Translator – Xiao He Lian
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Chapter 26.1
The faint morning light shone on Shen Zhen through the window.
After living for sixteen years, she experienced the pain of a hangover for the first time.
In fact, she had woken up long ago.
She just had a splitting headache and intermittently recalled all the things from yesterday, which she really didn’t want to face.
Shen Zhen curled up on the bed, biting the tip of her thumb, really wishing to erase all these images that were swirling in her mind.
It was precisely when she was distressed that Tang Yue knocked on the door and softly said, “Miss, it’s time to get up.”
After washing, she was dressed up by Tang Yue like a wandering spirit. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she closed her eyes in despair.
She remembered everything.
Breakfast was always served in the east room.
When Shen Zhen opened the door, Lu Yan was already sitting at the table.
Today’s breakfast was very different from the past.
The table seems to be separated by a Chu River.1(It is a river located in Central Asia) The side where he sat was full of delicacies, but on her side, there was only a bowl of glutinous rice dumplings and a bowl of very light bean soup.
It seemed like it was deliberately prepared for a “drunk” person like her.
Shen Zhen walked up to him and called softly, “My Lord.”
Lu Yan looked up at her and said, “Sit down.”
After sitting down, Shen Zhen secretly glanced at him and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was just like usual..
At this time, Tang Yue delivered two handkerchiefs as usual.
Lu Yan took one and wiped his hands repeatedly, from beginning to end, extremely meticulously. Seeing his movements, Shen Zhen’s heart felt as if someone had clutched her heart and the image of him scrubbing her body yesterday sprang to her mind.
She raised her hand and waved it in front of her eyes, quickly interrupting this embarrassing memory.
After Lu Yan picked up the wooden chopsticks and took a sip, Shen Zhen picked up the porcelain spoon and drank in small sips.
After a while, she was still chewing slowly, but Lu Yan had finished eating.
He put down the wooden chopsticks and looked at her leisurely.
The petulance that was in her yesterday was nowhere to be found.
Perhaps his gaze was too hot and piercing, so even if Shen Zhen lowered his head at this moment, she could guess that he must be slandering her in his heart and the content was still related to yesterday.
She slowly raised her hand, pretending to rub her eyes, and then secretly looked at him through her fingers. With just one glance, she saw the blood stains on his ears and the bright teeth marks.
Shen Zhen paused and immediately lowered her head.
After a while, she put down the chopsticks, took a deep breath, clapped her hands in feigned surprise, and then stood up, “My Lord, I suddenly remembered that I made a mistake in the accounting book yesterday, I will quickly go and correct it.”
When Lu Yan saw that she was about to run away, he grabbed her with his long arms and pressed her into his arms, “Did I tell you to leave?” Somehow, that last upward trailing note of his voice actually had more than a hint of flirting flavor.
Shen Zhen met his eyes and said bravely: “But if I don’t change it now, I might forget it.”
He raised his hand and pinched her face, then said in the tone of Magistrate Jingzhao Prefecture: “Really, tell me which part of the account was recorded incorrectly?”
Her excuse was exposed by him mercilessly.
Suddenly, her cheeks, ears, and neck were all flushed, and when she was nervous, her little hands couldn’t help but clenched into fists.
Lu Yan pulled the small fist in front of him and opened her fingers one by one. This smooth movement was destroying her defenses step by step and forcing her to submit obediently.
He looked directly at her while playing with her palm.
This expression, coupled with the smile on his lips, gave him a cynical and ruffian air.
Seeing that she couldn’t answer.
Lu Yan added: “According to the laws of the Jin Dynasty, if you lie in front of the imperial officials, you will get at least twenty strikes2(hit on the back with a board as punishment/ It is a form of punishment for criminals).”
After saying that, he carried her index finger again, first went to touch three shallow marks on his neck, and then took her to touch his ears.
Every time he moved, her heartbeat skipped a beat.
“If you attack an official, at the lightest, you will be jailed.” Lu Yan held her hand with a hint of frivolity in his smile.
Maybe it’s because yesterday’s drunkenness hasn’t worn off yet, and Shen Zhen’s courage had not yet subsided.
After hearing these words, she blushed, looked into his eyes with a burning gaze and replied: “When Lord Lu usually tries cases, do you also hold a civilian girl in his arms like this?”
The serious tone and serious expression made the man in front of her laugh.
After a while, he lowered his head and caught her lips, keeping this position unchanged, he carried her back to the inner room.
Shen Zhen’s body suddenly became weightless and she could only wrap her arms around his neck.
Inadvertently, she scratched him again.
Lu Yan raised the corners of his lips, as if to say, Shen Zhen, you did this on purpose.
——
When the time came, Lu Yan went to the Governor’s Mansion as promised.
