Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 34

The incident happened just a day ago.

 

Early in the morning, Liu Shu fed the chickens and found himself engulfed in negative emotions, triggered by a dream he had about his former extravagant lifestyle.

 

This wasn’t the first time he had such a dream.

 

But this time, the feeling of despondency enveloped him like a fog, and he couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for anything. He even felt a bit resentful towards his surroundings.

 

Having been away from home for several months, it seemed like all his accumulated emotions suddenly surged forth—

 

He wasn’t a poor kid at all, nor did he know how to farm or dig. It wasn’t that he didn’t have bad moods; he wanted to enjoy himself leisurely. He disliked living a simple and austere life, and countless times he wished to return to Jinling to lead a rich and idle life again.

 

Depressed, he went to find the bamboo craftsman, intending to go to town together. Just as he reached the courtyard, he heard the loud clucking of the hen, somewhat noisy as if deliberately calling for him. He turned his head and saw an egg in the chicken nest at the corner of the wall.

 

An egg!

 

He walked over and picked it up. This time, it was indeed a freshly laid egg, still warm. He smiled and couldn’t help but shout, “Ah Ke, the hen laid an egg!”

 

Only the clucking of the hen responded to him.

 

He suddenly came to his senses. Ah Ke had been away from home for more than ten days.

 

No one to cook for him, no one to fan away the mosquitoes, no one to keep him company through the long days.

 

These ten days felt endlessly long. With no one to share his joys and sorrows, he bottled them up inside, which only made his feelings more intense.

 

Holding the fresh, warm egg, he stood up and his gaze was drawn to the nearby sapling.

 

It was a pomelo tree.

 

His grandmother’s home had two pomelo trees. As a child, when he visited with his mother, he loved picking and eating the pomelos. Back then, he was still short, so he used a slingshot to get them, leaving marks all over the pomelo skins. By the time he left, he had become an expert with the slingshot, and the pomelo trees were bare.

 

Later, his grandmother passed away, and he never went back. Those brief memories seemed to be covered by other things until this moment when they all came flooding back.

 

Last time in Fang Qiong’s osmanthus garden, he casually mentioned wanting to plant a pomelo tree, and the next day, Shen Ke brought back a few four-season osmanthus saplings and a pomelo sapling from town.

 

Unfortunately, the osmanthus didn’t survive, but the pomelo sapling did.

 

He watered the sapling, and his early morning gloom mysteriously dissipated. It seemed that no matter how hard life was, it was full of hope like this pomelo tree. He couldn’t help but mutter, “I wonder when Ah Ke will come back.”

 

On the way to town, he lay on the donkey cart, covering his face with a straw hat.

 

“Why are you so quiet today?” the bamboo craftsman couldn’t help but ask, finding the quiet atmosphere unusual.

 

After a while, Liu Shu replied in a muffled voice, “I’m staying in town for a few days. Can you feed the chickens for me morning and evening?”

 

“Sure. Why are you staying in town? Not going home?” the bamboo craftsman asked.

 

“It’s too lonely at home alone.”

 

The bamboo craftsman understood this feeling well. When night fell, the only sounds were the cicadas and some birds. Inside the house, apart from the noise one could make, it was deathly quiet. So he understood why Brother Ke took in Xiao Wu; even just having a companion made life more interesting. Of course, he also understood Xiao Wu’s loneliness.

 

In town, after Liu Shu helped him sell his goods, he went to the inn where Zhang Mosheng was teaching.

 

Zhang Mosheng was a very clever and diligent girl who quickly grasped the essentials. While she was applying makeup to her two maids, Liu Shu took out the paper and pen left by Shen Ke and started drawing.

 

“What are you doing?” Zhang Moyang, who was snacking on sunflower seeds, came over.

 

“Drawing to remember someone.”

 

Zhang Moyang silently watched his work for a while, said, “You’re good,” and went back to watch his sister’s progress.

 

The two maids, with their new makeup, looked completely refreshed and dazzling.

 

Zhang Mosheng glanced at Liu Shu and, on a sudden whim, decided to try the makeup on him.

