Chapter Four: No Feast is Good
On a summer night, the heat had not yet completely dissipated. The evening breeze, carrying the moisture from the Slender West Lake, blew past the vermilion pillars of the Cao Mansion's villa, but could not dispel the extravagance and hidden strife that permeated the courtyard.
This banquet, hosted by Cao Jin of the Jiangning Imperial Textile Bureau, was destined to be extraordinary from the very beginning.
Inside the "Lanyue Pavilion" of the Cao family's villa, the lights were on, as bright as day.
Dozens of glazed palace lanterns hang under the eaves, reflecting a warm glow onto the Taihu stones and lotus pond in the courtyard.
The sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from the pavilion, their melodies lingering and blending with the aromas of wine, cosmetics, and the sweet scents of fruits, creating a lively and extraordinary night banquet scene.
Inside the pavilion, guests sat on both sides of a long table made of rosewood.
The group consisted of prominent young men from Yangzhou, several minor officials from the Salt Transport Bureau, and advisors brought by Cao Jin from Jinling.
The singers and dancers, dressed in light gauze skirts, danced gracefully in the hall, their figures slender and their eyes sparkling, drawing cheers from the audience.
Shen Rulan sat upright in the host's seat below Cao Jin, wearing a dark blue silk robe with eight cloud and crane patterns, the collar and cuffs embroidered with two-colored gold thread depicting river cliffs and waves; over this was a dark black velvet jacket with a gourd pattern subtly hidden on the velvet surface, which shimmered with a warm luster under the lamplight. Her long braid was neatly combed at the back of her head and secured with a jade and agate flat braid, while two strands of hair at her temples were styled into a "fishhook" shape, making her appear exceptionally dignified and composed.
Her expression was calm, with a perfectly timed smile playing on her lips as she chatted and interacted with the guests around her—sometimes commenting on the singers' dances, sometimes joining in the conversation about antiques and curios. The topics always revolved around romance and nature, and whenever someone mentioned salt business, she would cleverly gloss over it with phrases like "I've been busy with other matters lately and haven't had time to investigate further" or "I still need to consult my elders at home," leaving no room for misunderstanding.
The amber-colored wine cup beside her held a deep blue glaze, a "Daughter's Red" wine specially brought from Jinling by Cao Jin, with a rich and mellow aroma.
But from beginning to end, Shen Rulan did not touch a single drop, only drinking the pre-rain Longjing tea in front of her—she knew that wine was the most dangerous thing at a banquet, as it could lead to indiscretions and slips of the tongue, and she could not give anyone an opportunity to take advantage of it.
"Brother Rulan, that's not very nice of you!" Cao Jin was already a little drunk. He had his arm around a beautifully made-up songstress beside him, his fingers gently caressing her waist. He glanced at Shen Rulan with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice, "On such a fine day, all the guests are drinking and having a good time, but you're the only one holding a cup of tea. Do you look down on me, Cao, and think that my 'Daughter's Red' is not good enough for you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Jin gave him a wink.
A scantily clad, alluring dancer immediately approached Shen Rulan with a glass of wine, giggling as she practically nestled into her arms, her voice dripping with sweetness: "Young Master Shen~, please do me the honor of drinking this glass~ I poured it for you myself~"
The strong scent of cosmetics wafted over, mixed with the smell of alcohol, causing Shen Rulan's stomach to churn and her body to tense instantly.
She suppressed her discomfort, subtly parted the dancer with her arm, stood up, raised her teacup, and said calmly, "Brother Cao, you flatter me. It's not that I'm being disrespectful, but my grandmother is very strict and has repeatedly told me that I need to stay sober at all times to handle matters related to the canal transport and salt fields, and I must not drink alcohol and cause any problems."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone at the table, and continued, "However, I appreciate Brother Cao's hospitality. Tonight, I will offer a toast to Brother Cao in place of wine, and also to everyone present. I hope you all enjoy yourselves tonight." With that, she drank the tea in her cup in one gulp, her demeanor open and aboveboard, saving face for Cao Jin while maintaining her own principles.
