Chapter 7 New Troubles and Old Troubles
It was the height of summer. The heat was intense, and the canal surface shimmered with light, yet it couldn't reveal the hidden dangers that had recently emerged in the salt merchants' world.
Baolong Salt Shop in the southern part of Yangzhou was once one of the largest salt merchants in Yangzhou, but now it is just a mess.
The vermilion gate was sealed with official seals, the edges of which were slightly curled up by the wind, as if silently telling the story of the business's decline.
A crowd of onlookers gathered at the entrance, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.
"Tsk tsk, how unpredictable life is! Not long ago, Pan Shizhang was still swaggering around in front of the Salt Transport Office, but who would have thought he would collapse so quickly!"
"That's right! They owed Jin Yuan Bank 30,000 taels of silver and couldn't pay it back. Their smuggled salt was also confiscated by the Jiangxi Salt Commissioner. It's no wonder they went bankrupt!"
"I heard that Pan Shizhang has been arrested and imprisoned by the authorities, and his family has fled. It's truly a case of a family destroyed and people killed!"
Inside the Baolong Salt Shop, several government officials were taking inventory of the valuables. Overturned bookshelves, broken porcelain, and torn account books were scattered on the floor, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of decay.
Pan Shizhang's family business, painstakingly built up over many years, was ultimately destroyed by his own greed and ruthlessness.
Pan Shizhang's downfall came faster than anyone expected.
With the Shen family's guarantee, the head manager of Jinyuan Bank sent debt collectors who practically wore out the doorstep of Baolong Bank, urging them day and night.
The arrest warrant from the Jiangxi Salt Commissioner arrived shortly after, not only sealing up Baolong Shipping's branch in Jiangxi, but also presenting evidence of Pan Shizhang's smuggling of salt to the Yangzhou Prefect.
With Shen Rulan's secret instigation, creditors of all sizes in Yangzhou came to Pan Shizhang's door, demanding repayment of their debts.
The once bustling Baolong Salt Shop suddenly became deserted, with employees either scattering or being held by creditors to pay off debts.
Pan Shizhang sold all his possessions, including his treasured antiques and paintings, his estate outside the city, and even his wife's jewelry, but it still couldn't fill the hole.
Ultimately, he was arrested and imprisoned by the authorities on charges of "smuggling salt and defaulting on huge debts," and he will face severe punishment.
His family members also disappeared overnight. Some said they fled to the countryside, while others said they were kidnapped by Pan Shizhang's enemies. In any case, their whereabouts are unknown.
The demise of Baolong Salt Company fundamentally altered the landscape of Yangzhou's salt industry.
The original tripartite balance of power was broken, and the Shen family became the most powerful and influential family in Yangzhou, becoming the undisputed leader among the salt merchants.
But the Shen family all knew that this was not the end, but a new beginning—after Pan Shizhang fell, the share of the riverbank and the customer resources in his hands became juicy meat in the eyes of various forces, and a new contest had quietly begun.
Inside the back hall of the Yangzhou Salt Transport Commissioner's Office.
Zhao Dexian, dressed in comfortable casual clothes, sat in a grand chair, holding a folding fan in his hand, slowly fanning himself.
On the table in front of him was a list of confiscated property from Baolong Salt Company, which detailed Pan Shizhang's assets, debts, and the amount of smuggled salt.
Zhao Dexian looked at the list, clicked his tongue twice, and said with a hint of disdain, "This Pan Shizhang, he usually looks fat and arrogant, but I didn't expect him to be so stingy. He can't even pay back his debt of 30,000 taels of silver, yet he still dares to smuggle salt. He's really courting death."
The clerk standing to the side quickly chimed in, "You're right, sir. Pan Shizhang is greedy and short-sighted; his downfall is only a matter of time."
Zhao Dexian put down the list, looked at the clerk, and said with a hint of meaning, "With the Pan family gone, a lot of their quota for riverbank access has become available. There are quite a few people in Yangzhou who are eyeing this lucrative opportunity."
