Before we begin, let’s just take a minute to observe how the passage of time is shown in the cdrama.

In the beginning of the episode, LanXiang buys chrysanthemum greens from a street vendor. She observes that the female vendor has three baskets with her, one of which is a cozy Moses basket. The young mother explains that her husband brought them there, but he’s gone to sell meat as they need to earn more money for their baby now.

This scene looks trivial but it’s the screenwriter’s method of indicating the march of time in this story. This young mother with a red birthmark on her neck is the same little girl back in Episode 2 who was also hawking chrysanthemum greens on the streets when LanXiang first arrived in Jinling (modern-day Nanjing).

This street vendor occasionally pops up in the show to denote seasons changing and years passing. The title of the show is “Against the Current,” but when it comes to time, all the characters have no choice but to flow with the current.

I wish however that I knew when these different veggies are sold on the market in Ancient China. That will give me a better idea of the season. Oh well….

Major developments in Episode 21

1. Scholar Han’s widowed sister arrives in town.

He encourages his sister to spend more time with LX and learn from her ways.

There’s fracas outside the Han residence because the male in-laws of his sister coordinated a protest. They demand her return to her deceased husband’s home where she must live as a chaste widow for the rest of her life.

Apparently, her husband’s clan can obtain a “chastity memorial arch” from the government if she dies a widow. As absurd as this may sound to our 21st century sensibilities, this arch is regarded like a trophy because it honors the chaste widow’s filial piety and servitude to her former husband’s family.

But Scholar Han points out that, in reality, her sister’s in-laws just want to drive her to suicide so they can claim a tax break and labor exemption after her death.

Whoa! 

2. LanXiang’s foster parents come to realize that Scholar Han is a good match for her.

Her mother acknowledges that their humble background has put LanXiang at a disadvantage. But fortunately, there’s a good family like Scholar Han’s. Her father approves of him, too, after he saw Scholar Han’s willingness to sacrifice his reputation to protect his sister. Additionally, her mother believes Scholar Han’s mother will treat LanXiang well.

In another part of town, the Lin’s First Madam plans a marriage for JinQi. She has her eyes on the youngest daughter of Duke Xian Guo.

It’s interesting to contrast and compare the parents’ goals for their children’s marriage. LX’s parents prioritize her well-being and protection so LX can have an easy life after marriage. Likewise, JQ’s mother wants JQ to have a happy marriage but she sees the wife’s upbringing, status, and connections as important so she can be an asset to him as he moves up the political ladder.

3. But JinQi has his own plans for his and LX’s future.

To me, JinQi is clearly living up to the meaning of the title. He’s going “Against the Current.” Not only is he going against his mother’s expectations, but he’s also going against the implicit wishes of LX’s parents, Mr. Lu and Scholar Han.

Remember the “motto” he wrote for himself six months ago? “Plan before taking action, know when to stop and you will gain.”

As far as he’s concerned, he’s already taken appropriate steps to improve his reputation in society, and standing in the royal court. With his promotion, he’s become a member of the Crown Prince’s trusted circle, joining Commander Yuan. And since he has successful put his house in order, he can now begin his courtship of LX.

Thus, he visits LX’s residence, carrying gifts not only for her family but also for her landlord. For LX, he’s carefully repotted his orchid for her.

But on the way to LX, JiuGao nervously informs him that LX is not at home, but at Mr. Lu’s place with Scholar Han in attendance. JQ is visibly annoyed and begins to tidy himself up. Seeing that his master is fussing over his appearance, JiuGao compliments him to ease his mind.

JG: Young Master has distinguished bearing and remarkable courage and valor.
JQ: Go copy “Appearance” from “A New Account of the Tales of the World” 10 times. Learn how to flatter somebody properly.

Then he puts on his smiling face and knocks on the door.

I don’t know exactly what he means by that remark, but that won’t stop me from taking a guess.

Let me see now:

a. He doesn’t appreciate the “courageous and valiant” look that JuiGao is touting because he’s ditching his image of a savage, battle-worn warrior (Remember how he intimidated his father and his cohorts in Episode 2 when he came home from the war? He doesn’t want to appear like that again.)

b. He’s trying to copy the young, refined, and scholarly look of Scholar Han.

c. He wants to resemble Pan Yue from the book, “A New Account of the Tales of the World.”  Who’s Pan Yue, you may ask? Well, he was supposedly the ultimate “heartthrob” in Ancient China. He was so handsome that women would throw fruits at his carriage when he was out and about. But he wasn’t merely a pretty face. He was also a consummate poet and brilliant literary writer. JinQi wants to “beat” Scholar Han at his game.

d. The screenwriter is going for the “meta” and attempting to be self-referential here. You see, the actor Liu XueYi played Pan Yue in the the cdrama “In Blossom” (2024). This must be an inside joke or something.

Once inside the courtyard, JinQi faces the music, literally and metaphorically.

