Chapter 14: Meeting Closest Kin in Misty Rain Pavilion

Shen Residence, Plum Blossom Garden.

Led by a maid, Lu Jin walked along winding corridors and meandering stone paths, passing through lush courtyards shrouded in flowers and trees, until he arrived at a lakeside pavilion in the heart of the Plum Blossom Garden. To call it a pavilion was not quite accurate; rather, it was a cluster of interconnected waterborne buildings, joined by covered bridges and pavilions of varying shapes and sizes.

Setting foot upon the bridge, Lu Jin noticed the carved balustrades on either side, adorned here and there with climbing vines or hung with antique lanterns, lending a refined and poetic charm to the tranquil lake. The surrounding pavilions were enclosed with bamboo blinds and gauzy drapes, casting an air of mystery and dreamlike haze. The blinds hung low, swaying gently with the breeze, while the sheer curtains veiled and revealed the interior with an ethereal touch. Through the thin veils, Lu Jin glimpsed faint silhouettes moving within, the soft strains of zithers and flutes drifting out in languid melody, occasionally mingled with laughter and cheerful voices, infusing the scene with a languorous ease and joy.

Before the main building, Lu Jin unconsciously looked up. The signboard bore three bold characters—“Misty Rain Tower”—written with an uninhibited elegance.

“Son-in-law, please come in!”

The maid lifted the curtain for Lu Jin to enter the hall. At once, he found himself surrounded by people, some seated, some standing, and felt suddenly bewildered. What was going on here?

The carpet in the hall was lush and spread wide, reaching the corners of the pavilion, with several tables scattered about. On these tables, an array of fruits and pastries were artfully arranged in vivid hues. Behind them sat a dozen or more individuals, all dressed in finery and bearing an air of distinction. Maids moved gracefully among them, some gently fanning from behind, others kneeling attentively at the tables, their service orderly amid a scene of relaxed comfort.

At the center, seated upright on a small stool, was a young woman, her posture poised, a pipa in her hands. Her fingers danced deftly across the strings, the music lilting and clear.

Lu Jin was stunned by the opulence of this grand household, though more so by the unfamiliar faces surrounding him. Who were all these people? He wasn’t sure if his father-in-law or mother-in-law had ever met the original “him,” but he certainly hadn’t met them. And what was he supposed to do with this crowd?

“Ah! My dear grandson-in-law has arrived, come, come, sit by your grandmother!” Just as Lu Jin stood dazed, a delighted voice rang out from the head of the room.

Saved at last! Lu Jin quickly looked up and saw an elderly lady beaming at him and beckoning. Was this the Shen family matriarch—the so-called grandmother?

Madam Bai Lu of the Shen family was slender, her silver hair gleaming, her features marked by kindness. Under her crescent brows, a pair of deep, gentle eyes surveyed him; a black mole on her forehead lent her a further air of warmth. Though nearly seventy, the elegance of her youth still faintly lingered.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Jin hastened to her side.

The old lady grasped his hand, her inquiries full of concern, and Lu Jin replied at once. Only then did he notice Shen Yanxi seated next to the matriarch, smiling as she watched their exchange. Was she so amiable today—not the ethereal beauty she usually was?

Today Shen Yanxi wore a pale lavender gown, embroidered with intricate golden patterns. Her hair was tightly coiled at the back, and she even wore earrings, lending her an understated dignity. There was no denying her beauty; she looked good in anything, though—ah, better not let his mind stray further.

“I heard you’ve suffered quite a bit these past few days?” The old lady’s eyes narrowed as she scrutinized him.

“Grandmother, I’m much better now,” Lu Jin replied, not offering more.

“My grandson-in-law may have erred, but a few words of admonishment would suffice. How could you make him kneel in the rain?” The matriarch’s gaze shifted sideways, her face stern with anger. The man behind the table, presumably his father-in-law, lowered his head in silence.

Following her gaze, Lu Jin guessed that the man sipping tea was indeed his father-in-law.

“I had intended to visit you myself,” the matriarch continued, ignoring her son, “but age has slowed me. With everyone gathered today, I thought it best to call you here for a look.”

