Chapter 26: Xiao Jin Restrained His Temper And Simply Said, “How Disappointing. Get Out.”

The carriage was originally headed for Haizhou Academy, but halfway there, Xiao Jin suddenly remembered that he had given his attendants a list of tasks to complete before he left. Determined to completely reorganize that place, he figured they were likely busy at the moment, making it impossible to return to the academy’s dormitories anytime soon.

He turned to Lu Shujin and asked, “Do you have anything else to do?”

Of course, Lu Shujin had nothing else planned. Her original plan was to stay in the main courtyard until evening, but because of Xiao Jin’s interference, she had to leave early.

Seeing her shake her head, Xiao Jin fell silent for a moment, seemingly considering something, before instructing the attendant, “Change direction. Head to Chunfeng Pavilion.”

The name Chunfeng Pavilion didn’t sound like a proper place at all. Lu Shujin immediately protested, “I want to go back.”

“You can’t.” Xiao Jin denied her request. “That chaotic place needs a proper renovation. We’ll head back tonight. For now, you’ll come with me.”

“I don’t want to go,” Lu Shujin boldly expressed her thoughts.

Xiao Jin shot her a glance, a hint of threat in his voice as he snorted, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Naturally, Lu Shujin didn’t dare to repeat her words, but she was still unhappy. She knew Xiao Jin wasn’t taking her to any decent place.

Sure enough, the carriage circled half the city and finally stopped in front of the most famous music hall in Yuncheng.

Xiao Jin was the first to step down. As a regular visitor to Chunfeng Pavilion, the doormen had already spotted the Xiao family’s carriage approaching from afar. The moment he got off, they rushed forward, bowing deeply while dusting off his clothes. Smiling brightly, they greeted him, “Young Master Xiao, you’re here again!”

Xiao Jin responded with a simple acknowledgment. The doorman, just like always, eagerly guided him forward, but this time, Xiao Jin didn’t rush in. Instead, he glanced back, though it wasn’t clear whom he was looking for.

A moment later, he frowned, pretending to be angry, and half his body leaned into the carriage, pulling out a young man with an exceptionally delicate appearance. Yanking him out of the carriage, Xiao Jin dragged him to the ground.

Looking at the grand, brightly lit Chunfeng Pavilion in front of her, Lu Shujin protested, “I want to go back and read.”

Xiao Jin replied, “No way. I went with you to the north of the city, so it’s only fair you accompany me here. Besides, you can’t return to the dormitory now—it’s surely a mess.”

“I can stand in the courtyard and read,” she insisted.

Xiao Jin pretended to be deaf, then threatened, “If you don’t walk properly, I’ll carry you in.”

The bustling street was full of onlookers, and Xiao Jin’s firm grip on Lu Shujin’s wrist made it clear he had no intention of letting her leave. Helpless, Lu Shujin had no choice but to follow Xiao Jin into this infamous den of indulgence.

Chunfeng Pavilion was a renowned music hall, a favored spot for the city’s nobles and wealthy young masters.

The wine here boasted an aroma that spread for miles, and the girls inside were renowned for their stunning beauty. The moment she stepped inside, Lu Shujin was nearly blinded by the overwhelming luxury. Everywhere she looked, golden lights shimmered, enormous colorful lanterns hung from the ceiling with ribbons flowing down, and girls danced gracefully behind sheer curtains. A delightful fragrance filled the air. In every aspect, this place was a world apart from the Yuhua Pavilion.

But in essence, it wasn’t much different.

Xiao Jin walked ahead, and the girls of the pavilion, familiar with him, waved their handkerchiefs, calling out, “Young Master Xiao, it’s been a few days since you visited.”

“A man has proper business to attend to. I can’t spend every day here,” Xiao Jin casually defended himself.

The girls, knowing Xiao Jin didn’t like them getting too close, only surrounded him at a respectful distance. Soon, they noticed a plainly dressed Lu Shujin trailing behind and asked in surprise, “Who’s that behind you, Young Master Xiao? He looks unfamiliar.”

