Chapter 52: The Foolish Bandit of Lanjiang Shocks Shen Garden

The scorching sunlight was causing the temperature in the great city of Jianglin to rise, yet the warmth within the Shen residence’s Xi Garden seemed forgotten in the depths of winter.

Shen Yanxi still showed no signs of waking; physician after physician, both from within and outside the estate, had been invited, but their answers amounted only to shaking heads and sighs. Nothing else.

In the Cloud Pavilion, the old lady sat upon the couch with her eyes half-closed. Shen Yanyun was seated on a low stool, gently massaging the old lady’s legs, her brows drawn tight with worry.

Shen Hao sat further down, head bowed in deep concern, the atmosphere in the room as cold as ice.

Never before had the Shen family felt so helpless. They had searched everywhere, tried every remedy, and now could only await fate’s judgment.

Suddenly, a maid burst in, only to find herself the focus of several cold, piercing gazes. The intensity of those eyes made it hard for her to breathe.

Yet she summoned her courage and met the old lady’s gaze, speaking directly.

“Madam, there is news of your son-in-law!”

The old lady thought she had misheard and nearly tumbled from the couch in her haste.

“What did you say?” Shen Hao cried out, rising from his chair in surprise.

“Master, we have news of your son-in-law. Someone has arrived at the estate, saying your son-in-law is with them.”

“Where is he?” Shen Hao anxiously looked outside.

“Master, I came ahead to deliver the news; the steward is bringing the visitor here now,” the maid explained.

“Good, good!” Shen Hao exclaimed, unable to imagine that this son-in-law could so dictate the fortunes of the Shen household.

Soon, Steward Su arrived with the visitor.

“And you are?” The old lady asked, her voice puzzled.

The visitor glanced around, and the old lady, understanding, waved for the others to leave, leaving only the senior maidservant to attend.

“These are my closest kin, honored guest. Please speak freely,” the old lady said.

“Madam, a few days ago our chief attacked a group of river bandits and rescued Young Master Lu. Upon meeting, Young Master Lu and our chief became fast friends…”

“Your chief is a woman?” Shen Yanyun interjected suddenly.

She wasn’t being nosy, but if they had become so enamored, what about Xi’er? She scarcely dared to imagine.

“Ah…” The bandit coughed awkwardly.

To be sent here for negotiation meant he was surely articulate. Yet, he had never encountered such a family, and in his nervousness, he misspoke.

“Our chief is a man. Young Master Lu and our chief became instant friends, recognizing each other as confidants. But Young Master Lu concealed his true identity, so our chief did not know he was your son-in-law. Only when we saw the reward notice a couple of days ago did we realize he belonged to your esteemed family. Thus, our chief sent me to inform you, so your family might rest easy.”

The group was bewildered. Since when did river bandits speak so elegantly? “Visiting as a guest”? Were these all codes for something darker, like kidnapping? Why not just bring him along and be done with it?

“Rest assured, good sir. As long as my son-in-law is unharmed, our Shen family will pay the fifty thousand taels promised, not a coin less,” Shen Hao said.

As the family head, he naturally understood the ways of the underworld.

“You misunderstand. I am here only to deliver news, not to demand ransom. Our chief has no intention of extorting your family,” the bandit hurriedly replied.

“Then what do you want?” No wonder they were bold enough to come to the door—fifty thousand taels didn’t tempt them.

“Ah… truly, we want nothing at all,” the bandit insisted, feeling inexplicably misunderstood, though his words seemed clear enough.

“No rush, good sir. Please have some tea…” The old lady sensed they hadn’t connected, and seeing his nervous demeanor, he didn’t seem like a blackmailer.

“How is my grandson-in-law?” she asked, now that the bandit seemed less tense.

“Young Master Lu is now our second-in-command, very busy these days…”

The group was even more confused. Second-in-command? Busy in a bandit’s lair?

“Good sir, could you tell us in detail?” the old lady coaxed.

The bandit, soothed by her kind appearance, gradually relaxed.

