When they arrived, they hadn’t expected to see four graves. Upon seeing the names of the the brothers, Liu Huaijin and Liu Huaiyu, carved on the tombstones, Elder Liu was overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down his face.
Liu Yanzheng, who had never seen his grandfather cry like this in his entire memory, temporarily forgot his silent confrontation with Lu Chengxiao.
The elder, as if suddenly remembering his grandson, turned and called, “Yanzheng, come here.”
Liu Yanzheng obeyed and approached. The elder motioned for him to kneel.
Startled, Liu Yanzheng hesitated briefly but said nothing. He adjusted his robes and knelt beside his grandfather.
With a hint of comfort in his eyes but mostly grief, Elder Liu spoke: “General, Madam, this is Yanzheng, the child of Henian.”
He seemed to have much to say but, in the end, dared not utter another word. After wiping his tears, he turned to Liu Yanzheng and said, “Bow and offer incense to the General and Madam.”
This was the first time Liu Yanzheng had ever paid respects to anyone outside his immediate family. But recalling his grandfather’s earlier words about how the General had once saved his life, he did not hesitate. He took the incense handed to him by one of his grandfather’s attendants, respectfully offered it, and bowed deeply three times.
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Gp bl pvsse wr, Ozela Nkw prsjl ytykd, “Qs yde sqqla uswa alprlnvp vs vbl vos wdnzlp yp olzz.”
Mbswtb xsxldvyakzu pwarakple, Nkw Zydgbldt dseele, qszzsokdt vbl pyxl akvwyz vs bsdsa Nkw Twykfkd yde Nkw Twykuw.
Ozela Nkw’p hktsa pllxle ekxkdkpble nsxryale vs lyazkla, vbswtb bkp lxsvksdp alxykdle pvyczl. Tl vwadle vs Nkw Zydikdt yde ypjle, “Gal usw Twykfkd’p lzelpv psd?”
Nkw Zydikdt dseele. “Zlp.”
Mbl lzela dseele kd alvwad. “Gde uswa xsvbla? Rp pbl pvkzz yaswde? Mblal yal xyvvlap R dlle vs ekpnwpp okvb bla.”
Tlyakdt vbkp, Nkw Zydgbldt pllxle vs wdelapvyde psxlvbkdt. Ekvbswv eayokdt yvvldvksd, bl tzydnle yv Nkw Zydikdt yde bkp casvblap. Tl yzps hytwlzu alnyzzle xllvkdt Nkw Zydrkdt zypv ulya kd Cwydgbsw.
Nkw Zydikdt, dsv bkekdt yduvbkdt, alrzkle, “Xwa qyxkzu awdp yd lxcaskelau pbsr. Yu xsvbla shlapllp vbl caydnb kd Zwydgbsw. Rq ol zlyhl vs qlvnb bla vseyu, kv’zz vyjl ycswv qswa sa qkhl eyup vs alvwad.”
“Mbyv’p qkdl. El’zz alvwad vs Gduk Uswdvu qkapv yde nsxl cynj kd qkhl eyup.”
The Liu family soon took their leave. However, before leaving, Liu Yanzheng glanced once more at Liu Yu. Lu Chengxiao’s frown could have crushed flies, and sparks flew in the air. While Elder Liu and Doctor Mo, seated inside the carriage, remained oblivious, everyone outside— even the straightforward Yan Si—could tell something was off.
After the Liu family left, as the carriage moved further away, Liu Yanqing turned to Liu Yu and Lu Chengxiao, asking, “What’s going on? Do you know them?”
Before they could respond, Liu Yanan interjected, “Brother, do you know their background?”
Raising an eyebrow, Liu Yanqing recalled how, as soon as Liu Yanzheng stepped off the carriage, his brothers and Lu Chengxiao had all exclaimed in unison, “It’s you.”
Subsequent events had distracted him from following up on this.
He looked at the trio. “Did you meet him while trading?”
Given that he didn’t recognize the man but all three did, it seemed likely they had encountered him during their business travels.
Liu Yanping nodded. “We met him last July in Quanzhou. That batch of porcelain and silk we got from the Jiang-Zhejiang region was sold through his subordinates.”
It was a deal worth over 2,700 taels. Given the profits were split between the two families, Liu Yanqing, who managed the books, naturally remembered it.
He glanced incredulously in the direction the Liu family had departed, lowering his voice to mutter, “A maritime trader?”
Maritime traders often teetered on the edge of piracy.
Liu Yanqing had questioned Liu Yanping in detail about that particular trip and knew that the transaction was not sanctioned by the authorities; otherwise, they wouldn’t have needed such elaborate precautions. This meant they were dealing with smugglers.
Before today, no amount of speculation could have led Liu Yanqing to imagine that his grandfather was at least a fifth-rank general, let alone that one of his former attendants was now a dominant maritime figure in Quanzhou.
Liu Yanping glanced at Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yu. He knew slightly more than Liu Yanan and, seeing Liu Yanzheng’s attitude earlier, finally understood Lu Chengxiao’s feelings back then. Even though he wasn’t privy to the trio’s past interactions in Yangzhou, it was obvious Liu Yanzheng’s interest in Liu Yu wasn’t ordinary.
Feeling a headache coming on, Liu Yanping wanted to ask something but ultimately held back.
Lu Chengxiao patted his shoulder. “I know what I’m doing.”
Liu Yu’s emotions were mixed. She hadn’t known that Lu Chengxiao had run into Liu Yanzheng last July. Thinking back to Yangzhou, it was clear Liu Yanzheng had already suspected something. Yet, he hadn’t pressed the matter the first time, avoided mentioning it the second, and now, it had turned into this complicated situation.