Lu Shujin instinctively shrank her neck. Of course, she looked unfamiliar. Even if she were rich enough to burn money on the streets, she would never set foot in such a place.

Xiao Jin paused, looked back at her, and instructed, “Stay close and walk by my side.”

Feeling uncomfortable in such an unfamiliar environment and only knowing Xiao Jin, Lu Shujin naturally stuck close to him. Hearing his words, she quickly stepped forward and quietly clung to his arm.

Xiao Jin’s lips curled into a slight smile as he led Lu Shujin straight to the third floor, heading to a private room he had permanently reserved.

The door to this room was made of an unknown material, completely soundproofing the space. Not a single note from inside could be heard until the door swung open, letting the soothing, intertwined melodies of string instruments drift out.

The private room was spacious and bright, with crimson gauze curtains hanging from the ceiling, gently swaying.

Xiao Jin lifted the curtain and peeked inside, spotting several people seated on couches and low divans. When they saw Xiao Jin, they all stood up and greeted him, “Brother Xiao.”

Xiao Jin, who seemed momentarily stunned, quickly shifted his expression into a smile when his gaze landed on a man seated by the central divan. He kicked off his boots and strode inside, saying with a grin, “I was wondering why it’s so lively here—it’s because you’re around, Second Brother Ye.”

Lu Shujin, half a step behind, subtly glanced inside. She immediately recognized Ji Shuoting, but beside him sat an unfamiliar young man, probably in his early twenties. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but there was a gentle warmth in his smile. He greeted Xiao Jin, “Young Master Xiao, long time no see. I heard you made quite a splash yesterday.”

As he spoke, Ji Shuoting and the young man made room in the center. Xiao Jin walked over naturally, settled in the space, and stretched his shoulders with a relaxed, almost annoyed sigh. “What splash? Don’t even bring it up. Ye Xun, you’d better not mention it—I’m in a foul mood.”

A stunningly beautiful woman was leaning against Ye Xun’s other arm. He casually plucked a grape and fed it to her, replying without much care, “You exposed the Liu family’s secret stash of official silver. How is that bad luck? That’s a great achievement.”

The woman chuckled, savoring the grape, “Young Master Xiao is truly impressive.”

Ye Xun, half-chiding but with a doting tone, told her, “Finish eating before you speak.”

The woman giggled again.

Xiao Jin ignored their flirtation and didn’t respond to Ye Xun’s remark. Instead, he looked surprised and asked, “Huh? Last time we were here, wasn’t it agreed that Little Xiangyu would take turns entertaining? Why is she still sticking with Second Brother Ye? Did she take a dislike to Fifth Brother Ji?”

Ji Shuoting rolled his eyes at just the right moment, putting on a mock expression of displeasure. “That was two visits ago.”

“Seems I remembered wrong.” Xiao Jin turned to see Lu Shujin still standing by the curtain, looking lost. He called out, “What are you standing there for? Come sit by Ji Shuoting.”

Lu Shujin remained silent, mimicking his actions by taking off her shoes. She carefully placed them neatly beside Xiao Jin’s and then walked in, sitting down beside Ji Shuoting, leaving half an elbow’s distance between them.

The low table was laden with sumptuous dishes served in gleaming silverware, and the young masters seated around it were all dressed in elegant, luxurious robes. Only Lu Shujin appeared completely out of place at the table, her plain attire starkly contrasting the scene.

Yet her expression was calm. Though she stayed quiet, she didn’t appear tense—there was an unusual poise about her that was rarely seen.

She had quietly observed the room just now and noticed that the atmosphere here was not simple. Xiao Jin usually appeared entirely relaxed around Ji Shuoting—they seemed like childhood friends who bantered without reservation. But the moment he encountered this Ye Xun, that casual air silently disappeared. Though Xiao Jin was smiling, he wasn’t truly at ease.

This indicated that the relationship between Xiao Jin, Ji Shuoting, and Ye Xun was not as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.

Remaining calm without being timid—that was all Lu Shujin needed to do, and no one would trouble her.

