Against the Current

Xianglan pulled Tan Luhua into the adjacent side room. Tan Luhua’s face was still flushed with anger, tears streaming uncontrollably. Seeing the maids Haitang and Shiliu tending to the plants, Xianglan quickly said, "Could you two fetch a basin of washing water for Second Mistress?" She then comforted Tan Luhua, "Second Mistress is a sensible person. Though you’ve suffered an injustice, we’re all sisters in the family. Once they leave for Shandong, you won’t see them often. Don’t let this damage the harmony."

Tan Luhua was so furious she could barely catch her breath. "Even before I married, she always bullied me, resenting that I was prettier and cleverer than her. Clothes and jewelry were always given to her first, and I wasn’t even allowed to wear anything more luxurious than her when going out. My father did care for me, but he feared Madam would be displeased, which only made things harder for me." As she spoke of her grievances, tears welled up again.

Xianglan hurriedly consoled her, "Second Mistress, don’t be upset. Now you’ve married well, Madam is kind and gentle, and you and Second Master are deeply in love. Isn’t that what matters most?"

Tan Luhua wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "Madam is beyond reproach, but Second Master’s health is so fragile—a mere breeze could topple him. He’s well for one day and sick for three. At such a young age, being his wife is like tending to a living corpse..."

Xianglan was startled by these words. Just then, Haitang entered with a half-basin of hot water, so Xianglan pretended not to have heard Tan Luhua and said, "Second Mistress, wash your face first. I’ll go borrow some makeup." With that, she left.

Tan Luhua instructed Haitang to wring out a towel for her to wipe her face. Soon, Xianglan returned carrying a small round tray with official powder, rouge, and eyebrow ink. Xianglan said, "I borrowed these from Sister Lulan and the others."

Tan Luhua, who loved grooming, carefully applied her makeup before the mirror and smiled faintly at Xianglan. "I was so angry earlier that I said things I didn’t mean. Thank you for advising me. Come visit me sometime—I have two good books to share with you."

This was the first time Tan Luhua had spoken to her so kindly. Xianglan was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood, thinking, "Tan Luhua was provoked by her elder sister’s words earlier, overwhelmed with grievance, and couldn’t hold back her true feelings." In her rage, she blurted everything out, even criticizing Second Master. Now that she’s calmed down, she regrets it and is worried I might gossip, hence this show of goodwill." She smiled and replied, "Second Mistress was just overwhelmed by anger. When people are furious, they lose their senses, and nothing they say should be taken seriously. I’ll visit you when I have time, but I’m afraid of disturbing Second Master’s rest."

Hearing this, Tan Luhua felt relieved, thinking, "Xianglan has always been tight-lipped and never gossips. She won’t spread what she heard." She laughed and said, "He won’t mind. We can talk in another room." Suddenly, Qin Shi sent Hongjian to summon her, and she hurried off.

Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou had gone out. Xianglan went to pay respects to Qin Shi, while Shu Ran went to the front courtyard to manage affairs. As it was Xiao Juan’s birthday that day, the maids in the room indulged in playful banter. Hua Shan and Ling Qing threw dice and played backgammon, while Xue Ning, Ling Su, Xiao Juan, and Han Mama’s little maid Xiao Fang'er gathered to play cards. Xiao Juan lounged against a pillow on the kang, snacking on treats as she played, scattering crumbs all over the kang and floor.Just then, Chunling came in from outside with two vases of fresh flowers she had gathered. Seeing everyone indulging in unrestrained merriment, she found it quite intolerable and said, "Enough now, quickly put a stop to this. Just because I didn't accompany you to the capital and there was no one to keep you in check, you've become increasingly unruly. The Concubine is good-natured and doesn't scold you, so you take advantage and run wild, making a mess inside and out—what kind of propriety is this!"

At these words, Ling Qing, Ling Su, and Xiao Fang'er were startled. The three of them dared not continue playing and quickly stood up. Seeing this, Xue Ning also set down her cards and rose. Hua Shan secretly glanced at Xiao Juan's expression. But Xiao Juan paid no heed and simply threw down a card from her hand, declaring, "Pong!" She then looked up and exchanged a meaningful glance with Hua Shan, who turned back and tugged at Ling Qing's sleeve, whispering, "Let's continue our game."

Ling Qing hesitated but sat back down. The others glanced at Chunling, then at Xiao Juan, and gradually resumed their seats as well. Chunling's face immediately darkened. Xue Ning said, "Today is Xiao Juan's birthday, and the Concubine allowed us to gather for some fun. Sister Chunling, you were outside earlier and probably didn't know."

Chunling retorted, "If that's the case, have all the chores inside been taken care of? Has the Eldest Master's clothing been ironed?"

That task belonged to Xiao Juan, so everyone looked her way. Xiao Juan, however, focused solely on her cards and ignored her. Xue Ning wanted to smooth things over several times but didn't know how to intervene. Seeing this, Ling Qing hastily chimed in to mediate, "Those clothes aren't needed today; ironing them tomorrow will be fine."

Chunling sneered, "Fine, fine, very well. When the Concubine returns later, let her judge this. Every one of you has grown so bold you neglect your duties—clothes left unironed, bedding unsunned, tables and chairs unwiped, the tea stove unlit, the birds unfed—all this wild carrying-on! You may disregard me, but don't you dare disregard your masters!" With that, she flung the door curtain aside and stormed out.

