Against the Current

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This was the first time Xianglan had seen Lin Zhaoxiang lose his temper, and she couldn't help but recall Lin Jinlou's fierce, glaring expression. She actually felt somewhat amused and thought to herself, "Before, I thought everyone in the Lin Family were scholars, refined and gentle. I never knew where Lin Jinlou got his Overlord temperament from, but now I've finally found the source." Suddenly she froze. Originally, Lin Jinlou had been a master she had no choice but to serve in her mind, but gradually, his flaws had faded bit by bit. Especially after that difficult snowy night when, clinging to his last breath, he insisted on ensuring her future was secure before closing his eyes—after all these days of living closely together, now when she thought of his faults, she could actually laugh from the bottom of her heart. Then her heart sank again, and she closed her eyes.

Just then, she heard Lin Jinyuan still sobbing beside her, and Xianglan snapped back to reality, saying, "Old Master—"

Lin Zhaoxiang waved his hand and said, "Be quiet, I'm asking him."

Lin Jinyuan was clever; seeing the situation, he knew he couldn't avoid it and decided it was better to confess frankly. After a couple of sobs, he said quietly, "The bracelet was taken out by your grandson because I was being playful and got lost—it has nothing to do with anyone else—" After speaking, he cried again, crying while secretly glancing at Lin Zhaoxiang and then at his grandmother.

Lin Zhaoxiang snorted and said, "You little rascal, at least you're honest!" He handed the water pipe to Geng Tonggui and added, "Bring it here." Xue Zhan then presented a gold-painted tray, on which lay a string of agarwood eighteen beads prayer beads on red velvet.

Xianglan and Lin Jinyuan were both stunned, while Geng Tonggui bowed slightly and smiled, "This bracelet was picked up by this old servant. Early this morning, when Fourth Master was going out with Third Master, his sachet fell off at the second gate while mounting his horse. Only one young servant was accompanying him, and in the rush, he didn't notice and left. This old servant happened to see it and thus handed it over to the Old Master."

Only then did everything become clear. Xianglan suddenly understood and thought, "The Old Master was testing Yuan Ge'er by deliberately claiming the bracelet was lost."

Lin Old Madam felt sorry for her youngest grandson and quickly said, "Since everything's been cleared up and Yuan Ge'er has admitted it, let him get up quickly, the floor is cold."

Lin Zhaoxiang, his face stern with anger, retorted, "Let him kneel! All these years, he's supposedly read some sage books—has it all gone to the dogs? This useless thing only knows how to play cheap tricks, shaming our ancestors. If we don't discipline him strictly, he'll surely become a disaster in the future!" His face as dark as a pot bottom, he turned to Ruizhu and said, "You tell it."

Ruizhu stepped forward and said, "This female servant happened to be in front of the flower trellis at the time and overheard a bit." She then recounted how Xianglan and Lin Jinyuan had spoken and how Lin Jinyuan had replied, getting about eighty to ninety percent of it right.

Lin Jinyuan's face turned red and white with shame and remorse, his head bowed as tears streamed down continuously.

Lin Old Madam didn't dare to plead further, and Xianglan didn't dare to speak. The only sound in the room was Lin Jinyuan's soft sobbing. Lin Zhaoxiang let out a deep sigh, turned his head to look at Xianglan, and his tone softened somewhat as he said, "You stand up, I have a few questions to ask you."

Xianglan had no choice but to stand up.Lin Zhaoxiang narrowed his eyes slightly, looking her up and down several times. He tapped the heated brick bed table with the fingers of his left hand, staring blankly at the painting hanging on the wall for a moment before suddenly saying, "I've long known about those matters between you and Miss Jiang."

Xianglan was taken aback, unable to hide her astonishment.

Lin Zhaoxiang continued, "Not only do I know, but I probably know more than you do. I'm fully aware of what each of those young ladies has done." He picked up a small square towel from the table and wiped his hands, speaking slowly, "Miss Jiang and her sister conspired to harm you. Now that you have this perfect opportunity, why not frame her? First, to vent your hatred, and second, to gain favor. This matter could be done without anyone knowing. If I don't have Ruizhu follow Yuan Ge'er, naturally no one would find out."

