Chapter 28: The Son-in-law of the Shen Family Visits the Teahouse

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The Shen family’s son-in-law, Lu Jin, was in the study, preparing his grand plan to escape.

“Caiyun.”

“I’m here, sir.” Hearing Lu Jin’s voice, Caiyun hurried into the room.

“We’ll be going out, so we might need some money for expenses, and…” Lu Jin spoke somewhat awkwardly.

Caiyun looked at him, not quite understanding his meaning, her eyes fixed on Lu Jin.

“I mean, does the household give us any monthly allowance or something?” Lu Jin couldn’t be bothered with dignity at this point; right now, Caiyun was essentially the chief steward of New Moon Residence, so he could only ask her for help.

“Oh, don’t worry, sir. When you go out, Xiaobai will handle all your expenses. There’s no need for you to worry,” Caiyun replied quickly.

Damn, I don’t want him to handle it; I want to handle it myself.

“Can’t I manage it myself?” Lu Jin persisted.

“Sir, you must be joking. With your status, how could you be tainted by such vulgar matters?” Caiyun was used to her master’s strange ideas by now. Has anyone ever seen a noble master carry money?

So you’re lofty and above such things, but I actually want to be tainted by the smell of money. Lu Jin felt like crying with frustration.

Does escaping mean I have to earn money first? Isn’t this a bit much?

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Jiangbei Circuit, Jiangzhou Prefecture, Jianglin.

Jianglin had always been a grand city along the Lan River. Since the founding of the Great Liang, the realm had enjoyed long years of peace; Jianglin was all the more prosperous. The city had over a hundred thousand households, and with the private retainers in the great mansions, the urban population likely exceeded a million—undoubtedly a first-class metropolis.

Perhaps because summer was near, the weather had turned oppressive, the air thick with all sorts of curious smells, and the streets were full of noise. None of this dampened Lu Jin’s enthusiasm for wandering the city.

He would pause to admire this pavilion, then explore that shop; the entire afternoon was spent in a flurry of activity. The two attendants behind him, Yuanfang and Xiaobai, had become numb to it all. They couldn’t imagine what was so fascinating—after nearly two hours, he still hadn’t stopped.

If Lu Jin knew their thoughts, he’d probably complain: Bring you to my world and you’d have to walk for three days and nights without rest.

Perhaps, to Yuanfang and Xiaobai, this son-in-law was far too idle. But Lu Jin himself was clear—he was laying the groundwork for his escape.

Besides soaking in the novelty of this world, Lu Jin didn’t forget to quietly memorize the various locations and routes.

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“Xiaobai, I haven’t seen any carriage houses. What if someone wants to travel far?” Lu Jin asked, glancing back.

“If you wish to go out, the household will arrange the carriage,” Xiaobai replied.

“Haha, is that so.” Lu Jin responded awkwardly. Having everything provided at home wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

“I haven’t seen any docks for boats, either,” Lu Jin continued.

Xiaobai gave him a surprised look. No wonder the young master never stopped sightseeing—he must not have been to Jianglin before.

“To take a boat, you have to leave through the south gate and head to the Lan River wharf.”

“Let’s go see the wharf another day. We haven’t really looked at the Lan River yet,” Lu Jin said casually.

Trailing behind, Xiaobai felt helpless. This young master was far too thorough; he seemed determined to see every corner of Jianglin. What was so interesting about all this?

“Xiaobai, where can we get some tea? Let’s rest a bit,” said Lu Jin, finally tired after hours of walking.

Xiaobai breathed a sigh of relief. How did the young master outrun even a servant without tiring? He quickly scanned the surroundings: “Just follow this street, cross the small stone bridge, turn at the corner, and there’s a teahouse…”

Lu Jin strode forward, and Yuanfang and Xiaobai hurried to keep up. The three of them soon reached the little stone bridge.

On the other side, a group was escorting a woman veiled in a hat—their entourage made clear they were from an important family. As they passed, Lu Jin remembered a question.

“Yuanfang, I noticed those men are carrying swords, and you’re carrying one too. Can anyone just walk around armed like that? Doesn’t the government care?” Lu Jin asked, curious—swords were, after all, deadly weapons.

