Lan Xiang Yuan by He Yan Shan | Against The Current

Oct 10, 2026

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Lan Xiang Yuan (兰香缘) is a Chinese historical romance novel by He Yan Shan. The complete novel follows Xiang Ling, a clever and resilient maid in a noble household, who navigates complex family struggles, deep-seated feuds, and intense emotional entanglements to take charge of her own fate. It was adapted into the historical drama Against The Current , starring Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi.

Centering on Xiang Ling, a clever and resilient young woman whose life unfolds within the strict hierarchy of a powerful household. Living as a maid means that her future can easily be shaped by the decisions of others, yet Xiang Ling refuses to surrender her judgment or sense of self. As tensions rise among the people around her, she learns to read intentions, respond carefully to danger and seek room to determine her own fate. The complete novel is available here to read online for free, making it easy to follow Xiang Ling's story from its beginning through the increasingly complicated struggles surrounding her.
Rather than relying only on romance, the story builds its historical setting through household relationships, differences in status and the constraints placed on women. Family interests, old grievances and shifting loyalties repeatedly complicate Xiang Ling's position, while emotional attachments make seemingly practical choices far more difficult. Readers interested in Chinese historical romance novels will find familiar elements of mansion intrigue and slow-building relationships, but the heroine's effort to gain control over her own life remains central to the narrative.
The novel has also attracted renewed attention through its screen adaptation, Against the Current (兰香如故), a Chinese historical drama starring Tan Songyun as Luo Shuying and Liu Xueyi as Lin Jinyan. The adaptation draws from the world and central relationship established by He Yan Shan's original work, giving drama viewers another reason to discover the source novel. For readers searching for the original story behind Against the Current, this complete eBook offers a direct way to explore the characters, relationships and conflicts in greater depth. You can also download the full book for free for convenient offline reading on mobile, PC or tablet.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatDOCX

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Chapter 1 Origin

Chapter 3 Lamenting

Chapter 4 Entering the Mansion (1)

Chapter 5 Entering the Mansion (2)

Chapter 6 Cousins

Chapter 7 Bank Run

Chapter 8 Wives and Concubines (Part 1)

Chapter 9 Wives and Concubines (Part Two)

Chapter 10 Gift Giving

Chapter 11 Inquiry

Chapter 12 Countermeasures

Chapter 13 The First Wife

Chapter 14 Dispute

Chapter 15 Song Ke

Chapter 16 Reversal

Chapter 17 Tinglan

Chapter 18 Contest

Chapter 19 Magnolia

Chapter 20 Pouch

Chapter 21 Thoughts

Chapter 22 Planning

Chapter 23 Delivering Letters

Chapter 24 Riddle

Chapter 25 Training the Daughter

Chapter 26 Questioning

Chapter 27 Unleashing Power

Chapter 28 Water Carrying

Chapter 29 Poisonous Scheme

Chapter 30 Birthday Feast

Chapter 31 Peach Juice

Chapter 32 Filth

Chapter 33 Testimony

Chapter 34 Complaint

Chapter 35 Sophistication

Chapter 36 Throwing a Tantrum

Chapter 37 Change of Ownership

Chapter 38 Silver Butterfly

Chapter 39 Rewards

Chapter 40 Taking Credit

Chapter 41 Inquiry

Chapter 42 Serving (Part 1)

Chapter 43 Serving (Part Two)

Chapter 44 Selling Hairpins

Chapter 45 Visiting Relatives

Chapter 46 The Fan

Chapter 47 Teahouse

Chapter 48 Returning Home

Chapter 49 Burns

Chapter 50 Agar

Chapter 51 Praise to Kill

Chapter 52 Stubbornness

Chapter 53 Agency

Chapter 54 Looking Afar

Chapter 55 Poetry Society (Part 1)

Chapter 56 Poetry Society (Part Two)

Chapter 57 Poetry Society (Part 3)

Chapter 58 Poetry Society (Part Four)

Chapter 59 Poetry Society (Part 5)

Chapter 60 Poetry Society (Part Six)