Xianglan blurted out, "My own conscience would know." Seeing Lin Zhaoxiang's sharp gaze fixed on her, she grew somewhat flustered, lowered her head, then raised it again as if to reaffirm her words, and repeated softly, "My own conscience would know."

Lin Zhaoxiang's eyes were like those of an eagle, staring at her as he said, "Let me ask you this: if today Yuan Ge'er refused to admit his mistake, would you really take the blame yourself? Even if you repay evil with kindness like this, Jiang Xiyun wouldn't know about it. Don't talk about having the capacity to be magnanimous and tolerant—how many saints have there been since ancient times? We're all ordinary people, subject to joy, anger, sorrow, fear, and surprise—how could these not affect our hearts?"

Hearing this, Xianglan curved her lips slightly. In her previous life, when she had met Lin Zhaoxiang, she had only found his words smooth and modest, like a spring breeze. She hadn't expected his home conversations to be so pointed and direct, presenting quite a different scene. She also recalled how the Shen and Lin families had been close in her previous life, and how Lin Zhaoxiang had once held her on his knee, grasping her small hand to write the eight characters: "Rectify faults and correct errors, virtue alone is fragrant." A mix of emotions welled up within her, and she said, "When I was young, I scoffed at the phrase 'repay evil with kindness,' thinking that if we repay evil with kindness, then how should we repay kindness? I believed that freely expressing gratitude and resentment was what made life worthwhile. But as I grew older and experienced more of the world, I came to understand that my initial view was due to my own narrow-mindedness. 'Repaying evil with kindness' actually corresponds to three levels of understanding in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism."

Everyone was astonished by Xianglan's words. Lin Zhaoxiang became greatly interested. Having once served as Guozijian Jijiu, he had deep knowledge of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, but this was the first time he had heard a woman discuss them in his presence. Even Lin Old Madam listened attentively.

Xianglan stood straight as a pine tree, her back ramrod straight, her voice gentle and elegant: "The first level is what Confucius said: 'Repay injustice with justice, and repay kindness with kindness.' Clear distinction between the two, merely worldly satisfaction—this is how most ordinary people are. They would bear grudges and retaliate even if someone said one wrong word to them, let alone for more serious matters."

Lin Zhaoxiang nodded slowly and said, "True, a single misplaced word can create enmity."

Xianglan continued, "The second level is what Laozi said: 'To patch up great hatred is surely to leave some hatred behind. How can this be regarded as good? Therefore, the sage holds the left tally, and does not put the guilt on the other party. The virtuous man is for patching up, the virtueless for exacting. The way of heaven has no favorites, but is always with the good man.'"

Lin Zhaoxiang said, "This comes from the seventy-ninth chapter of the Tao Te Ching."Xianglan smiled faintly, "The Old Master is truly learned and well-informed." She glanced down at Lin Jinyuan's bewildered expression and continued as if explaining to him, "This phrase means that although deep-seated hatred may be reconciled, resentment inevitably lingers in the heart. Can kindness repay enmity? It is like a virtuous person holding an IOU but not pressing for repayment, while an unvirtuous person nitpicks and demands payment. The Great Way follows nature and always walks with the good." She paused briefly before adding, "The wrongs others have done to you are like IOUs in your hand. Those with profound virtue will not harshly demand repayment but will instead resolve them with virtue and kindness. It is better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it, and heaven and earth are just—those who are often willing to suffer losses will surely receive abundant rewards."

Lin Jinyuan tilted his head in thought, sniffled as if somewhat ashamed, and lowered his head again.

Lin Zhaoxiang's eyes lit up as he asked, "What about the third level?"

Xianglan replied gently, "The third level belongs to the Buddhist path: 'Heaven and earth are within, all transformations arise from the mind.' In this world, cycles of vengeance and conflict arise merely for fame, profit, face, status, and that one breath we cannot swallow. Thus, by letting go and seeing through these illusions, abandoning self-attachment, one refrains from anger when treated poorly by others and instead cultivates compassion, pitying them for the karmic retribution they will suffer. This is the highest state—requiring immense cultivation, refinement, and compassion to hold no hatred in one's heart, to be broad-minded and carefree." Her words, unhurried and deliberate, resonated deeply.

