Chapter Four: The Banquet

“Actually, here’s the thing,” Old Six You said with a smile, rubbing his hands together.

“Oh?” Lu Zhe raised his eyebrows slightly.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been working diligently since you arrived, and we get along so well. The truth is, I’d like to invite you to my house for a meal today.” Old Six You finally stated his intention, glancing at Lu Zhe after he finished.

Lu Zhe was momentarily stunned by this. To be invited to dinner by one of the three leading figures of the Qingxi docks was something even the eager could rarely attain, and now fortune had unexpectedly smiled upon him. It was difficult not to feel a touch of astonishment.

“Well? Are you coming or not?” When Lu Zhe didn’t respond, Old Six You urged him.

“Of course I’ll go, how could I refuse your invitation?” Lu Zhe answered as he came back to his senses. He was delighted but didn’t let it show—after all, one couldn’t leap for joy in front of others, lest they think you’d never seen such things before. But even if he did leap up, it wouldn’t matter much, for only high officials and nobles usually had a chance to dine in the homes of such men at Qingxi Dock.

“But what about Little Ash?” Lu Zhe hesitated. If he went to Old Six You’s home, Little Ash would go hungry, and with his frail body, missing a meal would leave him dizzy with hunger. The food he’d left was only enough for two meals.

“Oh, that’s nothing! While you’re at my house, I’ll send someone to bring Little Ash a good meal—he could use a bit of nourishment,” Old Six You said, patting his chest.

“Well, that’s settled then. It’s no good always having steamed buns and pickles,” Lu Zhe replied with a smile, reassured by Old Six You’s promise.

He got into Old Six You’s carriage, drawn by six Bluefire Horses—a breed crossed with Beast Kings. The carriage raced along, and before long they arrived at Old Six You’s home. When Lu Zhe stepped down, he was faced with an ornately decorated gate, a smaller replica of the city gates of Lingyun. The doors were made of red silkwood, with lion knocker rings crafted from Han gold-bronze. The gate alone must have cost over a hundred thousand gold coins. Though red silkwood wasn’t rare, it was precious enough, and just constructing such a large gate would require a significant amount. As for Han gold-bronze, it sold for five thousand gold coins a pound, never in lesser quantities. The two lion knockers, though small, must have used five or six pounds each. The sheer extravagance made Lu Zhe marvel at the lives of the wealthy.

“My word, the rich truly are different. This gate alone is worth more than a fine house,” Lu Zhe muttered under his breath.

“What are you standing there for? Come in!” Old Six You called from the left.

Lu Zhe followed him to the gate. As they approached, two guards bowed respectfully to Old Six You. But when their eyes fell on Lu Zhe—dressed in plain gray, his tunic patched here and there—they couldn’t fathom why someone like him would be accompanying their master. Seeing the two chatting amiably, the guards could only swallow their questions.

Soon, the gates were opened. Lu Zhe entered the courtyard with Old Six You, and was met with extravagant pavilions, towers, lotus ponds, and rockeries. Servant girls and guards moved busily about. The sight filled Lu Zhe with even greater admiration.

“Come with me,” Old Six You’s words snapped Lu Zhe out of his reverie.

He shrugged and followed, passing several buildings before arriving at one more lavish than any he’d yet seen. Examining it closely, he saw that all its woodwork was red nanmu, the roof tiles were golden-threaded, and the steps and floors were paved with green cypress stone. All in all, such a house couldn’t be had for less than a million gold coins.

“Staring again?” Old Six You’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lu Zhe said nothing, biting his tongue.

“I can’t afford it, but is it so wrong to admire it?” he thought to himself.

They entered the inner hall. All the furnishings were crafted from fine timber, the teacups themselves made from celadon porcelain. Old Six You took the seat of honor at the center, while Lu Zhe sat to the left, sipping tea. Meanwhile, Old Six You ordered the servants to prepare the evening banquet.

As they chatted, their conversation was interrupted by someone entering through the main door. Lu Zhe took a casual sip of tea, set his cup down, and turned his gaze to the newcomer.

It was a young girl, much younger than Xue Ling’er—perhaps eleven or twelve years old. She wore a light pink dress, her hair coiled atop her head and fastened with a golden hairpin. She possessed a beauty not inferior to Xue Ling’er’s, with a resemblance between the two. Clearly, she too was a budding beauty. Compared to Xue Ling’er’s cold aloofness, this girl had a lively charm; her looks rivaled those of Xue Ling’er, whom Lu Zhe had seen that morning.

Upon entering and seeing someone already seated, the girl paused, then strode over to Old Six You, who greeted her with a beaming, almost comical smile. She walked briskly past Lu Zhe, sat herself squarely on Old Six You’s lap, while he, grinning from ear to ear, put his arm around her.

