As dusk approached after their shift ended, Shen Du and his companion changed into their banquet attire and boarded a carriage bound for the Lai residence.
The journey passed in silence, both lost in heavy thoughts. Upon arrival, Shen Du wordlessly took Zhu Yan’s hand as they alighted, standing side by side before the mansion gates.
The Lai residence had changed since their last visit. The qilin statues guarding the entrance had been replaced with taotie beasts, matching Lai Luozhi’s court robes. Taotie, the fifth son of the dragon’s nine offspring, was known for his insatiable greed.
Typically, lions, qilin, or jiaotu (the dragon’s sixth son) served as door guardians. What purpose did the taotie serve? One could only wonder at Lai Luozhi’s peculiar intentions behind this odd choice.
Passing under the towering lanterns flanking the threshold, they entered the imposing mansion. The air was filled with the sounds of decadent music, dancing, and approving shouts from the crowd.
Zhu Yan frowned in distaste. Noticing Shen Du’s pause to wait for her, she quickened her pace to his side, taking his hand of her own accord.
Sensing the chill in Zhu Yan’s palm, Shen Du leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry. Nothing can separate us.”
Squeezing Shen Du’s hand in response, Zhu Yan made an effort to set aside her unease for the moment.
As they entered the banquet hall, they found it bustling with officials and their families. On a stage overlooking the water, dancers swayed gracefully to the melodious strains of string and wind instruments.
At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary feast.
Upon spotting the pair, Lai Luozhi clapped his hands. All sound ceased abruptly, the dancers retreated, and every eye in the room turned to them.
“Chief Minister Shen arrives fashionably late. Shouldn’t you penalize yourself with a drink?” Lai Luozhi remarked, leaning against his chair’s armrest with a raised eyebrow.
Meeting the crowd’s gaze, Shen Du escorted Zhu Yan to the empty seat beside Lai Luozhi. After ensuring her comfort, he poured himself a cup of wine. Ignoring Zhu Yan’s attempt to stop him by tugging at his sleeve, he raised the cup to Lai Luozhi, drained it, and inverted the empty vessel for all to see.
“Excellent!” Lai Luozhi led the applause, echoed by the assembly.
“This minister will drink three cups as penance.”
Shen Du downed three cups in succession. As the music resumed, he turned away from the crowd, his handsome features clouded.
Concerned about his drinking on an empty stomach, Zhu Yan noticed the dangerous glint in his eyes and whispered, “Did they deliberately write the wrong time on our invitation?”
Shen Du nodded slightly, silently assuring her he was fine.
At that moment, one of the guests inquired about the absence of Lai Luofu, Lai Luozhi’s sister. As a recipient of the First Rank Madam title, she typically made an appearance at such family gatherings.
Lai Luozhi didn’t immediately respond, instead fixing Shen Du and his wife with a menacing gaze. He addressed Zhu Yan in a low voice, “Hasn’t Madam Shen always been concerned about my elder sister? She’s currently in seclusion, practicing secret techniques and unable to receive guests.”
The crowd was puzzled by the suggestion that Zhu Yan would care about Lai Luofu’s whereabouts.
Shen Du responded with a contemptuous smile, “This minister happens to know something about that. I’ve heard that Lord Lai has been tirelessly training a group of talented individuals to serve the Court of Judicial Review. I wonder if their training is similar to what your sister is practicing?”
This cryptic statement left the other guests bewildered, but Lai Luozhi understood the implication.
“Chief Minister Shen jests. My sister is merely cultivating some health-preserving techniques for His Majesty. I believe she’s close to completion today.”
As if on cue, Lai Luofu emerged from a side door, apologizing for her tardiness.
Zhu Yan watched her warily, recognizing her as Lai Luofu but recalling Dai Si’s account of identical Lai Luofus. This must be one of the countless body doubles Lai Luozhi had selected.
Remembering how Dai Si’s brief, tragic life had been cut short by Lai Luozhi’s deception, Zhu Yan felt a surge of revulsion towards this Lai Luofu doppelganger.