Cao Jin was rebuffed and felt somewhat displeased, but he couldn't show it on the spot—Shen Rulan's reasons were too convincing, and if he continued to argue, it would only make him seem petty.
He could only chuckle, release the songstress from his arms, pick up his wine cup and down a drink, his tone laced with sarcasm: "So be it! Brother Shen is a man of great things, his mind is on the salt affairs, unlike us idle folks who only know how to eat, drink and have fun!"
The barb in those words was clear to everyone present, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became somewhat awkward.
Seeing this, Mr. Zhou, Cao Jin's advisor, quickly smiled and smoothed things over. He stood up, holding his wine glass, and bowed to Shen Rulan, saying, "Young Master Shen is so promising and self-disciplined, it's truly rare! Unlike our young master, who only knows how to play with rare and precious treasures all day long. Speaking of which, I have something else I'm curious about—I've heard that Miss Zhiwei of the second branch of the Shen family is not only beautiful but also intelligent and virtuous, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It's a pity that she couldn't participate in the imperial concubine selection two years ago due to illness, what a great regret!"
Finally, the topic turned to arranged marriage.
Shen Rulan's heart was filled with alarm bells, but her face remained calm, even showing a just-right hint of regret: "Mr. Zhou, you flatter me. My younger sister has indeed been frail and sickly since childhood, and has been taking medicine all year round. She had to give up the imperial concubine selection two years ago because her cough worsened and she was unable to travel far. Her greatest wish now is to recover her health. She really does not deserve your concern, sir and Brother Cao."
Seeing that the clerk had laid the groundwork, Cao Jin immediately brushed aside the singing girls beside him, leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of alcohol, "Hey~ you can't say that! What's wrong with a young lady being a little weak? She can take good care of herself after marriage. Although I, Cao Jin, am not very talented, my family still has some influence in the Imperial Household Department. If Miss Zhiwei is interested, my Cao family will certainly not mistreat her—the betrothal gifts and dowry will be of the highest standard in Yangzhou, ensuring she enters the family in style!"
A glint of greed flashed in his eyes, and his tone carried a hint of temptation: "At that time, our two families will be even closer together through marriage. With my Cao family's support in the capital, the Shen family will be able to handle salt affairs more smoothly; and my Cao family can also use the Shen family's influence to gain a foothold in Yangzhou. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation? How wonderful!"
The true intentions are revealed when the map is unrolled.
Shen Rulan felt a chill rise from the bottom of her heart. Cao Jin didn't genuinely want to marry Shen Zhiwei; he clearly wanted to use the marriage to bring the Shen family under his control and then seize their salt business!
She suppressed the surging emotions within her, her tone becoming increasingly calm, yet carrying an undeniable firmness: "Brother Cao's kindness is appreciated. However, my sister's illness cannot be cured in a short time, so it is truly not advisable to discuss marriage. Moreover, marriage has always been a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's words. My sister's marriage is to be decided by the elders in the family, and I, as a junior, dare not speak presumptuously."
She brought up the "elders in the family" again, which not only made her stance clear but also gave Cao Jin no chance to continue harassing her, effectively deflecting his attack.
Cao Jin's face darkened completely. He hadn't expected Shen Rulan to be so stubborn and unyielding.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned cold and tense. The music stopped at some point, and everyone lowered their heads, afraid to speak for fear of getting into trouble.
Just then, a man dressed in a blue robe, who looked like a steward, hurried in from outside and whispered a few words in Cao Jin's ear.
Cao Jin's expression changed slightly, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. He glanced at Shen Rulan, then suddenly put on a smile and clapped his hands: "Haha, I misspoke just now! Marriage is indeed a matter for elders to decide. We'll discuss this another day! Come, everyone, let's drink! Today I also acquired a Western wonder—a self-ringing clock, incredibly ingenious, that can automatically tell the time. Let's go to the side hall and admire it together!"
