Against the Current

Just then, Aunt Xia arrived with her maid. Xianglan quickly invited her inside. Aunt Xia said, "I've come to take Fourth Miss back."

Lin Dongxiu pleaded, "Dear aunt, all my sisters are here. Let me have a bit more fun."

Xianglan then said, "Let us chat a while longer. Aunt, please rest in the next room first. Second Mistress is there selecting embroidery patterns."

Aunt Xia thought to herself: "The Lin Family Taitai's intention is for me to teach Fourth Miss and also to observe the character of the two Jiang Family girls. It would be better to stay and observe further, so as to live up to their great trust and that generous silver." Thinking this, she agreed verbally and was led by Ling Qing to Tan Luhua's room.

At that moment, Jiang Danyun suddenly stood up and walked toward the qin lying horizontally in the corner of the room. She lightly plucked the strings with her fingers and said to Xianglan with a smile, "This qin is quite good. May I give it a try?"

Xianglan smiled and replied, "Since Miss Dan is in an elegant mood, we shall have the pleasure of listening."

Jiang Danyun sat down with a reserved expression, plucked a few notes, adjusted the strings, and began to play. The music flowed like drifting clouds and flowing water, resembling the long cry of a lone wild goose. She played "Wild Geese Alighting on the Sandbank" with great flair, employing techniques like plucking, lifting, hooking, and picking to showcase extreme technical brilliance.

Xianglan thought to herself: "Jiang Danyun truly plays the qin excellently. 'Wild Geese Alighting on the Sandbank' is extremely difficult, yet she handles it with such mastery, clearly having studied it meticulously."

When the piece ended, everyone applauded and praised.

Jiang Danyun's cheeks flushed slightly, but she glanced toward the door. Not seeing Lin Jinlou standing outside, she felt a faint disappointment. Jiang Xiyun, unaware that Lin Jinlou had returned, found it strange that her sister kept looking outside. At that moment, Lin Dongxiu nudged her and said, "Since Sister Dan plays so well, Sister Xi must be skilled too. Why not play a piece for us?"

Jiang Xiyun declined with a smile, "Fourth Sister is the most adept at playing the qin among us. My skills are clumsy; it's better to hide my shortcomings than to embarrass myself."

Lin Dongxiu repeatedly urged Jiang Xiyun to play a piece, but Jiang Xiyun kept declining with smiles. Jiang Danyun took a sip of tea, looked at Xianglan, and said with a faint, teasing smile, "Sister Xianglan has a qin in her room, so you must be knowledgeable in music as well. Why not play a piece for us?"

Seeing the hidden challenge in her expression, Xianglan felt no need to make polite excuses. She said, "My playing naturally can't compare to Miss Dan's. Let it just be for fun, to entertain everyone." With that, she sat down and played a short, light piece. It was very subtle and serene, with uncomplicated finger techniques, yet it had its own unique charm.

After she finished, everyone praised her continuously. Jiang Danyun covered her mouth with a light laugh and said, "It was indeed quite good," but her eyes held a hint of disdain, and her expression was very self-satisfied.

Xianglan simply smiled. In her previous life, the Shen Family had hired a highly skilled qin master to teach at home. She could still play "Wild Geese Alighting on the Sandbank," but her skills had long since grown rusty in this life. It was better to play fresh, light pieces for her own enjoyment.

Soon after, Ling Qing and Ling Su came in again to replenish the fruits. As Ling Qing was leaving, she whispered in Xianglan's ear, "The Master has returned. He wants you to entertain the guests and not mind him. He'll be leaving again shortly."

