Against the Current

Now, Lin Jinlou emerged from the eastern wing and summoned a young page boy on duty in the corridor, saying, "Go to the front study and tell Shu Ran to bring the medicinal ointment bestowed by the palace to Xianglan, the maid in the eastern wing." With that, he turned and returned to the main quarters. Zhao Yuechan's maids, Bailu and Tinglan, were already waiting at the door. Upon seeing Lin Jinlou arrive, they immediately busied themselves.

Yingshuang went to fetch the pear-scented tea that had been brewed earlier, Bailu went to wring out a hot towel, and Tinglan arranged delicate pastries on the kang table. Lin Jinlou paid them no mind and strode directly inside. Zhao Yuechan followed closely behind him. When she saw Yingshuang, she gave her a meaningful glance. Yingshuang understood and nodded almost imperceptibly before turning away.

Lin Jinlou sprawled onto the bed, closed his eyes, and remained silent. Zhao Yuechan forced a smile back onto her face, approached softly, and sat on the embroidered stool beside the bed, speaking gently, "I noticed you ate well earlier, but if you're still hungry, I've prepared some pastries here—jujube paste and yam cakes, as well as chrysanthemum cakes, both good for digestion and replenishing energy."

Lin Jinlou opened his eyes and glanced at Zhao Yuechan, saying, "No need."

"Please have some, it's my sincere gesture," Zhao Yuechan urged with an ingratiating smile. "Quickly bring the cakes."

Before long, Lin Jinlou heard a voice beside him say, "Please have some pastries, Eldest Master." The voice was melodious and sweet, soft and captivating.

Lin Jinlou opened his eyes and saw a maid of about fifteen or sixteen kneeling on the floor. She had a slender and graceful figure, clad in a lake-blue jacket that accentuated her full bosom and slender waist. Upon closer inspection, her face featured willow-leaf eyebrows, cherry lips, and large, dewy eyes—truly a charming beauty. She held a tray with a plate containing several pieces of pastry.

Seeing Lin Jinlou scrutinize the maid, Zhao Yuechan felt a pang of jealousy but maintained her smile, saying, "This is Qiongzhi. She was bought a couple of days ago. I thought she had a good appearance and a gentle disposition, so I kept her by my side to serve... Hurry and pay your respects to the Eldest Master."

Yingshuang took the tray from the side, and Qiongzhi gracefully bowed, saying, "Qiongzhi pays her respects to the Eldest Master." As she spoke, her eyes couldn't help but drift toward Lin Jinlou. She had been purchased by Zhao Yuechan at a high price from a human trafficker a few days prior. Originally, she had been bought by a madam at a young age and even had a tutor who taught her to recognize a few characters and play some musical instruments. Though still a virgin, she had learned some coquettish tricks. Later, an official intended to buy her as a concubine for his superior, but that family suffered a fire and faced financial ruin, so they directly took her to the trafficker to sell for money. It happened that Zhao Yuechan was there to pick someone and bought her.

When she first arrived, Zhao Yuechan's stern warnings had genuinely frightened Qiongzhi. But today, the moment she laid eyes on Lin Jinlou, her gaze seemed glued to him, unable to look away—she had assumed she would be serving a man in his sixties, never expecting someone so vigorous and handsome!

Qiongzhi felt half her body go weak, sending a meaningful, flirtatious glance before shyly lowering her head.

Zhao Yuechan felt a tightness in her chest and shortness of breath. Recently, she had noticed Lin Jinlou visiting the eastern wing daily and finally came to a realization: her greatest threat was not those seductive Bedchamber maids, but Lan Yiniang in the eastern wing. Lan Yiniang came from a respectable family, had won Qin Shi's favor, and was now pregnant. Even Lin Jinlou held her in high regard. If she were to bear a son in the future, there would be even less room for Zhao Yuechan in the Lin residence!Zhao Yuechan was a clever woman. After much painful reflection and deliberation, she finally resolved to personally select a beautiful concubine to send to Lin Jinlou's bed. Once the concubine bore a son, she would adopt the child as her own to secure her future standing. However, this concubine had to be carefully chosen: first, her contract must be held in Zhao Yuechan's own hands; second, she must not be too clever but possess some discernment; third, she must be obedient and docile. After careful selection according to Lin Jinlou's preferences in women, she settled on the girl before her. After a few days of training and giving her a more alluring name, she presented her to Lin Jinlou.

