Against the Current - Chapter 96

Chapter 96 - Framing 

Xianglan walked to the back door and saw that the carriage was already prepared. Lifting the curtain to take a look, she saw a red-lacquered camphor wood chest loaded inside. Without further ado, she climbed directly into the carriage herself, untied the rope binding the chest, and prepared to pop open the lid. Startled, the gatekeeper crone asked, "What is the young lady trying to do?"

Xianglan said, "Don't try to stop me. This is by the Eldest Young Master's order, and I have my own reasons." Opening the chest lid, she saw that the top layer consisted merely of coarse cloth garments, so she rummaged down layer by layer. Sure enough, she found precious curiosities such as a jade gall-bladder vase hidden inside. Shaking out a cotton-padded jacket, a cloth bundle tumbled out from within; when she untied it, it was filled entirely with gold, silver, and jade jewelry—hairpins adorned with phoenixes facing the sun and pure gold filigree necklaces—things that clearly only masters were entitled to wear.

Xianglan gave a faint, cold smile and called Lüdou over, saying, "Hurry and bring the Eldest Young Miss here, and tell her something extraordinary has happened in the back." Lüdou was sharp and bolted away at once.

Not long after, Song Tanchai indeed arrived, leaning on Junxi's arm. All the pages and long-term attendants hastily stepped out of the way. Pointing at the items unearthed from Mother Guo's chest, Xianglan said, "Young Miss, please take a look. This is what she had packed away and prepared to take with her."

Junxi gasped and said, "Goodness me, there's actually so much!"

Trembling all over with rage, Song Tanchai gritted her teeth and said, "Preposterous! Such an audacious servant deserves to be beaten to death with clubs and then thrown out! Where is she right now?"

Xianglan said, "She is in Madam's room kowtowing."

Song Tanchai turned around, intent on going right over. Junxi advised, "Young Miss, don't be hasty. Let's have someone move the discovered items back first."

Song Tanchai thought for a moment and said, "If some of these items were bestowed upon her by Mother, and we take all of them..."

Xianglan sneered softly, "Young Miss, rest assured. The most unspeakable things are likely tucked away on her own person right this moment. Just now, I saw her go to kowtow to Madam, and her chest and waist were bulging suspiciously. Why would anyone look so bloated in summer clothes?"

Upon hearing this, Song Tanchai's slender brows arched up once more. Xianglan spoke quietly with her for a moment, prompting Song Tanchai to nod repeatedly.

Meanwhile, inside the main room, Mother Guo said with tears streaming down her face, "Old servant originally hoped to accompany Madam and spend our days together somehow. Who would have expected this sort of matter to happen? That unfilial, brainless wretch of mine has brought trouble to Madam—old servant truly deserves to die ten thousand deaths and still not be worthy of facing Madam..." As she spoke, she banged her head against the floor in a continuous string of kowtows.

Madam Song hurriedly stood up and supported Mother Guo by the arm, saying, "Get up, quickly get up. The floor is cold—get up and we can talk."

Juanhua also stepped forward to assist. Mother Guo got to her feet, but when Madam Song told her to sit, she stubbornly refused, eventually perching sideways on the small footstool at the foot of Madam Song's kang. Seeing Mother Guo's hunched figure and frosted hair, Madam Song felt a wave of heartache. She thought to herself, "Someone who used to be so vigorous and cheerful has now been reduced to this state. Not only has she lost her daughter, but she has also grown distant from me..." Aloud, she said, "You should try to look at things more broadly. The Eldest Young Master has said that the Song family will certainly provide for you in your old age. Tomorrow, see which maid or page you like, and have them acknowledge you as their foster mother so they can serve and respect you like a biological daughter or son for the rest of your days."

Mother Guo shook her head as tears gushed down in torrents, prompting Madam Song to shed a couple of tears in sympathy as well. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Mother Guo said to Madam Song, "Old servant actually has something hidden in her heart that she has been hesitating over whether to speak of. But since I am about to leave, I have no choice but to throw caution to the wind and speak out. If Madam believes it, then so be it; if not, at least keep your guard up."

Madam Song asked, "What is it?"

Mother Guo cast a meaningful glance at her. Understanding the hint, Madam Song said to Juanhua, "You go ahead for now and tell the kitchen to add an extra soup for the Eldest Young Miss at noon."