Chapter 61 Fool

Chapter 62 Teasing

Chapter 63 Making a Scene

Chapter 64 Fear

Chapter 65 Discussion

Chapter 66 Flirting

Chapter 67 The Target (Part 1)

Chapter 68 The Target (Part Two)

Chapter 69 Rectification (Part 1)

Chapter 70 Rectification (Part Two)

Chapter 71 Disposition

Chapter 72 Begging

Chapter 73 The Beginning of Trouble

Chapter 74 Demanding

Chapter 75 Soul Broken

Chapter 76 Settling the Matter

Chapter 77 Implicates

Chapter 78 Getting Beaten

Chapter 79 Private Meeting

Chapter 80 Turning Point

Chapter 81 Escape

Chapter 82 Nonsense

Chapter 83 Fragrance

Chapter 84 Instigation

Chapter 85 Hidden

Chapter 86 Good News

Chapter 87 Xia Yun

Chapter 88 Lotus Lantern

Chapter 89 Yearning

Chapter 90 Hidden Rise

Chapter 91 Conflict (Part 1)

Chapter 92 Conflict (Part Two)

Chapter 93 Unease

Chapter 94 Disposition

Chapter 95 Suicide

Chapter 96 Framed

Chapter 97 Revealed

Chapter 98 Hesitation

Chapter 99 Distinguished Guest

Chapter 100 Visit

Chapter 101 Contradiction

Chapter 102 Entering Beijing

Chapter 103 Going Home (Part 1)

Chapter 104 Going Home (Part Two)

Chapter 105 Going Home (Part 3)

Chapter 106 Outer Room

Chapter 107 Secret Love

Chapter 108 Discovering (Part 1)

Chapter 109 Caught in the Act (Part Two)

Chapter 110 Discovering (Part 3)

Chapter 111 Aftermath

Chapter 112 Visiting

Chapter 113 Fingernails

Chapter 114 Release from Household Registration

Chapter 115 Provocation

Chapter 116 Return

Chapter 117 The Scoundrel

Chapter 118 Sorrow

Chapter 119 Choice

Chapter 120 Sigh

Chapter 121 Visiting (Part 1)

Chapter 122 Visiting (Part Two)

Chapter 123 Visiting (Part 3)

Chapter 124 Deceiving

Chapter 125 Golden Horse

Chapter 126 The Banquet

Chapter 127 Slander

Chapter 128 Trouble Arises

Chapter 129 An Accident

Chapter 130 Rogue

Chapter 131 Tell You

Chapter 132 Rescue

Chapter 133 Retribution (Part 1)

Chapter 134 Retribution (Part Two)

Chapter 135 Retribution (Part 3)

Chapter 136 Retribution (Part 4)

Chapter 137 Re-entry

Chapter 138 Luan'er

Chapter 139 Competition

Chapter 140 Jealousy

Chapter 141 The Banquet (Part 1)

Chapter 142 The Banquet (Part Two)

Chapter 143 The Banquet (Part 3)

Chapter 144 Ointment

Chapter 145 Crying and Making a Scene

Chapter 146 Serving Tea

Chapter 147 The Battle Begins

Chapter 148 Questioning

Chapter 149 Meeting Guests

Chapter 150 Coexistence (Part 1)

Chapter 151 Coexistence (Part Two)

Chapter 152 Sparse Paulownia Trees

Chapter 153 Calm

Chapter 154 Morning Encounter

Chapter 155 Breakfast

Chapter 156 Note

Chapter 157 Welcome Party

Chapter 158 Singing

Chapter 159 Disappointment

Chapter 160 Daytime

Chapter 161 The Wedding

Chapter 162 Observations

Chapter 163 Peeping

Chapter 164 Begging

Chapter 165 Night Talk

Chapter 166 At Home (Part 1)

Chapter 167 At Home (Part Two)

Chapter 168 A Cold (Part 1)

Chapter 169 A Cold (Part Two)

Chapter 170 The Screen

Chapter 171 Night Visit (Part 1)

Chapter 172 Night Visit (Part Two)

Chapter 173 Anger

Chapter 174 Helping Others

Chapter 175 Instigation

Chapter 176 Words and Gossip

Chapter 177 Getting Along (Part 1)

Chapter 178 Getting Along (Part Two)

