Chapter 38: The Son-in-law Is Kidnapped, Chaos in the Shen Garden

Shen Residence, Brook Garden.

Normally tranquil, Brook Garden today was as bustling as a marketplace, with people coming and going—yet every face was marked by gravity and unease.

Brook Garden was expansive, and so was Shen Yanxi’s living quarters. This entire cluster of houses occupied the northeast corner of Creek Lake, with rooms joined to rooms, and corridors linked to corridors.

At this moment, Shen Yanxi was not in her usual attic room, but downstairs in one of the halls. The spacious chamber was crowded with women of all kinds.

Shen Yanxi sat quietly in her chair, impeccably dressed and solemn, surrounded by her mother, aunts, and the various maids and attendants who had hurried over.

With so many people, the room should have been noisy, yet it was instead filled with a tense silence. Everyone, inside and out, was nervously watching the interior, scarcely daring to speak above a whisper.

Madam Zhou Manyun gazed anxiously at her daughter, saying nothing, her heart torn between worry and reproach. How could a perfectly good person end up kidnapped? And those river bandits—were they blind? Even daring to abduct someone from the Shen family? And that son-in-law—he’d only been here a short while, and now this disaster had struck.

Seated on Shen Yanxi’s right was her cousin, Shen Yanyun, the eldest uncle’s daughter, who looked at her with evident concern, her usual coquettish charm replaced by worry.

Clasping Shen Yanxi’s hand tightly, Shen Yanyun said, “Xi’er, don’t be anxious. Second Uncle and the others are doing everything they can—they will rescue Lu Jin. Please, have faith…”

The other aunts and relatives murmured their gentle reassurances as well.

Now, sitting in her chair, Shen Yanxi no longer felt the helpless panic she had when first hearing the news; what remained was a heart knotted tight with worry.

Raised from childhood by her grandmother, mother, and the women of the Shen household, and as the legitimate young mistress of such a prominent family, Shen Yanxi had always harbored traditional values. This was why, after a series of turbulent events, she finally decided to treat Lu Jin with sincerity.

Though their beginning had been strange, she still hoped for a happy marriage. So she humbled herself to understand Lu Jin, willing to give her all—if things proved impossible, she would have no regrets.

But just as she glimpsed a trace of hope, disaster struck. And these weren’t ordinary criminals, but ruthless river bandits.

Shen Yanxi blamed herself—why had she been so hesitant and reserved? Had she been more proactive, or simply insisted he move into Brook Garden, perhaps he wouldn’t have left the residence so easily.

Compared to the subdued, gentle voices here, the nearby Hall of Standing Snow was anything but quiet.

In the center of the main hall, Shen Hao sat with a stern face. Around him were the heads of the family’s various branches; standing were young men of the clan and stewards. Household guards and servants clustered outside.

In the open space of the hall, Yuan Fang knelt with head bowed, answering the patriarch’s questions.

“Tell everyone again what happened.”

“The young master ordered me to fetch the carriage… When I returned, only Xiao Bai was there… We split up to search, but then Xiao Bai disappeared too… Later, I heard the river bandits had kidnapped many people, so I guessed the young master and Xiao Bai were taken as well. That’s why I hurried back to report…”

“You were a guard—how could you abandon your post?” someone demanded angrily.

“It was dereliction of duty. Please punish me, Master!” Yuan Fang pressed his forehead to the ground.

Shen Hao looked down at Yuan Fang but said nothing.

After Yuan Fang finished recounting the events, the logical suspicion would have been that Lu Jin had run away. But with Lu Jin and Xiao Bai disappearing in succession, and others in the city also missing, that possibility was quickly dismissed.

Besides, who would be foolish enough to abandon the wealth and status of the Shen family?

Lu Jin: That would be me!

“I’ve already sent word to the Jianglin county office and the Jiangzhou prefectural office—they should arrive shortly,” Shen Hao announced from the head seat.

“But we can’t just sit and wait. To kidnap the Shen family’s son-in-law—these Lanjiang river bandits have openly slapped our Shen family in the face. Our family has stood firm in Jiangzhou for generations—when have we ever suffered such humiliation? For a mere bandit to dare break in and abduct one of our own. Apart from those already dispatched to block the city gates, everyone else is to take our household troops and search the city—we mustn’t let them slip away under our noses!” Shen Zhengshan’s voice was harsh.

He had met that young man once before—the one who fainted after kneeling—and now he’d been abducted by river bandits. Such misfortune, even the Shen family couldn’t shield him.

“Master, the magistrate is here…” Just as Shen Hao was about to speak again, the steward entered with a message.

Shen Hao paused. “Show him in.” Two men then came to escort Yuan Fang away.

A short wait, and a voice called from outside, “Ah, Master Shen, I only just heard your son-in-law has been taken by criminals! I’ve already dispatched my constables to search the city—if there’s news, you’ll be the first to know…”

In walked an elderly man, well past fifty, his thin frame drowned in official robes, making him look somewhat comical. His cheeks were sunken, hair and beard completely white, but his eyes were sharp and alert.

This was Magistrate Yang Yu of Jianglin. Shen Hao did not rise to greet him, nor did any of the other family heads, whose faces remained impassive.

Yang Yu awkwardly found himself a chair. Being magistrate of Jianglin was no easy task—just the Shen family alone left him feeling insignificant; he likely ranked below even their stewards in their eyes.

