The night had been a long one. However, once Shen Zhen had woken up, she had come to realize that the nausea that had gnawed at her stomach had finally subsided. She had survived the ordeal.
Tangyue came to attend to Shen Zhen’s ablutions in the morning. Since her mistress was to play the role of a concubine, the clever servant decided combing Shen Zhen’s hair into a married-woman’s bun. Her snow-white neck being exposed to curious glances gave that bit of feminine charm that a girl who was not yet out of the boudoir lacked.
Once ready, Shen Zhen made her way down the stairs, slowed by the length of her skirt. Halfway down, she saw Lu Yan talking to the inn girl. He was wearing a dark blue robe covered in gold patterns and his hair had been pulled into a jade crown. It made him look less aloof than how Shen Zhen knew him. Whenever he came to her, he preferred to be dressed in black.
The inn girl was fully engrossed by Lu Yan, serving him sincerely, to the point she bent her waist in a most graceful way to pour him a cup of tea. Lu Yan’s deep eyes and the soft tone he used to thank this Miss Zhuang made the young woman blush. When a man such as the one in front of her looked at Zhuang Yue in that manner, he could not but make her blush deeply. Irresistible. There was no other word for such a man.
The corners of his lips lifting conspicuously and his eyes drooping, he slowly stirred the tea in the cup before sipping it. The movement hypnotized Zhuang Yue, leaving her staring at the guest’s slightly disdainful lips. Snapping out of it, she remembered what he had told her previous.
“Master Wei wishing to visit a jewelry shop, is it because he wants to buy something for Miss Qin?”
Qin Rao was Shen Zhen’s pseudonym.
“Indeed.”
Zhuang Yue raised her hands to push her hair behind her ears in a charming many. She could not help but sigh softly.
“How lucky Miss Qin is to have been saved by you.”
After a pause, she cleverly pushed on.
“As soon as Miss Qin comes down, Yue’er can show the best places to go if you wish.”
Hearing this inn girl’s offer, Lu Yan put his cup down.
“Being a newcomer, I am in great need for guidance. Thus, permit me to thank Miss Zhuang for her kind offer.”
The innkeeper who had been keeping an eye on those two butted in.
“Master Wei is too polite. What are you thanking her for? If you are looking for hairpins and other ornaments, go to Chunli Pavilion. It is the best shop of that kind in Yangzhou!”
Shen Zhen, listening to their conversation from the staircase, knew quite well that Lu Yan was more aware of everything and anything about Yangzhou than any of its inhabitants. He was playing them silly.
She kept in mind his instructions, took a few more steps down, coughed to attract the attention on her and appeared in front of the little assembly. Zhuang Yue turned her head to welcome whomever had appeared——
Based on the voice, she had concluded it would be Miss Qin. She was quite curious to see the fox spirit, as her mother called her, and to compare their looks, quite sure that she would prevail. And then, Shen Zhen came into her line of sight, making Zhuang Yue’s jaw drop.
God, what was this fairy that had come down the stairs?!
Zhuang Yue’s eyes widened and her voice got caught in her throat. Shen Zhen had never, and would never, lose in terms of beauty. Not to her own sisters, let alone to some inn girl, as pretty as she might have been. Her eyes were as clear as spring water, tender to the point of making anyone pity her. However, if one looked deep in the midst of them, one would discover a soft seduction that beguiled and hypnotized.
Who would ever dare compare oneself to a beauty with such eyes?!
Both the innkeeper and her daughter who had been so assured of their superiority were left embarrassed. Yangzhou was renowned for its beautiful women. After all the flower girl business originated from their region. The girls to be auctioned off were advertised at every street corner. However, not one could compare to Shen Zhen.
(T/N: In this case, instead of flower girls, there is a reference to Lean Horses: young, poor girls who were bought by slave owners, taught poetry, calligraphy, history, chess, music, etc. and then auctioned off. It was known as a concubine market, however most of those girls, some of them becoming very important political figures going as far as overthrowing the Ming Dynasty, were bought by brothels, mostly those of the famed Red Light District of Nanjing. They were called lean horses because the auctions resembled horse markets and the girls were so impoverished that they were de facto skeletal. This business was limited to Yangzhou and flourished only during the Late Ming period. Flower girls, also known as sing-song girls, were nineteenth century courtesans who sang songs to attract potential husbands — not clients! I just couldn’t spend the next ten or so chapters writing about starved horses …)
Quickly, Shen Zhen took place by Lu Yan’s side and said in the lowest of voices:
“Rao’er should not have overslept. She made Lord Husband wait. Please forgive her.”
Staring into her eyes, Lu Yan simpered in his most charming way. All the mock affection oozing through his eyes had a way to change his appearance. What an actor! He could almost fool Shen Zhen. Without his indifference and self-satisfaction, he truly morphed into the Wei family’s Wei Xian, a rich heir who had never known any hardships.
“Waiting does not hurt anyone.”