Chapter 179 Getting Along (Part 3)

Chapter 180 Talismans (Part 1)

Chapter 181 Talismans (Part Two)

Chapter 182 Talismans (Part 3)

Chapter 183 Talismans (Part 4)

Chapter 184 Talismans (Part 5)

Chapter 185 Talismans (Part Six)

Chapter 186 Talismans (Part 7)

Chapter 187 Talismans (Part 8)

Chapter 188 Talismans (Part 9)

Chapter 189 Talismans (Part 10)

Chapter 190 Night Talk (Part 1)

Chapter 191 Night Talk (Part Two)

Chapter 192 Night Talk (Part 3)

Chapter 193 Surprise

Chapter 194 The Flower Hall (Part 1)

Chapter 195 The Flower Hall (Part Two)

Chapter 196 A Reprimand

Chapter 197 Tit for Tat

Chapter 198 Relative

Chapter 199 Attentiveness

Chapter 200 The Second Room (Part 1)

Chapter 1 Origin

In Jinling, there lived a boy named Chen Wanquan. He lost his parents at the age of five or six, and his elder brother and sister-in-law sold him to the wealthy Lin family as a slave, where he worked in an antique shop. Over time, he developed a keen eye for antiques and calligraphy. Because he had nothing of value, no respectable family was willing to marry him, but he was discerning enough that ordinary girls didn't fancy him. At the age of thirty, his employer promoted him to the position of third manager of the shop. A year later, the Lin family showed him favor by giving him a third-class maid, Xue, and arranged for the two to marry.

This Xue was originally a needleworker in the second branch of the household. Because of her beauty and competitive nature, she was resented and bullied by the other maids, who treated her poorly, only giving her menial tasks like watering flowers and sweeping. At the age of twenty, she was married off to someone randomly. Xue accepted her fate and devoted herself to making a living after marrying Chen Wanquan. Although not wealthy, they were comfortable enough. A year later, Xue became pregnant. She dreamt of thousands of orchids blooming in unison, their golden light dazzling. Upon waking, she sought out a fortune teller, Ma Xiangu, to interpret her dream. The fortune teller predicted she would give birth to a beautiful and noble daughter, and that she and her husband would surely benefit from their daughter's good fortune. Xue was overjoyed and gave her a generous reward.

When Chen Wanquan heard that Madam Xue had given Ma Xiangu more than ten coins, he felt a pang of heartache and sneered, "What noble and beautiful girl? You and I are both servants of the Lin family. This child is a house-born son, destined to be a beast of burden for others all her life. How noble can she be? Fool, fool, you've been cheated."

Madam Xue retorted, "How do you know that the children I give birth to are destined to be servants for life? Don't just spout such discouraging words. If I give birth to a son or daughter who rises to great heights, wouldn't you, as their father, also feel proud?"

Chen Wanquan said, "Yes, yes, I'm just waiting for you to give birth to a noble daughter. It would be best if she were so noble that she could become the wife of an official, riding in a grand carriage whenever she goes out, as glamorous as the ladies in the mansion, wearing gold and silver, eating and drinking well, and having eight maids to serve her when she goes out. Only then would it be a blessing for our Chen family!" After saying that, he flung the curtain and went out.

Xue, however, firmly believed in the fortune teller's words and devoted her spare time to making children's clothes, focusing wholeheartedly on nourishing her body. Several months later, she gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Xianglan because of her dream. Chen Wanquan, who had originally wanted a son, was disappointed, but seeing little Xianglan's delicate and beautiful appearance, he gradually became happy.

However, the girl was born weak and sickly. Before she was even a month old, she fell ill again. Just as she was recovering, she caught a cold, vomiting and having diarrhea, and was barely breathing. Madam Xue was anxious and hurriedly went to see the fortune teller, Madam Ma. Madam Ma had Madam Xue shake a copper coin, looked at the divination results, and said: "You need to go southeast to have good fortune and be rescued by a noble person."

