and forth like weaving shuttles, and the street was brightly illuminated with lanterns.

Xianglan asked in wonder, "Why is the main street so lively today?"

Song Ke smiled and said, "Today is the Ghost Festival. Commoners all come out to the riverside in the evening to float lanterns, so naturally it's lively. You've been recovering in the mansion these past few days and haven't stepped outside at all, so coming out tonight to look at the night scenery will do you good." As he spoke, he looked over at Xianglan, his handsome eyes shimmering with tender affection, her reflection caught clearly within his dark pupils.

A flush bloomed across Xianglan's face, and she lowered her gaze slightly, only to see Song Ke stretch out his right hand to clasp her left. While she had wanted to stroll through the streets, being held like this by Song Ke felt somewhat improper. Yet, she couldn't bear to pull her hand away and walk alone. Song Ke's hand was warm and strong—nothing at all like that frail, withered hand of his past life when he was hanging on by a single breath. For some reason, Xianglan's eyes suddenly grew slightly damp.

The two of them stood quietly side by side within the shadows of the alleyway, leaving behind a tranquil and beautiful seclusion, while just beyond the lane lay the bustling, embroidered splendor of the noisy world, where lights intertwined.

Right at that moment, a sudden clamor echoed from the alley behind them. Immediately following a loud bang of a heavy door, someone marched out, shouting curses, "I see it clearly now! Every single one of you harbors malicious intentions, scheming in every possible way to drive me to death! You want that fellow Ren to divorce me so he can marry someone else! Since that's how it is, you don't even need to lift a finger—I'll just leave on my own accord, but make that fellow Ren give me a formal letter of divorce!"

Startled, Xianglan looked back and, catching the moonlight, saw to her absolute astonishment that the ranting person was none other than Cao Lihuan! She hurriedly pulled Song Ke with her into a neighboring small alley, poking her head out to watch.

Cao Lihuan still stood with her hands on her hips, screeching curses, "You heaven-forsaken, base-born seeds! The whole lot of you in this family live off my dowry for free, eating and drinking without a care! Day and night I work myself to the bone like an ox or a horse, and it's still not enough. I exhausted myself until I lost my child, yet instead of pitying me, you blame me for destroying myself and push me to this desperate pass! Might as well have none of us live together anymore—I'll just slam my head right against this door and die, and let King Yama judge this clearly down in the underworld!" With that, she made a move to crash against the door.

At that moment, a man bolted out from the courtyard, grabbed Cao Lihuan in a tight embrace, and cried frantically, "In broad daylight out in the open, I'm begging you, please stop making a scene!"

Cao Lihuan strained her neck and struggled wildly, shrieking, "I will make a scene! Let the neighbors and passing pedestrians all see what kind of shameless faces your Ren family has! You useless, cursed piece of trash, bringing such misery upon your own wife! Starting today, I am done living with a spineless coward like you!" She fought desperately to throw herself against the wall.

Just then, a piercing female voice rang out from inside the courtyard, "Brother! Brother, don't hold her back, let her die! Just look at what she's done to drive Mother to this state! She incites the maidservants and old hags, refuses to wash Mother's clothes or cook meals, schemes to steal Mother's private savings, and even secretly chips away at my dowry! Why don't you just let her bleed three feet and die right here today, and let's see if she actually has the guts!"

Driven to frantic rage, Cao Lihuan turned and cursed at the top of her lungs, "Wretch! Even as a ghost I won't spare you!" With that, she lunged straight through the doorway, and the sounds of a fierce brawl mixed with voices trying to break it up echoed out.

As Xianglan stood completely absorbed in the spectacle, someone unexpectedly leaned in close to her ear and murmured softly, "I forgot—after Cao Lihuan married into the Ren family, she came to live right around here. We've run into an old acquaintance tonight, after all."

Xianglan gasped in surprise, "The Ren family actually married her?" As she whipped her head around, her lips brushed across Song Ke's cheek. Xianglan froze, her face instantly turning burning hot.

Song Ke, on the other hand, felt a floating sense of euphoria. Seeing Xianglan's shyness, he gave a light cough and, feigning casual indifference, said, "Originally, the Ren family was unwilling to go through with it. Cao Lihuan's reputation was ruined after being linked in scandal with a servant; any decent, respectable family would have broken off the engagement outright. But that Cao Lihuan has some measure of cunning. Seeing that the Ren family sent someone to call off the match, she quietly rented a home near the Ren residence and lured the Ren boy over. One thing led to another, and she... she actually ended up pregnant."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xianglan. Seeing that she had long since forgotten her shyness and was staring at him with wide, astonished eyes as if urging him to hurry up and continue, he couldn't help smiling. "With Cao Lihuan showing up on their doorstep heavily pregnant, the Ren family naturally couldn't call off the wedding anymore. They had no choice but to swallow their pride and arrange the marriage. At first, everyone in the household intended to treat her well, but no sooner had she crossed the threshold than she began complaining that the Ren family's financial resources were too meager. Today she demands chicken, tomorrow she demands fish; today she wants silk, tomorrow she wants jewelry, making one endless fuss after another. The Ren family isn't some wealthy, noble household, and after a few rounds of this, they simply couldn't keep up. The Ren boy is a spineless milquetoast caught getting squeezed from both ends, while Cao Lihuan is skilled at wrapping people around her finger. She had him so utterly bewitched—acting as though he'd never laid eyes on a woman before, unable to tear himself away for even a single moment and obeying her every single whim—that she drove his poor mother to fall deathly ill in bed. The only other person left is his younger sister, who is equally formidable and goes head-to-head with Cao Lihuan like needles against awns. It was only a short while ago I heard she took a fall and miscarried, yet it seems their household is still kicking up quite a ruckus."