Lin Zhaoxiang was visibly stirred, his eyes widening as he exchanged a glance with Lin Old Madam. Both wore expressions of astonishment.

Lin Old Madam could not help but exclaim, "This is truly—" She looked Xianglan up and down several times before adding, "Have you now attained such enlightenment and letting go?"

Xianglan shook her head and smiled, "Not at all. Just now in the Flower Hall, when I saw her, I still felt intense hatred. Perhaps in a few years, when the resentment in my heart gradually fades, I can treat her with goodwill. As the Old Master said earlier, we are all ordinary people—how can we not be affected? In the end, she is the one who harmed me, leaving me likely without descendants in the future. Asking me to treat her kindly now would be forcing the impossible. I may not reach the highest state, but I can at least achieve the middle level. Besides, what's done is done. No matter how much I hate, the abortion medicine I drank cannot be vomited out. Hating her only makes me suffer. If I were to frame or retaliate against her, how would that differ from her previous actions? I will simply treat her with fairness and calm—without hatred, but also without forced affection. Upholding a clear conscience and living with integrity is enough." After speaking, she looked down at Lin Jinyuan, who was kneeling dejectedly and unsteadily on the ground, tear streaks on his cheeks, pitiful as a kitten. She then raised her head and said, "Earlier, the Old Master asked me whether I would have admitted to the mistake if the Fourth Master had not come. To be honest, I never considered it. At the time, I merely wanted to provoke him. The Fourth Master is an extremely intelligent and spiritually gifted person—he would certainly take responsibility."After hearing these words, Lin Zhaoxiang remained silent for a long while before finally letting out a deep sigh. "I never expected to hear such words today, and from someone like you of all people," he said. He sighed repeatedly, shaking his head and nodding alternately. "What a pity, what a pity—what a lament, what a lament—" His expression toward Xianglan had softened considerably, his eyes glistening with complex emotions. After a long pause, he said, "With such breadth of mind, no wonder you could paint those paintings. It reminds me of an old acquaintance of mine." With that, he personally picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Xianglan. "You must be thirsty after speaking for so long. Have this cup."

Everyone was astonished, and their gazes toward Xianglan shifted dramatically. Geng Tonggui thought to himself, "I've served the Old Master for many years, and this is the first time I've ever seen him pour tea for a woman—and she's a Concubine who started as a maid! Tsk, and she's the Master's favorite too. There's bound to be some intrigue here." He pondered whether he should send word to Lin Jinlou.

Xianglan was taken aback but quickly accepted the tea with both hands, giving a slight curtsy. "Thank you for your kindness, Old Master, and for bestowing this tea."

Seeing Lin Zhaoxiang's softened expression, Lin Old Madam seized the opportunity to say, "Why not let Yuan Ge'er get up now, or at least give him a cushion to kneel on? The weather is still chilly, and it would be terrible if he fell ill. He knows he was wrong now, doesn't he?"

Lin Zhaoxiang's face immediately darkened again, his gaze stern as he glared at Lin Jinyuan, who didn't dare even breathe loudly. Lin Zhaoxiang suddenly sighed and said, "This is my fault. Before, I only focused on teaching you to study, neglecting to properly teach you how to be a good person. I took pride in how many passages of the Four Books my youngest grandson could interpret and how many essays he could write at such a young age, but I forgot that virtue and talent must go hand in hand—with 'virtue' coming before 'talent.' Otherwise, no matter how much one reads or how talented one becomes, if one is full of base tricks and lacks virtue, it brings shame upon our ancestors. It would be better to beat such a person to death!"

Before he could finish, wailing cries were heard from outside. Just as Lin Zhaoxiang was about to send someone to inquire, a maid announced that Second Eldest Miss had arrived. Lin Dongqi entered, her face full of anxiety, and said, "Old Master, Old Madam, something terrible has happened in the side room. Please, Old Master, come and take charge."

That's all for today.