Xianglan nodded. She saw Lin Dongxiu sit back down by the qin and begin plucking the strings. Jiang Danyun moved closer, and the two of them discussed the five notes and six pitches, then commented on the difficulties of various schools' interpretations of "Guangling San," getting along quite harmoniously. Relieved, Xianglan turned and went into the warm chamber to comfort Tan Luhua and chat with Aunt Xia.Jiang Xiyun sat in the room feeling utterly bored. Originally, her family had hired a music teacher to teach her and her sisters how to play the guqin. After learning for a while, she found herself dizzy and overwhelmed by the five notes and dozens of fingering techniques, with little interest in them. Moreover, she believed that those who truly appreciated the elegance of the guqin were few and far between. As a daughter of a concubine, mastering such a skill would be of little use to her, so she cast it aside. She took a sip of tea and looked up, noticing Lin Dongxiu playing "Three Variations of Yang Pass." Though the melody was intermittent and not entirely smooth, it still resembled the proper form. Finding it uninteresting, Jiang Xiyun stood up and went to the courtyard to relieve her boredom.

Since guests had arrived at Chun Tang Hall, the senior maids had gone to attend to them, leaving only a few maidservants occasionally passing through the courtyard. Jiang Xiyun observed the exotic grasses and immortal vines planted in the yard, along with several rock formations, complemented by peach, plum, and crabapple trees, creating an elegant scene. She slowly made her way to the backyard, where she could see layers of rockeries and several clusters of orchids, along with pots containing various types of orchid plants.

Standing there, she was unaware that Fangfei, Aunt Xia's little maid, was plucking fairy flowers behind a rockery to dye her nails. She also did not know that one of the bedroom windows faced this spot, where Lin Jinlou was reclining on a low couch, hidden behind a soft curtain, perfectly positioned to observe her. Lin Jinlou half-squinted as he examined her. Jiang Xiyun had an exceptionally fair complexion, wore no makeup, and her jet-black hair framed a bright and beautiful face. Looking further down, he noticed her plump, delicate hands and full figure—a stark contrast to Xianglan's slender fingers and willowy waist.

Jiang Xiyun peeked slightly into the backyard, then stopped and turned to head back. Just then, she saw her personal maid, Ruoqing, approaching and asked, "What brings you here?"

Ruoqing replied, "I was worried you might feel overheated, so I brought you a bottle of Snow Elixir Pills."

Jiang Xiyun smiled and said, "You're so thoughtful, but it's not that hot." As she spoke, she took the small bottle of Snow Elixir Pills.

Ruoqing asked, "Why are you here, miss?"

Jiang Xiyun sighed and said, "Those two in the room are discussing how many ways there are to play 'Guangling Melody.' It's terribly dull, so I came out."

Ruoqing laughed and said, "You've never been fond of such things. When the family hired a lady to teach the guqin before, you'd doze off after listening for a while."

Jiang Xiyun remarked, "What use are poetry, songs, the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting for a woman in the inner chambers? They can't put food on the table. If I were a man, I could study these to make something of myself and take the imperial exams. But as a woman, should I strive to earn a reputation as a talented lady like my eldest sister? She gained fame and married into nobility, but if I learn these things, I might end up as a concubine."

Ruoqing asked doubtfully, "I don't understand what you mean, miss."Jiang Xiyun said, "The skills girls learn from childhood in the inner chambers are all for marriage. Whether it's needlework, household management, literacy, or accounting, they're all practical for daily life, meant to help manage the inner chambers for one's future husband. Even if one becomes a talented woman like eldest sister, skilled in composing poetry and couplets, it's merely for reputation—to secure a better husband. But eldest sister was born from Taitai's womb, so naturally she married well as the principal wife of the Zhongyong Earl's eldest son. I don't have such good fortune. Even if I learn these flashy skills, I can't compare to eldest sister. It's better to learn some practical needlework. It's concubines who rely on charm to please men who study these arts to flatter gentlemen—wasn't it precisely because Concubine Lu was skilled in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting that my father held her in higher regard? That's why she made Fourth Sister learn all those things too. For women, being too well-read or learning these refined arts isn't necessarily good. It's better to master needlework thoroughly—you gain a practical skill and a good reputation. Why wouldn't one choose that?"

Ruoqing laughed, "Oh, my young lady, no wonder the old madame always praises you as the most clear-headed. You've perfectly articulated all the principles under heaven."

As they spoke, Xianglan came out looking for someone, and Jiang Xiyun followed her back inside.