Lai Luofu’s first act was to offer a toast to Shen Du, her face wreathed in smiles. She was indistinguishable from the Lai Luofu they had killed.
The thought of Lai Luozhi secretly cultivating countless identical Lai Luofus, regardless of the reason, was chillingly bizarre.
Shen Du didn’t raise his cup, merely regarding her with narrowed eyes.
The Lai Luofu double wasn’t perturbed. “Chief Minister, please don’t take offense. I was late due to some tasks for the Empress. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
Her tone was gentle and inoffensive, difficult to rebuke.
Shen Du pulled Zhu Yan closer and replied coldly, “How could I refuse a toast from the Esteemed Madam? However, my wife is the jealous type. She can’t bear to see me drink wine offered by another woman. For the sake of domestic harmony, I must decline this toast. Rest assured, Madam Lai, I take no offense.”
Lai Luofu’s face twisted momentarily. She glanced at Lai Luozhi, seemingly unsure how to respond.
Lai Luozhi’s eyes darkened with displeasure at this Lai Luofu. He rose, guiding her to a seat, and spoke irritably, “Chief Minister Shen and his wife are indeed deeply in love. If not for the rumors, one might think you were refusing out of fear that my wine was poisoned.”
“Lord Lai overthinks,” Shen Du replied without further explanation. He sat properly with Zhu Yan, not touching the food.
Lai Luozhi signaled the musicians to pause, then exchanged a meaningful look with Lai Luofu, who immediately understood.
She stood and moved to the center. As the music resumed, Lai Luofu unfurled her water sleeves and began to dance.
Several times, her gaze fell upon Zhu Yan, making her uncomfortable. Eventually, Zhu Yan lowered her head, clutching Shen Du’s sleeve tightly, avoiding Lai Luofu’s attention.
As the dance concluded, Lai Luofu approached them.
“I’ve heard that Madam Shen is accomplished in both talent and beauty. Perhaps she’d grace us with a dance to liven up the gathering?”
Lai Luozhi joined in, clapping his hands. “Indeed! You two arrived late today. It’s hardly fair to only penalize Chief Minister Shen. Madam Shen should also face a penalty. Don’t you all agree?”
It was customary in the capital for latecomers to banquets to face some form of punishment, usually in the form of showcasing a talent to entertain the guests. Lai Luozhi’s suggestion wasn’t entirely out of line.
Other officials chimed in, and their family members took turns urging Zhu Yan to display her skills.
Everyone knew of Zhu Yan’s humble origins and her involvement in the lowly task of examining corpses. While they dared not show open contempt due to Shen Du’s presence, they eagerly anticipated Zhu Yan making a fool of herself.
As Shen Du was about to refuse, Lai Luozhi made a veiled jibe. Seeing Shen Du on the verge of losing his temper, Zhu Yan rose and walked to the center of the stage.
But she was at a loss. Though quick-witted and intelligent from a young age, she had never been one for scholarly pursuits or feminine arts. Despite her brilliant mind, she had always preferred horseback riding and detective work to reading books or learning domestic skills.
For the other women present, showcasing their talents was a minor affair. For Zhu Yan, however, it was a daunting challenge she felt wholly unprepared for.
As she stood alone on the stage, Shen Du felt a chill spread around him and abruptly rose from his seat.
The officials fell silent, intimidated by Shen Du’s barely contained fury. Each person became as quiet as a mouse.
Before Shen Du could act, the head of the orchestra suddenly looked up and waved to Zhu Yan. It was Jin Cang, her mother’s cousin, who had been invited to perform at the banquet.
Jin Cang was the top musician in the palace’s music troupe and the head of the department responsible for training palace musicians. He was skilled in the guqin and konghou, and his expertise was highly esteemed. His willingness to delve into this field further earned him considerable respect.
Luo Zhi’s decision to invite Jin Cang and other palace musicians served to emphasize his closeness to the imperial family and to demonstrate his power and influence.