Against the Current

"How could your earring possibly be in my bed?" Xianglan said coldly as she went over to tidy the disheveled quilt and pillows.

Yindie rolled her eyes, then put on a smile and said, "I was so anxious about losing my earring that I just rummaged around carelessly. Dear sister, please don’t be angry."

Xianglan ignored her and went on gathering the damp clothes under the bed. Yindie sidled up to her and asked, "What did Lan Yiniang say to Huamei before she passed away? Did you hear anything?"

Xianglan glanced at Yindie, picked up the damp clothes, and went out. Yindie followed closely behind, pestering, "What did she say? Tell me, please."

Xianglan suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked expressionlessly at Yindie. "It was nothing much. Lan Yiniang just said she felt wronged because she didn’t get to see the Eldest Master one last time before she died." With that, she walked away without looking back.

Yindie spat behind her, "That little frozen mouse, what’s she so proud of!" Seeing no one around, she took out the eight-treasure gold hairpin with a ruby and cursed bitterly, "Such a thing must have been given to that little slut by the Eldest Master!" She gleefully tucked it into her hair and admired her reflection in the water vat, muttering, "You probably don’t have the fortune to wear something like this. It’s better off in my hair."

Just then, she saw Bailu waving at her from behind the green gauze window, pointing toward the main house.

Yindie’s heart tightened. She dashed off to the main house and knelt before Zhao Yuechan, saying, "Reporting to Da Nǎinai, I searched the room thoroughly, but none of the indigo-colored booklets I saw were the one you’re looking for."

Zhao Yuechan, who had been having her shoulders massaged by Yingshuang with her eyes closed, opened them and said, "Oh? You couldn’t find it? Weren’t you the one who patted your chest and promised you’d definitely find it, telling me to just wait for the good news? I thought you were clever and had even considered bringing you into my service after Lan Yiniang’s funeral. Who would’ve thought you couldn’t even handle such a small task?"

Yindie forced a smile and replied, "It’s been too chaotic today—people kept coming to change the bedding, others brought candles and paper slips, and Huamei was always hovering around. With so many hands and so much commotion, I only managed a quick search of Lan Yiniang’s bedroom and haven’t had a proper look yet. I beg you, Madam, to give me another day or half a day." She stole a glance at Zhao Yuechan and saw the peach-blossom eyes in that stunningly beautiful face radiated both allure and authority. She couldn’t help shrinking her neck, already regretting getting involved with the main household. But since things had come to this, there was no way out. Desperate to extricate herself, an idea suddenly came to her. "Actually," she said, "I suspect Huamei and Xianglan probably know about this. Before Lan Yiniang passed, she whispered to Huamei for a long time—most likely about that booklet. And Xianglan was standing right beside them. Just now, when we were tidying up, those two stood guard in the room like door gods. Who knows what they’re scheming?"

Zhao Yuechan frowned.

Huamei was a concubine sent by Lin Jinlou’s superior. As the saying goes, "When you beat a dog, you must consider its master." Huamei was thus different from the household’s Bedchamber maids. Moreover, her brother was a military household soldier and had been promoted to a low-ranking officer after his sister became Lin Jinlou’s concubine, which made Huamei’s status somewhat special. Huamei was also clever and slippery—Zhao Yuechan had tried to control her but never found an excuse. Whether openly or covertly provoked, Huamei seemed unbothered. If that account book had fallen into Huamei’s hands… As for Xianglan, she was a household-born maid. Beating or punishing her wouldn’t matter much, but Lin Jinlou was currently infatuated with her. This situation was truly thorny.Zhao Yuechan furrowed her brows tightly. With a sweeping glance, she suddenly noticed the eight-treasure ruby hairpin adorned with red gems in Yindie’s hair. Her eyes widened instantly, and she sprang to her feet, striding over to Yindie and snatching the hairpin into her hand. She demanded sharply, “Where did this hairpin come from?”

Yindie was stunned, speechless and frozen in place.

Zhao Yuechan slapped Yindie across the face and pointed at her nose, shouting, “Speak! Where did this hairpin come from!”

Trembling with fear, Yindie forgot to cry and stammered through quivering lips, “Th-this is… mine…”

Zhao Yuechan grabbed Yindie and jabbed the hairpin toward her face, cursing, “You wretched, damned girl! How dare you play tricks in front of your mistress! This hairpin is yours? Bullshit! You’re not even fit to wear it! If you don’t tell the truth, I’ll jab your mouth to shreds!”

Yindie shielded her face with one hand, which had already been jabbed several times, and cried out in pain, “Spare me, Da Nǎinai, spare me! I found this hairpin on Xianglan’s bed!”

At these words, Zhao Yuechan’s hand stilled, and she slowly released Yindie, like a bowstring that had lost its tension. Her gaze turned vacant. This hairpin was part of the set Cao Lihuan had given her, which she had entrusted to Qian Wenze to sell—eight pieces in total, flipped for a profit of five hundred taels of silver. Who would have thought that, after all this time, it had ended up in Lin Jinlou’s hands? He had spent a fortune to buy it, just to please some little maid! Even that wretch Qinglan had never received such extravagance from him!

Since Lin Jinlou cared so much, this little wretch could not be allowed to stay. Qinglan had just died, and Zhao Yuechan had hoped to enjoy a few peaceful days. She couldn’t afford to have a wolf follow right after a tiger had been removed.

Zhao Yuechan’s temples throbbed violently, her palms slick with sweat. She took several rapid, shallow breaths.

Yingshuang hurried over to support Zhao Yuechan, whispering, “Da Nǎinai, don’t be angry. Your health is what matters most.” She helped her sit in a chair and quickly poured a bowl of tea.

The room fell into silence, broken only by Yindie’s soft sobs.