Indeed, that was the case. Though her plain attire and silence made her stand out, everyone in the room knew that she was Xiao Jin’s guest. Since Xiao Jin, seated in the main position, held the highest status here, they were wise enough not to question her presence.

Of course, not everyone was that sharp.

Little Xiangyu, after studying Lu Shujin for a moment, suddenly tilted her head and asked Xiao Jin, “This one looks as delicate as one of the boys in our pavilion. So is this Young Master Xiao’s type?”

The moment she spoke, Ji Shuoting’s eyelid twitched violently, and he shot her an astonished look.

Lu Shujin couldn’t help but raise her head to look at the speaker. She hadn’t dared to glance around earlier, so this was the first time she got a good look at one of the women in the room. The woman’s skin was as fair as snow, with finely shaped eyebrows and painted red lips—a stunning beauty, the kind that would take one’s breath away at first sight.

But… it seemed she didn’t have much of a brain.

Everyone’s eyes were on Lu Shujin.

In fact, Little Xiangyu wasn’t entirely wrong. Lu Shujin had a delicate, slender frame, with fair, almost translucent skin. Her jet-black eyebrows and eyes were like carefully painted strokes, strikingly beautiful. No Adam’s apple, no stubble, and even her voice was clear but not overly sharp or sweet—a youthful appearance that was almost indistinguishable between male and female, just like the young courtesans in the pavilion.

But Lu Shujin was a proper scholar. Comparing her to the courtesans of the pavilion was a blatant insult, especially since it also implicated Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin’s face immediately darkened, and he shot Little Xiangyu a cold glance, his voice sharp, “If your mouth can’t speak human words, then maybe we should pull out your tongue to spare everyone the nuisance.”

Though Xiao Jin usually wore a smiling face, approachable and easy-going, his anger was genuinely terrifying. Little Xiangyu’s body began to tremble, and tears filled her eyes as she turned to Ye Xun for help.

Ye Xun smiled and tried to ease the tension, “With so many beautiful women in Chunfeng Pavilion, isn’t it strange that Ji Shuoting and I both took a liking to the same one? It’s just because Little Xiangyu’s silly sweetness is so charming. Xiao Jin, don’t frighten her.”

Ji Shuoting couldn’t help but chuckle at Ye Xun’s words.

But Xiao Jin didn’t seem appeased. He lowered his eyelids, his tone indifferent, “I’ve frightened plenty of people before.”

Ye Xun called out to her, “Little Xiangyu, apologize to Young Master Xiao and the young master here.”

Little Xiangyu quickly stood up, her graceful figure swaying as she gave a deep, elegant bow. “Young Master Xiao, young master, it was my foolish mouth that spoke without thinking. Please don’t hold it against me.”

Xiao Jin said nothing, his gaze shifting to Lu Shujin, as if assessing her reaction.

Lu Shujin gave a small nod and quietly replied, “It’s fine.”

Xiao Jin’s expression softened, but he simply said, “Ruined the mood. Get out.”

Little Xiangyu’s eyes immediately filled with tears again. She glanced repeatedly at Ye Xun, hoping he would say something to keep her.

But with Xiao Jin in a foul mood, even Ye Xun’s words would be of no use—they would only make Xiao Jin angrier. So Ye Xun pretended not to see.

Little Xiangyu wiped her tears, gave another respectful bow, and left with dainty steps. As soon as the door closed behind her, her face shifted from a look of grievance to one of anger. Rolling her eyes, she spat, “That scumbag Ye really has a rotten heart.”

Inside, the music and dancing continued, but for a moment, no one spoke.

Seizing the chance while others were distracted, Lu Shujin quietly raised her head to glance at Xiao Jin’s profile. His face was devoid of expression, a cold, distant look that seemed to carry a warning, making him appear almost unapproachable.

At this moment, he was nothing like his usual self at the academy—there, he laughed and joked with his peers, full of youthful energy. Even when angry, he never involved the innocent, and his temper was quick to pass.

But here, or more specifically, in front of Ye Xun, Xiao Jin exuded a sharp, imposing aura—an unmistakable sense of authority and danger, as if anyone who got too close would be hurt.