He did not even blink an eye as he perjured his soul with Shen Zhen his witness. Had she not known his temper inside out, she might honestly have thought she was facing a supremely gentle man.
In no time, Zhuang Yue led them out of the inn and towards the prosperous market area. Yangzhou had always been rich. And the Luocheng neighborhood they had decided to stay in was renowned for all its different businesses, whether they be wine, medicine, clothes or pastry shops. It had been developed with the rich and the beautiful in mind.
The streets were bustling, the merchants were gracious and welcoming, joy bloomed everywhere. At first glance, at least. It was prosperous as previously noted. But nothing in comparison to Chang’an. However, certainly not inferior to Luoyang or any other such leisure cities.
Before long, Shen Zhen saw a black, lacquered plaque appear on the horizon. Big gold characters indicated Chunli Pavilion. As they prepared to cross the threshold of the shop, Miss Zhuang whispered loud enough for everyone to hear:
“This Chunli Pavilion might have the best jewelry, but it is also the most expensive shop in Yangzhou.”
As soon as those words were said, the jeweler of Chunli Pavilion lifted his head and shot them a sly glance. Seeing that a good profit could be made, he bowed immediately and invited them in.
“Won’t the Lord come in to have a look?”
“Let us do that”, Lu Yan graciously agreed.
In the shop, Shen Zhen distractedly listened to the jeweler’s endless praise of his merchandise.
“These pearl hairpins are from the Western Regions. They are exotic and very prized by the ladies. These jadeite hairpins, with the intricate flower ornaments, are the latest rage in the capital. The earrings and these lavish bracelets are the best of Yangzhou craftsmanship. What does the Miss say? Has anything caught her eye?”
That vast array of ornaments would have dazzled the most unimpressible eye. One would have expected a girl who had not seen much of the world to be dazled by such luxury. However, Shen Zhen was not. She was … No, she had been the Marquis Yunyang’s lawful daughter, after all. Born in the lap of luxury. From her earliest childhood, her parents had spoiled her rotten, she had been her grandmother’s favorite and her sisters’ pet. Her monthly allowance had been outrageous, the gifts she had been receiving regularly would have made an imperial princess pale in envy and her sisters gave her the bulk of their own allowances. In that household, she had been richer than the Marquis Yunyang himself. The shopkeepers of Chang’an West had been smiling to the point of ripping their mouths whenever they had seen her walk the streets with her entourage.
Forgetting herself for an instant, Shen Zhen picked up a jade earring, turned it towards the sun, looked through it with a furrowing brow and softly praised:
“Not bad. This one is good enough.”
The jeweler’s servile expression froze and the corner of his mouth shook. She had picked up the best piece available at a glance. This was an expert. He better not play games with this one. Turning around swiftly, he rummaged around for a dark purple box to be retrieved from the bottom drawer of a cabinet. As the box lid was slowly opened, a variety of uncommon, precious jades were unveiled to Shen Zhen’s eye. They all had that ethereal emerald gleam to them. However, the clarity, the shine of them was incomparable to anything the jeweler would have proposed his average rich customer. Shen Zhen did not know which to choose, examining them carefully. Lu Yan, who had decided to play the role of a senseless lover until the very end, came to her, snaked his arm around her waist, pressing her back into him in a most vulgar fashion and asked:
“Do you like them?”
His hot breath caressed the top of Shen Zhen’s head. His actions, the tone of his voice, everything made a numb sensation travel down her spine. She grabbed onto two jades in one movement, straightened, turned around and almost shoved the jewelry into Lu Yan’s nose.
“They are all so magnificent. One does know which to choose. What does Master think?
Although Shen Zhen was well-aware that Lu Yan was using this opportunity to flaunt his riches, she had not expected for him to pick the whole box up and shove it into the jeweler’s hands.
“We will take them all.”
As soon as these words reached her, Shen Zhen felt her head spinning. This was folly. Pure folly. She could not help but sigh in her heart.
Your Lordship, your behavior is more extravagant than that of the most extravagant dandies of the capital. Not one of them could compare to you!
Shen Zhen immediately grabbed onto his arm, pressing herself into it, pulling at it in a spoiled fashion, as if she was trying to hinder him from spending the money, while simultaneously being happy with the extent of his generosity … Lu Yan ignored the appeal to his reason and went ahead to spend six hundred copper coins.
Six hundred copper coins could not buy Shen Zhen, but an estate most certainly.
When they came out, Shen Zhen’s heart was frozen and her expression as calm as a still water. Zhuang Yue for her part was in disarray. She viewed Lu Yan with completely new eyes. Zhuang Yue had lost her father in childhood. Her mother was a widow and her younger brother still very small. All of them were supported by the inn. Although business was good, the taxes in Yangzhou were getting higher and higher. Their life was bound to get difficult soon. When she had first seen Shen Zhen, she had observed her with disdain in her eyes. Nothing but a little concubine. But now, when she saw how Lu Yan threw money away for nothing but a smile from her, Zhuang Yue could not help but be envious.