The clerk's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood Zhao Dexian's meaning. He bowed and said, "Your Excellency is wise. According to the court's custom, the vacant salt quota of the Pan family should be filled by a wealthy and upright salt merchant among the existing ones. However... how to determine the standard of 'upright character' is entirely up to Your Excellency."
Zhao Dexian smiled with satisfaction and tapped the table lightly with his folding fan: "Yes... The Shen family suffered quite a 'fright' at Qixia Mountain this time, and they also helped us confiscate Pan Shizhang's private salt. We should give them some sweet treats to appease them. However, we can't give the entire share to the Shen family, lest they become too powerful and refuse to listen to our discipline in the future."
He paused, then continued, "Go and spread the word that I am going to reconsider the allocation of salt embankments, and that all the salt merchants should come to the yamen to 'discuss' the matter. Remember, let them know that who gets their share of the salt embankments, and who doesn't, is entirely up to me."
The clerk understood immediately and quickly said, "Your Excellency is brilliant! By making the salt merchants compete with each other and vie to curry favor with you, Your Excellency can not only benefit from this but also keep the Shen family in check. It's a win-win situation! However... it seems that Cao Jin, the young master of the Cao family, is also quite interested in the Pan family's share of the saltworks. He even sent someone to inquire about the matter yesterday."
Zhao Dexian waved his hand, his tone tinged with disdain: "Cao Jin? What does he know about salt affairs! He's just trying to make some money in Yangzhou by relying on the Imperial Household Department's name. He doesn't even have a proper salt shop in Yangzhou, so why should he get a share of the salt permits? Let's leave him hanging and see what price the Shen family and the other salt merchants can offer. It's not too late to consider Cao Jin after they've decided to fight it out."
The clerk bowed and replied, "Yes! I'll make the arrangements right away!" After saying that, he turned and left the back room to spread the news.
Zhao Dexian picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and a calculating glint flashed in his eyes.
What he had to do was sit back and watch the tigers fight, observing the salt merchants struggle for their share of the salt transport quota, while he reaped the benefits, both making enough money and consolidating his position in the Yangzhou Salt Transport Bureau—a double win.
In contrast to the composure of the Salt Transport Commissioner's office, the atmosphere inside the Cao family's villa was unusually tense.
Cao Jin, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, sat in the armchair in the living room, his face gloomy, his hand gripping the teacup tightly until his knuckles turned white.
"That brat Shen Rulan is truly ungrateful! I kindly offered him a marriage alliance, but he's ungrateful!" Cao Jin roared at Zhou Shiye, who was standing to the side. "Now that Pan Shizhang has fallen, I'm too lazy to hang myself on his tree! Can't we get a share of this ready-made land grant?"
Master Zhou looked troubled and bowed, saying, "Young master, this matter of salt permits involves a wide range of issues and cannot be resolved simply by having money. The imperial court stipulates that the quota for salt permits can only be allocated to salt merchants who have legitimate salt shops and are registered with the Salt Transport Bureau. Our Cao family has no salt shops in Yangzhou and has never been involved in the salt business. According to the rules, we are not qualified to obtain a quota for salt permits."
"Rules? Rules are rigid, but people are flexible!" Cao Jin impatiently interrupted his advisor. "If there aren't any salt shops, we'll just buy one! Go look around Yangzhou city; those struggling small salt merchants will surely have some willing to sell their salt shop names and salt quotas. As long as we offer enough money, why would they refuse?"
He paused, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes: "I refuse to believe that with the Cao family's connections in the Imperial Household Department, plus the money, we can't get a foothold in the Yangzhou salt market! As long as we get the quota for salt production, we can establish ourselves in Yangzhou. Then, that brat Shen Rulan will have to bow down to me obediently."
Master Zhou hesitated and said, "Young master, buying salt companies and salt permit quotas is not an easy task. Although those small salt merchants are struggling to survive, they know the value of salt permit quotas and will probably ask for exorbitant prices. Moreover, we need to cultivate relationships with Lord Zhao of the Salt Transport Commissioner's Office; otherwise, even if we buy salt companies, we may not be able to obtain salt permit quotas."