 

Liu Shu carefully folded his drawing and put it in his pocket, then let her paint his face. He even gave her some pointers while looking in a copper mirror, which took a bit longer, leaving Zhang Moyang, who was watching, feeling drowsy.

 

“I’ll go buy something to eat.” Zhang Moyang left the inn and couldn’t help but laugh as he passed by the Fang family’s house.

 

He heard from the locals that Fang Qiong had a lively wedding night, and one could hear his cries of pain in the middle of the night.

 

Soon, the townsfolk knew that Fang Qiong had married a tall butcher’s daughter with a fiery temper who often beat him up, leaving him with black and blue eyes whenever he went out.

 

Even though Fang Qiong wanted to annul the marriage, it was too late. He had brought her home in a grand procession in front of many people, and backing out now would be a blow to Magistrate Fang’s reputation.

 

He bought two packets of candied fruit and returned to the inn, only to find that his sister and Xiao Wu were missing.

 

“Have you reported it?” Shen Ke asked with a stern expression, turning to head toward the Yamen1.

 

“Yes.” Zhang Moyang hurriedly followed, his tone weary. “The soldiers and our own men have been searching for two days without any clues.”

 

“Did they disappear in the city?”

 

“The two maids said they lost track of them outside the inn, but it’s uncertain if they disappeared in the city.” Zhang Moyang paused before adding another piece of information. “A few days ago, Fang Qiong got married, and Xiao Wu set him up, leading his men to search outside the city. They actually found some tracks leading toward the neighboring town, so the yamen sent people to investigate.”

 

Shen Ke paused, then looked at him: “Xiao Wu set up Fang Qiong?”

 

“Yes.” Zhang Moyang briefly recounted the events of that day and then updated him on the current situation. “After I reported it, the yamen dispatched all their remaining men to follow the tracks. They should have reached the neighboring town by now, but we don’t know if they’ve found anyone yet.”

 

When Shen Ke entered the yamen with a squad of elite soldiers, the staff master was startled.

 

Magistrate Fang was meeting the new prefect of Huaizhou, and the usually quiet yamen was suddenly bustling with activity, causing him great distress.

 

“Who are you, and what are you doing with these men?” the staff master scolded.

 

“I am here by order of the prefect, bringing a letter for Magistrate Fang and the staff master.”

 

Shen Ke presented a letter handwritten by his elder brother, instructing the yamen to obey this Ke gentleman in all matters, prioritizing the capture of bandits without delay.

 

The staff master examined the official seal repeatedly, confirming its authenticity, and looked at him in astonishment: “You actually mobilized the prefect’s forces?”

 

“This is not the time for such discussions.” Shen Ke looked around and asked coldly, “Where is Fang Qiong?”

 

“You mean Young Master Fang?” The staff master was puzzled. “He should be at home, but why are you looking for him? Shouldn’t you be focusing on catching the bandits?”

 

“Lead the way.”

 

The Fang residence was only two alleys away from the yamen. As the staff master led the way, he kept muttering, “I know you don’t get along with Young Master Fang, but after his marriage, his life has been quite… Alas, he was bewitched by a woman and foolishly married a fierce one…”

 

He spoke enthusiastically, but no one responded, and it wasn’t even clear if anyone was listening.

 

“We’re here. Young Master has barely gone out these past few days.”

 

The staff master knocked on the door, and a servant opened it, his expression momentarily uneasy when he saw the men behind the staff master. He quickly lowered his head.

 

Zhang Moyang, about to ask Shen Ke why they were wasting time here, heard him sharply ask, “Where did Fang Qiong hide the people he brought back?”

 

The servant’s shoulders trembled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

 

Shen Ke coldly looked at the staff master, who finally realized the situation and grabbed the servant, whispering urgently, “Did the Young Master secretly bring people back?”

 

The servant, trembling and on the verge of tears, didn’t dare speak.

 

Zhang Moyang immediately understood and angrily demanded, “Did Fang Qiong capture my sister?!”

 

“Staff master, you better get them out quickly, or your law-breaking Young Master will be in serious trouble,” Shen Ke said coldly.

 

The staff master broke into a cold sweat and, grasping the servant, demanded, “Quick, where are they hidden?!”

 

“In… in the cellar.”