He changed the subject, clearly preoccupied with the urgent matter brought by the butler.
Shen Rulan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not be negligent in the slightest—Cao Jin would not give up easily after his marriage proposal failed, and there would definitely be more trouble in the future.
She rose with the others and walked toward the side hall, but her gaze inadvertently swept over Cao Jin's back, her heart filled with vigilance.
The banquet lasted until the third watch of the night before finally ending.
Shen Rulan politely declined Cao Jin's offer to "stay overnight at the villa" and, together with Shen Fu and several guards, returned to the Shen residence in a blue sedan chair.
Night had fallen, and the streets and alleys of Yangzhou had long since quieted down, with only the occasional sound of the night watchman's gong and the barking of dogs, which sounded particularly clear in the still night.
A cool evening breeze blew through the sedan chair curtains, dispersing some of the lingering stench from the banquet.
Shen Rulan leaned against the sedan chair wall and closed her eyes wearily—dealing with someone like Cao Jin was more tiring than inspecting the salt fields and docks all day. She had to be careful with every word, afraid of saying the wrong thing and falling into his trap.
Suddenly, a series of rapid hoofbeats and shouts came from outside the sedan chair. The sedan chair stopped abruptly, and Shen Rulan almost fell off her seat.
"What happened?" she asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with displeasure.
Shen Fu's voice soon came from outside the sedan chair, tinged with a hint of vigilance: "Young Master, there seems to be a commotion ahead. It looks like the Canal Gang members are arguing with another group, blocking the way. This old servant will go and take a look right away!"
Shen Rulan frowned, gently lifted a corner of the sedan curtain, and looked out by the light of the lantern in the guard's hand.
Not far ahead, at the alley entrance, a dozen or so men dressed in short jackets with curved knives at their waists were pushing and shoving around what looked like an ordinary mule cart, hurling insults at each other.
Beside the mule cart, a woman dressed in a light blue outfit and holding a long spear was guarding the cart. Although she was fighting against many opponents, she showed no fear. Her posture was upright and her eyes were sharp. She was Lin Xiao from Yong Sheng Escort Agency.
"Damn it! Who came from, you blind fool, daring to block our way!" A burly man from the canal gang pointed at Lin Xiao and cursed angrily, "In the middle of the night, hauling a truckload of goods, acting all sneaky, you're definitely not a good guy! Open up the cargo box and check! If you've hidden contraband, don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Lin Xiao's eyebrows shot up, and she held her spear horizontally, the tip pointing at the man. Her tone was icy: "How dare you be so presumptuous on the official road! These are goods being transported by Yong Sheng Escort Agency, with official travel permits as proof. They are not contraband! If you dare to take another step forward, don't blame me for being merciless with my spear!"
"Hey! A woman! Pretty feisty, huh!" The gang laughed, their laughter growing more and more unrestrained. "A woman dares to come out and escort goods? I think you're tired of living! Today, we'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!" With that, several men rolled up their sleeves, ready to step forward and make their move.
Shen Rulan's gaze instantly turned serious. She remembered Shen Fu saying that Yongsheng Escort Agency was currently transporting a batch of salt goods to southern Anhui for the Shen family, using mule carts by land—judging from the size of the mule carts and Lin Xiao's appearance, this must be the salt goods! The fact that the canal gang was blocking the road here late at night was no accident; someone must have been behind it!
She hesitated for a moment, then whispered a few instructions to Shen Fu outside the sedan chair.
Shen Fu immediately nodded, straightened his clothes, and quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands to the members of the canal gang, saying, "Heroes, please calm down! My young master Shen is passing by. Please do me a favor and do not argue here, so as not to delay everyone's business."
The moment the words "Shenfu" were uttered, the members of the canal gang immediately quieted down.
