Against the Current

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Everyone in the room stood up. Wang Shi said, "Enough, everyone may sit." She was somewhat dull-witted and lacked perception, failing to notice the varied expressions among those present, and simply sat on the edge of the heated brick bed.

Xianglan thought to herself, "Wang Shi is far from clever and lacks eloquence. I fear she cannot control these formidable figures here. I worry someone who loves stirring up trouble might seize this opportunity to create more disturbances. As the saying goes, 'Whoever started the trouble should end it.' It's best to resolve this matter from its roots." Thinking this, she said to Lin Dongxiu, "The Master will likely return soon. I'll go check and come back." Then she left the others and went out, encountering two or three maids and old women who asked, "Have you seen the Fourth Master?" All replied they hadn't. Xianglan searched along the way until she reached the small garden, where she met Ruizhu, the maidservant attending Lin Zhaoxiang. Ruizhu said, "The Fourth Master is behind the flower trellis."

Xianglan turned around the trellis and indeed saw Lin Jinyuan sitting on the ground with his knees hugged. She slowed her steps, hiding her figure behind a tree, and stole a glance. She saw Lin Jinyuan frowning as he plucked the magnolia, roses, and begonias blooming on the trellis one by one, the ground already covered with fallen petals. Xianglan thought to herself, "Although Lin Jinyuan can be mischievous, having been raised by the Old Master, he is usually a well-behaved child. Growing up in a wealthy family, he wouldn't dare to waste flowers and plants. His current state shows that even if he doesn't dare say it aloud, something is troubling him deeply." She sighed softly, walked over, and gently patted his shoulder.

Lin Jinyuan was startled. He turned his head, sprang to his feet, and only relaxed when he saw it was Xianglan, patting his chest and saying, "You nearly scared me to death." He stole a glance at Xianglan and stammered, "How are the Old Master and Taitai?"

Xianglan said sternly, "Naturally, they're very angry."

Lin Jinyuan hung his head dejectedly and began pulling at flower buds again. Xianglan reached out, held his hand, bent down, and whispered, "Little ancestor, do you know how much trouble this incident of yours has caused? First, the Old Master is furious, and Taitai nearly fell ill. If it were just our own family, it might be manageable, but with an outsider like Jiang Xiyun present, we've become a laughingstock."

Lin Jinyuan jolted, looked up, and asked, "Did you tell the Old Master that I lost the bracelet?"

Xianglan slowly shook her head: "I promised you I wouldn't say, so I won't."

Lin Jinyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Xianglan said gently, "Come, I'll go with you to apologize to the Old Master. The Old Master usually dotes on you like you're the apple of his eye. If you've made a mistake, he'll at most be angry and punish you a bit, but once his anger subsides, it'll be over. We'll all plead for you. Given that it's Taitai's birthday celebration, even if the Old Master is upset, he won't be too harsh."

Lin Jinyuan pouted, tilted his head, his tender white face full of reluctance."Now because of this bracelet, several of your sisters have grown suspicious of each other and quarreled over this matter. The eldest young mistress, second young mistress, Second Mistress, and Miss Jiang who had entered the inner room - they all argued over this. In such a large household with elders and juniors, brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, where many mouths create confusion and temperaments differ, it's inevitable that harmony gets hurt over matters. But what we fear most is small matters brewing into great disasters, where trivial matters lead to severed ties and broken hearts. When people's hearts scatter, the family collapses completely. Setting that aside, for the wrong you've committed, if you don't take responsibility yourself and instead let your sisters bear the blame for you, would you feel at ease in your heart?"

Lin Jinyuan lowered his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up, blinking his bright eyes: "My sisters certainly can't take the blame. Why not—let's say Jiang Xiyun took it!"

Xianglan gasped in shock, immediately saying: "How can that be?"