Xiao Juan let out a cold laugh and muttered to herself, "What a hateful creature! Who is it that disregards the masters, I wonder? Shamelessly putting on airs and swanning off—if she's so capable, she shouldn't have come back! Since she's returned, she ought to keep her head down instead of acting like some second-tier mistress. Now she tries to throw her weight around with me? She should see if this lady will stand for it!"

Before she had finished speaking, Chunling ripped the door curtain open and charged back in like a whirlwind, pointing at Xiao Juan's nose and demanding, "Who are you talking about?!"

Xiao Juan lifted her eyelids and replied, "Whoever fits the bill knows who they are." She stood up, brushed aside Chunling's pointing finger, and dusted off her skirt. "Chunling, you'd better show me some respect from now on. The Concubine has already promoted me to first rank. Ling Qing, Ling Su, and Hua Shan are second rank as soon as they arrived, and Xue Ning was already second rank at the Old Madam's place—no different from you in status. If you want to throw your weight around, go find the junior maids in the back courtyard. Don't flaunt your authority in front of us!"

Hearing this, Chunling was both furious and ashamed. She raged, "What? You used to call me 'Sister Chunling' this and 'Sister Chunling' that, and now that you've just been promoted, you look down on me? You're so puffed up you don't even know your own surname! What skills do you think you have? All you know is eating well and dressing well, dodging work whenever you see it. You're nothing but a lapdog, cozying up to the masters for favors!"

Xiao Juan grew angry as well and retorted with a cold laugh, "You're the one who's not a lapdog? So full of integrity you think you're a mistress yourself! Even the Concubine isn't spared your casual ridicule—such grand airs you put on! I certainly can't compare to that."Everyone hurried over to mediate, saying, "Say no more." Hua Shan tugged at Xiao Juan and said, "Today is your sister's good day, don’t provoke her." Xue Ning also tried to persuade Chunling, "We’re all together here, and we’ve always gotten along well. Why argue like this?"

Just as the commotion reached its peak, Xianglan returned. Seeing the room in chaos, she asked, "What’s going on here?"

The room fell silent, and no one spoke. Only Chunling let out a cold laugh and said, "A bunch of worthless things, ganging up to bully me. Fine, fine, it’s all my fault. Later, I’ll go to the Concubine and accept my punishment!" With that, she stormed off in a huff.

Xianglan asked, "What exactly happened?" Her eyes swept around the room and settled on Hua Shan. "Little Hua Shan, you tell me."

Although Hua Shan was close to Xiao Juan, she didn’t dare lie in front of Xianglan. She recounted the whole story from beginning to end. Xiao Juan then interjected, "Madam, I did it on purpose. You don’t know how annoying she’s become lately—picking on everyone. One moment she says someone’s clumsy and can’t fold clothes properly, the next she complains that someone else is slow-witted and their needlework is no good, all while boasting about how she could do it better. Over the past few days, she’s criticized almost everyone, acting as if she’s the only capable one. Every day, she brings back idle gossip, sneering at Second Madam for being petty, mocking Fourth Miss for not learning proper manners, calling her shallow, and scolding the young maids. She’s been stirring up trouble like this, making the entire Hall of Flourishing Spring a mess. I’ve been holding back my anger for a long time."

Xianglan nodded and said, "I understand. But we’re all part of the Hall of Flourishing Spring, and harmony is precious. Making such a scene is hardly appropriate. You’re the one I trust most by my side, which is why I promoted you. In the future, think things through more carefully and don’t act solely on impulse. If she behaves like this, you could have told Shu Ran or me—either would have been better than letting things escalate like this."

Xiao Juan pursed her lips and lowered her head, saying, "I understand."

Xianglan comforted them a few more words and urged them to continue enjoying themselves. Then she went into her bedroom. She had just sat down at her dressing table and removed the jewelry from her hands and neck when Chunling walked in.

Seeing the lingering resentment on Chunling’s face, Xianglan sighed inwardly, feeling a faint headache coming on. Since her return, Chunling had not uttered a single word of apology or humility. Xianglan had once spoken to her, saying, "After all, we’ve weathered storms together. If you have anything to say in the future, speak from the heart—I still trust and value you." Chunling had agreed at the time, but afterward, she remained aloof and indifferent, and her work was no longer as meticulous as before.

Xianglan invited Chunling to sit and began, "I’ve already heard about what happened earlier…"

Chunling immediately raised her eyebrows and retorted, "Since you’ve heard, then let the Concubine judge—tell me, what did I say about them that was wrong? What right do they have to scold me like that? You might think they’re just eating, drinking, and having fun without a care, but I can’t stand such behavior! I only said a few words, and they came at me with all this nonsense—what kind of reasoning is that? Even if the Concubine allowed them to play, if this disgraceful commotion reaches Madam’s ears, who will come out unscathed?"Chunling frowned and glared, her words tumbling out rapid and urgent. Xianglan paused before replying, "This is indeed my fault. Considering how busy we all were with the Third Master's wedding banquet and how no one has had proper rest, and with Xiao Juan's birthday this time and the Eldest Master away, I granted them leave to enjoy themselves. They were merely playing cards and chess, and it's not as if they caused any real disturbance. I know you mean well, but there's no need to be so strict about this matter."

Before she could finish, Chunling fumed, "Exactly! But what's the point of all this gossip about me? Do they only mean to drive me out of the Hall of Flourishing Spring to satisfy them?"

Xianglan tried to soothe her with gentle words, but Chunling remained aggressive, clearly venting a bellyful of pent-up anger at her. The smile faded from Xianglan's face as she asked, "Then what do you want?"