The burly man at the head of the group looked at Shen Rulan's official sedan chair, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. They were well aware of the Shen family's status among the Yangzhou salt merchants, and the Shen family also had some connections with Liu Sanye, the head of the Grand Canal Gang. If they really offended the Shen family, they would be in deep trouble.
Shen Rulan did not get out of the sedan chair, but her clear, cold voice came from inside, carrying a hint of authority: "Brothers of the Canal Gang, what brings you here to check on our goods in the dead of night? How has Master Liu been these days? I had someone send him some new tea a few days ago, I wonder if he has tasted it?"
She deliberately mentioned Master Liu to remind these men of the canal gang that the Shen family had dealings with the higher-ups of the canal gang, so that they would not dare to act rashly.
Upon hearing the name "Third Master Liu," the burly man's arrogance immediately diminished. He hurriedly bowed towards the sedan chair door and said, "So it's Young Master Shen! We were blind to your greatness and have been very rude. We hope Young Master Shen will forgive us! But... this young lady's mule cart blocked our way and bumped into our brothers. We just want an explanation..."
"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's disperse." Shen Rulan's tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Yongsheng Escort Agency and my Shen family have been partners for many years. Chief Escort Lin is a renowned heroine in Yangzhou, an upright woman who would never transport contraband. Please give me, Shen Rulan, face, and let's call it a day. In the future, I will certainly put in a good word for you with Master Liu."
The man and the other members of the canal gang looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and finally spat out a resentful spit, waved his hand and said, "Fine, fine! For Young Master Shen's sake, we'll let her go today! Let's go!" After saying that, he left with his men in a huff.
Lin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. She put away her spear, cupped her hands in the direction of Shen Rulan's sedan chair, and said loudly, "Thank you for helping me out, Young Master Shen! I am deeply grateful! If you ever need anything from Yongsheng Escort Agency in the future, please don't hesitate to ask!" Her eyes were sharp, and although she couldn't see the person in the sedan chair clearly, she remembered this favor.
"You're too kind, Chief Escort Lin," Shen Rulan replied calmly. "It's late, and the road ahead is fraught with danger. Chief Escort Lin, you should hurry on your way and be careful."
"Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Chen! Farewell!" Lin Xiao cupped his hands in thanks again, then directed the bodyguards to drive the mule cart away from the alley entrance in a hurry.
The sedan chair started moving forward again, and Chen Rulan leaned against the side of the chair, her mind racing.
The fact that the canal gangs were blocking the road to inspect Yongsheng Escort Agency's shipments without any reason must have been instigated by Pan Shizhang. After being thwarted by the Salt Transport Bureau, Pan Shizhang started to sabotage land transportation, showing that he was determined to break ties with the Shen family! The land route was not safe either, so it seemed that Lin, the head escort, and his men had to change their route to ensure the safety of the salt goods.
Lotus Lane, Su Family Courtyard
Su Moqing did not go to the library of the Shen family to paint today.
Her father, Su Wenyuan's, words yesterday were like a bucket of cold water, waking her up—her social status was vastly different from Shen Rulan's, and the Shen family's world was full of strife and intrigue. If she continued to associate with Shen Rulan, she would inevitably be drawn into those troubles sooner or later. For her own sake, and for her father's sake, she had to deliberately keep her distance from that "Young Master Shen."
Inside the room, an oil lamp was lit, its dim yellow light casting a soft glow on Su Moqing's face.
She sat at her desk, holding a wolf-hair brush, but instead of painting, she stared blankly at the small glass cup on the table—the cup contained the ruby red paint that Shen Rulan had given her. The dark red powder shimmered with a warm luster under the light, precious and dazzling.
Such luxurious pigments could probably only be afforded by a wealthy and powerful family like the Shen family. Why is Shen Rulan treating me so differently? Is it merely because she appreciates my painting skills?