Once Juanhua had departed, Mother Guo said, "Old servant has always felt that Xianglan is not a settled sort. Ever since she came to our house, not only did the household pay for silver to cure her illness, but she even hooked the Eldest Young Master's soul. I heard several older sisters in the back quarters discussing it, saying that the Eldest Young Master released both of Xianglan's parents from bondservanthood. Her family originally came from humble stock, yet these past few days they've been acting as if they struck it rich—their spending is lavish, they eat meat at every single meal, they've added new furniture, and I hear they're even inquiring everywhere about buying a house! The gatekeeping crones say that Xianglan returns home through the back door with suspicious frequency. I suspect she is finding every possible way to smuggle silver out of the Song family and into her own home! Madam, just think about it: if that weren't the case, how could her family have gotten rich so quickly?"

Madam Song was three parts convinced, yet still hesitated. "The Eldest Young Master lives frugally; how much money could he possibly have in his rooms? The major funds are all kept in the accounts room. Though I don't manage it myself, I know every single penny has to be logged. Being just a maid, how could she possibly touch the funds in the accounts? As for her living more lavishly day-to-day, perhaps the girl pocketed a small amount of silver here and there, but making such a massive purchase as buying a house? That hardly seems likely."

Mother Guo anxiously urged, "Madam is simply too benevolent! You haven't stopped to think: although the Eldest Young Master doesn't have much loose silver, he does have several precious artifacts—such as a white jade vessel and a bronze lion tripod, all left behind by the Master. If that girl has secretly sold them off..."

Only then did Madam Song's expression turn grave. She slapped the kang table and said, "I understand now. Tomorrow, I will have Tan'er secretly investigate whether any items are missing from the Eldest Young Master's rooms."

Mother Guo continued, "Not only that, but I also find Xianglan's physiognomy unfavorable. She does not possess the prosperous visage of someone blessed with abundant fortune, longevity, and many children."

Madam Song had long known that Mother Guo possessed some knowledge of physiognomy, so she hurriedly pressed further. "How is it unfavorable? I originally thought she had a kindly appearance, with clear brows and bright eyes, a slender waist and rounded hips—surely the sign of someone suited to bearing sons."

Mother Guo spoke with deliberate mystery. "Madam is unaware. A woman whose coloring is too striking is actually ill-suited to be brought in as a bride. Look at how her face resembles peach blossoms; The Essentials of Mayi Physiognomy explicitly states: 'Those whose faces resemble peach blossoms are bound to be seductive.' That means anyone whose complexion is as tender as a peach blossom is inevitably lustful and depraved, and likely to bear children prematurely. It is hardly a blessed sign—instead, it's the kind of feature that can cause people to exhaust their fortunes, ruin their households, and even spell doom for the lives of those around them!"

Upon hearing the words "spell doom for people's lives," Madam Song was utterly startled and hurriedly said, "This is terrible! Will she bring doom to our Eldest Young Master?" She grabbed Mother Guo's hand and added, "Thank goodness for you; I had no idea about such things. Ah, if the Eldest Young Master hadn't said that you staying here would only keep reminding you of how Fangsi died and make you grieve, I truly wouldn't have been willing to let you leave like this..."

A wave of elation surged in Mother Guo's heart. Just as she was about to say, "It's no trouble at all; I am more than willing to stay here and accompany Madam," she heard the door latch click. Song Tanchai walked in, leaning on Xianglan's arm. Seeing Mother Guo, she smiled and said, "Mother is still here being so reluctant to part with Madam? The carriage at the gates has been prepared for ages now. Just a moment ago, she even anxiously sent Lüdou over to ask when Mother Guo would be setting off."

A knot tightened in Mother Guo's stomach, and she stammered, "Madam couldn't bear to see me go, so I..."

However, Xianglan took a small step forward and said, "Mother, you had better go take a look right now. The chest you packed earlier bounced right out of the carriage and crashed onto the ground, spilling bits and pieces all over the place. The errand boys wanted to clear it up, but I was afraid that with too many hands, things might get stolen or misplaced, so I had them leave it scattered and didn't let anyone touch it further."