"Money is no problem!" Cao Jin waved his hand, his tone arrogant. "As long as we can get the quota for the saltworks, I'm willing to pay any price! As for Lord Zhao, you make the arrangements, send him plenty of generous gifts, and make sure he agrees! I don't believe that with money and the backing of the Imperial Household Department, we can't even take over a small salt market in Yangzhou!"
Seeing Cao Jin's resolute attitude, Master Zhou knew that further words would be of no use, so he could only bow and reply, "Yes! I will go and inquire about the situation of the small salt merchants in Yangzhou City, and then prepare generous gifts to visit Lord Zhao!" After saying that, he turned and left the living room.
Cao Jin watched Zhou Shiye's retreating figure, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.
He felt that he was getting closer and closer to his goal of controlling the Yangzhou salt market. As long as he could secure the salt supply quota, he would be able to gain a foothold in Yangzhou. At that time, whether it was Shen Rulan or other salt merchants, they would all have to act according to his wishes.
Inside the council hall of the Shen residence, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.
Contrary to outsiders' belief that the Shen family would be overjoyed at the downfall of Pan Shizhang, the Shen family members all understood that Pan Shizhang's downfall meant that an even greater challenge was about to come.
Shen Rulan sat upright in the main seat, wearing a dark blue satin robe with a bat pattern and dark floral design, over which was a black velvet jacket with a front opening. The collar and sleeves were trimmed with wide blue satin borders, and a white jade pendant hung from her waist with blue tassels. The dark color of her robes made her face appear even more serene, and her whole being exuded an undeniable majesty.
After listening to Manager Wang, who was in charge of salt affairs, report on Zhao Dexian's intention to reconsider the salt quota, she sneered: "Zhao Dexian is using 'fair distribution' as a pretext to extort bribes and control my Shen family. He's afraid that our Shen family will become too powerful among the salt merchants in Yangzhou and won't listen to him in the future, so he deliberately spread the news to make other salt merchants compete with us so he can reap the benefits."
Upon hearing this, the old shopkeepers looked worried.
Manager Li, who was in charge of the Songjiang Saltworks, bowed and said, "Young Master, the saltworks quota vacated by the Pan family covers Songjiang, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and other places. These are the core markets of our Shen family. We need to secure at least 70% of it to stabilize the situation and maintain our position among the Yangzhou salt merchants. Otherwise, if it is divided up by other salt merchants, especially by 'Yufeng Salt Company,' which has a grudge against us, it may cause future trouble. However, it seems that we will need to spend a lot of money to smooth things over with Lord Zhao."
"If he wants money, then give him money." Shen Rulan's tone was calm, but her eyes held a sharp glint. "But how big his appetite is depends on whether he can digest it. Shen Fu, go to the storeroom and prepare a generous gift—not gold or silver jewelry, those are too conspicuous and will easily give others cause for gossip. Just prepare a copy of the Ming Dynasty's 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' painting, plus two catties of aged Pu'er tea. These things are both elegant and valuable; Zhao Dexian should like them. Tomorrow, I will personally go and meet this Lord Zhao."
Shen Fu bowed and replied, "Yes! This old servant will go and prepare immediately!"
Shen Rulan then turned to Manager Zhang, who was in charge of the canal transport, and asked in a questioning tone, "What's the latest news from Master Liu of the Canal Gang? Master Liu couldn't possibly be unaware that Pan Shizhang colluded with the Canal Gang's 'River Dragon' to ambush our escort team. What's his attitude now?"
Manager Zhang hurriedly replied, "Young Master, Master Liu sent a generous gift yesterday, saying it was to calm your nerves. He also brought a message saying that he knew nothing about the Blackwater Pond incident, that it was the work of Hunjianglong in collusion with Pan Shizhang, and that it had nothing to do with the Canal Gang. He has already dealt with Hunjianglong and several brothers involved in the matter, and hopes to gain the understanding of the Shen family so that we can continue our cooperative relationship."
