Against the Current

Lin Jinlou suddenly pinched her chin and said, "You..."

Xianglan trembled, opening her eyes wide to look at him.

Lin Jinlou then released his hand and said, "Never mind, you may go." Having spoken, he strode out.

Xianglan let out a long sigh, her body going limp as she slumped onto the bed. Turning her head, she noticed Hua Shan peeking cautiously at the doorway and beckoned her inside, asking, "How are the elder and younger mistresses doing?"

Hua Shan replied, "The elder and younger mistresses are still in the eastern room. Just now, Xue Ning went in to serve tea and pastries and hasn't come out yet, likely because she's conversing with the mistresses. The Second Mistress has already left."

Xianglan smoothed her hair, gathered her spirits, and stood up, saying, "Let's go. It's not proper to leave guests unattended."

Hua Shan hesitated and said, "Miss, your eyes..." She then brought over the mirror case. Xianglan leaned forward to look and saw that her eyes were slightly red and swollen, clearly showing she had been crying. She quickly instructed Hua Shan to fetch two silver spoons and pressed them against her eyes to reduce the swelling. After a while, she felt somewhat better, wiped her face with a damp towel, reapplied some ointment, and then went to meet the guests. Of this, no more need be said.

Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou exited the inner gate and first returned to his study in the front courtyard, where he wrote a note and handed it to Ji Xiang, saying, "Take this to the Imperial Medical Academy first thing tomorrow morning and invite Imperial Physician Zhang Shiyou over." After speaking, he casually placed the brush on its stand and let out a deep sigh.

He had eavesdropped on Xianglan's words at the door, hearing every single word clearly. He knew that woman still held resentment, and he himself was quite impatient with it. But today, Xianglan's words had somewhat enlightened him. She said, "When one is pregnant, the child in the womb is connected by blood—how could one bear to abort it? She must have struggled for a long time, ultimately unable to bring herself to do it, and then her family noticed, so she returned to the Dai Family." From this, he realized that if this woman were to have a child, she might settle her heart and be content. He also wondered why, since Xianglan was the only one in his rear courtyard now and they were together day and night, there had been no signs of good news yet. Imperial Physician Zhang Shiyou from the Imperial Medical Academy specialized in diagnosing and providing fetal protection for the noblewomen of the inner palace. He was deeply learned and highly skilled in medical principles. Previously, when Lin Jinlou had donated an official position for his son, he had sought help from Zhang's father. Inviting him to examine Xianglan would allow him to identify any issues and set his mind at ease... Perhaps, after busy with these two matters, he would take Xianglan to Miaofeng Mountain in the outskirts of the capital to pray to the Goddess of Childbearing?

Lin Jinlou stroked his chin, considering summoning Kang Shiyuan to inquire about his schedule for the next couple of days. Unexpectedly, as he pushed the door open, he saw Shuangxi waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Lin Jinlou, Shuangxi hurriedly said, "Master, the second son-in-law drank too much and is now suffering from it. We just forced a jar of sobering soup down him, and he vomited. Then we gave him another sobering decoction, and now he's lying on the heated brick bed. What do you suggest we do..."

Lin Jinlou hurried over to check. Upon entering the room, he was met with the strong smell of alcohol. His second sister's husband, Tao Hongxun, was lying on the bed, his face pale. Having vomited, he was still in decent spirits. Lin Jinlou comforted him briefly and ordered a servant boy to bring him some porridge. After resting for a while, Tao Hongxun felt better and insisted on leaving. Lin Jinlou urged him to stay, but Tao Hongxun said, "I have official duties tomorrow and dare not linger. I will visit another day to trouble you again." Only then did Lin Jinlou see him off, finally having him take a box of gifts brought from Jinling.After Lin Dongqi and her husband had left, Lin Dongwan found it inappropriate to linger any longer, so she also rose to take her leave and returned to Lin Jinxuan's quarters. Upon entering the courtyard, she saw Concubine Yin grinding medicine under the shade of a tree and approached her, saying, "Why are you doing this yourself, Concubine? What are the maids for?"

Concubine Yin replied, "This is medicine for your younger brother. I feel at ease only if I grind it myself. He fell slightly ill a few days ago, but fortunately, it didn't develop into a serious condition. He's currently taking Ginseng Nourishing Pills. However, he still doesn't sleep well at night and often breaks into cold sweats. The doctor who came today said it's due to Yang Deficiency and Kidney Deficiency, likely caused by his recent marriage. I just told his wife that they should sleep separately for a few days, and guess what she said to me?" Imitating Madam Tan's expression, she continued, "'Thank you for your concern, Concubine. Although there are no proper elders around now, I still respect you as one. But after all, this is a private matter between husband and wife. You needn't trouble yourself with it in the future.' Just listen to that! She's implying I'm not a 'proper elder' and clearly doesn't regard me at all. Has there ever been such an insolent bride in this world? Poor me, living to this age, thinking I'd have someone to rely on in my later years, only to end up with a daughter-in-law like this. My fate is truly bitter!" As she spoke, tears trickled down.

Lin Dongwan said, "You should bear with her temperament, Concubine. Nothing in this world is perfect. Last time I visited, weren't you praising the new bride for being sensible and giving you a pair of gold bracelets? I've managed to come home with difficulty, yet you don't even ask how I'm doing. Life is hard for me at my husband's house too. The eldest branch is clamoring to divide the family estate. The second and fourth branches are capable, and the fifth is the most favored and gets the most. Only our third branch—that good-for-nothing master is utterly hopeless, a complete coward. His brothers feed him sweet talk, and he gets carried away. Last year, we bought him an official post, but he refused to perform his duties properly and instead fell in with a bunch of scoundrels who led him to gambling. Now, the old master can still keep him in check, but if the family truly splits, how will we survive... My heart is the one that's truly suffering..." As she spoke, she too began to weep.