Your son-in-law? Since when did you have a son-in-law? If your son-in-law was kidnapped, how is that my fault? These are Lanjiang river bandits! With only a handful of constables, how could I possibly eradicate them? The bandits have no fixed lair, moving up and down the river—how could I hunt them down?

“Magistrate Yang, Jianglin is under your jurisdiction, is it not?” Shen Zhengshan inquired.

“Yes, of course,” Yang Yu replied, thinking, Why ask the obvious? If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have come here. At least offer me some tea.

“Then with my family member abducted in this city, do you have anything to say for yourself?”

“Of course—I’ve already sent people to search…” Yang Yu jumped to his feet in agitation.

“And with just a few dozen men, when do you expect results?”

What do you want from me? Yang Yu’s eyes darted about, completely at a loss as to the Shen family’s expectations.

Meanwhile, Shen Hao sat unmoved, sipping his tea as if nothing were amiss.

“My family has already sent people to search. I hope Magistrate Yang will reassure the other families in the city. If my son-in-law is found, all will be well. But if anything happens to him, I’m afraid your tenure as magistrate will end here,” Shen Zhengshan fixed Yang Yu with a piercing gaze.

Yang Yu was speechless—he dearly wished he could just resign. If the Shen family wants someone else as magistrate, so be it—it’s impossible to please them.

Before Yang Yu could reply, the steward entered again. “Master, the Jiangzhou Commander, Nanmen Yue, is here.” Soon after, a burly man was ushered in.

This was Nanmen Yue, the Commander of Jiangzhou—carrying the rare surname Nanmen—and he had served in this post for over two years. His face was covered in bristling beard, his towering frame nearly six and a half feet, his features rugged and commanding, clad in black armor that accentuated his strength.

Nanmen Yue entered and saluted Shen Hao. “Master Shen, I have already ordered my officers and soldiers to search all city gates, and dispatched two thousand soldiers along both banks of Lanjiang. If the bandits are still in Jiangzhou, they will not escape.”

Shen Hao remained seated, his gaze steady. “Thank you for your efforts, General Nanmen. The Shen family will not let your visit go unrewarded. Please, have some tea.”

Nanmen Yue declined politely, then sat to the side, his stern face directly across from Yang Yu.

Yang Yu avoided his gaze, feeling humiliated. If being a mere magistrate was bad enough, now even the commander seemed reduced to a Shen family retainer.

The two men sat, waiting for something—only a few among the Shen family knew they were expecting the arrival of Wang Yongde, the Prefect of Jiangzhou.

Soon enough, a servant announced Prefect Wang’s arrival. The Shen family finally rose to greet him, exchanged courtesies, and then resumed their seats in turn.

Shen Hao, seated at the head, wore a face as dark as water, saying nothing. So much time had passed, and yet not a single useful piece of news.

“Mingyuan, all the search parties have already been dispatched. Worrying further is pointless—be at ease and wait.” The speaker was a middle-aged man in embroidered robes, sitting with an air of serene composure. His fair face, narrow bright eyes, and gentle expression gave him an aura of spring breeze and moonlight. This was Wang Yongde, Prefect of Jiangzhou.

Shen Hao sighed inwardly, but did not make things difficult for Wang Yongde. All he wanted was a gesture from the Jiangzhou administration—the prefect’s presence was enough.

Besides, Wang Yongde was not someone easily coerced—not only was he the prefect, but also a member of the powerful Wang family from the north.

“Suppressing bandits and protecting the people is my duty. But these river thieves gather in small bands, always on the move…” Wang Yongde continued, clearly troubled by the perennial nuisance of the river bandits. They were never a major threat, but now, having targeted the Shen family, he had no choice but to make a show of resolve.

“If the Prefect is determined to eradicate the bandits, the Shen family will give its full support. But with the officials alone, it may not suffice—the bandits are nomadic, moving all along the Lanjiang…” Shen Hao replied.

“Rest assured, Mingyuan. I will report to the Governor’s office and request that the Northern Inspector-General launch a campaign against these bandits. Their audacity has become intolerable.”

The Jiangzhou Command had tried before, but results were always minimal—either the lairs were found deserted, or the strongholds remained elusive. Send too few men and they risked ambush; send too many, and resources were wasted.

“Then I must trouble you, Wenrui…”

———

Shen Yanxi’s patience finally wore thin. She had just risen to go out when her father entered.

“Father, have you found him?” Her eyes were filled with hope.

Shen Hao could not bear to disappoint her. “Don’t worry, Xi’er. Our guards and the Jiangzhou troops are all searching. Even if we have to turn Jianglin upside down, I will bring Lu Jin back to you.”

Shen Hao was surprised—something had changed these past days. Judging by his daughter’s expression, the matter had clearly reached her heart.

“Father, I want to go look for him too!” Shen Yanxi pleaded anxiously.

“Nonsense! If you go, should the guards watch you or search for him? Where would you even look? Stay at home and wait,” Shen Hao replied sternly.

“Xi’er, you cannot go—things are chaotic enough outside…” Zhou Manyun added in distress.

Soon, everyone around began to offer their own words of persuasion.

Though Shen Yanxi could not step beyond the threshold, her gaze was drawn helplessly out the window.

Under the hazy night, the crescent moon leaned west, and the stars were sparse and lonely. Tears shimmered in Shen Yanxi’s eyes.

What you promised me—please, return it to me, safe and whole.