“Madam, it’s like this. After rescuing Young Master Lu, our chief and he spoke at length, and Young Master Lu explained the affairs of the world. Our chief was so impressed by his learning that he invited him to join in our enterprise, making Young Master Lu our second-in-command,” the bandit explained clearly this time.

When he left, Lu Wei had instructed him to answer the Shen family’s questions truthfully, never expecting he'd reveal everything so bluntly.

Unfortunately, the Shen family couldn’t follow. Was this really Lu Jin? Affairs of the world, plotting great undertakings? Did any of this relate to them?

“Why didn’t you bring him back with you?” the old lady asked gently.

“Well…” The bandit recalled the living conditions and found them incredible. He’d gladly die after a single day’s enjoyment. Who knew what the second-in-command was thinking?

“Speak freely, good sir. If you need anything, our Shen family will do its best,” the old lady encouraged.

“Our chief, upon learning your son-in-law’s identity, intended to send him home, but the second-in-command himself didn’t wish to return. Since he concealed his identity, our chief, not wanting to damage their brotherhood, couldn’t force the issue. So I was sent to inform you, so you might rest assured.”

The family was stunned. The bandits wanted to send him home, but he didn’t want to return? Was the sun rising from the wrong direction today?

Rest assured? Rest from what? The Shen family’s crisis was a matter of life and death!

The old lady finally grasped the general situation. She and Shen Hao both knew Lu Jin had originally been on the run and happened to be captured by bandits. But must he really become a bandit?

“Which group do you belong to, if you don’t mind telling me?” the old lady inquired.

“The Lanjiang River Alliance, defenders of justice!” the bandit declared loudly.

The old lady was nearly stunned by the shout. These river bandits were remarkable, waving banners to win hearts. Clearly, they had talent within.

“This slogan was set by our second-in-command,” the bandit added.

The old lady was speechless.

“What else has my grandson-in-law done?” she asked, curiosity piqued.

“The second-in-command teaches us about the world, explains why we can’t survive, and tells us how to change our fate…”

Prompted by the old lady, the bandit poured out everything in detail.

Shen Hao’s jaw clenched as he listened, while Shen Yanyun was thoroughly engrossed.

If Lu Wei had known this fellow would blurt out everything, he’d have fed him to the fish long ago. Wanting not to lose face with the Shen family, and thinking him eloquent, he’d been sent. Who knew he’d turn out to be so simple-minded?

“Oh? How does he explain it?” the old lady asked.

“The second-in-command says it’s greedy officials oppressing the people, landlords and powerful families seizing everything, and this corrupt world leaving us no way to live. So we must break this rotten order and defend justice for the poor throughout the land,” the bandit grew increasingly fervent.

The family was utterly dumbfounded. Had the Shen family produced a rebel?

Shen Hao nearly ground his teeth to dust. The old lady was deeply shocked, though her face remained gentle.

“Forgive me, good sir, but my granddaughter—your second-in-command’s woman—believes he was burned to death by bandits. In her grief, she fell unconscious and has not recovered,” the old lady explained.

“What?!” The bandit jumped from his chair in surprise.

“So, can you take us to your second-in-command?” the old lady asked.

The bandit panicked. The chief had said to answer all questions, but not to bring outsiders back. The stronghold couldn’t easily accept visitors.

“Rest assured, good sir. Only a few will come, just to explain the situation. The decision will be his,” the old lady, seasoned beyond measure, understood the bandit’s concerns.

“Alright,” the bandit agreed. If the second-in-command’s woman truly suffered, how could his brothers face him?

“This favor of your alliance, our Shen family will remember. There will be recompense in the future. Please go to the guest room next door for some food and rest while we discuss,” the old lady instructed, sending the bandit away.

“It’s chaos, utter chaos. What is he trying to do?” Shen Hao gritted his teeth.

The old lady glanced at her son and replied lightly, “Perhaps it is merely a ploy to extricate himself from the bandits.”