“Sir, only bodyguards of wealthy families or government officers are allowed to carry swords. Ordinary people can’t. Both the men and their weapons must be registered with the authorities. Though, in recent years, enforcement has become more lax…” Yuanfang explained.

Lu Jin was amazed. Was public order really that good, or were the powerful families simply above the law, to the point they could brandish swords openly? He wondered if there were quotas for murder.

Following Xiaobai’s lead, they arrived at a teahouse. Hanging from the third floor was the sign, “Natural Abode.” Goodness, he only wanted a simple cup of tea and a rest—was all this formality necessary? But he didn’t mind and stepped inside.

The teahouse bustled with patrons; the first floor was nearly full. In the center stood a music platform, where a young and beautiful woman cradled a pipa, singing gentle airs of the southern rivers, her voice flowing like clear spring water, soothing and pleasant.

Lu Jin scanned the room, about to sit at a vacant table, when Xiaobai pulled him aside. “Sir, let’s go upstairs…”

“This spot is fine—we’re just having some tea…” Lu Jin was puzzled. Why go upstairs for a simple drink? Was there something special there? The thought made him excited.

Xiaobai was speechless. The Shen family’s son-in-law, drinking tea crammed with commoners? If the young lady heard, she’d kill them.

The attendant at their side watched the three in silence, his eyes darting. Hearing Xiaobai mention the upper floor, he relaxed. Anyone with a sword was clearly no ordinary guest—he dared not speak out of turn.

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With the attendant leading the way, the three ascended to the third floor and entered a spacious, elegant private room. Through the lattice windows, the shimmering waves of the Lan River could be seen. The room was tastefully arranged, displaying the refined tastes of scholars: white walls hung with fine calligraphy and paintings, thick soft carpets underfoot, low couches and tables placed with care. Potted plants decorated the space, and an ancient zither stood in the corner, creating an atmosphere all its own.

Lu Jin looked around, very pleased with the environment. It was a world apart from the clamor of the first floor—a haven of tranquility in the midst of the bustle.

Seated, Lu Jin noticed Yuanfang and Xiaobai still standing awkwardly outside and called to them, “Come in, what are you standing there for?”

Yuanfang, Xiaobai, and even the attendant exchanged baffled looks. Did he not understand etiquette, or was he being polite? Servants never sat and drank tea with their masters; their place was to wait outside.

“Sir, we’ll just stand outside. Call us if you need anything,” Xiaobai replied quickly, pulling the door shut behind him.

Lu Jin sat on the couch, bewildered. What was the point of drinking tea alone? And where was the tea? Did they really just leave him here?

He didn’t have long to wait; soon the wooden door opened and several young women entered in turn, leaving Lu Jin dumbfounded.

Xiaobai, you’re too considerate. Is this really just for tea? Aren’t you afraid your mistress will kill you when you get home?

“Sir!” The girls curtsied delicately.

Lu Jin was a bit surprised. He wasn’t unfamiliar with worldly scenes, but this ancient way of life was foreign to him. He’d expected something simple, never a scene like this. He hadn’t come to a brothel.

As he was still lost in confusion, one of the girls glided to the table, accepted a tea tray and utensils from her maid, and began to kneel gracefully by the table, preparing the tea. Another, taller girl sat directly at the zither.

“Is there a song you’d like to hear, sir?” came a gentle voice, the girl’s eyes bright as she looked at Lu Jin.

It dawned on Lu Jin—he’d been imagining all sorts of possibilities, and here they were, simply playing music and making tea. He felt a little embarrassed for getting ahead of himself.

“Play whatever you like…” He only knew a few pieces like “Song Among the Clouds” or “Floating Clouds”—better not try to show off.

The girl kneeling at the table was lively and charming, petite and exquisitely pretty, her lips curved in a perpetual smile. She seemed to notice Lu Jin watching her and blushed, glancing up at him. “Is this your first visit, sir? You seem unfamiliar to me…”

Do these lines get passed down unchanged for thousands of years?

“Yes, it’s my first time here. I didn’t expect it to be so elegant…” Lu Jin replied. A man of culture has nothing to fear; the paintings and calligraphy are quite lovely.

The girl preparing the tea laughed more openly at his guilty, flustered expression.