Chapter 27

The Feng family residence was brightly lit. Lin Yue knew at a glance that something was wrong.

He handed his umbrella to the man and entered without drawing attention. First, he bowed to Jailer Feng, but halfway through the gesture, the man hurriedly stopped him, smiling ingratiatingly and addressing him as “Young Master.”

In the Xuanchao, the title “Young Master” was not for commoners; to use it was considered presumptuous.

It referred specifically to those from scholarly or aristocratic families who had not yet entered official service.

That is, those born into prominent families or examination families, but who had not entered the bureaucracy through the imperial examinations, or who had obtained titles but not yet held office.

Lin Yue was slightly surprised, though his expression remained unchanged. Looking around, he asked in confusion, “Who is Jailer Feng addressing?” He then glanced at the plump middle-aged man beside him. “Or is he referring to this gentleman? My apologies, my apologies.”

The middle-aged man stepped forward, smiling broadly, his expression resembling that of a wealthy patron in a posthumous portrait dressed in low-ranking official robes.

He supported Lin Yue, who was about to bow fully, his fleshy hand with indistinct knuckles patting Lin Yue’s arm.

“Nephew, I am indeed addressing you. No one else is worthy of such a title.”

Lin Yue asked, “May I ask who you are?”

Jailer Feng bowed hastily and said, “This is our magistrate.”

Lin Yue gave an exclamation of surprise, his face brightening. “So it is the magistrate. Your Excellency’s talents are exceptional and your virtue benefits the people. I have long admired you. To meet you today is truly an honour beyond measure.”

The magistrate stroked his beard with a smile.

“However,” Lin Yue continued, getting to the point, “my father was merely a private tutor, and I am nothing more than a commoner. I am not worthy of such a title, sir. It is improper.”

The magistrate said, “Nephew, you…” He glanced at Jailer Feng, who was bowing low but clearly listening in.

The others had already withdrawn. Jailer Feng, not daring to linger, also retreated.

The magistrate continued, “Nephew, I know your surname is not Lin but Huang. You are twenty-one this year. Although I do not know why you changed your name, you are in any case the orphan of an old friend of Chancellor Meng.”

“An old friend of Chancellor Meng?” Lin Yue repeated after a pause.

The magistrate smiled. “Did you not know your father and Chancellor Meng were old friends for many years?”

Seeing Lin Yue’s expression turn not joyful but faintly gloomy, he thought to himself that the Huang couple must have passed away long ago.

Otherwise, how could he not even know of such a connection?

As for why Chancellor Meng only came to seek the orphan of an old friend after so many years, he had his own explanation.

Most likely, Meng had been unaware that his old friend still had surviving kin. By the time he learned of it from someone informed, many years had already passed. The portrait must also have been provided by such a person.

Coincidences existed in abundance in this world; one more made no difference.

The magistrate, satisfied with his own consideration, sighed, patted Lin Yue’s shoulder, and said, “Do not overthink it. Your good days are coming. Chancellor Meng intends to bring you to the capital, to the Chancellor’s residence.”

Lin Yue asked, “Sir, how did you confirm that I am the orphan of Chancellor Meng’s old friend?”

The magistrate replied, “The prefect, acting on instructions, sent a portrait of you.”

“May I see it?” Lin Yue asked.

“The original is not in my possession,” the magistrate said, “but the prefectural office had a painter make a copy. Though it did not capture the full essence, it is about eighty percent similar. If you wish to see it, I will have someone fetch it.”

He summoned a yamen runner.

The Feng residence was nearby. Before long, the runner returned with a scroll.

The magistrate took it, unrolled it slightly to confirm, then handed it to Lin Yue.

The scroll was fairly large. Lin Yue unfolded it across the table. Several strokes of ink outlined a handsome young man. Lin Yue and the painted figure faced one another, as though reflected in a mirror.

The magistrate said from the side, “Nephew, are you reassured now?”

…

After dinner and washing up, Gu Yun closed the door. Afraid that if he fell asleep in bed and Lin Yue returned without him hearing, he might be locked outside, he sat at the table waiting.

To avoid wasting soybean oil, he blew out the oil lamp while he waited.

Darkness spread, and the rain grew heavier.

As the night deepened, he mentally listed all the household necessities he would need, yet Lin Yue still did not return.

Having followed Lin Yue through a full day of work, he was utterly exhausted. Before he knew it, he had slumped over the table and fallen asleep.

Outside, the rain pattered incessantly, cold air like mist seeping through the rain.

In old houses, it was rare to find one that did not leak wind. At night, the gale carried cold air through the cracks in the wooden boards.

Gu Yun felt the chill in his sleep and curled up, pulling the worn short coat he had finally managed to reclaim tightly around himself.

“Click—”

A faint knock sounded at the old door. After a few taps, it stopped. A hooked wire slipped through the gap, catching the bolt and fiddling with it until it slid aside.

The wire withdrew. The door creaked open with a grating sound. Cold wind and rain surged inside, dampening the threshold.

A tall figure stood at the doorway, closed his umbrella, and carrying a lantern stepped inside. Warm light pushed back the darkness, revealing the room clearly.

Lin Yue closed the door, set the umbrella down, walked to the table, lit the oil lamp, and blew out the candle in the lantern.

Gu Yun, entirely unaware, slept soundly with his cheek pressed to his arm, as though he had not known such peace in a long time.

Lin Yue’s shoes, trouser hems, sleeves, shoulders, and even his hair were partially soaked.