After shopping, their little group decided to rest at a restaurant. Of course, Lu Yan chose the most expensive-looking and ordered a full table of fine delicacies. Hindered from speaking by the rules of etiquette, it was not before they finally put the chopsticks down that Lu Yan could casually ask:
“Does Miss Zhuang know where one could buy a house in Yangzhou?”
Raising a brow, Zhuang Yue shot Lu Yan a surprised glance.
“Is Master Wei planning on buying a house in Yangzhou?”
Lu Yan smiled in ease, his eyes dreamy.
“We Wei have been engaged in the silk trade for three generations. Seeing Yangzhou so prosperous and rich, I decided I would set up a few shops around here. And while at it, I could buy a house for convenience.”
Zhuang Yue throught this through carefully.
“With how rich Master Wei is, buying some ordinary house would be a shame. He should take a look around Wulipu. It is the most elegant district of Yanghzou, all in waterside pavilions along the river, shrubs and magnificent views. The scenery is breathtaking. All the officials and dignitaries of Yangzhou fight for estate’s there.”
Lu Yan started tapping against the table with his forefinger.
“Could Miss Zhuang guide me?”
After a pause, Zhuang Yue had to carefully refuse.
“It is already late today. If Master Wei is not too much in a hurry, Yue’er could show him tomorrow.”
Simpering in his most convincing way, Lu Yan acquiesced and said a few charming words to the inn girl. After leaving the restaurant, Zhuang Yue rushed back to the inn. She was too eager to tell whomever was willing to listen that a rich Jingzhou merchant planning on settling in Yangzhou. Lu Yan for his part, knowing full well that the news of his arrival would spread like the plague, leisurely led Shen Zhen from cosmetic to clothes shops.
By the time they returned to the inn, it was already evening. As the night grew dark, lanterns were lit throughout the inn. Candles swayed in the wind, casting frightening shadows. At that time, several muscular men had gathered to have a drink. They were dressed in coarse linen shirts and looked very much like ordinary people. However, the way their eyes swallowed Shen Zhen and Lu Yan up proved that they had not chosen that very inn to get drunk in by sheer coincidence.
Although Shen Zhen’s life had been turned upside down of late, she was still nothing but a miss who had lived in her boudoir for many years. The way those men’s eyes stabbed into her frightened and enraged her. She closely followed Lu Yan up the stairs, almost leaning into him as they walked from the hallway into their guest room. After walking around for a whole day, Shen Zhen had been exhausted to the extreme. However, as she had seen that particular group of men, her sleepiness had evaporated in thin air.
She raised her eyes to observe Lu Yan’s own reaction. He had removed all pretense and become the solemn, cold Lord Lu once more.Shen Zhen could not but praise him in her heart. Truly, it took quite the skill to be able to switch between personas as he did. The officials of the Supreme Court were not to be underestimated indeed. The criminals they judged were no match to them, obviously.
They sat in their room in silence for a while. However, at some point, the sound of footsteps reached them. Shen Zhen finally understood why he had taken Zhuang Yue with them to shop and why he had disclosed his desire to buy a house. He had patiently been waiting for the innkeeper and her daughter to spread the word. He had known someone would eventually reach out to him.
Noticing the figure looming outside the window, Lu Yan could not help but stare. He had been right. Just that he had not thought it to happen this fast. This Yangzhou would prove to be a case more complicated than what Lu Yan had expected. He had come to Yangzhou and had done everything to have the tongues flapping. And indeed, as soon as a rich man appeared in the city, no one, especially criminals, could sit still. They all had to have a look.
The footsteps at the door stopped, showing no intent to move an inch. Shen Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. In her fear, she made the decision to act on her own. She took a step towards Lu Yan, whispering into his hear as her fingers caressed the top of his hand.
“My lord husband.”
The man cocked an eyebrow at her in mock surprise. Shen Zhen did not abate however, snaking her arm around his neck, pressing herself into him. The meaning behind her actions was more than obvious. Lu Yan followed her lead, grabbing onto the nape of her neck with his hand and pulling her head towards him so he could kiss the corner of her full lips.
The kiss was deliberate and he took his sweet time to enjoy himself. Lu Yan’s ministrations made Shen Zhen unable to breathe and her surroundings started spinning. She tugged at his shirt, helplessly shivering against his body. Every action of hers would have seduced the most hard-heartened man.
Lu Yan did not allow her to catch her breath before a long while had passed. He looked down at her. Her eyes were unfocused, yet a special light, very alike to that of stars, illuminated them. Her shift had slid down her shoulders, giving her a most sultry appearance, and she clung to him in what could easily have been mistaken for a tempting invitation to partake in games of desire.
Uncovering this new side of Shen Zhen’s, Lu Yan felt his throat palpitate as his eyes darkened and deepened. An impatient hand released the bed curtains from their jade hooks. The fabric slowly fell all around the bed, concealing a titillating scene from the eyes of the indiscreet.
They were putting on this play for others. But the emotions guiding their actions were genuine in their passion.