"Hmph, sacrificing the pawn to save the king, that's decisive." A cold glint flashed in Shen Rulan's eyes. "Third Master Liu is afraid that our Shen family will sever ties with the Canal Gang and affect their income, so he hastily severed ties and even dealt with Hunjianglong. We can accept the gift, and return it with an even more generous one—send a batch of fine silk and tea to tell him that the Shen family remembers this 'favor'. But we should also remind him that if the Canal Gang's ships 'accidentally' sink or are delayed again, affecting our Shen family's salt transport, our Shen family will have to find another partner, such as the 'Water Transport Gang,' which is a competitor of the Canal Gang."
Manager Zhang bowed and replied, "Yes! I understand! I will definitely convey the young master's message!"
Shen Rulan looked at the old shopkeepers, her tone solemn: "Although Pan Shizhang has fallen, Cao Jin, Zhao Dexian, and the canal gang are all keeping an eye on our Shen family. In the days to come, we must be even more careful and plan ahead, and we must not give them any opportunity to take advantage of us. The matter of the canal share is related to the future of our Shen family, and we must secure it; the canal transport matter cannot go wrong either, otherwise our salt goods will not be able to be transported out in time, and the losses will be huge."
The old managers responded in unison, "Yes! We understand! We will certainly not let the young master down!"
After the council meeting ended, Shen Rulan remained alone in the council hall, gazing at the map of Yangzhou salt merchants hanging on the wall, her mind filled with countless thoughts.
She knew that the days to come would be even more difficult, but she had no choice but to face the challenges head-on and protect the Shen family's business.
Inside the Yongsheng Escort Agency in the west of Yangzhou, shouts echoed from the training ground.
Lin Xiao, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, was instructing the young bodyguards of the escort agency on marksmanship.
The wound on her arm had mostly healed, leaving only a faint scar that was almost invisible unless you looked closely.
Lin Zhennan walked out of the front hall of the escort agency, holding a red invitation card in his hand, with a smile on his face.
He walked over to Lin Xiao and handed her the invitation: "Xiao'er, stop and rest. The Shen family sent an invitation, saying that they are holding a thank-you banquet to express their gratitude to our escort agency for its meritorious service in protecting the goods at Qixia Mountain, and they specifically invited you to attend."
Lin Xiao stopped what she was doing, took the invitation, and opened it. The handwriting on the invitation was neat and beautiful, reading, "A small banquet has been prepared to cordially invite Chief Escort Lin Zhennan and Escort Lin Xiao of Yongsheng Escort Agency to attend," and signed "Shen Rulan." She was somewhat surprised. The Shen family's thank-you banquet invited prominent figures in Yangzhou, such as officials from the Salt Transport Bureau and owners of major merchants. It was indeed quite rare for a young escort like her to be invited.
"The Shen family really thinks highly of you." Lin Zhennan smiled as he looked at his daughter's surprised expression. "Go ahead, this is a great opportunity. The Shen family's influence in Yangzhou is growing, and building a good relationship with them will greatly benefit the development of our escort agency. Moreover, there will be many celebrities from Yangzhou at the banquet. Getting to know more people will also be beneficial for you when you take over the escort agency in the future."
He paused, his tone becoming serious: "However, you must remember that the Shen family is a deep and complex place, and that young master Shen Rulan is even more unfathomable. He appears gentle and polite, but in reality, he is meticulous and ruthless, far from being as simple as he seems. When you interact with him, you must be careful not to get too close, nor to offend him. Maintaining a neutral stance is best."
Lin Xiao nodded, put the invitation away, and said with a firm tone, "Father, don't worry, I understand. I will handle things carefully and won't cause trouble for the escort agency." Her curiosity about Shen Rulan grew even stronger. She really wanted to know what this seemingly weak young master of the Shen family would be like at the banquet.
Unlike the bustling Shen residence and the anticipation of the Yongsheng Escort Agency, the Su family courtyard in Lotus Lane was shrouded in gloom.