She recalled the first time she saw Shen Rulan outside "Moxiangzhai". He was wearing a royal blue mandarin jacket and standing in the crowd, gently helping an old man selling palm-leaf fans out of a predicament. At that moment, he was like the spring sunshine, warm and dazzling.
She recalled the gleam in Shen Rulan's eyes when they discussed painting principles in the library. His insights into each painting were profound and unique. At that moment, he was like a refined scholar, learned and humble.
She recalled the moment when Shen Rulan grabbed her wrist after the water bowl was knocked over, the slight coolness of his fingertips and the blush on his ears. At that moment, he was like a somewhat flustered young man, innocent and genuine.
She also recalled the occasional weariness that Shen Rulan showed—once, when she was painting in the library, she saw Shen Rulan asleep in his chair, his brows slightly furrowed and his face showing a weariness that did not match his age. At that moment, she felt pity for him.
These fragments flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern, leaving her thoughts in turmoil and unable to sort them out.
She didn't know whether her feelings for Shen Rulan were gratitude, curiosity, or... something else entirely.
All she knew was that whenever she thought of that "Young Master Shen," her heart would race and her cheeks would flush.
"Qing'er, are you still awake?" Su Wenyuan's voice came from the inner room, sounding somewhat weak.
Su Moqing quickly snapped out of her reverie, gathered her thoughts, and got up to walk to the door of the inner room: "Father, I haven't gone to sleep yet. I was just getting ready to pack up my painting supplies. Why are you awake? Are you feeling unwell?"
Su Wenyuan leaned against the headboard and shook his head: "Father is fine, he just woke up and wanted some water. Qing'er, you didn't go to the Shen family to paint today, is it... that you're still thinking about what Father said yesterday?"
Su Moqing walked to the table, poured a glass of warm water for her father, handed it to him, and said softly, "Father, I know you mean well. I just think it would be more appropriate to keep our distance from the Shen family after we have fulfilled our agreement with them."
Su Wenyuan took the water glass, took a sip, and looked at his daughter with relief in his eyes: "Qing'er, it's good that you understand. It's not that I don't want you to associate with the powerful and wealthy, it's just that our family is small and can't afford those conflicts. Although that young master Shen is good, he is ultimately not from our world. Staying away from him is better for both of us."
Su Moqing nodded without speaking, but an indescribable sense of loss welled up in her heart like a tide, lingering for a long time.
When Shen Rulan returned to the Shen residence, it was already past midnight.
She didn't return to her own "Tingxuexuan" (Listening to Snow Pavilion), but went directly to Songtaoyuan (Pine Wave Garden) – she knew that her grandmother must still be waiting for news of her.
The lights in Songtao Garden were indeed still on.
Madam Shen sat in a grand chair, with Rong Momo standing behind her, holding a thin blanket in her hand, ready to drape it over the old lady at any moment.
Seeing Shen Rulan enter, Old Madam Shen quickly asked her to sit down, her tone filled with concern: "Lan'er, you've had a long day. Did anything go wrong at the banquet at the Cao residence?"
Sitting opposite her grandmother, Shen Rulan recounted the events of the banquet in detail, including Cao Jin's provocation, the use of dancers to test her, and the final proposal of a marriage alliance with Shen Zhiwei, as well as how she dealt with it.
Old Madam Shen listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the prayer beads. Only after Shen Rulan finished speaking did she let out a long sigh, her tone full of weariness and helplessness: "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. The Cao family is clearly taking advantage of the fact that the Shen family has no one to rely on, and they want to use this marriage alliance to firmly grasp our Shen family's assets!"
She looked at Shen Rulan with a complex expression, a mixture of relief and worry. "Lan'er, you handled things extremely well today. You didn't give the Cao family any leverage, and you also upheld the Shen family's bottom line. However... you can only postpone things for a while, not forever. Cao Jin is greedy, lecherous, and narrow-minded. He will definitely hold a grudge after you turned him away, and who knows what underhanded tricks he might use against our Shen family in the future. From now on, you must be more careful in your actions and never be careless."
