Chapter 10: Clear Conscience

Upon learning that the influential families of Hedong would return the grain they had borrowed over the years, Xie Zuan was overjoyed. Had Shi Shouxin not already been married—to the beloved daughter of Li Yin, no less—Xie would have gladly taken him as a son-in-law.

Shi Shouxin had done him a massive favor—so great, in fact, that it transcended mere words of gratitude. Xie Zuan promised that if there were ever anything he could do, Shi had only to ask. He would do his utmost to assist, a vague promise that carried the weight of a genuine commitment to reciprocate.

Humming a light tune, Shi Shouxin departed Anyi for Wenxi County to the north. Lü Xun, the Magistrate of Wenxi, was the recipient of a recruitment document from the Grand General’s office. Shi’s mission was simple: deliver the document and return home. Whether Lü Xun actually chose to serve under Sima Zhao was of no concern to him.

A day later, Shi Shouxin arrived at the Wenxi County office with his attendant, Xigou. After identifying himself, he was surprised to learn that Lü Xun had already gone home to rest. Typically, a magistrate’s residence was located in the rear of the county office, as officials were rarely locals and thus had no home to return to. However, the living conditions in county offices were often spartan. If given a choice, few would opt to live in such a "guest house." Consequently, many magistrates from prominent families purchased private estates in the area, allowing them to enjoy their evenings away from the prying eyes of colleagues.

Lü Xun was one such man. Born into a wealthy family, he possessed considerable means and owned a grand residence in Wenxi. Upon arriving at the estate, Shi Shouxin realized it was no temporary lodging; it looked more like the seized property of a local magnate. The exterior featured blue bricks and dark tiles, and once led inside by servants, Shi found the courtyards and pavilions to be quite opulent.

"Ah, the esteemed Shi Gan-dang! My humble home is honored by your presence! Please, come in!"

At the entrance to the main hall, a middle-aged man strode forward and gripped Shi’s hands tightly, acting as if they were old acquaintances.

"May I ask who you are..." Shi Shouxin asked, slightly taken aback by the man’s excessive warmth.

"Forgive my poor memory! I am Lü Xun. Two years ago, at your wedding, I attended the banquet at your estate. I was a colleague of your father-in-law back when we both served at the Grand General’s office." Lü Xun smiled, his middle-aged features radiating a refined, gentle air.

Once they were seated in the hall, Lü Xun ordered servants to bring fine wine, drinking with Shi with the enthusiasm of a lifelong friend. Though they were not close, Lü Xun knew Shi’s father-in-law, Li Yin, well and was keenly aware of his capabilities and temperament.

Shi Shouxin produced the recruitment document from his sleeve and handed it over with a polite smile, saying nothing more. It was easy to see why Lü Xun was so welcoming to a virtual stranger: Li Yin had just been appointed as the Censor-in-Chief. In this world, there is no such thing as unmotivated kindness; everything is driven by interest.

"To be summoned by the Grand General! I am overjoyed!" Lü Xun laughed heartily after reading the document, unable to suppress his delight. He had achieved notable results in Wenxi over the past two years, and this recall was the fruit of his labor, as well as a reflection of the preparations for the campaign against Shu. With war on the horizon, Sima Zhao needed his own men to stabilize the situation.

"I feel as if we are old friends, Gan-dang. The hour is late; why not stay the night at my humble abode and return to Luoyang tomorrow? I hear your wife is a woman of great virtue; surely she will not be angry at a one-day delay, haha!" Lü Xun teased, his invitation smooth and well-spoken.

Looking at the sky, Shi realized night would fall within a couple of hours, making travel dangerous in such remote territory. Since Lü Xun was friendly and clearly currying favor with Li Yin, it was hard to refuse.

Shi Shouxin bowed. "Then I shall accept your gracious offer. By the way, I am also tasked with delivering a recruitment letter to Ji Kang, but I heard he has moved. Do you know where he has gone?"

Lü Xun laughed and nodded. "Ji Kang is a friend of mine. When Zhong Hui tried to recruit him, he refused, then moved his entire family to Shanyang County to avoid further harassment. It is not far from Luoyang. You have made a wasted trip, I’m afraid."

"I see. He has certainly made me search high and low," Shi replied with a wry smile. They clinked cups and drank.

"Come, come, I shall arrange your quarters." Lü Xun personally led Shi to a wing of the house, which was elegantly and meticulously furnished—far superior to any post-house. The calligraphy on the walls and the exquisite flower arrangements showed that Lü Xun was a man of refined taste.

"My thanks, Gong-tai. This room is perfect." Shi was very satisfied; it was clear that his host had put in real effort.

After dark, Lü Xun invited Shi to dinner. Also present were his younger brother, Lü An, and Lü An’s... newlywed wife, Lady Xu.

Lady Xu was strikingly beautiful, particularly her ample bosom, which strained against her garments. While her face lacked the playful vivacity of Li Wan, she looked gentle and endearing. Her cherry-like lips and fair complexion were intoxicating. Though her loose robes hid her exact figure, her silhouette hinted at a lithe waist.

Lü Xun’s gaze frequently swept over her, his greed barely concealed. His brother, Lü An, noticed nothing, but Shi Shouxin saw it clearly. He remained silent, focusing on his food and drink. It was a family affair, and he had no interest in their sordid domestic drama.