Xianglan sucked in a sharp breath. "Good heavens! I always knew she had thick skin, incredible audacity, and was willing to throw away her shame, but I never imagined she had such capability."

Song Ke remarked, "Nowadays, mentioning 'Mistress Cao' around these parts is something everyone knows—her fierce reputation rings loud and clear, and not a single soul dares to provoke her. Later on, Cao Lihuan went to the Lin estate several times seeking an audience, but the gatekeepers chased her away every time. As it happened, Xiuhong ran into her once, sent someone to inquire about the details, and came back to tell me the whole story as a joke."

Xianglan was left completely dumbfounded, filled with repeated awe toward Cao Lihuan. If an ordinary woman's reputation were compromised, she would either commit suicide to end her life, become a nun, or move far away. Yet Miss Cao possessed a loud, unyielding tenacity, deploying risky moves one after another until she forced the Ren family to marry her, turning their household completely upside down and leaving them with no peace.

Xianglan shook her head. "The Ren family certainly didn't dream this would happen. From what I saw just now, the Ren young master has a handsome and imposing appearance—what a waste."

Song Ke sneered, "He's just a spineless coward with no vision or discernment. Word has it he washes Cao Lihuan's clothes and cooks meals for her with his own hands at home, leaving everything up to her decisions and lacking any backbone or responsibility. It's a waste of him being born a man."

Toying with the end of her braid, Xianglan observed, "It's also because his mother lacks any real authority. If I were in her shoes, I'd land two heavy slaps across her face right off the bat to teach her some rules. If she dared to strike back, I'd file a formal complaint at the county yamen, lay out the whole story from beginning to end, and beg the upright magistrate to render justice. Even if I couldn't secure a divorce for her, I'd make sure she took a few beatings with the paddle to learn some manners."

Song Ke gasped in mock astonishment, laughing, "My goodness, I never realized you were such a person. I honestly thought you were nothing more than a gentle and soft-tempered beauty."

Xianglan shot him a sideways glance, half-smiling as she said, "My true nature is indeed gentle, but I'm afraid that if I stay gentle much longer, I'll end up spilling your family's vinegar jar and get pickled to death by jealousy."

Hearing the underlying meaning in her words, Song Ke pressed further, "What do you mean?"

With a faint smile, Xianglan replied, "It's nothing much, except for Fangsi. You need to give me a definitive word on whether you're keeping her or dismissing her. Otherwise, she glares at me like a gamecock every single day, and I'm left suffering through endless grievances for no good reason."

Song Ke was a perceptive man; catching the drift of Xianglan's remarks immediately, he furrowed his brow and said, "She's Mother Gong's daughter, loyal and devoted, and she also manages to please my mother, so I've always treated her with proper respect—I hold no other feelings toward her whatsoever..." He looked straight at Xianglan. "Rest assured, I know how to handle this matter."

His gaze burned intensely, making Xianglan's ears burn hot. She deliberately looked away and murmured softly, "As long as you know what you're doing."

Song Ke chuckled, reached out to take Xianglan's hand again, squeezed it lightly, and said, "We came out today to clear our minds. Let's go float a lotus lantern too, wash away our bad luck, and pray for the immortals' blessings."

He led Xianglan to a street vendor to buy two lanterns, borrowed a brush from someone, and meticulously inscribed a few characters onto the lotus petals. Xianglan watched his face illuminated brightly by the candlelight, his fine eyebrows and handsome eyes shining with flowing brilliance that made it impossible to look away.

Staring at him in a daze, her heart melted into tenderness.

When Song Ke finished writing and saw Xianglan still gazing blankly at him, he chuckled, "Why are you just staring at me? Hurry up and write down your wishes on the lantern." With that, he walked over to the riverbank and carefully lowered his lotus lantern into the water.

Unexpectedly, Xianglan also squatted down and gently set her blank lotus lantern right into the water.

Puzzled, Song Ke asked, "Why didn't you write anything?"

Squatting by the riverbank, Xianglan used her delicate fingers to ripple the green water, sending the lantern drifting further away. She smiled slightly and said, "This is supposed to be for washing away bad luck in the first place—if I can manage to float the bad luck away, I'm already content. As the saying goes, 'What is meant to be yours will come in time; what is not destined will never be forced.' Some things can never be obtained simply by wishing for them." She looked up and smiled at Song Ke.

That smile was breathtakingly captivating, her delicate face reflecting the shimmering wave-lights and candlelight, looking precisely like a luminous pearl or a piece of fine jade.