"Why can't it be?" Lin Jinyuan's small hand grabbed Xianglan's sleeve: "I'll say I saw her take it with my own eyes. You just need to play deaf and dumb." He shook Xianglan's arm, "She's not from our family anyway, and—and I heard some maids and old women gossiping that she once tried to harm you. This time we'll pin it on her - first, she'll bear the blame for the bracelet; second, it'll avenge you. Wouldn't that be satisfying?"

Xianglan looked into Lin Jinyuan's grape-like eyes and felt a fleeting impulse stirring in her heart, almost ready to agree. Yes, why shouldn't she agree? Jiang Xiyun had harmed her deeply, yet as a young lady from an established family, she escaped unscathed and now came to the Lin Family offering kindness as if nothing had happened, without showing the slightest remorse, as if her previous actions were completely justified. For such a selfish person, why should she preserve any kindness? Wouldn't such revenge be satisfying, letting Jiang Xiyun taste punishment too! This way, she would both earn Lin Jinyuan's gratitude and relieve the hatred in her heart - why not do it?

Seeing Xianglan with half-closed eyes, frowning in deep thought, Lin Jinyuan felt there was hope. Shaking Xianglan's arm like twisting candy, he repeatedly pleaded: "Can we? Can we? Let's do it this way! Good sister, please!"

Xianglan opened her eyes and looked at Lin Jinyuan. After a long while, she uttered two words with great difficulty: "No." After speaking, she let out a deep breath as if relieved of a heavy burden, and repeated once more, resolutely: "No!"

Lin Jinyuan said in surprise: "Why?"

"Because if I did that, I would despise myself forever." Xianglan said calmly, taking his hand. "Living in this world, we talk about living with integrity and openness - is that so easy? But at the very least, we should take responsibility for our own mistakes. Even if we face any punishment, our hearts remain clean, so we won't suffer from guilty conscience later, finding excuses to deceive ourselves saying that what we did back then was 'out of necessity, beyond our control' or that the other person 'brought it upon themselves' and we were merely 'going with the flow'. Actually, deep down, we know the truth best."Lin Jinyuan shook off her hand as if in a fit of pique. "You make it sound so easy. Didn’t you see how terrifying Grandfather was when he got angry? My eldest brother has the exact same temper as him. Last time, he struck me with his cane, and I couldn’t move for half a month! If you want to go, go ahead—I’m not going!" He viciously kicked at the flower petals on the ground, stomping his feet in frustration as he grumbled, "No wonder my eldest brother says you’re as pedantic as an old scholar. Are you really that foolish? There’s clearly a chance to kill two birds with one stone, yet you insist on making things difficult for yourself!"

Xianglan watched Lin Jinyuan without speaking, thinking to herself, "Yuan Ge’er is already so scheming at this age. He shares the same temperament as Lin Jinlou—both are extremely competitive and care deeply about face. If I expose his shortcomings, he might flare up and make things worse, and it would be unpleasant for me too. The best course now is to resolve this matter. I might as well take a desperate gamble and provoke him—he’ll likely agree." Slowly, she said, "Very well. Framing someone else for the bracelet incident is absolutely out of the question. But I also promised you I wouldn’t mention this matter to anyone. If we don’t clarify things, an innocent person will be wronged. In that case, I’ll take the blame myself."

Lin Jinyuan was startled and quickly asked, "What did you say?"

Xianglan replied, "I said, I’ll take the blame for you and go to the Old Master to accept punishment." With that, she turned to leave.

Lin Jinyuan exclaimed in alarm, "Madness! Madness! Have you gone mad?" He hurried after her and asked, "You’re lying to me, aren’t you? Huh?"

Xianglan stopped and said, "I’m taking the blame for you, Fourth Young Master, not so you’ll owe me a favor, but in the hope that you’ll act with integrity and uphold righteousness in the future. A true man should be able to shoulder his own mistakes."

