“They’re just a bunch of ignorant commoners, Brother Donglou. No need to mind them. Apart from the factory guards, we’ve got people in the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review. Tampering with the captives and heads isn’t that hard,” Luo Longwen said quietly to Yan Shifan as they left West Horse Market, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby.
Luo Longwen wanted to ease Yan Shifan’s worries. Moments ago, at the market, Yan Shifan’s face had darkened upon seeing the Suzhou officials educating the crowd about identifying captives and heads. His mood had soured considerably.
As Yan Shifan’s most loyal lackey, Luo Longwen naturally sought to lighten his master’s burden.
“Shut up!” Yan Shifan snapped, glaring at him.
Luo Longwen shrank back like a scolded quail.
“So many people witnessed this with their own eyes—how do you silence that many tongues? Blocking the people’s mouths is harder than damming a river!”
“Besides, the emperor’s watching this closely. The factory guards are his eyes. Sure, Lu Bing and Huang Jin are friendly with us, but they’re the emperor’s dogs—they won’t bite us unprovoked, but expecting them to help us deceive His Majesty? Impossible!”
“With that cunning little thief Zhu Ping’an, he’s surely got more tricks up his sleeve to stop us from tampering with the captives and heads!”
“To pull off a deception under the emperor’s nose, it has to be flawless—or it’s suicide! My father’s Yan Song, not the emperor. If I commit a crime of lèse-majesté, I’m finished too.”
Yan Shifan glared at Luo Longwen again, berating him irritably.
“Yes, yes, Brother Donglou’s right,” Luo Longwen nodded repeatedly, cowering.
While Yan Shifan scolded Luo Longwen, far away in Suzhou, Zhu Ping’an was enjoying a lavish lunch.
Li Shu, her belly swollen with pregnancy, pulled Zhu Ping’an to the table.
The spread was steaming hot and bursting with color, aroma, and flavor—fish, shrimp, crabs, meatballs, stewed duck, mushrooms, artfully plated stir-fried vegetables, and pastries. Over a dozen dishes, far more extravagant than usual, tantalized Zhu Ping’an’s senses.
“What’s the occasion today? Why such a feast?” Zhu Ping’an asked as he sat, unable to resist.
A bit lavish, he thought.
“It’s a day with Brother Zhu here,” Li Shu smiled, her pregnant glow making her even more charming.
Zhu Ping’an felt a pang of guilt. He took her hand, then touched her belly, his face apologetic. “I’m sorry, Sister Li. I’ve barely spent time with you lately.”
With Li Shu so pregnant and in need of care, he’d been an absent husband and father-to-be—utterly remiss.
“It’s not your fault, Brother Zhu. You’ve been tied up with duties,” Li Shu said understandingly, her small hand clasping his.
By now, she’d grown used to Zhu Ping’an’s affectionate gestures—like hand-holding or hugging—in front of the maids.
“I’ll make time to be with you more during this period,” Zhu Ping’an promised, wrapping an arm around her.
The pirates had suffered a crushing defeat in Suzhou—they wouldn’t dare attack again soon, even after their victory in Jiaxing. This lesson had stung them hard; they’d need serious preparation before trying Suzhou again.
Historically, Governor-General Zhang Jing was biding his time, waiting for the wolf soldiers and other reinforcements. Even when they arrived, they’d need training to gel as a fighting force—no major moves against the pirates were imminent.
So, this was a rare lull. With the Zhejiang troops’ drills and patrols arranged, Zhu Ping’an could carve out plenty of time for Li Shu.
“Then stay and eat with me properly. If Brother Zhu eats heartily, I’ll enjoy watching and eat more too,” Li Shu said with a sweet smile.
Zhu Ping’an felt he could devour a whole cow today.
*A smile that could topple cities*—he understood it now.
Had he not crossed into this world, a beauty like Li Shu would’ve been a distant dream—scrollable on a phone screen, not someone he could hold hands with or cuddle at night, all warm and fragrant.
“Hua’er, serve Brother Zhu some food,” Li Shu instructed the maid.
“Right away, Miss!” Hua’er chirped, bustling over. “Master, these dishes were specially ordered by Miss for the cook. Try this wine-steeped meatball—it’s been simmering since last night!”
“No need, Hua’er—I can manage. Just serve Sister Li,” Zhu Ping’an said, still unaccustomed to being waited on, gently declining.
Raised under the red flag, he preferred self-reliance.
Hua’er’s chubby little face fell from delight to disappointment, as if she’d been rejected.
“Brother Zhu, you promised to eat with me properly,” Li Shu teased with a pout, then turned to Hua’er. “Do as I say—serve me and Brother Zhu.”
“Fine, fine,” Zhu Ping’an relented. How could he resist her charm? If she wanted him served, so be it—like dining at a fancy restaurant with top-notch service. A rare treat.
Hua’er perked up instantly, eagerly placing a wine-steeped meatball on Zhu Ping’an’s plate. “Master, try this—it’s a special recipe the cook learned. Delicious!”
Unlike fermented rice dumplings, this meatball resembled a smaller lion’s head. Zhu Ping’an took a bite—aromatic, with a rich wine flavor mingling with tender, savory meat. Irresistible.
“Brother Zhu loves crab, doesn’t he? Hua’er, bring the drunken crab closer and scoop some roe for him,” Li Shu said, her eyes crescent moons as she watched him enjoy it.
The drunken crab gleamed golden, its meat plump and infused with heady wine. The sweet, layered flavors of crab and liquor refreshed Zhu Ping’an—he couldn’t stop, polishing off two crabs in a blink.
“Hua’er, the drunken shrimp for Brother Zhu.”
“And the drunken duck—he likes it with skin and bones.”
“It’s damp and chilly today—a bowl of hot rice wine would be perfect. I can’t drink with the baby, but Brother Zhu must have one,” Li Shu directed Hua’er intermittently.
How could he refuse her kindness? Zhu Ping’an accepted it all graciously.