Unable to hold it in, Lu Zhe burst out laughing, having been watching Old Six You’s face all along. Realizing his gaffe, he quickly raised his teacup to cover his embarrassment.

This laughter left both Old Six You and the girl momentarily baffled. Thinking Lu Zhe was embarrassed by their display, Old Six You hurriedly set the girl down and pulled over a chair for her at his right.

“Sorry to have startled you. My daughter is just a bit mischievous,” Old Six You explained with a smile.

“Your daughter? Then the one this morning...?” Lu Zhe asked, setting his cup down, though he’d already guessed her identity.

“Oh, that was my elder daughter this morning. This is my second daughter,” Old Six You replied.

“I see. And may I ask, what is your daughter’s name?” Lu Zhe inquired politely.

“I’m Xue Fei,” the girl announced before Old Six You could answer.

“Oh?” Lu Zhe was a little surprised. Her manner was completely different from her taciturn elder sister.

“No need to be surprised. I’m nothing like that ice statue—I’m very easy to get along with,” Xue Fei said, seeming to sense Lu Zhe’s curiosity.

Lu Zhe swallowed his unspoken words, raised his eyebrows to dispel any awkwardness, took a sip of tea, and smiled. “It seems Miss Xue Fei is quite lively.”

“Of course! Who’d want to be like that ice cube, always with a long face?” Xue Fei sniffed.

“Enough! Watch how you speak of your sister. She is still your elder, after all,” Old Six You scolded, his tone stern.

Chastised, Xue Fei pouted and fiddled with her fingers in silence, and the atmosphere grew tense.

“Ahem, by the way, I haven’t seen Miss Ling’er—where is she?” Lu Zhe asked to break the silence.

“She’s probably in her room now. I’ll send someone to fetch her in a bit,” Old Six You replied after glancing at the sky.

“No need to call me. I’m here,” came a cold voice from the doorway, drawing all eyes.

A familiar figure entered—it was Xue Ling’er. The only difference from this morning was her pale blue dress; her hair still flowed down her back, a violet ribbon tied at her right temple. Her beautiful features and elegant figure fully radiated her noble bearing.

Lu Zhe’s gaze barely lingered on her before he returned to sipping his tea, his expression calm as ever.

Xue Ling’er bowed to Old Six You and sat opposite Lu Zhe, making it impossible for him to avoid seeing her. He quickly turned his head toward the door.

Just then, an elderly man entered. He looked to be over sixty, his hair snow white.

The old man bowed to Old Six You, then announced in a hoarse voice, “Master, the evening meal is ready. Please come to the dining hall.”

“Come, Lu Zhe, let’s eat,” Old Six You said, rising to his feet.

Lu Zhe stood and walked side by side with Old Six You out of the hall, with Xue Ling’er and Xue Fei following behind.

In the dining hall, a large red round table stood at the center, covered with dishes. To be honest, Lu Zhe had never seen such a spread before. Still, he maintained his manners, waiting for Old Six You to sit first before taking his own seat. Seeing this, Xue Fei was a little surprised; none of their previous guests had ever been so polite.

Only after Old Six You had sat did Xue Ling’er and Xue Fei follow suit.

Lu Zhe glanced around—the dining hall held just six people: the four diners, and two servant girls standing behind Old Six You, apparently to pour wine. Aside from them, only the servers bringing in dishes appeared.

“Let’s eat,” Old Six You said to those seated.

Lu Zhe picked up his bowl and tasted the rice, inwardly marveling at how even the rice of the wealthy was different from that of ordinary folk. Though he had no means to buy rice himself, he’d been invited to enough meals at the docks to have tasted it. But never had he eaten such delicious rice—the grains were translucent and glossy, with a sweet, refreshing flavor, truly the fare of the privileged.

“Here, try some dishes,” Old Six You said, adding food to Lu Zhe’s plate.

Lu Zhe thanked him profusely and began to eat.

“Pour the wine,” Old Six You called to the servant girls.

They hurried forward, one filling Old Six You’s cup, the other filling Lu Zhe’s.

“Oh, I don’t drink,” Lu Zhe protested.

“Nonsense! How can a man not drink? Come, let your Uncle You have a few cups with you tonight,” Old Six You insisted, raising his cup.

“Well, then tonight I’ll drink with you,” Lu Zhe replied, feeling a bit embarrassed but lifting his cup.

“To the bottom!” Old Six You declared, draining his cup and turning it upside down to show Lu Zhe.

Lu Zhe understood and did the same.

Seeing Lu Zhe so straightforward, Old Six You was delighted and drank several more cups with him.

Halfway through the meal, suddenly, the closed doors of the dining hall were thrown open, and a group of four or five men in black burst in. The leader, a black-clad man holding a knife in his right hand, shouted at Old Six You, “Old Six You, tonight your life is mine!”