Now, watching Lin Jinlou's visibly stirred expression, Zhao Yuechan felt a mix of joy and bitterness, an indescribable turmoil in her heart. As her thoughts wandered, she heard Lin Jinlou snort with laughter, leaning close to mock her, "I never knew you'd taken up a brothel keeper's hobby."

Zhao Yuechan froze, her face instantly paling.

Lin Jinlou reclined back against the round pillow and said leisurely, "Pity I dare not accept the procuress services of Da Nǎinai."

With that, he turned to face the wall and closed his eyes to sleep.

Zhao Yuechan gritted her teeth in silent fury, rising to leave with Yingshuang but ordering Qiongzhi to remain and attend to him. Once outside, Yingshuang gestured toward the room and whispered, "Eldest Master isn't taking the bait. What should we do?"

Zhao Yuechan sneered, "Don't be fooled by his act. Didn't you see how he stared at that little minx the moment she entered, not once looking away? Let's go. I refuse to believe he won't touch that tempting morsel."

To be fair, Lin Jinlou was indeed tempted. Having abstained for so long during his great-grandmother's mourning period, the sight of such a stunning beauty swaying before him stirred his desire. Yet, he was currently plotting to expel Zhao Yuechan from the household—how could he touch someone she sent?

Lin Jinlou lay with closed eyes and soon drifted into a hazy sleep. Waking thirsty in the night, he pushed aside the bed curtains and called out, "Tea."

Before long, a pair of pale, delicate hands offered a celadon lotus-petal cup. Lin Jinlou took it and drank in one go. By the faint light, he saw Qiongzhi standing before the bed, her hair loosely tied, her plain white jacket half-open to reveal a crimson undergarment that made her skin appear even whiter.

Noticing Lin Jinlou's gaze, Qiongzhi's eyes reddened. She lowered her head and murmured, "Does Qiongzhi displease Eldest Master... and make you unhappy?"

Her pitiable demeanor instantly parched his throat. Unconsciously softening his voice, he handed back the cup and said, "What nonsense are you thinking? I'm not displeased."

Tears glistening in her eyes, Qiongzhi glanced at him with a hint of shyness and whispered, "Then... if Da Nǎinai wishes me... to serve Eldest Master... I... I am willing..."

As she reached for the cup, she deliberately brushed against his hand. Her small hands were smooth and soft, sending a thrill through him. Lin Jinlou grasped her hand, pulling her into his embrace with a teasing laugh, "Serve me? How will you serve me?" Thinking to himself, "After all, she's just a maid. Taking her is no great matter. Did she think sending me a beauty would make me call off divorcing her?"Qiongzhi's cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she traced her fingernail across Lin Jinlou's chest. "Whatever way Eldest Master wishes to be served, this humble one will serve."

Lin Jinlou chuckled softly and leaned in to kiss her, but upon seeing Qiongzhi's coy and timid expression, he inexplicably recalled the little maid Xianglan, whose face had been scalded by tea earlier that day. Xianglan had worn the same timid look, her face flushed red, her large eyes brimming with tears, radiating an indescribable pitifulness. This, in turn, reminded him of Zhao Yuechan's domineering arrogance, and even the beauty in his arms lost its appeal. Releasing his hold, he pushed Qiongzhi away and said indifferently, "It's late. Go to bed." He let down the bed curtains and turned over to sleep.

Qiongzhi stood dumbfounded by the bedside, unable to comprehend why this master had suddenly turned cold. One moment he had been gentle and soft-spoken, the next he was stern and aloof. Resentment simmered within her as she cursed herself for missing the opportunity earlier—she should not have been so coy but should have seized the moment to make the deed irreversible. Clenching her teeth in frustration, she could only stomp her foot in a fit of pique and return to her own bed to sleep.