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
He didn’t take a sedan, but walked directly. This is because both families were in Wulipu and were located not far apart. Heron Garden and Zhao Mansion were only separated by a street, and you can take a turn to get there.
Hearing someone knocking on the door, the boy slowly opened the door of Zhao’s house. He didn’t recognize the person, so he said, “May I ask who the young master is?”
“I’m Wei Huan, could you please let the Governor know?” Lu Yan said.
The Zhao family has a high status in Yangzhou, and most of the visitors were either rich or noble.
Seeing that he was noble and handsome, the boy was very polite. He put the bamboo broom aside and said respectfully: “Wait a moment.”
Today Zhao Chong was resting in the study, teaching his eldest son Zhao Nian how to study. Zhao Nian was not very intelligent, and he accidentally misspelled the word a few times. As he was about to get angry, he heard someone outside say, “My Lord, there is a young master from the Wei family asking to see you.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Chong hurriedly opened the door of the study and said, “Let him come in quickly.” After he finished speaking, he felt it was not appropriate and then said,, “Take him to the front hall to sit for a while, keep an eye on him and don’t let him go anywhere else, I’ll just go back and change my clothes.”
Steward Wei(different from the pseudonym that Lu Yan is using) received the instruction, trotted to the door, bowed and greeted Lu Yan warmly, “Young Master Wei, please come quickly.”
Lu Yan nodded and thanked him.
As we walked to the inner courtyard, a gust of wind came over and there was a surger of cool air around them. After Lu Yan took his seat, steward Wei poured him a cup of tea, “This is this year’s new Maojian3(a kind of green tea, which is made of tender sprouts of superior tea plants. It ranks as one of the famous teas of China.).”
Lu Yan looked around Zhao Mansion calmly.
This place is much more low-key than he thought. It is a courtyard with three entrances and three rooms, and there are very few slaves. From the outside, you really can’t tell that this is a corrupt official’s mansion, he wondered if there were any underground secret rooms here.
Unfortunately, there were people around him, so he couldn’t move around at will, so he picked up the tea beside him, weighed the lid, and took a few sips.
After a while, Zhao Chong walked over.
Lu Yan stood up and saluted: “Lord Zhao.”
Zhao Chong smiled and said: “Sit down quickly, sit down quickly, Brother Wei, there is no need to be so polite to me.”
He looked at the marks on Lu Yan’s neck and ears, then smiled and said, “Brother Wei, did you let the one at home do that?”
Lu Yan’s eyes froze and he nodded.
He has to say that after Shen Zhen stirred up trouble last night, his image of “indulging in wine and sex” became more convincing.
After Zhao Chong sat down and steward Wei poured another cup of tea.
He picked it up, took a sip and said: “Brother Wei has not been in Yangzhou for a long time and he probably hasn’t had time to see the scenery.I know that there is a good theater at the end of the Shouxi Lake, why don’t you go with me to see it?”
Lu Yan said: “Then I will respectfully follow your order.” This seemed to be a polite inquiry, but in fact there was no chance to refuse.
Before noon, they arrived at Shouxi Lake.
Zhao Chong took him into a splendid restaurant – Baiyue Tower. When the shopkeeper saw him, the corners of his mouth reached to his ears, ” Lord Zhao, the best wing on the second floor has been reserved for you a long time ago.”
It could be seen that Zhao Chong enjoyed this kind of courtesy, this kind of self-satisfaction like a local emperor made his face glow.
And this hint of admiration on Lu Yan’s face was even more flattering to him.
One wonders how Zhao Chong would feel if he ever learnt that the son of the merchant in front of him was the nephew of the current Emperor.
After going up to the second floor, they entered a windowless wing. It was dark inside, like late at night.
After taking their seats, the shopkeeper of Baiyue Tower set up a white curtain in front of them, and then lit lamps on both sides of the curtain.
Delicious pastries, sake and side dishes were also prepared.
Zhao Chong took a sip of wine, piece of silk and bamboo sound, accompanied by the sound of sandalwood boards, slowly sounded from the doorway, and immediately after, behind that white screen, five figures appeared, in other words, five women’s figures.
This was actually a shadow show.
The sound of the zither got faster and faster, and the five girls began to dance vigorously. Their long sleeves and slow belts were wrapped around their bodies, and their faces movements made it all charming and lifelike.
Zhao Chong took a sip of tea and said slowly: “Brother Wei, what do you want to do by renting my five shops?”
Lu Yan replied: “I want to drink wine.”
When Zhao Chong heard this, he immediately became interested.
Everyone who is engaged in business knows that apart from the two hugely profitable businesses of salt and iron, the next most profitable business is wine.
Zhao Chong raised his eyebrows and said, “But isn’t the Wei family in the silk and cloth business? How come they’re still in the wine business?”