 

As soon as he spoke, Shen Ke strode inside, followed closely by Zhang Moyang, Hui Shang, and some of their accompanying soldiers.

 

“This way, the cellar is this way.” The staff master quickly led the way.

 

With the staff master accompanying them, the servants only glanced at the strangers without daring to stop them.

 

The cellar, located in the backyard behind the kitchen, was used to store food and wine and was seldom visited.

 

The staff master lifted the floorboard, and just as he was about to go down, he heard several coughing sounds.

 

“Moyang, is that you?” Zhang Moyang called excitedly toward the inside. “Sister, is that you?!”

 

A moment later, a woman ran to the base of the opening, looking up at them. “Brother, you finally came.”

 

There were stairs leading down from the opening. Several people descended in succession. Zhang Moyang tightly grasped her, scrutinizing her carefully. “Are you hurt? Did that bastard Fang Qiong harm you?”

 

Just as Zhang Mosheng was about to speak, she glimpsed Shen Ke moving forward in the dim cellar. She said, “Xiao Wu is still inside, you need to save…”

 

Before she could finish, a scream came from the front, sounding eerie in the dark, damp cellar.

 

“Ahhhh—!!!”

 

Everyone was startled, but the staff master turned pale first. “Isn’t that the young master’s voice?”

 

“…You’d better go save Fang Qiong,” Zhang Mosheng said, holding her head. “He’s being tormented.”

 

There was a wall ahead. They turned a corner and walked a few more steps to see Fang Qiong, tightly bound and kneeling on the ground, an apple balanced on his head. He was trembling all over but didn’t dare let the apple fall.

 

The apple had several arrows sticking out of it.

 

He was kneeling before a pile of rice sacks, and in the corner stood a tall woman.

 

At the top of the high pile of rice sacks, someone was lounging, one leg propped up and the other swinging. This person was playing with an arrow and, just as they were about to throw it again, they looked up, their mischievous grin vanishing as they stared intently at Shen Ke among the group, their mouth curving into a broad smile.

 

“You’re finally back!”

 

Liu Shu leaped lightly to the ground, rushing to Shen Ke. He hesitated, wanting to hug him but realizing his clothes were dirty, his hands awkwardly suspended mid-air. Just as he was about to retract them, a pair of arms wrapped around his back, holding him tightly as if to merge him into their bones.

 

Liu Shu froze for a moment, inhaling the dusty scent from Shen Ke, his eyes brightening. His hands dropped to Shen Ke’s back, and the longing that had built up over the past days suddenly left him speechless.

 

“What is this?” Shen Ke asked, pointing to Liu Shu’s bulging chest.

 

“Oh, it’s my drawings. While you were away, I drew pictures of you.” Liu Shu took out a folded piece of paper from his chest and proudly handed it to him. “These drawings helped me cope with missing you.”

 

“You can draw?” Shen Ke asked, surprised and curious, as he unfolded the paper, his expression pausing.

 

Hmm…

 

“Is this a horse?” Hui Shang leaned over to look. “Look at that face; it’s a genuine horse face.”

 

“No, it’s a shoehorn face,” Zhang Moyang corrected.

 

Zhang Mosheng said helplessly, “We should probably handle our business first, but personally, I think it looks more like a coffin face, all square.”

 

The staff master couldn’t resist his curiosity and glanced at the drawing, his brows furrowing. “Is this supposed to be a person?”

 

The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.

 

The staff master felt a chill down his spine and slowly turned to see Liu Shu exuding cold air.

 

At this moment, Shen Ke patted the dust off Liu Shu’s clothes and said with a smile, “It’s well drawn.”

 

“Really?” Liu Shu asked slowly.

 

“Yes, very unique. Unique in a way that no one else can recognize it, only me. So, it’s a special bond between us.”

 

Liu Shu was immediately appeased. “Exactly!”

 

The others: “…”

 

Yamen1   A **yamen** is a term used in imperial China to refer to the administrative office or headquarters of a local government official. It served as both the office and residence of the official, who could be a magistrate, prefect, or other local administrator. The yamen was the center of local governance, where officials conducted administrative duties, held court sessions, and managed various governmental functions. The term can also refer to the entire compound or complex that housed these offices.