Chapter 93: Malice
It was not until Shen San regained his composure that the two of them finally arrived in Jinzhou.
As they entered the city, they found it a hive of activity. The streets and alleys were packed with people dressed in their festive best, all huddled in groups, discussing the same topic. Lu Yunxi and Shen San exchanged a curious glance before stopping a passerby to ask what was happening.
“You don’t know? You must be from out of town,” the man replied. “Today is the wedding of one of the city’s wealthiest families. They’re hosting a three-day banquet, and everyone in the city can eat for free!”
“You’d better go dress up and say something nice,” another person added. “I heard the master of the house is handing out copper coins to the guests!”
“The Lu family is so rich; even their wedding is this lively.”
“They are the most powerful family in Jinzhou! Naturally, no ordinary household can compare to them.”
Upon hearing the name, Shen San didn’t react much. He simply looked down at the stroller and asked, “Master, should we head to the Fisherman’s Inn to rest first? Or would you like to watch the festivities?”
Lu Yunxi’s eyes shifted slightly. The Lu family? The same surname as my mother. Is it just a coincidence?
She lowered her head, deep in thought. She decided she had to visit the Lu estate tonight. With a wedding in full swing and guests coming and going, the mansion would be teeming with outsiders. The guards would be distracted by the chaos, making it the perfect time for someone to slip inside unnoticed.
“We…” She started to explain her plan, but realizing they were in the middle of a crowded street, she swallowed her words. Instead, she leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Let’s go to the inn first. It’s been a long walk, and we’re both tired.”
They made their way to the local Fisherman’s Inn. Strangely, while even the inn in the smallest town they’d visited had been bustling, this one in the heart of Jinzhou was nearly empty. Perhaps because they were VIP guests and business was slow, the waiters were a hundred times more attentive than usual.
“The Lu family?” the waiter said with a hint of disdain. “There’s only one Lu family in Jinzhou, and that’s the one holding the wedding today.”
Shen San and Lu Yunxi noticed the bitterness in the man’s eyes and shared a look.
“I heard they’re setting up a buffet on the street for three days so everyone can eat,” Shen San remarked with a feigned sigh of admiration. “It seems the people here won’t have to worry about going hungry.”
The waiter curled his lip. “Sir, you think too highly of the Lus! The only people allowed near that buffet are from well-to-do families. If a real beggar tried to walk in, they’d be tossed out before they could touch a plate.”
“Everyone we met on the way was praising them,” Shen San said, prodding for more. “I thought they were quite generous.” Seeing the waiter trying to hide his true feelings, Shen San pivoted. “By the way, every other Fisherman’s Inn I’ve stayed at was grand and beautiful. Why is this one… so small?”
At this, the waiter became indignant. “That’s also because of the Lu family. Our inn specializes in fresh river fish and shrimp, but the Lus run their own seafood business here. They’ve bullied us out of the market and ruined our trade.”
Shen San and Lu Yunxi exchanged another glance. Was that it? Did the waiter only dislike them because of business competition?
The two decided to go see the banquet for themselves.
“What are you doing here, beggar?” a well-dressed man barked at the festivities, wrinkling his nose in disgust. “You’re filthy and you smell. You’re ruining the atmosphere. Get out of here right now!”
Before the beggar could respond, two lackeys behind the man rushed forward. They punched and kicked the poor soul, knocking him around like a ball until he was clear of the entrance. Lu Yunxi watched from the roadside as the beggar wiped blood from his face with trembling hands, then braced himself against a wall to limp away.
Both of them frowned at the sight.
“Master, do we still want to go in for the feast?”
“Let’s go back for now.”
They turned to leave, but their timing was unfortunate. As they passed the main gate of the Lu estate, the bride’s sedan chair was being lowered. The curtain was drawn, and the bride stepped out slowly.
At that moment, a sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard. The veil covering the bride’s head caught the breeze and fluttered to the ground. The bridesmaid gasped, scurrying forward to apologize. “Oh! The bride is so beautiful, truly a match made in heaven!” She hurried to retrieve the fallen lace.
The bridesmaid was the only one worried about the mishap; everyone else was staring. The bride had raised her head slightly, a stunning smile on her face, but her eyes were fixed directly on Shen San.
Standing tall and handsome, Shen San remained perfectly calm, his eyes meeting hers. For a moment, it was as if a thousand pink flowers bloomed in the background—a scene of a beautiful woman and a talented man.
Among the onlookers, some gloated at the scandal, some watched for the drama, and others remained indifferent. The groom, however, was none of those things.
He glared at Shen San with a sinister look, a flash of pure malice crossing his eyes before he forced a smile. He took the veil from the bridesmaid and replaced it over the bride’s head without a word, then pulled her into the courtyard. As he passed through the gate, he gave a subtle, dark nod to one of his subordinates.
The man understood immediately.
Lu Yunxi frowned at the exchange. She tugged on Shen San’s trouser leg, signaling for him to leave at once.
Once they were safely away, Shen San asked, “Master, why the rush? I thought you wanted to observe the Lus.”
“The groom is full of ill intent,” Lu Yunxi said, glancing back at the figures lurking beneath their inn window with an unreadable expression. “You’d better be careful. The Lu family are the local tyrants here. I’m afraid they’re already coming to cause trouble for you.”
Shen San stood by the window and followed her gaze downward. He smiled silently, his voice a low whisper. “Just a few rats.”
The two stayed in their room to rest for the remainder of the afternoon.
That night, the master and disciple changed into dark night-clothes and made their way through the shadows to the Lu estate. In the front yard, many of the guests were still drunk, some staggering or slurring their words as servants helped them into carriages. As the night deepened, the bustling front yard grew quiet, while the inner courtyards began to stir.
The Lu mansion was an expansive estate with five distinct courtyards. It had taken them quite some time just to memorize the layout. To be efficient, they decided to split up. Shen San would investigate the first two courtyards, while Lu Yunxi took the final three.
The back of the estate was mostly quiet, filled with servant quarters or abandoned rooms, so she focused her attention on the third courtyard—the residence of the newlyweds.
Lu Yunxi was about to skirt around the bridal suite when she heard a man’s voice drifting through the window.
“When you got off the sedan earlier, you stared at that man for a long time… is he handsome?” The voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.
Lu Yunxi stopped in her tracks, pressing herself into the shadows.
“I… I didn’t mean to look at him,” a soft, trembling voice replied. The woman sounded anxious, her voice bordering on tears. “The veil simply fell, and he happened to be standing right there.”
“Haha,” the man laughed, his tone dripping with fake affection. “So you’re saying you haven’t betrayed me?”
“No! I would never. You are my husband,” the woman assured him desperately.
The man chuckled softly, though the sound quickly turned ruthless. “I’ve already sent men to deal with that disgusting brat. Regardless of whether you’re lying to me or not, he’s going to die. And it will be a very ugly death.”
Lu Yunxi frowned, her eyes flashing with anger. She leaped silently onto the roof to get a better vantage point.
Inside, the bride whispered, “Husband, do not worry. That man is nothing to me. Do what you must; I will not stop you.”
