Chapter 21: Handling Affairs

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More than halfway through the journey, they were finally able to put into port.

Meng Hu wore a broad smile as he draped an arm over Su Yunqing’s shoulder. “Young Master Cheng, come with us. You helped me out of a tight spot, so the least I can do is treat you to a proper meal.”

The others chimed in from the side. “That’s right, Young Master Cheng. Come eat with us. Brother Hu is paying.”

“Brother Hu is stingy as they come, practically a miser. Since he’s finally footing the bill, I intend to drink my fill.”

Su Yunqing glanced hesitantly at Ling Yuan, who stood silently nearby.

“That’s right, Young Master Cheng. We’re only getting to drink his wine because of you. If you don’t come, we won’t be able to enjoy the meal either…”

Looking at those rough yet radiant faces, refusing them suddenly seemed unbearably cruel.

Ling Yuan spoke up. “Go on. I can keep watch over the ship.”

Surrounded by the others, Su Yunqing followed them ashore.

The town was somewhat larger than Goldfish Tail, and considerably livelier and more prosperous.

“What place is this?” Su Yunqing asked.

Turtledove answered with a grin, “White Crane Harbor, under the jurisdiction of Huai Prefecture.”

Huai Prefecture? Wasn’t the Lu family from Huai Prefecture? The eldest daughter of the Lu family had waited three years after becoming engaged to Big Brother. By now, she should already have learned of his death. What sort of circumstances was she in now?

The former Prefect of Huai, Lord Lu Ji, had once been Grandfather’s student. After Grandfather had been forced to resign, Lu Ji had been implicated as well, relinquishing his office and settling in Huai. With the new emperor’s accession, they must have been on the list of those targeted for revenge. Had they been punished?

She was still turning these matters over in her mind when the others ushered her into a tavern and seated her at a table. A cluster of smiling faces turned toward her.

“Young Master Cheng, what would you like to eat?”

She came back to herself. “I have no particular preferences. I eat anything. You choose.”

“Coming right up, waiter…”

…

Dish after dish was brought to the table. Just then, another group sat down nearby. One of them slammed his fist against the table and ground out through clenched teeth, “There’s no way to live like this anymore.”

“Who can argue? My own business is barely holding on.”

“Think of how peaceful and prosperous Huai was when Lord Lu served as prefect. And now?”

One of them shushed the speaker. “Keep your voice down. Walls have ears.”

The man gave a cold snort. “What am I supposed to fear? I can barely survive as it is. At this rate, I’ll have no choice but to go up into the mountains and become a bandit. Say, have you heard? After the Lu family’s property was confiscated, Lord Lu was sent away to serve in the army, and the eldest daughter hanged herself.”

Su Yunqing’s heart jolted.

The eldest daughter… was dead?

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She tightened her grip on her chopsticks, doing her utmost to keep her expression from betraying her, and continued listening.

“Isn’t it just so? They say she first received news of her fiancé’s death and didn’t eat a grain of rice for three days. Then the palace sent people to confiscate the family’s property, and she took her own life.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken. She was a woman of fierce honor. She didn’t hang herself because of the confiscation.”

“Oh?”

“They say the new prefect took a liking to her and wanted to force her into becoming his concubine. By the time he sent men to the Lu residence to carry her away, her body had already gone cold.”

“Ah… This age drives people to become ghosts. Tell me, why should we decent folk keep living decently? The officials won’t go into the mountains to suppress bandits, nor out to sea to drive away pirates. All they know is how to bleed ordinary people dry. At this rate, I really will become a bandit.”

“Ah, our Great Liang is like a tree stricken with plague. From its leaves to its roots, everything is rotten…”

The eldest daughter of the Lu family was dead. What of the Liu family? Would they be implicated this time as well?

The eldest daughter of the Liu family, Liu Yixue, had likewise waited three years for Second Brother. What state of mind would she be in when she received news of his death?

“Young Master Cheng, come, come, eat something. Why are you staring into space?”

Meng Hu pushed the best dishes toward her and gazed at her with a beaming smile.

Turtledove seemed to realize that she had been distracted by the conversation at the neighboring table. He said, “Little Young Master Cheng, this must be your first time traveling far from home, isn’t it? The world changed long ago. Each year is worse than the last. We stopped finding such things strange ages ago. Eat up. When there’s wine, drink today; when tomorrow’s troubles come, worry about them tomorrow!”

Meng Hu asked another question. “By the way, Little Young Master Cheng, since you can commune with the gods, can you contact the deity in the Heavenly Palace who governs peace in the mortal world?”

Su Yunqing gave a bitter inward laugh and shook her head.

Facing a table full of food and wine, everything tasted like sawdust. In a daze, she finished the meal.

“I’m not going back to the ship tonight,” Turtledove announced. “After being cooped up for so many days, I need to find somewhere to take care of something. Anyone coming with me?”

Apart from Uncle Kun, who showed open disdain, everyone else immediately nodded in agreement. Meng Hu looked at Su Yunqing. “Come along too, Little Young Master Cheng?”

Su Yunqing asked blankly, “Take care of what?”

The men exchanged glances. Meng Hu stared at her as though she were some strange creature.

“The sort of thing a man needs to take care of. Don’t tell me you don’t know?”

Su Yunqing was utterly confused. “I don’t.”

Meng Hu and Turtledove exchanged a look before turning back to her. “That figures. You’re still young. I’ll get you a room. Go upstairs and rest in the guest quarters for now.”

“You’re all leaving me alone? Then I might as well go with you!” She was curious, after all, about what exactly this thing men needed to take care of was.

Turtledove laughed. “That’s more like it. You’ll grow up sooner or later…”

When they arrived, Su Yunqing saw groups of women dressed in bright reds and greens, each one elaborately made up and swaying like flowers in the breeze. Only then did she understand what they had come to do. Her expression darkened, and she immediately turned to leave.

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Turtledove blocked her path. “Hey, Young Master Cheng, there was never any vow against women among the oaths you made us swear!”

Su Yunqing’s face flushed red with anger. “There wasn’t. Go ahead, then. I’m returning to the ship.”

With that, she turned and ran toward the docks.

Uncle Kun had said he was going to buy something for his wife, and Ling Yuan had not eaten yet. He had hardly had a decent meal during their days aboard the ship, so she decided she might as well bring him something to eat.

With that thought, she turned around and walked back to the tavern they had just visited.

By the time she carried the food aboard, Uncle Kun had still not returned. Ling Yuan sat alone on the deck with his legs crossed, head bowed as he stroked Loess’s belly.

The sky was nearing dusk. Crimson clouds stretched across the horizon, merging sea and sky into a single line, while the sea wind roared past her ears.

She waved the food at him. “Brother Ling, come eat!” Then she entered the cabin and set everything on the square table.

Ling Yuan had yet to come inside when Loess darted onto the table.

Su Yunqing stroked its head. “Don’t be impatient. There’s some for you too.”

She picked up a parcel wrapped in oiled paper, untied the string, and unfolded it. Inside was a generous pile of dried little fish.

When Ling Yuan came in, she waved him over. “Brother Ling, eat while it’s hot!”

After entering the cabin, Ling Yuan glanced outside again and asked, puzzled, “Why are you the only one who came back? Where are the others?”

“Uncle Kun went to buy something.”

“What about Meng Hu and the rest?”

“Meng Hu… they… went to take care of something.”

“What sort of thing requires everyone to go together?”

“A man’s business…”

Ling Yuan asked no further questions and did not look at her. He merely lowered his head and began to eat.

Su Yunqing, meanwhile, kept feeding Loess dried fish. Before long, a prolonged silence settled over the cabin.

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