TSLSILMH Ch 25

Chapter 25

Xie Shu’s expression stiffened slightly. In fact, when that man had just walked toward him earlier, he had already sensed something amiss.

The man seemed deliberately to conceal his features, never meeting his gaze, yet still left him with the distinct feeling of being closely observed.

The moment that man slipped the crumpled note into his hand, Xie Shu immediately turned to look for him again. But the man was clearly seasoned in such maneuvers; in just a few deft movements, he had plunged into the crowd and disappeared without a trace.

Seeing his master’s strange demeanor, Ximo reacted at once, following his master’s gaze in pursuit. But Xie Shu quickly stopped him.

Since the man was so practiced, he certainly would not leave traces behind.

Xie Shu squeezed the paper ball in his hand, but did not immediately choose to open it.

Even though he did not know what purpose this person had, the other must know his identity and movements very well to be able to deliver the message with such ease.

Given so much uncertainty, it was possible the man was still watching him.

Thus, Xie Shu made no noise, but simply led Ximo into a nearby teahouse.

In the Great Qing, teahouses were everywhere. Tea, like rice and salt, was indispensable to daily life.

Xie Shu casually picked one ordinary teahouse, went up to a private room, and then at last unfolded the note.

On it, written in crooked tiny script, were several cramped lines. Xie Shu began to read from the first line:

“Father seized by gambling house men, said what you gave before was false…”

Seeing the unexpected note in Xie Shu’s hand, Ximo quickly realized. He had thought moments ago that his master had bumped into a thief, and had been wondering why a thief would target his master who carried no money pouch. Now it turned out someone had instead given him a note.

When Ximo leaned closer to read with him, his face instantly blanched.

What? How could it be like this? Wei Qingtong said his father had been seized by the gambling house because the items the master had given before were false. Now the Wei household was being hounded by debt collectors. Helpless, Wei Qingtong had struggled to entrust someone to beg the master for aid.

But in such a case, how could the master possibly go?

Leaving aside that the matter of secretly giving anything to the Wei family could not be exposed, there was also the fact that gambling-house ruffians were infamously base. If they knew the master was helping, might they not demand extortionate sums?

But what worried Ximo most was that his master might recklessly go regardless! And should the young lord discover this…

Xie Shu meanwhile was calmly watching Ximo’s changing face. Though he now understood the words of the note, he did not know who this “Wei Qingtong,” the signatory, was.

Why, previously, would his predecessor have given him anything?

But judging from Ximo’s fretful reaction, this person must have been close to the original self.

So Xie Shu did not speak rashly. But when he remained silent, Ximo grew increasingly anxious. Unable to hold back, he urged: “Master, you must not get involved in this. Those gambling-house men—none of them good sorts…”

Yet of course, he knew the master would still interfere. And though he felt dislike for Wei Qingtong, after all they had known each other since childhood, and some faint compassion lingered. So he added, “Even if you must help, you must not go yourself. Allow me to make the trip for you!”

But Xie Shu merely looked at him steadily. From earlier, one question had already been circling in his mind. Now he asked it directly: “And what exactly would you take?”

Ximo froze. He thought the master worried whether he had enough money to redeem the prisoner, so he quickly answered: “I still have my monthly stipends from the Yu household saved up, besides, the young lord just the other day gave you many banknotes…”

Before he could finish, Xie Shu’s voice turned cold: “Absolutely not.”

In Xie Shu’s view, this was utterly absurd!

It was one thing that he himself should be supported by the young lord; but how could he possibly use the young lord’s money for another? Whoever the other was, Xie Shu could never agree.

The master’s sudden flare of anger startled Ximo. He feared he had said something wrong.

Seeing his fright, Xie Shu calmed himself a little.

Actually, how could he not realize that Ximo’s easy assumption came from the habits left by his predecessor?

And the note itself confirmed as much: his predecessor had actually given Yu household property to another…

From Xie Shu’s perspective, this was abominable behavior to the extreme.

Yet he also noticed some oddities.

Frowning slightly, he said: “This note says that what I had given him earlier was false. Yet if it truly were Yu household’s possession, how could it be fake?”

Though he did not yet know what the original self had delivered, from his time here so far he knew well that all Yu household’s items—whether apparel, tools, or wealth—were of the finest quality, not something ordinary. Counterfeits were impossible.

Ximo heard this and realized both why his master was angry and also that there was something strange here. Admiration arose in his heart, and he asked: “Then master, what should we do?”

But Xie Shu did not answer immediately.

Clearly the oddities were not only this.

If Wei Qingtong could, in his plight of being dunned by gambling-house men, still send a message through a third party, then either he had the silver to bribe a messenger, or else the gambling-house men themselves had permitted it.

Most likely the latter.

If it had been the former, why not use that silver to repay some of the debt first? And the man who delivered the message had been far too skillful, not at all a novice.

If it were the latter, then—even if Wei Qingtong was forced—it showed at least he had consented tacitly.

Xie Shu considered that though this might have been under duress, the plea contained not a single hint of warning. It showed something lacking in character. Still, given his father a gambler, bringing ruin to family and himself, he too was indeed pitiable.

There was no need to voice this to Ximo. For now, the priority was clarifying what tie Wei truly had to the former self. Then he could decide what to do.

After a silent pause, Xie Shu spoke lightly: “Report to the officials.”

In modern times, the best choice for such matters was to find the police. But in ancient times, it was not so simple. So this was partly a test of Ximo.