He sees LanXiang practicing a song with Mr. Lu. Mr. Lu spots JinQi and doesn’t hide his disapproval. When LX hits a difficult spot in the song, Scholar Han comes out of the house and helps her with the melody by singing with her. Their duet  harmonizes well, and JQ is jealous. Before their last notes die down, he bursts into applause.

LX goes up to meet him happily. She asks him what he’s doing there, but instead of replying, he formally introduces himself to Mr. Lu, the shop owner and landlord.

If he was expecting a warm welcome from Mr. Lu, then he was disappointed.

LX: (confidently) My surname is Lin. Given name, JinQi. Courtesy name, FengTai. Forgive me for calling unannounced. When I heard such a wonderful performance, I couldn’t help applauding and cheering. I’m sorry to have disturbed you, Sir. (bowing)
Lu: (pointedly) Your grandfather is Lin Zhao Xiang?
LX: (looking down, not answering)
Lu: We follow different paths and have nothing to say to each other.

He stands up and swings his arm as if shooing JQ away or cleansing the air of bad vibes. Even his butler snubs JQ when he tries to offer his gift to Mr. Lu to him.  Awkwardly, LX takes his proffered gift and makes excuses for Mr. Lu’s drunkenness. I’m sure they both know it’s a white lie to protect JQ’s feelings.

But his troubles are just beginning.

When she invites him to her family’s courtyard for some tea, Scholar Han joins in and begins acting like the host. It doesn’t sit well with JQ, obviously.

For instance, LX congratulates JQ on his promotion, and Scholar Han adds his best wishes, too. She grabs a bench for JQ and tells him to sit at the table, and Scholar Han follows suit. He lays his books on the table, grabs a bench, and sits at the table. He can’t read the room, that one, JQ wants alone time with LX, and two, he’s de trop here, or the third wheel.

So JinQi resorts to his usual way of boxing out Scholar Han, that is, he asks him about his government exam preparations. Trying to sound genuinely concerned about Scholar Han’s lack of reliable mentor, he offers to recommend him to his former tutor.

JQ: I was once a student of Scholar Shou Yi. If you’re willing I can recommend you to Qixia Academy to study under Scholar Shou Yi.

JQ knows that this is an irresistible bait for a cash-strapped examinee like Scholar Han. For a moment, Scholar Han looks eager to accept it, but LanXiang arrives with the tea and asks a simple question.

LX: Scholar Han is going to study at Qixia Academy?
Han: (staring at her then answering JQ) It’s just that my circumstances are unusual, and I have other plans. I can only appreciate your kind offer, Commander Lin.
JQ: (Rats. Foiled again!)

My comments:

a. One gentle question from LanXiang is enough to pull Scholar Han back to earth. He immediately stops fantasizing about JQ’s recommendation, and remembers that he needs to stay close to home, watching over his mother, sister, and LanXiang.

b. The visual standoff is funny.

The men understand perfectly what had just transpired between them. JQ wants him out of the way because he wants to marry LanXiang. And Scholar Han rejects JQ’s offer because he wants to marry LanXiang. The race is on!

Oblivious to the undercurrent, LX asks if JQ is there to see her father. JQ says he’s brought pastries from his 3rd sister’s betrothal ceremony. But he also has something for her from YuChan and GanTang.

He retrieves the potted orchid from Nanke and hands it to her.

She clearly has no recollection of their conversation during her drunken night together because she wonders why she’s given an orchid.

LX: (pleased but baffled) An orchid? Why would they specially send me a potted orchid?
JQ: Didn’t you say it blooms at night and smells wonderful? I happened to divide the plant so I brought you one of the new shoots.

Notice what he said?

First, he can’t seem to get it into his skull that she has zero/nada/zilch recollection of their conversation that night.

And second, he can’t lie very well. Originally, he claimed that the orchid was a gift from the girls. But now, he unwittingly discloses that he owned the parent orchid, took the effort to divide it into two, and then brought one half of the orchid over for her. (Sigh. The significance of his words is lost on LanXiang.)

To me, the plant is similar to a family dog that many couples adopt together. It’s their “couple” plant. He takes one half of the orchid, and she takes the other half. In his mind, he’s asking her to be responsible for “their” plant and keep it to remember him by. But she doesn’t get it, of course.

She still confused but accepts the pot.

LX: Thanks to YuChan and GanTang. They even remembered to bring me a potted flower.

See that? She doesn’t thank HIM after all he did to get it for her.

Then, Scholar Han interrupts their conversation and takes his leave. To my surprise, JQ follows his example and makes an exit, too.

Question: Did anybody wonder why JQ didn’t insist on lingering in the courtyard with LX? After all, he could have had her undivided attention for a few more minutes.

My Answer: I think it’s because he felt that he had successfully accomplished what he came out for.

On that day, he planned to present the orchid to LanXiang as a keepsake to remember him by. He naively assumes that every time she waters the plant, she’ll think not only of her female friends at the Lin residence, but also of him who delivered and handed it over to her with care.

Orchid = JinQi

That’s why he was content to leave.

Hmph. I told you that this guy lives in dreamland.