Su Moqing's father, Su Wenyuan, suffered a relapse, and his condition was more serious than before. He was bedridden all day, coughed incessantly, and even coughed up blood occasionally.
Su Moqing invited the best doctor in Yangzhou. After examining Su Wenyuan's pulse, the doctor shook his head and prescribed a new medicine.
However, some of the ingredients in this prescription are extremely expensive, such as ginseng, deer antler, and cordyceps, each costing several taels of silver. For the Su family, who were already poor, this was undoubtedly a heavy burden.
Although the Shen family had paid a generous advance of one hundred taels of silver for the painting, Su Wenyuan's medical expenses, daily living expenses, and the expensive medicines he was using up were quickly depleted.
Su Moqing looked at the names of the herbs on the prescription, then at the empty medicine jars in her home, and her heart was filled with anxiety.
These days, Su Moqing stays by her father's bedside day and night, preparing medicine, feeding him medicine, wiping his body, and changing his clothes, hardly resting for a moment.
Her already delicate face became even thinner, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked exhausted.
Occasionally, she would stop what she was doing and sit by her father's bedside, gazing out the window in a daze.
The image of Shen Rulan receiving the food box involuntarily flashed through my mind that day in the Shen family's library—he was wearing an elegant robe, with a tired but gentle smile on his face, and clear eyes, without his usual aloofness and defensiveness.
A very subtle thought lingered in her mind—if she asked Shen Rulan for help, would he help her? With the Shen family's wealth, spending a few taels of silver to buy medicinal herbs would be a piece of cake.
But as soon as the thought popped into her head, she suppressed it firmly.
My father’s words of advice still echoed in my ears: “The Shen family is not from our world. Their world is full of strife and scheming. It’s better for both of us to stay away from them.”
She cannot and should not have any further involvement with the Shen family, and she should not trouble Shen Rulan because of her own family's predicament.
She took a deep breath, suppressed her anxiety, picked up the prescription again, and decided to go to the pharmacy to ask if she could use cheaper herbs instead, or if she could buy some herbs on credit and pay them back later when she sold her paintings.
In the back garden of the Shen family mansion, a meticulously prepared thank-you banquet is being held in the waterside pavilion.
Unlike Cao Jin's extravagance, the Shen family's thank-you banquet was not lavish, but rather exquisite and elegant in every detail. The pavilion was surrounded by colorful lanterns, which reflected the shimmering lake surface. The tables were set with fine dishes and aged wines, their aromas filling the air. Several musicians played melodious music in a corner of the pavilion, adding a lively atmosphere to the banquet.
Those who attended the banquet were all prominent figures in Yangzhou: several officials from the Salt Transport Bureau, owners of major businesses, Lin Zhennan and his daughter Lin Xiao from Yongsheng Escort Agency, and several other famous figures in Yangzhou.
Everyone was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with smiles on their faces, exchanging pleasantries and toasts, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
As the hostess, Shen Rulan wore a royal blue silk robe with eight cloud and bat patterns, over which was a dark blue silk jacket with river and sea patterns. A jade belt hook was tied around her waist, with an apricot-yellow sash hanging from it. Her long braid was tightly combed and glossy black, with a black tassel at the end. With each step, the hem of her robe fluttered slightly, vaguely revealing the moon-white silk lining underneath. Her whole demeanor exuded an air of noble yet understated, dignified and composed composure.
Holding a wine glass, she gracefully moved among the guests, chatting and laughing with the officials of the Salt Transport Bureau, discussing the salt market with the owners of the shops, and talking about poetry, calligraphy and painting with the famous scholars. Her demeanor and speech showed no trace of immaturity, but rather a maturity beyond her years.
"Young Master Shen is young and promising. This time, he has not only rid the Yangzhou salt market of a scourge, but also stabilized the salt price. He has done a great service!" Zhang Wanlin, the owner of Yufeng Salt Company, raised his wine cup and toasted Shen Rulan with a smile on his face, but a trace of jealousy was hidden in his eyes. After Pan Shizhang fell from power, Yufeng Salt Company was the merchant company that wanted to take over the salt supply share the most, besides the Shen family.
