Chapter 19: Silent Encounters Between Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law

“What a fine tune and an even finer name. Grandson-in-law, remember to write down the music later; we can’t always trouble you every time we wish to hear it, can we...”

“Yes, Grandmother,” Lu Jin promptly agreed.

“All right, I’m tired, I’ll go rest first. You all carry on…” The old lady, weary as age had lessened her vigor, let her maid support her back to her quarters.

After she left, the main performers became the household musicians; the rest of the guests idly chatted until the sun dipped behind the western hills and they all dispersed.

Lu Jin too was about to leave the pavilion with the others, but unexpectedly, Shen Hao called out to him. Lu Jin was puzzled—what did his convenient father-in-law want with him? Wasn’t it better to keep things as they were?

“Father!” Shen Yanxi, standing aside, looked anxious, fearing her father would trouble Lu Jin.

“You go on ahead. I just have a few words for him,” Shen Hao said, unable to hide the tenderness in his voice when facing his daughter.

Shen Yanxi glanced at Lu Jin, reluctant but obedient, and left. In the pavilion, only Shen Hao and Lu Jin remained.

Shen Hao paced to the railing, turning his back to Lu Jin, gazing into the distance in a long, contemplative silence.

Lu Jin looked at his silhouette, inwardly rolling his eyes—what’s with this dramatic pose?

“Did you enjoy yourself today?” At length, Shen Hao finally spoke.

“I don’t understand what Father means,” Lu Jin replied.

A long silence followed…

That was Shen Hao’s awkwardness today. Some things could only be sensed, not spoken. What could you do if someone refused to admit it? Was there any harm in caring about a father-in-law’s health? No one else heard anything amiss; only he, the party involved, knew the truth—and he could only swallow the grievance.

Had he ever really wronged Lu Jin? If it were any other son-in-law in his place, would they still be alive and well? But these words, Shen Hao would never say aloud.

As for Lu Jin, he could more or less guess: many things weren’t about right or wrong. Shen Hao had his reasons, and so did he.

“I heard you’ve lost your memory?” Shen Hao turned to him.

Damn! Lu Jin’s heart skipped a beat, but he soon calmed—if Shen Yanxi knew, it was only reasonable that Shen Hao would as well.

“Yes. Everything before the marriage—I’ve forgotten it all,” Lu Jin replied.

“Then how is it you could recite poetry and play music just now?” Shen Hao was suspicious.

“I’ve forgotten many things, but there are some skills I still have. Honestly, I can’t explain it myself.”

“Such a strange thing?” Shen Hao, hearing it again, still found it hard to believe.

“I’ve never heard of such a case, either. If you know the cause, Father, I’d be grateful to hear it.”

Shen Hao was speechless for a moment—what did he know? He only suspected Lu Jin was pretending. But what was the point of faking amnesia?

“How have you been finding things at home lately?” After a while, Shen Hao, unable to untangle the matter, changed the subject.

“I’m used to it,” Lu Jin answered simply and directly.

With only the two of them present, Lu Jin saw no reason to fawn over his in-law.

Shen Hao hadn’t expected such a blunt answer—he turned in surprise to look at Lu Jin.

Lu Jin feigned ignorance, lowering his head in silence.

Shen Hao had actually been impressed by Lu Jin’s talent today, aside from the jabs at himself. He had hoped to ease the tension between them, but Lu Jin clearly had no such intention.

An awkward atmosphere settled between them; the pavilion grew quiet and strangely tense.

“Treat Xi’er well.”

In the end, Shen Hao said nothing more. Was he, as father-in-law, supposed to humble himself and apologize to his son-in-law? Impossible. Besides, he had already been magnanimous enough and never intended to truly punish him.

Yet this petty air from Lu Jin made the goodwill Shen Hao had just begun to feel fade a little.

Such were the differences in their positions and perspectives; Lu Jin had never expected to bare his heart to Shen Hao or seek understanding about freedom and respect—it was meaningless.

“Yes,” Lu Jin replied, as sparing as ever.

“You may go,” Shen Hao said helplessly, clearly unable to continue the conversation.

Lu Jin wanted to ask Shen Hao if he could leave the Shen household, but in the end held his tongue. He didn’t know how things stood with Shen Yanxi, and besides, he’d given Shen Hao quite a shock today—if he pushed too far, the man might truly lose his temper.

Better to ask Shen Yanxi first.

As Lu Jin left the pavilion, he saw Shen Yanxi waiting anxiously under the shade of a nearby tree.

“Did Father trouble you?” she asked as soon as she saw him.

“No, we just talked a little,” Lu Jin replied with a light smile.

Only then did Shen Yanxi relax. The two of them walked on, chatting as they went.

“Your song today was wonderful—so profound, it lingers in the mind. I never imagined you were so talented.” In the end, Shen Yanxi spoke first.

“It was just something I played offhand—not worth comparing to Miss Shen's own accomplishments.”

“Are you really suffering from amnesia, or have you been tricking me all along?” Shen Yanxi pressed the question again, for in this era, understanding of memory loss was not as advanced as in later times, and she remained suspicious.

“I have no reason to lie to you. If I hadn’t lost my memory, would things be as they are now?”

“Then how do you explain...”

“Your father asked me the same thing. There’s much I don’t remember—everything I once learned is gone. But I can still read, write, compose poetry, play music—these skills remain. I don’t know why,” Lu Jin explained.

Hearing Lu Jin refer to her father so distantly made Shen Yanxi frown, feeling a strange discomfort.

“Are you feeling better?” She didn’t dwell on the amnesia—there was little point in doing so.

“Pretty much. By the way, am I allowed to leave the residence?” Lu Jin asked.

Shen Yanxi looked at him in surprise—who was stopping him from leaving? But she only said, “You are my husband, not a prisoner here. Why wouldn’t you be allowed out?”

“Then I’d like to go out for a walk one of these days,” Lu Jin replied. It was time to move on to the next step of his plan.

“Of course, but you should take several attendants with you.”

“All right,” Lu Jin agreed at once, thinking to himself that he had no one to bring—surely he couldn’t take the three little maids out to deliver themselves to river bandits.

“I’ll have servants assigned to you. From now on, they’ll accompany you,” Shen Yanxi said, thoroughly considering every detail and putting Lu Jin’s mind at ease.

The two strolled on, chatting idly.

“Um, have you spoken to your father about us?” After some hesitation, Lu Jin finally asked—best to have an answer sooner rather than later.

Shen Yanxi had been enjoying the conversation, especially impressed by his display of talent today. She hadn’t expected him to suddenly bring this up.

So eager, is he?

With a light snort, she ignored Lu Jin and swept away with her maids in tow.

Striding off with the wind at her heels, Shen Yanxi bit her lip in secret. Was he really so impatient? It had only been a few days, and his injuries weren’t even fully healed, yet he was already thinking of running off. Was she really so unbearable?

Lu Jin was left dumbfounded—hadn’t they agreed on this? He was only asking for an update, wasn’t he?

“Brother-in-law!” Just as Lu Jin stood there in a daze, a voice called from behind.

Lu Jin turned—wasn’t that his cousin? Was this guy never going to leave him alone?