Chapter 268: - Against the Current

The next day, Lin Jinlou and Yuan Shaoren went out early. Xianglan passed the time chatting and laughing with Lin Dongxiu. De Ge'er had wanted to go out to play, but Lin Dongxiu, fearing he might catch a chill and fall ill, refused his repeated pleas. She insisted, "It's no use. If the Marquis were here, I wouldn't care if you played outside or even lay in the snow." De Ge'er grew listless until Xianglan secretly slipped him a handful of pine nut candies and whispered, "We'll watch the lanterns tonight. Be good, and I'll let you set off fireworks in the evening." Cheered by this, De Ge'er climbed onto the heated brick bed to play with the kitten.

Lin Dongxiu subtly probed Xianglan about whether Lin Jinlou had agreed to support her at the Marquis Yongchang's residence. Xianglan carefully replied, "The Master said it's inappropriate for a man to interfere in your affairs. He'll have Taitai handle it later."

Lin Dongxiu, skilled at reading between the lines, immediately understood and deflated, tossing the wind cap she was making for Yuan Shaoren aside as she slumped against a pillow in frustration. Xianglan thought to herself, "Lin Dongxiu, now a marquis' wife, is full of ambition and eager to make her mark. She won't listen to any advice now, and pressing further would only annoy her. Better to let it cool for now." With this in mind, she took De Ge'er to play on the bedroom bed, though her own thoughts were unsettled. Recalling Lin Jinlou's interrogation of the spy yesterday, especially regarding the former crown prince, she pondered it carefully, feeling a growing unease. As she drifted in thought, the door opened—Lin Dongxiu had summoned her confidantes, Qiang Wei, Mama Han, and Han Zhi. They huddled together for a quiet discussion before dispersing.

The day passed uneventfully until near evening when Lin Jinlou and Yuan Shaoren returned and immediately called for a banquet. Entering the room, Lin Jinlou saw Xianglan teaching De Ge'er to play chess. Hearing Yuan Shaoren's voice outside, De Ge'er dropped the chess pieces and ran out. Lin Jinlou said, "Old Yuan and I just visited the barracks stationed in the suburbs. Unexpectedly, we ran into Liu and Xie there, drinking and boasting. When they heard I was at this manor, they insisted on coming over." He glanced at Xianglan, who kept her head down as she helped him change clothes, remaining silent. The sight of Lin Jinlou only intensified her thoughts of last night's events—the memory of her family's ruin in the previous life due to involvement in the Succession Struggle still vivid, causing her heart to sink.

Lin Jinlou scratched his head. Xianglan had been preoccupied last night too, likely frightened. He felt irritated looking at her—this woman, with her pleasant appearance and amiable demeanor toward everyone, why was she so stubborn with him? She kept everything bottled up, and when she did speak her mind, it was always things he didn't want to hear. So you're ignoring me, huh? Well, I can't be bothered with you either! Frowning, he changed his clothes again and stomped out with heavy steps.

Xue Ning, peering in with tea, waited until Lin Jinlou had left before approaching and asking, "Is the Master angry?"

Xianglan, still lost in thought, snapped back to reality at Xue Ning's question. Just then, barking was heard at the door, signaling someone's arrival.

Presently, Liu Xiaochuan entered through the main gate, looking around with a smile. "Brother, I'd long heard you had a place at the suburban manor, but only came to see it today. It's quite impressive—lend it to me for a couple of days soon, won't you?"Lin Jinlou pointed at him and said, "I was wondering why you were so insistent on tagging along—turns out you had your eye on my estate. Don't you have properties of your own outside? Yet here you are, trying to freeload off me."

Xie Yu giggled and said, "The estate he owned outside was taken back by his father—" Before he could finish, Liu Xiaochuan darted over and covered Xie Yu's mouth, exclaiming, "I wasn't really scheming for your estate! Who would dare scheme against you?"

Yuan Shaoren asked, "Where's young master Chu? You three are always inseparable—why are only the two of you here?"

Liu Xiaochuan hung his head and replied, "Young master Chu is stuck at home studying all day and can't get out. We two brothers were bored, so we came by to see you."

The three of them chatted as they walked inside. The hall was already set with a feast, surrounded by a brocade screen embroidered with Shi Chong's motifs and hung with seven or eight large palace lanterns adorned with pearls. On either side stood several pale porcelain vases filled with red and white plum blossoms cut the day before, their blooms lush and exquisite like brocade and embroidery. The table was laden with delicacies, and two large braziers were placed nearby, making the room as warm as spring. As they settled in and had just taken a couple of drinks, a knocking sound came from outside. Just as Lin Jinlou was puzzled, Liu Xiaochuan laughed heartily and said, "I bet the main event has arrived—quick, let them in!" He sent someone to open the door while chuckling, "I thought, with just us gentlemen drinking, it might get dull. And what luck—a courtesan named Guo Qiong has just arrived nearby these past couple of days. They all call her Sister Guo Qiong, and she's such a stunning beauty with a lovely voice. I heard she's from a well-to-do family and is incredibly popular now. Anyone of note around here must invite her to sing a couple of tunes at their banquets—she's fully booked! It's only thanks to my invitation that she's here; no one else could have gotten her!"

Yuan Shaoren pointed at him and laughed, "You, you! If only you'd rein in this playful heart of yours, your father might just return the properties you acquired outside."

Xie Yu rolled his eyes and said, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Though Sister Guo Qiong is a beauty, in the capital, she might not even make the list of top courtesans."

As they spoke, the tinkling of jewelry was heard, and four heavily made-up women entered. The one leading them wore a silver-red satin cloak and carried a pipa as she gracefully stepped forward. She gave a delicate curtsy and said in a melodious voice, "This humble girl greets all the gentlemen." Removing her hat, she revealed a delicate, powdered face—truly the picture of a beauty, and skilled in adornment. Her sleek, jet-black hair was impeccably styled, tied in a Hangzhou bun. After taking off her cloak, she showed a purple silk flower-patterned jacket paired with a bright pomegranate-red skirt. When Sister Guo Qiong saw Lin Jinlou, she was visibly startled, quickly lowering her head to hide her reaction, but then couldn't resist stealing glances at him.It turned out that this Guo Qiongjie was none other than Qiongzhi, the maid who had served Zhao Yuechan. Earlier, in an attempt to win Lin Jinlou's affection, Zhao Yuechan had meticulously selected and purchased a young girl, only to find that Lin Jinlou remained indifferent. When Zhao Yuechan left the Lin residence, she took this maid with her. To secure her marriage into the Dai Family, Zhao Yuechan schemed to have Qiongzhi seduce her brother Zhao Gang, but Zhao Gang, fickle in his affections, soon cast Qiongzhi aside, and she returned to Zhao Yuechan's side. Qiongzhi herself was no virtuous soul; she flirted with Dai Rong and eventually became involved with him. Initially, Qiongzhi lived quite comfortably in the Dai Family, but when Zhao Yuechan's grandfather Zhao Jin was murdered, Zhao Yuechan's standing in the Dai Family plummeted. Qiongzhi, accustomed to bossing others around, had long provoked silent resentment, and now that the wall was crumbling, everyone pushed—someone exposed the affair between Dai Rong and Qiongzhi to Dai Rong's wife, Madam Jiao. Madam Jiao, being a Lioness of Hedong type, could not tolerate such an insult and immediately raised a storm, causing chaos. That very Night, Qiongzhi was dragged out and sold to a brothel.

Now, by a twist of fate, Qiongzhi ended up at Lin Jinlou's Manor, performing songs.

Find me on Weibo by searching "He Yanshan" on Sina.)