Soon, Lü An and Lady Xu were overcome by drink and slumped over the table. Lü Xun ordered servants to carry the newlyweds away. With them gone, Lü Xun’s conversation flowed even more freely. They talked until the sky was pitch black, at which point Lü Xun escorted Shi back to his room.

As they entered the room, Lü Xun closed the door behind them. Shi Shouxin suddenly noticed that, by the dim light of the oil lamp, there was a woman lying on the bed. It was Lady Xu!

She had been stripped of her clothes. Her pale green robe and undergarments lay discarded, and her red bodice was tossed on the headboard. She was covered by a thin blanket, her fair, rounded shoulders exposed.

Shi Shouxin’s tipsiness evaporated instantly. As he turned to leave, Lü Xun pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

"Master Shi, we are like old friends. Let Lady Xu serve you tonight. Tomorrow, my brother will write a letter of divorce. You may take her wherever you wish. A spring night is hard to come by—do not let the beauty go to waste," Lü Xun whispered in his ear with a smirk.

"She is your sister-in-law... is this appropriate?" Shi’s heart sank, his tone feigning hesitation.

"Gan-dang, Lady Xu is far too beautiful for my brother to keep. Sooner or later, she will be snatched away by some powerful official. Only a dragon among men like you can hold onto her. Do not overthink this; the divorce letter will be here tomorrow. You will not be disturbed. When you are wealthy and powerful in the future, just remember my kindness today. I saw you staring at her all through dinner—don't deny it."

Shi Shouxin bowed respectfully to Lü Xun, saying nothing. A smile finally broke across the latter's face before he exited, ordering servants to guard the door and allow no one to enter—not even Xigou.

Shi sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the drugged Lady Xu, and let out a long sigh of disgust. "Human nature is so twisted and dark; it is truly chilling. In the last two years, I have only associated with gentlemen. Even Sima Yan only fights with words, not underhanded deeds. I let my guard down."

Shi shook his head, cursing his own complacency. The Hedong grain mission had gone so smoothly that he had become careless. He had expected a simple errand, yet he had walked straight into a trap.

After a moment of contemplation, he shook Lady Xu, but she remained unconscious. Fearing he might reveal his hand, he blew out the lamp.

Outside, Lü Xun exhaled in relief as the light went out. He had wanted Lady Xu the moment he saw her, but Shi’s arrival had presented a better opportunity. Shi was Li Yin’s son-in-law; by involving him, they would be bound by a shared secret.

As for his brother, Lü An, Lü Xun would tell him in the morning that his wife had snuck into Shi’s room and committed adultery. To save face, Lü An would have to divorce her. If Lady Xu were willing to go with Shi, Shi would owe him a debt of gratitude. If she refused, Lü Xun would simply take her as his own concubine. It was a perfect plan.

"Guard this door! If anyone comes out or goes in, I’ll have your heads!" Lü Xun hissed at his servants, his earlier refinement completely replaced by malice.

...

At dawn, Lady Xu stirred. She opened her eyes to see a man sitting by the bed—not her husband. Seeing her own state of undress, she was terrified, stifling a scream.

"Do not scream. I have done nothing to you. You can see for yourself—you know what it feels like to be with a man, can you not tell?" Shi sighed, his face weary.

Lady Xu checked herself and noticed the bed was disturbingly neat. She finally believed him.

"Put on your clothes. We have much to discuss," Shi said sternly.

Lady Xu, also from an official family, realized the gravity of the situation. She dressed quickly and sat facing him.

"The wine you and your husband drank was drugged. Mine was not. After you collapsed, Lü Xun had you brought here. He offered you to me and promised I could take you away tomorrow," Shi explained.

"By what right does he decide my fate?" Lady Xu was furious.

"If I had left last night, you would have been violated by him. Tomorrow, he would have told your husband that it was I who disgraced you and that I fled in guilt. He would have had his servants testify to it. What would you have done then?"

"I would have hanged myself to preserve my honor," Lady Xu said, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Shi with gratitude.

"Exactly. And if we try to sneak out now, the guards will catch us. Lü Xun will still claim we spent the night together."

Lady Xu’s heart went cold. She nodded, her expression heavy but composed.

"When you go out, if your husband hands you a divorce letter without a word, take it and leave with me. If he asks you what happened, you may go with him, and I will have no part in this. Does that work?"

Lü Xun was waiting outside. He handed a divorce letter to Shi Shouxin without even glancing at Lady Xu. Lü An was nowhere to be seen.

As they walked away from the estate, Lady Xu finally broke down and sobbed in Shi’s arms.

"He wouldn't even listen to a single word of explanation," she wailed.

"He knows, or suspects, the truth. But he cannot challenge his official brother. It is easier to blame you," Shi sighed.

"Don't go home," Shi advised. "If your family confronts them, the Lü family will insist you were a loose woman who seduced a stranger. It will only bring shame upon your house. Let it be. Come with me to Luoyang, and I will see you settled."

"Thank you, benefactor," she bowed, her resolve hardening. "I do not want to go home."

"Then come with me," Shi nodded.