Chapter 22: Shulan and Pinlan

Shulan was dressed in a pale purple brocade gown embroidered with cloud patterns. The delicate gold ornaments in her hair shimmered with subtle glints under the candlelight. This only served to highlight her gentle and graceful demeanor; with her expressive eyes and refined air, one would never guess she hailed from a merchant family.

Sheng Wei set aside his ledger and looked up at his daughter. The weariness between his brows instantly melted into doting affection. "Take Pinlan and go rest first. I will finish these ledgers quickly, and once we arrive in Bianjing, I will have plenty of time to take you both out properly."

Shulan’s willow-leaf brows knit slightly. "Before we departed, Mother specifically instructed me not to let Father overwork himself. Reading ledgers by candlelight is most taxing on the eyes. If Father remains so stubborn, I shall have a hard time answering to her upon our return."

"Very well, I shall heed your words, Shulan." Sheng Wei closed the ledger and smiled at her.

This journey to Bianjing served three purposes: first, to inspect the various merchant shops; second, to allow his two daughters to see the world—especially Pinlan, who had been clamoring to visit the capital; and third, to secure a future for Sheng Changwu, the second son of the main branch.

Sheng Wei’s eldest son, Sheng Changsong, had shown a penchant for business since childhood and had managed the family estate with great efficiency, leading it to prosperity. With his eldest son set to inherit the business, Sheng Wei had hoped the second son, Changwu, would pursue a scholarly path and enter the imperial court. However, the lad preferred brandishing swords and spears; having grown into a sturdy and burly young man, he lacked any resemblance to a scholar. Consequently, Sheng Wei had no choice but to spend silver to pull strings and secure him a position in the military.

"Has Pinlan gone to sleep?" Sheng Wei asked gently.

Shulan smiled faintly. "She is like a little monkey; after jumping about and playing all day, she was exhausted and fell fast asleep."

"That girl, never a moment of peace. Once we return, I must have your grandmother discipline her properly," Sheng Wei said, shaking his head with a laugh.

Just then, a series of urgent footsteps echoed from outside.

"Bad news! Water bandits! Quickly, grab your weapons!"

"Water bandits are here! Arm yourselves!"

The string of shouts caused Shulan’s expression to change instantly. Her slender fingers tightened around her sleeves, and she cast a worried look at Sheng Wei. "Father, what should we do..."

Sheng Wei remained relatively composed. Having been in business for many years and traveling far and wide, there were few storms he had not weathered. He had encountered his share of bandits—both on land and water—more than once.

"Do not panic. Go wake Pinlan. Neither of you is to leave the cabin; stay inside."

Sheng Wei stood up and went out to assess the situation. In the past, the water bandits encountered while plundering were usually mere rabble; seeing a merchant ship with tight security, they would usually retreat, or at worst, be bought off with silver and jewelry.

But this time, it was different. As Sheng Wei stepped out of the cabin door, torch in hand, he was met with the screams of servants and guards. By the light of the fire, he saw over a dozen dark figures scaling the ship's railing from all sides, each brandishing sharp scimitars and moving with the agility of apes.

Feng Xing, Sheng Wei’s personal attendant, ran over, his face etched with anxiety and his forehead slick with sweat. "Master, we have run into a formidable foe."

"These men are relentless. I offered them a thousand taels of silver, yet they refused to leave. Judging by their demeanor, they seem to be here for our lives."

Sheng Wei’s expression turned grim at these words. Apart from the maids and nannies attending to Shulan and Pinlan, he had only brought the usual dozen or so servants and guards for the trip. Typically, water bandits only haunted the stretch between the Huai River and Sizhou. Now that they had reached Suzhou, he had never expected to encounter such vicious brigands.

Within half a cup of tea’s time, several bandits had boarded the deck, and the sounds of fierce combat erupted. Sheng Wei’s brows were furrowed as he scanned the surroundings. He turned to a young servant nearby and commanded, "Prepare the rowboat. If necessary, take the Second and Fourth young mistresses and leave first."

The servant acknowledged and immediately went to carry out the order.

"Master, the guards on our ship do not seem to be their match at all," Feng Xing said, a chill running down his spine as he watched the blood snake across the deck.

The bandit leader, Chen Si, held his shimmering scimitar high and bellowed, "Kill them all, and the cargo on this ship will be ours!"

"Leave no one alive!"

"Kill!"

The bandits, as if possessed by bloodlust, their eyes gleaming with greed, began to hack and slash indiscriminately. Sheng Wei retreated steadily under the protection of a few guards.

Inside the cabin, Shulan bit her lower lip, her complexion pale. The clash of steel, the wails of the servants, and the wild curses of the bandits drifted into the room.

"I am going out to see what kind of water bandits dare to rob our family's ship!" Pinlan, barely ten years old, jumped to her feet and grabbed a bow and arrows from the side, intending to rush out.

Shulan hastily pulled her back. "Father said we must not leave the cabin."

"I want to go out and help!" Pinlan’s almond-shaped eyes were wide, her young face full of defiance. Her personality was the polar opposite of Shulan’s; while Shulan was reserved and gentle, Pinlan was bold, free-spirited, and feared nothing.

"You have only learned a few clumsy tricks from Changwu; going out there will only cause more trouble. Stay here properly."

Pinlan stomped her foot reluctantly but stood by the window, keeping a constant watch on the outside.

On the other ships traveling in their convoy, servants had heard the commotion and hurried to inform their masters that water bandits were about. At such a critical moment, each household naturally chose to prioritize their own safety. Consequently, the nearby ships extinguished their lanterns and candles, using the cover of darkness to quietly drift toward the shore.

On the Bai family ship, Zhao Han and Gu Tingye listened to the report from Shi Tou and furrowed their brows.

"I have heard my elder brother and sister-in-law mention a gang of water bandits who act without any pattern and begin killing the moment they board a ship. The Huaiyin Inspection Bureau has tried to catch them several times, but they always escaped. I never thought they would have drifted all the way here."

Gu Tingye, having spent years in the Jianghu and being fond of chivalrous deeds, asked, "Do you know whose ship it is?"

Shi Tou replied, "It is a merchant ship. I can only make out the character 'Sheng'."

"Sheng?" A flicker of doubt crossed Zhao Han’s eyes.

"That is correct. Does Young Master Zhao know someone by that name?"

Zhao Han’s gaze deepened. "Let us move closer and take a look."

Before long, the boat drew near. After Shi Tou went to inquire, he returned to report that it was indeed the ship of the Sheng family from Youyang. Zhao Han was startled; the Sheng family’s ancestral home and main branch were in Youyang. He hurriedly ordered the guards on his ship to go and assist.

On the deck, Gu Tingye chuckled, "Rest assured, Brother Zhao. The guards on this ship were hand-picked by me. Even if things go poorly, there is still myself and Shi Tou."

Zhao Han peered ahead, only to see the slaughter on the Sheng ship intensifying. Several guards were overpowered and swept into the river, sending up great splashes, while the faint cries of women could be heard.

"Fetch my bow," Zhao Han commanded Changqing, his brow knitted.

"Brother Zhao is also skilled in archery?" Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "At this distance of a hundred paces, with the strong night wind, I fear it will be quite difficult to strike true."