Wiping away her tears, Xue walked southeast. Soon she saw a Jingyue Nunnery ahead. She knelt before the Bodhisattva, kowtowing and making vows, weeping for half an hour. Suddenly, a kind-looking old nun appeared and asked why she was crying. Xue explained the situation. The old nun thought for a moment, inquired about Xianglan's symptoms, and then wrote down a prescription, instructing her to take it home and decoct it. Xue was overjoyed. She went to the pharmacy to get the medicine for Xianglan. Not long after she drank the medicine, Xianglan woke up. Xue tried feeding her some breast milk, and Xianglan ate a few mouthfuls before falling into a deep sleep again.

From then on, Xianglan improved day by day, and Madam Xue was overjoyed. She prepared fruits, cakes, sesame oil, and candle money, and took Xianglan to Jingyue Nunnery to thank her benefactor. Only then did she realize that the old nun was the Venerable Master Dingyi, a highly respected Buddhist nun in the nunnery. Venerable Master Dingyi looked at Xianglan for a moment, asked for her birth date and time, and stroked Xianglan's head, saying, "This child is destined to be with me. Why don't you become my disciple by name, and bless her to grow up peacefully in the Buddhist community?" Madam Xue, upon hearing this, naturally agreed.

From a young age, Xianglan studied and practiced Buddhism with the nuns at Jingyue Nunnery. Abbess Dingyi was delighted by her simple and charming nature, giving her the Dharma name "Chanjing" (禅静). She taught Xianglan to read and write, personally expounding the Dharma to her. Besides Buddhist scriptures, she also taught her the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as poetry and prose. Xianglan was intelligent, diligent, and extremely persevering, greatly pleasing Abbess Dingyi. Abbess Dingyi was originally the daughter of an official, but her family fell into ruin due to her father's upright character, which offended a powerful minister. To avoid further trouble, she became a nun. After her father's injustice was redressed, Abbess Dingyi felt that the secular world was far less peaceful than the Buddhist sanctuary. She refused her family's wishes to return to secular life and devoted herself to the path of enlightenment, helping people and helping the world without accepting payment. She often gave away porridge and medicine, traveling extensively and gaining considerable knowledge. Xianglan would pester her with difficult questions, but Abbess Dingyi never got annoyed, patiently answering and carefully guiding her. Therefore, in just a few years, Xianglan became well-versed in history and literature, excelled in writing, and developed a profound understanding of history and literature. In particular, she was a skilled painter, often earning the praise of others.

Days passed, and Xue gave birth to three more children, all of whom died within two or three years. Thus, the couple had only one daughter, Xianglan, whom they cherished dearly. Before long, Xianglan turned fourteen. Master Dingyi chose an auspicious day and ordered Xianglan to jump over the wall and return to secular life. Xianglan and Master Dingyi were as close as grandmother and granddaughter, and Xianglan was extremely reluctant to part. Master Dingyi said, "You are kind and honest, but your temper is fiery. You must cultivate your character more in the future. Everyone has their own karma. You have unfinished worldly ties and cannot remain in the Buddhist order. If fate allows, you will return to see me off in my final days." Xianglan tearfully replied, "I will definitely come back to visit you, Master." Master Dingyi smiled without speaking, only bowing and letting her go.

After Xianglan returned home, she had nothing to do all day. Xue wanted her to play with the girls of the same age in the neighborhood, doing needlework and having fun. Xianglan went twice and came back saying, "They are not my kind, and it's not fun to play with them." So she stayed home to help Xue with some housework, and in her spare time she read books, copied scriptures, and did needlework to supplement the family income.

One day, Xianglan was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, embroidering, when she suddenly heard a commotion in the courtyard. A shrill voice shouted, "Who stole your clothes? You're making false accusations in broad daylight! Aren't you afraid of getting sores in your throat? Bah!"

"I saw you take my Xianglan's clothes with my own eyes. I washed them and hung them out to dry in the yard. You went into the kitchen, and when you came out, you put the clothes in your pocket and went inside!" The speaker was clearly Madam Xue. Xianglan looked out the window and saw her mother and Aunt Lü standing in the yard staring at each other. There were a few children peeking in from the gate.

Aunt Lü's family were also servants of the Lin family. They lived in the same courtyard as Xianglan's family, but they had no contact with each other. The Lü family loved to take advantage of others and often stole things from the Chen family, from clothes, washbasins, and cured meat to firewood, onions, and garlic.