Concubine Yin cursed, "It's all that wretched Qin Shi's doing—she arranged this marriage for you, and I'm sure she's the one behind Jinxuan's wife too, urging them to marry. She won't rest until she ruins me!" Then, grabbing Lin Dongwan's sleeve, she said, "My child, your brother is frail and mustn't be agitated. Now, only you can stand up for me and help me deal with Jinxuan's wife. She's just entered the household; if we don't get her under control and establish proper rules now, where will I stand in the future? I know you've always been resourceful."

Lin Dongwan, who had been wiping her tears, paused, her heart turning cold. She sneered, "You're always like this, Concubine—only ever thinking of Second Brother. I didn't come from your womb, so you only remember me when you're wronged, asking me to stand up for you. Because of that, I offended Taitai, and now I don't even have the face to ask my elder brother for a position for my husband." With that, she stood up and left, storming into the room with a sharp rustle of the curtain. Her personal maid, Qiuye, hurried after her and saw Lin Dongwan standing by the door, wiping her eyes with her hand. She handed her a handkerchief and whispered, "That's just Concubine's nature, Third Mistress. Why bother getting angry with her?"Lin Dongwan wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said, "I know, but my heart is bitter. It's rare for me to come home, yet she didn't utter a single word of concern. When she saw the wet nurse carrying Hui Ge'er past, she didn't even ask about him. Her heart and eyes are full of Second Brother, and she even made me play the villain for her."

Qiuye couldn't offer much comfort, so she simply said, "Concubine Yin speaks to you like this because she considers you one of her own." Then she added softly, "Third Mistress, please don't cry. Second Master and Second Madam Xuan are right inside the room."

Lin Dongwan dabbed the corners of her eyes again and suppressed her anger. Her nature had always been to "swallow her teeth along with blood"—no matter how great the grievance, she refused to show even a hint of it in front of others. Back when she reached marriageable age, Lin Changzheng had intended to marry her off to a local wealthy family, but she refused, determined to marry into an aristocratic lineage. She knew clearly that no matter how much silver a wealthy family might have, the prestige of an aristocratic clan couldn't be built with silver alone. She would rather wear old clothes and hold a broken bowl while drinking porridge under a glorious plaque than wear new clothes and hold a golden bowl while enjoying delicacies under an ordinary lintel. Although the Lu family only maintained a respectable facade, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. She refused to believe that with her intelligence and talent, and by urging her husband to strive for advancement, there wouldn't be a day when they could turn their fortunes around. Then, when she returned home, she would make everyone in the family recognize her anew!

However, after marrying and enduring two years of hardships, she realized she had been too naive. Her parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles, and husband—each had different temperaments and dispositions. With ten people having nine different hearts, how could she single-handedly turn the situation around?

Yet she absolutely refused to admit that she had been wrong initially. The path she had chosen herself, she would finish even if she had to crawl on her knees.

Now, on one hand, she befriended Chen Xianglan, hoping that the latter would put in a good word for her in front of Lin Jinlou in the future. On the other hand, she prayed that Lin Jinxuan's health would hold up so he could take the imperial examinations next year and earn an official rank, giving her more to rely on.

When Lin Dongwan entered the inner room, Lin Jinxuan was lying crookedly on the bed. Madam Tan had just finished serving him medicine and was now opening the window to air out the medicinal smell. Seeing Lin Dongwan enter, she still harbored resentment from earlier when Lin Dongwan and Lin Dongqi had sided with Xianglan, making her lose face. She lifted the curtain and went out, merely instructing a maid to serve tea.

Madam Tan sat alone in the western room for a while, feeling bored and listless. She picked up her needlework, embroidered a few stitches, then tossed it aside. Today, she had accumulated a bellyful of anger. First, she had been wronged by Xianglan, and upon returning, Concubine Yin had nagged at her, telling her to sleep separately from Lin Jinxuan. What did they take her for! She was the properly wedded legitimate wife. Even though Concubine Yin was Lin Jinxuan's birth mother, she was merely a concubine—how dare she act so arrogantly in front of her! Previously, she had humored and flattered Concubine Yin only out of respect for her husband. If they thought she was an easy target because of that, they had miscalculated! She wasn't someone to be trifled with!

Madam Tan sneered a few times and gulped down a cup of tea. The implied meaning in their words earlier was that she was a seductive enchantress who had tempted Lin Jinxuan and drained his health. They should take a good look at what their own son was like—a man who would topple at the slightest breeze, utterly unlike Lin Jinlou, as if they weren't even blood brothers. Thinking of Lin Jinlou, Madam Tan's face suddenly grew warm. Earlier, she had bumped right into his embrace, experiencing how broad and firm his chest was, how strong his arms were, and those captivating eyes of his...Madam Tan dared not dwell on it further, silently cursing herself as she fanned her flushed cheeks with a handkerchief to cool them down. Yet, her thoughts soon drifted again: "They all say my brother-in-law is a seasoned charmer, well-versed in the ways of romance. Now that I've seen him, it's true—I never knew such men existed in the world, so different from my own brothers. It seems all true men ought to stand tall and firm like him. What a pity I lack such fortune! If only I were a noble lady from a high family, married to him, we could have shared a harmonious and loving union. Instead, I ended up with Lin Jinxuan. He is gentle and considerate, yes, but plagued by illness... Ah..."

This chapter's Qiuye is portrayed by Jue Chen~

Thanks to Fat Wanghua001 for the Peach Blossom Fan, Jane and Rose, and Book Sea Wanderer for the Peace Talismans, as well as to everyone for the pink votes.