Shen Rulan raised her wine glass and lightly clinked it with Zhang Wanlin's. Her tone was calm but measured: "Master Zhang is too kind. Pan Shizhang's smuggling of salt and collusion with bandits are illegal. The Shen family has only done what it should have done, and there is nothing to praise about it. In the future, we will need to work together with Master Zhang to maintain the stability of the Yangzhou salt market."
His words were impeccable, neither arrogant nor offensive to Zhang Wanlin, leaving Zhang Wanlin with no room for error. He could only smile awkwardly and down his drink.
Lin Xiao sat to the left of her father, Lin Zhennan, quietly watching the scene before her.
She wore a light purple satin blouse embroidered with orchid branches, over which she wore a moon-white vest with a pipa-shaped collar. Her hair was loosely styled in two small buns, adorned only with a plain silver hairpin and two velvet flowers. Although she was not as adorned with jewels and dazzling attire as the noble ladies around her, she possessed a clear and unpretentious air, and her brows held a touch of heroic spirit that was not found in ordinary young ladies.
As she watched Shen Rulan handle all sorts of people with ease, that strange feeling resurfaced in her heart—the gentle, polite, and sophisticated young master Shen before her seemed to be a completely different person from the Shen Rulan who had drawn a bow and shot arrows on the ancient road of Qixia Mountain that day, with sharp eyes.
"Xiao'er, when Young Master Shen comes over later, you must offer him a proper toast." Lin Zhennan said to his daughter in a low voice, "The Shen family specially invited you this time, which is a great honor for our escort agency. Whether Yongsheng Escort Agency can establish itself in Yangzhou in the future depends a lot on the Shen family's support."
Lin Xiao nodded, her gaze returning to Shen Rulan, but with a newfound wariness. She felt that this young master Shen harbored too many secrets, making him impossible to fathom.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the banquet gradually became lively.
Just then, Zhao Dexian's advisor from the Salt Transport Office "happened" to pass by the waterside pavilion. He was carrying a food box and walked in with a smile: "Young Master Shen, esteemed employers, what a coincidence! The master sent me to deliver some snacks, but I didn't expect to arrive just in time for Young Master Shen's thank-you banquet. So I took the liberty of coming in to offer you all a toast."
Everyone knew perfectly well that this advisor was not "just passing by," but was clearly sent by Zhao Dexian to gather information.
Shen Rulan didn't expose her, and stood up with a smile: "You're too kind, Master. Please have a seat. Someone, bring Master a bowl and chopsticks."
The clerk waved his hand and said with a smile, "No, no, I have to go back and report. I just heard that Young Master Shen is hosting a banquet today, so I came here to offer him a toast—Young Master Shen has been working hard for the salt market lately, thank you for your hard work."
He picked up his wine glass and walked over to Shen Rulan. The two appeared to be toasting each other, but in reality, they huddled together and began to talk in hushed tones.
“Young Master Shen, the magistrate said that he will handle the matter of the shore share 'fairly,' but he will also take into account the 'sincerity' of each family.” The clerk’s voice was very low, and only Shen Rulan could hear it. “The magistrate also said that if Young Master Shen is free tomorrow, he can go to the yamen. The magistrate wants to have a 'detailed discussion' with Young Master Shen.”
A knowing glint flashed in Shen Rulan's eyes, and she nodded gently: "Thank you for conveying the message, Master. I will definitely pay a visit to Lord Zhao tomorrow."
After receiving the reply, the advisor smiled and toasted the other guests a few more times before hurriedly leaving with his food box. As soon as he left, the atmosphere in the waterside pavilion became subtle—everyone knew that the game of securing the waterfront quota had quietly begun amidst the clinking of glasses.
Halfway through the banquet, Shen Rulan temporarily left the waterside pavilion under the pretext of changing her clothes.
Dealing with various forces over the past few days has left her feeling somewhat exhausted, and she wants to find a quiet place to get some fresh air.