In the academy, he was just the young master, Xiao Jin. But here, he was the legitimate heir of the Xiao family.

He was deeply wary of Ye Xun.

Having reached this conclusion, Lu Shujin knew it wasn’t wise to continue observing, so she shifted her gaze to the grapes on the platter before her, pretending to focus on them.

Ye Xun poured two cups of wine, offering one to Xiao Jin with a gentle smile. “Still upset? Little Xiangyu’s always been loose with her words. No need to let it bother you. We haven’t seen each other in a while—let’s have a drink.”

Xiao Jin seemed to soften, his hostility receding. He accepted the cup and drank most of it before asking, “What’s been keeping you busy lately, Young Master Ye?”

Ye Xun leaned back, a casual smile on his lips. “What else could it be? Just the usual matters. But you did cause me quite the headache with that scene you stirred up yesterday—I was dragged out of bed to report to the yamen.”

Xiao Jin let out a mocking laugh, “That’s got nothing to do with me. Blame it on your father being the prefect of Yuncheng.”

“Two years ago, the central government allocated two hundred thousand taels of disaster relief funds. But by the time it reached Yuncheng, only a hundred thousand remained.” Ye Xun’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Last night, you found just over four thousand taels at the Yuhua Pavilion. So tell me, where do you think the remaining ninety-five thousand taels have gone?”

Xiao Jin finished his drink, frowned, then casually reached for the wine jug to pour himself another. His tone was indifferent. “How would I know where it went? It has nothing to do with me. If I hadn’t gone looking for the jade pendant my father gave me last night, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon Liu Quan smuggling official silver. I don’t deserve any credit for it.”

Ye Xun suggested, “General Xiao always worries that you’re idle. If you report this matter to him, it might ease his mind about you, even all the way in the capital.”

“What’s there to worry about? It’s not like I’m out murdering, robbing, or committing crimes.” Xiao Jin shook his head. “Don’t try to flatter me. I’m not buying it.”

Their conversation seemed like a game of verbal tai chi, neither directly addressing the topic. Ji Shuoting saw an opening and interjected, “Old Qiao punished you again yesterday, didn’t he?”

“Of course! When he found out I went to a brothel, he almost tore the yamen’s roof off. He’s forcing me to move into the academy’s dormitory.” Xiao Jin’s tone grew heated as he complained. “Do you even know how awful that dorm is? I spent the whole night listening to mosquitoes buzzing until dawn, and the moment they stopped, someone outside started reciting books…”

This led to a long tirade of Xiao Jin’s grievances about the academy’s dormitory. He described it as if it were a rat’s nest in the bustling marketplace rather than a dormitory of a top academy.

Ye Xun tried several times to steer the conversation back to the missing official silver, but both Ji Shuoting and Xiao Jin skillfully avoided the topic. Finally, Ye Xun, clearly exasperated but unwilling to keep listening to Xiao Jin’s ranting, changed the subject. “There have been a few more strange deaths on the west side of the city. Have you heard?”

Xiao Jin paused in his drinking. “What’s going on? Is it an epidemic?”

“I don’t think so. The deceased lived in different places and had no interactions with each other. It doesn’t seem contagious,” Ye Xun explained. “But the cause is still unclear. Any thoughts, Young Master Xiao?”

Xiao Jin actually gave it some serious thought before saying, “Well, in that book I was reading, A Widow’s Affairs, there’s a part where Wang Erlang gets infatuated with a charming widow. His wife becomes jealous and learns some witchcraft from the southern tribes. She curses the widow using a voodoo doll, and the poor woman ends up vomiting and nearly dying. So… maybe someone’s using witchcraft on those people in the west side?”

Ye Xun’s mouth twitched, and he forced a smile. “Are you serious, Young Master Xiao?”

Xiao Jin laughed, “Of course not. I made it up.”

“How would I know what’s causing their illness? Are you drunk, Ye Xun?”

Lu Shujin looked up to see Ye Xun’s face twitching, his forced smile barely holding. “I think it’s Young Master Xiao who’s had too much to drink.”