Meanwhile, Ling Qing entered to bring Lin Jinlou a hot towel. She saw him leaning on the Luohan bed, stroking his chin as if deep in thought. Not daring to disturb him, she quietly retreated.

Lin Jinlou stood up and walked to the bedside, drawing aside the bed curtains. De Ge'er was sleeping inside, covered with a small rhombus-patterned quilt, his cheeks flushed pink from sleep. Lin Jinlou picked up the child and wiped his face with the hot towel. The little boy woke up, rubbing his eyes with small hands, still looking drowsy.

Lin Jinlou whispered in De Ge'er's ear, "No more sleeping. Do something for your uncle, and I'll reward you handsomely later."

De Ge'er murmured sleepily, "So tired... let me sleep a bit more—"

"Tch, you silly child. I said there's a handsome reward. I'll take you horseback riding later."

At the mention of "horseback riding," De Ge'er immediately perked up, his eyes widening.

Meanwhile, Jiang Danyun and Lin Dongxiu were discussing qin techniques. After Jiang Danyun played several pieces in succession, Xianglan noticed Jiang Xiyun wasn't particularly interested, so she changed the subject and had maids brew strong tea for everyone. Jiang Xiyun wanted to take her leave, but Jiang Danyun, knowing Lin Jinlou had arrived, was eager to show off her talents. In her pleased state, she refused to go. Noticing a Zisha tea set with banana leaf and landscape patterns displayed on a corner table, she said, "Since Sister Xianglan has this set in her room, I suppose you appreciate fine tea. Though untalented, I have some knowledge of tea. Why don't we have a tea competition for amusement?"

Jiang Xiyun facepalmed inwardly, thinking, "Fourth Sister, even if you're desperate to marry Lin Jinlou, you shouldn't bully his beloved concubine like this. Knowing you're inferior in painting but superior in qin, you keep pressing your advantage. Now you want to compete in this too. The more you want to marry someone, the more you should befriend his beloved concubine. Otherwise, a few words from her pillow talk could make things difficult for you."

Xianglan smiled and said, "Miss Dan is truly refined. I don't know how to compete in tea arts. I merely saw this set in the storeroom and remembered reading about the elegant Song Dynasty tea competitions, so I displayed it to appear cultured."Jiang Danyu waved her fan and chuckled softly, "What a pity. The art of tea dividing and tea competitions is rarely practiced nowadays. I thought I had found a kindred spirit."

Lin Dongxiu, being somewhat friendly with Xianglan, couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. Just as she was about to speak, Xianglan discreetly tugged at her sleeve, forcing Lin Dongxiu to hold her tongue. At that moment, rapid footsteps approached, and a little figure pushed aside the door curtain, revealing a round, dark-skinned face. The child scanned the room, then fixed his gaze on Xianglan and called out in a soft voice, "Aunt Lan."

Xianglan was both surprised and delighted. She quickly rose and stepped forward, leading De Ge'er into the room as she said, "Weren't you said to be ill? Why aren't you resting at home instead of coming out?"

De Ge'er climbed onto the Luohan bed by himself and replied, "I had a fever last night, but I was fine by daytime. My father went on official business to the outskirts of the capital, and Uncle Lin suggested I stay here for a few days."

Xianglan was overjoyed, alternately feeling De Ge'er's forehead and wondering what to offer him to eat. After fussing for a while, she finally remembered to introduce him to the others, saying, "This is Marquis Yongchang's youngest son, De Ge'er."

Lin Dongxiu's expression turned somewhat awkward. Aware that the Jiang Sisters were secretly watching her, she stepped forward, suppressing her discomfort, forced a smile, and patted De Ge'er's cheek, saying, "What a lovely child."

De Ge'er felt a bit shy and lowered his head without speaking. Suddenly remembering something, he looked up at Xianglan and asked, "Aunt Lan, I want to ask you—what's the use of learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? They don't fill your stomach or quench your thirst."

Xianglan was taken aback. Next door, Aunt Xia, who had just picked up a tea bowl, paused her hand upon hearing this.

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