The back garden of the Shen Mansion is very large. Behind the waterside pavilion is a dense bamboo forest. Moonlight shines through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, creating dappled light and shadow on the ground. The evening breeze rustles through the bamboo leaves, creating a particularly peaceful atmosphere.
Shen Rulan walked slowly along the bamboo forest path, her tense nerves gradually relaxing.
Just then, she saw a familiar figure carrying a small box at the other end of the bamboo path, being led by an old woman towards the back door—it was Su Moqing!
Shen Rulan's heart stirred, and she stopped in her tracks.
Under the soft moonlight, Su Moqing wore a slightly worn lake-blue satin shirt with a dark floral pattern of intertwined grapes. The hem of the shirt was a little loose, which made her figure appear even more slender. Her hair was loosely tied into a bun, adorned with a plain wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling around her ears. Her face showed signs of weariness, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she had not slept well for several days.
The box in her hand was the same one she had used to hold the painting before. She must have come to deliver the finished work, but didn't want to get involved in the noise in the front yard, so she went through the back door.
Su Moqing also quickly saw Shen Rulan. She paused, a look of surprise on her face, followed by a hint of unease.
She never expected to meet Shen Rulan here, let alone that Shen Rulan would be dressed in such formal attire and in such a prosperous scene—compared to her poverty and hardship, the gap between the two seemed as wide as an entire canal.
Su Moqing subconsciously took half a step back, lowered her head, and said in a weak voice, "Young Master Shen."
Looking at the weariness in her eyes and her thin face, Shen Rulan felt a pang of heartache that was hard to detect.
She remembered that Su Moqing had mentioned in the library that her father was in poor health, and she guessed that she had been working hard to take care of her father's illness these past few days, which was why she looked so haggard.
She opened her mouth, wanting to ask her "How is Father's condition?" and "Has he encountered any difficulties?", but the words stuck in her throat.
This is the Shen family's back garden, and there are eyes and ears everywhere. If someone sees her being so close to a commoner, gossip will inevitably spread. This will not only affect Su Moqing's reputation, but may also give her enemies something to use against the Shen family.
Moreover, as the heir of the Shen family, the constraints of her status prevent her from expressing genuine concern like an ordinary person.
In the end, Shen Rulan simply nodded slightly, her voice returning to its usual calm: "Miss Su. You can leave the painting to Shen Fu; there's no need for you to make a special trip. It's late and the dew is heavy; please head home early and be careful on your journey." She didn't even dare to let Shen Fu send her by carriage, fearing it would attract more attention.
Su Moqing felt a slight pang of sadness upon hearing this.
She could sense the distance in Shen Rulan's tone and understood the gap between them. She responded softly, "Yes. Then... please wait, young master, I'll take my leave."
After saying that, Su Moqing lowered her head, picked up the box, and hurriedly walked past Shen Rulan.
She walked quickly, as if she wanted to escape this embarrassing scene as soon as possible.
The lake-blue skirt swept across the ground and disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest, leaving only a faint scent of ink.
Shen Rulan stood there, watching her departing figure, her hands unconsciously clenching in her sleeves.
The evening breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, as if telling a silent story of regret.
She could control the ever-changing landscape of Yangzhou's salt market and protect the Shen family's business amidst sword fights, yet she couldn't even offer a simple greeting or a small act of help to those she cared about.
She suddenly felt that this gorgeous dress, which symbolized status and power, was like a heavy shackle, binding her tightly and preventing her from touching those simple and beautiful things.
Just then, Shen Fu hurried over, bowed and said, "Young Master, Boss Zhang and the others are looking for you. They say they want to talk to you about the share of the riverbank."
Shen Rulan took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, and regained her composure.
She turned around and said to Shen Fu, "I understand, I'll go back now."
On the bamboo path, Shen Rulan's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, heading back towards the noisy banquet.
Under the moonlight, her figure appeared particularly lonely, yet it carried an undeniable determination—there were still problems waiting for her to solve, and she had no time to indulge in romantic love.
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