Zhao Yuechan let out a long sigh and gritted her teeth, enunciating each word slowly, “Xianglan… that little whore certainly has her tricks.”

Yindie knelt and shuffled forward a few steps, saying, “Da Nǎinai is absolutely right. She’s a thoroughly clueless thing. Last time Da Nǎinai went to the east wing, she served a bowl of hot tea and even scalded your hand.”

Yingshuang leaned in and whispered, “Da Nǎinai, don’t bother with someone who uses such bewitching charms. She’s highly skilled. Have you forgotten? When Xianglan first entered the mansion, Eldest Master circled her name—he must have taken notice of her even then.”Yindie vaguely heard the words "Eldest Master" and perked up even more, hurriedly wiping the tears from her face. She then added fuel to the fire, saying, "Last time Xianglan scalded her face, the Eldest Master specially sent someone to deliver a box of... what was it called... Crystal Jade Orchid Snow Cream. I heard it was a gift from the palace just this New Year, extremely precious. The Eldest Master didn't even blink before giving it to her. Ever since that little wretch got that cream, she's been walking with a swagger, not even deigning to look at us properly. I couldn't stand it, so I gave her a few words of warning, telling her that the Eldest Master only gave her face out of respect for Da Nǎinai, and she shouldn't get carried away. Guess what she said to me? She said, 'The Eldest Master doesn't just give face to anyone. If he didn't have some pity for me, why would he give me the cream bestowed by the palace?' Listen, just listen, is that the talk of a decent person? Now the Eldest Master wants to promote her again, and she's even more pleased with herself, to the point where she doesn't even do her chores anymore, spending all day copying some worthless scriptures, acting as if she's already a mistress. Concubine Lan is too soft-hearted, not like you, Madam, who can't tolerate a speck of dust in your eye, and she indulges that little wretch. Oh, just thinking about it still makes my chest ache with anger!" Yindie saw Zhao Yuechan's expression growing darker and darker, and inwardly rejoiced. Why was it that when she gave the Eldest Master a pouch or straightened his clothes, she faced jealousy and ostracism? She got beaten for trying to warm up to the Eldest Master's cold indifference. Yet Xianglan, who was foolish and clumsy, was being promoted by Lin Jinlou. She just couldn't accept it!

Zhao Yuechan said to Yindie, "Enough, you may go. I'll give you one more day to find that ledger for me. Make sure no one else knows, or you'll pay for it!"

Yindie secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave when Zhao Yuechan called out again, "Wait, go and bring Xianglan to me. Do it quietly, without anyone noticing."

Yindie acknowledged the order and left.

By this time, the east wing had been draped entirely in plain white, and the small hall had been set up as a mourning hall, brightly lit with candles. Xianglan had changed to a white hair ribbon and wrapped a plain Wan sash around her waist. She was sitting on a small stool keeping vigil for Qinglan when she suddenly saw Yindie walk in and say to her, "Come with me. Da Nǎinai has some questions for you."

Seeing Yindie's unfriendly expression, Xianglan's heart sank, vaguely sensing that this summons boded ill. She thought to herself, "Why would Da Nǎinai summon me for no reason?" She glanced around and saw that aside from herself, there was no one else in the hall, only the faint sound of Xiao Juan and Chunling talking in the room.

Xianglan had no choice but to follow Yindie. When they reached the main room, she saw Zhao Yuechan sitting upright on the large kang inside the Green Gauze Bed. Her black hair was piled high, fastened with a blue-green phoenix hairpin with double strands and pearl tassels. Her face was heavily made up with bright cosmetics, and water droplet white jade earrings dangled from her ears, swaying with a captivating charm. Her powdered face carried a stern authority, exuding a sharp and imposing aura. Yingshuang stood beside her, waiting on her with bated breath.

Xianglan, trembling with fear, knelt and kowtowed, saying, "I wish you a thousand autumns, Madam."

Zhao Yuechan didn't speak, intentionally letting Xianglan remain kneeling as she scrutinized her from head to toe. She noticed that Xianglan was still wearing old clothes, without any flashy attire that would suggest she was flaunting favor. Her face was beautiful, though her eyes were slightly swollen from crying, giving her a pitiful charm. However, now that she was in her presence, she seemed timid and restrained, even less spirited than Yindie. Zhao Yuechan said, "Do you know why I called you here?"

Xianglan shrank back slightly, kneeling on the ground with her face lowered, and said, "This servant does not know."Zhao Yuechan sneered, "Looking like a sick kitten, yet you have quite the skill in seducing men."

Xianglan was taken aback and glanced at Yindie, wondering what lies she had been spreading. In her moment of hesitation, Zhao Yuechan continued, "Let me ask you: Yingshuang dropped an indigo booklet in the garden. Do you know where it is?"

Xianglan thought to herself, "Why is she asking me this?" but replied aloud, "This servant does have two indigo booklets for copying Buddhist scriptures. Concubine Lan borrowed one, and the other is still in my room."

Seeing her bewildered expression and sensing no deceit, Zhao Yuechan knew Xianglan was unaware of the matter. She sneered, "Never mind the booklet. You have unclean hands, daring to steal from your masters!" She then revealed the eight-treasure gold hairpin adorned with gems and demanded, "Where did this come from?"

At this, Xianglan kowtowed and pleaded, "This was a trinket bestowed by the Eldest Master! This servant is wronged—I would never dare take so much as a blade of grass from the masters' quarters! I beg Da Nǎinai to see the truth!"

Hearing "bestowed by the Eldest Master," Zhao Yuechan’s hatred burned fiercer. She spat viciously, "You wretched, deceitful wench! How dare you lie to my face? Do you think I’m easily fooled? It seems you won’t confess without punishment. Yingshuang, go slap that mouth of hers!"