At his words, Ximo recoiled in shock. Moments ago he had praised his master for being level-headed—how could he now be so foolish? How could they possibly report this to the officials?

Though his master had the privileges of a licentiate³—exempt from bowing in court and enjoying certain immunities—reporting nonetheless was troublesome. It required a written suit, and only the next day would it reach trial. Then would the whole world not know?

Ximo hurriedly implored: “That will never do, master! Think—if people learn you had previously given things to that household, what then? Have you thought of the young lord?”

Indeed, since his master had begun to think differently of the young lord, the maid’s instinct was to bring him up when persuading.

At those words, Xie Shu’s heart gave a throb.

Yes. If only the young lord were here.

He could have told him of this. The young lord was so capable, he would surely find a way.

But judging from what Ximo said, this was something that must never be revealed to him.

Xie Shu then recalled—how, just as they entered the city, Yu Chuxi had been called away by an urgent affair, while at that very moment he himself was slipped this note.

Surely the coincidence was too great.

Lowering his eyes, he pondered for a moment, then said: “Bring me brush and paper.”

Though Ximo did not know what for, it was simple enough to borrow in the teahouse, so he said nothing further.

Afterward, Xie Shu instructed him to fetch a patrolling officer, and gave several quiet directions.

Ximo clenched his teeth and nodded. The “officers” here were constables⁴ under the yamen, maintaining city order. They dealt with small matters as well, without elevating them to full judicial proceedings. Following the master’s method, it would not need to reach the court.

Soon enough, Ximo returned with Constable Wang Qiang, a longtime officer in Jinling. He had served six years, was smooth in manner, and well-connected.

Though constables worked under the yamen and wielded authority day to day, it was considered a “lowly occupation.” By law, their descendants were disqualified from taking the civil examinations. Thus, they treated commoners and the gentry with very different demeanors.

Hearing that this was the renowned Xie Xiucai of recent fame in Jinling—and the son-in-law of the Yu household’s young heir—Wang Qiang agreed enthusiastically, even flattering him respectfully.

On the way, Ximo described the situation, per Xie Shu’s instruction only giving a partial account.

Thus did Xie Shu roughly understand. Wei Qingtong was his predecessor’s old neighbor. The Wei family, addicted to gambling, had long since been supported by his late father’s pity for the boy. But in the end, it had only bred greed. Because of Wei’s old father’s debts, the gambling house now blocked the house, and so they targeted him.

Wang Qiang quickly promised to intervene. By regulation, dunning debts could not entail coercion or violence at people’s doors. Normally he would look the other way, but since Xie Xiucai himself was overseeing, he would make a show of it.

Yet inwardly Wang Qiang was puzzled—now that Xie Shu had married into the Yu clan, why was the Wei family still connected to him? Could there still be entanglements involved? After all, he had heard of Wei Qingtong’s fair looks—“Little Guanyin⁵,” as people said. But seeing Xie Shu’s calm and composed face, with not a flicker of emotion, his doubts were eased.

Indeed, the scholar had only lately composed a now-famous peach blossom poem for his husband, the Yu heir. Why would he embroil himself in this squalor?

When they arrived, the neighbors of Peach-Mud Alley peeked curiously. Too much had happened this day—a silk sedan early in the morning, debt-collectors at noon, and now the scholar with constables in tow.

What in heaven’s name was going on?

…

At the Yu side meanwhile, Yu Chuxi had reached the riverside. Questioning the steward along the way, he picked out flaws in the story and saw signs of guilt. The man had deliberately lured him.

And when Yu Wanchun appeared, laughing, presenting a red agate said to have come from the gambling den—and further, claimed it belonged to Xie Shu’s childhood friend’s father—Yu Chuxi understood the trap.

…

Back at the Wei household, ruffians vandalized, the old matron pleaded, and Wei Qingtong sat stricken, despair mounting. He had been forced to write the fateful summons to Xie Shu, knowing it was all arranged by Yu Wanchun.

But suddenly, constables burst in, restraining the men.

When one middle-aged overseer attempted to accuse Xie Shu of providing the red agate, the scholar replied in calm dignity, refusing the trap, sternly citing the law, and even producing a prewritten suit-form, which made the man stagger in doubt.

Finally, with words both cold and cutting, Xie Shu declared: “The young lord already supports me with difficulty. How could I covet his possessions?”

All fell speechless.

Just then—outside the doorway, a lilting laugh sounded, like jeweled drops on jade.

All turned to look, seeing a figure standing magnificently with noble attendants behind. His beauty was dazzling, lips curved, phoenix eyes smiling, as though all the sunlight of spring was caught within.

Xie Shu stopped, unable to restrain himself, and took a step forward toward his young lord.

Footnotes

1. Shuang’er (雙兒) – A gender role unique to these danmei/BL settings, referring to males capable of childbearing. Traditionally marked by a mole at the corner of the eye.

2. Licentiate (生員, shengyuan) – A scholar who has passed the first imperial exam, gaining privileges and status (e.g., immunity from corporal punishment, not required to bow before officials).

3. Constables (捕快, bukuaì) – Law enforcers under the local yamen (magistrate’s office). They maintained order but were considered of low social status. Their children were barred from the exams.

4. “Little Guanyin” (小觀音) – A local sobriquet mocking or praising a young man as having delicate, beautiful features like the bodhisattva Guanyin, sometimes used flirtatiously or derisively in folklore.