Xiao Jin immediately leaned back, seizing the chance. “You’re right. No wonder my head feels dizzy.”

He shut his eyes, ignoring everyone, pretending to be drunk. No matter how many times Ye Xun called his name, he didn’t respond, acting completely shameless.

If it were anyone else pulling this act, Ye Xun would have flipped the table and started a fight. But dealing with Xiao Jin, he could only keep smiling despite his rising anger. “Then I’ll trouble Young Master Ji to take Young Master Xiao home. I must go comfort Little Xiangyu.”

Ji Shuoting protested, “I have to comfort her. You should take him. She probably doesn’t even want to see you after you didn’t keep her.”

Ye Xun felt like fighting both of them.

But he gritted his teeth, his fake smile about to crack, and quickly put on his shoes. “I can’t carry Young Master Xiao, but you can. Don’t push this onto me.”

Ye Xun left in a hurry, followed by the other young men, and Ji Shuoting saw them to the door.

Inside, only Xiao Jin and Lu Shujin remained. She studied Xiao Jin, who had slumped over the couch, his fair, handsome face tinged with a faint blush from the alcohol. The warm light painted his features softly, making him look exceptionally striking.

She was just about to look away when Ji Shuoting returned. He grabbed Xiao Jin, slinging him over his shoulder. “Lu Shujin, help support him from the back.”

With Lu Shujin assisting, the two of them half-dragged, half-carried Xiao Jin out of Chunfeng Pavilion and loaded him onto a carriage.

The moment they were inside, Ji Shuoting dropped Xiao Jin onto the seat, collapsed beside him, and grumbled, “Xiao Jin! Can’t you even use a bit of your own strength? Are you trying to kill me?”

Lu Shujin had just sat down when Xiao Jin suddenly opened one eye, sat up straight, and rubbed his shoulder. “Could you be any rougher? You banged my shoulder.”

“I should’ve just thrown you on the ground and let you crawl into the carriage yourself,” Ji Shuoting shot back.

Lu Shujin glanced between the two, her bright apricot eyes silently observing the “drunk” Xiao Jin and the grumbling Ji Shuoting.

Xiao Jin pointed at her, then made a throat-slitting gesture, growling, “Dare say a word of this, and I’ll silence you. Got it?”

Lu Shujin quickly nodded repeatedly.

Ji Shuoting glanced at her and asked, “Are you just that free? Why did you bring him along too?”

“If I had known you and Old Third Ye would be there, I wouldn’t have gone at all, let alone brought him.” Xiao Jin’s face was full of gloom. After all the back-and-forth with Ye Xun, he was utterly exhausted.

“I sent someone to tell you not to come to Chunfeng Pavilion today, but they couldn’t even find you. Where were you?” Ji Shuoting asked.

Xiao Jin had actually gone with Lu Shujin to the rented courtyard in the north of the city and even took a nap there. But saying that would be embarrassing, so he refused to answer. “None of your business.”

Ji Shuoting warned, “This time, you accidentally messed with the Liu family’s official silver at Yuhua Pavilion. Ye Xun is bound to keep a close watch on you for a while.”

Xiao Jin sneered, “I’ll just stay in the academy for the next few days. Where can he catch me? Once this blows over, I’ll find something to keep him busy.”

Clearly wary of Lu Shujin, the two of them stopped discussing any further details. Ji Shuoting shifted the topic. “So where to now?”

“I’m going back to the academy,” Xiao Jin replied.

“With the smell of perfume and alcohol all over you? Aren’t you afraid of running into Old Qiao?” Ji Shuoting teased.

Xiao Jin laughed with exaggerated confidence. “It’s a rest day. There’s no way Old Qiao would be at the academy. He must be at home, relaxing.”

But Lu Shujin thought to herself that wasn’t necessarily true.

And as expected, Xiao Jin’s confidence was short-lived. The moment he stepped off the carriage, he came face-to-face with Qiao Bailian. In his panic, he tried to dive back into the carriage but lost his footing and fell flat.