Mother Guo's expression changed drastically. Song Tanchai, wearing a half-smile, urged, "Mother, since you've already kowtowed to Madam, you should hurry over and check."

Madam Song hurried outside in quick steps. Arriving at the back door, she saw the chest flung wide open. Aside from the standard hairpins and ornaments that she and Fangsi regularly used, along with a few trinkets bestowed by the masters, every single hidden curio and piece of jewelry had vanished. However, the silver notes at the very bottom of the chest remained untouched. Instantly turning cold in her hands and feet, she let out a piercing wail: "Oh! You thousand-knife-wielding beasts!"

At that moment, a cold voice rang out from behind her: "Who is Mother cursing?" They saw Song Tanchai walking over. She instructed the menservants on either side, "Go and pin her arms down." Turning to Yuexi and Junxi, she commanded, "Search her for me." The two maids stepped forward and began patting down the front of Madam Song's clothes, immediately striking something hard. All told, they pulled over a dozen precious pieces of jewelry out from her person.

With a dark expression, Song Tanchai pointed at a gemstone ring and said, "This is clearly one of Madam's dowry pieces. I am going to ask her right now if she ever bestowed this upon you."

Mother Guo's legs went entirely weak, and weeping bitterly, she wailed, "Young Miss, spare my life! At least grant me a shred of dignity!"

Looking at her with utter disgust, Song Tanchai ordered, "Tie her up and throw her into the carriage."

Mother Guo howled without stopping, "Young Miss, have mercy on me!"

Song Tanchai shouted loudly, "Will someone hurry up and stuff her mouth!"

Someone shoved a rag into Mother Guo's mouth, and a flurry of hands trussed her up securely into a ball.

Xianglan asked, "Does Young Miss still intend to send her to the capital?"

Song Tanchai frowned slightly. "Keeping someone like this around even at the old estate doesn't give me peace of mind. I'd rather sell her off, but I'm just afraid Mother won't agree."

Xianglan sighed silently. Detestable though Mother Guo might be, she had lost her daughter and was now completely alone, making her genuinely pitiful. Since they had already decided to banish her, as long as they never saw each other from afar again, what was the point of pushing things to such extremes? She suggested, "I heard that when the old Master passed away, Mother Guo consistently served by Madam's side through thick and thin, and over the years she has certainly put in some hard work. If we sell her off just like that, word will spread that the Song family lacks benevolence. I recall the Eldest Young Master mentioning that he has a nephew in Yangzhou; why not send her there instead?"

Song Tanchai nodded and instructed the carriage driver, "Don't take her to the capital. Deliver her directly to the residence of Mother Guo's nephew in Yangzhou, and tell her nephew to keep a strict watch over her and prevent her from ever coming near the Song family again! If he manages to keep her contained, the Song family will provide five taels of silver annually; if he fails to keep her contained, he'd better weigh the consequences himself."

The two of them were standing right beside the carriage. When Mother Guo had heard Song Tanchai talk about "selling her off" just moments earlier, her eyes had bulged with fury, and she had struggled frantically throughout her bonds while emitting muffled groans. But when she subsequently heard Xianglan speak up to have her sent to her relative's household in Yangzhou, she instantly froze. She had never imagined that, even at this late stage, Xianglan would still intercede on her behalf. She felt her entire body instantly drain of all strength, and she collapsed limply into the carriage like a corpse.

In truth, deep down in her heart, she dimly understood that Fangsi's suicide could not truly be blamed on Xianglan. Yet she had needed to project her hatred onto someone just to feel a shred of comfort and relief. If Xianglan had never come to the Song family, she and her daughter would still be living comfortably, acting virtually as second-tier mistresses, eating, drinking, and dressing with dignity and splendor. Although the Young Master hadn't cared much for Fangsi, he had always treated her cordially; if they had just dragged it out for another year or two and asked Madam to make the decision, the Young Master would sooner or later have taken her into his chambers as a concubine. But what about now?

Fangsi had been sealed into a coffin, left utterly desolate and buried deep beneath the earth. The Song family had even replaced the roof beam from which she had hanged herself. Everyone surrounded Xianglan now, just as they had once surrounded Fangsi...

Mother Guo closed her eyes tight, and tears came rolling forth in a relentless flood.