These words made Lin Jinyuan flush with shame, and he stood rooted to the spot, tears welling in his eyes. Watching Xianglan walk away, he muttered resentfully, "Fine, go ahead if you’re so capable! You’re so virtuous, aren’t you?" After stewing in anger for a moment, he felt restless and uneasy, his mind still preoccupied. Stomping his foot, he chased after her again.

Xianglan walked very slowly, glancing back out of the corner of her eye. Seeing Lin Jinyuan following at a distance, she nodded imperceptibly to herself. She thought, "Though De Ge’er and Lin Jinyuan are only two or three years apart in age, their temperaments are vastly different. De Ge’er is honest, humble, and exceptionally courteous, displaying a dignified demeanor even at a young age. Yuan Ge’er, on the other hand, is full of cunning and eccentricity—clever but lacking in kindness. Still, he was raised with education and propriety, so he understands reason and hasn’t fallen into deceitfulness."

She stopped and turned around. Lin Jinyuan halted as well, hanging his head in silence. Xianglan walked over, took his hand, and bent down to say, "When we return today, I’ll tell your eldest brother that the Fourth Young Master of the Lin Family is someone who takes responsibility." Seeing Lin Jinyuan still wiping his tears, her heart softened. She had always been very close to him and couldn’t help but pat his head. "I’ll go with you to accept punishment from the Old Master. If you’re afraid, I’ll say we both lost the bracelet together. How about I accompany you?"

Lin Jinyuan lifted his sleeve to dry his eyes and stole a glance at Xianglan. Hearing that she would share the punishment with him, his courage grew, and he hesitantly nodded.Xianglan breathed a sigh of relief and led Lin Jinyuan all the way to the Flower Hall. Upon entering, they found the hall already empty, with fruits, tea, and wine still neatly arranged on the table. The golden beast-shaped incense burner continued to emit wisps of blue smoke. Only Liubei remained there, and upon seeing them, she said, "The Old Madam said she wasn't feeling well and has retired to the inner room to rest."

Xianglan said, "May I trouble you, sister, to announce us? We've come to apologize to the Old Master and Old Madam about the bracelet incident."

Liubei was startled, glancing at one and then the other, not daring to say more, and hurried inside to report. After waiting for some time, they heard a cough from inside the room, and Lin Zhaoxiang said calmly, "Come in."

The two of them entered and saw Lin Zhaoxiang sitting by the heated brick bed table, holding a water pipe. Lin Old Madam sat on the other side of the table, fingering a string of prayer beads. Xue Zhan and Ruizhu stood nearby attending to them, along with Lin Zhaoxiang's personal old servant Geng Tonggui, who also stood to the side.

Xianglan and Lin Jinyuan knelt down together. Lin Jinyuan didn't dare to make a sound. Seeing his pale face, Xianglan spoke up: "We've come to apologize to the Old Master and Old Madam. It was our negligence that caused the loss of the item bestowed by the Crown Prince's Palace. This morning, Fourth Master told me how precious the Crown Prince's gift was, and I became curious, so I begged Fourth Master to take it out for me to see. Fourth Master couldn't refuse me and took out the bracelet. We were looking at it by the pond in the small garden when, by accident, the bracelet fell into the lake—"

At this point, Lin Zhaoxiang's hand paused, his eyes shooting toward them like lightning. His gaze was sharp, his face frosty as he glared at Lin Jinyuan and said sternly, "Jinyuan, is this what happened?"

Lin Jinyuan mumbled, not daring to raise his head.

Lin Zhaoxiang slammed the gold-inlaid heated brick bed table and shouted, "I'm asking you—is it or isn't it?"

Lin Jinyuan was so frightened he shuddered, and tears began to fall.

Lin Old Madam quickly tried to soothe him: "Why are you shouting so loudly? Look how you've scared the child—"

Lin Zhaoxiang snapped angrily, "Stay out of this! It's all your indulgence that has spoiled him! I won't tolerate anyone speaking up for him today!" Then he roared at Lin Jinyuan again, "I'm asking you one last time—how exactly was that bracelet lost?"