“Grandson understands.” Shen Rulan lowered her head and replied firmly, “Grandson will keep a close eye on the Cao family’s movements and will also strengthen control over the salt fields, canal transport and docks, and will never give Cao Jin any opportunity to take advantage of us.”
Madam Shen nodded slightly, then remembered something and her expression immediately became serious: "You just said that on the way back, you encountered the Canal Gang members making things difficult for Lin, the head镖师 (bodyguard) of Yongsheng Escort Agency?"
“Yes.” Shen Rulan nodded. “I suspect that Pan Shizhang was behind this. After being thwarted by the Salt Transport Office, Pan Shizhang tried to sabotage the land transport to sabotage our salt shipments to southern Anhui and damage the Shen family’s reputation for being ‘punctual and sufficient’.”
"It seems he's determined to break ties with the Shen family." A fierce glint flashed in Old Madam Shen's eyes. She put down her prayer beads, her voice suddenly rising several decibels, "Shen Fu!"
Shen Fu, who was guarding outside the door, immediately pushed the door open and entered, bowing and saying, "This old servant is here."
"Go and do two things immediately," Old Madam Shen said sternly and methodically. "First, send a messenger by express courier to the managers of the branches in southern Anhui and Jiangxi, instructing them to tighten their belts and be cautious with shipments, especially to suspend credit to customers associated with the Pan family, thus cutting off Pan Shizhang's source of funds. Second, immediately send someone to Yongsheng Escort Agency to inform Chief Escort Lin to change her route, bypassing the waterways and mountain roads where the Canal Gang's influence is concentrated. Even if it means traveling two more days, ensure the safety of the salt goods. Also, send Chief Escort Lin another five hundred taels of silver as extra bodyguard fees, telling her to be extra careful, and if any danger arises, prioritize protecting people and goods, and not to be reckless."
"Yes! This old servant will take care of it right away!" Shen Fu didn't dare to delay, so he bowed and accepted the order, then quickly retreated to arrange for the men.
Seeing her grandmother's decisive arrangements, Shen Rulan felt somewhat relieved.
As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. My grandmother had been in the business world for decades and was very experienced. She could always make the right decisions at critical moments and help the Shen family resolve crises.
Looking at Shen Rulan's tired face, a hint of heartache flashed in her eyes. She waved her hand and said, "You've had a long day too. Go and rest. There are still many things to deal with tomorrow. Getting enough rest is the most important thing. Remember, no matter what difficulties you encounter, your grandmother is here for you. The Shen family's sky will not fall."
"Thank you, Grandmother." Shen Rulan felt a warmth in her heart, bowed to her grandmother, and then left Songtao Garden.
As I stepped out of Songtao Garden, the night grew even darker.
Shen Rulan looked up at the night sky and saw only a bright moon and few stars, and a dazzling Milky Way, but it could not penetrate the thick fog and murderous intent in Yangzhou City.
She recalled the quiet figure painting in the library—Su Moqing's focused expression as she mixed colors, the look of surprise in her eyes when she saw the ruby red paint, the gleam in her eyes when she discussed painting principles… That brief moment of tranquility and purity, like a ray of light, illuminated her world filled with scheming and strife, and inexplicably stirred a longing within her.
But she also knew clearly that she could not indulge in this desire. She was the "direct grandson" of the Shen family, the helmsman of the Shen family, and carried the fate of the entire family on her shoulders.
In the treacherous world of Yangzhou salt merchants, she must first protect the Shen family's ship amidst the turbulent waves before she can even pursue the tranquility she desires.
Shen Rulan took a deep breath, suppressing the distracting thoughts in her mind, and turned to walk towards her "Listening to Snow Pavilion." Her steps were firm, her shadow stretched long in the moonlight, carrying a composure and fortitude beyond her years—tomorrow would be another tough battle.
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