He removed his shoes and outer robe, wrung out his damp hair, and lifted the wooden basin covering the tub. As soon as it was opened, steam billowed out.

There was hot water inside. They had not bought firewood; the wood used to heat the water had most likely been borrowed by Gu Yun.

Lin Yue looked at Gu Yun for a moment, then set the basin aside, walked barefoot to the table, and gently nudged him.

“Wake up. Take off your outer clothes before sleeping.”

Gu Yun did not respond, lost in sleep and shadow.

Lin Yue bent down, lifted him, and carried him to the bed. Gu Yun rolled over and buried himself in the bedding. Lin Yue pulled him up again, one hand at his waist, the other helping him remove his clothes and shoes.

The figure before him swayed loosely. As the outer robe was removed, the body beneath appeared even thinner. Lin Yue’s fingers tightened slightly on his shoulder; the bones beneath were prominent and slightly abrasive.

His hand slid down to the waistband, deftly untying it, then pulled down the trousers by the hem. A few remaining copper coins in the pocket clinked together softly.

Lin Yue’s fingers suddenly brushed against something unfamiliar. He paused.

Lowering his gaze, he released the waistband and reached for that unexpected shape.

Something that should not exist on his wife’s body.

No wonder she had slipped away to bathe that foggy morning.

No wonder, when changing, her unclothed figure had appeared so strikingly tall and well-proportioned against him.

Her reluctance to approach him, the distance between them, had not been his imagination after all.

Lin Yue released Gu Yun. His body went limp and fell back onto the bedding, rolling over and burying himself once more. His jet-black hair spilled over snow-white skin, slipping into his collar, giving him a faintly languid, almost decadent appearance.

He stood by the bed, eyes cold and steady, silently watching.

Outside, the rain still poured. Then a bolt of lightning split the dark sky almost in two. White light flashed across the world.

“Boom!”

Thunder followed. Wind roared. Rain lashed down harder.

…

The Feng family residence.

The gatekeeper had already taken shelter indoors.

The Feng family concubine, wearing a raincoat and bamboo hat, opened the back door and stepped out, heading quickly west along the main street.

Her slender figure swayed in the storm. Halfway along, she turned into a narrow alley where several men were fighting. Startled, she hurried back out.

The men were too engrossed in their struggle to notice her.

She quickly changed route, scanning for any tail behind her, and hurried to a small courtyard, knocking on the gate.

Soon, an elderly woman opened it.

“San-niang*, you are here.”

(*TN: san = three, niang = address for a lady/ married woman) 

The concubine’s surname was Jiang. As the third daughter in her family, she was called san-niang. Jiang san-niang removed her rain gear and entered the side room, asking as she walked, “Auntie, how is that lady?”

The woman replied, “She is awake.”

Jiang san-niang nodded.

The woman hesitated. “San-niang, who exactly is this lady…”

Jiang san-niang ignored her words, lifted her mud-stained grey skirt, and hurried towards the east wing of the courtyard.

Just as she stepped into the side room, there came a “thud”. She instinctively turned towards the sound and saw the woman they had been discussing, already dressed, her head tightly bandaged, apparently preparing to leave.

Jiang san-niang’s expression immediately darkened. “Zhao-niangzi, where do you think you’re going? Are you planning to go to the Feng family?” Without another glance, she grabbed a broom and started striking Zhao-niangzi.

“You ungrateful wretch! I saved you, and you dare to harm me! You little slut, I’ll beat you to death today!”

The midwife hurried over to stop her, saying, “She’s a patient.” She also brought over tea. “Drink some tea, drink some tea!”

Jiang san-niang snapped, “I’m not drinking tea. My life is already miserable enough; drinking tea will only make it worse!”

Zhao-niangzi did not dodge at all, letting herself be struck.

After a few blows, Jiang san-niang vented her anger and said, “In any case, you are not allowed to go to the Feng family, and you are not allowed to go home either. You are already a dead person now! Don’t worry about the child. I know yours is a boy. Since you and your husband are dead, there are plenty in the clan willing to adopt him. That’s for the best. He will have a better life. If he stays with a widow like you, he’ll be sold off by the clan sooner or later.”

Zhao-niangzi clenched her teeth and looked at Jiang san-niang.

Jiang san-niang said, “What are you looking at? Even if you stare, I won’t help you.”

Zhao-niangzi replied, “I never expected you to help me. You don’t even know the truth, so how could you possibly help?”

Jiang san-niang said, “Who says I don’t know? Your husband failed to recognise talent and offended someone favoured by Jailer Feng. He deserved to disappear. Jailer Feng will never help you. Don’t go throwing yourself into disaster.”

Zhao-niangzi sat on the ground, her gaze darkening at those words.

…

At the county office, Clerk Huang, upon learning that Magistrate Gu had found the person, summoned his attendant and ordered him to deliver the message to Magistrate Wang.

Magistrate Wang’s expression changed immediately upon hearing it.

The magistrate’s advisor standing beside him glanced at his face and quickly said,

“So what if Magistrate Gu found him first? We should act before him. Send the message directly to the Prefect. Then Young Master Huang will be considered found by us instead. Magistrate Gu will merely be picking up what others have already done, hardly worth mentioning.”

Magistrate Wang said, “Excellent!”

He immediately sent men to deliver the message to the Prefect, hoping it would be passed on to Chancellor Meng and leave an impression there.