Qiao Bailian strode over, immediately catching the thick scent of alcohol and perfume. His worried expression turned to fury. His face flushed with anger as he pointed at Xiao Jin. “You little brat! Off drinking and fooling around again, and so drunk you can’t even stand straight! Do you have any shame left?!”

Lu Shujin, who hadn’t even gotten out of the carriage, quietly pulled the door shut, hiding inside.

“Old Qiao, I suddenly remembered something I need to handle at the yamen. I’ll come back later for your lecture.” Xiao Jin tried to open the door again, but it wouldn’t budge.

Usually, the action of opening the carriage door and slipping inside should be done in one smooth motion. But missing his first attempt meant he had no chance to escape.

Qiao Bailian scolded him relentlessly, his voice fierce. “Stand properly! Is this how you behave toward your elders?”

Xiao Jin’s head wasn’t spinning from the alcohol but from the barrage of reprimands.

Only after Qiao Bailian was done and stormed off with a “Reflect on your actions!” did Xiao Jin pull Lu Shujin out of the carriage.

On the walk back to the dormitory, Xiao Jin kept glaring at Lu Shujin. He originally planned to scold this little traitor who sold out her elder brother. But then he remembered Qiao Bailian’s scolding, which included the line, “No respect for parents and teachers above, bullying and oppressing classmates below.” He forced himself to hold back.

Lu Shujin knew she was in the wrong. She shrank her neck, avoiding his gaze, feeling like his eyes were stabbing her like daggers.

When they finally got back, they found the dormitory completely transformed. The only thing that remained unchanged was the large screen in the center.

Upon entering, the floor was covered with a light beige carpet, and the air was thick with a strong smoky fragrance. Against the walls on either side of the door stood two low wooden cabinets, and one had to remove their shoes upon entering.

Further in, Lu Shujin noticed that her bed had been replaced with a canopy bed of suitable size. The rosewood frame was intricately carved with beautiful patterns. The cyan gauze curtains were layered—an inner layer that could be pulled down and an outer layer that hung elegantly, faintly revealing the neatly arranged bedding and brocade pillows within.

The old wobbly table, which once needed its corners propped up, had also been replaced by a much larger one. Fresh ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones were neatly placed on it—white xuan paper, a jade brush rack, and the books were organized cleanly. Even the window had a gauze curtain hanging, blocking most of the sunlight and casting a dim light in the room.

Lu Shujin stood in a daze, feeling like she had walked into the wrong place.

In the few hours she and Xiao Jin were out, the dormitory had been completely overhauled. It was nothing like the place she remembered.

She hurried to check her belongings. Not that she had anything too precious, just a few taels of silver and some spare clothes. Everything was still there, neatly packed in her trunk. Xiao Jin’s men were not only efficient but also respectful. Although everything had been replaced, her personal items remained untouched.

As she stood there in a daze, Xiao Jin rounded the screen, tossing a book onto her desk. He shot her a glare, still clearly a bit annoyed from earlier. “Why are you sitting on the floor?”

She didn’t respond, simply got up and picked up the book. It was quite thick, with three large characters on the cover: “Admonition Against Lust.”

Xiao Jin said, “I had them throw out your old, shabby brushes. When you copy the book, you must use high-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, or Old Qiao will see through it at a glance.”

“Oh,” Lu Shujin replied. “Thank you, Young Master Xiao.”

With her head lowered, the dim light highlighted her thick, long eyelashes hanging down and her round, petite nose, making her look soft and obedient.

Xiao Jin silently assessed her. Her skin was pale and delicate, she always spoke softly, and her face was clean with big, beautiful eyes. No wonder others said this little bookworm looked like one of those pretty courtesans at Chunfeng Pavilion.

When Xiao Xiangyu humiliated her in front of everyone, she had remained quiet, as if accustomed to coldness and harsh words.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jin forgot all about her being the little traitor who shut the carriage door on him. He patted her shoulder gently and said in a softened voice, “You’re still young. You’ll grow taller with time and eventually look like a man.”

Lu Shujin was startled, her heart racing. Heaven forbid.

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