Against the Current

Lin Jinlou tapped Xianglan's lips with his index finger and said, "And you? You haven't been spending all your time painting these days, have you?"

Xianglan didn't want to respond to him, and Lin Jinlou didn't press further. He saw her slightly bowed head, her snow-like complexion both delicate and charming, and felt a ticklish sensation in his heart. He lowered his head and kissed Xianglan's mouth. Startled, Xianglan instinctively struggled. Lin Jinlou then moved to kiss her neck. Xianglan protested, "Don't..." but Lin Jinlou immediately sealed her lips with his, his agile tongue slipping inside. His arms tightened around her waist, his breathing grew heavier, and his hand slipped inside her collar.

Xianglan hurriedly tried to grab Lin Jinlou's hand. He murmured, "Little Xianglan, just be obedient this once, hmm?" and took advantage of the situation to press her down onto the Arhat Bed."

Just then, Luanr's voice came from the doorway: "I know the Eldest Master has returned! Why won't you let us in?"

This call truly saved Xianglan. She quickly pushed at Lin Jinlou and said, "There's someone outside..."

Lin Jinlou mumbled, "Ignore them."

Outside, it seemed Lianxin said something, and Luanr raised her voice again: "The Eldest Master got up early this morning to practice martial arts and swordplay—how could he be asleep already?"

Huamei drawled, "He might be tired from the morning and resting now. There's someone attending to him inside."

Xianglan struggled desperately, and with the women clamoring outside, Lin Jinlou's amorous mood vanished. Annoyed, he sat up and roared, "Haven't you had enough?!"

Outside immediately fell silent. Xianglan hastily straightened up, clutching her collar, and dashed away. Lin Jinlou slipped on his shoes and got off the bed, walking to the doorway. There he saw Huamei, Yingge, and Luanr lined up at the entrance, all heavily made up and meticulously dressed. When they saw Lin Jinlou emerge, they chorused greetings with smiling, flower-like faces. But upon seeing his dark expression, they immediately fell silent, nudging and pinching each other, exchanging secret glances without uttering a word.

Lin Jinlou frowned and said, "What's all this chattering and noise early in the morning?"

Huamei smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Nothing, nothing at all. It's just that the Eldest Master has been working hard away from home, and now that you're finally back, we sisters were all thinking of you. We came early to pay our respects."

Yingge added, "Exactly. These past few days, thinking of the Eldest Master, we couldn't eat or sleep well. When we heard you returned last night, we came right away."

Luanr said, "We came, but we weren't allowed in, saying the Eldest Master was resting. It seems people like us aren't fit to enter the main quarters."

Lin Jinlou waved his hand impatiently and said, "Disperse, all of you, disperse." He turned to go back inside, but just then Shu Ran came along the Covered Corridor holding a card and said, "Eldest Master, Young Master Liu's servant just delivered an invitation. They heard you've returned and would like to host a lunch banquet to welcome you back and celebrate your homecoming."

Lin Jinlou took the card and said, "Do those monkeys have 'clairvoyance and clairaudience'? They got the news as soon as I returned."

Shu Ran laughed and said, "How could they not know? They're all friends who've grown up with you since childhood, like brothers. They've surely been thinking of you and probably got the news days ago."Lin Jinlou smiled and said, "Have them come to the house at noon. Have the small kitchen prepare a few good dishes, and invite Xiao San'er as well. It'll be lively with everyone together." After speaking, he entered the room, only to find that Xianglan was no longer there. She must have slipped away through the screen in the hall to the backyard. He didn't bother searching for her, instead instructing Lianxin and Nuanyue to bring his clothes. He changed into more formal attire, retrieved the gifts he had prepared earlier from a chest, and went to pay respects to Lin Zhaoxiang, Old Madam Lin, Lin Changzheng, Qin Shi, and others.

Xianglan was hiding behind an unusual rock in the courtyard. She watched as Lin Jinlou left through the main gate, then let out a long sigh of relief. Suddenly, someone called from behind, "Xianglan?"