"Bullshit! I wouldn't even look at your tattered clothes. Our mistress is so wealthy and powerful in the mansion, she only uses fine silks and satins to wipe her butt! You greedy little whore, trying to extort money from us!" Aunt Lu was used to a shrew's cursing, and her style was ever-changing. She was also dark-skinned and strong. She stood in the courtyard with her hands on her hips, looking like a one-woman army. She dared to spew out all sorts of filth and stench.

Madam Xue, who was not good at cursing, was so angry that she was trembling all over: "You clearly took my clothes! The fine cloth I bought a few days ago was used to make a brand new seasonal jacket, with embroidered patterns on the cuffs. There are gods watching over us, and you don't even deserve retribution in the underworld!"

Aunt Lu spat on Xue's face: "If there's any retribution, it should be for a whore like you! You were always seducing men in the manor, a shameless slut like a prostitute. You were kicked out by the ladies and mistresses, and you're shameless and brazen. Instead of hanging yourself in some corner, you set a trap to slander your aunt! You don't know how high you think you are, do you think I'm easy to bully? Tomorrow, let our aunt take charge!"

These words filled Xue with injustice, shame, and anger. Pointing at Aunt Lü, she choked, unable to speak. Xianglan, seeing Aunt Lü humiliating her mother like this, was furious. She threw down her needlework, slipped on her shoes, and was about to run outside when Chen Wanquan grabbed her, saying, "My dear little aunt, it's so noisy outside, why are you getting involved?"

Xianglan struggled and said, "My mother has been bullied and humiliated so much, how can I not go over!"

Chen Wanquan glared at her: "Shut up! The eldest daughter of the Lü family is the master's concubine. After she gives birth to a son or daughter, she will be promoted to a concubine and become half a mistress. We should be treating her with respect. Why would we go looking for trouble? Your mother is a woman with a narrow mind. She's a scoundrel, so why are you being a scoundrel too?" Just then, a cry of "Ouch!" came from the other side. It turned out that Xue Shi had been shoved to the ground by Lü Ershenzi.

Xianglan, enraged, laughed and said, "It would be better if you didn't stand up for your own wife when she was being chased and beaten and called a 'whore.' You've gone to such lengths! If you showed even a fraction of the power you have at home with my mother, our family wouldn't be suffering like this today!" With that, she shoved Chen Wanquan aside and ran out.

Knowing that Chen Wanquan wouldn't dare cause trouble, Aunt Lü deliberately suppressed Xue Shi. Because Uncle Lü had praised Chen's wife for being "beautiful," she tried to peep at Xue Shi while she was bathing but was caught by her. Now, thinking about it, she was so angry that her teeth ached. She grabbed Xue Shi's hair and kept cursing her as "bitch" and "prostitute." Everyone in the neighborhood knew that Aunt Lü was a notorious shrew, so no one dared to help her and could only try to persuade her from the sidelines.

FAQs

What is Lan Xiang Yuan about?

Lan Xiang Yuan is a Chinese historical romance novel about Xiang Ling, a clever and resilient maid who faces family conflicts, old grievances, complicated relationships and differences in social status while trying to take control of her own fate.

Who wrote Lan Xiang Yuan?

Lan Xiang Yuan was written by He Yan Shan. The story combines historical romance, household intrigue, family relationships and a heroine-centered struggle for greater control over her own life.

Who is the main character in Lan Xiang Yuan?

The main character is Xiang Ling, a clever and resilient young woman living as a maid in a noble household. Her position requires her to navigate complicated relationships, family struggles and emotional conflicts carefully.

How is Lan Xiang Yuan connected to Against the Current?

Lan Xiang Yuan is the original novel adapted into the Chinese historical drama Against the Current. Reading the novel gives readers a fuller look at the original characters, relationships and conflicts behind the screen adaptation.

Where can I download Lan Xiang Yuan for offline reading?

You can download the complete eBook directly from this webpage for free and save it for offline reading on a mobile device, computer or tablet.

Oct 10, 2026

5,236

Upload by Gelato