Moreover, Liu Yanzheng was a maritime trader? In her previous life, she had asked about his work and was told it involved silk and tea trading.
Liu Yanqing noticed their subtle glances but refrained from further questioning. “Let’s head back to the county. Yanping, you’ll go fetch Mother.”
Liu Yanping nodded. Liu Yanqing locked the house and thanked the village head and clan leader. By the time he returned, Liu Yanan was already seated in the carriage, waiting.
They reached Anyi County by nightfall. To avoid delaying his journey, Liu Yanping headed directly to the dock. Meanwhile, Liu Yanan and the others had dinner at the embroidery shop. Afterward, he returned to the dye workshop, while Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yu took a walk back home.
As they neared the alley leading to the Lu residence, the streets grew quieter. Suddenly, Lu Chengxiao stopped and turned to glance behind them.
Following his gaze, Liu Yu saw nothing but an empty alley. Puzzled, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lu Chengxiao smiled and shook his head. “Probably just a cat. Let’s go.”
Hidden in the alley, Yan Si’s mouth twitched. This time, he dared not follow too closely. Turning a corner, he saw the two enter a house.
At the inn, Elder Liu dismissed Doctor Mo. A bowl of medicinal porridge sat untouched on the table, now half-cold. Behind the closed door, only grandfather and grandson remained.
“Do you know why I kept you back to talk?”
Liu Yanzheng nodded. “I can probably guess.”
Elder Liu looked up at his only grandson and asked, “Is there anything you’d like to say to me?”
Liu Yanzheng shook his head. “On the first day I took over the island’s affairs, you told me that our family was only managing it temporarily. I’ve never forgotten those words.”
Elder Liu smiled with relief. “Good. I’m pleased that you have this sense of clarity.”
After a brief silence, Elder Liu continued, “The General was a benefactor who gave me a second chance at life, and Madam… she was exceptional. This island was originally entrusted to me and your uncles to manage on behalf of Madam. Those children from the Liu family seem promising. Given the relationship between our families, you should treat them as your brothers, helping them take over the island’s affairs smoothly…”
He paused before continuing, “I know your personality well. You’re not one to live under someone else’s command. After the handover is complete, if you want to venture out on your own, that’s fine. Just remember, whether you continue as a maritime trader or pursue something else, our family and the Liu family— you and those children— must treat each other with sincerity and stand by each other. This is my only request of you.”
Liu Yanzheng furrowed his brows slightly. But since he had been raised by Elder Liu after his parents’ passing, his filial respect for his grandfather remained unwavering. He nodded. “I understand.”
Elder Liu’s expression softened into a smile. “Good. Now go and rest. You’ve had a long day.”
Liu Yanzheng glanced at the bowl of half-cooled porridge on the table. “Shall I have someone bring a fresh bowl for you?”
Elder Liu shook his head. “No need. I don’t have much of an appetite today.”
Thinking of the four graves at Yangshan Village, Liu Yanzheng said no more. After bowing respectfully, he left the room. He found Doctor Mo and asked him to keep a close eye on Elder Liu’s condition and to send in some food later in the evening.
After Doctor Mo agreed, Liu Yanzheng finally returned to his own quarters.
Outside the room, Yan Si was already waiting.
When Liu Yanzheng entered his room, Yan Si followed and closed the door, standing to the side and waiting for instructions.
Liu Yanzheng poured himself a cup of tea at a leisurely pace before turning his head and asking, “Well? Have you figured everything out?”
Yan Si nodded. “Yes. I waited near the city gate and saw the Liu family members return to the county. One of them went to the dock to take a boat to Yuanzhou City. The others went to the backyard of the Ruyi Embroidery Shop on North Street. I inquired about it, and it turns out the shop belongs to the Liu family. They also have a branch in Yuanzhou City.”
Liu Yanzheng nodded thoughtfully, turning the porcelain cup in his hand. “And the Liu family girl? Is she staying at the embroidery shop as well?”
The Liu family girl?
Yan Si choked slightly. That was clearly a married woman’s hairstyle! How could the young master still think she was just a girl?
Thinking about Liu Yanzheng’s isolated upbringing on the island and his limited interactions with others, especially women, Yan Si realized it wasn’t entirely surprising that he might misinterpret.
Suppressing his nervous urge to clear his throat, Yan Si replied, “No. After dinner, the Liu girl left with the young man who was with her during the day.”
Sure enough, Liu Yanzheng’s sharp gaze instantly swept over him.
Yan Si recalled how the two had walked hand in hand the entire way earlier. They were clearly a married couple! Internally, he cursed his bad luck for being assigned such a task, but he didn’t dare voice his thoughts aloud.
In his nervousness, Yan Si reflexively cleared his throat, only to immediately freeze, realizing what he’d done. Under Liu Yanzheng’s piercing gaze, he quickly recovered and reported, “They entered a two-courtyard residence in the eastern part of the city. A maid opened the door for them. It seems they’re staying there.”
The sound of the porcelain teacup being set down on the table wasn’t loud, but it sent shivers down Yan Si’s spine.
“They’re staying together?”
Yan Si nodded like a quail, keeping his head down.
“Just the two of them?”
Yan Si’s scalp tingled even more as he nodded again.
Liu Yanzheng’s face turned completely ashen. He cursed himself for losing focus earlier in the day, allowing his mind to be consumed by chaotic memories and failing to ask the necessary questions.
His final thread of hope was that the man might be a relative from the Liu family, perhaps her cousin.
But what kind of siblings would interlace their fingers when holding hands?
Recalling the scene from the afternoon, Liu Yanzheng felt an almost uncontrollable urge to chop off that man’s offending hand.
Unable to sit still any longer, he stood abruptly and ordered, “Take me to where they’re staying. Now!”
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