Xianglan turned around to see Wu Mama standing there, holding a black octagonal lacquered food box. Xianglan was startled, then her face broke into a smile as she exclaimed with surprise, "Wu Mama!"

Wu Mama quickly set down the food box, stepped forward to take Xianglan's hands, and looked her over carefully. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes as she embraced Xianglan tightly, saying, "My dear child, you've grown thinner than before. I wasn't in the mansion that day, and when I returned, I heard that Zhao Shi had sold you off. You must have suffered so much..."

Previously, when Xianglan served Qinglan at the Hall of Knowing Spring, Wu Mama had treated her very well. Xianglan felt the warmth in Wu Mama's embrace, as if her own mother were holding her. All the grievances she had accumulated over the days turned into tears that streamed down her face. Wu Mama stroked her hair and said, "Dear Xianglan, don't cry. I heard from Madam that you had returned and came as soon as I could to see you..." She continued with comforting words.

Chunling came out looking for Xianglan and saw the two of them from behind a banana tree. She couldn't help but sigh deeply. As a family-raised servant who had grown up among household slaves, she was well-versed in the duties of a servant from childhood and possessed some intelligence. When Xianglan first arrived at the east wing, Chunling had recognized that this girl was extraordinary. Though she remained quiet and unassuming, not competing or fighting for anything, there was an innate spirit about her. She had the capacity to endure everything, yet she wasn't someone to be easily bullied—like an orchid quietly growing in an unnoticed place, yet emitting a subtle fragrance that made people unconsciously take notice. Chunling had once been jealous of Xianglan, but now that Xianglan had returned to the Lin mansion and Chunling stayed by her side, not a trace of that jealousy remained, replaced only by sighs. Xianglan didn't speak much, but she was gentle and kind, truly a girl who evoked affection. Earlier, Chunling had wanted to serve Xianglan diligently to catch Lin Jinlou's eye and quickly rise to become a powerful head maid, but now she genuinely wanted to be good to this girl.

Chunling walked over and said with a smile, "Wu Mama is here. Please come inside and sit. I'll brew a pot of good tea."

Xianglan took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, smiled shyly, and said, "Mama, please don't laugh at me. Come inside and sit."

They returned to the room, and Xianglan invited Wu Mama to the small parlor. Xiao Juan served tea and arranged fruits and snacks. Wu Mama picked up the teacup, took a sip, and looked at Xianglan again. Actually, she had known about Xianglan's return for some time. Although the Lin family was large, news of any stir spread quickly. The Eldest Master taking in a new woman was big news, especially since this woman had been expelled from the mansion and then returned. Wu Mama had been by Qin Shi's side when she learned of this matter. Qin Shi immediately frowned and said, "After all these twists and turns, she still managed to come back!"

Wu Mama cautiously asked, "Since she's someone the Eldest Master brought back, would Madam like to meet her?"Qin Shi sneered, "Lou Ge'er hasn't even been brought to see me, so why should I bother summoning her? I won't see her! It would only upset me."

Wu Mama dared not mention it again. Yet she genuinely admired Xianglan—a girl who was sincere and righteous, intelligent yet devoid of any scheming malice. Quietly observing and inquiring, she found that everyone who had worked with Xianglan spoke highly of her, praising her amiable nature and cheerful demeanor. Even Feng Pozi, who delivered flowers to the Hall of Knowing Spring and was notorious in the manor for stirring trouble, had good words for Xianglan.

Wu Mama began casually praising Xianglan in front of Qin Shi. Last night, as Qin Shi fretted with Wu Mama over Lin Jinlou's lack of an heir, she suddenly sighed and said, "Fine, if Lou Ge'er truly favors that Xianglan, let her be taken in. Have her come later to kowtow to Old Madam and me."

Hearing this, Wu Mama felt Xianglan had finally weathered her hardships. She immediately prepared some food and went to the Hall of Knowing Spring.