“Thank you for your concern, Grandmother,” Lu Jin said, bowing his head.

“You silly child, there’s no need to stand on ceremony among family. If you’re ever wronged, don’t keep it to yourself—tell your grandmother, and I’ll see to it for you.” The old lady raised her voice, as if hinting at something.

“Grandmother, Lu Jin hasn’t met everyone yet,” Shen Yanxi quickly interjected, changing the subject.

“Oh, yes, yes—let everyone meet my good grandson-in-law!” The matriarch released his hand.

Shen Yanxi rose, taking Lu Jin by the hand and leading him away. Her hand felt like a piece of jade—cool, smooth, delicate. They were on the verge of separating, yet she played the devoted wife so convincingly.

“This is Aunt, from the Cui family of Jizhou…” Shen Yanxi introduced him to the woman at the next table.

“Greetings, Aunt,” Lu Jin said to the middle-aged woman seated behind the table. She appeared about fifty, plump, her hair in a high chignon, her face plain but dignified.

“After the mourning period, Uncle returned to the capital. Aunt will remain here for a while before joining him,” Shen Yanxi added.

“Very good, very good. The husband my Yanxi has chosen is excellent—handsome and, I hear, quite learned. A worthy match for her,” Aunt Cui Shuqin looked at Lu Jin, forcing a smile.

“Take good care of my Yanxi—she’s the treasure of our family,” she admonished.

Lu Jin smiled and agreed, going through the expected formalities.

“Aunt, you flatter me,” Shen Yanxi demurred, moving him along.

“This is my cousin, my elder sister Shen Yanyun,” she introduced the woman beside them.

Shen Yanyun, about twenty, wore a purple cloud-patterned gown, her thick hair pinned up with an ornate plum blossom hairpin. She had a broad forehead, high brows, large expressive eyes with a subtle, alluring tilt at the inner corners, a high nose, and full lips. Her features were sharp, refined—a woman of striking presence.

Another regal beauty, Lu Jin thought, though more down-to-earth than Shen Yanxi. Well, Shen Yanxi was agreeable enough today.

“Greetings, Sister,” he nodded to her. But that was the end of it; Shen Yanyun turned her gaze away. Awkward. So much for being approachable.

Shen Yanxi merely shot her a half-reproachful glance and led him on.

“This is my aunt’s family—they’ve just arrived from Gusu. This is Uncle, this is Aunt… Uncle is the head of the third branch of the Pei family of Gusu, and currently the Salt Commissioner of Chuzhou.” At this table, Shen Yanxi’s smile was noticeably warmer.

The man, Pei Changshi, forty-eight, was of medium build, dark-skinned, his slender frame wrapped in a pale gray robe. His hair was bound high, his brows thick, his eyes narrow yet spirited, and his short beard trimmed neatly.

Beside him sat Shen Yanxi’s aunt, Shen Hui, second daughter of the Shen family, aged forty-four. She was fair-skinned, her features elegant, her hair pinned up in an elaborate style, her brows fine, eyes large, nose straight, lips thin, with a pink mole on her chin. Her smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.

“Good, good! Our Yanxi has finally found her ideal match.” Though Pei Changshi remained silent, Shen Hui looked at Lu Jin with satisfaction, tinged with a trace of regret.

“Your uncle recently acquired a set of scholar’s tools—I hear you are a learned man, so they should suit you well.” With that, Shen Hui took a wooden box from a maid and handed it to Lu Jin.

Lu Jin glanced at Shen Yanxi, who nodded, so he accepted it with thanks. “You’re too generous, Aunt and Uncle.”

“Nonsense, we came especially to see you. There are some other small gifts we’ll send over later; just accept them,” his aunt said warmly.

“Your kindness humbles me,” Lu Jin responded again.

“Be sure to treat my Yanxi well—don’t let her suffer. Otherwise, as her aunt, I will not forgive you,” Shen Hui said, her tone both tender and dignified.

Such formalities were only natural when meeting the elders after a wedding, so Lu Jin wasn’t surprised and readily agreed.

Life is but a play, he mused; since he hadn’t yet escaped the stage, he might as well act his part for now.